Chapter 379 - 255: Cognitive Camouflage (Part 2)

[Su Zhi]: ...So, you’re bothered because external factors are affecting the person you’re observing?

Su Zhi then realized Luo Sen had just used the phrase "that... classmate of yours"...

[Luo Sen]: You get me, huh? /Hong Ya grinning

[Su Zhi]: scared.jpg

[Luo Sen]: Alright, that’s all for today. Vice Alliance Leader Gou said he’s arrived. I’ll leave you two to talk.

[Su Zhi]: Huh?

Su Zhi froze for a moment, a sudden chill running through him as if he’d been doused in ice water.

’That’s right, after leaving Fuguang Lake, my next stop is the Luojin Mountain Range, where I’m supposed to meet up with Vice Alliance Leader Gou. The rich girl guide is great and all, but this guy is the real heavyweight...’

’How did I forget about him again?’

"What’s wrong? You look so spooked."

Shen Chuqing glanced at him, her face full of confusion, and handed him a skewer of roasted rabbit leg. "It’s ready. Eat up. We’ll rest for a bit after we eat, then it’s time to head out."

"Thanks..."

Su Zhi took the roasted meat and took an absent-minded bite, his brows furrowed.

’If I remember correctly, this is the third time I’ve forgotten about Vice Alliance Leader Gou. This is too weird. Even if I’m forgetful, it shouldn’t be *this* bad.’

’Did I get cursed or something?’

"Woof," Yu Bao whined, eating its own rabbit meat while staring at the piece in Su Zhi’s hand, its tail wagging furiously with suggestion.

’Why the long face? Is the barbecue no good? How about you let me eat it? I’ll help you with your troubles!’

"Eat my ass," Su Zhi said before taking a huge bite.

’Even if I’m cursed, it can’t affect my mealtime.jpg’

Su Zhi stopped thinking about Vice Alliance Leader Gou. He devoured the whole roasted rabbit with a series of loud chomps, then let out a satisfied sigh.

Gou Yu, sitting next to him, took a bite of rabbit meat and said earnestly, "That’s not the right way to eat it. Even after being roasted for a long time, the rabbit meat itself still has a certain gamy taste that will affect the flavor. The correct way to eat it requires adding the spices in a specific order."

Su Zhi asked curiously, "There’s an order? It’s that complicated? I thought you were done once it was roasted..."

"The roasting is certainly the most crucial part, but a good application of spices is what provides the perfect finishing touch."

Gou Yu explained to Su Zhi with a smile.

"First, you sprinkle salt and cumin to fully bring out the flavor. Then, you evenly sprinkle Hundred Rivers green onions and *bangzi* leaves between the pieces of meat. When these two vegetables come into contact, they produce Luoshi-ol, which eliminates the gamy taste of the meat and makes it crispier on the outside and more tender on the inside."

Su Zhi clicked his tongue in amazement. "I don’t get it, but it sounds impressive..."

"Here, you’ll know once you try it!"

So Su Zhi took Gou Yu’s skewer and took a bite. As expected, it was excellent.

The various seasonings burst forth with a magical chain reaction, and the slight, unpleasant gaminess that had been bothering his taste buds vanished without a trace.

At the same time, the spices didn’t overpower the main attraction. While enhancing the flavor, they perfectly complemented the rabbit meat’s own natural taste.

’As expected of Vice Alliance Leader Gou, he’s really...?’

’Holy shit!’

Su Zhi’s eyes went wide. He woodenly turned his head to size up the adorably clumsy-looking uncle beside him.

He was nearly two meters tall and looked exceptionally burly, even while sitting on the ground. He had a large, round face with two small eyes and a thick nose and lips. Combined with the way he was holding his hands, he gave off the distinct impression of a bear.

And his shirt with a green-haired 2D anime girl Singer on it, his patterned shorts printed with "Emergency Rations," and his light jacket with a "Doktah" on it... all of it pointed to a man of complex tastes.

Su Zhi stammered, "Y-You’re Gou..."

"That’s right."

The bear-like uncle laughed and extended his right hand. "Nice to meet you. I’m Gou Yu, Vice Alliance Leader of the Dark Alliance. You can also call me Doggo."

"It’s an honor, Boss Gou..." Su Zhi shook his hand a little awkwardly. He figured the man’s huge hand could probably cover his entire face.

Vice Alliance Leader Gou had an easygoing air about him that quickly eased the initial tension. ’After all, he’s a fellow geek.’

And yet, even now, Su Zhi couldn’t recall when exactly Gou Yu had sat down next to him.

He even had a gut feeling that if he weren’t focusing his attention on Gou Yu right now, he would forget the man’s existence again in less than a minute, even if he was sitting right beside him.

Gou Yu nodded in approval. "Not bad! You’re only Tier Four, but you’re already wary of my Beast Taming Talent. No wonder Old Qiao likes you!"

Su Zhi asked in surprise, "Beast Taming Talent? Could it be..."

