Chapter 61: The Little Minx Is Up to Something? (Please Recommend and Add to Favorites!)

Two days later, Yang Fan left the hospital, surrounded by Zhou Yiyi and the others.

It wasn’t until he boarded the plane back to the Magic City that Yang Fan finally came to himself. The entire journey, his mind had been preoccupied with the encounter in the Ten-Thousand Mountains.

Above all, the appearance of the man in the black robe—why had he shown up?

Twice now, he had run into people from the Dark Realm, and neither time had they been particularly strong. He was truly bewildered as to how those with such meager power—barely second or third rank—had managed to cross over. The Cultivator Management Bureau had promised him an explanation last time, but he had yet to hear anything.

He had almost forgotten about the matter, chalking it up to coincidence before. But after this incident, Yang Fan couldn’t help but feel he was being targeted.

That notion, however, only lingered for a moment. After all, he was just a second-rank martial artist—no different from countless other humans across this vast land. Who would go out of their way to target him, especially someone from another world? If there was anything special about him, perhaps it was the system—but no one else knew of that.

No matter how he turned it over in his mind, Yang Fan couldn’t make sense of it.

The military was also aware of what had happened this time; Zhou Yiyi had already submitted the mission report, as required for all military assignments. The military had promised to investigate how exactly those people from the Dark Realm had gotten through.

Once seated, Xie Sihua took the spot beside Yang Fan.

Yang Fan found it amusing to see this hulking, fierce-looking guy wear such a conflicted expression, as if he were struggling to say something.

He couldn’t help but laugh aloud, then asked, “What’s up with you? If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t squirm around like that!”

“Yang Fan, do you really think those men in black robes were from the Dark Realm? Does the Dark Realm really exist?” Xie Sihua hesitated before speaking.

Yang Fan shot him a look. “What else could it be? The military already gave you an answer, didn’t they?”

Still, Xie Sihua seemed troubled. “I know, but it just feels hard to accept. I always thought ruins were just treasure troves—places where we humans could reap rewards by overcoming challenges. But now, someone tells me the ruins are actually portals, connecting to another world, one where their martial power is even greater than here on Earth, and that we’ve always been on the defensive. I can’t quite wrap my head around it.”

Yang Fan studied Xie Sihua, lost in thought. He remembered the first time he’d learned about the ruins—it was when he had just arrived in the Magic City and gone out to eat with Zhou Ting and Zhou Yiyi. Back then, he hadn’t even begun cultivating, didn’t grasp the might of cultivators, so the notion of another world hadn’t really shaken him.

But as he began to cultivate, as he learned about those who’d transcended the twelfth rank, about the true power the strong could wield, he had grown anxious. For a time, Yang Fan had even considered giving up. He didn’t want to face the Dark Realm, didn’t want to go to war, didn’t want to shoulder the responsibilities of a cultivator.

Yet, little by little, he’d managed to move forward. Although he was still uneasy about venturing into the ruins, it was no longer the instinctive resistance he’d once felt.

Looking at Xie Sihua, Yang Fan saw a reflection of his former self—not long ago, he had been the same: conflicted, afraid, bewildered, lost. Yes, they were all teenagers, suddenly faced with the reality that a great crisis awaited them once they grew strong enough to take up the burden. How could any heart remain unmoved?

“Don’t overthink it. Since you chose to become a cultivator, you must accept a cultivator’s duty. Since you’re a martial artist, you must have the courage of one. Today, you learned of the Dark Realm—I understand your reaction. Not long ago, I was the same: I couldn’t believe it. But whether you accept it or not, whether you want it or not, if you continue on this path, it’s inevitable. Xie Sihua, you’re a first-class talent—adjust your mindset. Don’t let fear defeat you.”

Yang Fan spoke sincerely. In persuading Xie Sihua, he was also persuading himself. Even now, Yang Fan hadn’t completely let go of his own fear of the ruins.

After listening, Xie Sihua suddenly looked up.

“Yang Fan, I’m not afraid—I’m just curious, even excited.”

Yang Fan regarded him oddly. “Are you out of your mind? Excited about what?”

“It’s another world! We’re at war with another world. I’ve dreamed countless times of becoming a cultivator, of charging across the battlefield, of breaking through enemy lines seven times over. I thought the world was at peace, that even if I cultivated there’d be nowhere to use my strength. But now, learning about the ruins and the Dark Realm, I suddenly feel I have a purpose. My goal is to launch a counterattack against the Dark Realm!”

Xie Sihua’s voice rose ever louder. Fortunately, they were sitting in first class, with no one else nearby. Otherwise, anyone overhearing this conversation would either think they were lunatics or start a panic.

Yang Fan’s face darkened, and he smacked Xie Sihua on the head. The more this guy talked, the more fired up he got. Excited, was he? All that effort he’d spent persuading him was wasted! He’d set the mood so seriously, and with just a couple of sentences, this brat had ruined it.

