"What are you hiding from us?"
Li Mucheng's eyes flickered briefly upon hearing Su Yuxin's words, but she quickly masked her reaction.
"Yuxin, why don’t you clarify? I’m not sure what you mean."
Su Yuxin knew Li Mucheng was trying to probe her. The topic was straightforward—how could she not understand? But given the current situation, she had no intention of wasting energy on mind games with Li Mucheng.
"Mucheng, do you remember that day at the cliff?"
"Yuxin, are you talking about... when Xie Yuyan stabbed our teacher with a dagger?"
"Yes!"
Su Yuxin didn’t shy away from bringing it up. Now that Li Mucheng was no longer withdrawn, she finally had the chance to discuss it with her.
"I saw it clearly—Xie Yuyan’s dagger plunged straight into Ye Feng’s heart without hesitation. There was no trick, no illusion."
When Li Mucheng remained silent, Su Yuxin continued.
"But the moment the dagger pierced his heart, it bounced back right before our eyes, and Ye Feng was completely unharmed."
Li Mucheng nodded thoughtfully, agreeing with Su Yuxin’s account. "That’s right. I saw it too. The blade went straight for his chest, but his reaction was oddly calm, as if..."
"As if he knew the dagger wouldn’t harm him!" Su Yuxin cut in, finishing Li Mucheng’s sentence.
"Exactly. And given Xie Yuyan’s actions, it means she knew about his... protection. She understands his secrets better than we do."
Li Mucheng bit her lower lip, her expression cool and composed.
As they exchanged their thoughts, the mystery surrounding Ye Feng gradually became clearer.
"Mucheng, should we go ask Xie Yuyan now? Maybe she knows more than we do?"
Li Mucheng shook her head slightly. "It’s not realistic. Even if she were willing to talk, her current mental state wouldn’t allow it. She wouldn’t say a word."
"Mental state? Did she... become like you?"
Li Mucheng shot Su Yuxin a glare but nodded. "Yes. Since we brought her back, she’s been in a similar state—no, worse. She stays in her room all day, silent, like... a lost soul."
"She’s really like that?"
Su Yuxin gasped. The Xie Yuyan she knew was always cold and ruthless, especially when it came to Ye Feng—her methods were extreme, her actions merciless. To hear she’d fallen into such a state was hard to believe.
"Mucheng, do you think she’s... faking it?"
"Faking? You think her grief is an act?"
"I don’t know. It’s just a guess. She’s deceived me before, so of course I’m wary of her."
Su Yuxin huffed, her tone dripping with disdain.
"I... can’t say for sure, but your theory isn’t impossible."
Li Mucheng closed her eyes, deep in thought. Logically, Xie Yuyan’s obsession with Ye Feng ran deeper than anyone else’s. For her to act this way now was undeniably suspicious.
It seemed the only way to know what she was thinking was to confront her directly.
When Li Mucheng opened her eyes again, they were sharp and clear, no longer clouded by confusion—as if she’d solidified her next steps.
"Yuxin, you go back and keep searching for our teacher. I’ll talk to Xie Yuyan myself."
"Huh?"
Though puzzled, Su Yuxin nodded in agreement.
"Alright. But... are you sure it’s safe? Going alone..."
"Xie Yuyan won’t hurt me. She’s not in the state to do so."
Li Mucheng’s confidence came from Xie Yuyan’s behavior at the cliff. When Ye Feng shielded her and fell into the river, Xie Yuyan’s expression had shifted from fury to shock, then to desperate regret. After he disappeared, she didn’t run or lash out—just sat there, utterly lost.
"Fine. But be careful, okay? I’ve never trusted that woman."
Su Yuxin clenched her fists, as if itching to taunt Xie Yuyan if she were here.
"Let’s focus on what matters. I’ll get myself together. Finding our teacher is up to you."
"Got it. I’m just glad to see you’re back to your old self."
Su Yuxin smiled warmly before turning to leave. Just as her hand touched the doorknob, Li Mucheng called out.
"Yuxin."
"Hmm?"
Su Yuxin turned back, expecting further instructions.
"What is it, Mucheng?"
Li Mucheng rose from the bed and stepped closer until barely a fist’s distance separated them. Then, she extended her hand.
"What’s this?"
"A truce."
Li Mucheng smiled softly.
"We’ve fought so much over our teacher. But I’ve realized now—this rivalry only hurts him. Until we find him, let’s go back to how we were before. Okay?"
"..."
Su Yuxin blinked in surprise. She hadn’t expected such words from Li Mucheng. After a pause, she reached out and clasped her hand firmly.
"You’ve changed, Mucheng... but I don’t hate it. I’m sorry for how I treated you before. But just so you know—I won’t give up on Ye Feng."
"Neither will I."
They shared a smile, as if returning to sweeter, simpler days.

iaobai: "Councilor Dad, front me some funds. I want to hire ten thousand professional miners for a project!" [Five-Star Mission Issued: Capture the leader of the Blood Heaven Pirate Gang, who is on the run in the Radiant Star Sector. It is said the gang has over a hundred members. Proceed with caution.] Lu Xiaobai: "Councilor Dad, lend me the family's hundred-thousand-strong Lu Army!" [Seven-Star Mission Issued: Subdue a juvenile Void Dragon Beast.] Lu Xiaobai: "Councilor Dad, I'm taking your tamed Void Dragon Beast King out for a family reunion!" I said, System, don't you have any slightly more challenging missions? You're just not up to par! [Nine-Star Mission Issued: Become the Human Councilor.] Lu Xiaobai: "Dad, there's a small matter I'd like to discuss with you..."

grated, and just when he finally managed to get into an elite academy, he discovered that he actually had a system, and the way to earn rewards was extremely ridiculous. So for the sake of rewards, he had no choice but to start acting ridiculous as well. Su Cheng: "It's nothing but system quests after all." But later, what confused Su Cheng was that while he was already quite ridiculous, he never expected those serious characters to gradually become ridiculous too. And the way they looked at him became increasingly strange... (This synopsis doesn't do it justice, please read the full story)

ose... to cooperate with the protagonist! Shen Yuan: I have a system! Protagonist: What? System: Holy crap, you're just spilling it out like that? Shen Yuan: Let's team up, we'll split the system rewards! Protagonist: Fifty-fifty split? Shen Yuan: No way! Protagonist: What!? I'm the one getting beaten up, and I don't get half? Shen Yuan: Forty-sixty split, I get forty, you get sixty! Protagonist: Deal! Big brother, come on, hit me! As long as it doesn't kill me, beat me like you mean it! Shen Yuan: Don't worry... I will definitely protect all of you! No one but me can lay a finger on you! Guard our Heaven's Chosen Ones! I'm the only one allowed to bully them!

saw a female celebrity tied up and stuffed in the trunk! Little did he know, countless cameras were aimed at him at this moment - this was a new type of reality show. The first randomly selected passerby was caught in less than an hour. But when Xu Moru was selected, things started to take an unexpected turn. "Damn, this isn't how the script goes. This Xu Moru is too bold, he's not following the rules at all." "Crap, is this guy taking it seriously?" "The female celebrity has been scared to tears!"