Chapter 245 - 244: Sister, You’re So Cute

A Soul Beast Cover shields a person’s five senses, preventing outsiders from knowing what’s happening inside.

Only someone of an equal or higher level could hear any sound from inside a Soul Beast Cover.

Si Xu arrived at just the right moment, hearing every word Si Yan said with perfect clarity.

Si Yan’s face lit up the moment she turned and saw him.

She asked urgently, "Cousin, is everything Brother Duan Fei said true?"

’I can’t let anyone take Ayan from me. I know stealing the Holy Pearl might get Father into trouble, but it should be no worse than that time Si Xu was poisoned.’

Si Yan had to admit she was wavering.

Duan Feiye slowly sauntered over to Si Xu’s side.

He glanced sideways, signaling to Pei Yin, who had just arrived.

Pei Yin put his hands on his hips. "If this isn’t true, then what is!"

Si Xu’s expression was placid.

He descended from the air, his body rippling with patterns of light. His face was shrouded in a divine glow, and his eyes seemed capable of piercing through all worldly illusions.

Si Yan bit her lip. ’He didn’t hit me, scold me, or even glare at me.’

’It must be true.’

Si Yan came to her own conclusion. "Alright, I get it!"

A cyan stream of light flashed, and in a few bursts of Instant Teleportation, she was gone.

At the same time, six blue lights shot out from a nearby corner, following close behind her.

Pei Yin squinted up at the sky. "The High Priest is really willing to spare no expense, sending six Level 2S Awakeners to protect her."

He draped his arm over Duan Feiye. "What did you tell her? She knows now? Knows what? That she’s not much to look at but has the gall to dream about our Ayan?"

Duan Feiye’s expression was unreadable. "I advised her to give up on Ayan. I even kindly informed her that his marriage line has activated, tying him to Jian Yu. She wouldn’t listen. Said she’s going to steal the Holy Pearl and have Ah Xu change it for her."

He sighed, feigning profoundness.

Pei Yin eyed him furtively. "And how do you know Ayan’s line is tied to my treasure?"

Duan Feiye shrugged, shaking off Pei Yin’s arm. "Ah Xu told me. Did he not tell you?"

A halo of light, like that of fireflies, bloomed around him. The motes of light then swirled through the air, weaving themselves into a flowing ribbon.

Duan Feiye tapped his foot and stepped onto the ribbon of light, his figure slowly vanishing into the sky above.

Pei Yin simply moved his arm to the next person, draping it over Si Xu. "Why’d you tell him and not me?"

Si Xu gazed at him, his eyes vacant. "I know not of what you speak."

"..." Pei Yin removed his arm.

He poked the tall deity before him. "Hey, what about me? Check mine. Is my marriage line tied to my treasure?"

Si Xu shot him a sideways glance. "You? Utterly alone, without a single tie to this world."

’Besides him, Jian Yu has six other men. The thought alone makes me furious!’

’Fine, her marriage line is active, but why did it have to do the splits and branch into seven different paths!’

Without turning back, Si Xu slowly raised his hand, and a Light Gate opened before him.

He stepped through, his figure vanishing completely as the Light Gate sealed shut.

Pei Yin snickered. ’I got my answer.’

Pei Yin pouted. ’I don’t get it.’

’Utterly alone, without a single tie to this world.’

’What does that even mean?’

’Normally, if I couldn’t figure something out, I’d just drop it.’

’But now... this is about the rest of my life.’

’Whenever Xi Yu ran into a problem he couldn’t solve, he liked to go squat in a corner.’

’I’ll give it a try.’

He casually found a corner, straightened his pant legs, and squatted down like a mushroom.

Shen Gu was moving some items with a few other people.

It was a bit much, so he was looking for someone to help out.

He glanced around and spotted a man with very broad shoulders.

Even from his squatting posture, it was obvious the man had long legs and was very strong.

Shen Gu overcame his social anxiety.

He approached and gently tapped Pei Yin on the back. "Excuse me, could you help me carry something to the seventh floor of the science academy?"

Pei Yin knew it was Shen Gu without even turning around.

