Chapter Twenty-Two: The Literary Girl

"Senior, please accept my kowtow."
The young girl bowed so low that her bath towel nearly fell off.
"No need for that, really."
Liu Zheng reached out as if to help her up.
He didn't actually touch her, fearing he might be minced into meat paste.
"Yesterday, after I followed your advice, my manuscript was accepted immediately! The editor is very optimistic and even promised to arrange promotional support for me," the girl said excitedly.
"Congratulations, congratulations."
"It’s all thanks to your guidance, Senior. By the way, what kind of gift do you like? I’ll go buy it right away," the girl asked.
"Keep it in mind for now; I'll let you know when I think of something," Liu Zheng said after a moment's thought.
He didn't have anything specific he wanted at the moment, so it was better to save the favor. This woman seemed quite powerful; she might come in handy when things got critical.
"OK, then take down my number."
The girl rattled off a string of digits.
Liu Zheng memorized them in one go. His mental attribute seemed linked to his memory; he was now virtually photographic.
"By the way, what’s your name?" he asked. Even if he couldn't save the number, he needed something to call her by. He couldn't just keep referring to her as "that failed writer."
Hearing his question, the girl looked conflicted.
"What’s wrong?" Liu Zheng asked, puzzled.
"Well, I'm sorry, but I feel like we aren't that close yet," she said hesitantly.
How close do you need to be to give a name? Even the Japanese aren't this squeamish. He was speechless. However, considering the strangeness of this world, perhaps names held a different significance.
"Fine, then I’ll just call you Novelist," Liu Zheng shrugged.
"I am truly, deeply sorry."
The girl gave a deep bow.
It was very deep, and very revealing. When she straightened up, she naturally caught Liu Zheng’s gaze lingering on her.
"Would you like to see my chest instead?" she suggested on a whim, moving to undo her bath towel.
"I’m in a hurry. Another time, definitely," he waved his tentacles.
"Very well. If you have any needs, feel free to come back. Other parts are available too," the girl said solemnly.
Looking at her sincere expression, Liu Zheng didn't know whether to call her conservative or bold. All he could say was that she only looked human on the surface.

"I'm off."
Liu Zheng left Building 3A and arrived at Building 1. Unit 201 had no doorbell, so he tapped on the door with his tentacles.
It didn't hurt; his tentacles were tough, with a texture similar to rubber. They did, however, have a layer of chitin-like scales that made a grating, screeching sound against the metal door.
Fortunately, the door opened after only a few taps.
"What is it?"
A young boy wearing a full-body panda onesie looked at him expressionlessly.
"Food delivery," Liu Zheng said, holding up the bag.
"Oh."
The panda boy took the bag.
"Wait, that's it?" Liu Zheng asked, surprised.
"What else?" the panda boy countered.
"Aren't you supposed to refuse the delivery?" Liu Zheng asked. Up until now, no one had actually signed for the food properly. Ms. Li had signed, but she hadn't eaten it.
"Do you think I'm like those small fries?" the panda boy said coldly.
In an instant, Liu Zheng felt a surge of profound malice. He instinctively tried to jump back, only to find himself completely paralyzed.
The panda boy glanced at him, then opened the delivery box. He used chopsticks to pick through the intestines, then lifted one and placed it in his mouth to chew. The yellowish-green filling oozed down the corner of his mouth, making Liu Zheng feel nauseated.
"Very fresh." The panda boy smiled with satisfaction.
"Thank you for your appreciation of our restaurant's offerings," Liu Zheng said politely.
"Hmm?" The panda boy’s gaze suddenly focused on Liu Zheng’s abdomen.
"Your intestines look quite good, too." He gave a pure, innocent smile.
"I'm sorry, that is not within the delivery scope," Liu Zheng replied calmly.
"Come find me when you're ready to sell. Remember to eat your fill first," the panda boy said, patting Liu Zheng's stomach before closing the door.

