You Are My Calamity

Le Yu's plan heavily prioritized getting rid of Qian Yuya.

After several days of "thorough" (read: eating, drinking, and having fun) investigation, Le Yu discovered many unimaginable things in this world. For example, the Reverse Flow River where water flowed upstream, the Abyss where fires burned eternally, or the Great Maelstrom at the ends of the earth that perpetually existed...

These places were all in remote areas, as humans simply couldn't survive in these secret realms that defied natural laws. Ever since he discovered the existence of these supernatural realms, a bold idea gradually formed in Le Yu's mind:

The world is so big, I want to see it!

Having been in this world for so long, Le Yu had resigned himself to his fate. Although he still had a mysterious system panel and the ability "Rebirth Through Death," Le Yu didn't believe these things could help him return to Earth.

Even if they could, it would certainly require Le Yu to work like a dog, risking his life, enduring a three-million-word epic story, gaining power over the world and sleeping with beautiful women, before finally allowing him to return to Earth with an advanced Mental Power system, initiating a story of spiritual energy revival on Earth...

The above was Le Yu's fantasy after drinking too much Honey Five-Flower Tea.

Most importantly, the system panel so far only had a "Survive 15 days" challenge. God knows when it would offer a challenge with a reward of returning to Earth. Le Yu had absolutely no hopes for it.

So, could the Huiyao Mental Power cultivation system offer Le Yu a chance to go home?

No!

While the Mental Power and Combat Arts of the Radiant People could indeed grant individuals power beyond the collective, the grandmasters, top martial artists, and great Combat Arts practitioners throughout history were, at their core, still human, not immortals. They didn't possess the ability to shatter dimensions.

So, was there truly not even a sliver of a chance to go back?

Yes!

Among the many rumors of secret realms, Le Yu found one called the "Well of Gods and Devils." It was said that someone once passed through the Well of Gods and Devils and arrived in a strange world, with fire-breathing dragons and heroes who could unleash dragon roars. The people there would bury themselves in ancient tombs after death, only to revive as living corpses soon after. The record keeper even witnessed a dragon being killed, its corpse turning into golden light absorbed by the dragon slayer, leaving only pale dragon bones...

Although it sounded made up, and records of the Well of Gods and Devils were far scarcer than other secret realms, what if there truly was a secret realm that could traverse time and space?

It was at least some hope. Therefore, Le Yu planned to pack light and go explore this world once the matters in Star Engraving Prefecture were settled.

Le Yu didn't actually enjoy traveling, but there was no internet in this world. Forget the internet, there wasn't even an outlet to charge his phone, so he might as well go out and explore.

More importantly, Le Yu didn't want to deal with the messy realities of life anymore.

Huiyao was on the verge of splitting, with feudal lords raising private armies and warlords carving out territories. The world was about to plunge into chaos. What did any of that have to do with him, a mere passerby transmigator?

Lin Jinyao and Qian Yuliu were the ones who wanted to contribute to the liberation of all humanity, not him, Le Yu!

Moreover, in this impending chaotic situation, what could a normal person like him, who hadn't even read "Guerrilla Warfare," "Barefoot Doctor's Handbook," or "The Little Red Book," possibly achieve? It was better to hide away and mind his own business, come what may.

However, whether it was living anonymously or traveling the world to see its splendor, Le Yu first had to properly handle Qian Yuya.

His moral guilt, emotional closeness, and the friendly interactions over the past few days made it impossible for Le Yu to simply abandon Qian Yuya.

Fortunately, that scoundrel Qian Yuliu also knew he was undertaking high-risk work and had long ago tried to arrange for Qian Yuya to leave Star Engraving Prefecture. Now that White Night could arrange for Qian Yuya to study in Yan Capital, it perfectly resolved Le Yu's worries.

However, Qian Yuya actually said 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. I don't need to go to Yan Capital to study."

"Star Engraving's medical department isn't bad, but the Royal Academy in Yan Capital is top-notch! Do you know someone named Li Shijie in our Statistics Department? He graduated from the Royal Academy. He's about your brother's age, but his strength is incomparably greater than your brother's!"

Qian Yuya frowned and looked at Le Yu. "Aren't you my brother?"

"I... I mean, I'm much worse than Li Shijie." Having spoken without thinking, Le Yu instinctively dropped his persona as Qian Yuliu. "There isn't much difference in talent between Li Shijie and me. In fact, your brother... in fact, my talent and diligence are better than Li Shijie's, but because Li Shijie attended the Royal Academy, his starting point is much higher than mine."

Qian Yuliu's Combat Arts realm stagnated at the beginner level, largely because there weren't many strong practitioners at Star Engraving Military Academy, and the teachers were only at an intermediate level. Qian Yuliu's practical experience simply couldn't improve.

It was said that at the Royal Academy, advanced practitioners were everywhere, and intermediate ones were common. If Qian Yuliu could have studied at the Royal Academy, he would at least be at an intermediate Combat Arts realm, and perhaps even touch the threshold of the advanced level.

"If you can go to the Royal Academy, why stay in Star Engraving?" Le Yu was very puzzled. "People strive for higher ground, water flows to lower ground. Don't you yearn for the prosperity of Yan Capital, don't you hope to become a student of the Royal Academy someday?"

Qian Yuya retorted, "Then why didn't you go to Yan Capital?"

Le Yu looked a bit bewildered. "Me? I already graduated. Yan Capital doesn't accept older students..."

