Chapter 53: Please Don’t Badmouth People to Their Faces (Two-in-One)
An illusory crow perched on a branch, its form rippling and gradually transforming into a human.
In the trees a hundred meters behind the four, a youth in a black jacket stood, face impassive, gazing at the farce ahead.
An ice-blue pendant swayed in her hair.
Li Li leaned against the tree trunk, masking her keen interest as mild indifference.
“Heige, abandoning your ability to fight me with only physical techniques was a mistake, but I admire your boldness to speak with your fists!” The unfamiliar burly man had black hair, a well-built frame with developed muscles and pecs, but a surprisingly slim waist.
His arm muscles tensed as he raised his fists in an attack stance, wearing loose, deep-red martial arts clothing. “I’m Yan Changxiao, a nobody, deeply honored to fight you.”
He seemed to completely misunderstand why Yiming wasn’t using illusions, attributing it to Yiming wanting a physical duel.
“So, until one of us is completely down, let’s keep fighting!” He swung his fist.
Yiming’s eyes sharpened.
He gently pushed Tang, who had nearly finished healing him, aside, then metallized his arm, using his forearm to block the fierce punch.
The metal screeched with deformation.
Yiming gritted his teeth, stepping back with his right foot and turning to redirect Yan Changxiao’s fist, avoiding a direct clash.
His face, no longer carrying baby fat, showed calm blue eyes.
He seemed to abandon futile arguments, choosing to fight back.
Watching from afar, Li Li pondered.
She had no memory of this man’s face, but the name Yan Changxiao rang a bell.
She recalled hearing it from Le Caille.
A renowned bounty hunter in Four-Way City’s Ability Guild, famous for loving to fight the strong.
If the C-rank Qu clan member she’d met was a killing maniac, this one was a thorough battle maniac.
He challenged powerful ability users, obsessed with combat, willing to risk everything for a fight, heedless of life or death.
Le Caille had mentioned that many avoided fighting him because he was too relentless.
She could roughly guess what happened.
Likely, An Huyu insisted Yiming was ‘Heige,’ Yan Changxiao overheard, and this conflict erupted.
As the manga’s protagonist, Yiming often ran into trouble—it was normal.
Without trouble, the manga would have no content.
She also recalled Le Caille saying this man had once challenged Yue Lan, though Yue Lan declined.
This guy was likely A-rank.
Li Li narrowed her eyes, thinking: This is a bit tough for Little Corgi.
But luckily, Yan Changxiao seemed uninterested in using abilities.
With just physical techniques, Yiming wouldn’t be instantly crushed.
Her gaze swept over An Huyu nearby, then settled on the two trading blows.
Looked like she’d better stick around a bit longer.
And...
Li Li thought, it had been a while since she’d appeared in the manga.
Yan Changxiao, an A-rank ability user, threw punches that stirred the air, flattening the tops of nearby bushes.
Tang, retreating from the fight’s center, backed up several steps to the stone pier where An Huyu hid.
“Are you doing this on purpose?!” Tang watched the fight nervously, eyes tracking Yiming’s movements, while questioning An Huyu.
An Huyu, crouched behind the pier, didn’t catch on. “Huh? On purpose what?”
"Why do you think Yiming is Heige?" Tang asked sharply, cutting straight to the point.
An Huyu, a beat slower, said, "Because he's chasing that person."
He meant Hundred Faces, but Tang immediately understood it as 'Li'.
Tang was so exasperated she laughed, "Just because of that? Can't it be searching for a relative?"
In the battle ahead, Yiming couldn't dodge in time and took a solid punch from Yan Changxiao.
A mouthful of blood sprayed from his mouth.
Watching the fight, where Yiming was practically being overwhelmed, An Huyu shrank back.
"...Did I really get it wrong?" he murmured, somewhat dazed.
Tang ignored him.
She saw Yiming gradually faltering and realized that if this continued, Yiming would be beaten to death.
The gap between A-rank and C-rank was vast.
Even if Yan Changxiao wasn't using his ability, and Yiming could protect himself with his, the difference was insurmountable.
One hit could be fatal.
She took a deep breath, found an opening, and rushed out.
The emerald glow of her ability, like her beautiful emerald green eyes, swirled in the air as she approached Yiming.
Too far.
