Chapter 206: Still shameless
Now that the Scarlet Rending Demon had been dealt with, the hidden threat was finally resolved.
The team returned along the same path of ice. The white bridge Mu Ningxue had created still stretched across the blue sea, solid and cold beneath their feet. Mo Fan could not help but glance at it a few times. Even though he had killed the Commander level creature himself, he knew Mu Ningxue had rushed over without hesitation when she heard he was in danger.
Mu Ningxue happened to be looking at him too.
Her gaze was still cold, but it was no longer the same distant coldness as before. There was something else hidden beneath it. Surprise, relief, and perhaps a little helplessness.
Mo Fan immediately smiled. “Don’t worry, I’m fine. A Commander level creature like that still isn’t enough to kill me.”
Zhao Manyan rolled his eyes. “You say that like it’s normal.”
“It is normal for me,” Mo Fan said.
The others glanced at him.
If someone else had said that, they would have thought he was bragging. But after watching Mo Fan kill the Scarlet Rending Demon and harvest its Commander level Soul Essence, none of them could really refute him.
Mu Ningxue looked away. “You are still too reckless.”
Mo Fan grinned. “You came all the way over by freezing a path across the sea. If I didn’t survive, wouldn’t I be letting you down?”
Mu Ningxue’s expression turned colder. “I came because the mission was not finished.”
“Of course, of course,” Mo Fan said, nodding seriously. “The mission. Definitely not because you were worried about me.”
Mu Ningxue did not reply.
Nanyu, who was walking nearby, gave Mo Fan a look. “Can you stop provoking her for even a moment?”
“I’m injured,” Mo Fan said righteously. “I need emotional support.”
“You look more energetic than all of us combined,” Nanyu said.
Mo Fan laughed and looked at Mu Ningxue again. “Xuexue, I already told you, I still need to visit your Mu Family with a great betrothal gift. How could I die in a place like this?”
The group immediately went quiet.
Zhao Manyan’s eyes lit up with excitement. He loved this kind of drama.
Mu Ningxue’s face turned colder. “Mo Fan.”
“What?”
“Say one more word and I will freeze your mouth shut.”
Mo Fan raised both hands. “Alright, alright. I’ll save the rest for after the World College Tournament.”
Gong Yu, who had been silent the whole time, clenched his jaw. He wanted to mock Mo Fan, but the words would not come out. Before the battle, he could still act like Mo Fan was only a loud and shameless guy. Now, after seeing Mo Fan’s strength, even Gong Yu had to admit that Mo Fan had the right to be arrogant.
That made him even more furious.
Mo Fan noticed his expression and smiled lazily. “Gong Yu, why do you look so upset? The Commander is dead, the mission is done, and nobody important got hurt.”
Gong Yu snorted. “You only know how to show off.”
Mo Fan nodded. “True. But if showing off means killing a Commander level creature and earning a hundred million yuan Soul Essence, then I hope I can show off every day.”
Zhao Manyan burst out laughing.
Even Ai Jiangtu’s lips twitched slightly.
Mo Fan was carried back to Feiniao City for recovery, although everyone doubted whether he truly needed to be carried. He looked more excited about his loot than injured. The Commander level Soul Essence had completely washed away whatever pain he was supposed to feel.
After returning, Mo Fan was placed in a room to rest.
Not long after, Zhao Manyan came in with the same expression he always had when he came to gossip.
“I knew you wouldn’t die so easily,” Zhao Manyan said. “Also, the child is safe. Nan Rongni’s healing ability is actually impressive. If it had been another Intermediate Healer, Xiao Di might not have survived, but she managed to pull him back.”
Mo Fan let out a slow breath. “Good.”
For once, his tone was not joking.
The money, the Soul Essence, and the materials were all important, but the reason he had gone so far in the first place was because of the missing children. If the child had still died after everything they did, Mo Fan would not have been able to accept it.
Zhao Manyan sat down nearby. “As for the truth behind the missing cases, it’s more complicated than we thought. We found the person responsible in Feiniao City, but according to Jiang Yu, the matter goes deeper. The advisors told us to stop investigating and leave the rest to them.”
Mo Fan frowned. “So this was not only happening here?”