"You know what I'm talking about!" Qian Yuya suddenly slammed her chopsticks down in anger, biting her lip slightly as she stared at Le Yu. "Teacher Gu, you remember him, right? He's still teaching arithmetic at the National Academy. The year you planned to enroll in the National Academy, I saw Teacher Gu constantly trying to persuade you at home. I was young then, so I only vaguely heard and didn't understand, but I recently recalled it and asked Teacher Gu, and only then did I realize what happened that year—"

"Teacher Gu believed you were the most likely student of that graduating class to get into the Royal Academy based on your abilities! You could have gone to Yan Capital to apply for the Royal Academy back then! You could have become a prodigy at the Royal Academy! You didn't need to stay in a place like Star Engraving Prefecture!"

Qian Yuya saw her brother's bewildered expression and said bitterly, "Say something! Why aren't you saying anything now? Weren't you very talkative just now?"

Le Yu was utterly bewildered at the moment—he was still sifting through Qian Yuliu's memories. Details like these, Qian Yuliu probably forgot himself, making it especially difficult for Le Yu to find.

"Excuse me... is there anything I can help with?"

A female medical officer timidly poked her head in the doorway. She was one of the on-duty medical officers in the inpatient department. Hearing a quarrel as she passed by, she came to check, and at the door, she saw that the patient's name tag belonged to the notorious "Qian Yuliu" everyone was excitedly discussing... She could only bravely ask at the door. If anything happened, she figured she'd have enough time to run.

"It's nothing. Please close the door."

"Okay!"

With that interruption, Qian Yuya also calmed down, tidying the bowls and chopsticks and putting them back in the basket.

Le Yu finally found the corresponding memory fragment in Qian Yuliu's mind. When Qian Yuliu was seventeen, due to his excellent grades, many teachers advised him to go to Yan Capital to take the Royal Academy's entrance exam, especially Teacher Gu, who taught arithmetic, and thought highly of Qian Yuliu. He even went to Qian Yuliu's home to persuade him and was willing to financially support Qian Yuliu's studies.

But Qian Yuliu refused them all and still chose to apply to the Star Engraving Military Academy.

Then he met Lin Jinyao and others there.

If Qian Yuliu had applied to the Yan Jing Royal Academy back then...

"If you had gone to the Royal Academy then, everything would be different now..."

Qian Yuya whispered, "You wouldn't have to join a dirty organization like the Statistics Department, nor would you have to stay in a small place like Star Engraving Prefecture, and you certainly wouldn't have become as notorious as you are now..."

Le Yu had more or less figured out Qian Yuya's unspoken message. He sighed helplessly, "So with me as a cautionary tale, shouldn't you be even more inclined to go to Yan Capital?"

"But you only stayed in Star Engraving Prefecture for me."

Qian Yuya lowered her head, looking at the utensils in the basket, her voice trembling slightly. "I'm holding you back."

"To take care of me, you gave up a better future and stayed in Star Engraving Prefecture. If it weren't for me, you'd be shining brightly in Yan Capital right now, instead of being a butcher in Star Engraving Prefecture."

Le Yu retorted, "Oh, my smart little sister, that's just you being overly self-important, thinking you're too crucial. I chose Star Engraving Military Academy because it's close to home and I could sleep in; I joined the Statistics Department because the pay is good, the benefits are great, and I can throw my weight around. It has nothing to do with you…"

"So?"

Qian Yuya abruptly turned to look at him, her eyes red and misty. "You want me to take the dirty money you earned by sacrificing your future and reputation, and run off to Yan Capital alone? Do you think I can abandon my family of over ten years 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 won't help either!" Le Yu scratched his head. "If you stay here, you'll become my weakness. What if I'm in danger—"

"If you die, I'll bury you in the Qian Family's ancestral cemetery. If you're crippled, I'll take care of you for the rest of my life."

Qian Yuya started by laying down many flags for Le Yu. She sniffled and said earnestly, "If I'm implicated because of you, I won't stand in your way either."

Qian Yuya suddenly lifted her skirt, startling Le Yu, who widened his eyes to get a good look, only to find Qian Yuya pulling a dagger from beneath it.

She said resolutely, "My Combat Arts aren't great, but if I encounter danger and can't escape, I'll end my own life."

Le Yu looked at her expression; she didn't seem to be joking.

Oh no. Le Yu knew Qian Yuya was somewhat of a bleeding heart, but he never expected her to be this much of one. She truly believed she bore some responsibility for the opportunities Qian Yuliu missed and the sins he committed, firmly convinced that if it weren't for her, Qian Yuliu would have had a better life.

So Le Yu changed his approach. "Actually, it's not like you're not coming back if you go to Yan Capital. Railways are so developed now, couldn't you just buy a train ticket and come back to Star Engraving for winter and summer breaks?"

"I feel like when I come back, all I'll see is a burned-down house, not even your ashes."

Although Qian Yuya's words sounded like an insult, it had to be said that this was indeed the most likely future.

"No matter what, I'll stay in Star Engraving."

Qian Yuya put the dagger back under her skirt and said, "No matter what happens, I'll face it with you. If you can have a sudden change of heart and leave the Statistics Department, I'll start fresh with you; if you remain stubborn and go all the way, I'll help you bear the consequences, good or bad."

She paused, hesitating for a long while before slowly saying, "Qian Yuliu, you are my Calamity."

P.S. "Qian Yuliu, you are my older sister."

Le Yu's body stiffened. He threw off his blanket. "What!?"