In the fierce wind, Tang closed one eye, gritted her teeth, and reached out.
At the same time, Yiming was knocked back by the force of a punch.
Tang's hand touched his back, and instantly, a warm green glow enveloped him.
His severely damaged organs began to heal under the healing ability.
"As an illusionist, you're indeed a bit fragile," Yan Changxiao said.
His kick, originally aimed at Yiming, shifted direction. "Don't just jump into the fight, little girl. Well, I don't hit the old, weak, sick, or non-ability users."
The A-rank ability user's kick stirred a sharp gust.
Even the aftermath of the attack sliced through a stone pillar like a blade.
And the direction he casually shifted to was exactly behind the stone pillar where An Huyu stood!
Unable to escape, An Huyu's eyes widened as the aftermath tore through the pillar, reaching him!
Thinking of her promise to An Heyu, Li Li, watching from the sidelines, was about to act.
The next moment, she stood back calmly, as if nothing had happened.
Shattered stone fragments floated in the air under the impact, and droplets of blood splattered.
It was like slow motion.
An Huyu's golden eyes seemed to reflect it all.
"Cough."
Yiming opened his mouth, spitting out blood.
The next instant, time resumed.
Yiming shielded An Huyu, rolling several times to the side.
His expensive clothes were dirtied with dust, and the gravel on the ground scraped the pampered skin.
Yiming propped himself up with one hand, his face contorted in pain, but he suppressed it.
"Did I cause you trouble?" An Huyu, lying on the ground, asked softly.
"Of course," Yiming said, slowly half-squatting, supporting himself with his hand.
"You're not Heige?" An Huyu asked again.
"Nonsense. If I were him, you'd be dead already, you know?" Yiming turned back, his gaze darkening as he looked at the approaching Yan Changxiao. "That guy's a ruthless killer. Stop looking for him."
Tang ran over, continuing to heal Yiming, but her face grew pale—a cost of frequently using her ability.
She glared fiercely at An Huyu.
Yiming stood up again.
He took a deep breath and said to Yan Changxiao, almost to himself, "Shuang Buyan never taught me hatred. He only said to protect myself. Heige said to hate, to become strong. I hate Heige, but I don't hate him as long as Li is fine."
At this, he showed a pure smile, like a smiling corgi that only remembered treats, not pain.
"I'm going to see him. I won't fall here." He raised his head, tightly clenching his fists.
His eyes were resolute, as if in just a few weeks, he had grown from a boy into a youth.
"Come on," he said.
Yan Changxiao, whose interest had started to wane, reignited with enthusiasm.
He said with surprise, "Whether you're Heige or not, I really like you, kid!"
At the same time, his attacks showed no mercy!
Sweat beaded on Tang's forehead, and her lips turned pale.
She had a C-rank healing ability, but it was inherited.
She needed time to adjust to it, and her body needed to adapt to the powerful ability.
She couldn't yet perform at the level expected of a C-rank ability user.
"Get out of here! Don't be a burden!" Tang grabbed An Huyu's hand, trying to drag him away.
But her strength wasn't great, and she only managed to pull An Huyu from lying to sitting on the ground.
The red-haired youth lowered his head, staring blankly at his torn pants and the red scratches on his knees.
"Both times, big brother didn't look after me," he said, as if suddenly realizing it. "He really isn't looking after me anymore."
Tang didn't know what he was talking about, her gaze fixed on Yiming.
"I'm so weak. They're right—I'm useless," An Huyu said, burying his head deeply. Tears slid from his eyes, dripping onto his expensive clothes as he trembled. "I don't want to trouble big brother, but now he doesn't care about me. I feel like I can't do anything. You're younger than me, but I'm not even as good as you."
Tang whirled around in anger, her black hair arcing through the air. "Then do something that's not useless! If you keep relying on your brother, you'll always be useless!"
"No one will be your support forever!" she said, her lips trembling. "No one."
An Huyu's trembling shoulders suddenly froze.
The force of the punches spread across the flat ground, some even reaching the tree canopy where Li Li stood.
She seemed to be in the VIP section, enjoying the drama.
A shonen manga—hot-blooded, friendship, adventure.
She thought.
A sharp gust swept by, and her blue pendant swayed gently.
A false yet beautiful world.
Even Yiming's metallized arm couldn't withstand Yan Changxiao's attacks.
