Yama Reborn-Chapter 506 - 503 [Mr. Tree]

Chapter 503: Mr. Tree

Through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, one could overlook the entire Xuanwu Lake.

This prime location belonged to a five-star hotel in the heart of Jinling City.

The most expensive luxury suite offered a superb position and view—of course, judging by the average income in 2002, the price was "superb" as well.

Next to the living room’s floor-to-ceiling window, on three lounge chairs, lay three girls.

In the middle was Niveer, with Li Yingwan and another young, short-haired, busty girl lying on her left and right, respectively.

All three girls had their faces covered in a greenish-black substance, smeared all over.

"Do you really think this stuff is going to make our skin better?"

"Nonsense, this is the best beauty product from South Korea, an African seaweed essence!" Li Yingwan retorted disdainfully. Since her face was covered in the stuff, she didn’t dare to open her mouth too wide as she spoke, which made her speech muffled.

"But I’m Caucasian, and my skin is already quite fair," Niveer attempted to resist.

"But your skin is a bit rougher than ours Asians’—although you’re already considered to have good skin among Caucasians. But... it’s about racial superiority, understand? It’s not a big deal at your current young age, but wait a few more years, and you’ll see your pores coarsen and your skin develop red patches with just a little sun exposure."

Li Yingwan never missed an opportunity to relentlessly undermine Niveer’s confidence.

After taking a deep breath, Niveer fell silent for a moment before finding a way to strike back.

"Someone who calls her boyfriend ’little dog’ has no right to laugh at me."

"Someone who kisses themselves in the mirror has no right to feel so superior!"

Just as the two girls were about to start arguing, the short-haired girl on the third lounge chair couldn’t help but timidly speak up.

"Um... Can you guys not fight?"

This third girl was Xiao Yu.

Zhu Dazhi’s girlfriend, the one from Jinling City whose family owned a bridal photography studio.

The reason why Xiao Yu joined this small circle was actually quite simple.

After the experiences in the "Memory World," returning to the real world, Xiao Yu was entrusted by the trio to find them once more in the real world.

And then... well, let’s just say that if you learned the most humiliating and embarrassing secrets of these people, you’d either be silenced by murder, or, if you didn’t want to die, your only option was to join them. Xiao Yu, it turned out, was a girl who knew how to adapt to circumstances.

"Hmph, PABO!"

Li Yingwan snorted coldly.

Niveer immediately raised her eyebrows. "Don’t think I don’t understand you’re insulting me just because you’re speaking South Korean."

The room door opened, and Xicheng Xun, wearing a JK-style school uniform, walked in and glanced at Xiao Yu, who was seeking help with her eyes.

After pondering, Xicheng Xun walked over, took Xiao Yu by the hand, and headed toward the restroom.

"Let them sort it out themselves. If it really doesn’t work, they’ll have a fight. Whoever loses will shut up for a whole day."

Holding Xiao Yu’s hand, Xicheng Xun brought her to the side of the restroom’s sink, looked her over for a while, sighed, and shook her head. "You should wash that stuff off your face."

Under Xicheng Xun’s scrutiny, Xiao Yu swiftly cleaned her face and then was dragged out the door by Xicheng Xun.

After leaving the hotel, Xiao Yu obediently let Xicheng Xun pull her along as they crossed the street and arrived at an open-air bar by the lake.

This mix of Chinese and Western-style bar had beer, BBQ—and of course, Chinese barbecue as well.

By evening, the business was already booming.

The arrival of two lovely and attractive young girls naturally drew the gaze of many patrons—though it was mostly just a glance and nothing more.

After sitting down and ordering some food and drinks, Xicheng Xun picked up a bottle of beer and deftly popped off the cap with her thumb before handing it to Xiao Yu.

"I’m not really good at... okay." Xiao Yu resignedly nodded, took the beer bottle, and poured herself a small half glass.

In fact, the person Xiao Yu feared the most in the trio was this Xicheng Xun.

Li Yingwan was merely fond of blustering.

And Niveer was actually quite approachable.

On the other hand, this Neon girl named Xicheng Xun sometimes revealed a chilly and indifferent air in her gaze, causing Xiao Yu to feel a bit uneasy.

Perhaps Li Yingwan was the most fond of blustering, or maybe Niveer had the most presence.

But it was Xicheng Xun, who rarely spoke and even appeared amiable most of the time, who made Xiao Yu feel like she was the most terrifying person in the trio!

