"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 Now that Li Mucheng was no longer withdrawn, she finally had the chance to discuss it with her.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.
ts me of treason?" "Correct. The host must return to the capital and gradually build up influence." "Wait—I have half a million soldiers, and you want me to go back to the capital to 'build influence'?" "Host, you are currently the Northern Garrison General, loyal to the Great Xia Dynasty." "Of course I am loyal to Great Xia! Absolutely loyal!" "But you keep referring to yourself as 'We'..." "Never mind the details! Summon all the regional commanders and military officers! We suspect treacherous officials are manipulating the court! They shall march with Us to the capital and purge the corrupt!" "......"
Cheng's father told him he was getting remarried—to a wealthy woman. Cao Cheng realized his time had finally come: he was about to become a second-generation rich kid. Sure, it might be a watered-down version, but hey, at least he'd have status now, right? The wealthy woman also had four daughters!! Which meant, starting today, Cao Cheng gained four stunning older sisters?? But that wasn't even the whole story... "My name is Cao Cheng—'Cheng' as in 'honest, smooth-talking gentleman'!"
] [Lone Wolf, No Male Gaze] [Protagonist is pursued early on; extreme protagonist-stans, stay away!] The "Carnival Paradise" descends and slowly devours the real world in the form of a game. By chance, Zhu Yan awakens the talent [Roleplay], becoming one of the first beta players. He thought he could develop safely, but after clearing the first instance, he is branded by humanity as the chief culprit behind the game's spread—a traitorous villain. A villain? Who would ever... become one! He'll be the villain! From then on, Zhu Yan is not only a player but also a lackey for the Carnival Paradise. Between the straight path and the crooked path, he chooses the con. With his left hand, he dons the villain's mantle, staging scenes within instances, infuriating players who decry him as a despicable traitor, all while the game happily promotes him. With his right hand, he joins the non-human organization "Fangcun Mountain," which opposes the Carnival Paradise, transforming into a mysterious player who slaughters game bosses, earning cheers of "Long live the expert!" from fellow players. Gradually, Zhu Yan rises to become an S-rank human player in Fangcun Mountain's archives, while also being the Carnival Paradise's certified top game Boss. But when the final war erupts and both major factions place their hopes in him— Players tag his various aliases: "Experts, this offensive depends on you." The Carnival Paradise's supreme Boss throws an arm around his neck: "Bro, you're the iron, I'm the steel; you can't let me down again!"
ut it can buy an entire year of absolutely perfect training results! Su Yu stared at his empty wallet and decisively opened up various online loan platforms. “Borrow a thousand bucks! Recharge my vitality!” Boom! His vitality broke a hundred points, shattering the limits of the human body! “Borrow ten thousand bucks! Recharge my combat skills!” Boom! A basic punching technique so common it was everywhere instantly maxed out, revealing the ultimate assassination technique of Five Elements Unity—Inner Force! When a rich kid hired assassins for a midnight ambush, aiming to break both of his legs, they instead ran headfirst into a monster—a human-shaped tyrannosaur, brimming with dragon-like vitality. With just two fingers, Su Yu snapped a steel staff reinforced with alloy. Staring at the killer’s stash of stolen cash—a staggering quarter-million dollars—he showed a corporate-sincere smile: “Thanks for the pre-exam gift pack, Mr. Zhao! I’m gonna go re-invest this!” Three days later, at the National Martial Arts College Entrance Exam, while everyone else struggled just to reach the passing line, Su Yu threw a single punch—and more than a thousand vitality points literally detonated the entire arena!
