Chapter 53 - Role Playing the Dark Horse Character

Chapter 53: Please Do Not Speak Ill in Person A phantom crow alighted upon the branch, its form rippling and distorting until it gradually took on a human shape. Standing amidst the thicket about a hundred meters behind the four, a young man in a black parka appeared with a taciturn expression, eyes lowered as he regarded the farcical scene ahead. An ice-blue pendant swayed amidst the hair. Li Li leaned against the trunk, feigning disinterest though clearly engrossed. "Hei Ge, abandoning your abilities to fight me with just technique was a mistake, but I admire your resolve to let your fists do the talking!" declared the burly stranger, hair black, body muscular, yet his waist surprisingly slender. His fists clenched, ready to attack, clad in a loose, deep-red martial garb. "My name is Yan Changxiao, an unknown bystander, honored to have a bout with you." He seemed to have completely misunderstood Yi Ming’s reason for not using illusions, attributing it to Yi Ming’s decision to engage in a showdown of martial prowess. "Then, until one of us falls completely, let us continue this fight!" He swung his fist forward. Yi Ming's gaze sharpened. Gently pushing aside Tang, who had largely healed him, his arms transformed into metal to shield against the incoming punch. The metallic clanging resounded with distortion as Yi Ming gritted his teeth, stepping back to divert Yan Changxiao's fist sideways, evading a head-on clash. His visage, having shed its baby fat, retained a serene azure gaze. Opting against futile arguments, he seemed resolved to meet force with force instead. From a distance, Li Li pondered for a moment. She didn’t recognize the face, but the name Yan Changxiao struck a chord. She recalled hearing about him from Le Caile. A renowned bounty hunter in the Four-Way City’s Ability Guild, famous for seeking battles with strong adversaries. If the C-rank Qu member she encountered was a murder fanatic, then Yi Ming was dealing with a complete battle maniac. Issuing challenges to formidable ability users, losing oneself in combat, willing to risk everything in pursuit of a fight. Le Caile had mentioned that many avoided fighting him because he never held back. She could deduce what had transpired: An Huyu was probably convinced Yi Ming was 'Hei Ge,' and that name caught Yan Changxiao's ear, triggering this conflict. As the protagonist of a manga, Yi Ming often encountered trouble; without conflict, the manga would lack content. Le Caile had mentioned this person once challenged Yue Lan but was turned down. This guy was likely an A-rank ability user. Li Li narrowed her eyes slightly, musing: This might be a bit tough for the little corgi. Luckily, Yan Changxiao seemed disinclined to use abilities. If it was purely a martial duel, Yi Ming wouldn’t be obliterated immediately. Her gaze swept past An Huyu, ultimately resting on the two hurling punches at each other. It seemed prudent to stay a while longer. Besides... Li Li thought to herself that it had been some time since she last appeared in the manga. Yan Changxiao’s A-rank punches, rife with force, sheared off the tops of nearby shrubs. Tang retreated several steps from the battle’s epicenter, ending up by the stone pedestal where An Huyu hid. "Did you do it on purpose?" Tang asked tensely, her focus shifting with Yi Ming’s movements, as she interrogated An Huyu. Behind the stone, An Huyu seemed bewildered: "Huh? Did what on purpose?" "Why did you think Yi Ming is Hei Ge?" Tang pressed directly. An Huyu paused before responding, "Because he’s chasing that person." He meant Baime, though Tang took it as referring to 'Li.' Tang laughed spitefully, "Just for that? Couldn’t it be for family reunion?" Amidst the fray, Yi Ming failed to dodge, taking a solid punch from Yan Changxiao. Blood spewed from his mouth. Watching the near overpowered exchange, An Huyu shrank back. "...Did I really misidentify?" he murmured, bemused. Tang ignored him, her eyes fixed on Yi Ming, who appeared increasingly overwhelmed. The gap between A-rank and C-rank was vast; even if Yan Changxiao refrained from using abilities and Yi Ming employed his to defend himself, the disparity remained insurmountable. One strike could spell a lethal wound. Taking a deep breath, Tang seized an opening, darting forward. Her ability's emerald aura, mirroring her beautiful green eyes, spiraled through