He was forced back step by step, but the determination in his eyes never wavered.
He tried to deflect Yan Changxiao's punches, raising both arms to shield himself, fighting with the physical techniques he'd honed through trial and error, and even grasping the concept of using the opponent's force against them, overcoming strength with softness.
"It's such a pity, meeting you at this moment," Yan Changxiao suddenly said.
His right arm muscles bulged, veins stretching from his arm to his fist.
"To comprehend techniques in the midst of battle—you're a rare martial genius. If you were allowed to keep growing, you'd surely become an enemy even I would look up to," he said, then slammed his fist into Yiming's metallized arms.
"But now, my strength can directly dismantle your techniques!"
Yiming was sent flying, the massive force of the punch making him spit out another mouthful of blood.
He staggered back in the aftermath, finally bracing against the thick trunk of a decorative tree.
Yan Changxiao straightened, cracked his neck, and stepped forward. "A fight is forged in blood for victory. It's a shame, but I'll kill you today."
From the tree, Li Li's face was cold, her gaze sharpening.
So that's why so many avoided fighting him.
On this man's stage, there was only one way out: one side's death.
Even after realizing he'd mistaken Yiming's identity, he intended to continue this fight born of misunderstanding until death.
The shadow of a long blade materialized beside her.
She drew the dagger strapped to her leg, looking down at the man, a trace of killing intent leaking out.
Yet Yan Changxiao seemed oblivious, stepping closer and raising his foot.
Yiming, propping himself up, blood trickling from his forehead, slowly lifted his head.
In that instant, Li Li raised her hand, and Yan Changxiao's leg muscles tensed, aiming a kick at Yiming's head as if to snap his neck.
"I'm a non-ability user!"
A figure darted between them.
"You said—you said you don't kill non-ability users, right?" An Huyu closed his eyes, sobbing as he stood with his back to Yan Changxiao, shielding Yiming with his body.
And Yan Changxiao was indeed affected.
His leg stopped short before An Huyu's waist, but the aftermath still cut into An Huyu's side.
He tilted left, nearly swept aside.
His face paled, but he gritted his teeth, planting his feet firmly to stay in place.
"Even if I'm weak, I'm still a noble. I have my pride!" he cried out, tears streaming. "If I mess up, I'll take responsibility to the end!"
His actions proved his resolve!
Yan Changxiao was caught off guard by this unexpected twist.
Wounds spread, and Yiming, looking at the boy with tears and snot smeared together, suddenly pushed off the ground, sliding past An Huyu's side.
His arm metallized into a long blade.
In the moment Yan Changxiao was stunned, Yiming lunged, the blade piercing Yan Changxiao's waist from the side.
Then he swiftly pulled it out.
Leaves seemed to freeze in the air, fluttering again as red spilled.
In that instant, Yiming said, "The blood has been shed." He raised his head, blue eyes meeting Yan Changxiao's. "Can you accept your victory now?"
He was referencing Yan Changxiao's claim that "a fight is forged in blood for victory"!
Yiming locked eyes with Yan Changxiao, wary, while steadfastly shielding the whimpering An Huyu behind him.
The wind seemed to still.
Finally, Yan Changxiao lowered his leg.
He stepped back, ignoring the wound at his waist, and laughed. "By your logic, that's true. You've convinced me."
Yan Changxiao acknowledged it!
"But, kids," he said, pointing at Tang, who was rushing to help, "what are your names?"
Yiming stayed cautious. "Yiming."
Tang didn't want to engage and stayed silent, but Yiming gave her name for her.
An Huyu, still crying, stammered his own.
"I'll remember you. When you reach my level, let's fight again," he said, turning and suddenly giving a thumbs-up. "I believe in you."
Then he walked past them, gradually disappearing.
The bizarre fight seemed truly over.
"..." Tang, her face pale, turned to watch him leave. "Who needs your belief?"
An Huyu, still sniffling, said, "Really? Really? I'm not that useless, am I?"
He looked thrilled, but the excitement made his wound throb, and he started crying again.
Yiming watched him for a moment, then smiled. "Thanks just now."
An Huyu beamed. "You're Yiming, right? I—I really made a difference, didn't I?"
"If you hadn't bought time and distracted him, I wouldn't have found the chance to wound him," Yiming said earnestly.
