Chapter 135 : Chapter 135
Chapter 135
The next chapter once again shifted back to the viewpoint of the four-person team.
After Ji Qing explained why he had come and said that he wanted to reduce Father Miao’s losses, Father Miao was stunned for a moment before bursting into laughter. Rather awkwardly, he pointed out, “The rather embarrassing part is that… even though my son and I are both Earth Ability Users, neither of us was of much help…”
The three people behind Ji Qing immediately started chattering away about it, only for Ji Qing, utterly speechless, to smack all three of them on the head on the spot.
【Hahaha… do not say that right in front of the client.】
【Father Miao’s face is practically burning red.】
【Father Miao: Even though we’re Earth-type, we were completely useless. And the most important part is… I already said this was embarrassing, so stop talking about it!!!】
【The three of them two chapters ago: You be reliable in your way, I’ll be reliable in mine, and together we’ll all be reliable.
The three of them now: （gossiping about the client right to his face）】
【Tsk, tsk. Typical blunt-guy thinking.】
In the manga, Jiang Cuo chatted with Father Miao for a while. Then Father Miao suddenly asked Xie Chang’an, “Young man, there’s something I’ve been wanting to ask. Is your Tang Saber an Ability Item?”
The previous night, he had seen the image of Xie Chang’an swinging his blade in the surveillance footage, and a deep curiosity had arisen in his heart.
At that moment, the manga also deliberately showed a handsome close-up of Xie Chang’an from the previous day. Although he had looked rather miserable at both the beginning and the end, the scenes in the middle where he swung the saber were indeed quite striking, and the readers cried out in disbelief when they saw them:
【This is not the Xie Chang’an I know!】
【Honestly, if I had not followed Chang’an all the way here, I would already be getting struck full-force by his good looks. Damn my weakness for pretty faces.】
【The protagonist has grown up before we even realized it.】
【With just those few combat close-ups thrown in, he really does feel handsome. For some reason, I suddenly have this faint feeling of, “My foolish son somehow managed to bring home someone else’s treasured darling.” Is this what it feels like to watch a character grow…?】
“Xie Chang’an really has grown a great deal…” Ji Qing sighed after seeing that.
Although there were still many immature parts to him now, if one compared him to the Xie Chang’an from the very beginning of the manga, the significance of that growth became instantly clear. For readers who had followed the manga all the way until now, that complicated feeling had surely only grown stronger.
With Xie Chang’an’s permission, Father Miao took the Tang Saber and admired it for a while. The other two also leaned in to examine it. Seeing how exceptionally sharp the Tang Saber was, Jiang Cuo asked directly, “Brother, can you tell me who the craftsman was? I swear I won’t go bothering him on my own. I just want one more contact.”
The two of them exchanged questions and answers about craftsmen, friends, and personal connections.
Because of Jiang Cuo’s sudden question, Xie Chang’an’s mood abruptly sank. Inwardly, he began thinking about his relationship with Li Yuan, and with a strange, complicated feeling, he thought: perhaps Li Yuan had given him a measure of sincerity too.
【Ahhhhhhh—】
【This pairing is irresistible!】
【So this is where the real trump card was hidden?】
【Xie Chang’an does not need much. Just a tiny little bit is enough. “As long as there is even a tiny little bit, he’ll already be satisfied.”】
【This chemistry is too good, truly too good!】
【As long as it is not a zero, then it is basically no different from a perfect score, is it? Xie Chang’an, do not love him so much. You are going this far just to make excuses for Li Yuan!】
【The forum keeps saying Ji Qing is the White Moonlight, but why do I feel Li Yuan is even more of a White Moonlight? He appeared when Chang’an was poorest in spirit and most lacking in material things, he was willing to talk to Chang’an, and afterward he even repaired Chang’an’s Tang Saber when he was in dire straits.
