21

Ruo Chen woke up early to make breakfast, this was his usual routine when they were back home as he always preferred his own cooking over others and it was also his way of showing his care for Ye Ran. It was also kind of his hobby back on earth.

There was not much to work with so he decided to make a simple meal of toast and sunny side up eggs. 

"Xiao Pang Xiao Pang, do you know why Ye Ran was so worked up yesterday?" Ruo Chen whispered to the small hamster on his shoulder which nibbled on a small piece of apple.

"In case you did not know, you kind of hugged him like a couple snuggling in bed." Xiao Pang squeaked out while taking another bite from the apple.

"Oh well, but did he not remember hugging me? Well whatever, he wasn't conscious then anyways." 

Ruo Chen did not pay any more attention to the earlier occurrence and set his mind back on perfecting the eggs. Now Ruo Chen knew he also liked to hug things when sleeping.

Creak...

Ye Ran slowly opened the door and sat down in one of the chairs at the dining table and hung his down. 

"Good morning." Ruo Chen greeted as he brought over the toast and bread and placed it on the oak wood table. He pulled out a chair opposite to Ye Ran and grabbed a portion for himself.

Ye Ran did not greet back and continued to hang his head, unmoving and not making a single sound.

"Hey are you okay?" Ruo Chen asked in a voice filled with concern as he placed down his toast to walk over to crouch beside Ye Ran.

Silence.

Ruo Chen continued to wait but Ye Ran did not budge and it was only when he got up to leave when Ye Ran tugged at his shorts.

Why do I have a sense of deja vu?

He turned to face Ye Ran and instead of like last time where he was unconscious and gentle, this time Ye Ran was wide awake and there was a weird expression on his face.

It was still the same cold and aloof one but there was something else about it, something that Ruo Chen can't quite put his finger on. Also the tug contained a big more force than usual and a part of his underwear was exposed which led to Ye Ran quickly snapping his hand back.

???

Ruo Chen got even more confused, they both were guys so why did Ye Ran seemed like he got scalded when he a saw a peek of it. Was it disgusting? Ruo Chen did not know and just pulled up his shorts.

"Yesterday, no, at midnight... why did you hug me to your chest?" Ye Ran asked in a firm tone, he was determined to get an answer.

Why did I do it? I don't even remember doing it!

"I'm sorry, I did it without knowing and I guess I just like hugging things when asleep." Ruo Chen replied without thinking much as that was his real reason.

Ye Ran relaxed after hearing it yet there was a strange contortion of feelings inside his heart, a part of him was glad that it was an accident while another small little part of him felt a bit saddened by it. But since he had changed back to his indifferent setting, he immediately crushed that part of him and looked at Ruo Chen with his usual aloof and placid face.

After seeing that face so many times, Ruo Chen was able to understand what Ye Ran meant even if the same remained the same each time. This face now means that all was settled and that nothing was bothering Ye Ran anymore.

So Ruo Chen went back to his seat and pushed a small bowl of chili to Ye Ran. He would never forget this one preference of Ye Ran's as it was one of the first things he wrote about Ye Ran in his planning which was that he loved spicy food.

With this simple action, the atmosphere lightened up.

***

A few days passed by and the number of youths slowly lessened as those who failed the first two trials where sent back home. When they both woke up to get ready for the day, an announcement was made and it was heard by everyone in dorms. It told participants who make it to the final trial to assemble at the main entrance where further instructions would be told.

During these days, Ruo Chen had brought Ye Ran along to visit the other booths and they met instructor Yan Sheng who turned out to be a really nice instructor and person, he was the one with the booth that gave out freebies. The freebie was a small rectangular wood keychain that was engraved with the owners name, it could store some energy from the surroundings and can be quite useful when one didn't want to use their own energy or if they were in a tough situation.

They quickly ate their breakfast before making their way down to the main entrance. Ruo Chen had a feeling that the final trial would be a hunt so he ditched the slippers he would usually wear and wore hunting boots. Ye Ran did not need gear to perform well so he just mindlessly followed whatever Ye Ran wore.

Which made them stick out like a sore thumb. Ruo Chen was still reluctant to wear long sleeves so he wore a black shirt with dark green shorts, his pale skin glowing under the morning sun. Ye Ran wasn't any better as he also wore the same thing as Ruo Chen. 

Whispers starting forming when the other participants saw how unserious they were about this trial as they did not even carry any weapons with them. Ye Ran was used to this as many people would hush their voices when they saw him walking around when he was a lord, afraid that they would get on his bad side.

While Ruo Chen could not careless about those trivial matters, though he did feel that he should probably get a weapon to not stick out so much as being weak meant that one had to rely on weapons which were much inferior to one's own energy unless it was a personal weapon.

Ruo Chen took out his space pouch and pulled out a bow and a quiver filled with arrows before wearing if behind his back. Ye Ran did not bother with weapons as he felt that they were all too weak for him, they'd probably break into pieces if he were to channel his energy into it.

After a few more minutes and a few mocking glances thrown at the duo, an instructor appeared from thin air above the students. He was clearly concealing his presence as only those who happened to be looking at the sky noticed him.

"Attention please." The white robed instructor said simply, yet his words radiated a sense of dominance. 

Startled students including Ruo Chen hastily looked up at the sky to look at the sudden entrance of the instructor. This instructor looked to be in his 40s and he had a messy appearance. His short light brown hair was curly and untidy with it messily covering his eyes, his white robes were also in a mess as if it was hastily put on.

Some students were already starting to feel as if this was a joke because why would the principal send someone so untidy to hold such an important trial. Yet Ruo Chen held high expectations for this person as he recognised him as Xiao Yuwei's dishevelled teacher. The appearance of the instructor was identical to the description in the novel and Ruo Chen felt incredibly excited as he looked on, waiting for his introduction.

Ye Ran notice the eager look on Ruo Chen's face and could not held but let a scowl show on his face. Such a rumpled appearance and you still like? Was probably was went on in Ye Ran's mind.

This was a person that Ye Ran had heard and met before in his previous life when he was investigating Xiao Yuwei, he turned his head back to face the untidy instructor as he thought of his past memories.

"I am-

Mu Yang!

Ruo Chen and Ye Ran both thought in their minds. Ruo Chen who was just guessing and Ye Ran who was sure of the identity.

-Mu Yang and I will be the overseer of the final trial today." Mu Yang introduced plainly as he took a quick glance of the crowd below him.

Yay!

Ruo Chen cheered happily in his mind as he guessed correctly while Ye Ran looked on with an undecipherable look on his face.

"Some of you may have guessed that the trial would be a hunt and you are absolutely correct. This is a hunt that will take place in the Ink forest next to the Ink River. I'm not good at explaining so I will leave my good friend to explain it to you." Mu Yang said with an apologetic look as he slowly disappeared into thin air.

Many students started talking to each other at this while Ruo Chen already knew this was going to happen.

Bad at explaining, you are just lazy Mu Yang! 

Ruo Chen let out a small laugh at just how Mu Yang did not change a single bit from the novel, retaining all his laziness. 

Ye Ran sighed at this, he had also expected this change and only shook his head in irritation.