"Allow me to formally introduce my Beast Taming Talent—[Cognitive Camouflage]!"

Gou Yu stood up and proudly planted his hands on his hips, looking quite pleased with himself.

"You can think of it as a Passive Skill that’s on by default. It lowers the presence of me and my Pet Beasts to an almost imperceptible level. Even if we deliberately show ourselves, as soon as the other person’s attention wavers, our presence will rapidly fade until we’re ignored again."

"That’s so overpowered?!" Su Zhi was shocked.

’Even I, someone who actually needed to find him, forgot about him three or four times on the way here... Or rather, I only *remembered* him three or four times. It must be even harder for people who have no business with him to notice his existence.’

’If this were in a battle, Gou Yu could have one Pet Beast lie in ambush while the others distract the enemy on the front lines... a pincer attack from front and back would be impossible to defend against, wouldn’t it?’

’Besides, the main application for this talent isn’t even the front lines... If Vice Alliance Leader Gou wanted to quietly ’off’ someone, I doubt anyone could stop him.’

"It’s nothing special, not as amazing as you think."

Gou Yu put on his sunglasses and waved his hand at Su Zhi with a smile.

Shen Chuqing suddenly interjected, "It’s really not as amazing as you think. Senior Doggo’s combat ability is actually trash. If his talent weren’t so overpowered, there’s no way he could’ve joined the Alliance with his skill level."

Gou Yu got flustered. "Hey!"

"Plus, because his presence is so low, Senior Cui Que forgets about him all the time."

Gou Yu clutched his head. "No, I’m sure the Alliance Leader cares about me! She must just be too busy to remember me..."

"Woof," Yu Bao whined, patting his shoulder.

’It’s one thing to fool everyone else, but don’t fool yourself.’

Then, Yu Bao took off his sunglasses for him. Beneath them, Vice Alliance Leader Gou’s face was streaked with tears.

"Pfft..." Su Zhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, and couldn’t help but let out a chuckle.

"Speaking of which, you and Senior Doggo have a bit of a fateful connection," Shen Chuqing said with a smile at Su Zhi. "You had that Pet Beast Battle in the Ancient Jing Forest, right? He bet ten thousand that you’d lose, but you ended up winning. Doggo tearfully gave away ten thousand to everyone."

Su Zhi’s mouth fell open. "Vice Alliance Leader Gou, what were you thinking..."

’So that’s why I kept feeling like I owed him money. Turns out I actually did, in a way.’

"Ahem, let’s not dwell on the past. Let’s talk about the present!"

Gou Yu polished off a roasted rabbit in a few bites and quickly changed the subject. "I don’t know what you guys found at Fuguang Lake, but tonight we need to press deeper and reach the ancient village ruins in the depths of the Luojin Mountain Range."

Su Zhi asked curiously, "You mean the village ruins from the painting, *The Last Beastmaster*?"

"Yep, that’s the one. They did an ecological resettlement when I was in middle school. All the villagers were moved to the suburbs of Celestial Paradise City, so nobody lives there now."

Gou Yu scratched his head as he spoke. "Honestly, I don’t get why we’re going so far. What’s so great about a ruin? There aren’t any cultural relics, either; those were moved to a museum long ago. All that’s left there now are a few bits of wall. Not a single complete house."

Su Zhi nodded. "Good question. I don’t know either."

"Haha!"

Having reached a consensus, the two of them chugged a bottle.

The cold beer went down, dispelling some of the sweltering summer heat.

Gou Yu opened another bottle and started chugging it down. GLUG GLUG GLUG. Su Zhi actually wanted to drink too, but Shao Ya had told him to drink in moderation, so he politely refused Boss Doggo’s kind offer.

Su Zhi immediately gave him a thumbs-up. "You’re incredible! As the saying goes, ’a prime minister’s belly can hold a boat’!"

"Such a smooth talker~" A happy flush appeared on Gou Yu’s face.

Shen Chuqing snorted and didn’t forget to land another blow. "He’s a total scrub, after all. About the only thing you *can* praise him for is his drinking."

"Qing, can you not always tell the truth..."

"Lol."

"I’ve decided—"

Gou Yu slammed his bottle down and suddenly looked at Su Zhi.

"It’s still early, anyway. Since we’re all here, how about a little spar before we go? It’s only 7:15. We just need to reach the Luojin Mountain Range by 7:30. My Pet Beast has been thinking about you for a long time."

Su Zhi was stunned. "...Is your Pet Beast named Peng Kai?"

Gou Yu: "No, it’s just curious to see the skill level of the person who made that idiot Beast Tamer lose his money."

’What a rebellious Pet Beast...’ Su Zhi thought, smiling and waving his hand dismissively. "How about we don’t..."

"Chirp!"

Before Su Zhi could finish, Shan Bao stepped on his head and bounded over with a *thump*.

’Yay! The spar story arc has finally been triggered!’

’I’m up this time!’

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