the air toward Yi Ming ahead. The distance was great. In the fierce wind, Tang closed one eye, gritting her teeth as she stretched out her hand. Meanwhile, Yi Ming staggered backward from the gale force. Tang's touch reached his back, enveloping him in warm, green radiance. His severely damaged organs began healing under her ability. "As an illusionist, you're truly feeble," commented Yan Changxiao, redirecting his initial kick from Yi Ming, "Don’t just join the fray, lass. Forget it, I don’t beat down the weak or non-combatants." The A-rank’s kick created a razor-like breeze, its mere force slicing through the pedestal. Its redirected course led directly to where An Huyu was positioned! With no chance to evade, An Huyu’s eyes widened as the pedestal split, fragments hurtling toward him! Recalling his promise to An Huyu, Li Li initially moved to intervene. Yet, within moments, she nonchalantly resumed her stance. Debris floated briefly in the air amidst impact; blood splattered in droplets. As if in slow motion. All reflected in An Huyu’s golden eyes. "Cough." Yi Ming spat out blood. Then time resumed; Yi Ming rolled aside with An Huyu, both tumbling over. Expensively adorned, Yi Ming’s outfit gathered dust; stones cut into skin honed by a sheltered upbringing. Propping himself with one hand, Yi Ming contorted his features in pain, yet he suppressed it. "Did I cause you trouble?" An Huyu asked softly from the ground. "Of course," Yi Ming retorted, propping himself upright slowly. “You’re not Hei Ge?” An Huyu probed again. “Obviously not. If I were him, you'd be dead already; don’t you realize that?” Yi Ming replied, eyes sharp toward the approaching Yan Changxiao. “He’s a ruthless fiend; stop looking for him.” Tang jogged over, continuing to heal Yi Ming. Her face began to pale—a cost of repeatedly wielding her ability. She shot An Huyu a venomous glare. Yi Ming regained his footing. Inhaling deeply, he murmured, almost to himself, "Bu Yan never taught me hatred, just to protect myself. Hei Ge says to harbor hatred and become strong. I hate Hei Ge, yet I don’t, as long as Li is okay.” At this point, he smiled innocently, akin to a naively oblivious smiling corgi. “I need to meet him. I won’t fall here today.” He lifted his head, fists clenching resolutely. His gaze, filled with determination, hinted at a rapid maturation from boy to young man within just weeks. "Come on." He declared. Yan Changxiao, momentarily uninterested, reignited with enthusiasm, exclaiming, “Whether you’re Hei Ge or not, I admire you, young one!” His attack held no mercy! Sweat beaded Tang's forehead, her lips turned pallid. She housed a C-rank healing ability—a legacy that needed honing. Equally, her body required conditioning to harness such power. Currently, she couldn’t yet fully embody her C-rank role. “Get out of here! Stop getting in the way!” Tang grasped An Huyu’s hand, attempting to pull him along. But her strength was limited, only managing to shift An Huyu from lying to sitting. Lowering his head, the red-haired youth blankly observed his torn trousers, his scraped knees exposed beneath red streaks. “Both times, big brother didn’t care for me,” he suddenly realized, “He truly doesn’t anymore.” Tang, clueless as to his musings, fixated on Yi Ming. “I’m so weak; they were right. I’m just trash.” An Huyu hung his head low, tears dribbling down to stain expensive cloth, “I don’t want to trouble big brother, but he’s ignoring me now. I can’t do anything on my own. You’re younger than me, yet even you surpass me.” Tang spun around in fury, hair arcing through the air: “Then do something untrashy! Depend on your brother, and you’ll stay a loser forever!” "No one will always be your crutch!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling. "No one." An Huyu's quivering shoulders abruptly went still. The force of the wind from punches spread across the clearing, even occasionally reaching Li Li in the treetop. It was as if she was seated in a VIP spot, spectating this theatrical display. A shounen manga, she mused—brimming with passion, friendship, adventure. A sharp gust swept past, lightly swaying her blue pendant. A false yet beautiful world. Even with his arm turned to metal, Yi Ming struggled to withstand Yan Changxiao's blows, retreating as resolve burned unwaveringly in his eyes. He attempted to deflect Yan Changxiao's gusts of fists, crossing his arms and relying on