CHAPTER 46: CHAPTER 21: WHAT IS A SURPRISE

Xiaowu is a warm-hearted guy. The next day, he took the high-speed train back to Qi Yuan City and called He Kao to meet up after work for skewers and beers again.

He Kao sighed inwardly, this guy is really straightforward. He said skewers and it really stayed as BBQ, not even changing venues, nor suggesting trying hot pot or something. Out loud, he exclaimed, "I never thought you’d come all this way."

Wu Yanjun: "You said you’d treat me again, so I have to fulfill your wish, right? After all, it’s my junior sister’s doing; I need to handle it cleanly. Oh, did you manage to return that badge to your coworker?"

He Kao: "I did return it, didn’t say anything else, just told him I found it in the restaurant. Now can you tell me, which of these two pendants is real and which one is fake? I barely slept well last night because of it."

As he spoke, He Kao took out the two pendants, both already labeled with tags.

With just a glance, Wu Yanjun said, "Number one is fake, number two is real. But there’s one thing I need to remind you of..." and he relayed what the junior sister had said.

He Kao suddenly realized, "So that’s how it is, makes sense. Thanks for the heads up! So this real Beast Claw can’t be worn, but there’s no benefit to wearing the fake one either."

Wu Yanjun: "There’s no harm in wearing it. A bit of blood essence is nothing, and as for that trace of resentment, with your physique, it wouldn’t take long to wear off. Didn’t I mention it on the phone?

If you’re still worried, give it to me first, and I’ll help you get rid of the resentment. Afterward, you can wear this fake Beast Claw; no one will doubt the item again."

He Kao handed the number one Beast Claw to Wu Yanjun, who casually wore it around his neck and tucked it inside his shirt. He Kao curiously asked, "Is this how you dispel resentment?"

Wu Yanjun: "I have my own methods, don’t ask if you don’t understand."

In truth, Wu Yanjun didn’t know the precise method to dispel resentment from objects, but he had a vague spiritual sense and could use a clumsy method—using his own blood essence to counteract and dissipate the resentment until he couldn’t sense any more of it, considering that a success.

After a few more skewers, Wu Yanjun asked, "Where did you originally get this Beast Claw from? Was it passed down through your family?"

He Kao: "You could say it’s an heirloom. My grandfather got it."

He had heard his grandfather mention its origins. Many years ago, during the off-season for farming, the able-bodied from all around worked at the water conservancy site. Back then, the mountain areas to the north were densely forested, with wild beasts roaming.

One day, they caught a leopard at the site, said to be an injured cub, and it happened to be in the area where his grandfather worked. In those days, meat was rare and their stomachs craved nourishment, so they stewed the leopard.

He Kao remembered this clearly because his grandfather recalled this event with a nostalgic expression. It’s said that after eating the leopard meat, many people felt hot and a bit restless that night.

The leopard’s skin and bones were divided among everyone later, and his grandfather took back a leopard paw. This was at least fifty years ago when He Kao wasn’t even born, and his father, Zhou Du, was just a few years old.

His grandfather heard that it could ward off evil, so he drilled it to make a pendant, later giving it to his eldest grandson to wear.

The story was simple and unadorned, yet Wu Yanjun blinked while listening and pondered aloud, "So it’s like a protective talisman. Your grandfather must have had it blessed or something."

He Kao: "I wouldn’t know about that. Maybe you’re right. Xiaowu, let me toast to you first... Do you think we count as friends?"

Wu Yanjun raised his glass and said, "You’re a decent guy worth befriending."

He Kao: "Can I ask you something then, can you teach me some techniques? I’m really envious of you unique folks; I’d like to have more skills too."

Wu Yanjun was taken aback and stammered, "Well, um, we have rules in our Magic Sect, and I can’t teach you on my own... Besides, you seem a bit too old.

My master said that I was already a bit older, and getting in was purely out of luck, mainly due to my outstanding potential, which is very rare."

He Kao: "Of course, I know you can’t easily teach others; I just wanted to ask what it takes to learn these techniques and what the requirements are."

Now Wu Yanjun felt awkward. He had previously tried to portray a mysterious image in front of He Kao, but his identity as a Micro Sect Disciple hadn’t even been officially recognized. He definitely couldn’t make new issues at this time.

At first, his master initiated him as a disciple while in jail, hoping that upon release, he could bring Xiaowu formally into the Magic Sect through old connections and favors, thus perfectly resolving the issue, which Xiaowu wasn’t qualified to do himself.

He had to vaguely say, "I’ll help you inquire about it later, but I can’t guarantee there will be a clear answer."

He Kao raised his glass, saying, "Thanks a lot then! Really, I was just asking, no pressure, no pressure!" Then changing the subject, he added, "Brother Wu, you’ve been out for a while now, have you gone back home to visit?"

This ostensibly caring question made Wu Yanjun feel dejected. He lowered his head and took several sips of wine before replying, "When I got out, my parents came to pick me up.

I told them that my mentor had heard about my situation and specially introduced me to a job, and I had to report after getting out. My parents pressed me about what kind of mentor and job it was. I said it was the mentor from my overseas studies, and he has students doing business here.

Only then were my parents relieved, urging me to do well..."

This statement had a lot of information. His parents were actually very worried that Xiaowu might have picked up bad habits inside. Job hunting for ex-convicts is somewhat restricted, but indeed, inmates would sometimes introduce each other to job opportunities after release, given the camaraderie of having been through it together.