"Actually... I really won’t tell anyone your secret—not even Zhu Dazhi. I swear!"

After drinking down half a glass of beer, Xiao Yu brought up the topic again.

Xicheng Xun’s demeanor was relaxed. "I’m not too worried about that."

"Uh?"

"Because I know you won’t tell." Xicheng Xun had already started on her second bottle of beer—she drank it like water, not even using a cup. Just holding the bottle, she gulped it down, draining it in no time.

"Huh? You’re quite certain I won’t tell? That’s good then..." Xiao Yu breathed a sigh of relief.

Xicheng Xun flashed a smile, revealing her teeth. "Even if you did, it wouldn’t matter."

"...Huh?"

"Worst comes to worst, I’ll just kill them to ensure silence. Killing everyone who knows isn’t that difficult."

Xiao Yu felt a chill at the back of her neck! To kill... huh?

For some reason, Xiao Yu couldn’t shake the feeling that when this girl named Xicheng Xun talked about "killing," it didn’t seem like she was just boasting.

"Have you and Dazhi been dating recently?"

"Um..."

"What do you guys do on dates?"

"Well... just walk around, have meals, watch a movie or something..."

"Anything else?"

"... Yeah, sometimes we go to the gym to watch him box."

"Oh, so you and him..."

Xicheng Xun still wanted to ask something, but Xiao Yu wisely chimed in first.

"I haven’t seen Chen Nuo recently. Dazhi hasn’t mentioned anything about Chen Nuo to me either."

"..."

Xicheng Xun fell silent for a moment, then silently picked up a bottle of liquor.

"Yu-chan." Xicheng Xun suddenly smiled. "I’m really happy to have met you. Meeting a friend like you in Jinling City is an unexpected gain."

Xiao Yu was taken aback. "Why are you saying this all of a sudden..."

"Because I’ve decided to go back to Tokyo."

Xiao Yu silently observed Xicheng Xun— the girl’s eyes, her facial expressions, all seemed very calm.

After a long while, Xiao Yu couldn’t help but ask, "Have you... given up?"

Xicheng Xun raised her eyebrows.

Xiao Yu quickly shrank back. "I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked you that."

"It’s okay to ask." Xicheng Xun spoke softly. "Given up?"

The swordswoman looked up at the sky.

The sun was completely out of sight now, and on the other side of the sky, the moon was already beginning to show its outline.

"Given up... I don’t know."

***

She genuinely didn’t know.

After coming out of that "Memory World" of Jinling City, Xiao Yu had visited her and revealed those shameful secrets.

Of course, those secrets were only meant to prove her credibility.

But what followed, what was said afterward, truly shocked Xicheng Xun.

Herself... With Chen Nuo, with Ah Xiu—he... Could there be bonds that she herself didn’t know about? Past life? Parallel world? Another personality within herself? So all along, Ah Xiu had been kind to her, going to Tokyo to save her... was everything... All part of Ah Xiu’s plan, his redemption for her? Oh, it wasn’t just her. Li Yingwan, Niveer... were they the same? Long before she met Ah Xiu... Ah Xiu had known another her.

From Xiao Yu’s visit, Xicheng Xun keenly perceived several underlying messages.

Perhaps in a past life, maybe another version of herself... Anyway, that version of herself had also been silently in love with Chen Nuo for years. But! To no avail! The other her... to be precise, the other trio, had been the same in that other life. And they had accompanied Chen Nuo for many years, contributing even more for him. Yet still, to no avail!

That conversation was frightening, embarrassing...

But, more than anything, it was shocking!

In these days, Xicheng Xun thought a lot, and she knew that Li Yingwan and Niveer must have thought a lot too.

It’s just that those two girls, outwardly still bickering, probably had their own decisions and ideas in mind.

Xicheng Xun believed she understood Chen Nuo very well—at least that’s what she thought.

Since Chen Nuo had brought back the Star Sky Empress, since he had a daughter...

Chen Nuo had been distancing himself from the trio.

With his silent actions, he was making his stance clear.

He had even kept himself away from Sun Keke.

Though they were in the same city.

But now, she barely had the chance to see Chen Nuo. He barely even went to school anymore.

***

"I’m going back to Tokyo in three days." Xicheng Xun spoke seriously. "So, Yu-chan, let’s consider today our farewell dinner."

"... Ah, then, um, I’ll treat you for today’s meal."

Xiao Yu fumbled to take out her wallet.

