Human Martial Arts Group Tower.
A roaring Ghostfire Motorcycle sped through the clouds and came to a stop outside a floor over a hundred stories up.
Shen Ye jumped through the open window, then beckoned, drawing the motorcycle into his Ring.
A knock came at once.
Shen Ye opened the door to find two fully armed professionals standing in the corridor.
"What was that noise just now?" one asked.
"I took my motorcycle out for a spin through the clouds. Everything's fine," Shen Ye said with a smile.
"It's too loud. Don't do that at night. Besides, it isn't safe," the other said.
"Sorry. It won't happen again," Shen Ye said.
The door closed.
Shen Ye let out a long sigh of relief.
He showered first, then grabbed some food and drink from the refrigerator and sat cross-legged at the dining table, recalling the video as he ate and drank.
According to what Song Qingyun had said.
When he was little...
Had something like that really happened?
Thinking back carefully, it seemed that it really had happened when he was five or six.
It was laughable, really.
He had been searching his memories for anyone he might have offended, looking for the reason someone wanted him dead.
Who would have thought he was being targeted because he had helped two girls!
Shen Ye couldn't help shaking his head.
Damn it.
These scions of powerful families really weren't human.
He just didn't know what they would do once they discovered he wasn't dead.
Since sending assassins was merely "playing around" to them, what would they do once they got serious?
Shen Ye involuntarily flexed his wrists.
Damn it.
He didn't have any offensive moves.
He could only learn various techniques in high school... He had to pass this entrance exam for the Three Prestigious Schools!
As for now, he needed more Attribute Points.
His phone suddenly rang.
Picking it up, Shen Ye raised his eyebrows slightly.
It was a number that had never contacted him before, labeled only "Shen Family."
"Hello?"
Shen Ye answered.
"Shen Ye?" A deep, commanding male voice rang out.
"Speaking."
"I'm your eldest uncle."
His eldest uncle...
The Shen Family's eldest uncle, Shen Shuopeng.
He was his father's older brother and handled the Shen Family's day-to-day affairs.
Shen Ye remembered that whenever they went back for the New Year, he gave them the most cold looks, never paid any attention to his mother or him, and sometimes even sneered at his father.
Why was he calling?
"Hello, Uncle," Shen Ye said.
"Well, how have you been lately?" Shen Shuopeng asked.
"Pretty good," Shen Ye said.
"I heard you were ill a while ago," Shen Shuopeng said.
"Yes, I'm better now," Shen Ye said.
It seemed-
Xiao Mengyu really had exposed the matter.
The whole affair was already beginning to have an effect.
This uncle was only willing to call him as a gesture, to show that the Shen Family was paying attention to the matter too.
Shen Ye shook his head.
If the Shen Family really cared about him, they should have sent someone to see him, learn everything that had happened, and then protect him.
Instead, all he got was a phone call.
"That's good-actually, there's something I need to tell you," Shen Shuopeng said.
"Yes? Please go ahead." Shen Ye was a little surprised.
"Do you remember how children from other powerful families would visit our Shen Family whenever you came home for the New Year?" Shen Shuopeng said.
"I remember," Shen Ye said.
"You were immature back then and caused a lot of trouble. Once I've made the arrangements, come back in a few days and publicly apologize to the children of those families," Shen Shuopeng said.
"Apologize?" Shen Ye repeated.
"This is for your own good. You offended too many people as a child. Now you need to step forward and apologize publicly to earn their forgiveness. That will make our Shen Family look better too. Understand?" Shen Shuopeng said.
Shen Ye slowly began to understand.
He was clearly the victim, the one being hunted down-
Yet now that the Shen Family knew about it, they wanted him to step forward and apologize.
Apologize?
If he apologized, it would amount to the victim taking the initiative to excuse those scions, asking everyone not to hold them accountable for their crimes.
Would his uncle gain some recognition from this?
-or was there some other benefit?
Shen Ye picked up the pineapple juice on the table, took a sip, and said unhurriedly:
"I remember what happened when I was little. I don't think I offended anyone."
"-Perhaps you could name a few incidents, Uncle? Who were they? How did I offend them? When did it happen?"
"You don't need to concern yourself with all that. Just do as I say when the time comes," Shen Shuopeng said sternly.
Shen Ye smiled silently.
If he hadn't known the truth, he might really have believed he had offended someone.
If he had bullied someone in the past, and his family intervened now to have him apologize to avoid trouble, he would have been willing to say he was sorry.
But-
Now he knew the truth.
They still wanted to fool him?
Not a chance.
"Uncle," Shen Ye said, choosing his words, "there's a problem here. Unless it's resolved, I simply can't follow your instructions."
"What is it? Is this about the Marrow-Replenishing Pill? Hmph. So young, and you haven't learned anything else, but you've certainly learned quickly how to chase profit," Shen Shuopeng sneered.
"It's not that. There's a question on my mind, and it's been preventing me from obeying your orders this whole time," Shen Ye said.
"What question?" Shen Shuopeng said.
Shen Ye asked cautiously, "Who the hell do you think you are?"
