Chapter 43: The Beehive Training Grounds
Wang Ming considered this, but since he hadn’t mentioned it to Ao Chen yet, he decided against causing any more trouble.
He waved his hand dismissively. “Living together, it’s bound to happen eventually.”
Depressed Panda: “…”
“Makes sense,” Depressed Panda admitted, unable to refute him.
“Well, I’ll get going then,” Depressed Panda said, seeing no point in continuing the conversation. “Time for bed.”
“Hold on, brother,” Wang Ming said, stopping Depressed Panda.
“Anything else, little brother?” Depressed Panda turned around.
“I mean, I can’t live here for free, can I?” Wang Ming said.
Depressed Panda: “…”
“What do you mean? Aren’t you the son-in-law?” Depressed Panda blurted out.
Wang Ming: “…”
“Because I don’t want to be a son-in-law, I don’t want to live here for free,” Wang Ming logically retorted.
Depressed Panda: “…”
“But then again, if you asked me to pay a hundred times the rent for this place, I wouldn’t be able to afford it,” Wang Ming added convincingly.
Depressed Panda: “…”
While this little brother’s room is indeed a hundred times bigger… Depressed Panda thought. But it’s just a three-meter-wide space where he sleeps. Asking for a hundred times the rent is unreasonable. Besides, even if you beat him to death, he wouldn’t be able to pay that.
Depressed Panda felt a pang of sympathy for Wang Ming.
“But if you put it that way, while splitting the rent isn’t impossible, money isn’t really a problem in our world,” Depressed Panda said.
He thought this would make Wang Ming back down.
Clearly, Depressed Panda hadn’t fully understood Wang Ming.
“Oh, maybe I could help you with some work to offset the rent. The main thing is not to live here for free,” Wang Ming said.
Depressed Panda: “…”
Wasn’t my intention to get him to give up? Depressed Panda questioned his own actions, feeling like he’d triggered something dangerous.
He decided to give Wang Ming a “scary” warning to dissuade him.
“Work in our world?” Depressed Panda said mysteriously, putting his hands behind his back with the air of a seasoned veteran.
“Let me tell you, it’s terrifying!” Depressed Panda leaned in, exaggerating.
“Brother, tell me more,” Wang Ming said dismissively, intrigued.
Depressed Panda: “…”
Who did I offend? Depressed Panda sighed, but the arrow was already on the string.
This work… he won’t be able to do it, Depressed Panda thought, deciding to scare him without actually sending the innocent young man to his death.
“I’m pretty strong,” Wang Ming said, flexing his muscles.
To be fair, Wang Ming had well-defined muscles; they’d be impressive at a gym.
Of course, he couldn’t afford a gym; his strength came from years of being a bricklayer, plus some farming—though that was increasingly mechanized, requiring less strength.
“It’s not about… whether you can do it,”
Seeing Wang Ming’s muscles, Depressed Panda still tried to dissuade him earnestly.
“How about this? When you’re free, I’ll take you to the training grounds, and you’ll see what some of our jobs are like.”
Seeing that Wang Ming wasn’t convinced, Depressed Panda decided to use reason, emotion, and a bit of fear to dissuade him.
Wang Ming: “…”
“I’m always free. You have training grounds here?” Wang Ming, far from giving up, showed interest.
Depressed Panda: “…”
Why do I feel like I’m making things worse, and he’s getting more interested? Depressed Panda suspected his brain, still influenced by his panda form, wasn’t fully developed.
In his moment of self-doubt, Depressed Panda did something his panda form often did—he buried his head in his hands and pondered.
When he looked up, Wang Ming had changed into his outdoor clothes and sat on the small sofa, watching him.
Depressed Panda: “…”
“What are you doing?” Depressed Panda asked cautiously.
“Didn’t you ask when I was free?” Wang Ming replied with a question.
“I’m free now. Can we go to the training grounds?” Wang Ming asked.
Depressed Panda: “…”
What is the nature of a panda? Depressed Panda thought. It’s constantly seeking death, then finding ways to save itself. This has been evident since our alliance with Chi You. Depressed Panda lamented the irony of fate.
“Are you sure you want to go?” Depressed Panda asked hopefully, praying to heaven for Wang Ming to change his mind.
“I’m sure,” Wang Ming nodded.
It seemed Heaven, like the night before a major battle years ago, didn’t hear the panda’s prayers.
Depressed Panda: “…”
“Fine,” Depressed Panda gave up. Taking Wang Ming to the training grounds wasn’t a bad idea. He could just choose a less intense activity and let the innocent young man get a taste of the paranormal world.
“Let’s go,” Depressed Panda said, reaching out to grab Wang Ming’s arm.
“Are you going to use that special, fast way?” Wang Ming asked.
“That shortcut,” Wang Ming clarified.
Depressed Panda: “…”
“That’s a good figure of speech,” Depressed Panda said.
“Thanks,” Wang Ming modestly replied.
“Yes, I was going to use a shortcut. Any problems?” Depressed Panda admitted.
“No problems,” Wang Ming shook his head.
“But I think we can walk. I bet the night market’s open by now, and I want some skewers,” Wang Ming said.
“Little brother, you’re smart,” Depressed Panda, excited about skewers, nodded and left with Wang Ming.
After eating their fill of skewers, Wang Ming felt tired.
“You look tired,” Depressed Panda noticed Wang Ming’s pained expression.
“I’m fine,” Wang Ming said slightly defiantly, looking around.
He didn’t recognize where they were.
“We’ve walked a long way, haven’t we?” Wang Ming said.
“Not even ten kilometers yet,” Depressed Panda said dismissively.
Wang Ming: “…”
“Brother, use your powers,” Wang Ming finally admitted defeat, requesting Depressed Panda’s help.
“Fine,” Depressed Panda readily agreed, and in true panda fashion, spun around a few times.
When Wang Ming opened his eyes again, a towering beehive-like structure stood before him.
Wang Ming: “…”
Wang Ming was astonished by the giant beehive-like building.
“What do you think, little brother?” Depressed Panda, proud of his world’s achievements, asked.
“What do I think…?” Wang Ming said.
“Seeing this beehive reminds me that I have a package to pick up.”
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