Volume One: In the Prime of Youth Chapter Ten: The Moment of Acting

Alice was a mid-level official in the Light of the Holy Ring society, neither too important nor insignificant. She had met all the major figures from the various societies, and after the banquet, whether someone approached her to make acquaintances or Alice introduced them, Huo Ye managed to meet all the high-ranking members from every society.

When the banquet ended, Huo Ye walked home with Alice and her brother, joined by Shangguan Yudie.

“By the way, how does Bancroft conduct classes?” Huo Ye asked, curious. He had always studied in academies with poor teaching conditions, low-tier institutions in the slums, where the pitifully small annual funding from the education department was often extorted by those looking for quick money. There were never any innovative teaching methods.

Thinking back, Huo Ye, in his younger days, wanted to have more meat with his meals, so he boldly confronted those thugs—not with any particular plan, simply wanting them to return the stolen money. The result? A group of ordinary people was no match for Huo Ye, who was then just a ten-year-old with abilities. After that incident, Huo Ye, who had always been strictly trained by his father and thus lacked confidence, realized he was far stronger than he’d ever imagined. That event was likely the moment he first built his self-confidence.

Alice pondered the question, eyes turning thoughtfully, and replied, “There’s nothing particularly special. Bancroft follows a mentorship system—students learn from their mentors day-to-day and only participate in group activities when organized by the academy.”

“So there’s no fixed curriculum?” Huo Ye pressed.

“Right, exactly!” Alice answered.

As Huo Ye and Alice conversed, his gaze drifted toward Shangguan Yudie, who had barely spoken all evening. He remarked, “Little Jade, you’ve really changed a lot. You used to be so lively as a child.”

Shangguan Yudie paused noticeably before answering, “It’s nothing. There’s just no need.”

Huo Ye slipped his hands into his pockets and chuckled softly. “True enough. Your unique ability makes the world pretty transparent for you.”

Shangguan Yudie nodded.

Her individual ability was called “Psychic Waves.” She could sense the electromagnetic waves of all living beings—and even disasters—within a five-hundred-meter radius. These waves conveyed emotions, and if she exerted herself, she could even directly hear others’ thoughts.

If Shangguan Yudie wanted to know the truth, no one could lie to her. That’s why Huo Ye said the world was transparent to her.

Back at the apartment, Alice washed up and went straight to bed, but Huo Ye headed for the balcony. He’d noticed two rocking chairs on the first-floor balcony earlier and thought he’d enjoy some fresh air. When he arrived, Shangguan Yudie was already seated in one, quietly gazing at the clear night sky, rocking gently.

Huo Ye silently took the other chair, and like her, stared at the stars. After a while, he spoke, “The sky really is clean. A hundred years ago, it would have been unimaginable.”

The New World had unleashed disasters—a catastrophe for humanity, but also an opportunity. After the black hole experiment, hundreds of fixed portals were left in the Disaster Field, leading to the original world of the disasters—what people called the Main Disaster Field.

Within the Main Disaster Field were countless resources, fueling the rapid technological growth of the Ability Era. Without the clean energy from the Main Disaster Field, the sky would still be perpetually clouded, the air thick with coarse dust that made people cough up blood, and the water as filthy as viscous oil. Where there is disaster, there is fortune; where there is fortune, disaster hides.

It was the apocalypse, yet people lived as if in a golden age within it.

Shangguan Yudie remained silent, so Huo Ye continued, “I remember you wanted to be a painter when you were little. Why did you end up applying to Bancroft?”

This time, Shangguan Yudie didn’t hesitate. “Something happened. I want to kill disasters.” Her voice was utterly flat, devoid of emotional color, but Huo Ye knew it could not have been anything pleasant.

Just like himself—he hadn’t always wanted to inherit the Reaper Hunting Corps. He even thought being a writer would suit him fine. But two years ago, something happened, and since then he was resolute: he would spend his life eradicating disasters from the world.

Huo Ye said nothing more, but Shangguan Yudie spoke up: “You don’t need to force conversation. I just don’t talk much. It’s only been a few years since we saw each other. It’s fine.”