"Shen Ye, I'm warning you. Don't make me do this the hard way," the voice on the other end snapped.
"You seem to think pretty highly of yourself," Shen Ye said with a laugh. "Since you're so capable, why don't you go wag your tail and beg those people yourself?"
Shen Shuopeng paused, then said in surprise, "You know?"
"What do I know?" Shen Ye said in an astonished tone. "Uncle, are you really going to shake your ass in front of those people?"
"You don't get a say in this. Do you think you can defy your grandfather's decision?" Shen Shuopeng said.
The call abruptly ended.
The corner of Shen Ye's mouth twitched. After some thought, he called his mother, Zhao Xiaoshang. He mentioned nothing else, only saying that his uncle had called to ask how he was doing.
To his surprise, Zhao Xiaoshang's angry voice immediately came through the receiver:
"Hmph! We went back hoping to ask for a Marrow-Replenishing Pill, and he gave us a scolding and wouldn't even let us through the Shen Family's gates. As if he'd care about you!"
"Don't answer his calls again!"
Things became a little clearer to Shen Ye.
He comforted his mother, then chatted with her about everyday matters. Only after her mood improved did he hang up.
He wasn't going to concern himself with the Shen Family's affairs ever again.
Even if they begged him, he wouldn't go back!
His phone suddenly rang again.
"Hello?"
"Hello," a girl's voice came through the receiver with a soft laugh. "I'm Yan Qiuling from Southeastern Phoenix Island. I'm sure you've heard of our Yan Family."
"Ah, of course. You're a famous great family. Everyone knows you-what can I do for you?" Shen Ye asked.
"Shen Ye, right? I'd like to invite you to my Midnight Party. There are quite a few girls here, and everyone wants to meet you." The girl was still smiling as she spoke.
"That wouldn't be very appropriate. It's already so late. It isn't convenient for me to go out," Shen Ye said.
"It's fine. Just do me this favor. I'll send a Flying Shuttle to pick you up," Yan Qiuling said in a tone that brooked no argument.
"No, we boys can't just go out at night. We need to protect ourselves. Thanks for the offer. Bye."
Click.
The call ended.
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Shen Ye's mouth.
-Xiao Mengyu had said the matter had already been exposed.
These great families had the best sources of information. They must have learned about the whole affair, which was why a girl from one of those families had called him.
"The man Song Qingyun wanted to marry."
They were merely curious and wanted to see what sort of person he was.
Really, when it came down to it, if you wanted to invite someone you had never met to a party, shouldn't you prepare and notify them in advance?
Anyone who called you over at the last minute generally didn't respect you.
-Except for truly close buddies.
The phone rang again.
"Hello?"
Another female voice rang out. "You really snubbed Sister Yan. Do you have any idea what a blessing-"
"That's not it," Shen Ye said quietly, sounding aggrieved. "There are so many women there. I'm afraid you'll get me drunk, have your way with me, then point at my beautiful, muscular body and say, 'Look, that's the guy.'"
The person on the other end froze.
Shen Ye hung up again.
He switched off his phone.
He stretched, stood up, and slowly began loosening his body.
-Strength was what mattered most.
They fucking wanted to put him on display, did they? If he were "Calamity," would they still dare order him to come like that?
A thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.
That Special Event-
"If the evaluation entry you obtain next time is still the green entry 'One of Us,' you can obtain the Special Honor Entry 'An ordinary person who has exceptionally obtained the same evaluation entry three times in a row.'" "This honor entry will trigger a powerful resonance, summoning a Hidden Ability." "You have one and only one chance to obtain this Hidden Ability."
Hidden Ability.
Shen Ye repeated the words inwardly, letting out a deep sigh.
Was there really anything so wonderful in this world as being able to sit at home and eliminate every enemy?
No!
He had even faced the "Skinner" himself.
If he hadn't gone then, Xiao Mengyu would surely have been defeated and killed. Nothing would have been exposed, and things would never have reached this point.
So what he needed to do most right now was improve his strength.
Whether he was resisting his family's arrangements or killing those scions to avenge all the innocent people and himself, he needed power!
-Power to sweep away everything!!!
It seemed he had to make an attempt and see whether he could obtain this Hidden Ability.
"Gate."
A door silently appeared before Shen Ye.
Unlike before, lines of faintly glowing text gradually appeared on it:
"7 minutes until midnight." "The first time you enter the Gate on a new day, you will obtain an evaluation entry." "You currently have a chance to obtain a special Hidden Ability." "Requirement:" "Obtain the evaluation entry 'One of Us' for the third time." "As you have already obtained the evaluation entry 'One of Us' twice, you will receive certain 'Key Reminders' during your actions."
"Remember, this is your only chance to obtain this hidden ability!"
7 minutes.
After a moment's thought, Shen Ye opened the refrigerator, put some food and drinks into the Ring, and began to wait quietly.
Time passed swiftly.
The clock on the wall chimed.
-Midnight had arrived!
Shen Ye pushed open the Gate and stepped through, instantly appearing in a dense forest.