The wallet was exquisite, and it looked like there was quite a sum of money inside.

Xicheng Xun didn’t stand on ceremony with Xiao Yu—the girl came from a fairly wealthy family and had plenty of spending money.

"As a friend, I’m actually quite envious of you. You and Dazhi have a beautiful relationship, and Dazhi really likes you—it’s truly enviable!"

When Xicheng Xun finished her third bottle of beer, her gaze started to show signs of drunkenness.

"So after you return to Tokyo, do you plan to go back to school?" Xiao Yu felt a bit of pity for the Neon girl in front of her.

"School? No." Xicheng Xun was very clear. "People like me have already actively decided not to live an ordinary life like regular people.

Ability Users are Ability Users; it’s impossible to go back to living like an ordinary person. Studying, working... these things are bound to become more and more distant from me.

So... I’ll probably look for a direction to follow."

"Direction?"

"Yeah, if we can’t be lovers... then maybe we could become lifelong companions," Xicheng Xun muttered to herself.

However, she spoke very softly, and Xiao Yu didn’t hear her clearly.

"Right now, my strength is still too weak.

So weak that I don’t even qualify to stand beside him and fight alongside him.

Whether it was before in Tokyo, or later in the strange world space of Jinling City. According to what you said, in that experience, we weren’t the main force; at most, we could only do some restraining tasks.

And even that was a struggle.

I always think... she’s so powerful... so she must be worthy to stand by his side.

Ah Xiu, he’s not from the realm of mortals, and if I’m just a mortal, then in this life, I’ll only drift further away from him."

Xiao Yu’s eyes widened. A mortal? Not a mortal? What? What does she want to do?

As if she read the confusion in Xiao Yu’s eyes, Xicheng Xun smiled.

"I want to become someone who can be his partner—a strong companion on whom he can rely. Not the kind who, when faced with trouble, will only become a burden to him."

Xiao Yu pursed her lips forcefully.

This girl... Has she watched too many anime? Where did such a teenage-cringey idea come from?

After thinking it over, still unable to suppress the sense of justice within her heart, Xiao Yu took a deep breath. "Maybe my words are redundant, but I think..."

Suddenly, before she could finish speaking, Xicheng Xun’s expression changed and she quickly grabbed Xiao Yu’s hand and pressed down hard.

"Shh! Look!"

Both girls looked towards the edge of the open-air bar...

***

Yun Yin, wearing a hoodie and a ponytail, with her hands in her pockets, was standing on the periphery of the bar.

Chen Nuo was following behind with a helpless expression.

Seeing that Yun Yin finally stopped walking, Chen Nuo sighed.

"We’ve been walking for ninety-seven minutes, have you had enough?"

Yun Yin looked up at the sky, then glanced back at Chen Nuo and said, "Hungry."

"Hmm?"

"Hungry."

Yun Yin said, pointing at a barbecue stand by the road.

"Then let’s have something to eat, I’ve got money," Chen Nuo said in a relaxed tone.

"The time to air out hasn’t arrived yet?" Yun Yin’s tone carried a hint of mockery.

Chen Nuo hesitated for a moment, then sighed. "Alright, my approach to you before was indeed a bit unfair. You’re not a prisoner, and there’s no need for me to confine you.

So starting today, as long as you don’t cause trouble, I won’t restrict your freedom too much.

Deal?"

Yun Yin looked at Chen Nuo, ignored his offer, and slowly walked into the open-air bar area, then found an empty table and sat down.

Chen Nuo smiled wryly and followed to sit down as well.

***

"It’s Chen Nuo... and... that girl..."

"Sun Keke," Xicheng Xun said with a bitter smile, "besides the Great Devil, the girl closest to his heart."

Xiao Yu looked unimpressed and silently mouthed two words. Jerk!

Xicheng Xun didn’t mind Xiao Yu’s ridicule—she might have noticed it but showed no reaction.

Instead, her entire focus was on surreptitiously observing the distant Chen Nuo and Sun Keke.

Xicheng Xun’s expression was curious.

Chen Nuo... how did he end up together with Sun Keke again? I heard that he was already keeping his distance from Sun Keke. So? Is he really a jerk?!

But soon, Xicheng Xun’s expression changed!

***

Over there, next to the table where Chen Nuo was sitting, a group of customers who had finished eating stood up to pay and leave. One of the male diners, who might have had a bit too much to drink, staggered as he rose, and it looked as though he was about to bump into Sun Keke’s back.

