Understanding

Chapter 10: Understanding

On the Giant Gorge Ship, the members of Xiong Bing Lian were all minding their own business.

Liu Chuang and Zhao Xin were busy boasting to each other, trading one tall tale after another with great relish, occasionally tossing a question at Cheng Yaowen beside them, who just smiled and said nothing.

Qi Lin and Rui Mengmeng had recently become obsessed with playing volleyball, squeezing in a game every day whenever they had time.

Sun Wukong was currently sitting atop the ship's mast, holding a tablet in his hand, absorbed in something unknown.

Ge Xiaolun, meanwhile, was trailing behind Qiang Wei, making small talk with her in fits and starts, but she wore an air of indifference, barely responding.

As for Yi Chen, he was leaning against the railing at the edge of the Giant Gorge Ship, gazing at the beautiful seascape, feeling the cool sea breeze, and letting his mind wander back over the events that had unfolded since he first arrived in this universe.

Just then, Yan, having finished her conversation with Du Kao and Lena, emerged from the ship's hatch. She pinpointed Yi Chen's location and walked straight toward him.

"Oh... Kid, you're pretty relaxed, aren't you?" Seeing him alone enjoying the view, Yan teased.

Hearing her voice, Yi Chen snapped out of his reverie.

"Why are you here?" he asked, puzzled.

"Heh... What if I said I came looking for you on purpose? Would you believe me?" Yan joked, though there was some truth to it—she really had come for him.

"No," Yi Chen replied calmly, his gaze still fixed on the shimmering, rippling sea ahead.

"Hehe... Kid... Is the scenery really that good?" Yan stepped forward, whispering softly near his ear. The warm breath from her mouth, mixed with her unique fragrance, made Yi Chen instinctively jump back several steps.

"So... what are you here for?"

Yan stopped teasing him and turned serious. "Your commanding officer has handed you over to me."

"Huh?" Yi Chen was a bit confused.

"You'll be following me from now on."

"What do you mean?"

"Will Super Seminary upgrade your divine body, or can they even help you upgrade it?"

"Well... no."

"Hmph! Of course not. Ge Xiaolun is the designated future Main God of Earth, so all resources will be funneled to him. Besides, with Earth's current capabilities, they can't forge a divine body. But if you follow me and perform well, we angels can provide you with the technology to upgrade your divine body. And you should know, with your current strength, staying on Earth when the Taotie attack will just mean you're going to die. So following me now is the better choice, isn't it?"

"So, do you want to come with the beautiful Angel Yan?"

"Can you tell me your purpose? You know I'm just an insignificant player right now. There are people more outstanding than me in Xiong Bing Lian." Faced with Yan's enthusiastic invitation, Yi Chen didn't let it go to his head—there was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

"Hehe, what if I said I like you? Would you believe it?"

"No."

"Hmph! Believe it or not, just tell me if you agree."

"Can I think it over?"

"Of course, but you'll have to give me your answer by tomorrow at the latest."

"Alright. I'm going to train now." With that, Yi Chen turned and left. He needed some time alone to think.

After a full day of training ended, Yi Chen walked toward his dorm, mulling over what Yan had said to him earlier. Though he appeared calm on the surface, his true feelings were deeply conflicted.

He was well aware that Ge Xiaolun was the designated future Main God of Earth, so he had never thought to compete with him for anything.

But thinking about how he fought and trained with all his might, only for the academy to be unable to provide him with the resources or technology to upgrade to a Second Generation Divine Body—he had been stuck at the peak of the First Generation Divine Body for a while now—it severely delayed his desire to grow stronger quickly, and that inevitably stirred a sense of frustration in him.

He had once considered leaving Xiong Bing Lian to deal with the Taotie on his own, but lacking the strength, he had to abandon that idea.

And today, Yan's words to him stirred a strong temptation, along with a hint of gratitude—after all... they had only met twice.

Before he knew it, Yi Chen arrived at the dormitory door. He opened it, only to find the light inside was on.

He took a look inside, then quickly turned his head and prepared to walk back out—there was actually someone in his room.

Inside the room, Yan was sitting on Yi Chen's bed, flipping through the diary he usually kept.

Due to his personality, he never revealed his inner thoughts to others, but some emotions still needed an outlet, so he made time every day to write in his diary.

The diary recorded the hardships of daily training, the frustration of being unable to advance further in strength, and... the budding feelings stirring in his heart.

Yan wasn't wearing her usual battle armor today; instead, she was dressed in a relaxed casual outfit.

A white shirt with a cute cat pattern on the chest, its wide collar revealing her delicate shoulders.

Below, she wore a pair of ultra-short shorts, leaving her straight, slender, and exquisite long legs completely exposed.

Yan noticed Yi Chen. She closed the diary, looked up, and said with a smile, "You're back."

Then, seeing Yi Chen turn his head away, acting as if he was ignoring her, she teased with a hint of flirtation:

"What's wrong... First time seeing Angel Yan like this? Embarrassed?"

"You... why are you here?" Yi Chen stammered.

"What, not welcome?"

"No, it's just... why are you dressed like that..."

"Heh... Kid, that just proves you have a guilty conscience..." After saying this, Yan put down her crossed legs.

"Learn to practice abstinence, kid, or else how will you stand up to the angels?" Yan said.

"I... you still haven't answered why you're here?"

"Hmph, I'm staying here tonight. Whether you want to share the bed with the beautiful Angel Yan is up to you—I have no objections. And we could even have some deeper communication!"

Yan spoke to Yi Chen in a seductive tone, patting the spot beside her as she did, signaling that he was perfectly welcome to sit over there. She had no problem with it at all.

"Men and women should keep their distance. I'll leave the dorm to you. I'm going to Liu Chuang's place." With that, he quickly slipped away, and for someone usually so aloof, his face embarrassingly turned red.

"Heh... what an interesting kid... As expected, the Queen's instincts were right. Not bad!"