"Whew!" Liu Zheng let out a long, heavy breath.
If he hadn't discovered the loophole in the first order of sashimi intestines, he would likely be dead by now. Faced with the panda boy, Liu Zheng hadn't even had the chance to run. That thing was terrifying.
Liu Zheng raised a tentacle and wiped the bodily fluids off his scalp. He took a deep breath, the familiar scent of rotting vegetation helping him regain his composure.
"I've become a bit too arrogant," Liu Zheng laughed at himself. He had thought that as long as he didn't court death, self-preservation wouldn't be an issue. It seemed he was still far from that.

Back at the community entrance, the security guard was still smoking in the guard booth. Seeing Liu Zheng exit, he gave a cold look and ignored him. Liu Zheng didn't try to provoke him either and headed straight out.
As he passed the decorative rock at the gate, a mass of tangled hair suddenly exploded from the shadows.
"I was waiting for you," he sneered inwardly. Even if he wasn't a smoker, he knew that three cigarettes were for the dead.
Liu Zheng didn't hesitate to use his "Skateboard Shoes." His figure instantly turned into a blur, reappearing a hundred meters away.
A blood-red path stretched from the gate to his previous position, covered in countless shreds of flesh and gore.
"Hiss!" Liu Zheng gasped, looking at his severed lower half. The cut was clean and precise, sharper than anything a surgical chainsaw could produce. It was a pity it had been ground into the pavement so badly; otherwise, it could have served as a surgical textbook.
It wasn't just his lower half; all his tentacles had been severed as well. It was clear the guard had learned his lesson and intended to destroy his mobility before slowly finishing him off. Unfortunately for him, Liu Zheng had his skates.
He turned to look at the Green Laurel Garden. A humanoid figure made of black and white hair was staring at him intensely, but it didn't dare take another step forward.
"See you later!" Liu Zheng shouted. If he had the limbs for it, he would have waved goodbye.
The humanoid opened its mouth, let out a sharp, piercing shriek, and then collapsed into nothingness.
"Yeah, yeah, I'll bring you some cigarettes next time," Liu Zheng said earnestly.

"Friction on the smooth ground, friction..."
He hummed to himself as he crawled along the ground. It would take some time for his tentacles and hooves to grow back, so he might as well use the spare time to work on his abs.
He crawled all the way back to the Bloody Restaurant, where the Ox-Horse was cooking something. A large stainless steel pot sat on a heavy-duty alcohol stove, bubbling away. Liu Zheng was more curious about how the Ox-Horse had managed to light the stove, considering it didn't have any tentacles.
"You got beaten up again, didn't you?" The Ox-Horse glanced at him, gloating. Liu Zheng was a size thinner than when he had left.
"When you're drifting in the world of martial arts, how can you avoid getting cut?" he waved his hand dismissively.
"I never get cut," the Ox-Horse said proudly. "Look, just slaughtered."
It pointed to the pot. Floating in the thick green liquid were several heads with skin and flesh torn open. From their features, they looked quite human. But judging by the size, they couldn't be. Even a dwarf's head wouldn't be only half the size of a palm. If they were infants, they shouldn't have had such thick hair. Moreover, they were just too ugly—old and hideous.
"What is that stuff?" Liu Zheng asked with disgust.
"Underground Rat-Men. They tried to steal deliveries, so I wiped out the whole nest," the Ox-Horse replied.
"People actually dare to steal deliveries?" He was surprised. So far, the restaurant seemed to have quite a reputation. Those who gave him trouble usually relied on deception, and even street thugs like the French Plane Tree didn't dare to strike directly. The security guard at Green Laurel Garden had only ambushed him because he had struck first.
"There are always those who want money more than their lives. Oh, it's ready." The Ox-Horse chuckled. It lifted the stainless steel pot and was just about to pour it into its mouth when it noticed Liu Zheng's gaze.
"Want a share?" it asked reluctantly.
"You enjoy it alone," he declined firmly.
"You don't know a good thing when you see it; this is rare treasure," the Ox-Horse scoffed at his squeamishness.
"I can't tell," Liu Zheng said. He tried to summon the system for the pot of soup, but no item description appeared.
"That's why I said you're ignorant. Rat-skin men are the best tonic for virility; I don't tell just anyone that," the Ox-Horse said mysteriously.
"What are you trying to do?" He looked at the Ox-Horse warily. They were the only two in the breakroom.