Chapter 150

Volume ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍9 of Ability Hunter Academy opened with a dinner gathering involving Xie Chang’an, Feng Youyou, and the others.

After ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍all of them had advanced to A-Rank Hunter, they arranged to meet for a meal. Since each of them was also curious about what the others had gone through after leaving school, none of them objected to such a gathering. Xie Chang’an even made a special phone call to ask Jiang Cuo, but all he received was a polite refusal.

When ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Xie Chang’an brought this up during the meal, Ling You’er muttered, “Song Xiaoran is the same. He clearly has nothing going on, but he just does not want to go out. I am supposed to be the one with the socially anxious image, so why does it feel like he is even more socially anxious than I am now?”

Xie ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Chang’an froze for a moment.

Because ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍his life after leaving school had been extremely full, Xie Chang’an had almost forgotten about Song Xiaoran. He had not even imagined that he would hear about Song Xiaoran’s whereabouts from Ling You’er, so he quickly asked about Song Xiaoran’s current situation.

Ling ‍​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍You’er forced out a smile. “At the moment… there is basically no difference between him and a shut-in.”

【Hahahahahahahaha】

【The shut-in and his two caretakers】

【I am laughing so hard】

【Hey, hey, hey, Song Xiaoran, do not actually start thinking of yourself as a potted plant, hahahaha】

【My whole filter for Song Xiaoran has shattered】

【Feng Youyou and the others actually seem pretty nice. They still remember to water Song Xiaoran and bring food home for him. Isn’t that basically a pure mother-son relationship?】

【Becoming a mother without pain?】

“Pfft—” Ji Qing could not help laughing. “Hahaha, damn… I genuinely had no idea. What kind of prank show is this…”

Ji Qing laughed so hard that his lower stomach hurt in waves.

The readers’ description was bizarre, but also especially funny. And really, how could anyone hear the rumor that “one of their classmates was being raised as a human-shaped houseplant / child / shut-in by several of their other classmates” and not find it funny?

Once he had finally calmed down, Ji Qing let out a long, weak breath.

Reading the manga really was useful, Ji Qing could not help thinking.

Before seeing this scene, he had not known Song Xiaoran’s situation at all. Feng Youyou had never mentioned it to him either, though given the circumstances at the time, they truly had not had any spare time to chat about each other’s recent situations.

The next scene of the manga showed Xie Chang’an being asked what he had gained after finishing his commission.

After remaining silent for a long time, Xie Chang’an brought out the Tang Saber he had been gifted and explained the matter currently troubling him. He wanted to find a swordsmith to sharpen the blade, but he had no idea where to look for an experienced one.

After hearing this, Ling You’er could not help glancing toward Feng Youyou, who had fallen into thought.

She said nothing, but Feng Youyou answered first. “If you are willing to wait, I should have a channel for that. I need to accompany You’er back to her hometown at the end of this month, and the master I know is busy next month, so the earliest would be the month after next.”

Xie Chang’an was utterly stunned by this.

He had only intended to casually mention his concern, yet he had not expected one of his classmates to actually have the connections he needed. Just as Xie Chang’an was about to agree, Gu Lingxue spoke first and asked for more details.

“I am sorry. I mainly wanted to see whether there might be a more efficient solution,” Gu Lingxue said apologetically. “An A-Rank Commission takes a great deal of time and energy. If we wait until the month after next, things could easily change in the meantime, which is why I took the liberty of asking.”

“That was my oversight.” Feng Youyou hesitated after hearing that, then turned to Ling You’er. “But this is not for me to decide. We would have to ask whether You’er agrees.”

“I have no objection,” Ling You’er said quietly.

So after discussing it for a while, they ultimately decided that Gu Lingxue would accompany Ling You’er home, while Feng Youyou and Xie Chang’an would go to see the master.

【It feels like Ling You’er is still a little unhappy…】

【Maybe she is just a little at a loss?】

【That actually feels normal. Among this whole group, Feng Youyou is the one she is closest to, so once she learned Feng Youyou could not go with her, of course she would feel a bit disappointed. But then again, I wonder what it would have been like if Song Xiaoran had been the one involved…】

【But Xuexue’s reasoning is correct too.

Two months is a very long time, and things could easily change in between. It is better to handle it now while both sides are still free.】

【This is not setting off some kind of flag, is it?】

“If you mean the Black Tide, then yes, it absolutely is a flag,” Ji Qing murmured darkly.

But the Black Tide would not arrive this early, so it was probably only a disguised way of showing the friendship between those two. Resting his chin in his hand, Ji Qing muttered, “Still… I truly did not expect the relationship between those two to develop this far.”

Feng Youyou and Ling You’er had very different personalities.

The two of them had almost never spoken before the Individual Competition, yet it was from that match onward that their bond gradually deepened. Judging from Ling You’er’s description, the two of them and Song Xiaoran had probably begun living together not long after the second semester started, for the sake of looking after one another.

Although the fact that Song Xiaoran had agreed to such an arrangement at all was already enough to surprise Ji Qing.

In the manga, the four of them then split up and acted.

Feng Youyou and Xie Chang’an headed for the town where the master swordsmith lived, while Ling You’er and Gu Lingxue returned to Huai City. The two groups waved goodbye to each other at the station, then departed for their respective destinations. The manga did not choose to switch the perspective to Xie Chang’an’s side at this point. Instead, it first shifted to Ling You’er’s side.

With unease, Gu Lingxue asked, “Are you in a bad mood, Ling You’er?”

“It is nothing…” Ling You’er lifted her eyes to look at Gu Lingxue, who stood beside her, then shook her head. “I just do not quite understand the rest of you. To put it strangely… why are all of you so willing to get along with Xie Chang’an?”

Gu Lingxue was caught completely off guard. “Hm?”

