Chapter 317: Goodbye, Aunt An Zhiyue!
Just then, a heroic voice rang out, cutting through the serene atmosphere of the valley like a blade.
Ye Linyuan looked in the direction of the voice, and his eyes immediately lit up with the predatory gleam of a hunter spotting new prey.
Another great beauty.
Walking towards them was a woman clad in a grey-green combat uniform that hugged her athletic figure in all the right places. She radiated a heroic spirit, her posture straight and commanding. Her face was cold and beautiful, possessing a sharp, dangerous charm like a female leopard on the prowl. Her beauty was not the gentle, nurturing kind; it was fierce, captivating, and demanded submission.
Her charm was not inferior to his Senior Sister, just different—fire to Pei Changli's ice.
Pei Changli saw Ye Linyuan's eyes gleaming with that familiar, lecherous light. She shook her head almost imperceptibly, a sigh trapped in her throat. She knew this Junior Brother of hers too well. Then, she spoke, her voice calm but carrying an undeniable authority:
"Ye Linyuan, your temperament is different from mine; you can't endure loneliness and can't cultivate in the deep valley. The mortal dust clings to your heart."
"Even staying here won't be good for your cultivation. You need to enter the world to temper your Dao heart."
"Leave the valley, find your other six Senior Sisters. They are scattered across the world, waiting for you. And only return to me after you Breakthrough to the Heavenly Human Unity realm. Until then, do not step foot in this valley again."
"Also, I've found you a job!"
At this point, Pei Changli's gaze turned to the heroic and cold woman standing beside her, introducing her with a rare tone of respect:
"This is An Zhiyue, the General Instructor of the Yanxia Phoenix Special Forces and a high-ranking member of the Special Department. Her code name is 'Phoenix'."
"When Master was still alive, she participated in the formation of the Yanxia Special Department and was one of its founders. Her contributions to the country are immeasurable."
"I also used to work in the Yanxia Special Department for a time. It is a good place to hone your skills."
"You can go out and gain some experience under her guidance."
An Zhiyue's cold face showed a rare smile, softening the sharp angles of her features. She looked at Pei Changli with genuine warmth and nostalgia.
"Working with Fairy Pei back then was a truly unforgettable experience. Those were the golden days."
An Zhiyue held great admiration for Pei Changli. This Female Sword Immortal at the Heavenly Human Unity level was a legend. She respectfully called her 'Fairy' not just out of politeness, but out of recognition of her transcendent power.
If there were a ranking in the Yanxia Martial Arts World and even the entire world, Pei Changli would undoubtedly be at the pinnacle—a proud Child of Destiny in her own right, achieving Heavenly Human Unity at a young age, standing shoulder to shoulder with Martial Dao giants and on equal footing with figures like An Zhiyue's father, the war god of the military.
Her sword Dao talent was unparalleled, her heart pure as a mirror.
However... An Zhiyue turned her gaze to Ye Linyuan. Her smile vanished instantly, replaced by a scrutinizing coldness.
Ye Linyuan's eyes darted slyly between her and Pei Changli's faces. He was clearly comparing them, undressing them with his eyes. There was a frivolous air about him that rubbed her the wrong way.
An Zhiyue frowned, a vertical line appearing between her brows. She had just overheard their conversation before stepping out: Ye Linyuan had attempted to peep at Pei Changli bathing. And though he never succeeded due to Pei Changli's vigilance, he remained unrepentant, treating it as a game.
This left her with a very poor impression. A martial artist should have integrity. This boy seemed to have none.
Is this guy really reliable? Can I trust him with national secrets?
As if sensing An Zhiyue's doubt and disdain, Ye Linyuan chuckled. He flipped his hair back with a confident, almost arrogant flair.
"Sister An, don't look at me like that. I'm actually very capable."
He took a step closer, invading her personal space. "How about this? Let's make a bet. If I can defeat you within ten moves, or if I complete a mission you deem impossible... If I win, you become my wife, how about it?"
The audacity!
An Zhiyue's Phoenix brows rose sharply. Her pretty face frosted over, her eyes turning into shards of ice. She was about to flatly refuse, to reprimand him for his insolence. She was a General Instructor, a woman of high status!
But looking at Ye Linyuan's grinning expression, seeing the strange confidence in his eyes, she inexplicably felt a surge of nameless anger mixed with a bizarre challenge. Her mental defenses, usually impenetrable, wavered.
A strange fog seemed to cloud her judgment. Why not? a voice whispered in her mind. Teach him a lesson. Put him in his place. Bet with him.
As if possessed, she parted her red lips, the words of agreement forming on her tongue.
With her strength, dealing with this immature little pervert, Ye Linyuan, wouldn't be difficult, would it? She reasoned internally, trying to justify the sudden impulse. With the help of her nephew Shen Anyu's hundred-year Zhu Fruit and many Medicinal Pills, her cultivation and strength had also reached Grandmaster Peak. She was not far from the Heavenly Human Unity level herself.
