After exhausting a crate of civilian-grade ammunition, Nian lay on the ground, gasping for breath, his eyes vacant and foam frothing at his mouth, completely drained of strength and means.
Shi Pengpeng tightened the ink line, and Nian’s body shrank accordingly, eventually reducing to the size of a small dog.
Xiao Lingshu looked left and right, exclaiming, “Wow, it looks like a Shih Tzu!”
Nian:”…..”
Furious but dared not speak!
Shi Pengpeng kicked it lightly, “Now, I’ll ask, and you’ll answer.”
Nian, no longer daring to resist, obediently began to speak.
Nian had indeed lived deep in the mountains and dense forests, but like many other monsters, he yearned for the life of human society.
Thus, he transformed into human form and left the mountains, eventually making his way to Xiluo.
Xiluo, as a major metropolitan city, was bustling with life and densely populated, making it an ideal place for a ferocious beast that thrived on “devouring humans.”
But how to “devour humans” was another matter.
After all, times had changed, and one couldn’t just grab someone and start feasting as in the past.
Not to mention the risk of attracting attention from the cultivation world or the authorities, even the fireworks and firecrackers of modern humans had evolved to a terrifying level.
Nian’s bloodline, passed down through generations, was no longer as formidable as in ancient times.
After much deliberation, Nian came up with the idea of opening a restaurant.
Nian was fond of “devouring humans,” but this “devouring” wasn’t the traditional sense of eating people.
Nian, also known as the Year Beast, actually consumed people’s lifespan.
The saying “With the sound of firecrackers, another year is gone” refers to the ancient belief that every time the year passed, people would lose a year of their life, which was actually consumed by the Year Beast.
The elderly, with their already limited remaining lifespan, would lose their lives if their years were eaten, meaning they couldn’t survive the “year-end.”
Thus, over time, it became known that the Year Beast “ate people.”
However, the Year Beast’s consumption of lifespan had its conditions.
The “Surplus Every Year” promotional activity, where a birthday cake was given, was actually a magical contract.
Those who noted their birthdays were essentially signing off on another year passing.
By giving out the cake, Nian could consume that year.
Through this activity, Nian quietly consumed many years of life, with Yang Ruilin contributing the most.
Most people were too embarrassed to take such a big advantage, usually noting their birthday only once, or at most two or three times if they were a bit shameless.
Someone like Yang Ruilin, who celebrated his birthday every few days, was the only one Nian had encountered in the three months since opening.
Therefore, Yang Ruilin had aged so rapidly in such a short time, as his lifespan had been consumed in each “birthday” celebration.
“I have records; this person celebrated his birthday eight times in two months,” Nian said, licking his lips as he looked at Yang Ruilin, “I consumed eight years of his life, what a luxurious feast…”
Yang Ruilin shivered under his gaze, his already pale face from blood loss turning even whiter.
He never expected that taking advantage of a promotion would come at such a high cost.
He was on the verge of tears, “You… isn’t this deceiving consumers?”
“Who’s deceiving whom?” Nian retorted confidently, “You, who celebrated eight birthdays in two months, have the nerve to accuse me? Besides, didn’t I give you the cake? Such a big cake, do you think it comes without cost?”
Yang Ruilin:”……”
Shi Pengpeng’s mouth twitched slightly, “Indeed, the buyer is never as shrewd as the seller.”
Xiao Lingshu was even more shocked: “Dude, you’ve had eight birthdays in two months? Is its cake really that good? Wait, I just had some too, and it didn’t seem that special…”
At this point, he suddenly realized, “Ah, so that’s why this guy is so twisted! He didn’t kill me when he caught me, just forced me to eat cake. Turns out he wanted to eat my years! Good thing my senior sister arrived in time, or I might have turned into an old man by now.”
“By the way, dude, how old are you? Let me guess, you look about thirty-seven or thirty-eight, minus eight years, so you’re actually thirty?”
Yang Ruilin:”……”
Why does this guy talk so much?!
And he’s only twenty-five!!
Yang Ruilin was filled with regret as he looked at Shi Pengpeng, tears streaming down his face: “Miss Shi, can you save me? I’ve only been working for two years, I don’t have a girlfriend yet, and I don’t want to become so old, wuwuwu…”
Losing eight years wasn’t fatal for humans who could live for decades or even centuries.
Unfortunately, the eight years Yang Ruilin lost happened to be the best years of his life.
Losing his entire youth in an instant was something no one could easily accept.
