Chu Shiye stared silently at Ji Mian for a moment, unsure what to say.
Why was Su Lan here?
Did Su Lan know he had lied to him?
…Was Su Lan angry?
Feeling a little guilty, Chu Shiye didn’t dare speak. Ji Mian, after greeting him, said nothing more and didn’t even look at him.
Fu Zeren’s gaze fell on Ji Mian’s face. “And who might this be?”
Before Chu Shiye could respond, Ji Mian spoke. “Su Lan.”
“Oh, Mr. Su.” A faint smile appeared on Fu Zeren’s face, though it lacked warmth. “I’ve heard that Mr. Su is a strong healer and is quite close to Mr. Chu.”
“So, are you here for him?”
Ji Mian replied, “Yes, I want to join you.”
Fu Zeren nodded. “Sure. Having another healer won’t hurt.”
At these words, Berg’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Healer??
The person who had defeated several of his subordinates and subdued him with a single glance—that’s what they were calling a healer?
Berg looked shocked but didn’t dare say a word. He kept signaling to Ji Mian with his eyes, but Ji Mian ignored him.
Previously at the hospital, Ji Mian had calmed Chu Shiye and instructed the doctors to keep Chu Shiye’s mental instability a secret, forbidding them from leaking the information.
Later, when Fu Zeren inquired at the hospital, they had kept their promise and told him only that Chu Shiye had sustained life-threatening injuries and had been saved by a healer named “Su Lan.”
Thus, Fu Zeren had no idea of Ji Mian’s true strength. The only person here who knew was Chu Shiye.
Chu Shiye continued to stare at Ji Mian without blinking.
Ji Mian’s gaze remained fixed straight ahead, not sparing him a single glance.
Chu Shiye: “…”
*Why won’t he look at me?*
He felt frustrated and sulky.
Suddenly, Fu Zeren stood up.
In the distance, a cloud of dust rose as a heavily modified armored vehicle sped toward them. With a sharp screech of brakes, it came to a halt, kicking up a cloud of dirt.
The door was kicked open, and a tall man jumped out. His face bore a scar running across his nose—it was the same scar-faced man, a C-level ability user named Heisen, who had previously broken into Chu Shiye’s home.
Berg’s expression shifted slightly. Clearly, he sensed the threat from Heisen, realizing that this man was on the same level as him.
And Heisen was merely one of Black Snake’s subordinates.
Heisen stood respectfully at the vehicle’s door, head lowered.
A pair of boots stepped onto the dusty ground.
A tall, lean figure emerged from the vehicle. His black leather coat hung open, revealing his gaunt features and dark, snake-like eyes that gleamed faintly in the gray light.
This was Black Snake, the most powerful being on the planet.
With just one glance, his oppressive aura was enough to silence Berg and the other ability users.
“So, it’s you two again!”
Breaking the brief silence, Heisen’s voice rang out sharply, directed at Ji Mian and Chu Shiye.
Fu Zeren looked around and asked, “It seems you know each other?”
Heisen sneered. “Of course, I know them!”
Perhaps emboldened by the presence of his boss, Heisen pointed aggressively at Ji Mian. “Chu Shiye! Your lucky days end here, starting today!”
The others: “…”
Chu Shiye wordlessly stepped forward, placing himself between Ji Mian and Heisen.
Heisen: “?”
His eyes darted between Chu Shiye and Ji Mian, widening in disbelief. “You… you two really tricked me!”
“Who told you to be so gullible,” Ji Mian said blandly. “You don’t look very bright.”
Heisen: “???”
Enraged, Heisen stepped forward but froze at a chilling voice.
“Mr. Chu.”
Black Snake spoke, his voice low, sharp, and as sinister as a serpent’s hiss.
“A pleasure to meet you for the first time.”
Heisen stiffened and retreated behind Black Snake.
Chu Shiye’s expression was unreadable. “The pleasure is mine.”
Black Snake: “I wonder if Mr. Chu is interested in working under me?”
He spoke directly, and Chu Shiye’s response was just as direct: “No.”
“Oh?” Black Snake said. “What a pity, I thought Mr. Chu was someone who knows how to adapt to circumstances.”
“Hey!”
Berg stepped forward.
“He’s from my territory!”
He wasn’t necessarily trying to protect Chu Shiye—he just felt that Black Snake ignoring him while trying to recruit Chu Shiye was a bit humiliating.
Black Snake didn’t even lift his eyelids. “You can join us too, it doesn’t matter.”
Berg was furious. “You—”
“Alright, we all have the same goal, so why argue?” Fu Zeren spoke up at this moment, amicably smoothing things over. “Since everyone’s here, let’s get ready to set off.”
Berg remained silent, whether out of apprehension for his status as the city’s leader or fear of Black Snake’s strength.
The group began gathering their equipment, making sure everything was in place. As the designated guide, Chu Shiye stood at the entrance of the mine with a pitch-black dagger strapped to his waist.
“Just an E-rank,” Berg sneered from behind. “You better be careful not to get so scared in there that you end up running for your life.”
Before Chu Shiye could respond, Ji Mian casually remarked, “Are you trying to remind everyone that you lost to him not too long ago?”
Heisen burst into laughter. “Hahaha!”
Berg: “……”
Chu Shiye glanced at Ji Mian.
Ji Mian still didn’t look at him.
Chu Shiye’s eyes darkened slightly.
At that moment, his communicator lit up with a message.
[The seller of that suppressant we talked about earlier has decided to make a deal.]
[If you’re sure you want it, I’ll go pick it up for you. But the price won’t be cheap.]
The message was from Kane. Chu Shiye replied with a single word: [Okay.]
