Chapter 33: Hidden Cards and Unease

"You..."

Yu Yan's thoughts were interrupted by Zhang Quan’s voice.

She studied Zhang Quan carefully—he did look somewhat familiar. Judging by his attitude, if he didn’t already know something about her, there’s no way he’d be this obsequious. Yu Yan was well aware of her own appearance: delicate features, a petite frame, sloping shoulders, a slender waist—clothes only made her look even more fragile.

The spiritual plant mark on her forehead was already concealed by her “Illusion” skill. With Zhang Quan’s power not even reaching the Profound tier, there was no way he could see through her disguise. The newly-bonded Little Green had been left inside the villa. Even the golden spirit vine she’d conjured around her wrist—when she realized two nights ago it served no purpose, she’d nullified it.

Back then, everyone’s attention had been on Tang Yan; no one noticed the strange vine twining her wrist.

So this current attitude of Zhang Quan’s could only mean he’d witnessed her in action since her rebirth. Yu Yan quickly recalled the three drunken men she bumped into at the “Lake Light and Water Colors” instance entrance—Zhang Quan’s face gradually overlapped with one of them.

"You actually survived?"

Recognizing Zhang Quan, Yu Yan was genuinely surprised.

That was a 3S-ranked instance with ten percent of its true power—even she couldn’t guarantee emerging unscathed. Yet Zhang Quan showed no sign of lost limbs or injury; in fact, he looked rather well-off!

Zhang Quan was speechless.

Boss, you’re someone I wouldn’t dare cross, but do you really have to curse me like that? What do you mean, I actually survived—do I have to be dead to satisfy you?

He dared not speak his mind. “Yeah, I suppose I was just lucky.”

Now Yu Yan fell silent. Was this really just luck? He must be heaven’s secret favorite child!

"What did you use to get out of the instance alive?"

After a moment, Yu Yan couldn’t suppress her curiosity any longer.

Two days ago, her mind was on her daughter refining the unicorn ox meat; she hadn’t noticed how Tang Yan had cleared out the villa, nor had she registered Zhang Quan’s awed, “Boss!” when he saw her.

She had no idea what power Zhang Quan used to survive so long against Tang Yan.

The “Lake Light and Water Colors” instance was devilishly difficult, but if you truly made it out, the greater the danger, the richer the reward. Yu Yan found herself a little envious—despite all the treasures she’d obtained, her luck was nowhere near Zhang Quan’s.

He’d casually obtained top-tier materials.

And her? Even with the advantage of rebirth, she still had to expend so much effort.

“A little scrap of lotus leaf,” Zhang Quan confessed, not daring to lie. “But it cost me dearly. Boss, I know I was wrong, I shouldn’t have tried to rob you that day. See, I’ve learned my lesson. Besides, it was just an attempted robbery…”

At that moment, Song Xiaoqing came over carrying the howling boar meat.

Zhang Quan pointed to the meat. “I went to great trouble in the instance to get this. I know it’s not much in your eyes, Boss, but please, if you’ll honor me by sharing this meal, let’s call it even between us?”

Yu Yan regarded Zhang Quan’s unremarkable face for a long moment, pondering.

She stared so hard that Zhang Quan grew increasingly nervous, his heart pounding. Just as he thought Yu Yan would refuse to make peace—he wouldn’t, if their roles were reversed! Who wouldn’t take revenge on someone who tried to rob them, especially if they had the strength to do so?

But Yu Yan nodded. “Alright.”

Perhaps thinking her answer too aloof, she added, “I was just curious to taste how this howling boar meat is.”

Zhang Quan could hardly contain his joy. “Great!”

“Boss, please sit—this is the cleanest, most comfortable spot.”

Yu Yan glanced over; sure enough, Zhang Quan’s spot was piled with thick cushions, and on top lay a cooling pad. On this sweltering summer night, it must be wonderfully pleasant. But Yu Yan shook her head. “No, I’ll sit there.”

Since Zhang Quan already knew she’d gained something from the “Lake Light and Water Colors” instance, she didn’t mind letting him know about the Lotus Space. With a thought, a cradle padded thick with cushions appeared abruptly on the lawn.

Now that she’d reached the Profound tier as an Enhancer, her body was immune to heat and cold. The temperature of the real world no longer affected her in the slightest. Yu Yan settled herself comfortably into the cradle. “What’s your name?”

She needed something to distract herself, or the unease in her chest would swallow her whole.

“Zhang—Zhang Quan.”

Zhang Quan was flattered. “Boss, you can call me Little Quan. That’s what my friends used to call me.” Sadly, Second Qiang had died in the instance, and Wang Dazhu…well, Wang Dazhu was a coward—at the slightest sign of trouble, he’d run faster than a rabbit.

Zhang Quan looked down on people like that—a trace of disdain flashed in his eyes.

"You got a sliver of lotus leaf, so you must have gained the ability to teleport—how many times a day can you use it?"

At this, a fresh wave of envy swept over Yu Yan.

There were countless benefits to being reborn, but luck was not one of them; the gods of fortune didn’t open backdoors just for the reborn. The “Lake Light and Water Colors” instance was getting easier by the day during the beginner bonus period, but rewards diminished accordingly.

Only the Lotus Space and Plant Spirit remained—things like lotus stems, leaves, flowers, seed pods, or seeds were out of reach.

The easiest to harvest, the tender lotus leaves, ranged from grade seven to nine as they sprouted.

An ordinary person who refined a lotus leaf would gain the power of teleportation.

This was a power so formidable even Yu Yan coveted it; possessing it was almost a guarantee of invincibility. If someone—or a boss monster—wanted you dead, they’d need overwhelming power to block every route of escape, or wait until you’d exhausted every last use of your ability and then strike you down defenseless.

The former required an opponent to be at least an entire tier—three grades—above you. The latter was almost impossible; no one would be so foolish as to squander all their trump cards.

A teleporter would always save their last few, or even last dozen, uses to preserve their life. Of course, this power wasn’t omnipotent. Some instances naturally suppressed space-type abilities; in those, teleportation would be greatly limited.

Some even rendered teleportation useless.

Still, teleportation ranked among the top ten most powerful abilities.

“Ten—no, thirty times,” Zhang Quan blurted, then corrected himself under Yu Yan’s knowing gaze. Even so, the boss seemed all-knowing, somehow aware that swallowing the lotus leaf had given him teleportation. But Zhang Quan was always a little cagey—who wouldn’t want to keep something in reserve?

“B-Boss, have some meat.”

He handed her a piece of roasted, fragrant, glistening howling boar.

Somehow, he felt as if the boss could see straight through all his hidden cards.

Yu Yan said nothing, took the meat, and took a delicate bite. She had to admit, the boar was sweet, tender, and melted in her mouth—though low in grade and lacking in spiritual energy, the texture alone was addictive.

She was even tempted to pack a few pieces for her daughter.