Chapter 44 Tang Yan's Concerns

For example, in the current A-rank instance, their group of four only needed to slay four creatures of the Profound tier or higher, or acquire four spiritual items of the Profound tier or above produced by the instance, to obtain the instance cooldown. Never mind that the instance's power was currently restricted to just thirty percent—even if it returned to full force in three months, so what? As long as she was careful enough, there was still a chance for success!

Of course, saying so was one thing; actually achieving it was another matter entirely.

Once an instance exceeded B-rank, Profound-tier creatures became as common as dirt. This meant that just walking around inside, one could easily stumble into the territory of a group of Profound-tier beasts. Yu Yan herself was currently only a fourth-tier Enhancer.

Along with her was Yun Duo’er, also a fourth-tier Profound, and Tang Yan and his daughter, both only first or second-tier Yellow.

Even with all their various advantages and the many treasures Yu Yan carried, if the four of them really blundered into a horde of Profound creatures, the outcome would be disastrous.

Not to mention that this was an A-rank instance they faced. If not for her “Illusion” skill, which she obtained from the twelfth-tier Spatial Mirage Lotus, Yu Yan truly would have little confidence in leaving the instance unscathed with Tang Yan and the others.

Now, however, the fourth-tier plant spirit art “Illusion” from the twelfth-tier Spatial Mirage Lotus was enough to deceive any Profound-tier instance monster whose power was capped at thirty percent.

Unless she was outrageously unlucky and ran into one of the rare Earth-tier monsters in the A-rank instance right after entering.

Otherwise, though killing monsters might be difficult, Yu Yan was still somewhat confident in keeping herself safe.

“That’s the situation,” she said, turning to Tang Yan. “Now I’ll give you two choices. First, you and your daughter can follow behind me, braving dangers together. On this path, I’ll do my utmost to protect the both of you.

“As for the second option…” Yu Yan paused briefly, “Seeking my kin is my personal matter. If you’re unwilling, I won’t force you.

“You can stay here and wait for me with your daughter…” Yu Yan considered a moment. “Let’s say, half a year. Consider it a favor in return for saving you both. If I’m not back in half a year, treat it as if you never acknowledged me as your leader.”

Tang Yan fell silent.

“Boss, let me think it over,” he said, his mind in turmoil.

Privately, he wanted to follow Yu Yan. She had saved both their lives and given them their greatest reliance in the world of instances. With his character, he could barely eat or sleep until he repaid her. But this was an A-rank instance—an A-rank!

With his current strength, he could only hope to just barely survive the C-rank instance “Eagle Sorrow Ravine,” the one that had nearly broken him before.

And that was assuming he was lucky enough not to encounter any monsters above fourth-tier.

Yet in this A-rank instance, running into fourth-tier monsters was the norm. According to Yu Yan, there could even be Earth-tier beings inside! If he and his daughter entered, they’d be nothing more than prey for the monsters.

Tang Yan now hesitated for two reasons. If he followed Yu Yan in, he could accept his own fate, but his daughter’s life would hang by a thread. Secondly, if they joined Yu Yan, would they actually help her? Or would they become a burden, hindering her instead of assisting?

“Dad, why don’t we stay?” Tang Siqi’s clear voice cut through his indecision. “If we go with Aunt Yu, we’ll only slow her down. Aunt Yu and Sister Yun are much stronger than we are.

“If we enter this A-rank instance, not only won’t we help Aunt Yu, we’ll need her to look after us constantly.

“If that’s the case, it’s better we wait here for them.”

Yu Yan was speechless for a moment. What a clever little girl!

She looked at Tang Yan in silence. “Is that what you think as well?”

Tang Yan avoided her gaze. “Boss, Siqi is right. I’m not strong enough now; if I follow you, I’ll just be a hindrance. But don’t worry, Boss—I’ll wait here for you. Not just half a year, but a lifetime!

“As long as you don’t return, I won’t leave.

“As long as I, Tang Yan, live, I’ll always be your most loyal little brother. That will never change!”

His words rang out with conviction, but a trace of disappointment crossed Yu Yan’s heart.

Tang Siqi’s flickering eyes spoke of her own little schemes, but Tang Yan, caught up in his concerns, did not notice. Still, no matter her disappointment, Yu Yan’s expression remained unchanged. “Very well. Since you’ve decided, I’ll respect your choice.”

After all, he was the first follower she’d taken in.

Yu Yan also thought they might meet again in the future and didn’t want him to die in some corner of an instance.

She left Tang Yan with ten sixth-tier Fire Rhino Horns for emergencies and a quantity of Fire Rhino meat to help raise their rank. Waving her hand, she said, “Tang Yan, the green hills remain and the waters flow—take care of yourself.

“Don’t forget, you still owe me two lives.

“Until you’ve repaid them, you’d best not die so easily.”

She’d invested a precious Earth-tier Blood Crystal and a piece of seventh-tier Featherleaf Banyan, not to mention the Fire Rhino Horns and meat. If Tang Yan died, it would all be for nothing.

“Don’t worry, Boss,” Tang Yan said, watching Yu Yan stride confidently into the A-rank instance with Yun Duo’er. A trace of envy flitted through his eyes, then turned to determination. “Until I’ve repaid those two lives, no one can take mine!”

“Siqi, let’s go.”

“Okay.” Tang Siqi nodded obediently, a hint of excitement on her face.

She didn’t notice that, in that moment, something about her father had changed—he had grown strange and resolute. The most obvious sign was that he no longer called her by her nickname, “Qiqi.” The endearing, pampering term had gradually faded from their daily life.

“Mama, are we spending the night here?”

The sky in the instance world was nearly indistinguishable from the world outside. If there was any difference, it was the increasingly humid, stifling air. Layers upon layers of rainforest foliage blanketed the brilliant blue overhead, with only occasional gaps letting golden sunlight stream through.

Countless motes of dust drifted in the light, and droplets on the leaves refracted rainbows.

This was Crocodile Island, an A-rank instance!

Yu Yan could not be certain where, in the humid, stifling marshland below, fierce and venomous crocodile hunters might be lurking. The only thing she could be sure of was that crocodiles, generally, couldn’t climb trees. Most creatures in the instance world still followed their natural instincts.

Even if their powers far surpassed their counterparts in the real world, some fundamental traits remained unchanged.

Fish needed water, birds usually flew, arthropods preferred damp and dark places, and so on. Even if a crocodile could climb a tree, it would be far less dangerous up there than in the swamp below.

At least, up in the trees, they lost the perfect camouflage of mud, water, and fallen leaves and branches. Yu Yan could spot them immediately.