Self-Taught Genius

Chapter 18 Self-Taught

The organization collected payment from the employer and would distribute it to the soldiers in the form of money and Star Beads.

Xia Yan and Han Jiangxue were regulars here, so they naturally knew the rules. With no other choice, they had to let it go.

Han Jiangxue hadn't forgotten her purpose. Since the mission's objective was already achieved, she wanted to head back and rest.

Not to the human stronghold in the snowfield, but home.

Pi Keqiu wanted to go in and search for the team in distress, as there might have been his comrades among them. Of course, he couldn't go in alone—mainly because this team had Han Jiangxue and Xia Yan.

But as the employer, Xia Yan followed Han Jiangxue's suggestion and prepared to head home. Pi Keqiu had no choice but to fire a signal flare on the spot, letting the Awakened guardian team in the snowfield investigate the situation.

In this small gesture, Jiang Xiao saw another side of Han Jiangxue. For people unrelated to her, she had no intention of risking herself.

Or perhaps, Han Jiangxue was just that kind of person, and it was only because of family ties that she cared so much about Jiang Xiao.

Inside Han Jiangxue's "Shattered Space" were four corpses. Each of the four people dragged two more corpses, beginning their journey home.

Xia Yan didn't lack pocket money at all, but she knew Han Jiangxue's family situation. So, as the pampered young miss she was, she didn't complain and helped drag two corpses.

Soldier Pi Keqiu, of course, followed the employer's orders. Strong and burly, he dragged a full four White Ghost corpses back to the city.

Everyone worked together, and Han Jiangxue used Barren Wind a few times to fling the corpses far away, saving them quite a bit of effort.

For Jiang Xiao, the return trip was relatively joyful. This time, he had truly broadened his horizons, encountered a strange world and creatures, and gained two new Bronze Star Skills. He was returning with a full load.

After passing the human stronghold flying the Red Star Flag, the four of them breathed a sigh of relief. There were hardly any Different Dimension Creatures around here, and even if there were, the Awakened in the stronghold would arrive in no time.

Pi Keqiu was still uneasy. The burly man was surprisingly meticulous. He specifically asked Xia Yan for leave, quickly rushed to the human stronghold to report the situation at the edge of the Snowy Forest, and then swiftly returned to the group.

The journey here had been stormy with wind and snow, but the return trip was smooth.

Ahead, Xia Yan lightly bumped Han Jiangxue's shoulder. "I think he's okay. That one shove showed it—he really cares about you. He's got guts."

"Mm." Han Jiangxue responded softly.

"Even we'd have trouble in a situation like that, and he's just a rookie who got the Green Glow Star Skill." No matter what Han Jiangxue thought, Xia Yan was satisfied. She continued, "It's just that the kid's a bit wild. Leave him to me—I'll help you straighten him out."

"I don't need you," Han Jiangxue replied.

"Tch, your method's wrong. I've been holding back from saying it, but you're pretty stubborn." Xia Yan pouted. "He only Awakened two months ago, got his Star Skill a few days ago. What can he do? Train in the snowfield? He's just a tourist! And risking his life at that. If I didn't like you, I wouldn't come along on this crazy trip."

Han Jiangxue said, "You know what he was like before. In the past few days, he's changed a bit. I hope this journey will push him to keep it up. He's too young, seen too little, knows too little. He lacks a Sense of Awe for this world."

Xia Yan: "Mm-hmm?"

"He's too arrogant, doesn't take anyone seriously. I was hoping these low-level White Ghosts would teach him a lesson, get him hurt, face some setbacks." Han Jiangxue shook her head.

Xia Yan looked confused. "So you knew he'd be useless here, and you brought him just to humble him?"

Han Jiangxue nodded. "It's not about strength, it's about mindset."

Xia Yan snorted a laugh. "And the result? The moment he was in a bit of danger, you nearly blew him back to Garden Community."

Han Jiangxue: "Shut up."

Half an hour later, in the Town Government building.

"Wow, this white fur coat, processed and sold for thousands, even tens of thousands, and they recycle a White Ghost for just 100 bucks?" Jiang Xiao counted the 1,500 yuan in his hand, looking conflicted. "Their claws are sharp, and they've got meat—maybe it's tasty too. Their whole body is treasure..."

Han Jiangxue reached out a hand, offering it to Jiang Xiao.

Jiang Xiao helplessly placed the red bills into Han Jiangxue's hand.

"This is just a ripoff—" Jiang Xiao caught the unfriendly look from the soldier beside him and quickly changed his tune. "A socially responsible enterprise! Not only do they give us chances to train and grow, provide bodyguards for protection, but they also let us earn some extra cash. It's amazing!"

