Chapter 149 Huo Xialan's Request

What kind of weapon was the Dragon-Binding Cable, really? In Huye’s understanding, from a distance it could assassinate from the shadows like a netherworld ghost, while at close quarters it could unfold an inescapable net as impenetrable as the heavens and earth. It was difficult to master, but its upper limit was exceptionally high. If he could truly wield it with flexibility, combined with the auxiliary enhancement of his psychic power, Huye might just be able to control more than five ultimate-tier entities all by himself. Should he achieve that, he would undoubtedly become a supreme weapon on the battlefield of the future.

Especially after his bout with Shangguan Qingcai, Huye had gained a clearer understanding of how beneficial martial arts were to him. Therefore, he wanted to consult Huo Xialan about some of the finer details of martial arts techniques. However, if this happened to cross certain bottom lines of the Huo family, things might become a bit difficult.

The leaders of the major societies occasionally sparred with one another; after all, within the academy, they were practically the only ones who could serve as whetstones for each other. Huo Xialan disliked sparring with others because she believed that humanity's only true opponents were the Calamities.

Yet, when truly confronting ultimate-tier entities, Huo Xialan finally understood a simple truth she had long overlooked: the strongest Calamities were all humanoid. They possessed human skeletal structures, intelligence no less than that of humans, and it was hardly an exaggeration to say they were essentially humans with a single fatal weakness, ultra-strong regenerative abilities, and the capacity to integrate all sorts of attributes through the dark arts.

Combat against human opponents was therefore essential.

It was just that... those very characteristics seemed to be shared by a certain someone, and his vital weak point was even smaller than that of an ultimate-tier entity.

Feng Wuming was of Class A, and his psychic power level was slightly weaker than Huo Xialan's. However, Feng Wuming had a plethora of tricks up his sleeve, and his methods were bizarre and unpredictable. As a practitioner of the Dao, he naturally possessed some arcane and unfathomable techniques.

If human civilization were categorized by the methods of human conflict, the eras could roughly be divided into three: the Era of Psychic Power, the Era of Technology, and the Era of Esoteric Arts.

And in the Huaxia of the Esoteric Arts Era, there was an old saying: never bully the old or the young, and never bully monks and Taoists.

The elderly had experience and trump cards, while the youth possessed infinite potential. You never knew if the young enemy you let off today might turn around ten years later to launch a delayed, fatal counterattack. As for monks and Taoists, because they held unique beliefs and carried on ancient cultural heritages, their methods could easily transcend common human sense.

Yet Feng Wuming was hardly a fool. How could he possibly reveal his absolute trump cards so casually? After displaying a few techniques, he was unwilling to expose anything more.

The final outcome was, of course, a victory for Huo Xialan, though Feng Wuming had only suffered a narrow defeat.

Stepping out of the combat arena entrance, Huo Xialan immediately saw a message pop up on the panel before her: "Night Rain Cold Crow has requested to add you as a friend."

"Little bro?" Huo Xialan blurted out instinctively before clicking accept.

When Night Rain Cold Crow and Huo Xialan became friends, Huye immediately sent a message: "Room 160211. Got some business, come here to talk details."

Huo Xialan calculated the days and muttered to herself, "Developing his own ideas after just a few days? Not bad talent at all. It seems the Yazi saber is about to get a new master. Oh, little bro, once you defeat Tan Xiao, I'd like to see which of those old fogeys in the collateral branches would dare say you can't return home!"

Upon entering the room, Huo Xialan looked around. The map was an open dojo, an environment that clearly looked suited for practicing martial arts. It seemed Huye genuinely wanted to consult her about the Dragon-Binding Cable. However, what Huo Xialan hadn't expected was that Shangguan Yudie was actually still with Huye.

The moment she laid eyes on the two of them, the first thing Huo Xialan noticed wasn't Huye, but Shangguan Yudie, because there was guarded vigilance in Shangguan Yudie's gaze. How astoundingly clever was Huo Xialan? Almost at first glance at Shangguan Yudie, she was certain: Shangguan Yudie was jealous!

Splendid, simply splendid—this was getting interesting. Whether this girl simply liked Night Rain Cold Crow or genuinely liked Huye was up for debate. But in Huo Xialan's view, it practically amounted to the same thing anyway, since they were fundamentally the same person, weren't they?

