Ch 110

Chapter 110: Emergence

Mu Chen walked toward the other courtyard.

The student in charge of cleaning saw him coming and quickly stepped forward, saying respectfully,

"Student Mu, Classmate Ye Rong is here again."

"I see," Mu Chen replied, frowning slightly, already losing patience.

He had no idea what Ye Rong was thinking. She'd come over more than once, claiming absurd things—like how the person originally engaged to the Ye family wasn't Ye Shi, but herself.

She even said she didn't want to compete with Ye Shi and was willing to be his concubine?

Just recalling it made Mu Chen feel sick.

"Don't bother with her," Mu Chen said irritably.

Not to mention that Ye Shi and Ye Rong weren't even blood-related—after all the tricks Ye Rong pulled, especially sending them both to the quarry—how dare she keep showing her face again and again?

---

Ye Rong left after failing to meet Mu Chen yet again, her expression dazed.

It had already been several times—she wasn't stupid. She could clearly see that Mu Chen was deliberately avoiding her.

"Ye Rong, you've got a letter," a student said.

"Oh, thank you." Ye Rong forced a smile as she took it.

She used to look forward to letters from home. Now they only made her feel worse.

Her father had arrived in the capital, and she had foolishly believed they'd finally teach Ye Shi a lesson, restore her dignity, and live better.

But nothing had gone according to plan.

Ye Shi had gone into seclusion, and no matter how hard Ye Xun tried, he couldn't do a thing—he couldn't even find him.

Meanwhile, the expenses in the Imperial Capital were sky-high. Ye Xun hadn't brought much money, and both he and Wang Li liked to splurge. Their spirit stones were drained in no time.

Ye Rong opened the letter. It was filled with complaints—both her father and mother were asking her for money, saying that Saint Star Academy was full of rich students.

Ye Rong clenched her teeth. Sure, some students were rich—Tang Zhu'er, for instance—but she clearly wasn't one of them!

Thinking of Tang Zhu'er made Ye Rong feel even more bitter. That girl wasn't even as capable, yet she had money and lived like a queen.

If only Ye Rong had a father with wealth like a nation—her life wouldn't be this pathetic.

---

Rest Day.

With Ye Shi still in seclusion, Mu Chen visited Mu Yuanfeng alone.

Mu Yuanfeng's foundation was solid, and his years of experience gave him incredible insight. After advancing to the Martial Spirit (Wuling) realm, he lacked nothing in terms of resources. His cultivation had already reached two-star Martial Spirit, and he showed signs of soon breaking through to three-star.

"Chen'er, you're here."

As always, when they met, father and son discussed alchemy. Mu Yuanfeng's rich experience still taught Mu Chen a lot.

"Father, are you doing alright with resources? Do you need more Yuan Stones?" Mu Chen asked with concern.

Mu Yuanfeng chuckled and shook his head. "It's enough, don't worry. Did you forget? Ye Shi and I are both third-level alchemists. Supporting ourselves isn't a problem. You should save those spirit stones… to find yourself a wife!"

His cultivation had been progressing fast, and with it, his success rate in alchemy had also improved dramatically.

Mu Chen frowned. "Even if it's enough, it's still not much."

---

Elsewhere...

With their spirit stones nearly gone, Ye Xun could no longer keep up appearances and shamelessly went to seek help from Mu Yuanfeng.

But Mu Yuanfeng kept avoiding him.

"That guy is doing it on purpose!" Ye Xun snarled.

He had gone to see him three times. Once he was told Mu Yuanfeng was cultivating, once that he was refining pills, and once simply that he was unavailable.

It was clearly a deliberate snub.

"Mu Yuanfeng is too much. Our families are linked by marriage, after all," Wang Li complained.

"He just looks down on people!" Ye Xun gritted his teeth.

Looking at his furious face, Wang Li felt a little uneasy.

---

"Any news on Ye Shi? Still in seclusion?" Ye Xun asked.

