Chapter 224 - 223: Sheng Yue’s Empathy

Xi Yu said nothing.

’Be generous,’ his father had told him since he was a child.

’When you meet someone you like, you must respect them,’ his mother also always said.

After digesting Duan Feiye’s words, Xi Yu started counting them off. "Me, Ayan, Little Eagle, Ah Xu, and Yu Yu."

Duan Feiye’s smile didn’t falter, his eyes narrowing slightly. "It’s that crowded, huh."

Five people.

’I can’t even be number four.’

’I never thought I’d see the day I’d be number six.’

Xi Yu felt a surge of irrational anger. "If it’s too crowded, then don’t try to squeeze in. My baby deserves to be liked by more people. We’re not short one person, especially not you."

Xi Yu wasn’t exactly welcoming to people who liked Jian Yu.

But faced with Duan Feiye’s ambiguous attitude and his faint reluctance to join in...

Xi Yu grew displeased.

’Only my baby gets to choose people. What gives Duan Feifei the right to reject my baby?’

Yang Zhang flicked its tentacles twice. [Everyone in the world should be lining up for our baby to choose from.]

Xi Yu’s gaze turned dark. [Mhm.]

Duan Feiye shrugged, understanding what Xi Yu meant.

His eyes were deep and calm. "Actually, I’d be more than happy to. You know me, Ayue. I’m not the jealous type."

Xi Yu thought about it. He really couldn’t recall ever seeing Duan Feiye get jealous.

’But this Feifei is a devious one. He could smile amicably at a ghost.’

’If you cross him, there’s no telling how he’s secretly plotting to kill you.’

Xi Yu’s face was expressionless. "Oh."

Duan Feiye’s smile froze. "Talking to you... I can’t keep a single secret."

He turned to look at Ling Yanzhi. "Ayan."

Ling Yanzhi offered a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. "Don’t talk to me. I’m afraid you’ll turn around and sell me out."

Duan Feiye looked completely innocent. "What are you talking about? We’re good brothers who grew up together."

"..." Ling Yanzhi didn’t respond. His expression was languid, his eyelids drooping. The corners of his eyes were slightly red from the cold wind.

’He could tell that Jian Yu was the type to love the new and tire of the old.’

’She even read novels without getting invested. It was normal for her to go through seven or eight a day, and she never dwelled on a male lead, no matter how great he was.’

’Just like at the beginning, Jian Yu had been attracted to his physique, his face, and his power. Her eyes would linger all over him.’

’But as soon as Xi Yu appeared, her eyes would size him up in the same way.’

’And then there were Pei Yin, Sheng Yue, and Si Xu.’

’She even had a favorable impression of Ji Shiyin, whom she’d barely met.’

’Behind Jian Yu’s obedient gaze was not just appreciation, but also the delight of a hunter eyeing its prey.’

’This cheerful acceptance was strange. It was as if she wasn’t the least bit surprised that they would approach her on their own.’

’In other words, ever since Ling Yanzhi showed up, Jian Yu seemed to have been preparing herself.’

’Prepared for what? Prepared for having one wife and seven husbands, of course.’

’It was an absurd notion.’

’Ling Yanzhi would occasionally reflect on it and think he was overthinking things.’

’Until Jian Yu tore off her innocent facade, no longer hiding it. Her gaze landed on his face, roaming over it, naked and undisguised.’

"What are you thinking about?" Duan Feiye’s eyes were sharp and assessing.

He said bluntly, "It’s already so crowded. It’s not like one more would make a difference, right?"

Ling Yanzhi snapped out of his thoughts, the corner of his eye twitching. "You’re asking the wrong person."

His gaze was mocking. "It’s every man for himself. What you want to do is your business, and whether she’s willing to accept you is her choice. You should be using your skills to pursue her, not asking for our opinion."

Duan Feiye froze.

The words were tactful, but they carried a clear implication: he wasn’t respecting Jian Yu. It was a vile act, treating her like an object.

A toy that he could share with them, if only they agreed.