Under Xicheng Xun’s watchful gaze, "Sun Keke" didn’t turn around but seemed to have a sharp sense of what was happening around her.

While she remained seated, without moving from her spot, she subtly shifted half a step to the left, tilting her body slightly, and then with a gentle press of her hand on the table.

She moved aside quietly, sliding nearly half a meter away.

The drunken diner just brushed past, not touching her!

Xicheng Xun’s eyes suddenly revealed a glint!

***

This was definitely not something Sun Keke could have done! That subtle motion just now involved very little force. But... this level of sharp response, this deftness in controlling power. It was absolutely beyond Sun Keke’s capabilities! Experienced, quick to react, without leaving a trace, natural, quiet and invisible... If Xicheng Xun were to use herself as a benchmark... Only those with rich combat experience could have such an adept response in that instant! Sun Keke? That delicate girl? Even if she had the strength of a Destroyer Level, she wouldn’t have this awareness!

Xicheng Xun’s eyes instantly went wide!

Then, a voice from her side softly asked, "Pretty good quality, right?"

Xicheng Xun subconsciously started to reply, but immediately, her body stiffened!

This voice wasn’t Xiao Yu’s!

Xicheng Xun stiffened for a full second before her strength gradually returned to her body.

She twisted her neck bit by bit and slowly turned her head.

At that moment, Xiao Yu finally exclaimed, "Ah!! You!!!"

Just beside the girls’ table, on a previously empty stool, a man had now taken a seat.

He appeared to be in his forties.

A Chinese face.

Xicheng Xun felt like a cat with all its fur standing on end, barely suppressing the intense feeling of oppression in her heart to make her breathing somewhat smoother, after which she quickly moved away, grabbing Xiao Yu’s hand.

Xiao Yu, staring at the man’s face, grew increasingly terrified!

"Little girl, haven’t seen you in a while, huh."

After glancing at Xiao Yu, the middle-aged man shifted his gaze onto Xicheng Xun. "You too, it’s been some days since we saw each other."

It took all of Xicheng Xun’s willpower to forcefully suppress the fluctuations in her power—it was as if sitting next to this man, his body emitted an invisible force field causing her own power to uncontrollably fluctuate.

Even her breathing frequency seemed to have been altered.

"Sorry, I don’t want to hurt you, nor do I want to frighten you," the middle-aged man smiled. "However, I needed to set up an invisible force field to prevent that boy over there from noticing me.

You just happened to be within my force field."

The middle-aged man thought for a moment, smiled, and patted Xicheng Xun’s shoulder. "Now... feeling better?"

Xicheng Xun let out a sharp breath. After that forceful exhale, she finally felt her breathing was much easier.

But Xiao Yu was nearly scared silly, staring at the middle-aged man in front of her, "You, you, you, you, you..."

"No need to be so scared, I’m not here to trouble you."

The middle-aged man smiled, his gaze, however, fell upon Chen Nuo and Yun Yin not far away.

He picked up a bottle of wine from the table, opened it, and took a sip.

His gaze still fixed in the distance, he murmured softly, "Actually, I’m not fond of long trips—it’s quite troubling to travel so far.

But I had to come."

As he spoke, a hint of puzzlement appeared in his eyes.

"Put yourself in my shoes, and you’d find it strange too, right?

According to logic, I only have one Chosen One in this world, and I’m very clear about how I made her my Chosen One...

But the problem is...

Now, suddenly, there’s another Chosen One.

Her aura, the fluctuations of her power, they all have a deep life-level binding with me!

Yet I just don’t recognize this girl.

You tell me, isn’t that strange?"

Having said that, he withdrew his gaze from Chen Nuo and looked at Xicheng Xun.

"Kid, why do you look at me so oddly?

We just had a run-in not long ago.

But the way you’re looking at me now, it’s as if you’re seeing me for the first time."

Xicheng Xun didn’t speak but stealthily glanced at Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu’s face was pale. "He, he... that time, I heard, heard Chen Nuo and them talking, and they, they, they called him, called him... something, the fourth, the fourth something..."

The middle-aged man raised an eyebrow and smiled.

"How about this, you can call me Electric General... or Corot... of course, both are false names and identities. I’m not too fond of those names myself.

Of course, what did Chen Nuo call me? The Fourth Seed? That name isn’t so pleasant either.

Why don’t you call me... Mr. Tree.

Yes, tree.

That’s the earliest name I used."