Stepping on the Demoness to become the strongest-Chapter 493 - 89: Xiao Zhou, don’t you also think...
Chapter 493: Chapter 89: Xiao Zhou, don’t you also think…
No matter how the outside world viewed the match, for the cultivators of both teams, the competition was merely a drill.
If they could triumph in the drill, that was naturally the best outcome; even if they lost, as long as they could learn from the experience and reduce the risk of the next actual combat, it wouldn’t be a loss.
Thus, under Deputy Captain Zhang’s guidance, the recently defeated members of the Huofeng Team did not harbor many negative emotions, but instead enthusiastically invited everyone to dine together.
The dinner took place at a restaurant famous for its Sichuan cuisine. The owner was a fan of the Huofeng Team, and he had specially arranged for a private room on the third floor that he wouldn’t let anyone book, reserving it exclusively for the team—it was undeniable true fan devotion.
Everyone settled into their seats in the private room, with Zhao Yuanzhen sitting next to Yan Yu, her gaze firmly fixed on the menu across the table.
Zhang Huaide, exceedingly adept at reading expressions, simply smiled slightly and handed the menu to Yan Yu, saying,
...
“Captain Yan, your team are our guests, please order first.”
“Alright, let me see here,” Yan Yu took the menu leisurely, and began to look it over.
Zhao Yuanzhen leaned in close to his ear and whispered,
“Mouthwatering Chicken Mouthwatering Chicken Mouthwatering Chicken.”
“What’s this signature dish Mouthwatering Chicken,” Yan Yu deliberately commented, “It doesn’t look appetizing. Skip.”
He flipped the page on the menu, and Zhao Yuanzhen, undaunted, continued her devil’s voice prompting:
“Pig’s Trotters with Kidney Beans Pig’s Trotters with Kidney Beans Pig’s Trotters with Kidney Beans.”
“Aren’t trotters a bit too fatty, though? Would they really taste good?” Yan Yu feigned contemplation for a moment, shook his head, and turned another page.
Zhao Yuanzhen was a bit annoyed, holding back anger, and after scanning the third page of the menu, she whispered in a hypnotic tone:
“Spicy Pig’s Intestines Spicy Pig’s Intestines Spicy Pig’s Intestines.”
“Pig’s Intestines look alright I suppose, but I’m afraid they might not be cleaned properly.” Yan Yu flipped yet another page.
Zhao Yuanzhen’s eyes flashed fiercely as she gritted her teeth and said,
“Give me the menu, give me the menu, give me the menu—just hand me the menu!”
“Ah, I can’t decide,” Yan Yu still wanted to tease her, but it wouldn’t be appropriate to expose their private matters in front of the Huofeng Team members watching, so he handed the menu to the enchantress and said, “You choose, but don’t order too much.”
“Hmph!” Zhao Yuanzhen instantly deflated, snatching the menu into her hands and looking at the pictures of the dishes, she began to sway happily from side to side.
Seeing Sister Zhao this playful, not only did the girls from the Zhenhai Team fail to hold back their chuckles, but even the men from the Huofeng Team smiled pleasantly.
Only Tang Xiaolian and Zhou Hongyu were without smiles—the former exchanged glances with Zhang Huaide, seemingly communicating through voice transmission, while the latter played with her phone out of boredom.
Suddenly, Zhou Hongyu stood up, saying,
“I need to step out for a bit.”
“Sure.” Qin Meng quickly made way for her.
Yan Yu did not give the matter much thought, but Tang Xiaolian soon transmitted a message to him, saying,
“Captain Yan, I sneaked a look—it’s a message from Captain Zhou’s mother.”
“What’s it about?” Yan Yu asked.
“It seems she’s asking her for money,” Tang Xiaolian voiced her concern.
“Captain Yan.” Zhang Huaide also sent a voice transmission, “Regarding Captain Zhou’s situation, can you help out?”
“How can I help?” Yan Yu replied, “This is something you should take up with the leaders of the Pingxi Army.”
“Every family has its own difficult scripture to chant,” Zhang Huaide replied, “Captain Zhou does not want outsiders to meddle in her family matters, and the leaders have to respect her wishes in this regard.”
“Am I not an outsider?” Yan Yu asked curiously.
“You are an outsider,” Zhang Huaide did not sugarcoat his words but honestly said, “But, Captain Yan, you have no reservations.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you’re not afraid of offending Captain Zhou,” Zhang Huaide replied helplessly, “I still have to get along in the Huofeng Team.”
The word “get along” seemed to carry so much bitterness that Yan Yu stood up with a smile and addressed everyone,
“You all start eating, I’ll be back in a little while.”
The ladies had no objections, but Su Yunjin and Chen Lingyun slightly guessed what was happening. As the former was about to speak, she suddenly received another voice transmission from the latter and decided to remain silent.
