C11 University of Imuhchester

"Why are you two staring at me like that?" Qin Fen felt a blush creep up his cheeks under the gaze of the two stunning women.

"Qin, you can actually wield Time-Space Distortions?" Zhao Mengyue exclaimed, her hand covering her mouth in astonishment.

Qin Fen nodded with a sense of relief. "Yes, what else?"

Zhao Mengqian, who was nearby, overheard Qin Fen's admission and immediately slapped her snow-white, long legs in disbelief. "Oh my god, it's like squandering a divine gift! You, a prodigious genius with the Time-Space Attribute, are running a street stall here. Have I lost the ability to wield a knife?"

"Exactly, Qin! There are no more than fifteen individuals on the entire Blue Star capable of awakening Time-Space Distortions, and you're one of them!" Mengyue rattled off this information, eager for Qin Fen to grasp the full extent of his formidable abilities.

Even Mengqian was thrown into disarray. She hadn't expected the cunning merchant who had sold her the Nine-Taste Decoction for her grandfather a few months ago to be a Psychic with such a rare talent. And to think, he was still peddling goods on the street!

Upon hearing Mengyue's words, Qin Fen didn't seem overly surprised, as if he had been aware of his abilities all along.

"Really, it's no big deal. Look at me, still running my stall. It's just a run-of-the-mill psionic power," Qin Fen downplayed with a shake of his head.

Mengqian, however, wasn't convinced. Qin Fen might not understand the magnitude of his Time-Space Distortions, but she was acutely aware of its potential. Her gaze was profound, clearly indicating she had plans in mind.

Seeing her reaction, Qin Fen decided there was no point in concealing the truth any longer. He came clean, saying, "Alright, alright, I'll spill the beans. Although my ability is indeed Time-Space Distortions, my talent is pretty lackluster. It just means my cultivation progresses slowly."

Mengyue had an epiphany. No wonder Qin Fen hadn't been taking his situation seriously; he must have been aware of these details all along.

Time-Space Distortions might be impressive, but if the cultivator who awakens such an ability lacks innate talent, then the power becomes somewhat of a white elephant.

Zhao Mengyue smiled warmly and said, "Don't worry, Brother Qin Fen. These things aren't important. Back in the refugee camp, you went out of your way to help me. Now that I'm in a better position, I'll definitely return the favor."

Qin Fen was deeply moved by Zhao Mengyue's words. The bond they had formed under such circumstances was special, and it was uncertain how much of it had endured over time.

Regardless of what Zhao Mengyue might do, her words alone were enough for Qin Fen.

Flanked by Zhao Mengqian and Zhao Mengyue, Qin Fen left the market. When they approached the Audi, he was taken aback.

"What's this? Have the girls lost their car? Here they are with a car, and I'm stuck with just a bicycle—and a broken one at that, currently in the shop for repairs." Qin Fen scratched his head, feeling as though he was about to be taken under the wing of a wealthy patroness.

"Little Yue, what should we eat?" Zhao Mengqian glanced at Qin Fen in the passenger seat and rolled her eyes before turning to Zhao Mengyue in the backseat.

"I'll follow Qin Fen's lead," Zhao Mengyue replied, showing her fondness for him.

"Lucky you, what are you in the mood for?" Zhao Mengqian asked Qin Fen, her tone cool.

"Hot pot, of course. It's perfect no matter the season—summer, winter, spring, or fall. It's been a while since I've had it."

Today, having made a tidy sum, Qin Fen was ready to splurge, especially since he was celebrating his reunion with Yueyue.

"Great, we'll head to Jinji Hotpot downtown," Zhao Mengqian declared, pressing the gas pedal as the Audi surged forward, leaving the envious onlookers from Qin Fen's stall behind.

He sighed to himself, "It seems it's not the world that's fooled me, but my own naivety. There's no finding a wealthy benefactor without effort. It's all about who you know."

"This guy is clearly loaded. Even if he's not, he's got two gorgeous friends. Why's he even bothering with a street stall? If he's short on cash, he could just ask those beauties for help. It's pretty clear they're close."

"Seriously, he's messing with the market. Has setting up a street stall become this competitive? I'm ready to head back to the countryside."

Qin Fen and Zhao Mengqian had moved on, but the bystanders were well-meaning. The video of the two beauties helping him hawk his wares went viral, drawing in a horde of fans.

"Enoki mushrooms, bacon, wood ear mushrooms, lamb, beef, and a variety of other dishes—let's get five servings of each," Qin Fen declared, sweeping his arm with gusto.

"By the way, I like it spicy, and Yueyue does too. Mengqian, how about you?" Qin Fen asked Zhao Mengqian.

"Oh, I remember quite well, I like it spicy too," Zhao Mengqian replied, fixing Qin Fen with a stern look, seemingly irritated by his attentiveness to her sister.

Qin Fen could sense her annoyance and was a bit taken aback.

"I may have sold him two bottles of Nine-Taste Decoction last time and ticked him off, but that doesn't mean he should be holding a grudge against me all the time," Qin Fen mused, shaking his head. He was convinced there was more to it but couldn't pinpoint the issue.

Turning to Zhao Mengyue with a smile, Qin Fen inquired, "Yueyue, where are you studying these days?"

Zhao Mengyue smiled, her lips curving into a crescent moon.

"Qin, I'm currently enrolled at the University of Imuhchester, and Mengqian is in the same class as me. We're both sophomores."

Upon hearing this, Qin Fen was momentarily speechless. The University of Imuhchester was the top Supernatural Academy in the region. "How did you two get in? Was it through connections or on merit? If it's the latter, you must have outperformed a lot of competitors to secure your spots, right?"

Zhao Mengqian smirked and gave Qin Fen a look that seemed to say he was a country bumpkin. "You really are out of the loop. On Blue Star, if your talent and strength are sufficient, there's no such thing as competition."

Upon hearing this, Qin Fen's eyes bulged in surprise. The University of Imuhchester is renowned for consistently ranking in the top three in the entire Imuhchester region. How could Zhao Mengqian speak as if she could come and go from such a prestigious institution at will? It seemed far too casual.