Chapter 35 – The Root of the Physical Issue
Shi Shuoqing didn’t want to strain the relationship, nor did he want Lin Jiu to misunderstand.
Shi Shuoqing asked, “Do you have any suggestions?”
Si Xu replied, “Show some sincerity. If you really want those ingredients, why not talk to him properly and buy them from him? Don’t keep prying about where the ingredients come from. If he wants to tell you, he will. If he doesn’t, don’t push it. Give him respect and freedom, and he’ll sense your goodwill.”
Shi Shuoqing smiled, “I understand.”
He then withdrew his ability and focused on enjoying the meal.
When it was time to pay, Shi Shuoqing offered to cover the bill but was refused by Si Xu.
Shi Shuoqing paid for his own meal, and when leaving, he politely shook hands with Lin Jiu, his demeanor very gentle.
Si Xu had some private matters to discuss with Lin Jiu, so he asked Jiang Ge to head back first.
Si Xu waited until all the customers had left the shop, helped Lin Jiu clean up the dishes and tables, and finally, the two could talk in peace.
Lin Jiu knew Si Xu had something to say. “You don’t need to persuade me. I know very well what’s in my best interest.”
Si Xu shook his head, “I’m not here to persuade you. I just want to know what you’re thinking.”
Leaning against the bar, Lin Jiu stood facing Si Xu.
“I’m just running a business. They’re welcome to come and eat anytime, I have no problem with that. But as for joining them, I don’t have the time.”
All of Lin Jiu’s time was scheduled according to the missions assigned by the Demon Hunting System. When a mission came, he had to leave immediately, and he couldn’t let anything interfere with his schedule.
Si Xu understood. Lin Jiu wasn’t opposed to them coming to eat, but he wasn’t going to join their group.
Si Xu asked, “If they want to buy your ingredients, would you be willing to sell them?”
Lin Jiu was skeptical whether the unknown energy they talked about was the same as his magic energy. The system had said that Earth’s devices couldn’t detect magic energy, and he trusted that judgment.
Lin Jiu didn’t answer directly but asked, “Do they want the ingredients, or the energy within them?”
“The energy. The enhanced individuals rely on this unknown energy to increase their strength. After they expend the energy, they need to replenish it, or their lives are in danger. They’ve tried growing some vegetables that contain traces of this energy, but it’s very little. Compared to your ingredients, it’s a huge gap. The outside environment doesn’t have this energy. To replenish it, they either need to enter areas with unknown energy radiation or eat food containing that energy. That’s why Vice-Captain Shi is so eager for your ingredients.”
Lin Jiu frowned, “If they’re out in the field and use up their energy, are they supposed to carry the ingredients with them?”
Si Xu thought about that terrifying energy drink and figured they might actually carry the ingredients with them.
Lin Jiu said, “Seafood spoils quickly. If it goes bad, it can cause a deadly bacterial infection.”
Si Xu replied, “I’m sure they’re aware of that.”
Lin Jiu did have a whole cage full of seafood, but his tank and cold storage were limited. No matter how much food the magic sea dimension had, it wouldn’t be useful if he couldn’t bring it over.
Setting aside the issue of supply, the price wouldn’t be cheap. Even Si Xu had to pay 100,000 per pound of silver carp. Others would certainly pay no less, or Si Xu would have been swindled.
Lin Jiu stared at Si Xu for a long time. “Are you also an enhanced individual?”
“Who knows? I haven’t gone through their training, I just happen to have some abilities… Maybe they call anyone with unusual powers enhanced individuals.”
People’s perceptions were vague. Unknown energy was one form of energy, and the energy in the ingredients was another. The radiation time from the RT value was just a measurement, not proof that the two were the same energy.
Lin Jiu’s expression turned odd. “Dragging tables kind of ability?”
Si Xu: “…”
Si Xu chuckled, “Maybe I’ll also arrange the chairs.”
Lin Jiu instinctively glanced at his wooden double chairs. Si Xu laughed out loud, “Should I help you arrange the tables and chairs from now on?”
Lin Jiu: “…”
Lin Jiu: “No, thank you.”
Si Xu moving tables and chairs for him? He feared he’d drown in his fans’ spit.
Worried about Si Xu’s condition, Lin Jiu asked, “Since you gained this ability, have you felt any discomfort?”
“None at all. When I’m not using my ability, I feel like a normal person. But when I do use it, I need to replenish quickly, or else I’ll feel hunger and weakness. They say if the energy is severely depleted, it could be fatal. So far, I haven’t felt that, and I feel perfectly fine.”
Lin Jiu didn’t think he was fine at all, “Is this because you’ve eaten my ingredients?”
Si Xu didn’t want Lin Jiu to overthink it, “I don’t think your ingredients are the problem. They’re extremely nutritious, and anyone who’s eaten them knows that. This might have something to do with the nutrients in the ingredients, but the main reason is likely our genetic potential.”
Many people had eaten at the Demon Fish restaurant, but only Si Xu and Jiang Ge had shown any noticeable changes.
