Chapter Sixty-Three: Taking Action

The ones Ye Ran had been waiting for were naturally Meng Qi and Sinclair, but to his surprise, it was three people who arrived at the underground lair a moment later. Meng Qi and Sinclair walked behind; leading the way was a young girl clad in a silvery-white combat suit. Her long hair was tied behind her head, her lips were rosy, her teeth white, her manner gentle and elegant—just one glance at her made one feel as if bathed in a spring breeze.

“Yunmeng.”

Seeing her, Ye Ran quickly stood and walked forward. He reached out, wanting to take her hand, but hesitated and drew back.

Yunmeng smiled, a blush coloring her cheeks.

Sinclair, behind them, cast a slightly jealous glance at the two.

“Yunmeng, why are you here? I’ve been wanting to see you these past few days…”

“So have I,” Yunmeng took his hand and led him aside. Ye Ran’s hand stiffened at first, but sensing the warmth of her palm, he found himself growing nervous yet unwilling to let go.

“Ye Ran, I want to ask you something myself. Must you really go in?”

The seriousness in her voice made Ye Ran, who had been striving to keep his composure, turn grave as well.

“Yunmeng, is this really so serious?”

Yunmeng shook her head, laughing softly. “Ye Ran, the fact that the underground lair holds ancient weapons has long ceased to be a secret. Most people dismiss it as mere rumor, but this time is different—everything about this operation reeks of peculiarity. Those meant to be here have not shown up, while those who shouldn’t have come are all present.”

Ye Ran nodded solemnly.

“Yunmeng, there are many things about this operation I can’t make sense of, but I cannot refuse. My position at Tiding Academy was the turning point in my fate—Sun Jiulou and the academy gave me a new lease on life. Now is the time for me to repay that debt.”

Only after this would he be able to rightfully become a member of Tiding Academy, his standing there truly secure.

“Yunmeng, I have no choice but to go this time. Soon, I’ll be able to take Freya away from Clay Lane, and we’ll finally have the life we’ve always dreamed of. I can’t afford any mistakes now.”

“Don’t worry. I know the underground lair inside out—I’ll come back. Yunmeng, wait for me…”

He turned his head, a flush suddenly creeping up his face. The words he wanted to say stuck in his throat, unspoken.

Yunmeng laughed. “I won’t wait for you, Ye Ran.”

A flicker of confusion crossed Ye Ran’s eyes; Yunmeng covered her mouth, smiling. “I’m going in with you.”

Before Ye Ran could object, she pressed a delicate finger to his lips. “I want to be with you, Ye Ran.”

A faint, sweet fragrance drifted to his nose. Meeting her gentle yet resolute gaze, Ye Ran nodded, cheeks tinged red.

“Sinclair, don’t be jealous. We’re lucky Yunmeng is willing to come at all,” Meng Qi murmured from behind.

“Don’t talk nonsense. Who’s jealous?” Sinclair huffed.

Ye Ran and Yunmeng gathered their gear, packing food, clothing, and spare weapons. After paying the customary “passage fee,” they entered the lair.

At the long table, Tiger Ben propped his chin in his palm, watching Yunmeng’s retreating figure, eyes full of contemplation…

A pungent scent of blood wafted from within the underground lair. No sooner had Ye Ran and his companions stepped inside than they were greeted by the sounds of fierce battle—mixed in were the roars of giant beasts and the angry shouts of men.

The clash of metal rang incessantly; every breath Ye Ran took was thick with the tang of blood.

At the center of the lair’s first level, the people from Redleaf Academy and the Temple had divided into three groups. One, led by Samobiqiu, stood under the crumbling wall with spears and shields. Another, headed by Du Yu, wielded long blades, charging and slashing with practiced coordination.

The last group stood between the other two, launching spells from behind the protection of Samobiqiu’s fighters. This group had no leader; each warrior acted on their own initiative.

Apart from these were two men in cloaks, standing utterly still. Occasionally, when a foolhardy giant beast would lunge at them, it would be sliced apart midair, their prowess apparently far superior to even Samobiqiu or Yu Bo.

Hordes of giant lizards, giant rats, and gold-eating ants surged from all directions, their blood frenzy heightened by the carnage. Even with death looming ahead, they hurled themselves madly at the humans trespassing on their territory.

“Vile beasts.”

The cloaked man standing beside Samobiqiu extended a finger—two giant lizards were shredded midair by a surge of energy, flesh and blood scattering with the wind. The students changed color at the sight.

In terms of strength, they were superior to most adventurers, but their temperaments could not compare to those who lived by the blade’s edge.

This was the scene Ye Ran and his companions encountered: everywhere, the corpses of giant monsters—lizards, gold-eating ants, and giant rats that once struck terror in adventurers—now lay piled high, blood flowing in streams.

Meng Qi and Sinclair’s faces changed as well; only Alyssa’s eyes grew even more fervent. As she drew the short dagger from her sleeve, her knuckles cracked with tension.

“Everyone, be careful…”

He hadn’t finished speaking when a gold-eating ant, half the size of a man, burst from the earth and screeched as it lunged for Yunmeng. Its massive body, ferocious visage, and savage attack startled them all—except for Ye Ran, who reacted instantly, swinging his blade at the creature’s head.

Yet before his blade could land, a thin stream of water shot from behind him—hissing, it pierced the gold-eating ant’s hard carapace and jetted out its back, a spray of blood following. The ant shrieked and fell, twitching once before lying still.

Behind him, Yunmeng drew back her hand, the water retracting and several droplets swirling around her fingers.

Ye Ran turned in surprise.

“Yunmeng, you…”

“What, did you think I was just a sheltered, bookish young lady?” Yunmeng laughed.

Ye Ran nodded, smiling self-deprecatingly.

So this was what it meant for a true master to hide their talents.

He really had thought Yunmeng was simply a pampered heiress.

Up ahead, Du Yu, surveying the battle, happened to notice Yunmeng’s clean, lethal strike—her technique was crisp, efficient, and devastating, prompting him to look at her a few more times, his triangular eyes soon filling with suspicion.

“Old Eight, cover me.”

“Got it, boss.”

Wang Aoran held a gold-backed broadsword in his left hand, a poisoned silver dagger in his right, hacking his way through the melee. Du Yu kicked aside a lizard riddled with stab wounds, and under Wang’s protection, slashed his way free of the Redleaf Academy and Temple squads, making his way to Ye Ran and the others.

He wiped blood from his dagger, his sinister eyes sweeping over Ye Ran’s group, finally coming to rest on Yunmeng.

“Third Miss,” Du Yu said, rubbing the blood from his hands, “Come join our team. With your status, you shouldn’t be mixing with the likes of them.”