C19 It Was a Winwin Situation

Racked up 233 points!

Zhou Mu gulped down 20 Eastern Divine Ginsengs in one breath, but his body couldn't break them down quickly enough, leading to an accumulation of toxins.

Thankfully, he had the system to rely on; otherwise, that single mouthful could have done him in.

Post-ginseng, his physique attribute skyrocketed, eventually plateauing at 100 points.

Despite feeling a surplus of unprocessed medicinal power, he hit a ceiling and couldn't push further.

As he had anticipated, there was indeed a limit to the efficacy of ordinary herbal remedies.

Next up were the Dragon Horn Roots, which resembled ginseng but crunched like carrots.

Biting into them sent a spray of juice across his palate—a truly delightful taste.

Devouring 30 Dragon Horn Roots, Zhou Mu's Strength attribute leaped from 37 to 100 points, then plateaued just like his physique attribute.

He set aside the remaining 26 roots for Goldie to enjoy upon her return.

The Six-Eyed Flying Fish, about ten centimeters long and as thick as a pinky finger, had a tender and delicate flesh that was often marinated and eaten raw to preserve both its effects and flavor.

Zhou Mu, short on time and unconcerned about the slight nutritional loss, simply gutted the fish and stewed them in a large pot.

The fish was succulent, and the broth was richly aromatic—a truly exceptional treat.

After polishing off half a pot, Zhou Mu's Agility attribute maxed out.

Gator eagerly claimed the leftovers.

Full and content, man and snake sprawled on the bed, faces brimming with bliss.

Goldie, upon her return, nibbled on a few Dragon Horn Roots and settled down beside them, drifting into a nap.

The robustness of a Lord-tier spirit animal meant it could fully withstand the toxicity of these spirit medicines, so there was no concern over toxin buildup in their systems.

...

Time flew by, and only ten days remained until the start of the new school term.

With the exams concluded, successful students began filling out their enrollment forms, while those who didn't make the cut were left to seek alternative paths.

As he approached the classroom, the clamor from within was unmistakable. Peering inside, there was a clear divide: some students huddled together in animated discussion, while others, faces etched with disappointment, packed up their belongings. It was a single room, yet it held two very different realities.

"Zhou Mu, you're incredible!" Hai Ming, his deskmate, appeared out of nowhere, delivering a hearty slap to Zhou's shoulder. His smug expression suggested his exams had gone well.

"To think you got Wu Yuexia so riled up she nearly burst a blood vessel—classic Zhou Mu, always living up to my expectations!" Hai Ming's laughter boomed, drawing a slew of disapproving glares.

"She's too sensitive and quick-tempered; can't handle a bit of ribbing," Zhou Mu sighed, stepping away to distance himself from the immaturity. He had no desire to catch the foolishness bug—he aimed to stay sensible.

"Give it a rest. You devoured her elite spirit animal and then call her sensitive? Lucky for us, Wu Yuexia isn't here, or else... Uh..." Hai Ming's taunt trailed off as his face twisted into an awkward grimace.

Following Hai Ming's gaze, Zhou Mu spotted Wu Yuexia standing not too far off, her face a stormy shade of thunder.

"Looking quite recovered. When will you let your new spirit animal out to play?" Zhou Mu's greeting, light and casual, could have passed for friendly banter between old pals—if one were oblivious to the bad blood between them. To Wu Yuexia, however, it was nothing short of scorn.

Predictably, Wu Yuexia's body shook with uncontrollable rage at Zhou Mu's words.

"Got a case of Parkinson's?" Hai Ming couldn't resist a jab, "You should consider working in the cafeteria; you'd be a hit with the boss."

"You... you..." Wu Yuexia, still not fully recovered, was overwhelmed by fury and blacked out.

As Wu Yuexia collapsed, the woman beside her reacted with alarm. "You two are squabbling with a woman? What kind of men are you?"

"What does it matter to you whether I'm a man or not? If you're so curious, why don't we find a room? I'll show you what a real man is."

What does it matter to you whether I'm a man or not? If you're so curious about my manhood, come on, let's go to a hotel room, and I'll show you what a real man is like."

Hai Ming gave a cold laugh, feigning an attempt to drag the woman off to a hotel.

But before he could lay a hand on her, a scream erupted from the woman.

"Help! This pervert is molesting me! Somebody save me!"

Her voice was shrill and grating, reminiscent of a pig awaiting slaughter.

Hai Ming's face fell; he knew he was in deep trouble.

Reason with her, and she'll debate gender roles.

Talk equality, and she'll claim victimhood.

Encountering such a shrew meant endless, irrational disputes.

Sure enough, the woman's outcry turned heads, drawing the attention of nearby students. A few who thrived on commotion quickly made their way over.

"It's him! It's him!"

The more onlookers gathered, the more the woman thrived, clutching at Hai Ming's clothes and causing a scene.

But just as Hai Ming's face grew darker with anger, and he was about to react, a voice cut through from the side.

"What a sight, this fat lady here. All width, no height, just a big waist where her butt should be. Did some pigpen collapse and let you out? Haven't you ever looked at yourself in the mirror?"

"Who said that?"

Stung by the insult, the woman let out a screech and zeroed in on her heckler.

A parrot, no bigger than a rooster, with piercing eyes and an air of confidence, was the source.

Its words, sharp as needles, punctured the woman's inflated ego mercilessly.

"You... You..."

"What about 'you'?" Jin Zi cut her off, his mockery relentless. "If I were you, I'd stay home and spare the public the sight. Otherwise, you'd be taking up two seats on the bus with that rear of yours."

"You... you..."

Fuming, the woman trembled, pointing at Jin Zi, speechless.

Just as she was on the brink of exploding with rage, a figure emerged, a beacon of hope in her eyes.

"Mr. Rouge, Mr. Rouge, come quick! Someone's harassing your girlfriend!"

At the woman's shout, the man known as Mr. Rouge stiffened, then turned around with an icy glare.

Recognizing the face before him, Zhou Mu couldn't help but chuckle.

It was none other than Mr. Rouge, the same guy who had ridiculed him outside the exam hall.

"Didn't you say that if Zhou Mu managed to pass, you'd live-stream yourself eating three pounds of... well, you know. Now that Zhou Mu didn't just pass but also secured a first-rate evaluation, isn't it time to honor your word?"

Hai Ming, ever the instigator, pushed the harpy aside without a second thought.

At Hai Ming's provocation, the crowd erupted in taunts.

Why waste time on a harpy's curses when a live-stream of a more... unsavory nature promised far more entertainment?

"You..."

Mr. Rouge's face turned a sickly shade of green as he inwardly unleashed a tirade on his girlfriend, sparing no insult.

Being scorned for breaking a promise was one thing, but it was a far cry from the alternative he'd wagered.

Yet, Mr. Rouge wasn't ready to concede. He decided to challenge Zhou Mu to another bet.

A win would wipe the slate clean.

A loss? At worst, he'd just triple the stakes.

Either way, he was determined to come out ahead.