Duan Feiye raised his eyes to meet Ling Yanzhi’s scrutinizing gaze.

He stared at the flash of scarlet in the other man’s eyes and seemed to understand something.

Ling Yanzhi probably thought his attraction to Jian Yu was fleeting, completely insincere.

Duan Feiye considered his own credibility.

’Hilarious. Zero credibility.’

He was indifferent to most people, but not many had died because of it.

Considering his recent indifference toward Yan Qin, it was no wonder his brother was questioning him.

Duan Feiye had to admit he hadn’t yet developed the instinct or taken any action to protect Jian Yu.

Because of that, his words sounded especially hollow to Ling Yanzhi.

Duan Feiye was silent for a moment. "Point taken."

’So this isn’t what liking someone is?’

He didn’t think so.

Recalling the time Jian Yu had shone so brightly, he could still feel the familiar rhythm of his heartbeat spiraling out of control.

A warm current he would define as "infatuation" surged and flooded his heart.

He wasn’t Little Pei. Only a fool like Little Pei would mistake a racing heart for being flustered with anger.

Listening to the sound of chanting in the distance, Duan Feiye’s heart gradually calmed.

His eyes were fixed on the scene below, his gaze locked unerringly on Si Xu’s incredibly divine face.

’A tall god... who loves watching dirty movies.’

’Maybe he’d been holding it in for too long. Throughout their journey, Duan Feiye had seen Si Xu openly observing his "physiology lessons."’

’Considering the guy was always searching for his fated love, it seemed somewhat reasonable.’

’Sheng Yue, on the other hand...’

Duan Feiye chuckled. "Even an honest guy like Sheng Yue is going all out. I should step up my game, too."

The "honest guy," Sheng Yue, was attempting to show his concern.

He held a cup of hot water, his features blurred by the rising steam.

His blue eyes lifted, gazing clearly at Jian Yu. "Want some? I heated it up anyway."

Yin Jiu was spinning with anxiety. [Master! You didn’t need to add that last part!]

Sheng Yue pressed his lips together. [I shouldn’t say that? It would feel strange not to.]

’Shut up,’ Sheng Yue would have just coldly replied before.

The subtext being: ’He had his own pace.’

Yin Jiu was pleased by its master’s change, its voice soft. [It’s okay, Master. We’ll take it slow.]

Jian Yu bent down and picked up Yin Jiu, who was chasing its tail in circles.

She took the cup and sat down naturally beside Sheng Yue. "Thanks."

Jian Yu held Yin Jiu’s two little paws in her hands, squeezing them again and again.

It kicked its feet smugly.

Sheng Yue pulled his legs back slightly, his lips pressed tight.

On the academy forums, people said he dressed conservatively. Some called him the "abstinent god" or an "unattainable flower."

Only Sheng Yue knew that he covered himself up so thoroughly because he was worried about being touched.

Because his entire body was sensitive.

A single touch would make his skin flush and send shivers through him.

Sheng Yue didn’t want to block his empathic link with his Soul Beast, so he could only suppress a sound in his throat, forcing it down.

One by one, teammates gathered around to discuss the next day’s itinerary.

Wang Hu wanted fresh roasted meat, so he and Zhang Qin went out and caught a few doll beasts.

The doll beast meat roasting over the campfire smelled delicious, making everyone’s mouth water as they talked.

Their route had deviated because of the Mutant Worms.

Jian Yu could only wait for the meat to cook while listening to them plan their new route.

Yin Jiu nestled quietly in her arms, well-behaved and very endearing.

Jian Yu’s fingers stroked through the snow-white fur on Yin Jiu’s back.

Yin Jiu tried to look cute and rolled over, exposing its soft, white belly.

It looked very shy, the tips of its ears turning pink.

Jian Yu inadvertently glanced at Sheng Yue’s ears.

They were very red—a flushed crimson against his pale skin.

Jian Yu immediately felt an itch of curiosity.

’They say the stomach is very sensitive.’

’She hadn’t touched Yin Jiu’s belly yet.’