Chapter 019: The Courage of a Bear, the Boldness of a Leopard

Besides his hearing, his vision was also elevated at an astonishing pace. Through the car window, he could see the towering trees fifty meters away, the texture of their trunks and leaves as clear as if they were right before him. A gentle breeze stirred the fine hairs on his skin, soft as silk. This was the heightened sense of touch, and like hearing and sight, the stronger it became, the better. But the sudden enhancement of his sense of smell caught Tang Mubai off guard.

Though the bus was not an enclosed space, the various scents within the cabin relentlessly invaded his nose. The myriad unpleasant odors nearly made him retch. He quickly held his breath and spent some time adapting to the new sensitivity of his nose. Only after careful adjustment was he able to breathe freely, filtering out the offending smells.

Taste required food to discern any change, but he guessed it would be much the same. If left unchecked, the sharpened senses would bring both benefit and trouble. The advantage was that any flaw in the food would be instantly detected as soon as it touched his tongue. The downside was that his palate would become increasingly picky. Meat would be excluded entirely; regardless of the kind, there would always be a lingering animal scent, impossible to remove with seasoning alone. Even vegetables retained traces of fertilizer. Most people couldn’t detect these residual odors, but with Tang Mubai’s enhanced taste, he could generally distinguish them. So, determined to still enjoy good food, he continued to practice controlling his sense of taste.

The final results would have to be tested at Miracle Restaurant.

...

The bus entered Maple Leaf City.

The thirty-odd eliminated candidates got off at the central plaza. Those who passed the assessment remained on board, returning to the Martial Association building to receive their professional martial artist certificates.

On the way back, the Martial Association had already received the results of the practical examination. Certificates for those who passed were immediately prepared. By the time Tang Mubai and his companions entered the first-floor lobby, staff were already waiting, distributing the dozens of certificates to their respective owners.

Tang Mubai took his certificate, examined it in his hands, and quietly let out a breath. With the martial artist certificate in hand, Miracle Restaurant would no longer have to close temporarily!

From this moment onward, Tang Mubai enjoyed priority in travel, auctions, and business dealings. He would pay only half the normal taxes, and could carry weapons when leaving the city. There were further benefits for opening shops or companies, and he could even provide legal cover for others.

In short, becoming a professional martial artist granted a host of privileges. The only downside was the mandatory annual mission. But for Tang Mubai, this was of little consequence. As a representative of the Miracle Mercenary Group, he was required to venture into the outer regions every three months, so the martial artist’s obligation could be easily merged. Both a martial artist and a mercenary—a double advantage! Other mercenary group members handled their mandatory tasks in the same way. Tang Mubai would be foolish not to make use of it.

With his certificate in hand, he drove straight to Miracle Restaurant, intending to retrieve the property deed and transfer the business registration to his own name.

It was already midday. Leaving the city, slaying the giant insect, returning—after a busy morning, Tang Mubai’s stomach was growling. With the improvements in physique, strength, and agility, his digestive ability had greatly increased. So, he sped along, nearly flying all the way to the restaurant.

He parked, locked the car, and strode into the entrance, ready to call out. But his enhanced perception—attribute 5—immediately alerted him to something amiss!

It was lunchtime, and Miracle Restaurant was bustling. The first-floor hall was nearly full, waitresses darting between tables in a flurry of activity. The lively, noisy atmosphere enveloped the entire floor.

But Tang Mubai’s senses clearly registered that amidst the clamor, two opposing forces were probing and testing each other. Invisible energies shrouded the room. They hadn’t fully collided, but there was an imminent tension—like a fuse waiting to be lit for a spectacular explosion.

“Damn, are two groups about to start a fight in my restaurant?” Tang Mubai cursed inwardly, but maintained a calm demeanor. He quickly approached Zhou Yun, the busy lobby manager, catching her eye as he pulled her into the back courtyard.

“What’s wrong, Xiao Bai?” Zhou Yun asked, wiping sweat from her brow. “I’m busy right now—make it quick.”

“There’s trouble in the main hall,” Tang Mubai said bluntly. “Two groups are squaring off, and there’s a high chance they’ll start fighting. This is our turf; we can’t let them trash the place. I’ll handle it myself, get a read on their situation, and if all goes well, I’ll get them to leave. But I need your cooperation. When you go back, tell Xiaojie and the others to pretend they don’t know me!”

“Huh?” Zhou Yun was bewildered. “Is this for real?”

“You’ll see soon enough,” Tang Mubai replied through gritted teeth. Who dared make trouble at Miracle Restaurant—had they lost their minds?

“Alright, then,” Zhou Yun agreed, seeing his determination.

They split up—Zhou Yun went to the front, Tang Mubai upstairs to change. By the time he came down, all the waitresses had gotten the message. Seeing him dressed like them, their eyes sparkled with amusement.

All the staff at Miracle Restaurant were women. The uniforms were thus quite feminine. Tang Mubai, dressed in one, exuded a unique charm—especially now, with his power and aura newly enhanced. He didn’t appear girlish, but instead radiated an unusual, heroic air.

Truth be told, Tang Mubai was a little dumbfounded looking at himself in the waiter’s uniform. Thankfully, it wasn’t a skirt, just dress pants—neutral enough to be acceptable.

He entered the hall, responded to a patron’s request for drinks, then returned to the kitchen, picked up a tray of dishes, and quietly approached one of the sources of tension.

The group sat in a corner on the east side—three men and one woman. Tang Mubai adjusted his hearing, walking past the aisle as he listened to their subdued conversation.

“Captain, with so many people here, should we still make a move?”

“Of course, but not here—outside!”

“What if he doesn’t leave? I think he’s already spotted us!”

“He has, but we must take him down. If I’m not mistaken, this guy is a half-beast as well!”

Half... half-beast?