Chapter 123: Duan Feiye Pays a Visit
That was a little scary.
Jian Yu had just gotten ready when an Alien Beast lunged straight for her.
She was too slow to dodge, and her shoulder was scratched.
It left a large gash, but the pain wasn’t severe.
Purple Smoke suddenly erupted from her chest, swirling all around.
The Low-level Mutant Beast instantly became docile, obediently prostrating itself on the ground.
It looked neither like a rabbit nor a snake, and who knew what it was trying to scare with those big red eyes.
’So ugly.’
Jian Yu swallowed nervously and completed her first rookie instance.
Several instances could be skipped, and players could also choose to jump to higher-level ones.
Jian Yu chose to clear them one by one, taking a slow and steady approach.
’A custom-made virtual game really is different.’
It had cost a great deal of manpower and money, but it effectively taught Jian Yu the strengths and weaknesses of various classes of Alien Beasts, as well as their different power levels.
She had already achieved a decent mastery of her Hidden Beast Aura (pink) and Tamed Spirit Breath (cyan).
Jian Yu was a paradox—a try-hard who loved to slack off.
She would only work hard for as long as her burst of enthusiasm lasted. Right now, she was on a roll, chain-running one instance after another.
The number of wounds on her body grew, but the pain was nothing compared to what she had experienced before—it wasn’t even worth mentioning.
The more she played, the more she got into it. A defiant spirit drove her to keep climbing the ranks.
「It was now afternoon.」
When Pei Yin arrived, he didn’t see anyone.
He followed Ling Yanzhi’s aura down to the basement level.
Spotting the large virtual reality device in the center of the room, Pei Yin walked over in surprise. "It’s finished already?"
He watched Jian Yu clearing an instance, then turned his head eagerly. "Let me have a go later."
"So ambitious," Ling Yanzhi said sarcastically while feeding the ling beast.
He tapped a finger casually on the ling beast’s fiery-red head and threatened, "If you don’t form a Contract soon, I’ll throw you to the Red Snake."
Pei Yin shrugged. "You can’t rush these things. Just let it take its time."
It was strange. The ling beast both feared and felt drawn to Jian Yu, yet it still hadn’t initiated a Contract.
’Could the problem be on Jian Yu’s end?’
Ling Yanzhi glanced up. "Where’s Xi Yu? Why didn’t he come with you?"
Pei Yin didn’t answer.
He was watching Jian Yu finish a mid-level instance and move on to challenge an Awakener.
An S-Class Awakener whose Soul Beast was a Green Python.
A teasing expression crossed Pei Yin’s face. "Don’t tell me our baby is treating this person like a stand-in for you and beating them up?"
He stepped aside so Ling Yanzhi could get a clearer view of the game projection.
The giant Green Python was immobilized by the Purple Smoke, and Jian Yu was bouncing up and down on its body.
Stomping on it, even using its head as a stool.
Pei Yin cracked a smile. "Does baby think we can’t see her? So cute. It makes my hands itch—I want to just squish her to death."
He sat down and offered his conclusion.
"This little contraption you whipped up is actually pretty useful. Our baby has cleared so many instances and seen so many bizarre Alien Beasts that she’s immune to the Red Snake now. She’s not afraid of it anymore."
Pei Yin urged him, "Take a look. The challenge is almost over. Look how cute baby is, stomping on that snake’s head."
He said this while taking pictures to commemorate the moment.
Ling Yanzhi glanced over nonchalantly, his eyelids drooping listlessly.
He commented coldly, "A low-level snake."
Pei Yin stroked his chin. "Too bad my Soul Beast isn’t a snake. Why has baby suddenly taken a liking to sitting on snake heads?"
Ting Ying, not wanting to be left out, squawked, "Can’t she sit on my back? I’m sturdy!"
Hearing his Soul Beast’s shrill voice, Pei Yin said, "Shut up. Your voice is awful."
"..." Ting Ying flapped its wings and flew back into his body with a loud rustle.
Pei Yin couldn’t help but fantasize for a moment. "Actually, that might not be a bad idea."
Ling Yanzhi’s fingers paused.
The corners of his mouth lifted, and a flicker of light appeared in his eyes.
Jian Yu finished the first challenge and was about to try challenging a Level 2S Awakener when her vision suddenly went black.
She had been forcibly logged out.
"Time to eat." Ling Yanzhi took off her helmet. Seeing her dazed expression, he tapped a finger against it.
"That’s enough gaming."
Setting the game helmet aside, Ling Yanzhi gently ruffled Jian Yu’s messy long hair with the pads of his fingers.
The veins on his raised arm were clearly visible, causing Jian Yu to sneak another look.
She dodged to the side. "You’re messing it up."
Pei Yin walked over, one eyebrow raised. "You just played a game. Why do you look like you’ve been struck by lightning the second the helmet comes off?"
He frowned. "It’s a bit like that ’beggar chic’ look from the explosion at Yan Qin’s lab."
Jian Yu: "..."
Ling Yanzhi hooked a finger around the hair tie on his wrist, pulled it off, and stretched it over his knuckles.