She opened her mouth to say "Okay."
Ding-a-ling!
Just then, the shrill ring of her encrypted satellite phone shattered the strange atmosphere. It cut through the fog in her mind like a lightning bolt.
An Zhiyue, who was about to agree, started. She looked down at the phone clipped to her belt. The caller ID displayed a familiar name.
It was Shen Anyu calling.
She was slightly surprised. Shen Anyu rarely called her at this time. She swallowed the words of agreement, turned away from Ye Linyuan, and walked over to a quieter spot to answer it.
"An'yu? Is something wrong?"
[Ding! Child of Destiny Ye Linyuan is annoyed. Plundered +9999 Destiny Value.]
...
Ye Linyuan saw this scene and slapped his thigh in frustration.
"Whose call is it? Damn it! Ruining my great plan!" he exclaimed angrily. He had been so close. He could feel her wavering. That bet was his golden ticket to conquering this military beauty!
At this moment, Pei Changli gave Ye Linyuan a cold look. The air temperature around them seemed to drop by ten degrees.
"Ye Linyuan, stop messing around! An Zhiyue is a distinguished guest and your future superior. Show some respect."
Ye Linyuan rubbed his nose sheepishly, mumbling under his breath, and said nothing more. But his eyes still lingered on An Zhiyue's back, full of regret.
A few minutes later, An Zhiyue finished her call and walked back. Her expression was clearer now, the strange impulse completely gone. She looked at Ye Linyuan with renewed clarity—and renewed distaste.
Pei Changli, unaware of the internal shift, explained to An Zhiyue:
"Zhiyue, this useless Junior Brother of mine actually has some strength. Don't let his appearance fool you. Even ordinary Heavenly Human Unity level experts can contend with him and not fall behind. He has mastered the Nine Heavens Sword Art."
An Zhiyue was somewhat unconvinced. A Grandmaster fighting a Heavenly Human? That was a legend.
But then she remembered Shen Anyu's earlier call.
"Auntie, I had a bad dream. I dreamt you made a rash bet with a strange man and got entangled in trouble. My divination says your recent Luck is volatile. Please be careful. Don't agree to anything rash."
Shen Anyu's voice had been so concerned, so sincere. And Shen Anyu had never been wrong before. His intuition was terrifyingly accurate.
After thinking about it, the proud An Zhiyue decided to listen to Shen Anyu's words. Her nephew was always looking out for her.
She looked at Ye Linyuan and said coldly, "I am not interested in bets. And I am certainly not interested in becoming anyone's wife."
She did not agree to Ye Linyuan's bet.
After all, Shen Anyu wouldn't harm her.
Ye Linyuan secretly cursed his bad Luck, endlessly complaining in his heart about the person who had coincidentally called to disrupt things. Who was it? Some boyfriend? No, she seemed single. A relative?
After this incident, An Zhiyue's impression of Ye Linyuan worsened significantly. He was not just frivolous; he was a troublemaker.
She said with a cold face, her tone strictly professional:
"Fairy Pei, out of consideration for past favors and our friendship, I will help introduce your Junior Brother, Ye Linyuan, into the Yanxia Special Department. But he will start from the bottom."
Ye Linyuan completely disregarded An Zhiyue's cold face. His skin was thicker than a city wall. He grinned, showing his white teeth.
"Sister An, can I work with you? Join the Fire Phoenix Special Forces or something? I hear the uniforms are... striking."
An Zhiyue coldly and unceremoniously refused:
"No. The Fire Phoenix Special Forces are all female; they do not accept male members. Ever."
Ye Linyuan's eyes darted around, shining brighter than before. All females? That made him even more eager to join. A garden of flowers!
Especially with a great beauty like An Zhiyue, who was on par with his Senior Sister Pei Changli...
"Ye Linyuan, you want to be my Aunt's husband? We'll see if you have the destiny for it!"
...
Thousands of miles away, in a luxury villa in Modu.
Shen Anyu watched this scene through the holographic projection from the nanometer monitoring robot. He swirled a glass of red wine, his eyes cold and calculating.
"Something's not right."
"Although Aunt is proud, she is also a cautious person. She has survived countless missions by being level-headed. Logically, she wouldn't rashly fall for such a low-level provocation and agree to such an unreliable bet with a stranger."
Then, Shen Anyu pondered, a cold sneer forming on his lips.
"Ye Linyuan... this Child of Destiny, with millions of Destiny Value... it seems the Protagonist Halo is too powerful. It acts like a passive aura of stupidity on everyone around him."
"It was suppressing Aunt's Luck."
"Under the suppression of Luck, her senses would be muddled, her mind confused, as if hit by a debuff halo. It forces characters to make foolish actions contrary to their normal behavior just to advance the protagonist's plot."
Many villains, big and small, made stupid mistakes due to being suppressed by Luck. They would monologue instead of killing, miss easy shots, or make arrogant bets, leading to the protagonist's counterattack and reversal.