Xie Sihua clutched his head and glared at Yang Fan in protest. “Why’d you hit me?”

“Because you’re an idiot.”

“How am I an idiot?”

“In every way.”

“Say it, then!”

“You’re being an idiot right now.”

“Smack.”

Yang Fan landed another slap on Xie Sihua’s head. There was just no talking to this guy—he was getting more and more exasperating.

Yang Fan turned away, leaning forward toward the seat in front, where Zhou Yiyi was sitting. He tapped her on the shoulder.

“Yiyi, what do you think of the way I suggested divvying up the spoils the other day?”

Zhou Yiyi turned her head, looking at Yang Fan. “Let’s talk about it later.”

Yang Fan panicked—he couldn’t let this drag on. Every time he saw Zhou Yiyi these last few days, he’d brought up the matter of their spoils, but every time, Zhou Yiyi dodged the issue, never giving a straight answer.

He felt deeply uneasy. After all, the military’s rewards went directly to the designated recipient. Right now, the reward was in Zhou Yiyi’s hands. If she decided to keep it or pull something tricky, he’d have nowhere to complain. Her sister was a fourth-rank martial master, her father an eighth-rank venerable—if it came to fighting dirty, he’d lose every time.

So Yang Fan put on his most ingratiating smile and spoke with exaggerated warmth. “Come on, Yiyi, let’s not put it off any longer. Since we have some time, let’s discuss it now. I really suffered this time—I lost a blade worth thirty-six million, and the machete I used afterward is ruined too. All the pills I brought are gone—I’ve got nothing left. Please, be kind, let’s talk this over.”

Zhou Yiyi couldn’t help but laugh at his fawning expression.

“So, you little rascal, you’ve finally learned to beg? Where’s all that swagger from earlier? Where’s your temper? Sure, we can split the spoils, but don’t think you’ll get off that easy.”

Thinking of this, a mischievous smile crept onto Zhou Yiyi’s face.

Seeing that smile, Yang Fan shivered involuntarily.

This little minx was up to something!

...

Not until the plane landed in Magic City did Yang Fan manage to settle the matter of dividing the spoils with Zhou Yiyi.

He finally understood—this girl was determined to make trouble. People always said girls from Magic City were a handful, and he’d never really believed it before, but now he saw it firsthand.

These Magic City girls were truly hard to handle.

All the way, Yang Fan trailed obediently behind Zhou Yiyi, doing whatever she said, to the point that even Mu Qingshan and the others couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

Was this really the same Yang the Demon King who had lorded over the Ten-Thousand Mountains? The same madman who had dared interfere during the epic third-rank battle? The top freshman at the Magic City Cultivation Academy? He looked every bit the lovesick puppy.

Of course, Yang Fan had no idea what they were thinking. If he did, he’d surely scoff at them and give them a lecture on martial philosophy.

The way of martial arts is about competition, about striving. Don’t they understand that?

Back in the humid, miasmic lands of Yundian, nothing could be settled—everything was about completing the mission. Now, with the mission done and the rewards in hand—especially since Zhou Yiyi was holding them—if he didn’t curry favor now, when would he?

Once they got into the Magic City Cultivation Academy’s vehicle, Yang Fan still stuck close to Zhou Yiyi.

At this point, Zhou Yiyi was at her wits’ end. She never expected Yang Fan to be so shameless. She didn’t know that, back at the orphanage, though Yang Fan had been aloof, whenever there was something to be gained, he was always the first to jump in. From childhood, he’d learned that if you wanted to eat your fill, pride had to be trampled underfoot.

This was nothing.

...

As they walked down the avenue of the Magic City Cultivation Academy, Zhou Yiyi finally couldn’t take it anymore. His clinginess was truly unmatched.

“Alright, alright, I have no objections to your proposed division. As long as everyone agrees, I won’t say another word—just spare me, will you?”

Zhou Yiyi looked at Yang Fan with a pained expression. At first, she’d found it amusing, but as time went on and Yang Fan grew more shameless, he dared say anything. Comments about her figure, her looks... Though all true, it was still embarrassing to have someone say it out loud, especially since he always said it louder the more people were around.

Upon hearing Zhou Yiyi’s concession, Yang Fan turned to Xie Sihua and the others, eyes fierce as a tiger or leopard.

Xie Sihua, Mu Qingshan, and the other four all shuddered in unison, feeling quite wronged.

Why treat us like this? We never said we disagreed—why scare us?

All four spoke as one: “No objections!”

Yang Fan turned back, grinning at Zhou Yiyi. “See? None of them object. Everyone knows I suffered the most and worked the hardest.”

Zhou Yiyi stared at Yang Fan, truly at a loss for words.

“The mission reward should arrive in two days or so. The cash has already been transferred—give me your account and I’ll send it over. As for the beast corpses and the Qi Sea Fruit, I’ll let you know when they arrive!”

With that, Zhou Yiyi turned and dashed away, escaping from Yang Fan as if fleeing for her life.