In Le Yu's plans, driving Qian Yuya away was the top priority.
After these past few days of careful (eating) (drinking) (playing) (enjoying) research, Le Yu discovered that this world had many places beyond his imagination. For example, there was the Reversed River, whose waters flowed backward; the Hell where flames never went out; and the permanent whirlpool known as the Ends of the Earth...
These places were all in remote, sparsely populated regions, because humans simply couldn't survive in these secret realms that defied the laws of nature. Ever since discovering that such supernatural secret realms existed in this world, a bold thought had gradually emerged in Le Yu's mind:
The world was so big. I wanted to go see it!
After being in this world for so long, Le Yu had resigned himself to his fate. Although he still had a mysterious system panel and the Rebirth Through Death ability, Le Yu didn't believe those things could help him return to Earth.
Even if they could, Le Yu would probably have to toil like an ox and horse, risk his life countless times, and go through an epic, three-million-word saga. Only after seizing power over the world while drunk and lying with beauties in his arms would the system let him return to Earth with an advanced Mental Power system, opening the way for a story about Earth's spiritual energy revival...
The above was merely Le Yu's fantasy after drinking too much Honey Five-Flower Tea.
More importantly, the system panel had only given him one challenge so far: "Survive 15 Days." Who knew when it would finally issue a challenge whose reward was a return to Earth? Le Yu didn't count on it at all.
Then, could Radiance's Mental Power cultivation system possibly allow Le Yu to return home?
No!
The Mental Power and combat arts of the Radiant People could indeed grant individuals power surpassing that of entire groups. However, the Grandmasters, the world's foremost martial artists, and the great combat-art masters throughout history were ultimately still human, not immortals. They had no ability to shatter the void.
Then, was there truly not the slightest possibility of traveling back?
There was!
Among the many rumors about secret realms, Le Yu had found one called the Well of Gods and Devils. It was said that someone had once passed through the Well of Gods and Devils and arrived in a strange world. There were fire-breathing dragons, heroes who could unleash dragon roars, and people who hid themselves in ancient tombs after death, only to revive as living corpses before long. The recorder had even witnessed a dragon being killed. Its corpse turned into golden light and was absorbed by the dragon slayer, leaving behind only its pale dragon bones...
Although it sounded made up, and records of the Well of Gods and Devils were far scarcer than those of the other secret realms, perhaps there really was a secret realm capable of traversing time and space.
At least it gave him some hope. Thus, Le Yu planned to wait until the affairs of Star Engraving Prefecture were over, then travel light and go see the world.
Le Yu didn't actually like traveling, but this world didn't have the internet. Forget the internet—even an outlet to charge his phone was nowhere to be found. He had no choice but to go out and walk around.
More importantly, Le Yu didn't want to deal with all that crap in reality anymore.
Radiance was about to split apart, the feudal lords were building up their own forces, warlords were carving out territories, and the world was about to descend into a chaotic war. What did any of that have to do with a transmigrator merely passing through?
The ones who wanted to contribute to the liberation of all humanity were Lin Jinyao and Qian Yuliu, not Le Yu!
Besides, in this turbulent era that was about to descend into chaos, what could an ordinary man who had never even read Guerrilla Warfare, the Barefoot Doctor's Handbook, or the Little Red Book accomplish? He might as well hide in a small building and form his own little kingdom, leaving spring, summer, autumn, and winter to fend for themselves.
However, whether he wanted to live under an assumed name or travel the world and see all its splendor, Le Yu first had to deal with Qian Yuya.
Whether it was his moral guilt, their emotional closeness, or the friendly exchanges they had shared these past few days, Le Yu couldn't simply abandon Qian Yuya and leave her to fend for herself.
Fortunately, that dead bastard Qian Yuliu had known full well that he was engaged in highly dangerous work and had long ago made arrangements to send Qian Yuya away from Star Engraving Prefecture. Now that White Night could arrange for Qian Yuya to attend school in Yan Jing while being cared for, it solved all of Le Yu's worries.
However, Qian Yuya actually said that she didn't want to leave Star Engraving Prefecture!?
"Why?" Le Yu blurted out.
"The medical department at Star Engraving Cultural Academy isn't bad either. There's no need for me to go to Yan Jing to study."
"Star Engraving's medical department isn't bad, but Yan Jing's Royal Academy is top-notch! Do you know someone in our Statistics Department named Li Shijie? He graduated from the Royal Academy. He's about the same age as your brother, but his strength is who knows how many times greater than your brother's!"
Qian Yuya frowned and glanced at Le Yu. "Aren't you my brother?"
"I... I mean, I'm far inferior to Li Shijie." Having spoken without thinking, Le Yu had unconsciously slipped out of his identity as Qian Yuliu. "There isn't much difference between Li Shijie's talent and mine. In fact, your brother's... in fact, my talent and diligence are even greater than Li Shijie's. But because Li Shijie attended the Royal Academy, his starting point was far higher than mine."
One major reason Qian Yuliu's combat-art realm had stopped at the elementary level was that there weren't many strong people at Star Engraving Military Academy. Its teachers were only at the intermediate level, so Qian Yuliu's practical combat experience had never been able to improve.
He had heard that advanced-level experts were everywhere at the Royal Academy, while intermediate-level experts were as common as dogs. If Qian Yuliu could study at the Royal Academy, he would at least have reached the intermediate combat-art realm, and might even have touched the threshold of the advanced level.
"If you can go to the Royal Academy, why stay in Star Engraving?" Le Yu was utterly puzzled. "People strive upward, while water flows downward. Don't you yearn for Yan Jing's prosperity? Don't you hope to become a student at the Royal Academy someday?"
Qian Yuya countered, "Then why didn't you go to Yan Jing?"
