Yang Wudi's Threat

Sunlight streamed through the window, casting a patch of light onto the coffee table.

Ning Rongrong sat on the sofa, staring at the lines of text on the system panel; she had been looking at them for nearly ten minutes.

[Target: Yang Wudi]

[Level: Level 82 Soul Douluo]

[Martial Soul: Soul Breaking Spear]

[Characteristics: Extremely high attack power, indomitable, never defends]

[Note: Patriarch of the Breaking Clan, master alchemist, will stop at nothing to obtain rare medicinal herbs]

She read the words "never defends" over and over, her brows knitting tighter with each passing second.

"Someone who never defends," she whispered, "is the hardest to fight."

Zhang Mo sat beside her, waiting for her to continue.

Ning Rongrong looked up at him. "Have you ever met someone like this?"

Zhang Mo thought for a moment and shook his head.

Ning Rongrong said, "I've seen it once. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect once clashed with an enemy who was just as reckless. When Grandpa Sword's Seven Kill Sword thrust forward, he didn't dodge; instead, he charged forward, trading his own body to take the blow just to wound Grandpa Sword."

She paused, her voice dropping. "That man was a Soul Douluo, and Grandpa Sword is a Title Douluo. After that battle, Grandpa Sword was bedridden for three months."

Zhang Mo was silent for a few seconds before asking, "What happened to that man?"

"He died," Ning Rongrong said. "He couldn't have survived after that strike, but he didn't care. He only wanted that one hit."

Zhang Mo didn't speak.

Ning Rongrong looked at him and suddenly asked, "Do you know what kind of person like that fears the most?"

Zhang Mo thought for a moment and shook his head.

Ning Rongrong said, "They fear you being even more reckless than they are."

Zhang Mo was stunned for a moment.

Ning Rongrong continued, "My father once said there are only two ways to deal with someone who doesn't value their life. The first is to stay far away so they can't reach you. The second is to be even more ruthless, making them believe you aren't afraid of death."

She stared at Zhang Mo, her eyes bright.

"Are you afraid of death?"

Zhang Mo thought about it and said, "Yes."

Ning Rongrong nodded. "Then we have no choice but to hide."

Zhang Mo didn't speak.

He stood up, walked to the window, and looked outside.

Outside was a small street in the afternoon; someone rode an electric scooter past, and children ran back and forth in the alley. The sun was bright, and everything was just as it usually was.

He suddenly said:

"We can't hide."

Ning Rongrong walked over and stood beside him.

Zhang Mo said, "After he descends, he will look for us everywhere. There are billions of people in this world. He might not find us, but he will find others. Those innocent people will be killed by him."

Ning Rongrong fell silent.

She remembered the scene when Huyan Li first arrived and shattered that excavator with a single punch. If there had been people nearby at that time, they would have been turned into pulp by that blow.

Zhang Mo turned around and looked at her.

"So we cannot hide."

Ning Rongrong bit her lip and nodded.

"Then what should we do?"

Zhang Mo said, "Didn't you say he likes medicinal herbs?"

He walked back into the inner room and brought out the wooden box containing the Millennium Fleeceflower.

"We'll use this to lure him."

Ning Rongrong stared at the box, thought for a moment, and asked, "How do we lure him?"

Zhang Mo said, "Three days from now, there is an international traditional Chinese medicine expo in Shanghai. That's where I bought this last time."

He opened the box, revealing the dark, gnarled root.

"The energy contained in this Fleeceflower is different from the herbs in his world. He will definitely be able to sense it. If we set an ambush at the expo and wait for him to come and take it, then—"

Ning Rongrong finished his sentence, "Then, while he's off guard, we launch a sneak attack?"

Zhang Mo nodded.

Ning Rongrong thought for a moment and asked again, "What if he doesn't come?"

Zhang Mo said, "He will definitely come."

"Why?"

"Because he's an alchemist," Zhang Mo said. "When a good medicine is in front of him, he can't resist."

Ning Rongrong stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly said:

"How do you know?"

Zhang Mo said, "I've seen people like that in the antique circle. They'd go bankrupt for a broken bowl. They'd turn their backs on friends for a broken vase. Medicine Obsessive is the same."

Ning Rongrong pondered.

She thought for a moment, then asked, "Then who will attack when we ambush?"

Zhang Mo said, "Me."

Ning Rongrong was stunned.

Zhang Mo continued, "You stay far away and provide buffs. I'll use the Fish Gut Sword and look for an opportunity to stab him."

Ning Rongrong frowned, "But he's a Soul Douluo, level eighty-two. Can you even hit him?"

Zhang Mo thought for a moment and said, "I don't know."

Ning Rongrong got anxious, "You don't know, and you're going to charge in?"

Zhang Mo looked at her, "Do you have a better plan?"

Ning Rongrong opened her mouth, wanting to say yes, but after thinking for a long time, she couldn't utter a single word.

She dejectedly lowered her head.

"No," she said softly.

Zhang Mo reached out and gently patted her shoulder.

"Then that's how we'll do it."

Ning Rongrong looked up at him.

His expression was calm, as if he were talking about something ordinary.

She suddenly remembered that night when he said "Guess" to Huyan Li, he had the same expression.

He clearly couldn't win, yet he wasn't afraid at all.

She bit her lip and suddenly said:

"Then I'll help you watch."

Zhang Mo was taken aback.

