Xuan Zi Treated Like Some Stray by the Road

Wu Ming instinctively glanced at Han Ruoruo beside her. After exchanging looks, they almost simultaneously confirmed each other's thoughts.

This Youth was the handsome boy Wu Ming had used to tease Zhang Lexuan about several months ago.

But... family matters?

What was going on? Could it be that Sister Lexuan had really made a move on this Youth, eaten him clean, and now he had come knocking on her door?

Wu Ming's thoughts leaped wildly, but she quickly dismissed that unrealistic possibility. Lowering her gaze, she tentatively spoke.

"Sister Lexuan?"

"..."

Zhang Lexuan was briefly dazed before coming back to herself. She looked at Wu Ming and gave a slight shake of her head, signaling that she was fine.

After collecting her thoughts, Zhang Lexuan looked at the Youth before her, her eyes carrying a little more gravity and caution.

Setting other questions aside, the moment the Youth had voluntarily revealed his identity and mentioned "family matters," she had already guessed why he had come.

She had expected it, but she had never imagined it would happen under these circumstances...

Zhang Lexuan looked at Kong Ming'an, her voice calm and without the slightest ripple. "You came for me?"

"Yes."

Kong Ming'an nodded with a smile and said nothing more. Under the confused or wary gazes of the Shrek group, he took an ancient thread-bound book that appeared quite old from his Storage Soul Tool and held it out to Zhang Lexuan.

"Zhang Lexuan... um, Sister?" he addressed her with a somewhat probing tone.

The expressions of everyone present shifted slightly, finding it rather strange.

The Youth before them was clearly not very old, even younger than the Reserve Team members on their own team. Calling Zhang Lexuan sister did not seem particularly inappropriate.

But... why did the word "sister" sound a little strange coming from him?

"I do not wish to explain too much. However, once you have read this, I believe you will understand what I mean."

Kong Ming'an maintained the smile on his face.

The Shrek group immediately became even more alert. Their eyes swept to the book, then to Zhang Lexuan, while the teacher leading the team hesitated, unsure whether he should intervene.

Ah... being the team leader really brought no good things. Where was Elder Xuan? Come out and interfere already! I don't think I can make the call on this!

Everyone fell silent. Only Zhang Lexuan looked at the ancient book, a faint guess forming in her heart.

Zhang Lexuan looked at Kong Ming'an, but she did not hesitate for long before reaching out to accept the book.

The smile on Kong Ming'an's face did not change as he said, "If you wish to speak with me after you finish reading it, you may come to the Sun Moon Team's resting area at any time...

"Of course, I suggest bringing a few more people with you, so there will be no misunderstandings when the time comes."

"All right." Zhang Lexuan answered calmly.

"Good. Then, everyone, see you on the competition grounds."

Kong Ming'an flashed another courteous smile. Without waiting for the Shrek group to react, he turned around decisively and led the Sun Moon Team members away, leaving the Shrek group filled with doubts and vigilance.

"What does this guy mean? Why can't I make heads or tails of it?"

"Kong Deming's grandson... why was he participating in the tournament?"

"Sister Lexuan, this book..."

The Shrek group immediately gathered around Zhang Lexuan, chattering over one another as they discussed the matter. Their gazes frequently darted toward the mysterious ancient book in her hand.

Zhang Lexuan lowered her head to look at the old book in her hand. Her fingers tightened slightly, but she did not open it. Instead, she carefully put it away in her Storage Soul Tool.

When she raised her head again, her eyes remained calm, as though she had not been affected at all. She coolly arranged, "It is already late today. Everyone should return to your rooms and rest first. We can discuss anything else tomorrow."

Having spent some time together, the others knew Zhang Lexuan's personality. Although they all harbored doubts as they looked at her expression, none of them pressed her further.

Nodding, the group followed Zhang Lexuan to check in at the hotel front desk.

Yet at one moment, Zhang Lexuan, who had already formed a guess in her heart, could not help looking toward the direction the Sun Moon Team had departed. Amid the weariness and alienation Shrek had brought her, a trace of struggle arose, only to be instantly replaced by resolve.

At the back of the group, the teacher leading the team frowned as he fiddled with the Communication Soul Tool in his hand. As a Communication Soul Tool he had spent half a month's salary to purchase from the Mingmeng Chamber of Commerce, its quality naturally could not be the problem, but...

Why was he still unable to contact Elder Xuan?!

The team leader could not stop complaining inwardly. It was like this every time. Whenever he had something to report, he could never find the man! Yet whenever something happened afterward, Elder Xuan would ask why he had not reported it!

The team leader was in a foul mood, radiating the resentment of an overworked employee.

A moment later, seeing no result, the team leader sighed and prepared to put away his Communication Soul Tool. Before he could do so, however, a figure staggered over from his side.

"Elder Xuan?!"

The team leader recognized the arrival, only to see that Elder Xuan, who usually carried himself so casually, now wore an ugly expression. An icicle had pierced through his chest, and bone-chilling cold continually spread from it. Even merely approaching him made it feel as though his body would be completely sealed in ice.

Xuan Zi tried to speak, but after taking only a few steps, he fell rigidly to the ground.

Xuan Zi could not get back up.

"So you directly made a move?"

"Yes. When you said your Grandfather was Kong Deming's grandson, he developed a trace of killing intent, so I acted."

On the way back to their rooms, the Snow Empress walked at Kong Ming'an's side and softly explained what had happened earlier.

She was Kong Ming'an's guard, and eliminating potential threats was naturally one of her duties.

"I only struck him once as a warning. It was not a serious injury, but it should leave him unconscious for an hour or two, followed by several weeks of cold seeping into his bones."

The Snow Empress spoke calmly. That human expert was fairly strong. In a direct battle, she could defeat him in one strike, but she could not have done so as silently as she had just now.

However... he had clearly not noticed her presence.

He had been in the open while she had been in the dark. Subduing him in one blow had naturally been simple.

"Remember not to do that next time..."

The Snow Empress lowered her eyes and pressed her lips together, somewhat unhappy, but she still nodded.

"Mm..."

"...If someone develops killing intent toward me, cut off one of his arms."

"...Mm, what?"

The Snow Empress lifted her eyes, her gaze inexplicably clear.

"Some people will not know to repent unless they are thoroughly hurt. Cutting off an arm would count as teaching him a lesson."

"..."

I think you might be a little too extreme...

Kong Ming'an glanced at the Snow Empress, seemingly guessing what she was thinking, and spoke calmly.

"What kind of good person could develop killing intent toward a child? Killing him outright would definitely not mean killing an innocent person."

The Snow Empress froze, blinked, and suddenly felt that it made quite a bit of sense. After a slight pause, she could not help asking.

"What about in a few years, when you grow up?"

"Grow up?" Kong Ming'an smiled. "Then I'll do it myself."

After all, he had reincarnated and awakened his memories rather than directly transmigrating. Theoretically speaking, he was still a young man in his teens, no matter how one looked at it.

And as for young people, how could they be young if they were not a little hot-blooded?

He was already being restrained.