Fang Yuan stepped into Hero Square.
The moment she appeared, she quickly became the center of attention.
That was just how it was when you were too famous.
Fang Yuan waved toward the cheering crowd around her, and turning her head, her gaze met Lin Xu’s, who was maintaining order.
Lin Xu pouted her chin in a direction.
Fang Yuan followed her gaze and locked eyes with Wang Wei.
She had changed into the uniform and credentials of the Chief of the Inspectorate, and was currently staring intently at Fang Yuan with furrowed brows.
“Did you do it?” she asked.
Fang Yuan naturally knew what she was asking about, so she grinned at her. “Who knows? Maybe they really did see a god.”
Wang Wei’s expression was complex. Lowering her gaze slightly, she looked at Fang Yuan.
“If you really did it, and if I’m still here when you return, I will still arrest you according to the law.”
“But for now, I wish for you to live. Have a safe journey, Fang Yuan.”
Fang Yuan raised her arm and waved to Wang Wei, who was standing at the very front of the crowd at the edge of the square. “Alright! If I come back one day, I’ll be waiting for your wanted warrant!”
Her gaze swept past Lin Xu and Qi Shan, finally landing on Bai Lingzhi’s face.
“I’m off, everyone!”
She turned around, waving her arm behind her back as she walked toward the center of Hero Square, heading farther and farther away.
One sky-reaching pillar, nine divine statues.
She stood among them with her hands on her hips, turning her gaze slightly until she spotted a familiar face.
Jiang Qiehuo looked to be in quite a good mood.
She was indeed in a good mood.
Exceptionally good.
Her family had learned of Meng Ying’s death from her, as well as the identity of the killer—another Candidate, Fang Yuan.
Jiang Qiehuo had tearfully blamed herself, saying that if she hadn’t slept so soundly that night, she wouldn't have failed to notice Meng Ying leaving, and she could have rushed over to save her before she was killed.
Her parents hadn't blamed her.
Jiang Qiehuo had always yielded to Meng Ying, treating Meng Ying’s needs as her own and giving her the best of everything at the first opportunity.
They even felt a sense of guilt toward her.
Thus, all the love that had once belonged to Meng Ying—mixed with guilt and heartache—was transferred onto her.
Jiang Qiehuo had made them a promise.
She would kill Fang Yuan during the 【God Selection】 to avenge Meng Ying.
Their love for her grew even deeper.
It didn't matter. It didn't matter what that love meant—as long as it was love, that was enough.
For once, Jiang Qiehuo took the initiative to greet Fang Yuan.
As a polite, good kid, Fang Yuan naturally responded to her greeting with enthusiasm and manners.
“Hello there, Jiang Qiehuo! Long time no see! Did you miss me?”
Her loud bellow scared Jiang Qiehuo into instantly putting distance between them, sneaking off in another direction as if she didn't know her at all.
Fang Yuan thick-skinnedly followed after her, immediately followed by the familiar slipping underfoot. Having long gotten used to it, she skillfully executed a backstep in the direction of the slip, but right at the moment she was about to steady herself, a pair of hands grabbed her wrists.
A girl with a hime cut and Polaris-green ear-loop highlights gripped her wrists tightly, fluttering her long, thick, slightly curled eyelashes as she stared brightly at Fang Yuan without uttering a single word.
A mute?
A pretty mute?
The hime-cut, long-lashed pretty mute remained silent, doing nothing but blinking her eyes while exuding charm.
Fang Yuan took her hands in return.
She visibly saw a burst of joyful light flash in the eyes of this hime-cut, long-lashed pretty mute.
And so, with eyes full of utmost sincerity, Fang Yuan responded to the light in her eyes.
“Pretty mute, did an eyelash fall into your eye? Want me to blow on it for you?”
The hime-cut, long-lashed pretty mute: “?”
In an instant, the highlight vanished from her eyes, replaced by a disgusted, idiot-staring glare.
And so, the mute spoke.
“Holy crap, mute your old mother hen! How could a big pretty girl like me be a mute? And you're supposed to be a big star, a Candidate for the God of War? Do all you Candidates for the God of War use your fists instead of your brains? Did a bubble grow in your head, get shoved into your butt, and get blown out with a fart?”
On the other side, a young man with a single sideburn braid seemed to feel targeted by the insinuation, casting a murderous glare in their direction.
Fang Yuan chuckled as she subtly sized both of them up, then threw an arm over the shoulder of the hime-cut, long-lashed pretty girl despite her disgusted look.
“So what’s this pretty girl’s name? I’m Fang Yuan—Fang as in square, Yuan as in wooden yuan! I'm sure you all know me, hehe.”
Ling Chun ducked down, attempting to slip out from under Fang Yuan’s armpit, but Fang Yuan ducked along with her, causing her to slam her head straight into Fang Yuan’s broad chest.
Ling Chun: “...”
Holy moly, I’ve run into a creepy, overly confident pervert.
She pointed a finger at the young man with the single sideburn braid. “That handsome guy is called Jun Xihua. Go harass him and stop disturbing me while I’m doing serious business, you head-bubble!”
Ling Chun tiptoed and threw a headbutt back toward Fang Yuan’s chin. Fang Yuan had originally dodged it, but her feet slipped once again, causing her to ram right into the back of Ling Chun's head.
Thus, the two of them crouched on the ground, one clutching the back of her head, the other holding her chin.
“Hiss! You head-bubble! If I headbutt you, just take it nicely! Why’d you have to headbutt me back?”
Hissing while rubbing the back of her head, Ling Chun caught sight of a new face approaching out of the corner of her eye. She instantly leaped forward and grabbed Liang Du’s wrist.
Liang Du showed not the slightest aversion to her sudden action. Instead, a proper, polite, and gentle smile instantly bloomed across his face. “What’s wrong? Is there anything you need Big Brother Liang’s help with?”
The highlight instantly vanished from Ling Chun’s eyes once again.
She shook off his hand, turned around, and stomped away toward the next person.
Liang Du wasn't annoyed either. He simply called out toward Ling Chun’s retreating back, “Little sister, walk slowly. No rush, don't trip.”
With an air of being exceptionally familiar with Ling Chun, he shook his head with fond doting and helplessness as he watched her hurried back.
Fang Yuan rubbed her chin as she stood up straight. The moment her eyes met Liang Du’s, she took the initiative to speak:
“Why are you so late? Did you cuddle with your boyfriend for too long last night and couldn't get up this morning?”
Jiang Qiehuo: “?”
Ling Chun, who had walked away but heard it because of Fang Yuan’s loud voice: “???”
Jun Xihua, the other Candidate for the God of War who had been targeted by Ling Chun earlier: “¿¿¿¿¿¿¿”
As those words fell, the gazes everyone cast upon Liang Du seemed to instantly fill with "profound respect."
Liang Du’s smile didn't crack in the slightest; if anything, it became even more flawless. “Little sister, Big Brother knows you harbor resentment in your heart. You can say whatever you want about Big Brother. You can even call Big Brother a gigolo and it wouldn't matter at all, as long as it lets you vent your anger. Little sister, Big Brother is willing to do anything.”
Jiang Qiehuo: “???”
Ling Chun, who decided her own business could wait for a bit and turned back: “????”
Jun Xihua, who felt his ears were playing tricks on him and switched to listening with the other ear: “¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿”
Other candidates who had just arrived at the scene: “Baa??? What on earth just flew into my ears?”
Rate on N.U.