Ahh… I truly cannot imagine how much Li Yuan is going to be beautified in Chang’an’s heart.】
【This scene is too perfect. So this is what it means to realize, years later, the sincerity that had always been behind you. That is the charm of time.】
【It has only been a few months.】
【Ahhhhhhh, why are they not meeting! Old thief, please let the little couple meet just once!】
And yet… Ji Qing smiled helplessly. “I do not make exceptions on my side.”
Because the key issue was that there was no need, not that he was deliberately refusing to meet. Ji Qing suddenly thought of something. Since that old thief had already drawn the meeting between Old Master Miao and Li Yuan, would the later changes within the Dawn Society also be drawn in as well? He truly felt they would.
In the manga, Xie Chang’an’s drifting gaze turned toward Ji Qing.
“Ji Qing, aren’t you curious?” Xie Chang’an asked.
“What is there to be curious about?” Ji Qing replied. “I do not know anything about blades, and I cannot judge whether a blade is good or bad at all.”
“…That is true,” Xie Chang’an said.
He really had been asking too much. Ji Qing did not need to have the same thoughts as everyone else.
【“Doesn’t need” “the same” “thoughts.”】
【Yes, yes, yes. Ji Qing is the most special one.】
【One second he’s thinking about Li Yuan, the next second he’s thinking about Ji Qing. I am just sitting here watching Chang’an get pulled in two directions. I feel like those two are about to have him completely in their grasp.】
【That is probably what happens when it is people with that kind of personality. （covers face）】
【Hahahahahaha.】
【This kind of unconscious concern is far too irresistible.
Before I even realized my own sincerity, I had already begun caring about you.】
【Chang’an really is surrounded on both sides like this, one side caught in ambiguous entanglement with Li Yuan, while on the other side he keeps paying attention to every move the Valedictorian makes. （covers mouth）】
【He had only just stepped out of the beginner’s village and already ran into top-tier heart-stealers. Who would not be bewildered?】
【And there are two of them. （said softly）】
【The protagonist really has it too good, does he not? The more I think back on the earlier volumes, the more it all settles in. Even though I have always felt the protagonist lived under great pressure at school, for the protagonist himself, the feeling was probably unexpectedly complicated.】
In the manga, Father Miao brought up the Tang Saber kept by his own family.
Because this matter had never been hinted at before, the readers were equally shocked when they heard it. After hesitating for a moment, Xie Chang’an decided to accept the Tang Saber Father Miao was gifting him. At that moment, he also came to understand, in a subtle way, how Mr. Gu had felt back then.
【That old thief really handles growth arcs so well. Every time I see Chang’an look back on the past, I cannot help sighing with emotion.】
【It is Yuexia Cao, after all.】
【One event becoming the lesson learned for the next. That kind of manga plotting is genuinely quite rare.】
【It is practically all linked together, one ring after another. （admiring）】
Resting his chin on one hand, Ji Qing sighed, “That really is true.”
Yuexia Cao had done quite well in that regard.
But then again… Ji Qing had not seen Yuexia Cao make any public appearance on the forum even once so far.
Normally speaking, a manga artist would have a social account of his own, or else would entrust the publishing house to manage one for him. But Ji Qing had been reading this manga for so long now, and not once had he seen readers repost anything Yuexia Cao had said.
“That old thief could not possibly not have a social account, could he?” Ji Qing raised a brow. “Is his style really that old-school?”
The plot that followed was the appearance of Grandpa Miao. The four of them could only watch as Father Miao was chased around and beaten by Grandpa Miao, while Miao Miaonian stood in the middle at a complete loss.
After that, Ji Qing and Zhou Que watched together as Xie Chang’an and Jiang Cuo tried to persuade the Miao father and son to stay. After seeing that, Zhou Que asked in confusion, “Say… why is it that sometimes I feel the two of them are very clever, and at other times I really do not?”
Because you are foolish too, Ji Qing had thought at the time.
The manga faithfully depicted Ji Qing’s inner thoughts from back then. Inwardly, Ji Qing evaluated the three of them and came to a firm conclusion: the intelligence of those three was probably all on the same level.