Wang Li nodded. "It seems so."

"Always in seclusion—like some kind of monk. So what if he becomes strong? In the end, he still has to marry," Ye Xun scoffed.

"Exactly!" Wang Li agreed.

"Where's Rong'er? Tell her to bring the remaining Yuan Stones. Does she have any left?" Ye Xun snapped.

"She said she barely has any left," Wang Li answered hesitantly.

"No money? Then borrow some! Mu Chen has tons!" Ye Xun growled, burning with jealousy.

"But Mu Chen is ignoring her," Wang Li replied.

"She's useless! Not even as good as that brat Ye Shi who knows how to cozy up to men! Trash!" Ye Xun roared.

Wang Li's face changed several times but didn't dare say a word.

---

At last, Ye Shi emerged from seclusion, having stabilized his eight-star martial artist level.

"You're finally out!" Xin Ruge greeted happily.

Ye Shi nodded with pride. "I've reached eight-star warrior."

"Eight-star?!" Xin Ruge's mouth twitched. His talent really was monstrous!

In less than a month, he'd advanced three whole stages. That was unheard of.

Ordinarily, going from five-star to eight-star would take at least three years. Ye Shi had done it in a few weeks.

Still, Xin Ruge could just barely accept it—it wasn't as outrageous as Mu Chen's speed.

---

"Yesterday, your Mu Chen went to the Inscription Master Association and got certified as a third-level inscription master," Xin Ruge said.

Ye Shi nodded calmly. "Oh."

Xin Ruge frowned. "You're not surprised?"

Ye Shi blinked. "Why would I be surprised? It's Mu Chen."

Xin Ruge: "…"

Right. If it was Mu Chen, then nothing was surprising.

---

"Where is he now?" Ye Shi asked.

"He's probably being evaluated," Xin Ruge said.

"Evaluated?" Ye Shi looked confused.

Xin Ruge explained, "Today is when the departments of the academy submit their funding applications. Representatives from the top schools gather, and since Mu Chen is now a third-level inscription master, he's qualified to participate."

Ye Shi narrowed his eyes. "He's from the Inscription Institute. With him there, they'll definitely get a big funding boost."

Xin Ruge nodded. "Yes, at least 20 million more. If a freshman becomes a third-level master, the funding gets doubled."

Ye Shi's jaw dropped. "So much?! He's rich!"

Xin Ruge chuckled. "That funding goes to the institute, not Mu Chen personally."

Ye Shi pouted. "Oh. Then it's a waste."

---

"By the way, Ye Rong came looking for you several times during your seclusion," Xin Ruge said.

Ye Shi's face instantly darkened. "What for?"

To him, Ye Rong was like an annoying buzzing fly—not dangerous, but infuriating.

"She said her father has arrived in the capital," Xin Ruge added.

Ye Shi's expression turned even colder.

Ye Xun… that name made his blood boil.

He had once looked up to the man, foolishly hoping for fatherly affection. But now? There was only disgust.

If Ye Xun dared act arrogantly again, Ye Shi was ready to punch him into the ground.

---

"Also… there's something else. I don't know if I should tell you," Xin Ruge said hesitantly.

"Just say it. There's nothing I can't handle," Ye Shi said.

"I'm just worried you'll overreact…" Xin Ruge bit her lip, though there was a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.

Ye Shi rolled his eyes. "I'm in a great mood. I won't lose my temper."

Xin Ruge curled her lips and said, "Well, Ye Rong went to Mu Chen and told him that she's the one who was originally engaged to him—not you. That you stole her position."

Ye Shi's face changed dramatically. "That bitch!"

With a loud bang, he punched a tree over a meter thick, shattering it with one blow. The trunk toppled over, crashing to the ground and sending wood chips flying everywhere.

Xin Ruge (inner thoughts):

Younger brother, didn't you say just now that you wouldn't get worked up…?

---