Ning Rongrong said, "I'll be far away, helping you watch his movements. He's a Soul Douluo, definitely faster than Huyan Li. You might not be able to react alone. But if I watch and tell you where he moves, it'll help."

Zhang Mo looked at her.

Her eyes were bright, abnormally bright.

"You... aren't you afraid?" he asked.

Ning Rongrong thought for a moment and said, "I'm afraid."

She paused, then added, "But what's the use of being afraid?"

Zhang Mo remained silent.

She continued, "Last time with Huyan Li, you took so many punches alone. This time, I have to help somehow."

She looked up at him, her eyes shining.

"Even though I can only support, I can still watch."

Zhang Mo looked at her, silent for a few seconds, then nodded.

"Okay."

Ning Rongrong smiled.

The smile was fleeting, but genuine.

Outside the window, the sun slowly set in the west.

The two stood by the window, watching the clouds in the sky.

After a while, Ning Rongrong suddenly asked:

"Zhang Mo, is Yang Wudi really that strong?"

Zhang Mo thought for a moment and said, "Level eighty-two, he should be quite a bit stronger than Huyan Li."

Ning Rongrong fell silent.

She remembered what she had just said—help him watch, help him dodge, help him stab.

But could a level eighty-two Soul Douluo really dodge that?

She didn't know.

But she didn't say it.

She just reached out and tugged on Zhang Mo's sleeve.

Just like before.

Zhang Mo looked down at her hand, then at her.

She didn't look up, just tugged his sleeve and said softly:

"Zhang Mo."

"Mm?"

"After this fight, buy me a phone."

Zhang Mo froze for a moment.

She continued, "You promised. You said you'd buy it after fighting Huyan Li. Huyan Li's fight is over, and you still haven't bought it."

Zhang Mo thought about it and realized he had indeed promised.

He nodded: "Okay."

Ning Rongrong's lips curved upwards.

She added, "And buy me that milk tea too."

Zhang Mo said, "Okay."

"And that dress, the white one. We didn't buy enough last time."

"Okay."

"And--"

She suddenly stopped, not continuing.

Zhang Mo waited a few seconds and asked, "And what else?"

Ning Rongrong shook her head, saying nothing.

But the hand tugging his sleeve tightened.

The sun slowly sank, the horizon turning a dark purple.

Distant neon lights flickered on, one by one.

The two stood by the window like this, watching the night fall.

After a long time, Ning Rongrong suddenly said:

"Zhang Mo, do you think Yang Wudi will also bring a bunch of subordinates like Huyan Li did?"

Zhang Mo thought for a moment and said, "The system didn't say."

Ning Rongrong said, "What if he brings a bunch of people too?"

Zhang Mo said, "Then you run."

Ning Rongrong blinked.

Zhang Mo said, "You're fast, hide. I'll find you after I'm done with Yang Wudi."

Ning Rongrong stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly said:

"You're going to try and carry it all yourself again?"

Zhang Mo remained silent.

Ning Rongrong grew anxious: "No!"

She let go of his sleeve, stood in front of him, and glared up at him.

"We agreed to fight together. What are you trying to carry by yourself!"

Zhang Mo looked at her.

She glared at him, her eyes a little red.

"Did you forget? Last time with Huyan Li, you took so many punches alone, you almost died. If it happens again this time, you--"

She couldn't finish.

Zhang Mo was silent for a few seconds, then reached out and gently patted the top of her head.

"Okay," he said, "We'll carry it together."

Ning Rongrong froze.

She looked up at him, her eyes even redder.

But she bit her lip, managing to hold back the tears.

She lowered her head and said softly:

"That's more like it."

Outside the window, night had fully descended.

The neon light shone in, casting colorful spots across the floor.

The two of them just stood there like that.

After a while, Ning Rongrong suddenly said:

"Zhang Mo, I'm hungry."

Zhang Mo turned and walked toward the kitchen.

Ning Rongrong followed behind him.

After a few steps, she suddenly said:

"Let's have steamed buns tonight."

Zhang Mo didn't even look back: "Alright."

The corners of Ning Rongrong's mouth curled up.

She followed him, skipping and hopping into the kitchen.

The kitchen light flickered on, casting a warm, yellow glow.

The water in the pot began to boil, bubbling away with a gurgling sound.

Ning Rongrong leaned against the doorframe, watching Zhang Mo knead the dough, chop the filling, and wrap the buns.

His movements were practiced; it was clear he had done this many times before.

She suddenly asked:

"Zhang Mo, when you lived alone, did you cook for yourself every day?"

Zhang Mo nodded.

"What did you eat when you were alone?"

"Just whatever."

Ning Rongrong thought for a moment and said: "And what about now?"

Zhang Mo didn't turn around, but the corners of his mouth lifted slightly.

"Now there are two people."

Ning Rongrong froze for a moment, then her face flushed slightly.

She lowered her head and whispered:

"Then you'll have to keep doing this many more times."

Zhang Mo said: "Alright."

The corners of Ning Rongrong's mouth curled up again.

She leaned against the doorframe, watching him busy at work.

The scent of food began to drift through the kitchen.

Outside the window, the neon lights flickered on and off.

The occasional sound of cars drifted in from the distance.

Everything was just as it usually was.

But Ning Rongrong knew that in two days, there would be another tough battle.

She looked at Zhang Mo's back and suddenly felt that it didn't seem so terrifying anymore.

After all, he was there.