【Hahahahahaha.】
【The way the Valedictorian thinks is absolutely amazing.】
【No wonder I felt Zhou Que and Xie Chang’an were kind of similar too. Pfft—so it turns out their intelligence is level, hahaha.】
【A like. Many likes.】
That chapter ended there, and in the next one, the scene returned to Huangtie City.
With the escort commission complete, the other three were promoted to A-Rank Hunters, and they also received the commission payment the client had left for them at the Hunter’s Guild. Jiang Cuo bounced around on the spot in excitement, threw an arm around Xie Chang’an’s neck, and began speaking of his grand ambitions, only to be punched in return by Xie Chang’an.
Seeing that, Zhou Que tentatively held out a hand toward Ji Qing, only to be coldly rejected by Ji Qing.
【Hahaha, the Valedictorian truly is exactly the same as always.】
【How satisfying. At last, there is one place where he and Chang’an are the same. Chang’an, keep trying. You still have not become the losing side yet!!!】
【Ji Qing feels like the avoidant type.】
【It seems Ji Qing is the kind of person who rejects all intimate behavior once it crosses the line. He did not reject Zhou Que before because Zhou Que’s behavior at the time did not cross the line. As for Chang’an… he crosses the line far too often… （looks away）】
【That does seem to be it? But why do I still feel like the Valedictorian treats Zhou Que especially well?】
【To be honest, I am jealous too. （in tears）】
“Hm?” Ji Qing blinked in complete confusion.
Was that not taking self-insertion a little too seriously? Although manga readers and the manga protagonist were naturally on the same side, would a normal Hot-Blooded Shonen Manga even involve this sort of thing? Should they not all be the power-scaling crowd and the plot crowd, arguing so fiercely later on that everything turned upside down?
“Is it because the character work is simply too strong?” Ji Qing murmured, tilting his head back.
That probably also owed something to Yuexia Cao’s narrative innovation. Judging from the current plot of 《Ability Hunter Academy》, Yuexia Cao really was just as the forum had described him at the very beginning: a relatively emotional manga artist whose works were largely famed for “delicate artwork and rich emotion.”
That probably filtered the readers in its own way as well.
In the manga, Ji Qing spoke his farewell and Zhou Que prepared to follow him. But when Zhou Que had gotten halfway there, Miao Miaonian hurriedly called out to him. Knowing the inside story, Ji Qing smiled when he saw that and said playfully, “Then I’ll be heading off on my side.”
Jiang Cuo tried to keep him, Xie Chang’an watched Jiang Cuo in speechless silence, and Zhou Que simply waved a hand casually.
And so Xie Chang’an watched Ji Qing stride out of the office beneath the sunlight pouring down everywhere. With a trace of melancholy, Xie Chang’an thought: The next time they met… who knew when that would be…
【Xie Chang’an, do not be so gone for the Valedictorian!】
【If you care about the Valedictorian that much, then just ask him through the Terminal. You are making me feel like the wasteland cannot make phone calls and has no internet.】
【Coward.】
【When are your relations ever going to improve? Before learning how to live in a Danger Zone, Chang’an, maybe you ought to study social skills first. I feel like you are getting very close to the point Zhou Que reached already. The more I think about it, the more miserable it feels.】
【This kind of push and pull is delightful!】
【Not delightful, not delightful! None of you are allowed to enjoy it! I am completely shattered inside!】
“…”
Ji Qing could only laugh helplessly at that.
For some reason, he had the distinct feeling that the chances of the readers emotionally collapsing like this would likely happen again in the future. Although Ji Qing felt that it was because the readers had projected themselves too sincerely, that in itself also proved the charm of 《Ability Hunter Academy》.
The plot of the next chapter was the private conversation between Zhou Que and Miao Miaonian.
The two of them finally cast aside the awkwardness of their reunion and spoke about what each of them had gone through after parting ways. Miao Miaonian was genuinely happy that Zhou Que had later found family, and Zhou Que also expressed his apology for the rough behavior he had shown in childhood.