"Pfft, hahaha." Xia Yan couldn't help but laugh.

Han Jiangxue pressed a hand to her forehead and shoved Jiang Xiao hard, urging him to hurry up.

After changing clothes and returning the field packs, Jiang Xiao realized he hadn't touched the rations or water inside. Sigh, what a waste—those black-hearted merchants! He wondered if this place was even officially run.

But thinking about how important this location was, and seeing the demeanor of the regular soldiers, it probably was legit.

If so, Jiang Xiao felt a bit more balanced. If the country earned more military funds, trained more powerful Awakened, made China stronger and more formidable, the ultimate beneficiaries would be common folks like him.

Still, was that 1,500 yuan even enough to hire Pi Keqiu? After getting into Xia Yan's Land Rover, Jiang Xiao asked. But before Xia Yan could answer, Han Jiangxue told him to shut up, saying it was between the two of them.

Jiang Xiao, having been brushed off, changed the subject. "Where's your knife?"

"Left it there," Xia Yan replied as she drove out of the village.

"Not afraid it'll get stolen?" Jiang Xiao asked casually, just making conversation.

Unexpectedly, this chat led somewhere.

"It won't. I have my own Changing Room there." Xia Yan said offhandedly, then suddenly remembered something. "Oh, by the way, I talked to your sister earlier. I'll drop her off at Garden Community later, and you come home with me?"

"Huh?" Jiang Xiao scratched his head. "What for?"

"To take you home and warm my feet." Xia Yan lifted her gaze, catching Jiang Xiao's stunned expression in the rearview mirror.

The corner of her mouth curled up. She tilted her head, her slightly wavy Chestnut hair swaying gently, her bright Eyes wild and alluring.

"Han Jiangxue, did you sell me out?" Jiang Xiao grumbled, looking at Han Jiangxue.

"Heh, I'm just messing with you." Xia Yan laughed, explaining, "Your sister's combat skills aren't great. It's better if I train you."

Jiang Xiao blinked. "Aren't I Big Milk? The one standing in the safest spot in the team, being pampered?"

"That's exactly right." Xia Yan nodded with an air of solemnity. "But think about it—if you want to be enshrined, you have to become a Buddha, a god. Right now, you're just a stone. If you want to be carved into a Buddha, you have to endure a thousand cuts and ten thousand slashes."

Jiang Xiao: ??? A thousand cuts and ten thousand slashes!? This girl's even more cheeky than I am! Xia Yan lifted her gaze again, glancing at the rearview mirror, and said, "What do you think of my blade technique?"

With that two-meter-long blade, one swing was enough to cleave even the thick-skinned, tough-fleshed White Ghost in half. How could fragile Jiang Xiao fare any better?

Xia Yan looked at Jiang Xiao's lingering fear and said with a smile, "So I'm the best one for carving."

But speaking of which, let's get serious.

Why did Jiang Xiao limit himself to bare-handed combat? Why not ask Xia Yan for some pointers on blade technique? Jiang Xiao mulled it over and started the topic: "That big blade of yours is really flashy, and the lethality is insane. Can I learn it?"

"Oh?" Xia Yan raised an eyebrow, a hint of teasing in her voice. "This is a family heirloom blade technique. It's not passed on to outsiders."

Jiang Xiao, like a snake slithering up a pole, seized the opening and said, "So if I became family, then it could be passed on, right?"

Xia Yan froze for a moment, then turned her head to look at Han Jiangxue. "This kid's really cheeky!"

Han Jiangxue snorted inwardly: He even dares to flirt with me, what wouldn't he dare? Jiang Xiao: "Uh—"

Han Jiangxue, in the passenger seat, cut him off directly. "China has many martial arts masteries. Before Star Power appeared, these arts weren't as formidable as in wuxia novels. Many of them devolved into performance routines, with relatively weak practical combat."

Jiang Xiao dropped his joking attitude. "But?"

Han Jiangxue said, "But with the emergence of Star Power and Star Skills, some of China's martial arts techniques have found a lot of room to thrive. So Xia Yan wasn't joking—some things really aren't passed on to outsiders. Asking like that is quite rude."

"Hey." Xia Yan said with a smile, "It's not that serious. Our family isn't some martial arts clan. It's just a blade technique my dad picked up from who-knows-where. It's not as exaggerated as you say. Before you see it, it seems mysterious, but after you look at it, it's just a few moves. You can find them online."

That casual?

Look it up online? Self-taught?