Though she thought this to herself, Huo Xialan directly greeted Huye, "What's up, great author? What business requires opening a private room to talk? This isn't a combat room you've opened, so you surely aren't looking to spar with me."

Huye chuckled and replied, "Haha, Senior Sister is joking. Winning against you last time was sheer luck; the two of us working together could barely manage to hold our own against you. How could I ever dare talk about sparring again?"

"All right, cut the flattery and state your business directly. Let me guess—is this about the Chaotic Flower Dragon-Binding Cable?" Huo Xialan asked straight to the point.

Huye gently scratched his head and said, "Haha, spot on. Senior Sister, I've been studying the manual you gave me very seriously. Up until today, I've had a few insights and want to consult you on quite a few things."

Huo Xialan nodded and said, "Very well. It was a gift to you in the first place, and it wouldn't do to let you practice the wrong path. But there is one catch: to teach you, I will inevitably have to touch upon other martial arts of the Huo family. If I teach you, it crosses my personal boundary, so I can't just agree so casually."

Huye was perceptive and asked directly, "Name whatever conditions you have. I won't promise absolute success, but within my capabilities, I'll do my utmost."

Huo Xialan shrugged. "Don't worry, I'm not asking you to commit arson or murder. But before I state my conditions, you must first tell me—does Senior Sister Shangguan, the vice president of Constellation, know your true identity?"

As soon as Huo Xialan said this, sweat immediately beaded on Huye's forehead, while Shangguan Yudie clenched her fists. They both understood that by asking this, Huo Xialan had most likely already figured out that Huye was Night Rain Cold Crow, and in case Shangguan Yudie wasn't yet aware of the truth, she wanted to help Huye continue keeping it under wraps.

Huye had indeed intended to keep his identity as Night Rain Cold Crow a secret, but that was only because he hadn't found a suitable opportunity to make it public. Now that someone had seen through it, there was nothing left to hide. If future circumstances led to his identity being accidentally exposed, Huye would at most just go with the flow and admit it. After all, Night Rain Cold Crow was an accomplished young author, not a criminal—what was so hard to admit?

Huye helplessly removed his mask, sighed, and said, "Senior Sister, you're something else. How did you figure it out? One after another, you've both given me huge surprises today. Is my acting really that terrible?"

Huye was genuinely feeling a bit glum. To be seen through twice in one evening was practically a direct insult to his acting skills!

Huo Xialan, however, smiled with poise. "Haha, it seems she knows. Well, it's nothing much. Remember when I said I could read bones through touch? I had already confirmed your bone structure when we sparred before. Later, at Night Rain Cold Crow's book signing, I went up to shake your hand and discovered that the tactile feel of the hand bones of both individuals was an exact match. I hardly think there are two people in this world with completely identical skeletal structures."

Shangguan Yudie glanced at Huye. Sparred with Huo Xialan? When did that happen? Confirmed bone structure? Did that mean touching him in a lot of places?

Consequently, Shangguan Yudie's gaze turned frosty on the spot, and it was directed squarely at Huye.

Catching Shangguan Yudie's expression that practically screamed "You better explain this clearly," Huye broke into a dry laugh, signaling with his eyes, "I'll explain to you later."

Huo Xialan observed all of this without making a sound. She simply spoke up, "Since that's settled, let me state my conditions. There aren't many—just two points. First, defeat Tan Xiao and become the number one student of Bancroft. Second, after completing the first condition, come with me to a certain place."

Huye was momentarily stunned, asking in surprise, "It's... it's that simple?"

Huo Xialan nodded. "Mhm, it's that simple."

Huye was slightly baffled, but he understood to some extent. The only two people in the academy capable of achieving the first condition were Huo Xialan and himself. By stating this first condition, she was essentially acknowledging that Huye was Night Rain Cold Crow. That was why she had verified beforehand whether Shangguan Yudie knew the truth.

Huye knew Huo Xialan was no ordinary person. With her meticulous attention to detail, she would never use something trivial to trade for her family's martial arts secrets. Even if Huo Xialan hadn't asked, Huye would have tried to achieve the first goal anyway. Therefore, the real question lay in the second condition: where was Huo Xialan going to take him? And what would they be doing once they got there?

Huye fell into deep contemplation.