“At the time, I probably just… did not really understand anything,” Zhou Que said guiltily. “After all, there were no parents to teach me, so I did not know what I was supposed to do.”
“None of that matters.” After hearing that, Miao Miaonian shook his head seriously. “It is enough that you are doing well. And I already understood that back then too… none of this was your fault. Zhou Que, I am sorry I could not stay by your side to the very end.”
“…That was not your fault either.” Zhou Que immediately grew awkward.
【Wuuu—】
【This is so moving, truly so moving.】
【That old thief is unbelievably good at depicting emotion. I really cannot stop crying.】
【Incredibly moving!】
That kind of reaction was quite in line with Ji Qing’s expectations, whether from the readers or from Zhou Que himself.
A smile could not help but curve Ji Qing’s lips.
At the end of that chapter, the manga flashed back once more to Xie Chang’an’s side. After briefly talking about Xie Chang’an’s future exploration plans, the manga panels grew dark and oppressive again, just like in the chapter where Grandpa Miao had appeared.
At the very center of the page was an old glass window.
After years of erosion by time, numerous cracks had already formed across the glass, and there were even scattered gray specks stuck to it that looked like dandelion fluff. Not far beyond the window was a very dense Tree Sea, while on the inner side of the window, a dim and indistinct figure stood against the light.
Seeing this, the readers immediately fell into chaos:
【What happened? Where has this suddenly thrown me?】
【The villain of the next volume?】
【Why did the scene suddenly change? Where is this?】
【Could Li Yuan be appearing again?】
Ji Qing was very calm about it. Just moments ago, he had been guessing whether Li Yuan’s appearance would lead that old thief to draw the changes within the Dawn Society, so the appearance of this scene had naturally been within his expectations. Ji Qing recognized the scene before him. He could even infer which part of Licheng this was.
The distant Tree Sea was the S-Rank Danger Zone, the Tree Sea Restricted Zone. The person nearby was Emerald.
And at this moment, Emerald was standing in that red-pointed house where the two of them had once spoken, gazing peacefully into the Tree Sea.
【Dawn Society Cadre, Emerald】
Perhaps afraid that the readers would not understand the current situation, the manga deliberately revealed Emerald’s identity.
Immediately afterward, a warm male voice came from the Terminal between Emerald’s fingers: “Although we already have the list of participants, we still do not know how deeply each person—or the family behind them—was involved. Next, I will hand the list over to White Night in the leader’s name…”
While the voice was speaking, the manga also provided another note: 【Dawn Society Leader, Dawn】.
The leader said, “An action like this will certainly alert certain existences. After this… it is time to put an end to these twenty-one years of waiting.”
When Emerald heard that, he curved his lips into a smile. “I obey your command, My King.”
Inside the manga, everything remained calm and unruffled. Outside the manga, however, the winds howled and the waves surged. The barrage exploded instantly when it saw this:
【Huh? Huh—】
【Wait, wait, wait—what is going on? So it is not Li Yuan seeking revenge, but the Dawn Society preparing for revenge?】
【Li Yuan, you never once told me that you had a brother who was the leader! Wait, no, something is off—the BOSS and you, what exactly is your relationship? You have never revealed information like this to me, ahhhhhhh!】
【So the Dawn Society is actually a family business?】
【My God… Ji Qing is not the leader, is he?】
【Why do I understand less and less the more I read?】
【What is this? How did Ji Qing suddenly become the leader?】
【That really is possible. The protagonist has always felt Ji Qing was very suited to leadership. Ji Qing himself also understands the Infected, and he has unclear ties with the cadres of the Dawn Society—possibly even blood ties—and the leader of the Dawn Society who has appeared now is obviously connected to Li Yuan…】
【So does that mean we can start writing fanwork about Leader Qing and Cadre Dawn?】
【My God…】
【This pairing is irresistible. Completely irresistible.】
【+1】
【Ahhhhhhh, stop turning everything into a pairing! Analyze the plot for me already! My brain is turning into mush!!!】