Chapter Four: Primal Energy and the Plan

“Wait, did you say they possess intelligence?” Lin Lei listened to Li Xueshu’s explanation, but couldn’t help furrowing his brows deeply.

The ghouls Li Xueshu described differed greatly from the one he had encountered—his attacker had only mindlessly gnawed at him, showing no sign whatsoever of intelligence. Had it known how to kill him quickly or resist his attacks, he would never have been able to bite it to death with his own teeth!

Li Xueshu raised her brows slightly. “Their intelligence isn’t high, and they’re still in a stage akin to primitive savagery, but they do possess a measure of intellect.”

Lin Lei frowned, then briefly described his experience. He concealed the secret of his “Gluttony” ability, instead saying that after being attacked, he awakened a physical enhancement power, which enabled him to deal with the ghoul that didn’t know how to resist.

“A ghoul that doesn’t know how to fight back? No wonder you survived.” Li Xueshu was momentarily surprised, then arched her brow and continued, “Ghouls do possess intelligence. Some individuals can even communicate with humans, make pacts with them, and certain clans of ghouls have their own beliefs, worshipping powerful forbidden entities…”

At this point, her words slowed, her expression growing solemn.

“The ghoul you encountered might be an aberration within the group. Just as among humans, there are always a few individuals with genetic mutations.”

An aberration? A genetic mutation? Lin Lei’s lips twitched.

Li Xueshu continued, raising her brow. “Or perhaps, due to certain reasons, the ghoul had fallen into a particular abnormal state…”

Lin Lei pondered this, shaking his head. “Why did it target me?”

Li Xueshu replied, “I have two theories. First, someone who’s made a pact with a ghoul is targeting you.”

Lin Lei’s eyes flashed.

Li Xueshu paused before continuing, “But this possibility is low. By your own account, your social ties are simple, and you have no enemies… Though there’s a slight chance your relatives or foes are targeting you, it seems unlikely. Frankly, to deal with you, there’s no need to resort to ‘anomalies.’ That would only make things messier…”

Lin Lei coughed lightly. With his original self’s solitary nature, no friends, always alone, any ordinary person could have easily dealt with him. Given the security and environment of Biyang City, if someone wanted to target him, there would have been easier ways.

“What about the second possibility?” Lin Lei pressed.

Li Xueshu raised her eyebrows. “As a natural awakener, you must possess a strong source energy affinity. Even before awakening, you carried more source energy than most, making you far more attractive to anomalies than ordinary prey… It’s possible the source energy fluctuations you unconsciously emitted drew the ghoul to you while it was prowling and hunting at night.”

Lin Lei was taken aback. “Source energy?”

Li Xueshu looked at him and explained, “‘Source energy’ is a special force present in everything. It’s the origin of our awakening and the existence of anomalies. The higher your source energy, the stronger your abilities. Greater source energy affinity means you absorb it more efficiently than others. Elevating your source energy brings ‘gifts’—that is, abilities—and overall improvement of your physical attributes.”

“So… I’m a genius at absorbing source energy?” Lin Lei’s eyes shone.

Li Xueshu nodded, smiling. “You could say that. But before you master the Source Energy Cultivation Method, you’re still absorbing external source energy according to your body’s instincts, which is actually quite slow.”

“Source Energy Cultivation Method?” Lin Lei’s eyes sparkled.

He stared intently at Li Xueshu. “There’s a specific way to cultivate source energy?”

“There is, but due to a confidentiality agreement I signed, I can’t directly teach it to you. And without special ‘potions’ to aid you, it’s difficult to master the method just from my instructions.”

Li Xueshu smiled as she spoke. “If you choose to join the Investigation Bureau, you’ll be eligible to learn the Source Energy Cultivation Method. However, everything has a price. Rapid source energy growth isn’t without drawbacks. I’ll tell you more once you officially join the Bureau.”

A price? Lin Lei’s eyes flashed. He asked directly, “How do I join you?”

Li Xueshu replied, “I’ll write a recommendation letter for you. The Investigation Bureau will conduct a background check, and after you pass, you’ll face their assessment and interview. If you succeed, you’ll officially join us. The review takes about a week. In the meantime, focus on your newly awakened ‘gift,’ your ability. Explore it thoroughly to perform well in the interview and raise your evaluation!”

“If anything unusual happens, if a ghoul targets you again, or if you encounter trouble you can’t handle, just call me. My number is…”

Chen Fan noted down Li Xueshu’s phone number.

“By the way, Li Xueshu, could you give me more detailed information and intelligence about these ghouls? If I run into another one, it’d help to know how to respond.”

“Certainly.” Li Xueshu nodded, pulled out her phone, and quickly sent Lin Lei a file.

“Don’t share this document with anyone else.”

Lin Lei licked his lips and nodded.

“One more thing.” Li Xueshu suddenly stood up, leaned forward, her gaze fixed intently on Lin Lei.

“I hope you’ll keep this secret for me. I didn’t know you were attacked by a ghoul yesterday. I simply happened to notice your awakening. Since we’re classmates, I wanted to recruit you for the Investigation Bureau. Is that alright, Lin Lei?”

Lin Lei paused, then nodded. “Alright.”

“Then we’ll meet again soon. Once the Bureau’s review is complete, I’ll message you.” A smile flickered on Li Xueshu’s lips. She turned to leave, and at the doorway, paused, her eyes lingering on Lin Lei with hopeful anticipation before she departed.

…

Stepping out of the tea house, Lin Lei exhaled deeply.

None of the secrets the girl mentioned stirred the original self, nor did any new fragments of memory surface; clearly, the original had never known or stepped into that hidden world.

Lin Lei licked his lips, gazing at the ghoul dossier on his phone.

“Ghouls are communal creatures, usually hunting near their nests at night. That means, since I was attacked by one, there may be more lurking around my home…”

With the “Gluttony” ability, ordinary food could fill Lin Lei’s stomach, but couldn’t truly satisfy his hunger. Yet after preying upon an anomaly, the sense of self-improvement and the accompanying spiritual fulfillment made him crave more.

His eyes flickered as he continued reading.

“Though ghouls possess intelligence, they’re nothing like humans. They still rely on claws and fangs as weapons, surviving in underground tunnels like beasts. At best, they’re just another form of animal…”

“Not to mention fully armed special forces—any reasonably trained, calm adult man with a suitable long weapon could take down a ghoul one-on-one.”

In fact, had ghouls posed a real threat, Li Xueshu’s attitude would have been very different.

His thoughts churned, his appetite, triggered by “Gluttony,” surged in his mind.

A bold idea took shape—hunt the ghouls.

These first-tier anomalies had little more than sharp claws extended from their palms and resilient, rubber-like skin. While tougher than human skin, it couldn’t withstand a sharp blade. The ghoul’s claws and fangs were deadly, but their attack range was limited.

Lin Lei, a martial arts enthusiast in his previous life, considered himself above average among amateurs. With his current physique matching a ghoul’s, and armed with the right long weapon, he was confident he could easily slay one—perhaps even handle two or three at once.

With this in mind, his steps halted abruptly, his gaze settling on a two-yuan variety store by the roadside.

He walked inside.

“Do you have any watermelon knives?”