The little ant’s presence was so distinct he’d sensed it from fifty meters away.

Pei Yin considered himself pretty approachable and easygoing. "Sure."

He stood up and turned, ready to take the items.

Shen Gu froze. "Chief Pei!?"

He retracted his hand, his face turning pale. "We can manage on our own. Thank you, Chief."

With a scramble, the group scurried away.

They just... ran.

Pei Yin watched Shen Gu’s hurried retreat, not feeling the least bit amused.

’What a little ant, sizing people up before deciding how to act.’

The corners of Pei Yin’s mouth turned down, his eyes drooping naturally at the corners. His unyielding spirit suppressed the natural charm of his handsome face, lending it a cruel edge.

He knew that the Chiefs had a bad reputation across the interstellar, that they were heavily stigmatized.

After all, in the early years, their positions had been unstable. With little support from their families, they were easy targets for slander and false accusations. Later, once they’d secured their high status, they couldn’t be bothered to clear their names.

Xi Yu had it better at first. He had loving parents and respectful clansmen. But his wisdom was tinged with madness, and his eccentricities were laced with supreme intelligence.

In any case, he was always teetering on the edge of genius and insanity.

If he hadn’t started scaring people off with that gloomy, dark aura of his—and started hanging out with their group—his reputation wouldn’t have gotten so trashed.

Pei Yin walked on for a while.

The students on the path tacitly gave him a wide berth, their faces a mixture of awe and terror.

FWOOSH!

His black wings unfurled.

With downcast eyes, Pei Yin flew back to Zone 5.

’It’s nice, in a way. No one bothers me.’

...

Ultimate Eye.

After a wild night, she had slept for half the day.

Jian Yu didn’t want to hold up her teammates for too long, so she’d suggested they go on ahead. She would catch up with them later.

Who would have thought that Zhang Qin, the one most concerned with their haul, would be the first to object, insisting that they could wait.

The mission required fifty Beast Crystals, ten for each of the five attributes.

With the ones the Heavy Python had given them, the mission was technically already complete. Anything else they found was just a bonus, like opening a blind box.

Teacher Hu wasn’t concerned about the mission. Since it was done, he simply had them set up camp nearby.

In short, nothing was allowed to get in the way of the little Leader replenishing her energy.

「12:30 PM.」

Jian Yu was hungry.

She picked up her clothes and got dressed.

She was just about to help Ji Shiyin with his pants when his eyes fluttered open.

Jian Yu’s hand, holding the pants, froze mid-air. "You... you’re awake?"

She swallowed hard.

Ji Shiyin’s eyes were misty with unshed tears, and he looked utterly ravaged. "Sister, I still don’t have any strength."

Jian Yu pressed her lips together.

’Right. I can’t just hit it and quit it.’

Her dark, soft lashes cast shadows as she lowered her gaze. "I’ll help you."

She grabbed his ankle and began to pull the pants up his leg.

His fair legs looked fragile, but they felt powerful to the touch.

Jian Yu paused, her eyes stealthily glancing upward.

Ji Shiyin’s red, swollen lips were pressed together. His eyes were dazed, his expression pitiful.

With his curly chestnut hair, the dimples that formed when he pursed his lips, and his shining black eyes that seemed to hold back unspoken words, he looked as shy and timid as a little bear cub.

Ji Shiyin noticed her gaze and met it with his own.

He smiled. "Sister, you’re so cute."

When Jian Yu’s eyes widened, they became big and round, making her look adorable even with her usual cold expression.

Unsure what he was smiling about, she grew flustered and quickened her pace.

Pants on, next came the shirt.

Ji Shiyin’s Star Brain was concealed beneath his skin.

Jian Yu took his wrist.

She found his wrist surprisingly thin, looking so fragile it might snap. Yet his skin was delicate, smooth, and fair, exuding an air of cleanliness.

Seeing Ji Shiyin looking like a frail, beautiful man, Jian Yu’s protective instincts flared up again.

"I’ll help you outside. I’ll get you something to eat in a bit."

As the tent flap opened, Jian Yu’s gaze met the icy blue eyes of Sheng Yue.