his own hard-earned physical skills. He grasped the art of countering force with finesse, using softness to overcome hardness. "I'm truly regretful to encounter you now," Yan Changxiao suddenly remarked. His muscular right arm swelled, veins trailing from shoulder to clench. "You have the rare talent to comprehend techniques mid-battle. Given time, you'd become a formidable foe even for me," he stated, before his fists smashed into Yi Ming’s metal-coated arms. "But at this moment, my strength can still dismantle your technique!" Yi Ming was flung away, the immense force causing him to spit blood. He staggered back with the aftershock, eventually colliding against a robust tree trunk. Yan Changxiao straightened, his neck cracking as he stepped forward. "Victory in battle must be forged from blood. Regrettably, I will kill you today." From the tree, Li Li's face chilled and her gaze sharpened. No wonder many dreaded fighting him. In this man’s arena, the only way out was by the death of one party. Even aware he'd misidentified his target, he intended to see this bloody misunderstanding through to the end. In her vicinity, the shadow of a long blade took form. She drew the dagger strapped to her thigh, fixing her gaze on the man below, allowing a whisper of murderous intent to slip through. Yet Yan Changxiao seemed oblivious, pressing forward and raising his foot. Yi Ming, blood trailing down his forehead, slowly lifted his head as he braced against the ground. In nearly an instant, Li Li raised her hand, and Yan Changxiao powered his leg for a lethal kick aimed to snap Yi Ming’s neck. "I’m a non-combatant!" A figure interposed itself between them. "You said—said you wouldn't kill those without abilities, right?" An Huyu cried softly, back to Yan Changxiao, standing as a shield for Yi Ming. The interruption indeed halted Yan Changxiao. His leg stopped in front of An Huyu’s waist and stomach, though the force still grazed An Huyu, pushing him aside. An Huyu paled, gritted his teeth, and dug his heels in, stubbornly maintaining his stance despite the pain. "I might be weak, but I'm a noble with pride!" he wept. "I'll take responsibility for my mistakes!" His actions visibly reflected his resolve! Yan Changxiao, caught off guard by this unexpected turn, hesitated. As the injuries spread, Yi Ming watched this tear-streaked boy before him. Suddenly, he braced against the ground, slipping past An Huyu. His arm transformed into a long blade, and he lunged in that moment of Yan Changxiao’s stupefaction; the blade pierced into Yan Changxiao’s side from the flank. The weapon withdrew just as swiftly. Leaves seemed to freeze in the air, resuming their dance with the spray of red. At that moment, Yi Ming said, "The blood has been spilled." His blue eyes locked onto Yan Changxiao’s, "Can you accept your victory now?" He was echoing Yan Changxiao's words: ‘Victory must be forged from blood.’ Yi Ming stood with guarded intensity, tightly shielding the whimpering An Huyu behind him. It was as if the wind paused. Finally, Yan Changxiao lowered his leg. He retreated a few steps, ignoring his wound, laughing, "Out of technicality, you're right, you've swayed me." Yan Changxiao conceded! "But, young ones," he continued, pointing at Tang who rushed in to aid them, "What are your names?" Yi Ming remained vigilant, "Yi Ming." Tang, uninterested in responding, stayed silent, but Yi Ming named her while An Huyu tearfully blurted out his own. "I'll remember all of you. Come challenge me again when you reach my level," he said, turning his back, his thumb raised in sudden approval. "I have faith in you all." With that, he walked past them, gradually fading from view. It felt like this inexplicable battle was conclusively over. "...Who needs your trust," Tang huffed, her pale face turning to watch him leave. And a tearful An Huyu: "Really? Really? Am I not that useless!" He looked quite elated, only to be jostled by a painful wince, resuming his sobbing. Yi Ming observed him for a bit, unable to suppress a smile, "Thanks for before." Hearing this, An Huyu brightened, "You’re Yi Ming, right! Did I really manage to help just now?" "Without your intervention, distracting that guy, I'd have never found the chance to land a blow," Yi Ming replied earnestly. Tang snorted, turning her head, "I still don't like you." An Huyu was ecstatic, "I don’t need your liking—ouch!" "Don’t rile up the healer