"Brother Ye Feng..."
Just as Ye Feng was about to stand up and leave, Su Yuxin's soft murmur reached his ears. Noticing her hesitant grip loosening on his sleeve, he paused and gently asked, "What is it, Yuxin? If there's something on your mind, you can tell me."
Su Yuxin bit her slightly dry lips, her gaze drifting to the side as she whispered, "Do I... annoy you? If you think I'm too clingy, Brother Ye Feng, you can..."
"Yuxin."
Ye Feng spoke her name with warmth, withdrawing his hand only to softly pat her head. His voice remained tender as he reassured her, "I could never dislike you, Yuxin. Nor could I dislike any of you. It's just that everything is still new, and we all need time to adjust—not just me, but you too. This is about finding answers in our own hearts."
"Mmm... I understand. Then, should I walk you out?"
Ye Feng could tell Su Yuxin was struggling with insecurity, her actions all aimed at deepening their bond. He noticed how she'd immediately tried to win his affection upon hearing about his feelings. Her cautious yet wholehearted devotion moved him, but he still gently declined.
"Yuxin, your kindness means a lot to me. But I can take care of myself for now. Let's talk more about this later, alright?"
"......"
Su Yuxin lowered her head, unsure how else to support him. She longed for her affection level to reach 100%, like Li Mucheng's, but nothing seemed to work.
"Yuxin."
Seeing her hesitation, Ye Feng reached out, his fingers brushing her cheek, savoring its softness. The touch made her lift her gaze again.
"I won't abandon you. I won't abandon any of you. Trust me, okay?"
"Brother Ye Feng..."
His words and actions eased the unease in her heart, and she finally stepped aside to let him pass.
"I trust you."
"Good. Then, Mucheng, we'll head out now. We can talk more tomorrow."
"Of course, Teacher. Be safe on your way."
With a nod, Ye Feng took Shen Mengli's hand and turned toward the door. But after a few steps, he glanced back at Xie Yuyan, who stood silently by the sofa, watching him.
Feeling his gaze, Xie Yuyan quickly averted her eyes. She'd assumed he'd leave with Shen Mengli and had even thought of seeing them off, but his sudden attention startled her. For some reason, she avoided his eyes, a flicker of anticipation stirring in her chest.
"Mengli, I..."
Ye Feng leaned down to whisper to Shen Mengli, but she cut him off with a soft smile.
"It's alright, Xiao Feng. Just do what you want to do. I'll always support you~"
She even gave him an encouraging little fist pump.
"Mengli..."
"Go on, hurry! Don't keep Xie Yuyan waiting."
"Alright..."
Once Shen Mengli released his hand, Ye Feng walked over to Xie Yuyan and called her name softly.
"Yuyan."
"!!!"
Xie Yuyan stiffened, her lashes fluttering in surprise. Words tangled on her tongue as she stammered, "Wh-what is it, Ye Feng? Did I... do something wrong?"
"Hah? What nonsense are you spouting? You seem perfectly happy staying with Mucheng."
"H-happy...?"
"Oh? Then maybe you should just stay here with her."
"Eh?"
Xie Yuyan's head snapped up, her eyes wide with disbelief.
"Ye Feng... what did you just say?"
"You said you like it here with Mucheng. I was going to ask you to come back with me, but I guess that's unnecessary now."
"N-no! I... I want to go back with you!"
"Oh? But didn’t you just say Mucheng’s place suits you?"
"Th-that’s not true at all!"
Her voice rose in agitation, her thoughts scattering. Panic set in—if she didn’t speak up now, he might really leave.
"It’s not good! Not at all! Staying with Mucheng, I..."
She nearly shouted but caught herself, realizing it would sound like she was rejecting Li Mucheng’s kindness. Just as she floundered, Ye Feng took her hand firmly in his.
"Alright, I know what you mean. I was just teasing you. I never thought the usually sharp and composed Xie Yuyan could get so flustered."
"I... I..."
"Come on, let’s go home. It’s time you returned to your own place."
"Ye Feng..."
Touched, she nodded, gripping his hand tightly. After exchanging a glance with Li Mucheng, she walked with Ye Feng toward the door.
Shen Mengli skipped over to join them on Ye Feng’s other side. After bidding farewell to Su Yuxin and Li Mucheng, the three gradually disappeared beyond the estate gates, leaving only Su Yuxin and Li Mucheng behind.
"Today was a good start. I hope things stay this way."
Li Mucheng shook off her melancholy. Though parting with Ye Feng had dampened her spirits, remembering how he’d still cared for her feelings before leaving lifted her mood. She turned to Su Yuxin, who stood awkwardly, unsure what to do.
"Yuxin, any plans for now?"
"I... I don’t know. I guess I should just go home..."
"Home? Is there something urgent?"
"N-no, it’s just... without Brother Ye Feng, I don’t know what to do."
"Then why not stay here tonight? We can watch horror movies like we used to~"
"Like before... R-really?"
"Of course. So, will you?"
"I will!"
Unbeknownst to Ye Feng, this incident had nudged everyone toward brighter perspectives—even the two who’d once been at odds now seemed to have rekindled their old closeness.
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!" "......"
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
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!
ver to a world of cultivation and returned invincible. Modern medicine is child's play compared to elixirs; technological might crumbles before true cultivation. My name is Qin Ning, Earth's sole cultivator!