Not only villains, but even righteous characters and heroines often found themselves admiring and favoring the protagonist due to Luck suppression. The "Brain-Dead Halo" was terrifying.
Fortunately, Shen Anyu was a Destined Villain. He had his own system, his own destiny. He was capable of resisting the Protagonist Halo and remained unaffected by Luck suppression.
"He's really causing trouble... trying to poach my family?"
Shen Anyu watched Aunt An Zhiyue's cold, beautiful face through the screen and shook his head.
Luckily, he had also placed a nanometer monitoring robot on Aunt An Zhiyue for her protection, discovering this scene in time and preventing the bet.
Otherwise, Aunt An Zhiyue might have suffered a loss.
Although both were Grandmaster Peak, a Child of Destiny was accustomed to fighting above their level. They had hidden cards, explosive techniques, and sudden breakthroughs. Aunt An Zhiyue would definitely not be Ye Linyuan's opponent in a duel fueled by plot armor. She would have lost, and then been bound by the bet.
As soon as he thought of this—of Ye Linyuan getting his hands on An Zhiyue—a hint of killing intent flashed in Shen Anyu's eyes. The temperature in the room dropped.
"Since you want to play with fire, I'll give you an inferno."
...
After that, there were no further complications in the valley.
At Pei Changli's request, Ye Linyuan reluctantly left the deep valley, carrying a small bundle and his sword. He then enthusiastically followed An Zhiyue to a secret base in a desert Gobi to join the Special Department, fantasizing about his new harem life.
However, An Zhiyue dropped him off at the entrance of a remote desert outpost.
"Report in there. Good luck."
After completing this task, An Zhiyue disappeared as if shaking off a fly. She didn't even look back.
Ye Linyuan chuckled, watching An Zhiyue's departing figure disappearing into the dust.
"Sister An, playing hard to get? I like it. I'll find you to play again when I have time; for now, I'm going to find my other six Senior Sisters."
"Master said when she was alive that all seven Senior Sisters are peerless beauties capable of toppling kingdoms. I wonder what my other six Senior Sisters are like? Are they gentle? Spicy? Cute?"
Ye Linyuan's eyes were full of longing. He completely disregarded any missions or reporting in. He decided to go AWOL immediately.
He left the secret base located in the desert Gobi, heading into the vast expanse of sand.
With Ye Linyuan's skill, traversing the desert was like walking on flat ground, easy and carefree. He moved like the wind, skimming over the dunes. He quickly covered fifty or sixty li, enjoying the solitude.
"Ah, freedom!" he shouted.
He even saw an oasis in the distance, shimmering in the heat.
"Perfect spot for a rest."
He stepped onto a flat piece of ground between two large dunes.
Boom!
The next moment, the world turned white.
A violent explosion roared from beneath his feet. Flames shot into the sky, kicking up tens of tons of dust and sand that flew in all directions like shrapnel. The shockwave distorted the air for hundreds of meters.
"Damn it! Who buried so much explosive underground?!"
Ye Linyuan, protected by a Martial Dao True Essence shield that flickered into existence instantly, burst out from the flames and dust. He was coughing, his face blackened with soot, furious.
He thought he was simply unlucky and had just stepped on an old ammunition depot or a minefield in the desert.
"Holy crap!"
But the next moment, Ye Linyuan's expression suddenly changed from anger to genuine alarm.
He saw dozens of fierce gusts of wind from all directions. It wasn't natural wind. It was distinct, sharp Killing Intent manifested as wind blades. Like long hurricanes, they swirled up countless dust and sand, sweeping towards him with the intent to shred him.
And that wasn't all!
Several li away, emerging from the optical camouflage of the dunes, gleaming metal cannon barrels rose from the sand like the heads of iron snakes.
Modern artillery.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The ground shook rhythmically. Hundreds of cannonballs slammed towards Ye Linyuan's direction, creating a curtain of death.
Kicking up dozens of meters of smoke and dust, blotting out the sun.
This was not an accident. This was a carefully orchestrated ambush, designed to kill a cultivator with overwhelming firepower.
After the smoke and dust gradually dispersed, a huge crater appeared in the original spot. It was at least five or six meters deep, with reddish sand turned into glass and many crystalline substances formed by high temperatures, as well as jagged fragments of cannonballs.
Ye Linyuan himself seemed to have been blown to smithereens. There was no sign of him.
The vast desert area returned to tranquility. The wind began to smooth over the crater.
One minute passed.
Two minutes.
Three minutes...
Two and a half hours later. The sun was beginning to dip.
Seven or eight meters deep into the sand at the bottom of the pit, a hand suddenly broke the surface. Then a head poked out, gasping for air.
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey..."
Ye Linyuan spat out the sand that had accidentally gotten into his mouth. He looked like a sand demon, his eyes burning with rage.
"Where's the mastermind?" he muttered angrily, scanning the horizon. "Come out and face me!"
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