Of course, it could also be that the two of them ate the most.
Lin Jiu still wasn’t reassured by Si Xu’s words and remained worried about his health.
In his mind, Lin Jiu called to the system, *Help me scan Si Xu’s body.*
[Scanning others will cost 2 magic points. Proceed with the scan?]
Lin Jiu: ‘Proceed.’
[Scanning… Scan failed.]
Lin Jiu: ‘What?!’
Lin Jiu: ‘System, are you broken?’
[The target has a special constitution. A 2-point scan is insufficient.]
Lin Jiu: ‘How much is needed?’
[Scanning a special constitution requires 10 magic points. Proceed?]
Lin Jiu: …
Lin Jiu: ‘System, I think you’re trying to scam my magic points.’
[The system only provides free services for the host. When others are involved, the system doesn’t do unprofitable deals.]
Lin Jiu: …
Lin Jiu stared at Si Xu for a long time, trying to figure out what was so special about him. Other people could be scanned for 2 points, but his beloved idol required 10 points. As expected, his idol was more expensive even to scan!
Gritting his teeth, Lin Jiu said: ‘Scan.’
[Scanning…]
[Scan target: Si Xu]
[Age: 28]
[Current status: Weak]
[Body strength: 6]
[Health condition: Malignant Brain Tumor]
[Life expectancy: 7 Months]
[Body status: Latent Gene Activation in Progress]
[Activation success rate: 7.66%]
[Mortality rate: 92.34%]
[Survival Advice: Activate Latent Gene.]
Lin Jiu was in disbelief!
He had the system repeat the scan three times before finally accepting that this really was Si Xu’s diagnosis!
Lin Jiu’s eyes instantly turned red. This was what Si Xu meant by “feeling perfectly fine”?
“What’s wrong?” Si Xu immediately sensed that something was off with Lin Jiu.
Lowering his eyes to hide his distress, Lin Jiu responded, “Nothing, it’s late. I need to close the shop.” His voice sounded slightly nasal as he tried his best to act normal.
Si Xu said nothing, quietly following Lin Jiu out of the shop, accompanying him as they walked through the dark, old street.
In his mind, Lin Jiu kept talking to the system: ‘Can the malignant tumor be removed?’
[Asking about others’ information costs 1 magic point per question. Proceed?]
Lin Jiu: ‘Proceed.’
[The life-threatening issue is the latent gene. The malignant tumor is just one manifestation of the gene. Removing it may lead to other organ issues. The system does not recommend wasting resources.]
Lin Jiu: ‘Then how do I solve the latent gene problem?’
From the system’s data, the activation success rate was extremely low. If the latent gene couldn’t be activated, Si Xu had almost no chance of survival.
[Asking about others’ information costs 1 magic point per question. Proceed?]
Lin Jiu: …
Lin Jiu: ‘Just deduct it automatically. Stop asking me.’
[The target’s latent gene potential is too strong, and the activation success rate is too low (even considering magic ingredients and magic wine). If the host insists on activating it, a gene enhancement serum can be used to increase the success rate…]
Lin Jiu’s heart skipped a beat: ‘I have a basic gene enhancement serum!’
[Note: The basic gene enhancement serum only provides a 10% enhancement effect. Each person can only use one serum of the same level. Repeated use is ineffective.]
[Friendly reminder: The basic gene enhancement serum is not suitable for everyone. Gene enhancement carries risks. Proceed with caution.]
Lin Jiu’s excitement was doused like a bucket of cold water.
Lin Jiu: *Can Si Xu use the basic gene enhancement serum?*
[The target has genetic potential and can use the serum.]
[It is recommended that the host first raise the target’s body strength to 10 to reduce damage and pain during the gene enhancement process.]
Lin Jiu: ‘How do I raise his body strength?’
[The host can feed him magic meals and magic wine.]
‘Feed him…’
Lin Jiu stumbled and nearly fell face-first to the ground, saved only by Si Xu’s quick reflexes, preventing him from crashing into a nearby bike.
“Are you okay?” Si Xu asked, concerned as he glanced at Lin Jiu’s feet.
Lin Jiu looked up into Si Xu’s face, which was very close, and felt his ears heat up instantly.
Luckily, both of them were wearing masks, hiding their faces. Otherwise, Lin Jiu felt like his heart wouldn’t be able to handle such a close-up of Si Xu’s good looks.
This road was seriously bad, and now he was even falling into pits in the dark.
He stood up straight. “I’m fine.”
Si Xu stared at him for a moment. “The road here is rough. Pay more attention when you walk.”
Lin Jiu nodded hastily, not daring to look at his idol anymore.
Si Xu’s driver was already waiting outside the old street.
Lin Jiu said, “You should head back. Take care.”
Si Xu noticed Lin Jiu constantly zoning out and felt a bit uneasy. “I’ll walk you to your neighborhood so you don’t trip again.”
Lin Jiu’s face flushed. He wasn’t a kid, how could he trip just walking?
