Previously on The world has turned into Hell's Game, why should I stay human?...
Liu Zheng learns that Gong Baiyi, a descendant of Lord Silver Tiger, is incredibly weak and an embarrassment to his lineage. The Honey Badger arranges for Liu Zheng to deliver food to Gong Baiyi, hoping the encounter might spur him to awaken his true strength. Liu Zheng meets Gong Baiyi, a white tiger resembling a statue but lacking its dignity, and delivers a meal, unsure if he can truly change the creature.
Its method of eating was peculiar; unlike typical felines that delicately lick their food, it would thrust its mouth forward, pushing sustenance in.
After a few mouthfuls, its face was smeared completely.
This sight made Liu Zheng's fingers tingle with an urge he couldn't suppress.
But the moment he extended his hand towards Gong Baiyi's sizable head, an intense premonition of danger washed over him.
"Ow!"
Liu Zheng snatched his hand back swiftly, and in the very next instant, Gong Baiyi's jaws snapped shut precisely where his hand had been.
The force of the bite generated a subtle shockwave, fluttering the edge of Liu Zheng's shirt.
"What the heck!"
He recoiled in shock.
Had that bite landed, Liu Zheng's right hand would undoubtedly have been lost.
The hand belonging to his artificial body wasn't like his original; regrowing it presented a significant challenge.
Without hesitation, he drew his weapon, Anger, and initiated the four-armed Asura transformation.
However, Gong Baiyi merely cast a fleeting glance before lowering its head, resuming its meal.
"Why did you just bite me?" Liu Zheng inquired, noticing the creature showed no further intent to attack.
"Did I bite you?" Gong Baiyi tilted its head, looking at him with an expression of mild confusion.
"Yes, you did," Liu Zheng confirmed.
"Perhaps it's because you intended to touch my head. Mother said only family members are allowed to touch my head," Gong Baiyi stated plainly.
"Goodness, a conditioned reflex, I see," Liu Zheng mused, making an educated guess about the intentions of Gong Baiyi's mother.
He surmised that touching the head was seen as an act of subjugation; the offspring of a Silver Tiger might be simple-minded, but they absolutely must not be tamed.
"I've finished eating. Is there any more?" Gong Baiyi's gaze fixed on him expectantly, the metal bowl now entirely empty.
Despite its uncouth eating habits, its efficiency was undeniable.
"Yes. Just sign here, and it's all yours," Liu Zheng presented the lunchbox before it.
"I don't know how to write," Gong Baiyi replied, shaking its head.
"Then a paw print will suffice. Here, lift your paw." Liu Zheng nicked his finger, smearing his blood onto Gong Baiyi's paw before guiding it to press an imprint onto the delivery slip.
Gong Baiyi remained placid throughout the process, seemingly oblivious to the action.
"This kid is truly hopeless," Liu Zheng sighed inwardly.
He had used his own blood as a substitute for suitable ink and as an impromptu test for Gong Baiyi.
The results of this test were unequivocal.
Even witnessing the sight of blood failed to elicit any trace of ferocity; in a certain aspect, Gong Baiyi was surprisingly unique.
But even more remarkable was Gong Baiyi's mother, capable of instilling such a potent reflex—a mental imprint that triggered a bite upon head contact.
"Do you have any requests?" Liu Zheng asked.
Although Gong Baiyi had not voiced any, Liu Zheng felt compelled to inquire.
"Requests?" Gong Baiyi blinked, appearing to ponder the meaning of the word.
"I mean, is there anything you would like me to do for you?" Liu Zheng clarified.
"Yes. Can you help me open this?" Gong Baiyi gestured towards the lunchbox, fumbling with its latch.
It couldn't decipher the mechanism and feared damaging the contents by forcing it open.
"Certainly."
Liu Zheng obliged, easily opening the lunchbox for it.
"Thank you," Gong Baiyi chirped, taking the lunchbox and heading back inside, forgetting to close the door.
It also neglected its feeding bowl.
Liu Zheng nudged the bowl into the room and secured the door.
Being the descendant of a powerful being was undoubtedly a privilege; even lacking intelligence, one could thrive without concern for sustenance or shelter.
Yet, it was also a profound curse, as even the most benign creature might be deemed unworthy of its lineage and wished dead.
From the Honey Badger's perspective, however, such circumstances were natural, given that the Metropolis operated under the law of the strong.
If Gong Baiyi represented the sole remaining offspring of the Silver Tiger bloodline, the Honey Badger would have fiercely defended its existence to preserve the lineage.
But with two cousins still present, its survival seemed dispensable.
It underscored how even in the animal kingdom, sentience introduced complex predicaments.
Liu Zheng shook his head and made his way toward the elevator.
"How did it go?" the Honey Badger inquired upon Liu Zheng's return to the community entrance.
"Delivered. However, you'll need to assess the outcome yourself later on," Liu Zheng responded.
"Understood," the Honey Badger acknowledged, casting a complex glance toward the residence of the Silver Tiger Family.
"By the way, did you ever attempt to touch its head?" Liu Zheng suddenly asked.
"Touch its head? I haven't. Why would I?" the Honey Badger countered, a hint of bewilderment in its voice.
"You could try, there might be an unexpected result. Or perhaps a startling one," Liu Zheng advised before driving off.
Upon reaching the cemetery, the Tomb Guardian approached him.
"Lord Tomb Guardian, here is your Metropolitan Most Smelly Soup," Liu Zheng presented the soup pot with a measure of caution.
"Hmm. Its task is likely nearing completion; the timing is perfect for replenishing fluids," the Tomb Guardian remarked.
As the pot was accepted, the Tomb Guardian spoke.
The term "it" he mentioned clearly indicated the Skinny Horse.
"The water content in this might not be very high," Liu Zheng offered tactfully.
If aqua regia, a potent acidic mixture capable of dissolving gold, didn't constitute water, then perhaps wastewater from a garbage processing plant wouldn't qualify either.
"No worries, it has a high tolerance for thirst," the Tomb Guardian replied nonchalantly.
"Alright then." Liu Zheng observed a brief three-second moment of silence for the Skinny Horse.
"By the way, Mr. Tomb Guardian, this pot is on loan. I'll need to return it later," he remembered to mention.
It was better to state this now, as it would prove difficult to ask for it back later. It wasn't that he doubted the Tomb Guardian's intention to return it; rather, the Skinny Horse, in a fit of rage after consuming the soup, might very well destroy the pot.
"Then let it drink now," the Tomb Guardian declared, preparing to whistle for the Skinny Horse.
"No!" Liu Zheng exclaimed loudly.
"Actually, it's not that urgent. I'll retrieve it later. Regardless, I'm leaving now; please stay." Under the Tomb Guardian's perplexed stare, Liu Zheng made a swift exit from the cemetery.
The idea of witnessing that scene unfold was too much; he would have to endure the stench. Such an intense event wasn't worth participating in.
Noticing the early hour, Liu Zheng decided to visit the clinic once more.
"Do you still have any of that Universal Animal Feed available?" he inquired of Xia Kai.
What began as a casual experiment had, surprisingly, been depleted rather quickly.
"Yes, yes," Xia Kai responded, gathering all the remaining Universal Animal Feed and spreading it across the table.
"Boss, this is all that's left," he stated. The available options included not only "Universal Meat Eater Food" but also "All-Purpose Vegetarian Animal Feed" and "Universal Omnivorous Animal Feed."