Chu Shiye: [He’s right next to me.]
Kane: […]
Kane: [Bro, I gotta go. My communicator still has 90% battery left, but I suddenly feel the need to charge it.]
Chu Shiye was speechless. He shut off the communicator and turned to the side.
Ji Mian was still looking at the sky, the clouds—anywhere but at him.
“……”
Chu Shiye took a deep breath, moved a little closer, and poked Ji Mian.
Ji Mian didn’t react.
Chu Shiye tugged lightly at his sleeve and gave it a small shake.
Ji Mian remained motionless.
Lowering his head, Chu Shiye murmured, “Gege.”
His expression was pitiful. Like a little lost puppy.
Ji Mian: “……”
Where did he even learn this from?
Weren’t you always the emotionless type before?
Ji Mian turned to him expressionlessly and asked in a low voice, “Why did you keep it from me?”
His voice was quiet, only loud enough for Chu Shiye to hear.
Chu Shiye replied in the same hushed tone, “Because this place is dangerous.”
“So, you’re putting yourself in danger again,” Ji Mian’s voice was flat, devoid of emotion. “And you didn’t tell me a thing?”
Chu Shiye: “…This time is different from the last. With what I learned before, I can guarantee I’ll get out safely.”
Ji Mian: “Really? I don’t believe you.”
Chu Shiye: “…”
Ji Mian: “If there was no danger, you would’ve told me. The reason you kept it from me is because you can’t shake those people off, and you know how dangerous this place is. So, you didn’t want me to come.”
“I’m guessing… they used me to threaten you, didn’t they?”
Chu Shiye: “…”
Why could he never hide anything from Su Lan?
Ji Mian: “You should know that no one here can actually threaten me.”
Chu Shiye, feeling dejected: “Yeah.”
Ji Mian: “Then why did you agree to their demands?”
Chu Shiye: “…”
After a brief silence, he lifted his eyes.
“I want to protect you,” he said.
“I don’t want them anywhere near you.” His voice was calm but firm. “No matter if they are good or bad, they have no right to come close to you.”
“I just want you to be okay.”
Ji Mian: “…”
How could someone be like this?
Ignoring his own safety just because of others?
His own situation wasn’t great either, yet he still chose to walk into danger for something like this…
…How could someone like this exist?
Ji Mian’s dark eyes reflected Chu Shiye’s gaze—clear and pure, free of any deceit.
No… it wasn’t just his eyes.
Chu Shiye himself was simply that kind of person.
Only Chu Shiye could be like this.
“…”
Ji Mian withdrew his gaze and let out a soft sigh.
Chu Shiye instantly grew a little nervous.
But then, Ji Mian smiled at him.
“Alright, I forgive you,” Ji Mian said. “Just this once.”
A faint light flickered in Chu Shiye’s eyes.
Ji Mian continued, “Next time something like this happens, you have to tell me. Otherwise, I’ll…”
He paused for a moment.
Then, he smiled again. “Guess what I’ll do.”
Chu Shiye: “…”
That smile was terrifying.
A little numbing.
Chu Shiye froze in place.
What Ji Mian was actually thinking: I can’t really think of a way to scare him… oh well, whatever.
Chu Shiye stood there in silence for a few seconds before sneaking a glance at Ji Mian.
Ji Mian smiled at him again.
Chu Shiye: Su Lan isn’t mad anymore.
He lifted his head slightly, feeling a bit happy.
Before long, everyone had finished preparing and was ready to set off.
Chu Shiye and Ji Mian took the lead as scouts, followed by Berg and his subordinates. Fu Zeren and his team stayed in the middle, while Heisen and Black Snake brought up the rear.
The group ventured deep into the mine. Light was completely blocked from the outside, and in the enclosed space, one of Fu Zeren’s men pulled out a portable lighting device. The beam illuminated the narrow surroundings in an instant.
Ji Mian’s gaze rested on the dark and deep path ahead.
He wasn’t worried about what they might encounter inside.
Two years ago, he had exhausted his mental strength, falling from S-rank to B-rank, and had been unable to sense his spirit form ever since.
But now, he had summoned his spirit form once again.
As for his depleted mental power…
Ji Mian pondered.
It was a barely noticeable change, but his mental strength seemed to be recovering—at an extremely slow, almost imperceptible pace.
And it was all because of the person beside him.
Ji Mian poked Chu Shiye.
Chu Shiye turned his head.
Lowering his voice so only the two of them could hear, Ji Mian asked, “So, when you told me you tripped in the mine and got seriously injured… that was a lie too?”
Chu Shiye: “…”
With practiced ease, he immediately lowered his head and obediently said, “I’m sorry.”
Ji Mian: “You—”
Before he could finish speaking, he stumbled slightly.
Chu Shiye immediately grabbed his hand.
The ground in the mine was uneven, full of pits and bumps, with scattered rocks and dips that could easily trip someone.
Ji Mian: “Thanks.”
Chu Shiye: “The path is rough. Be careful.”
Ji Mian: “Mm.”
They continued walking forward.
A few seconds later, Ji Mian looked down.
Chu Shiye was still holding his hand.
Ji Mian: …Is he holding onto me so I don’t trip?
If I let go, would that seem impolite?
Ji Mian glanced at Chu Shiye’s face.
Chu Shiye was staring straight ahead, his expression upright and serious—like a well-behaved little brother with no ulterior motives.
Ji Mian: “…”
Without saying a word, he looked ahead again and decided to pretend nothing had happened.
And so, the two of them continued walking hand in hand at the front.
The people behind them: “…”
How could they?!
This is getting out of hand!!
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Thanks for the update