Tang huffed, turning away. "I still don't like you."
An Huyu was overjoyed. "I don't need you to like me—ow!"
"Don't piss off the healer during treatment!" Tang pressed harder, glaring fiercely.
The bonds of youth were always so pure.
Li Li gave them a deep look, then followed Yan Changxiao's path, vanishing into the canopy.
She felt Yan Changxiao hadn't missed the hostile signal she'd sent.
Li Li, ensuring the trio couldn't see her, chose to leave on foot.
As expected, when she reached the park's exit, she saw Yan Changxiao.
He leaned against a stone pillar by the park's fence, arms crossed, his chest muscles more pronounced.
"Wait," he said.
Li Li's face was expressionless, like a stagnant pool, ignoring his words.
Yet Yan Changxiao turned to face her, looking over.
"I know you, Li Baige," he said.
Li Li had no intention of engaging with him, maintaining her icy, unapproachable expression as she walked away.
She could almost predict what he would say next, but her answer would only be no.
Li Li liked to say no to things she disliked.
Unaware of her thoughts, Yan Changxiao continued, "Some time ago, you appeared out of nowhere, taking on nearly half the bounty missions, tireless, like a new model of android."
That was the effect of her ability.
"You're the strongest bounty hunter in Four-Way City. That's what they all say," Yan Changxiao stated, revealing his obvious intent.
That was a rumor.
Li Li found the rumor growing more exaggerated, though she didn't mind.
"Li Baige, fight me," Yan Changxiao finally said.
The black-haired youth in a black hooded jacket seemed to hear nothing, her face stern, steps unhurried as she walked away.
Only the swaying blue pendant showed any hint of life, like the sole spark in a frozen world.
It was as if she were a sealed box, locking away all emotions, with the swaying blue as the key—the only way to open it.
Yan Changxiao stared at the profile of the black-haired youth passing by, then suddenly said, "You care about that boy, don't you?"
He saw the keyhole creak, turning slightly.
But the youth, cold as ice and snow, didn't pause.
Only the sudden twitch of her fingers betrayed the tremor in her heart.
Like someone marching toward a doomed path without looking back.
Yan Changxiao suddenly recalled what the boy had said in front of him.
As long as Li is fine—did he mean Li Baige?
Li Baige... what was this person trying to do?
The boy named Yiming was searching for him, yet he was right there in the background, unwilling to show himself.
Why? Out of worry?
Worried about dragging that boy into the vortex he carried with him?
"I see," Yan Changxiao said, lowering his head with a chuckle, his shoulders shaking.
Then he looked up, issuing an invitation with utmost sincerity. "Fight me, Li Baige."
He didn't know the story behind this person, but he recognized the conviction burning in those magma-like eyes.
"We're the same kind of people," Yan Changxiao said. "Abandoning everything else for a single belief, stepping into hell alone, burning our lives as fuel."
"I know that look in your eyes. You won't refuse me, and I'm willing to wait for you, Li Baige," he said. "You won't refuse the chance to grow stronger."
Of course, no one answered him.
But Yan Changxiao made the invitation on his own, firmly believing that person would eventually accept.
"I'm always ready."
Li Li, meanwhile, continued to leave.
Sorry, she didn't think a mage like her had any need to spar with a close-combat fighter like him to improve.
And while she trained in physical techniques, she had no interest in the brutal, fist-to-fist fighting style of Yan Changxiao and Yiming.
He'd invited the wrong person, Mr. Battle Maniac. She thought casually.
[Update target achievement detected.]
[Opening channel for you...]
[Welcome back to reality.]
...
Due to finals, Li Li was starting to appreciate meeting manga update requirements early, allowing a day or two free from the manga world.
Her coursework was overwhelming.
This time, too, she was so swamped that it was her roommate's scream that alerted her to the manga's update the previous night.
"Aaaah, my male god!" her roommate wailed in the dorm at noon, shaking her head like she was losing it. "I'm at war with Heige!"
Li Li, dazed, put down her formula sheet and rubbed her forehead. "It's already updated?"
The update seemed to feature Li Baige, but why was Heige involved again?
Heige hadn't caused trouble recently, had he?
Was it because Yiming took a beating in Heige's place?
Li Li pulled out her phone, swiping to open the manga app.