Having gotten the address from Zhang Huaide, Yan Yu left the restaurant and, exercising Sword Control, headed toward the Military Manor of Shuzhong Prefecture.
After completing the visit registration at the gatehouse, he went straight to Zhou Hongyu’s “family residence.” Before he could even knock, he overheard the angry scolding of a middle-aged woman from inside.
It was in the Nanchuan dialect, hard to understand, but he faintly caught a phrase that seemed to mean “I may not have raised you, but at least I gave birth to you.”
Yan Yu’s eyes lit up instantly, and he hurriedly employed his wall-passing skill to rush into the house.
Haha, I’m here for a good show!
Once inside, he saw a short statured middle-aged woman with curled short hair and fashionable clothing, brandishing an exquisite leather wallet, who was poking the air viciously in the direction of Zhou Hongyu in the living room, as if she was firing the Six Meridian Excalibur to shoot her dead.
With her face an iron blue, Zhou Hongyu stood without speaking or losing her temper, silently enduring her mother’s venomous tirade, clenching her teeth as if she could explode at any moment.
All of a sudden, she turned her head and noticed Yan Yu, who had entered through the wall; her expression finally turned to one of shock.
Zhou’s mother followed her gaze and finally noticed Yan Yu, immediately losing her color in alarm:
“Hey! Who the heck are you?”
Yan Yu had already thought of a response, and with a cold smirk, he went over to Zhou Hongyu, wrapped his arms around her, and shouted loudly:
“Old Lady! I’m here to take my wife out for some fun, you better just stay home and get the chores done! I’ll check when we return!”
Without waiting for Zhou’s mother to react, he grabbed Zhou Hongyu’s hand and strode out the door with her.
Once outside in the corridor, the finally recovered Zhou Hongyu immediately shook his hand off and said irritably:
“What craziness are you spouting?”
“If it weren’t for me, you’d still be in there getting lectured like a turtle by your mom,” Yan Yu said with a cold laugh.
“That’s none of your business,” said Zhou Hongyu coldly, not hesitating to turn and start walking down the stairs.
Yan Yu quickly followed her and asked via sound transmission:
“If you dislike your mother so much, why let her stay at your place?”
“What else?” retorted Zhou Hongyu. “Should I kill her?”
“You’re a bit extreme,” Yan Yu suggested. “You could just cut ties.”
“Then she’d make a scene for the whole world to know,” Zhou Hongyu said.
“The Pingxi Army would surely silence her if they found out,” Yan Yu said.
“I don’t want the Pingxi Army to know,” Zhou Hongyu said irritably. “Are you done yet? Stop following me!”
“I see,” Yan Yu mused for a moment, suddenly smiling smugly, and transmitted to Zhou Hongyu, “Little Zhou, you don’t want the Pingxi Army to learn about you and your mother’s issues either, right?”
No sooner had he spoken than Zhou Hongyu whirled around, driving her elbow into Yan Yu, pinning him against the wall.
Her elbow locked around his neck, pushing him forcefully forward, her beautiful face seething with murderous intent as she inched closer, her eyes spitting fire as if to burn his face.
However, even at such close range, the girl’s beauty remained undiminished. Her skin was fair and smooth, with willow eyebrows complementing her phoenix eyes, and her delicate nose and apricot lips made her appear even more charming, especially the heroic spirit in her eyes, which gave her an allure that made one want to subdue her…
But Yan Yu wasn’t after her beauty; he simply wished to rescue her from the tragedy of her past life.
If her mother kept harassing her like this, she was bound to explode eventually.
“Dare to spill this,” Zhou Hongyu stared at Yan Yu, articulating every word, “and I’ll kill you.”
“Are you serious?” Yan Yu asked.
Zhou Hongyu didn’t reply, only her gaze grew more fierce, as if she was ready to unsheathe the Phoenix Sword and execute him on the spot the moment a single word of dissent fell from his lips.
Footsteps came from below the stairs. It was a young mother leading a little girl upstairs.
As they passed by, the little girl looked curiously at the immobile Yan Yu and Zhou Hongyu (who still refused to release her grip, her body visibly tensing), and suddenly turned to her mother and asked:
“Mommy, are they playing some kind of domination game?”
“Don’t spout nonsense, child!” The mother immediately became flustered, snatched her daughter up in her arms, and hurried upstairs as if fleeing from something filthy.
Yan Yu: ……
This chapter is updat𝙚d by freeweɓnovel.cøm.
Zhou Hongyu: ……
Her pretty face twitched for a moment, and without a word, she let go of Yan Yu and started walking downstairs.
Without a second thought, Yan Yu followed her down, only to see Zhou Hongyu walking faster and faster down the stairs, eventually leaping down three to four steps at a time and running away in sheer panic.
