The First Rule of a Cruel World: A Thick Skin Is Important!

"I-I..."

Even someone as unruly as Wu Yingying was at a loss when faced with Zhao Chen's questioning.

She wanted to say that she was not a Female Bandit, nor was she some female outlaw.

And she certainly had not come for the Blood Pig Tiger Essence from the Low-Level Spirit Beast he had killed.

Yet, for the moment, she did not know how to rebuke him.

"What do you mean, 'I'? You chased me all the way here. If it were someone else, would they waste words with you? They'd grab you and finish you off right away, believe it or not?"

Zhao Chen snorted and scolded, "I'm being generous here, so get out of here now. Otherwise, the ravine behind you will be your burial ground!"

Although there were rumors that dying in the Spirit Road Trial Space did not mean truly dying.

As long as one's will was strong enough, one could revive after dying here.

Still, who would dare gamble on that?

If they really fought, Zhao Chen did not think his chances of winning were particularly high.

She was clearly someone a great family had specially nurtured and trained to participate in the Spirit Road Trial.

Her basic strength alone was not something to be underestimated; she would certainly pose a huge threat.

More importantly, she had been able to pursue him so relentlessly. Zhao Chen would not believe she lacked some special method even if he were beaten to death.

He already had the Crimson Token. Why would he need to fight her again?

"You—you Little Thief!"

Wu Yingying was furious. She should have been the one demanding an explanation.

Yet now, she was the one in the wrong.

Zhao Chen suddenly barked, "Who are you calling a Female Bandit and female outlaw?"

"I'm calling you!"

Wu Yingying blurted it out instinctively, then immediately realized she had fallen into his verbal trap. She stomped her feet in anger again and again.

"You—you can't do this! Give me back my Crimson Token!"

She finally understood that she was simply no match for Zhao Chen when it came to arguing.

So she could only get straight to the point.

Without the Crimson Token, she would be eliminated as soon as she entered the Spirit Road Trial Space.

The Crimson Token was extremely important. Whether it was entering Guardian Land or absorbing essences to strengthen one's Spirit Body after killing spirit beasts, it was indispensable.

Wu Yingying did not want her Crimson Token to be snatched away by this person, leaving her alone here in grief until she met an unfortunate death.

Death was far too common in the Spirit Road. No one would pay it any special attention.

The only person who could value your life was yourself.

"No, which eye of yours saw me take your Crimson Token?"

Zhao Chen still tried to argue and continued,

"Had I met you before? Or had you seen me before? What evidence do you have that I took your Crimson Token? The time, the place—why didn't you stop me then?"

"Or is this just some utterly rotten excuse!?"

The barrage of questions left Wu Yingying unable to respond.

"You, you..."

Wu Yingying was on the verge of tears. She had never expected things to turn out like this.

If she had noticed at the time, why would she have needed to chase Zhao Chen for so long?

She had merely assumed that anyone appearing here had to be that Little Thief.

But seeing Zhao Chen's shameless expression, she felt that she might have found the wrong person.

If she had found the wrong person, did that not mean she would never find her Crimson Token!?

"Waaah..."

Thinking of all the consequences that had come from bathing and playing in the water just because she had seen such a clear stream, Wu Yingying could no longer hold back. Her eyes brimmed with tears.

She looked exactly like a helpless young girl who had been bullied.

Seeing this, Zhao Chen rubbed the tip of his nose and tried not to look at her.

As an orphan, he had to remember: when one roamed the world, how could one avoid getting cut?

To avoid getting cut, one had to be thick-skinned and refuse to admit anything.

Zhao Chen hesitated before asking, "You look so pitiful. Did you ever consider that the Little Thief might still be where he was?"

Hearing this, Wu Yingying answered through her tears, "How could that be? People feel guilty. After stealing my Crimson Token, how could that Little Thief possibly stay where he was? Besides, I searched nearby. There wasn't anyone else at all!"

Otherwise, why would she have treated Zhao Chen as her target and chased him relentlessly the moment she saw him?

Zhao Chen sighed and shook his head. "You Little Girl, you're so careless that someone even stole your Crimson Token. Next time, it might be your life. You carry on. I still need to kill spirit beasts and increase my strength."

He waved a hand, picked a direction at random, and started walking that way.

Wu Yingying was flustered and hurriedly called out, "Stop right there!"

Zhao Chen turned a deaf ear and continued walking on his own.

"C-can I follow you? I'll leave after we reach Guardian Land and I find my brother!"

Having lost her Crimson Token, Wu Yingying had completely lost her former arrogance. She was now anxious and panicking.

After realizing that Zhao Chen was not suspicious and could not be the one who had stolen her Crimson Token, she could only ask him to look after her.

Only then could she survive here.

In the early stages, there would not be much difference in strength between participants of the Spirit Road Trial.

But as more and more spirit beasts were killed, the gap in strength would grow enormous.

When that happened, a young girl like Wu Yingying would definitely be easily controlled.

As for what might happen after that, one could imagine it slowly.

Zhao Chen hesitated, feeling somewhat guilty.

After all, he really had taken her Crimson Token.

Leaving her here did seem a little inappropriate.

However, what stirred Zhao Chen's interest was the brother Wu Yingying had mentioned.

That meant she truly came from some great family.

They could send at least two people into the Spirit Road—something comparable to the accumulated foundation of the entire Northern Spiritual Realm over more than ten years.

Zhao Chen stroked his chin and asked instead, "You want to follow me? Why should I be your free bodyguard? Do you think you're very pretty?"

"Pretty girls can't be eaten."

"Besides, you're not pretty at all."

Those words made Wu Yingying's entire body tremble.

How could someone be so vicious when insulting others?

She had only called him a Little Thief a few more times!

"You're right. I'm really not pretty."

Wu Yingying choked back a sob and continued, "Once I find my brother, he'll definitely give you a sufficient reward!"

Empty promises and castles in the air!?

Zhao Chen raised a brow, shook his head, and said, "Listen to yourself. Does that even sound like something a person would say?"

If anyone agreed to that, they could go be the sucker.

If Wu Yingying wanted him to return the Crimson Token, she would have to offer him greater benefits.

He definitely could not return it openly.

Wouldn't that be slapping his own face? He could not do that.

The first rule of a cruel world: a thick skin was very important.

Zhao Chen firmly believed in it and practiced it consistently.

"..."

Wu Yingying wanted to speak but stopped herself. This did seem a little inappropriate.

Her mind cleared somewhat.

"Then I'll use this short blade as collateral. When the time comes, I'll thank you with even more treasures!"

Wu Yingying gritted her teeth and held out the Snow White Dagger in her hand to Zhao Chen as she spoke.

She did not have anything important on her.

If she wanted to travel with Zhao Chen now, she could only give him the Snow White Dagger in her hand.

If he wanted more, then all she had left was herself...