Chapter 29: Seeds of Aspiration for Strength

During the process of pulling his hand back, he somehow ended up clutching an unfamiliar object. Perhaps because he withdrew his hand so quickly, he tore that unknown thing free. Then, a voice sounded in Zhang Quan’s mind: “You have fulfilled the conditions to leave the instance. Would you like to exit now?”

What was there to think about?

Zhang Quan nodded frantically, “Exit! Exit! Right now, immediately!”

Even after he came out, it took him a long while to calm his nerves.

When he finally regained his composure and looked at his hand, he realized he was holding a fragment of lotus leaf. It looked almost identical to an ordinary lotus leaf in shape and veining, except its color was a vivid green, gleaming with a jade-like luster, as if carved from emerald.

Truth be told, it was rather pretty.

The only flaw was its ragged, torn edge, but as he recalled the horrors he’d endured in the instance—his childhood friend Li Erqiang having died inside—Zhang Quan grew angrier the more he looked at it. In a fit of spite, he shoved the entire lotus leaf fragment into his mouth.

And then… well, the past is best left unspoken.

When he emerged from the instance, he was a complete mess, head to toe.

His arms, legs, face, and even all the skin beneath his clothes were covered with countless swollen bites from those damned blood mosquitoes.

But when they saw Yu Yan, she was utterly unharmed.

Her clothes were merely drenched, revealing a feminine silhouette that, though not ostentatious, was enticing enough by the lotus pond at dawn. Mud stained her cuffs and pant legs, but that was all. Compared to what she and Zhang Quan had obtained—

He had only a small, torn piece of lotus leaf.

As for what Yu Yan had swallowed, though he didn’t know exactly what it was, Zhang Quan would wager his life it had to be something good! If just a tiny scrap of lotus leaf could give him such formidable teleportation powers, then how terrifying would Yu Yan’s current strength be?

Zhang Quan glanced at Tang Yan, realizing now that this guy was actually in Yu Yan’s camp.

No wonder he was so powerful.

If only he’d known earlier! If he’d known from the start he was working for that woman, would he have wasted dozens of teleportations fighting for his life? He would’ve handed over the villa to them without the slightest hesitation!

Zhang Quan was on the verge of tears.

Before, when he’d thrown his arm around Tang Yan’s shoulder and said, “If you ever need anything, just ask. I’ll clear out a place for you in no time,” it was only because the situation forced him to. Now, however, he truly meant it, without the faintest trace of reluctance.

Perhaps Zhang Quan had been staring at Yu Yan a bit too long.

Yu Yan lifted her head and glanced at him coolly, making Zhang Quan shudder from head to toe. “Boss, I’ve already told Brother Tang—the villa is yours! Stay as long as you like, really, don’t be polite with me.”

Hearing Zhang Quan’s voice, Lu Hao and the others, who’d bustled in to see the fun, assumed the matter was settled and fell silent.

Beside them, Tang Yan, who had been “dragged” along and was awkwardly adjusting his posture, was also speechless.

So this weirdo actually recognized his boss?

Well, at least he had good judgment!

Tang Yan shot Zhang Quan an appreciative look and, for once, didn’t mind the friendly arm thrown around his shoulder.

“Duoduo, let’s refine this little piece of meat first.”

“If it’s too painful and you can’t stand it, we’ll stop at any time, understand?”

Once the villa had been cleared of people, Yu Yan took out a piece of one-horned rhinobeast meat, carefully sliced off a chunk the size of a soybean, and handed it to Yun Duo’er. Yun Duo’er protested, “Mom, how could such a tiny bit possibly awaken my power?”

“You told me before—awakening an ability requires absorbing a large amount of spiritual energy at once, to open the meridians and channels inside the body.”

Yun Duo’er snatched the larger piece of meat right out of Yu Yan’s hand.

Yu Yan was speechless. Honestly, whether her daughter awakened powers or not, it truly didn’t matter so much to her! She regretted it, wishing she could snatch the meat back. But Yun Duo’er had already stuffed it all into her mouth. “Mmm… it tastes pretty good, even if it’s raw… mm, there’s a bit of a bloody tang.”

Yun Duo’er chewed in big mouthfuls, as if she were simply eating meat.

“I’m sorry, Boss,” Tang Yan said. “I forgot to remind you to cook the meat before giving it to Little Boss.”

As a cook, Tang Yan felt he’d failed in his duties.

Yu Yan waved her hand dismissively. “No need. For low-grade beast meat, roasting it doesn’t matter. For earth-grade and above, the most precious thing is the trace of spiritual essence in the flesh and blood. If you cook it, the essence dissipates, and it becomes mere Grade Seven meat.”

“Of course, the spiritual energy content is still far superior to Grade Six meat, but it can no longer grant ability awakenings to those with spiritual veins.”

So that’s how it was—Tang Yan finally understood.

Ever since he’d acknowledged her as his boss, Yu Yan had often taken the time to explain the many rules of the instance worlds. But there were simply too many; even after days and nights, they were far from covering it all. Tang Yan inevitably made some “rookie” mistakes, but Yu Yan never minded.

The number of basic mistakes she’d made in her past life far outstripped his.

No one is born knowing everything—she’d only gained an advantage by being reborn.

“Tang Yan, go guard the villa door. Don’t let anyone else in to disturb us.”

Very soon, beads of sweat broke out on Yun Duo’er’s forehead, and her face grew paler and paler. She bit her lip hard, desperately suppressing the urge to cry out, making Yu Yan’s heart ache. Tang Yan, knowing his place, took his daughter downstairs. At some point, Tang Siqi, who had woken up, poked Tang Yan’s arm.

“Dad, I want to become an ability user too.”

“Could you ask Auntie Yu to give me a piece of beast meat? It doesn’t have to be as precious as Grade Seven, just Grade Four is fine.”

Dad had told her she couldn’t take advantage of her friendship with Yun Duo’er to ask for things from her.

But maybe, if Dad asked Auntie Yu, it wouldn’t count as unfair.

These days, during their time in the “Eagle Sorrow Ravine” instance—especially after meeting Yun Duo’er—Siqi had been deeply impressed by Yun Duo’er’s strength. She’d always thought that, as a child, she would only be a burden to her father.

But look at Yun Duo’er, who used to do nothing but cry in a corner when bullied.

In just a few days, she’d become so strong—strong enough to command respect, even from Siqi’s most admired father. A seed of longing for power was planted in Tang Siqi’s heart.

Tang Yan’s heart swelled with pride.

His daughter might not be quite as remarkable as Yun Duo’er, but she wasn’t lacking, either!

Still, he shook his head firmly, “No, Qiqi. When Dad asks Auntie Yu for something, he pays a price for it.” In truth, he’d already pledged his life to Yu Yan—henceforth, he could only ever be her follower.

But he didn’t say this to his most precious daughter.

He had already made that choice for himself; he didn’t want his beloved daughter to become someone else’s lackey as well.

His Qiqi, and Yun Duo’er, should always stand as equals.

“But don’t worry, Qiqi. Dad won’t make you wait long. Very soon, I’ll bring you beast meat of a high enough grade with my own strength. Do you believe in me?”

Tang Siqi hid the disappointment in her eyes. “Of course I believe in you, Dad.”

But Auntie Yu obviously had plenty of beast meat. If Dad would just ask, she was sure Auntie Yu wouldn’t refuse. She could become an ability user like Yun Duo’er right now—why wait?

Yun Duo’er, who once only knew how to cry behind her, had changed.

Would it soon be her turn to hide behind Yun Duo’er and cry?

No. She refused!