Returning Home

Gao Junwei was a typical melee Awakened. His fists and kicks were formidable, and his Tang Blade skills were exceptional. He could cover his entire body—or his Tang Blade—with Scorching Flame, inflicting continuous damage on Awakened who had yet to master a Fire Element Star Technique.

In melee combat, he could use "Charge," advancing with the force of thunder and triumphing wherever he went.

At range, he carried the Exploding Flame Star Skill, which allowed him to release explosive fireballs.

He could also unleash a furious roar and stand firm with his blade in hand.

His abilities were well balanced. At least during high school, he had no obvious weaknesses.

With his tall build and handsome appearance, Gao Junwei had already become the school heartthrob. Combined with his powerful strength and affluent family, this made him the idol of all the girls at school.

Unfortunately, one could know a person's face without knowing their heart.

Xia Yan and Han Jiangxue both wanted to kick this selfish and sinister team member out. What had happened during their last group mission had left an indelible mark.

In particular, the conflict between Gao Junwei and another member, Li Weiyi, had become completely irreconcilable.

It would not be an exaggeration to say that although the two were teammates in name, they had already become mortal enemies.

What amazed Jiang Xiao was that even though their relationship had fallen apart so completely, neither of them had left the team. They continued to be teammates.

Jiang Xiao did not believe that two high school students, during such wild and ignorant years, could endure humiliation to this extent. Perhaps it was the result of a struggle between their families.

According to Xia Yan, Jiang Xiao's target was this handsome devil named Gao Junwei.

He would knock Gao Junwei from his position in the most unexpected way, then join Xia Yan's team under the most valuable identity—that of a Medical Awakened—leaving no one with anything to criticize.

Jiang Xiao agreed to her request. Of course, he was not a fool. He knew perfectly well what the consequences would be.

If he successfully replaced Gao Junwei in front of everyone, he would undoubtedly bring trouble upon himself, attract an enemy, and perhaps even make an enemy of Gao Junwei's family.

But when he thought of what Xia Yan and Han Jiangxue had done for him, and of Han Jiangxue's future, Jiang Xiao felt that it was necessary.

Speaking of which, Gao Junwei's family was not some great clan either. His family was somewhat stronger than Xia Yan's. His mother seemed to serve in a special team, while his father was a businessman. Although his business was quite large, he was an ordinary person.

In this world, the vast majority were mediocre people from ordinary families.

Given the current level of strength Jiang Xiao and the others possessed, encountering a reclusive expert or a powerful family was probably about as likely as winning the lottery.

In other words, how could the descendants of those truly ancient and powerful families possibly come to study at Jiangbin No. 1 High School? Would Li Weiyi and Gao Junwei even get the chance to face off? If that were the case, Li Weiyi would probably have vanished from this world long ago.

The journey home was silent, save for one small incident.

After they encountered a lone White Ghost hunter, Xia Yan did not attack. Instead, she had Han Jiangxue take the corpse out of the Space Coffin.

Jiang Xiao watched as the sexy and beautiful Xia Yan tossed half of the Medical Awakened's corpse to the White Ghost, as if she were feeding her own cat or dog.

The White Ghost did not hold back either, devouring the fat meat before it in its entirety. Jiang Xiao had once again gained an eye-opening lesson in how to destroy evidence.

It was difficult for Jiang Xiao to associate words like "ruthless" and "vicious" with Xia Yan, but everything she did kept refreshing his understanding of her.

This world was truly interesting.

It was early September, during the autumn heat wave.

Although North River Land lay in the northernmost part of Huaxia and had a relatively high latitude, the weather remained hot due to the abnormal climate of recent years.

After returning to Earth, Jiang Xiao truly felt as if he had passed through another lifetime.

He could hardly stand the bright sunlight, nor could he stand the clear sky.

At that moment, Jiang Xiao stood at the gate of the Jian'nan Town Government with his clothes in tatters, looking like a lunatic. He tilted his head back, closed his eyes, and spread his arms as if embracing the sun.

The soldiers on either side silently watched the young man in disheveled clothes. There was no teasing or mockery in their eyes. On the contrary, when they saw Jiang Xiao, who looked like a savage, they viewed him with newfound respect.

On that youthful face, the soldiers saw traces of hardship.

How long had this kid trained in the Snowfield?

Facing those ferocious White Ghosts day and night, enduring such harsh conditions while constantly facing the threat of death—this was indeed cruel for such a young child.

After emerging from that dim world, Jiang Xiao felt the beauty of life.

Fresh air and warm sunlight—even the scorching heat was a hundred times better than the freezing temperatures of the Snowfield.

It was better to die from heat than freeze to death.

It was better to burst from overeating than starve to death.

"Not changing your clothes, not taking a bath, and standing under the blazing sun in winter clothes—did I break you?" Xia Yan's teasing laugh came from behind him, and she seemed to be in a very good mood.

Jiang Xiao turned around and saw Xia Yan's bright smile, as well as her youthful, stylish city clothes.

She wore a white V-neck T-shirt, blue denim shorts, and flip-flops.

Perhaps because she had just bathed, her little face was flushed. Her short, curly chestnut hair was still somewhat damp. The breeze left it slightly messy, but that only added to her alluring charm.

"What are you looking at? My eyes are here." Xia Yan kicked Jiang Xiao in the butt and raised two fingers, gesturing at her own eyes.

Jiang Xiao rubbed his butt and sighed. "After living in the Snowfield for so long, even White Ghosts look handsome to me. Not to mention you."

"You little brat, how dare you compare me to those ugly creatures." Xia Yan immediately flew into a rage and kicked at him again.

How could Jiang Xiao fall in the same place twice? He easily dodged, and the flip-flop on Xia Yan's foot went flying.

By coincidence, the exquisite flip-flop smacked straight into the face of a soldier on guard duty.

The soldier did not move a muscle. He stared straight ahead like a statue, as if nothing had happened.

"Ah." Xia Yan balanced on one foot and covered her mouth with one hand. "Sorry, sorry."

As she spoke, Xia Yan glared fiercely at Jiang Xiao. "Go pick it up for me."

Jiang Xiao chuckled. "In your dreams."

Xia Yan said, "You—"

After washing up and changing her clothes, Han Jiangxue also came out. Seeing Xia Yan bullying someone, she said irritably, "Stop fooling around. Let's go."

Xia Yan said, "Mm."

"Why haven't you changed your clothes?" Han Jiangxue frowned at Jiang Xiao. At that moment, Jiang Xiao looked like a savage, his clothes tattered and stained with dried blood. His originally close-cropped hair had grown quite a bit. Fortunately, his body had not yet fully matured; otherwise, he would probably already have been sporting a scruffy beard.

"Oh, I'll go change." Jiang Xiao had been enjoying the sunlight. Ever since emerging from the Snowfield, he had stood here embracing the sun like a lunatic.

"Don't bother. Let's go." Han Jiangxue shook her head. "We'll go home, change your clothes, wash up, and then get your hair cut. In the afternoon, I'll take you to school."

Take me to school. Jiang Xiao scratched his head. Why did those words sound so strange?