Le Yu was somewhat bewildered. "Me? I graduated long ago. Yan Jing doesn't accept older students..."
"You know what I'm talking about!" Qian Yuya suddenly slammed her chopsticks down in anger. Biting her lip, she glared at Le Yu. "Teacher Gu, remember him? He's still teaching arithmetic at the National Academy. The year you prepared to apply to the National Academy, I saw Teacher Gu come to our house and urge you again and again. I was young then and only heard bits and pieces without understanding them, but I remembered it recently and asked Teacher Gu about it. Only then did I learn what had happened back then—"
"Teacher Gu believed you were the student from that year most likely to enter the Royal Academy through your own ability! You could have gone to Yan Jing to take the Royal Academy's entrance examination! You could have become a favored son of heaven at the Royal Academy! You never needed to stay in a place like Star Engraving Prefecture!"
Seeing her brother's bewildered expression, Qian Yuya said resentfully, "Say something! Why aren't you talking now? Weren't you very eloquent just a moment ago?"
Le Yu was completely dumbfounded now—he was still searching through Qian Yuliu's memories. Qian Yuliu had probably forgotten details like these himself, making them especially difficult for Le Yu to dig up.
"Excuse me... is there anything I can help with?"
A female medical officer timidly poked her head through the doorway. She was one of the medical officers on duty in the inpatient department. She had passed by after hearing arguing and came to take a look, only to discover at the door that the patient's nameplate belonged to the notorious and vicious "Qian Yuliu" everyone had been discussing. She could only summon her courage to ask from the doorway. If anything happened, she should still have time to run.
"Nothing's wrong. Sorry for the trouble, but please close the door."
"Okay!"
After the interruption, Qian Yuya also calmed down and gathered the bowls and chopsticks, putting them back into the basket.
Le Yu finally found the corresponding memory in Qian Yuliu's mind. When Qian Yuliu was seventeen, many teachers had urged him to go to Yan Jing and take the Royal Academy's entrance examination because of his excellent grades. Teacher Gu from arithmetic, in particular, thought highly of Qian Yuliu. He had even followed him home to persuade him and offered to fund his education.
But Qian Yuliu had refused them all and still chosen to apply to Star Engraving Military Academy.
That was where he had met Lin Jinyao and the others.
If Qian Yuliu had gone to apply to the Yan Jing Royal Academy back then...
"If you had gone to the Royal Academy back then, everything would be different now..."
Qian Yuya said quietly, "You wouldn't have needed to join a filthy organization like the Statistics Department, nor would you have had to stay in this little place called Star Engraving Prefecture. You certainly wouldn't have become as infamous as you are now..."
Le Yu had vaguely grasped what Qian Yuya was implying. He sighed helplessly. "So, with my mistake as an example, shouldn't you be even more determined to go to Yan Jing?"
"But you stayed in Star Engraving for my sake."
Qian Yuya lowered her head and looked at the utensils in the basket, her voice trembling faintly. "I held you back."
"To take care of me, you gave up a better future and stayed in Star Engraving. If it weren't for me, you should be shining brightly in Yan Jing right now instead of becoming the butcher of Star Engraving Prefecture."
Le Yu retorted, "Oh, my clever little sister, that's called having an overinflated sense of self-importance. You're making yourself out to be too important. I chose Star Engraving Military Academy because it was close to home and I could sleep in every day. I joined the Statistics Department because the pay was good, the benefits were great, and I could throw my weight around. It had nothing to do with you..."
"So?"
Qian Yuya abruptly turned to look at him. Her eyes were red, and a layer of tears welled in them. "You want me to take the dirty money earned through your sacrificed future and ruined reputation and flee to Yan Jing alone? Do you think I can abandon the family I've had for more than a decade and start a new life somewhere else?"
"I can't do it! I, Qian Yuya, can't do something like that!"
"Then staying in Star Engraving is useless too!" Le Yu scratched his head. "You'll only become my weakness by staying here. What if I get into danger—"
"If you die, I'll bury you in the Qian Family's ancestral grave. If you're crippled, I'll take care of you for the rest of your life."
Qian Yuya had raised countless ominous flags the moment she opened her mouth. She sniffed and said seriously, "If I really end up being dragged into trouble because of you, I won't get in your way either."
Qian Yuya suddenly lifted her skirt, startling Le Yu into widening his eyes and looking closely. But unexpectedly, she pulled a dagger out from beneath it.
She said firmly, "My combat-art level is average. If I encounter danger and can't escape, I'll take my own life."
Le Yu studied her expression. She didn't seem to be joking.
This was bad. Le Yu knew Qian Yuya was somewhat saintly, but he had never expected her to be saintly to this extent—she genuinely believed she bore part of the responsibility for the opportunities Qian Yuliu had missed and the sins he had committed. She firmly believed that if it weren't for her, Qian Yuliu would have had a better life.
Thus, Le Yu changed tactics. "Besides, it's not as if you'll never come back after going to Yan Jing. The railways are so advanced now. You can just buy a ticket and return to Star Engraving during winter and summer breaks, can't you?"
"I think that when I come back, I'll only find a home burning to the ground. I might not even be able to see your ashes."
Although Qian Yuya's words sounded like a curse, there was no denying that this was indeed the future most likely to happen.
"No matter what, I'm staying in Star Engraving."
Qian Yuya put the dagger back beneath her skirt and said, "Whatever happens, I'll bear it with you. If you come to your senses and leave the Statistics Department, I'll accompany you as you start over. If you remain stubborn and continue down this path, I'll still help you share whatever fortune or misfortune comes our way."
She paused and hesitated for a long while before slowly saying:
"Qian Yuliu, you're my tribulation."
P.S. "Qian Yuliu, you're my sis."
Le Yu's body jolted. He pulled open the blanket. "What!?"
Before you continue