Chapter 36: The Silver-Haired Beauty at the Pancake Stall! Are You Sure She’s Here to Sell Pancakes?

Chapter 36: The Silver-Haired Beauty at the Pancake Stall! Are You Sure She's Here to Sell Pancakes?

At 8:15 PM, exactly twelve hours after replicating his skills during the morning combat class, Lin Tianming finally cooled down and restored his Hand of God copying ability. Now, he could examine Chu Yunfei's fire attribute ability, discovering that he could replicate three more skills.

However, instead of copying Chu Yunfei's skills, Lin Tianming canceled the view of others' skills and continued lying on his bed. He planned to rest, but Chu Yunfei suddenly invited him to go out.

"Tianming, how about we check out the area around the Imperial University tonight?"

After a moment's thought, Lin Tianming agreed. "Sure, we've been here for two days and haven't explored outside. Let's use tonight to familiarize ourselves with the surroundings."

Chu Yunfei, excited by his response, suggested, "Great! Let's head to the snack street near the west gate. I heard it's bustling at night!"

Nodding in agreement, Lin Tianming jumped off his bed and left with Chu Yunfei. It didn't take long for them to reach the lively snack street near the west gate of the Imperial University. As Chu Yunfei had heard, the street was bustling with various snack vendors.

Despite having eaten dinner, the enticing aromas led them to buy some snacks to taste. Chu Yunfei exclaimed, "These snacks are really good, Tianming! No wonder this place is so popular every night!"

As they continued exploring and sampling snacks, they enjoyed the vibrant atmosphere of the street. The two young men roamed the snack street, spending over an hour eating and playing.

Feeling it was time to head back, Lin Tianming, who had a class with Teacher Jiang Han the next day, suggested, "Yunfei, we've seen enough. We should head back now."

"What? It's just after nine. We should stay until eleven or twelve! We haven't tried everything yet," Chu Yunfei protested, wanting to linger longer.

Lin Tianming reminded him, "Don't you have a class tomorrow morning? I need to rest for Teacher Jiang Han's class."

Remembering his own class, Chu Yunfei reluctantly agreed. "Yeah, I have a class too, and our male teacher is really strict! I got scolded today. Let's head back early."

As they started back, Lin Tianming suddenly heard a girl's unfamiliar voice in his head.

[Ming? Why is he here tonight...? He mustn't find me. I'm already under tight surveillance by people from the Nine Provinces and seeking an opportunity to slip away. I can't afford more trouble!]

Was this... a thought?

Stopping momentarily, Lin Tianming glanced around, trying to locate the source of the voice. However, he found no one of interest.

[Damn! Why did Ming stop and look around? Did he notice me and is now searching for me? No, impossible! I'm a reborn person; he can't possibly find me without his past life memories! Maybe he's just hungry again. I'll hide behind this pancake stall Uncle Luke found for me until he leaves]

The mysterious girl's thoughts directed Lin Tianming to an unattended pancake stall. He peered over it, noticing a sliver of silver hair peeking out.

Realizing that the girl was talking about an opportunity, although unclear on specifics, Lin Tianming decided to change his plan to return early to the university.

"Yunfei, something just came up. You go ahead; I need to handle it first."

Without waiting for Chu Yunfei's reaction, Lin Tianming dashed off in another direction. Chu Yunfei stood stunned for a moment before suspecting, "That Lin Tianming must have a date with a girl! So much for an early return. He tricked me to enjoy a private moment! What a friend!"

Grumbling, Chu Yunfei resignedly returned to the Imperial University alone.

Behind the pancake stall was a silver-haired beauty. If Wang Jian were here, he'd recognize her as Alice, the first-year student from the Northern Yin Domain who beat him up earlier.

Alice only emerged from hiding after confirming both boys had left, sitting on the stool by the pancake stall. Although she couldn't make pancakes, her Uncle Luke arranged this spot for her to shake off the Nine Provinces' surveillance.

"Uncle Luke and his men should have misled those watching me. Still, I'll wait here until I get his signal," Alice muttered, waiting another five minutes until receiving a message from Uncle Luke.

"Miss, all clear."

Seeing the message, Alice smiled. It was time to depart. By obtaining the mechanical secret realm's opportunity early this time, she vowed to reclaim her place as the Goddess of Mechanisms.

No, she would surpass her past self. As a reborn individual who survived the Gods' Descent era and entered the Three Great Divine Kingdoms' era to become a deity, she harbored a strong desire to grow stronger in this life.

Most human awakeners who ascended to godhood perished during the Gods' Descent era. Although she survived into the Three Great Divine Kingdoms era in her past life, she was eventually killed by a mechanical ascender god. If she could grasp the mechanical ascension's essence early, she could change her fate and avenge her past death.

With this resolve, Alice stood up, ready to leave when Lin Tianming unexpectedly reappeared in front of her.

[Ming! He... he didn't leave? Why did he come back?]

Lin Tianming's return confirmed that Alice was indeed the girl he overheard. With her silver hair, delicate face, and fair skin, she resembled a silver fairy in the night.

Not knowing if she was friend or foe, Lin Tianming decided not to let her leave yet. Smiling politely, he looked at the pancake stall.

"Boss, one mixed grain pancake, please!"

Hearing Lin Tianming call her the pancake stall owner, Alice, who couldn't make pancakes, felt exasperated.

[Damn you, Ming! I came to the Nine Provinces early to avoid you in the mechanical secret realm. I must find a way to get rid of you. I can't let you become my biggest obstacle in gaining the mechanical secret realm's opportunity!]

[Ming, I don't want to settle our past scores yet. Just take your pancake and leave!]