“That’s what it sounds like,” Zhao Manyan said. “But it’s above our level now.”
Mo Fan leaned back against the bed. His expression darkened slightly. “Those people better actually investigate it.”
Zhao Manyan nodded. “Yeah. Anyway, there’s something else. Someone asked the advisors to pass something to you. Something from the Ancient Capital.”
Mo Fan’s eyes sharpened. “What thing?”
“A ragged feather robe,” Zhao Manyan said. “Honestly, I don’t know why you care about it. It looks old enough to fall apart if you sneeze on it.”
Mo Fan immediately sat up. “Where is it?”
Zhao Manyan was startled. “You actually care that much?”
“Give it to me,” Mo Fan said.
Zhao Manyan took out the robe. It looked ancient and damaged, its feathers dull from age. To anyone else, it looked like an old museum relic that had lost most of its value. But Mo Fan knew what it really was.
The Celestial Phoenix Feather Robe.
Its current state was miserable, but its origin was extraordinary. If restored, it would become something truly priceless.
Mo Fan carefully touched the robe. His eyes softened slightly.
This was for Xinxia.
He still remembered his regret from the Ancient Capital. There were many things he had not been able to do then. Since he had survived, he would fulfill them one by one.
Zhao Manyan looked at him strangely. “You’re not thinking of selling that too, are you?”
Mo Fan immediately glared at him. “Do I look like someone who sells gifts meant for important people?”
“Yes,” Zhao Manyan said without hesitation.
Mo Fan kicked at him.
Zhao Manyan dodged quickly and laughed. “Fine, fine. I won’t ask.”
A few days later, Mo Fan was already moving around as if nothing had happened. His recovery speed made the others speechless. The Black Snake Armor had protected him before, but this time he had not even suffered much damage. The battle had ended too quickly for the Scarlet Rending Demon to truly injure him.
During those days, Lin Junxian also came to visit with Lin Qi.
Lin Qi thanked Mo Fan repeatedly for saving Xiao Di. Lin Junxian was far more practical. He knew Mo Fan was not the type to pretend to be noble and refuse repayment, so he directly told Mo Fan that the Lin Family owed him a favor.
Mo Fan liked hearing that.
He had already gained a Commander level Soul Essence, a valuable corpse, demon cores, sea monster materials, and now a favor from the Lin Family.
This Feiniao City trip had become ridiculously profitable.
“Do not worry,” Mo Fan said honestly. “I am not your typical unsung hero. If I need help, I will definitely ask.”
Lin Qi and Lin Junxian were both amused. Instead of feeling offended, they felt relieved. A person like Mo Fan, who spoke openly about wanting repayment, was much easier to trust than someone pretending to be righteous while hiding his greed.
Lin Junxian also arranged a ship to safely send the team toward Japan. Their identities were still restricted because of the advisors’ rules, so traveling normally would have caused problems.
After Mo Fan fully recovered, the group boarded the ship and left Feiniao City.
The sky was clear, the sea was blue, and the air felt completely different from the blood soaked island they had just left behind. As the ship sailed away from the safe zone, the members of the National Team finally relaxed.
Zhao Manyan leaned against the railing and stretched. “Finally, some peace.”
Mo Fan sat nearby, counting the value of the loot in his head.
Commander level Soul Essence, around a hundred million.
Commander corpse materials, another huge amount.
Hundreds of demon cores as mission proof.
Sea monster claws, scales, and other materials.
Lin Family favor.
Celestial Phoenix Feather Robe.
And most importantly, Mu Ningxue’s kiss.
Mo Fan’s mood became better and better the more he counted.
Zhao Manyan looked at his expression and immediately understood. “You are thinking about money again.”
Mo Fan corrected him. “I am thinking about cultivation resources.”
“That is just money with a better name.”
“Wrong,” Mo Fan said seriously. “Money is temporary. Cultivation resources become strength. Strength creates more money. This is a cycle.”
Zhao Manyan stared at him. “Why does that actually sound reasonable?”
“Because I am a genius,” Mo Fan said.
Not far away, Gong Yu heard their conversation and snorted. He was still annoyed from the island battle. Mo Fan had stolen all the attention, taken the biggest reward, and even received Mu Ningxue’s rare tenderness. Gong Yu could not accept it.