Her words were vague, but Huo Ye understood. Since they met, he’d been trying to talk more with Shangguan Yudie, worried their bond had faded. But to her, the childhood friendship forged climbing mountains and crossing rivers wasn’t diminished by a few years apart. Huo Ye’s efforts were unnecessary.

Huo Ye sighed. “As expected, there’s no point in pretending in front of you. You really are the Mask Terminator!”

Shangguan Yudie had been calm, but at the mention of “Mask Terminator,” her eyes suddenly lit up. She sprang upright, staring at Huo Ye with sparkling eyes.

Huo Ye, who had been reclining with eyes closed and head resting on his arm, suddenly sat up as if remembering something—only to see starlight shining in Shangguan Yudie’s eyes. Damn! He’d let his guard down!

He’d blurted out “Mask Terminator,” which was the title of a chapter in his “Rhapsody in Rainy Night”—a story about an ability user who could see through others’ hearts, inspired directly by Shangguan Yudie herself.

Huo Ye felt a pang of regret. Shangguan Yudie was his biggest fan, and he was determined to keep the secret of Night Rain Cold Crow. He must never let it slip. So why had he foolishly mentioned “Mask Terminator”?

Shangguan Yudie frowned, and even without mind-reading, Huo Ye could guess her thoughts: sensing his nervousness and growing suspicious. If he didn’t smooth things over, he’d be done for. Time to test his acting skills.

He stammered, “Wh-what are you doing? Listen, even if you’re a fan of Night Rain Cold Crow, I’m not giving you my deluxe edition!”

“Deluxe edition?” Shangguan Yudie instantly brightened, springing to her feet with excitement. “What deluxe edition?”

Huo Ye feigned confusion, muttering, “Didn’t Alice let it slip...? No, you must have misheard. What deluxe edition? I don’t know anything about that.”

“Brother Ye...” Shangguan Yudie’s eyes suddenly gleamed with a strange golden light. “You know lying to me is useless.”

Damn, is it really necessary to use your trump card? Huo Ye felt his acting was convincing enough, but the gleam in Shangguan Yudie’s eyes meant she was about to boost her ability from sensing emotions to reading minds. If she really activated mind-reading and discovered he was Night Rain Cold Crow, he’d be finished. So he said, “Alright, alright! I’ll tell you. I have a limited deluxe edition of ‘Rhapsody in Rainy Night,’ one of only ten ever released. I thought Alice had already told you about it…”

He played the innocent so well that if Alice saw him, she’d say, “The Oscars owe you a statuette.”

Shangguan Yudie’s lips curled into a smile. The limited deluxe edition—only ten copies ever made—was the missing piece in her collection, like the final segment of a puzzle. With it, everything would be perfect.

She stepped forward, staring intently into Huo Ye’s eyes. “Brother Ye, name your price.”

“Not for sale! Absolutely not!” The book was his own work; the publisher had given him a set, and he’d barely touched it, just left it to gather dust. Shangguan Yudie wanted it, and he could give it to her, but the act had to be complete—he had to show it was a treasure, leaving no room for suspicion.

“Two million!” Shangguan Yudie offered instantly.

“You’re crazy! It’s only worth a hundred thousand!” Huo Ye couldn’t hold back. Girl, how obsessed are you with me? Without even hearing the price, you offer twenty times the market value. Are we even friends anymore? No matter how wealthy the Shangguan family is, this is excessive. Two million could buy you a luxury car!

The currency of the Ability Era was called Solara, named after humanity’s first colony—the Solara Colony. One Solara had the purchasing power of a bottle of mineral water.

The Shangguan family was rich enough to rival nations, but two million Solara for a book? Is your money burning a hole in your pocket?

Shangguan Yudie said, “It’s worth it.”

Huo Ye dropped the act. “Fine, you win. I’ll give it to you, alright? But don’t mention money. If you pay me, it’s an insult.”

Shangguan Yudie was beside herself with joy, hugging Huo Ye and shouting, “Thank you!”

Huo Ye nearly rolled his eyes to the heavens. He still felt the same as earlier—maybe it wasn’t too late to move out. His blood pressure seemed high, but at least he’d kept his secret safe.