Shi Pengpeng glanced at him: “I can, but it’ll cost you.”
At this point, Yang Ruilin didn’t dare to haggle and nodded eagerly: “No problem.”
Shi Pengpeng pulled out her payment QR code, had him pay, and then turned to Nian, saying calmly, “Are you going to spit out the years you ate, or should I beat them out of you?”
“…” Nian shrank back, pouting in frustration, “I’ll spit them out myself.”
Shi Pengpeng added, “Spit out everything you ate in Xiluo.”
Nian:”…..”
“Spitting out years” was just a metaphor; it wasn’t as simple as regurgitating food.
It required setting up an altar, performing a ritual to nullify the contract Nian had imposed, and then invoking the power of the Three Platforms and the Big Dipper to return the years.
Human lifespan is measured in cycles of twelve years called a “ji” and one hundred days called a “suan,” collectively known as “ji-suan.”
They worked until midnight to complete the ritual.
After spitting out so many years, Nian became even weaker, shrinking to the size of a cat and trembling on the altar.
Yang Ruilin wasn’t much better off either.
Losing eight years was no small matter, and the process of regaining them took a heavy toll on his body.
He couldn’t handle it and collapsed to the ground, vomiting violently until he had emptied his stomach of the cake he’d eaten at noon.
When there was nothing left, he started retching up bitter yellow bile.
After finally finishing, he passed out.
Fortunately, his face and muscles had regained their youthful glow and elasticity, returning him to his twenties.
“He’s so weak!” Xiao Lingshu sneered, “With such poor physical condition, he still dares to eat free stuff…”
Shi Pengpeng: “Call an ambulance for him.”
After sending Yang Ruilin away, they still had to deal with Nian.
This wasn’t a problem, as many organizations would be willing to take in such a rare beast.
However, Shi Pengpeng privately hoped to send it to her alma mater, provided someone could escort it.
Thinking of this, Shi Pengpeng looked at Xiao Lingshu: “By the way, why did you suddenly come to Xiluo?”
Xiao Lingshu was her junior from the same school, a year below her.
His family was from a provincial capital city and had become wealthy through property demolition.
Perhaps because he was too rich, he had lost all worldly desires early on and was determined to delve into the mystical arts.
Xiao Lingshu initially wanted to enroll in a Taoist academy, but his family disagreed.
Eventually, they reached a compromise, and he ended up attending Liangyi College.
Shi Pengpeng, due to her excellent academic performance, was often called upon by teachers to assist as a teaching assistant for lower-grade students during her time at school.
Over time, she became acquainted with Xiao Lingshu.
However, since Shi Pengpeng graduated, both of them had been busy with their own affairs and hadn’t been in touch for a while.
“Ugh,” Xiao Lingshu suddenly felt a wave of sadness, “Senior Sister, finding a job is so hard now. Last year when you told me, I didn’t believe it…”
It turned out that Xiao Lingshu, thinking he was about to graduate, decided to start looking for an internship.
Unfortunately, after sending out resumes to various Taoist institutions, all of them went unanswered.
Finally, he received an interview notice from a small temple.
Excited, Xiao Lingshu went, only to discover that it was an unauthorized shrine, privately built and not officially recognized.
They weren’t hiring proper Taoist priests but rather shrine caretakers.
Even then, Xiao Lingshu didn’t get the position.
The temple thought his appearance was too trendy and not serious enough to gain the trust of worshippers.
Deeply discouraged, the temple’s HR, seeing that he had traveled a long way, felt a bit sorry for him and gave him a tip: there had been frequent disturbances caused by yin creatures in Xiluo recently, and there were many related job openings.
They suggested he try his luck there.
Xiao Lingshu thought it was the only option left.
Besides, Xiluo was home to the renowned Taoist temple, Qinglian Temple.
Even if he didn’t find a job, he could at least visit the temple.
So, he bought a high-speed train ticket and headed to Xiluo.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived, he ran into Nian.
Coincidentally, the hotel Xiao Lingshu booked was nearby.
Thinking of grabbing a meal, he searched for nearby restaurants on a review app. “Abundance Every Year.”
had a perfect 5.0 rating and was prominently featured on the first page of recommendations.
At this point, Xiao Lingshu sighed sincerely, “Big cities really do have more opportunities…”
“This shop has such a high rating?” Shi Pengpeng focused on a different point, “Is the cake giveaway event that effective?”
“How could it be? I paid for all of that,” Nian said tearfully.