Ling You’er answered, “I cannot see his value. That may be due to my own limitations as well.”

【Wait—】

【Damn, I suddenly understand the problem now.】

【This instantly made me think back to the previous volumes. I feel as though I saw Zhou Que express a similar kind of doubt before. Do all the children from Noble Houses think this way?】

【So that is the logic behind it?】

【What logic? I cannot understand what you are all talking about.】

【The logic is actually simple. Ling You’er is asking why they had to deliberately make concessions for Xie Chang’an. Why did Feng Youyou and Xie Chang’an have to make a special trip just for this? She probably feels that her own matter is more important, but inwardly she is puzzled that the other two do not feel the same way.】

【And what exactly is wrong with that?】

【Sigh, the simplest explanation is this: Ling You’er does not think Xie Chang’an is worth befriending.】

【! I get it now too!!!】

【Now that you put it that way, it really is true. Ling You’er’s dialogue has always been centered on the other two. She has never once taken the initiative to ask Xie Chang’an anything. She only answers when Xie Chang’an specifically asks her by name. Th-this… this is completely the attitude one takes toward a stranger!】

“Hiss…” Ji Qing immediately sucked in a breath.

Although Ling You’er did not speak often, the readers’ line of analysis was indeed correct.

Because Xie Chang’an was Feng Youyou’s friend, Ling You’er could just barely bring herself to speak to him, and just barely acknowledge him. But because Ling You’er did not regard Xie Chang’an as her own friend, nor see any value in him becoming her friend, she disliked this development.

It was a little convoluted, yet it was the truth.

No one had ever said that a friend’s friend had to be one’s own friend. So long as one maintained basic courtesy in front of that mutual friend, it was enough. That social rule was remarkably realistic, which was precisely why it was so easy for others to overlook.

In the manga, Gu Lingxue’s expression froze in shock. The atmosphere between the two of them immediately turned stiff, but it was Ling You’er who took the initiative to change the topic. Calmly, Ling You’er thought to herself: Forget it. It is not anything especially important anyway.

The camera in that chapter then followed Ling You’er’s line of sight and shifted toward the scenery outside the train window.

The comment barrage instantly exploded:

【Oh no, oh no, I am really scared of where the plot is going next】

【Actually… I do not think there is any problem, right? Ling You’er has never once acknowledged Chang’an as her friend. Their relationship is at most that of a friend’s friend. If he is only a friend’s friend and not her own friend, that feels reasonable enough, does it not?】

【Put that way, it feels so real】

【This is the first time I have ever seen this kind of situation in a manga (stunned)】

The next chapter of the manga returned to Xie Chang’an’s point of view.

Feng Youyou and Xie Chang’an went together to see the master swordsmith, and along the way the two of them talked quite a bit about their own recent circumstances and those of the people around them. When Xie Chang’an brought up Ling You’er’s attitude during the dinner, Feng Youyou scratched her cheek awkwardly. “You’er… well, that is just how You’er is…”

“Did I trouble all of you?” Xie Chang’an asked hesitantly.

Feng Youyou hurriedly waved both hands. “Do not mind it. This time, your matter really was the more urgent one. Still… be a little more careful in the future. You’er does not like changing her plans, and she also does not really like boys taking the initiative to talk to her…”

【I am dying laughing, hahaha】

【Feng Youyou phrased that so tactfully. Chang’an probably will not understand it at all, will he… (covering face)】

【Obviously】

【Xie Chang’an (muttering): does not like boys talking to her, does not like boys talking to her, definitely do not take the initiative to talk to her %￥#……】

【Honestly, that is not wrong, is it?

At this point, I really can no longer classify Song Xiaoran as a normal human male (Youyou-style speech)】

【Song Xiaoran: (blank.jpg)】

In the manga, the two of them successfully met the swordsmith.

After a brief conversation, Xie Chang’an and the swordsmith agreed that he would come to collect the saber the day after tomorrow. While waiting for the blade to be repaired, Feng Youyou deliberately went to the local branch of the Federal News Agency under the identity of an “intern reporter,” so that she could find out what major news stories the agency was currently trying to track.

Xie Chang’an also took the opportunity to learn a few things about the latest developments in the Federation.

Then, on the second day, Feng Youyou even decided to follow one of the senior reporters from the Federal News Agency in order to become familiar with the atmosphere of the interview site. But because the interviewee required privacy, Xie Chang’an did not go with her. Instead, he aimlessly wandered around the city by himself for a while.

Just as Xie Chang’an thought everything would be over soon, Feng Youyou received a Terminal message from Ji Qing: 【Were you active in Xucheng not long ago? Something urgent has happened on my side. The moment you see this, reply to me at once.】

The comment barrage was instantly thrown into shock:

【I had been wondering how the story was going to transition into the four-person lineup on the cover. So this is how?】

【Good grief… that is so unexpected】

【Looks like the main background of this volume is this: Ji Qing and You Xingluo are together, while Feng Youyou and Xie Chang’an are together. The two groups cross paths because of Ji Qing’s call for help, and then a new round of fighting begins?】

【Is the town on the cover Xucheng?】

【This feels like it is about to lead to something huge… (rubbing hands excitedly)】

【Wahaha, can’t wait, can’t wait!】

【Ahhh, it is finally transitioning from daily life into battle.

Yuexia, you absolutely have to believe in yourself. Your drawing skills are world-class!!!】

【Exactly, exactly. We adore it (heart gesture~)】

“Good grief, so this kind of reverse psychology works too?” A meaningful smile curved Ji Qing’s lips as he said lazily, “Still, before long you will realize that the reason Central City stirred up such a huge commotion was precisely because You Xingluo had disappeared. Perhaps, in a way, that really did bring things full circle.”

Of course, Ji Qing had known that from the very beginning.