Grotesqueries of the Old Domain

Chapter 20: The Robber

"Uh, Zhang Wenda."

Zhang Wenda reached out to shake the cat-girl's hand and could feel the thick calluses on her fingertips.

It was obvious that the girl named Song Jianguo in front of him had done a lot of hard labor.

Just as Zhang Wenda was calculating in his mind how to communicate with her without asking questions, he heard her say something completely unexpected.

"I know someone gave you a ticket last night. I need that. Hand it over."

"What the hell?!"

Zhang Wenda stood up in shock, looking at her in disbelief—how did she know?

When he saw the surrounding black cats stop playing and start approaching, he felt a surge of alarm.

"Little girl, by age you should be calling me uncle, but I won’t fuss about that. Didn’t your parents teach you not to ask strangers for things?"

Another wound appeared.

Song Jianguo pulled out a spear with a triangular military bayonet tip from a gap in the treehouse and pointed it directly at Zhang Wenda, saying calmly, "I didn’t ask. I'm hunting. In your words, this is daylight robbery."

Zhang Wenda stared at her in disbelief, thinking she was joking.

But when he saw the group of cats gradually closing in, he realized she was serious.

He felt a bit regretful—he had assumed that since the black cat helped him, its owner would also be friendly.

Who would’ve thought she was a robber!

Could it be that she used the black cat as bait?

Quickly analyzing the situation, Zhang Wenda began slowly edging toward the treehouse exit.

Of course, he wouldn’t hand over the ticket given to him by the Rabbit.

That ticket was key to escaping the rules!

When Zhang Wenda saw the black cats around him arching their backs, he steeled himself and suddenly dashed for the treehouse exit.

With a flash of light, Zhang Wenda leapt out of the treehouse, clutching the utility pole and sliding down with both hands and feet.

Before he hit the ground, a swishing sound came—attached to a thick black cord, the spear landed right in his path.

When Zhang Wenda steadied himself, he saw it wasn't a black cord—it was a chain of black cats linking head to tail!

At the same time, Song Jianguo at the treehouse entrance gave a tug with her right hand.

The spear embedded in the utility pole was yanked back by the cat-chain.

Her muscular thigh gave a powerful kick as she leapt down several meters, landing right in front of Zhang Wenda again.

"You know what that thing is? And you just want it?"

Hearing that, Zhang Wenda, who had just descended the pole, paused.

"What? You mean this thing has hidden dangers? Are you doing this for my sake?"

Zhang Wenda began wondering if he’d misjudged her again.

But he didn’t believe the Rabbit would harm him.

If she had meant to, last night would’ve been the perfect chance.

"No. It’s even better if you don’t know. That way, you won’t feel bad when I rob you."

After saying that, Song Jianguo charged at him with her cats.

Zhang Wenda felt a surge of anger.

He stopped running and pounced back toward her—he didn’t believe this girl would dare commit murder in broad daylight.

Facing the incoming spear, he grabbed it with one hand and exerted force.

With a sudden burst of strength, he flung Song Jianguo away.

Zhang Wenda was surprised by his own strength.

Looking down at his right forearm, he saw the dried red scar from the Youth Center had partially recovered.

It was this latent power he had unconsciously tapped into just now.

Song Jianguo, thrown against a wall, stared at Zhang Wenda with surprise, seemingly unsure of his capabilities.

Seeing her hesitation, Zhang Wenda shook his fist at her.

"You dare mess with a tiger’s butt? Do you know who I am? Try that again and see if I don’t beat you up!"

After saying that, Zhang Wenda turned and walked off.

As for Song Jianguo, he was still puzzled—what was going on here?

Why did this little girl resort to robbery the moment they met?

How was she even raised?

But considering how strange this place was, Zhang Wenda grudgingly accepted it.

If the Youth Center was alive, then a random cat-girl being a robber didn’t seem all that weird.

Now Zhang Wenda found himself on a bustling street.

When he looked back, she was already out of sight.

To avoid getting targeted again, Zhang Wenda headed straight for the Xinhua Bookstore.

He was curious now—what made the ticket so valuable that Song Jianguo would go that far?

By the time he arrived at the bookstore with a bun in hand, it was already 10 a.m.

He didn’t have a watch—the time came from a square clock on the county’s tallest building.

Looking up at the sign with red letters on a white background, he bit into the bun and began searching for the entrance.

"But this is a bookstore, right? How come there’s not even a door?"

Zhang Wenda puffed his cheeks and muttered.

Circling the sign, he finally found a counter—a very tall counter.

It was so tall that even on tiptoe he couldn’t see inside.

He could barely make out a sign inside: "No beating customers."

Zhang Wenda raised the ticket given by the Rabbit high into the air.

"Hello, anyone there?"

A lazy woman’s voice came from inside the counter.

"So annoying, a customer this early in the morning."

A strange sound followed—Zhang Wenda recognized it.

It was the sound of knitting.

"Um..."

Just as he didn’t know what to say, a wrinkled hand with long nails suddenly reached out from the counter and snatched the function ticket.

Just when Zhang Wenda thought he’d encountered another robber, the lazy voice spoke again.

"Alright, what do you want to trade for?"

"What can I get for it?" Zhang Wenda asked eagerly.

Strangely, this time asking a question didn’t get him punished.

"You need a meat ticket to buy meat, a cloth ticket to buy cloth, a bicycle ticket for a bike—you gave me a function ticket. What do you think that trades for? Hah, you kids are hilarious."

Zhang Wenda’s jaw dropped.

There were really special powers in this world?

And they could be bought?

And you needed tickets for them?!

"Really... there are really special powers?!"

Zhang Wenda asked again to confirm.

"Of course there are. Don’t you watch TV?

All those gifted children with powers on the screen—you think they’re fake?"

"Forget the child prodigies—remember the big fire in the Greater Khingan Mountains during New Year? That was put out by a special power master using his powers. Ah, you’re hopeless, kid. Don’t know a thing."