In order to consume more years of life, he had tried every means to increase his shop’s exposure on the platform, hoping to attract more people to order his takeout.
The most basic way to increase exposure was to pay the platform fees.
Shi Pengpeng and Xiao Lingshu:”…..”
Shi Pengpeng sighed, “Capitalists are ruthless. Even mythical beasts have to pay protection fees…”
What happened next was simple.
Xiao Lingshu went to “Abundance Every Year.” for a meal, discovered the owner was problematic, and a fight broke out.
Xiao Lingshu was no match and was captured by the owner, who intended to consume his years of life.
Just as the owner was preparing to do so in the kitchen, Shi Pengpeng arrived.
Shi Pengpeng asked Xiao Lingshu, “So, what are your plans now?”
Xiao Lingshu looked at her eagerly, “Senior Sister, it’s so great that you’re in Xiluo too. Are you working here? Can you help me find an internship? I’d even do it for free.”
“I am working here,” Shi Pengpeng said slowly, “If you want to intern at our company, I can arrange it, and we can even pay you.”
“Really?” Xiao Lingshu’s eyes lit up, “I knew it! With your strong expertise, you’d definitely find a place to work… By the way, which company is it?”
“Fuxi Food Distribution Co., Ltd.,” Shi Pengpeng replied, and, fearing he might not understand, she kindly explained, “We specialize in local specialty products.”
“?” Xiao Lingshu blinked and asked in return, “Is this local specialty some kind of code?”
“No, it’s just the literal meaning.” Shi Pengpeng smiled, “We’ve been promoting a type of jerky recently. I’ll send you the link later, and you can place a few orders to help boost my sales.”
Xiao Lingshu: “…”
Shi Pengpeng: “Still thinking about coming for an internship?”
“No,” Xiao Lingshu immediately declined with a straight face, “I think finding a job should rely on one’s own abilities. Taking shortcuts isn’t good.”
Shi Pengpeng returned home, finished her nightly routine, and was about to sleep when she received a message from Xiao Pan.
Xiao Pan: 【Pengpeng, are you okay?】
SPP: [?]
Xiao Pan sent three 60-second voice messages in quick succession.
It turned out that Yao Lucy had just received a company notification saying that Yang Ruilin had been admitted to the hospital.
Yao Lucy and Yang Ruilin were supposed to attend a recruitment fair in another city tomorrow, but now that Yang Ruilin couldn’t go, Yao Lucy would have to go alone.
Yao Lucy suspected that Yang Ruilin was faking illness again to avoid the more demanding work.
Feeling resentful, she remembered that Yang Ruilin had dinner with Shi Pengpeng earlier.
So, she found Xiao Pan’s WeChat in the official group chat for the recruitment fair and added her to ask for details.
Xiao Pan, unaware of Yang Ruilin’s usual behavior, was worried that something had happened during his time with Shi Pengpeng when she heard he was hospitalized.
She quickly reached out to inquire.
Shi Pengpeng couldn’t tell the truth outright, so she vaguely mentioned that Yang Ruilin had food poisoning, which was quite severe, and he would need to be hospitalized for at least half a month.
Xiao Pan was shocked, but Yao Lucy felt vindicated, exclaiming that karma had come around.
She said that Yang Ruilin always pretended to have issues at critical moments, and this time, he really got into trouble.
She also felt relieved that she never took advantage with Yang Ruilin, and it turned out she was right-free things are often the most expensive.
However, both of them found it strange and asked Shi Pengpeng why she was fine.
Logically, since Shi Pengpeng and Yang Ruilin had dinner together, it didn’t make sense for Yang Ruilin to be so severely poisoned while Shi Pengpeng was completely unaffected.
Shi Pengpeng’s reply was brief.
SPP: 【I didn’t eat, hehe]
Xiao Pan was even more puzzled but then realized something.
Xiao Pan: 【Did you already know there was something wrong with that restaurant?】
SPP: [0.0 Sort of.]
Xiao Pan: 【Then why did you agree to eat with that lowlife?】
SPP: 【Uh……]
As Shi Pengpeng was thinking of how to dodge the question, another message came in.
Xiao Pan: 【Wait, were you actually there to expose that restaurant?!!】
SPP: […Let’s just say I did a little cleanup.】
Xiao Pan: 【Wow, you went all in! That’s a huge sacrifice!]
Xiao Pan: 【Thank you, Food Safety Hero!]
SPP:”….”