while being treated!" Tang reprimanded fiercely, hands working with a vengeance. The camaraderie of youth remained untainted. Li Li cast a deep gaze upon them before disappearing along Yan Changxiao’s trail through the treetops. She thought Yan Changxiao must have sensed her animosity back then. Once Li Li confirmed she was out of sight, she walked away. Sure enough, as she arrived at the park’s exit, she found Yan Changxiao. He leaned against the stone post of the park's railing, arms crossed, highlighting his chest muscles. "Hold on," he said. Li Li's face remained still, like a dead pool’s surface, not acknowledging his words. Yan Changxiao turned, looking directly at her. “I know you, Li Baige,” he stated. Li Li had no intention to converse, her ice-cold demeanor distancing herself as she continued walking. She could almost predict what he would say next, and her answer would remain no. Li Li enjoyed refusing distasteful propositions. Yan Changxiao, oblivious to her thoughts, went on, "After suddenly appearing some time ago, taking on nearly half of the bounty missions, tirelessly, like a new type of android." That was the ability in play. "You’re heralded as Four-Way City’s strongest bounty hunter; that’s what they all say," Yan Changxiao declared, stating his evident intent. These were mere rumors. Li Li found them increasingly exaggerated, though she didn’t mind much. “Li Baige, have a duel with me,” Yan Changxiao finally proposed. The black-haired youth in the hooded coat seemed not to hear, coldly relentless in his pacing, the blue pendant his sole lively trait amidst his somber demeanor. As if a locked, emotionless box—with the swirling blue as its single key—awaited. Watching the black-haired youth’s indifferent side pass, Yan Changxiao suddenly spoke, “You’re quite concerned about that boy?” He heard the key click, softly turning a notch. Yet the frosty, ice-like youth didn’t halt, though an involuntary twitch in his fingertips betrayed internal turmoil. Like a man walking unwaveringly toward his doom. Yan Changxiao recalled the boy's words from earlier. As long as Li is well—was Li referring to Li Baige? What does Li Baige truly intend? The boy named Yi Ming is searching for him, yet he lingers unseen at a distance. Why? Out of concern? Concern for dragging that boy into the whirlpool he might create? "I see." Yan Changxiao chuckled, shoulders shaking, before he raised his head, issuing an official challenge, “Have a duel with me, Li Baige.” He didn’t know the full story behind this person but understood the conviction searing in his molten eyes. “We are the same,” Yan Changxiao remarked. “Choosing to abandon all for a singular belief, venturing alone into hell, where life fuels the fire.” “I recognize your gaze; you won’t refuse me, and I’m willing to wait, Li Baige,” he added. “You won’t reject the call to grow stronger.” Of course, no one answered him. Yet, Yan Changxiao, with self-assured certainty, extended an open invitation, firmly believing that the youth in question would eventually accept. "You’re welcome anytime." Meanwhile, Li Li continued to walk away. Apologies, but she didn’t see the need for a duel where a mage like herself would gain any improvement by battling a close-combat fighter. Though she practiced physical techniques, she lacked the inclination for the bone-crunching style displayed by fighters like Yan Changxiao and Yi Ming. Wrong person to welcome, battle maniac, she mused nonchalantly. [Update target detected and achieved.] [Opening channel for you...] [Welcome back to reality.] ... Due to upcoming final exams, Li Li found it brilliant to meet her manga update requirements in advance, allowing her to skip visiting the manga world for a day or two. The coursework was indeed overwhelming. This time, too, amidst her hectic studying, she only discovered through her roommate's loud shrieks that the manga had updated the previous night. "Aaaaah, my idol!" her roommate howled passionately at noon, shaking her head as if in a frenzy, "I cannot tolerate Hei Ge!" Li Li, groggy and rubbing her temples, set down her formula sheet: "Is it updated already?" It seemed the update did feature Li Baige, but why was Hei Ge being dragged into this? Hei Ge hadn't caused any recent trouble! Could it be related to Yi Ming getting beaten on Hei Ge’s behalf? Li Li pulled out her phone and quickly navigated to the manga app to check the update.