After school, Qin Siyang headed to the library once again to organize books.
But this time, he noticed a third person in the room besides Ms. Zhu and Wen Shu—Zhao Liwen.
He was studying at a desk too, not sharing the same small table as Wen Shu, but sitting directly across from her.
Wen Shu's face was completely expressionless. Her large eyes were fixed solely on the exam paper in front of her, as if fully absorbed in her studies.
But Qin Siyang knew she wasn't in a good mood.
Ordinarily, when he arrived after school to tidy up, she'd greet him with a smile, her expression relaxed and easy.
Now, she looked like nothing more than a studying machine.
At that moment, Zhao Liwen walked over to ask Wen Shu a question. She replied flatly, her answers concise and to the point—unwilling to say a single extra word.
Qin Siyang shrugged, ready to have another talk with "Second Place Zhao." But Ms. Zhu let out a soft cough.
She tapped a note on the desk. "This is for you."
Qin Siyang picked it up and recognized Wen Shu's handwriting:
"Zhao Liwen attends Ju'an School because his father is an intern at the local Engineering Bureau—it's convenient for him. His father is about to be promoted and has some connections and influence. Don't provoke him right now."
Qin Siyang pulled a helpless face.
Wen Shu had already anticipated his next move—there was nothing left to say.
Ms. Zhu spoke up. "Hurry up and finish tidying up. We need to lock up and leave."
"Got it."
Qin Siyang knew Wen Shu was suffering just being in the library with Zhao Liwen, so he worked quickly.
After a short while, he turned to Zhao Liwen and Wen Shu.
"The library is closing. Please leave, students."
Wen Shu said nothing. She put her exercise book back on the shelf, slung her backpack over her shoulder, and walked out.
Zhao Liwen, however, dragged his feet, not exiting until Ms. Zhu was about to lock the door.
"Qin Siyang," Zhao Liwen called out, stopping him as he turned to leave.
"What now?"
"I hope you'll consider what I said yesterday. I mean no harm—I was being sincere."
Qin Siyang was tired of dealing with him. He kept walking toward the school gate.
Zhao Liwen chased after him. "I hope you understand—being around you only distracts Wen Shu."
"Are you out of your mind? I haven't said a single word to her today. If anyone's distracting her, it's you!"
Zhao Liwen pressed his lips together. "Even if she is distracted, she can easily get into one of the lower-ranked academies. So I'm not really affecting her."
"But you—someone who can't even get into an academy—wasting her energy? That's just a complete waste of her time."
Zhao Liwen's words ignited a sudden fury in Qin Siyang's chest.
What did he mean by "it's fine if he distracts her"?
How could anyone say something so shameless?
He'd thought Zhao Liwen was just a bookworm, but now he realized—he was a refined egoist.
If he didn't have to meet Roylena that night, Qin Siyang would have ambushed Zhao Liwen on his way home and given him a good beating with a wooden stick!
"Your words are even more pleasant than a fart," Qin Siyang shot back, then strode away without looking back.
Zhao Liwen stared coldly at his retreating figure, let out a disdainful snort, and headed home.
---
Qin Siyang dropped his backpack at home, then prepared to meet Roylena.
He recalled the information he'd found on the Godslayer Camp forum:
"Roylena isn't a Scent Tracker Sequence Ability user, but she has experience solving cases and tracking down criminals. She must possess a low-level scent-tracking item."
It was seven o'clock in the evening, and pedestrians were still passing through Chunliu Alley.
This alley was a shortcut from the edge of the safe zone to the city center. People who couldn't afford the bus fare often took it to save time.
Qin Siyang had learned about Chunliu Alley from his forum research.
Sequence Ability users heading to Safe Zone Exit 114514 were usually not very powerful. They hadn't hunted many gods and didn't earn much.
Sometimes, to save money, they had to walk home—and Chunliu Alley was a common route for them.
Qin Siyang waited for a lull in the foot traffic, then slipped into the agreed-upon woods and took cover nearby.
He opened his lunchbox and rubbed the three-winged flying fish he'd brought from the cafeteria onto his clothes.
"Low-level scent-tracking items are far inferior to the Scent Tracker ability [Scent Seeking]. If covered with a strong enough odor, the item will be unable to track its target."
"The smell of the cafeteria food should be more than enough."
This was another tip he'd gleaned from a discussion thread on the Godslayer Camp forum.
Once he'd finished smearing the food on his clothes, he closed the lunchbox and waited quietly for Roylena's arrival.
At around 8:30 p.m., a figure in a windbreaker appeared in the woods.
Qin Siyang could hear the dull thud of leather shoes stepping on stones—he knew it must be Roylena.
He had no idea why she'd arrived half an hour early.
He stayed hidden, observing her silently.
Roylena pulled out a bottle of perfume, sprayed it on herself, then stood motionless.
A moment later, the scent drifted to Qin Siyang's nose.
The fresh fragrance calmed his nerves, easing some of his anxiety.
"Is this ordinary perfume? Or a prerequisite for activating some Sequence ability?"
Qin Siyang frowned, deep in thought.
He still didn't know what Roylena's true Sequence ability was, so he remained on high alert.
Roylena seemed to grow impatient. She checked her phone repeatedly.
After confirming she hadn't set any traps, Qin Siyang covered his face with a piece of cloth and stepped out from behind the bushes.
Unfortunately, the cloth he used to hide his face was soaked in the smell of cafeteria food—an unpleasant sensation to say the least.
Roylena was startled when she saw him emerge, then asked coldly, "You've been here the whole time. Why didn't you show yourself earlier?"
"Didn't feel like it," Qin Siyang replied honestly.
Roylena flipped her golden bangs. "What do you want with me?"
"I need a favor."
"Spit it out."
"Introduce me to the person who forged your Sequence ability registration."
Roylena's pupils suddenly dilated—only to freeze at the masked man's next words.
"I'd advise you to take your right hand off the gun under your windbreaker. If a shot is fired, you won't kill me—and there'll be no turning back."
Roylena was stunned. She hadn't expected him to see through her movements.
What incredible sensory perception and predictive ability!
But she kept her hand on the gun. She'd loaded it before arriving, ready to draw and shoot at any moment.
"You're very confident. But I don't think you can move faster than a bullet."
Qin Siyang smiled. "Of course I can't move faster than a bullet. But a bullet requires you to draw your gun and pull the trigger first, doesn't it?"
"I just need to be faster than you."