Chapter Nineteen: Testing the Waters

Chapter Nineteen: Testing

On Monday morning, Ye Mu went to school as usual. Before leaving, she spoke briefly to Ye Bai, who was reviewing his lessons and responded with a simple acknowledgment.

But when he returned home that evening, Ye Mu had not come back. Ye Bai inquired through his neural interface, asking the homeroom teacher and several close classmates, but all replied she had not attended school.

Ye Bai sat on the sofa, pondering where his sister might have gone. Suddenly, he recalled something she had told him: after he left for the Ghostwood Mountains, a senior student had come looking for him every day, always asking where he had gone. Could this be connected? Ye Bai furrowed his brow, sorting through the information in his mind. The young man’s name was Bai Hua. His sister had said the boy only asked questions and never acted aggressively. Ye Bai had dismissed it as a trivial matter, just the confusion of youth, thinking Bai Hua was using him as an excuse to get close to his sister.

He had not expected his carelessness to lead to such serious consequences. Had he known… Ye Bai’s expression darkened, his hand gripping the water bottle so tightly that the water spilled unnoticed onto the floor.

"Bai Hua, if anything happens to my sister, you’ll accompany her to the grave." At that moment, Ye Bai’s murderous intent was nearly overflowing as he prepared to leave the house.

The doorbell rang.

Just as Ye Bai was about to stand, he heard the bell. He opened the door abruptly, startling the visitor outside.

"Ye Bai, I’m Bai Hua, you—" Bai Hua hadn’t finished speaking before Ye Bai grabbed him with one hand, veins and joints faintly pulsing with elemental power.

"I was just about to come find you. Didn’t expect you’d deliver yourself to my door."

Bai Hua was so frightened he couldn’t open his eyes. When the door opened, Ye Bai’s murderous gaze and aura verging on the threshold of mastery were more than Bai Hua could withstand.

Though angry, Ye Bai remained rational. He took a deep breath and tossed Bai Hua onto the sofa. "Speak. What happened?" In fact, when he saw it was Bai Hua, Ye Bai immediately knew his sister’s disappearance was connected to him.

Bai Hua coughed, his face pale, and steadied his breath. "Your sister is at Ao Han Martial Hall. Someone wants to see you. Rest assured, no one is bullying her. We just feared you wouldn’t come, so we resorted to this."

Meanwhile, inside Ao Han Martial Hall—

"Hey, stone-face, when are you going to let me go? My brother is really powerful. When he gets here, you’ll see!" The girl sat eating snacks, threatening the black-robed man before her. He felt something peculiar—she hadn’t stopped causing trouble since she arrived. He wondered how Ye Bai had managed to deal with her.

"When your brother arrives, you can leave. For now, just stay here quietly." The rough voice rumbled from the man’s throat, and he ignored Ye Mu.

"Hmph." Ye Mu wrinkled her nose and tossed her snacks at the black-robed man, but before they reached him, they crumbled into sand and fell to the ground.

Ye Bai dragged Bai Hua along the road toward Ao Han Martial Hall.

"Brother, can’t we take the bus? My legs are about to give out," Bai Hua complained, trailing behind Ye Bai with trembling knees.

Ye Bai said nothing. If he weren’t worried about unexpected developments, he wouldn’t have brought this burden along. After winding through several alleys and passing through a gathering lane, the martial hall’s sign finally came into view.

"They’re here." The black-robed man, who had been sitting with closed eyes, suddenly opened them, his gaze burning with a desire for battle as he stared toward the entrance.

With a sharp creak, Ye Bai pushed open the door. Four eyes met. In the black-robed man’s eyes, swirling yellow sand danced, occasionally streaked with blood, as if the sand itself was trying to assault Ye Bai’s spirit.

Ye Bai instinctively wanted to retreat, but thinking of his sister, his gaze steadied. He unleashed the killing aura he had accumulated in the Ghostwood Mountains, meeting the challenge head-on. Bai Hua arrived behind him, drenched in cold sweat before he even stepped through the door.

"Hahaha, good. If you want to rescue your sister today, you’ll have to get past Zhang Lei first." Zhang Lei hadn’t expected anyone at the body-forging stage could withstand his gaze. The martial skills he had learned at the academy, combined with his powerful elemental force, could daze even those at his own level.

Ye Bai said nothing, stepping onto the nearest dueling platform to wait for Zhang Lei. He knew a little about Zhang Lei, but none of that mattered now. All that remained was battle.

Zhang Lei ambled up to the platform, his black robe fluttering to the floor as he walked, revealing steel-like muscles and crosshatched scars that spoke of countless battles.

"Please," Zhang Lei extended his right hand, waiting for Ye Bai’s attack.

Ye Bai’s pupils contracted, his mind taut with tension. He circled the platform, searching for an opening, but soon abandoned the effort. Taking a deep breath, he stepped back, formed a fist with his right hand, and struck at Zhang Lei’s face.

Zhang Lei’s eyes brightened, a smile tugging at his lips. He saw a flash of green light at Ye Bai’s elbow joint. Standing firm, he raised his right hand, yellow light swirling, easily blocking Ye Bai’s attack.

"Kid, if that’s all you’ve got, not only will you fail to save your sister—you won’t be leaving today, either." Zhang Lei decided to lend Ye Bai a hand. "Watch closely."

Ye Bai had no time to react before a fist shadow landed before his eyes, knocking him to the ground.

But Zhang Lei didn’t rush to attack, waiting for Ye Bai to stand. The moment Ye Bai got up, he was knocked down again.

Suddenly, a crying voice sounded from below the platform. Ye Mu sobbed, "Brother, don’t hit my brother." Ye Bai struggled to climb onto the platform, but Bai Hua held her back tightly.

"Kid, I told you to watch closely. Are you listening or not?" Zhang Lei’s temper seemed short, his left hand ready for another blow.

Ye Bai struggled to rise. After all, the strength of an entry-level Star Core warrior was not something he could easily withstand.

Once again, Ye Bai was thrown to the ground. But this time, his eyes were clear—he had seen it, he understood. Zhang Lei had externalized his elemental force, obviously teaching Ye Bai how to channel a thread of that power within his body.

This time Ye Bai did not hesitate. Rising from the ground, Zhang Lei’s right fist came at him again. But Ye Bai now sensed the elemental force within himself. Having not broken through yet, he had very little of it.

He guided the force along the main meridians of his right arm, leaving most of it in his shoulder. When their fists collided, the energy stored in his shoulder burst forth like a dam suddenly opened.

For the first time, Ye Bai did not fall—he merely left a long skid mark across the platform.

Zhang Lei shook his fist and withdrew his foot from the stage. "Good kid, you’ve grasped it so quickly. Remember this feeling—it may help you break through."

He picked up his cloak from the floor, draped it over his shoulders, and continued, "I know you’re not satisfied. I’ll be waiting for your challenge at Purple Star Academy. But for now, go home and get admitted to the academy."

Ye Bai crouched on the platform, glaring at Zhang Lei, his eyes ablaze with battle fire. Yet in the blink of an eye, his gaze cleared. He stepped down, took his sister, and left.