His long fingers gathered Jian Yu’s hair unhurriedly and tied it into a bun.
Ling Yanzhi said lazily, "Don’t compare her to just anyone."
The black hair tie with two beads had left two round marks on Ling Yanzhi’s wrist.
He casually, yet intentionally, pushed his sleeve up a little higher.
Unfortunately, Jian Yu didn’t take the bait.
Ling Yanzhi stretched out his arm, his eyes fixed on her. "Rub it for me."
He raised an eyebrow. "I’m the main consort, am I not?"
Jian Yu pressed her lips together, placed her fingers on his arm, and rubbed it a few times.
With her head lowered, she looked very docile.
Pei Yin snorted. "You’d be better off trusting me than him. He’s just putting on a show. What, is his Space Button just for decoration?"
He shot a sidelong glance. "If he’s not going to use it, he should just throw it away. Toss it to some garbage bot. Just remember to tell me which one, so I can have the bot spit it back out for me."
’My research funding is running a little low, after all.’
"Tsk." Ling Yanzhi felt Duan Feiye’s aura approaching.
He activated the surveillance, and a holographic screen appeared in mid-air.
Xi Yu had a cold expression on his face, while Duan Feiye followed behind him, smiling with sly composure.
’Looks like they’re here to cause trouble.’
Pei Yin was the first to leave the basement. "I’ll go check it out."
Jian Yu lowered her head, thinking about what had happened over the past few days.
’This probably has nothing to do with me, right?’
’Or is it related to today’s Soul Ghost Body?’
’The F4 are so smart. Have they already started suspecting me?’
"Watch your step." Ling Yanzhi took Jian Yu’s hand and led her along at a leisurely pace.
They hadn’t even reached the living room when they heard Pei Yin’s voice.
"What are you thinking? It’s useless telling me. If you’ve got the guts, go pick a fight with Xi Yu and Ling Yanzhi."
A series of clattering sounds followed; even without seeing him, one could imagine how wildly Pei Yin was gesticulating.
Jian Yu’s fingers tightened. She felt a flicker of panic.
She froze in place, not taking another step forward.
"Tired after just a few steps?" Ling Yanzhi scooped her up with one arm. "Does it hurt? I’ll massage your legs for you tonight."
Jian Yu snapped out of it, her gaze landing on his concerned expression.
She shook her head, her eyes downcast.
After some thought, Jian Yu decided to confess and seek his protection. "I think I killed an S-Class Soul Ghost Body."
"Mm." Ling Yanzhi didn’t seem to react much.
He figured it out in a few seconds. "The one from today?"
"Mhm," Jian Yu nodded, widening her eyes and looking at him as innocently as possible.
"It’s fine. Don’t be afraid, baby." Ling Yanzhi tapped the brooch on her clothes.
"I put something in here. Any Soul Ghost Body with a lower Level than me can’t possess you. At most, they can give you a scare."
Jian Yu froze, her expression puzzled.
’When did he put it there? How did I not know?’
As if he could read her mind, Ling Yanzhi said, "I put it there last night."
After Xu Jianjuan was possessed, Jian Yu had asked what a Soul Ghost Body was like.
Ling Yanzhi couldn’t protect her in person 24/7, which made him feel uneasy.
’Since she found out, I might as well take credit.’
His eyelids were half-closed, his long lashes hiding the emotion in his eyes. "I was a little worried."
Jian Yu stared, unblinking, at his handsome face. Following her heart, she wrapped her arms around his neck. "Thank you."
She leaned against Ling Yanzhi, not noticing the flash of triumph in his eyes.
Instead of walking the rest of the way, Ling Yanzhi held her and, with a few uses of Instant Teleportation, appeared before the group.
Duan Feiye’s gaze swept over the furious Pei Yin as he rubbed his own twitching temple.
He lowered his hand and raised his eyes slightly, his gaze landing on Jian Yu.
"Arguing won’t solve the problem. Wouldn’t it be better to sit down and have a proper talk?"
Jian Yu subconsciously clutched the silver ring hanging from the choker on Ling Yanzhi’s neck.
She looked at Xi Yu, who was "growing mushrooms" in the corner. "Ayue?"
Xi Yu looked up, his gloomy eyes instantly becoming bright and clear. "Baby."
He used Instant Teleportation to appear before her and grabbed her hand. "Baby, your face is so pale."
He rubbed her cheek.
In this situation, Ling Yanzhi knew he couldn’t count on Xi Yu.
He glanced at the scowling Pei Yin and pushed Jian Yu into Xi Yu’s arms.
Ling Yanzhi looked toward Duan Feiye. "Talk about what?"
Before Duan Feiye could even speak...
...Pei Yin exploded. "He wants to steal someone!"
He rattled on, "How long have I even been in this position? What right does he have to just show up and try to take a bite? No way! I won’t allow it! Sheng Yue has been waiting for so long and he hasn’t even gotten on board yet!"
He said a lot, but Jian Yu only half-understood.
She had thought Duan Feiye had guessed she had the ability to devour Soul Ghost Bodies.
’Looks like I miscalculated.’
From the sound of it, this had nothing to do with the Soul Ghost Body at all.