Chapter 7: Danger Ahead
Li Liandong had obviously noticed the look in Bai Zhouyun's eyes as well, but this was a matter between their two families. As an outsider, he couldn't interfere too much, so he simply took Nan Yu and left.
After leading Nan Yu some distance away, Li Liandong realized that Bai Zhouyun really hadn't followed them. He was so shocked that he almost couldn't believe it.
“Is this how Bai Zhouyun usually treats you?”
What was the point of keeping a fiancé like that? He should just be thrown away!
Nan Yu blinked.
“Yes, Director. His temper isn't very good, but I'll be more understanding. Sometimes he's rather insecure, so it's understandable if he's a little bad-tempered.”
Li Liandong looked astonished.
“Even so, he can't take it out on you! That's completely unreasonable. If there ever comes a chance in the future...”
At that point, he stopped himself.
The same old issue—this was their family matter. As an outsider, it wasn't appropriate for him to interfere casually.
Of course Nan Yu knew what Li Liandong wanted to say.
If there was ever a chance in the future, dump Bai Zhouyun!
In fact, before today, everyone in the Nan family except Nan Yu himself had thought exactly that.
It wasn't that Bai Zhouyun wasn't outstanding enough to satisfy them. The problem was that Bai Zhouyun's reputation truly wasn't very good.
The first issue was his strength.
Strength was certainly a weakness, but for families like the Nan family and the Bai family, the marriage between Bai Zhouyun and Nan Yu could still be considered a powerful alliance. Even if Bai Zhouyun himself wasn't particularly impressive, it wouldn't have been a major problem.
The real issue was that Bai Zhouyun wasn't very capable, yet he wasn't willing to work hard.
That's right—Bai Zhouyun loved having fun.
In the past, he played by himself. Later, he often took Nan Yu along as well. However, they always stayed out until very late because Bai Zhouyun played too wildly, which displeased the Nan family's elders. Eventually, Nan Yu stopped accompanying him.
After that, without Nan Yu holding him back, Bai Zhouyun became even more reckless in his pursuit of entertainment.
Of course, by "playing around," it wasn't anything improper. He simply enjoyed having fun.
But as an Ability User, shouldn't he at least persevere in making himself stronger? At the very least, he should become a High-Tier Ability User before indulging himself. Then it would sound much better when people talked about him.
Nan Yu smiled.
“Thank you, Director Li. I'll think carefully about it in the future.”
And Bai Zhouyun's flaws didn't stop there.
He especially liked saying things that could easily be misunderstood.
For example, he would tell a female classmate, "You look beautiful today."
Or say things like, "Your scent is different today. Did you change your perfume?"
He also had a habit of casually touching women or Mental Power Users from time to time.
A touch of the hair.
A grab of the hand.
Things like that.
Because his actions never crossed any obvious line, people disliked it but ultimately let it slide out of consideration for Old Master Bai, the Bai family, and even the person standing behind the Bai family.
Year after year, that attitude only encouraged Bai Zhouyun's behavior.
Now he genuinely didn't think he was doing anything wrong.
After all, nobody seemed particularly disgusted by it, right?
No one ever corrected him.
Even Bai Zhouyun's parents believed that as an Ability User and a grown man, casually flirting with women wasn't a problem.
As long as he remained loyal to his partner.
As long as he didn't truly fool around outside.
Bai Zhouyun had always maintained that boundary quite well.
In reality, the main reason was that he was still young and didn't dare cross the line.
Nan Yu believed that in another two years, Bai Zhouyun would grow into exactly the person Nan Yu remembered from his previous life.
And eventually, he would end up together with Yun Feiyu.
Thinking about it, the two of them were actually quite well matched.
One was trash among Ability Users.
The other was trash among Mental Power Users.
Li Liandong glanced at Nan Yu with some surprise.
“As long as you understand your own situation. But if you want to get rid of him, unless he makes a mistake himself, or unless you become...”
Unless Nan Yu became a High-Tier Mental Power User.
Otherwise, getting rid of Bai Zhouyun—who up to this point hadn't committed any major wrongdoing—would be extremely difficult.
After all, behind Bai Zhouyun stood Old Master Bai.
And behind Old Master Bai stood...
That person.
Although the imperial family still retained the title of royalty and no longer possessed the authority to arbitrarily interfere with the Empire's affairs, their status remained extraordinarily high.
Without sufficient strength, how could they have maintained their position as the imperial family?
Especially the current Crown Prince, Yuan Qiyang.
His strength was beyond question.
“Hm?”
A sense of danger suddenly flashed through Li Liandong's mind.
“Nan Yu, get back! Hide behind that rock! Don't come out until the battle is over!”
Nan Yu knew he absolutely couldn't act recklessly.
If he failed to hide properly and ran around, he would only become a burden to Li Liandong.
He immediately sprinted behind a massive boulder and concealed himself.
Only then did Li Liandong turn toward the front, his expression becoming solemn.
Very soon, a High-Tier Ability Beast appeared before him.
Although the beast's gaze was locked firmly on Li Liandong, he knew perfectly well that the true target wasn't him.
The only reason a High-Tier Ability Beast would appear here was Nan Yu.
Nan Yu possessed exceptional talent.
More importantly, he was a Mid-Tier Mental Power User.
The flesh, blood, and spiritual energy of Mental Power Users were exceptionally pure. To Ability Beasts, they were the finest nourishment imaginable.
That was why Mental Power Users always required Ability Users to accompany them whenever they approached areas where Ability Beasts might appear.
Previously, Nan Yu had brought only Bai Zhouyun.
That was obviously insufficient.
Although this was merely the outer region of Black Night Forest, where High-Tier Ability Beasts normally never appeared...
There were always exceptions.
Like this time.
Hidden behind the boulder, Nan Yu felt somewhat frustrated.
In his previous life, he had arrived later and happened to encounter only a Mid-Tier Ability Beast.
He had assumed that by controlling the timing this time, he could avoid that encounter entirely.
Yet who could have expected this?
He had successfully avoided the Mid-Tier Ability Beast...
Only to run straight into a High-Tier Ability Beast instead.
If they hadn't happened to meet Li Liandong—a High-Tier Ability User—along the way, then with only himself and Bai Zhouyun present, they would have been doomed.
Only now did Nan Yu feel genuine fear.
He had underestimated the situation.
It seemed that from now on, he would have to think much more carefully before taking action.
Even when dealing with events he had personally experienced in his previous life, he would need to make complete preparations.
He absolutely could not allow a situation like this to happen again.
Fortunately, this High-Tier Ability Beast wasn't particularly strong.
Although it had indeed reached the High Tier, its aura was unstable.
It had most likely fought another High-Tier Ability Beast deeper within Black Night Forest over territory and lost.
After being defeated, it had fled here.
Meanwhile, Li Liandong was currently in peak condition.
Facing a wounded High-Tier Ability Beast wasn't especially difficult for him.
Unfortunately...
One feared not a godlike opponent, but a pig-like teammate.
The Bai Zhouyun group that they had left behind earlier suddenly appeared within sight.
Bai Zhouyun.
Yun Feiyu.
And the third person accompanying them.
The High-Tier Ability Beast noticed them as well.
Perhaps it realized that Li Liandong was too difficult to deal with. If the fight continued, it would certainly die here.
So the somewhat intelligent beast seized the moment when Li Liandong was distracted by the appearance of Bai Zhouyun's group.
The instant Li Liandong lost focus—
It turned and ran.
Naturally, the direction it chose to flee toward...
Was straight toward Bai Zhouyun and the others.