He pushed his bike forward, with Si Xu accompanying him and the driver following behind in the car.
When they reached the entrance of Lin Jiu’s neighborhood, Lin Jiu hesitated and asked, “Are you coming to the restaurant tomorrow?”
“If I have time, I’ll come.” Si Xu replied. Tomorrow might be a busy day, so he wasn’t sure yet.
Lin Jiu suggested, “How about I prepare lunch and dinner for you, and you can send someone to pick it up?”
He’d have to prepare the magic meals for Si Xu in secret, singing while cooking, which felt a bit embarrassing. If anyone heard his siren song, it would definitely have an effect on them.
Si Xu chuckled, “Are you going to break the rules of your little shop just for me?”
Lin Jiu: “…”
Quickly trying to recover, Lin Jiu said, “You’re the highest-ranking customer at my shop, so you can have special privileges.”
Si Xu’s smile faded as he looked at him. “If someone outranked me, would they get the same treatment?”
Lin Jiu avoided his gaze, “Well… it depends on the situation.”
Si Xu pressed his lips together, “I’d still rather eat at the shop.”
Not going to the restaurant would mean not seeing Lin Jiu.
Lin Jiu, thinking he had misunderstood, clarified, “You can come to the shop anytime. Your private booth is always reserved… High-ranking customers have that privilege.”
Si Xu: “…”
Si Xu: “Alright.”
Lin Jiu cautiously asked, “So, will you send someone to pick up the food tomorrow?”
Si Xu sighed, “When I can’t come in person, I’ll send someone to get it.”
Lin Jiu finally felt relieved. “The food I prepare for you is just for you. Please don’t share it with anyone, okay?”
Si Xu paused, feeling it might not be what he thought. “Can I ask why?”
Lin Jiu came up with an excuse. “I want to help you improve your health. If someone else eats it, it might cause problems.”
So much for the idea of a shared “love meal.”
“Thank you, I understand.” Si Xu nodded. “In return, I’d like to help you with your legal matters. Is that okay?”
Lin Jiu: “???”
He was baffled. What legal matters?
Si Xu sighed, “Have you forgotten about Mi Youyou leading the charge to slander you and your restaurant? And the neighbors, the paid bloggers harassing you online, the fans blocking your restaurant, and the ones who kicked over your food warmers? Every one of them needs to be sued. They need to understand that the internet is not a lawless place.”
Lin Jiu: “…”
He did remember one person saying they would compensate him, but they hadn’t shown up yet. Either they were still gathering the money or too scared to come.
Lin Jiu knew his own abilities. Those who were charmed by his siren song would be completely loyal to him from now on, so if they said they’d pay, they definitely would. He just didn’t know why they hadn’t come to return the money yet.
He was only focused on getting his compensation. As for the others, he had nearly forgotten about them.
For Si Xu, it had only been a month since the incident, but for Lin Jiu, it felt like six months.
Seeing Lin Jiu stay silent, Si Xu assumed he didn’t want to pursue it and advised, “If you let this go now, next time anyone will think they can step all over you and throw dirt on your name. You can’t give an inch in situations like this.”
“I’ve been slandered before. My legal team sued them all, and some even went to jail. Now, the world is peaceful, and no one dares to fabricate rumors about me anymore. My legal team is very experienced. They’ve been collecting salaries for years with no work, so we might as well give them something to do. We can’t pay them for nothing.”
From the moment the incident happened, Si Xu had his team gather all the evidence. All that was needed now was for Lin Jiu to sign an authorization, and his lawyers could start suing everyone involved.
Lin Jiu: “…”
Nobody dared to slander you because you’re too famous, right?
Lin Jiu didn’t have a personal lawyer or a legal team. Hiring a lawyer was expensive, and so was keeping one on retainer. He hadn’t considered suing those who had slandered his shop; he only wanted his losses compensated. However, he had thought about hiring a lawyer to help him terminate his contract if he couldn’t come to terms with his company, “Creation Star.”
If they could end the contract peacefully without an unreasonable penalty, Lin Jiu could accept that. But if the company insisted on making things difficult, he didn’t mind fighting them in court. He’d use all the money he had saved for the legal battle, determined not to pay a penny more than necessary, and he’d also demand compensation for the damages he had already incurred.
If they left him a way out, Lin Jiu would let them save face. But if they backed him into a corner, he’d have no choice but to completely sever ties.
“I’ve already gathered all the evidence,” Si Xu said. “All that’s left is for you to authorize my legal team, and they’ll begin the lawsuits.”
Si Xu wanted to help him, but there was only so much he could do without Lin Jiu’s consent. He’d already taken care of everything he could on his own.
By suggesting Lin Jiu authorize his lawyers to handle the case, suing Mi Youyou and the others was just part of it. Si Xu mainly wanted to remind Lin Jiu that he didn’t have to be at the mercy of ‘Creation Star’ and could pursue a legal route to terminate his contract.
“Thanks, I do need a lawyer. I’ll pay the legal fees.”