Mo Fan noticed him and smiled. “Yo, Gong Yu. I remember you still owe me from our bet.”
Gong Yu’s expression changed. “What bet?”
“The gall bladder bet,” Mo Fan said. “I had four, you had three. You lost.”
Gong Yu’s face darkened. “That does not count.”
Zhao Manyan immediately joined in. “It absolutely counts. Everyone heard it.”
Gong Yu looked around. Several people pretended not to notice, but their faint smiles gave them away.
“What do you want?” Gong Yu asked coldly.
Mo Fan thought for a moment, then pointed toward the deck. “Simple. Go stand there and loudly say, ‘Mo Fan is stronger than me, and I, Gong Yu, admit defeat.’ Three times.”
Gong Yu’s face turned green. “Impossible!”
Mo Fan shrugged. “Then do not pretend to be superior in front of me again. A man who refuses to honor a bet has no right to act proud.”
Gong Yu clenched his teeth.
He would rather fight a sea monster than say those words. But if he refused, Mo Fan would definitely use it against him for the rest of the trip.
Zhao Manyan added fuel to the fire. “Don’t tell me you are scared. It’s only words.”
Gong Yu glared at him, then walked stiffly toward the deck.
Everyone’s attention slowly shifted over.
Gong Yu stood there for a long time. His expression looked like he had swallowed poison.
Finally, he forced the words out through gritted teeth.
“Mo Fan is stronger than me, and I, Gong Yu, admit defeat.”
The deck went silent.
Mo Fan cupped his ear. “What? The sea breeze is too loud.”
Gong Yu almost exploded.
Nanyu turned away slightly, trying not to laugh.
Jiang Shaoxu openly laughed. “Say it louder. A bet is a bet.”
Gong Yu’s whole face turned red. “Mo Fan is stronger than me, and I, Gong Yu, admit defeat!”
Mo Fan nodded with satisfaction. “One more.”
Gong Yu pointed at Mo Fan. “Do not go too far!”
“You agreed to three times,” Mo Fan said.
Zhao Manyan clapped beside him. “Come on, finish strong.”
Gong Yu trembled with rage, but in the end he still shouted the final line.
“Mo Fan is stronger than me, and I, Gong Yu, admit defeat!”
The whole deck burst into laughter.
Mo Fan leaned back comfortably, looking extremely pleased. “Good. You finally said something true.”
Gong Yu stormed away, almost crushing the wooden floor beneath his feet.
Zhao Manyan laughed so hard that he nearly fell over. “That was cruel.”
Mo Fan said calmly, “No, cruel would be asking him to say I am more handsome too.”
Zhao Manyan nodded. “That might actually kill him.”
Mu Ningxue stood at the side of the deck, quietly watching the scene. She did not join in the laughter, but the coldness in her eyes seemed to soften slightly.
Mo Fan noticed and immediately waved at her. “Xuexue, did you hear that? Even Gong Yu admitted I’m strong.”
Mu Ningxue replied flatly, “Being strong and being shameless are not the same thing.”
Mo Fan smiled. “Luckily, I am both.”
Mu Ningxue turned away, but the faint curve at the corner of her lips did not escape Mo Fan’s eyes.
The ship continued toward Japan.
The sea breeze blew across the deck. The National Team had completed their first major trial, but everyone knew the journey ahead would only become more dangerous. Japan was not just their next destination. It was the beginning of their true exchange mission, and every country they faced from this point onward would be filled with geniuses, monsters, and hidden cards.
But after Feiniao City, the Chinese team’s atmosphere had changed.
They no longer saw Mo Fan as only a troublesome vice captain.
They saw him as a terrifying weapon.
Ai Jiangtu remained the captain, the one responsible for command and order. But when it came to raw combat power, even he had quietly acknowledged that Mo Fan had already stepped beyond ordinary students.
Mo Fan leaned against the chair, eyes half closed, feeling the sunlight on his face.
Commander level Soul Essence.
A pile of loot.
A powerful new favor.
A priceless robe for Xinxia.
A kiss from Mu Ningxue.
And now, a trip to Japan, the land where countless powerful resources and precious seeds were waiting.
Mo Fan’s lips slowly curled into a grin.
This journey was getting better and better.