His mental state and appearance had both significantly improved.
Encountering such a thing was not entirely impossible.
But what he believed more was that this person had ulterior motives for him.
Instead of looking for others, they specifically came to him, probably not to play some Immortal trap on him.
Although he wasn't afraid, he also didn't want to stir up trouble.
… …
In another room.
The woman with wet hair opened the door and returned to her room.
Just as she closed the door.
“Did that person not come?”
At this moment.
A man’s voice suddenly sounded from one side.
Following the sound, she looked.
It was her boyfriend, standing expressionless beside her.
Seeing the woman return, he couldn't help but ask.
“No, that guy is very cautious.”
The young woman shook her head, recalling the previous situation, her face looking very displeased.
Then, she briefly explained what had just happened, and then asked in return.
“He’s just an ordinary blood meal, isn’t it unnecessary to make such a fuss?”
“These days, because of those few guys wantonly hunting for blood meals, the city has been under strict martial law.
It’s best not to make too much noise.”
The man said in a deep voice.
“If we attract those people, even the master won’t be able to save us.”
Speaking of those people.
The man’s words were stiff, clearly showing extreme apprehension.
Hearing this, the woman chuckled softly.
“You, your guts are still so small. Then let’s wait until later.
Anyway, after this operation, we will definitely be exposed. When that happens, we'll eat our fill so we can run. After this matter is over, we definitely can’t stay in Qirong City anymore.”
“Hmm, that’s the only way!”
The man was silent for a moment, then nodded.
… …
In the room, after showering.
He simply reheated the leftover sauerkraut fish from lunch, adding some meatballs and vegetables.
Again, he took out a can of soda from the small refrigerator he bought online, opened it, and took a big gulp.
Immediately, he felt refreshed.
Quack! Quack!
It seemed as if the Zhangcha Duck saw Hu Qi eating.
The Zhangcha Duck, which had been staying to the side, also quacked twice.
Hu Qi glanced at it.
He saw that the food plate inside the cage was already empty.
“Eating so fast!”
He opened an opening at the top of the iron cage.
He got up and put some rice and corn into it.
The Zhangcha Duck quacked excitedly upon seeing the food.
Then, it stretched its neck.
With its flat beak, it quickly pecked at several grains of rice, then raised its head, its neck extending and retracting, and the rice was swallowed into its belly.
After eating a few bites, it seemed to feel a bit choked.
It dipped its beak into the nearby water dispenser to drink some water.
“He sure knows how to eat!”
Hu Qi chuckled softly.
However, upon seeing the empty grass nest beneath its rear.
Hu Qi couldn't help but frown slightly.
“Zhangcha Duck, are you slacking off recently? Your production has dropped quite a bit.”
He remembered when he first bought it.
It basically laid one egg a day, sometimes even two.
But as time passed.
Now it only lays one every other day. Compared to before, the difference is immediately apparent.
It seemed to sense Hu Qi's dissatisfaction.
The Zhangcha Duck flapped its wings and quacked twice again.
Its voice seemed to carry a hint of flattery.
Unfortunately.
Hu Qi didn't understand duck language and had no idea what it was saying.
The production of duck eggs indirectly affected the speed at which he became stronger.
The reason he had made such rapid progress these days.
The Zhangcha Duck’s eggs were indispensable.
After thinking for a moment.
He picked up his phone and directly typed into the browser: Why has the number of duck eggs decreased?
The next moment.
The screen showed “Loading…”.
A pixelated puppy was chasing a ball.
The signal in the upper right corner was only one bar.
Seeing this, Hu Qi walked to the window.
The phone signal then recovered a bit.
Soon, some possible reasons for the decrease in duck egg production appeared.
The main points were only a few.
1. Diet: Ensure that the duck's feed is balanced and sufficient in nutrition.
2. Provide a suitable environment: The duck house should be kept dry, ventilated, and warm. The temperature should not be too high or too low, and avoid noisy environments and frights.
3. Appropriate lighting: Ensure that there is enough light exposure every day. Generally, 16-17 hours of light per day helps improve egg-laying rates.
4. Free-range: Allow ducks to have appropriate exercise and foraging opportunities. This can enhance their Physique, but be careful to avoid overexertion.
… …
Hu Qi read through them one by one.
The first two were not a problem.
He had done very well in terms of food and accommodation.
Hu Qi naturally wouldn't treat his only employee harshly.
However, the latter two, lighting and free-range, seemed to be missing.
He kept it at home every day.
Looking at it this way, it was highly likely to be this problem.
“It seems I need to find time to take the Zhangcha Duck out for a walk.”
Hu Qi muttered to himself.
… …
Time flowed by.
Night gradually deepened.
The time came to two in the morning.
The residential area was silent.
Only a few chirping cicadas and croaking frogs could be heard from somewhere in the distant green belt.
And the occasional sound of a distant garbage truck collecting trash.
Outside the narrow corridor.
Faint moonlight filtered through the half-open window at the end of the hallway, casting a few pale rays of light.
Falling onto the ground, forming irregular patches of light and shadow.
Click!
At this moment.
The door on one side of the corridor opened.
Two figures, one tall and one short, walked out.
Due to the movement, the sensor light above the corridor lit up.
Illuminating the two figures.
If Hu Qi saw them, he would recognize them as the couple neighbors from before.
However, at this moment, the expressions of the two were strange, their clothes disheveled, as if they had been stretched and torn.
There were also several dark red and brownish-black stains on their cuffs and skirt hems.
Even stranger was that in the middle of the night, these two actually walked out of another neighbor's house.
And inside that door, there was a dead silence.
He wondered if it was just a misconception.
The surroundings seemed a bit too quiet.
“Alright, we can start!”
The man said softly.
“It’s a pity, I quite like this place. I’m about to leave, and I’m really a bit reluctant.”
The woman spoke, extending her scarlet tongue to lick the blood remaining at the corner of her mouth, her eyes narrowed in enjoyment.
“There’s nothing we can do about it. Our life level has already changed.
If we continue to stay here, we will eventually face Zhu Xi’s purge. By then, both you and I will only have a dead end.”
The man said in a low voice.
“Stop talking, first catch that person, then leave here. Be careful, lest things change if we delay!”
“What are you afraid of? It’s so late, and besides, these people have all been killed by us.
Even if this person screams their lungs out, no one will come. We can take our time and play…”
The woman’s tone was indifferent.
Thinking of Hu Qi’s attitude during the day.
A bloodthirsty red light emanated from her eyes.
Soon, the two stopped in front of room 1503, directly opposite the elevator.
The next moment.
The woman extended her palm.
A bizarre thing happened.
Long, thin threads grew from her originally slender and graceful fingers.
These threads twisted and intertwined, finally directly inserting into the keyhole.
Click!
The lock cylinder moved.
Inside the house.
Hu Qi was covered by a quilt, with the air conditioner on, seemingly in a deep sleep.
Suddenly.
Hu Qi, who had been closing his eyes and appeared to be fast asleep, suddenly opened them.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he looked towards the door.
His eyes were clear and bright, without any sign of drowsiness.
Thanks to the newly acquired Dragon Vigour characteristic, his own energy was extremely abundant.
The reason he was lying down was merely to rest his eyes.
At this moment.
Hearing the abnormal sound coming from the door.
He sat up directly.
Due to being in darkness with his eyes closed for a long time.
Coupled with the faint cold light from the air conditioner's digital display above his head.
He was not disturbed by the darkness and instantly took in the room's layout, looking at the subtly moving door lock.
He did not choose to speak out.
Instead, he reached for the bedside, where the large axe he had been practicing with earlier in the day was placed.