Martial arts have become extinct worldwide, yet I am forced to have a large family.

"News about Yang Xian?"

Liu Ruyu stopped in her tracks.

She didn't turn around; she just stood there, frozen in place.

The silence lasted for about ten seconds.

Liu Ruyu gritted her teeth and walked back to sit on the other end of the bench, half a body length away from Wei Qianmei.

"Tell me! When will Yang Xian be back?"

Wei Qianmei turned her head to the side, her long red hair sweeping across her shoulders in the wind, a slight smile playing on her lips.

Why should I tell you?

"You...!" A surge of anger welled up in Liu Ruyu's chest.

"Neuropathy!"

She stood up a second time and left indignantly.

Behind him, Wei Qianmei spoke calmly, "Yang Xian hasn't returned yet because he's in trouble!"

"impossible!"

Liu Ruyu shouted.

Yang Xian was talking about going to do experiments, not going to the battlefield.

Besides, that guy is so good at fighting, what danger could he possibly encounter?

is that a lie?

It must be a lie.

This guy is deliberately trying to make a fool of me!

But she subconsciously sensed that something was wrong.

Because when Yang Xian left the city, he did so without telling anyone the first time.

Since it's just an experiment, why do it secretly?

"What else do you know?"

Liu Ruyu spoke again, her voice lower than before, but her attitude was clearly more relaxed.

But Wei Qianmei didn't answer immediately. Instead, she changed the direction of her leg and crossed it, then flicked the end of her hair.

"Just now, I think someone insulted me with something?"

"..."

Liu Ruyu turned around and glared at her angrily.

She really wanted to punch that annoying face.

But Yang Xian's matter is more important than saving face.

"sorry!"

The three words were squeezed out through clenched teeth, each one laced with pain.

Wei Qianmei raised an eyebrow, looking like she thought, "That's more like it," but didn't press her further.

"Where is Yang Xian now?" Liu Ruyu stared straight at the other person.

"He was inside a small crack."

Small cracks?

Liu Ruyu's heart sank.

Crack?

What kind of experiment would require going into a crack?

He was definitely hiding something from me!

That's why they didn't take me with them!

Wei Qianmei continued speaking.

"Moreover, iron-devouring worms have appeared in the rift where he is."

"How could there be iron-eating worms in a small crack?" Liu Ruyu crossed her arms, her face full of doubt.

She had never seen an iron-eating worm in person, but it was mentioned in the textbook.

It feeds on metal.

It can reproduce indefinitely and can combine.

It is listed as one of the most troublesome threats among the monster scourges.

"But that's the truth; I heard this from the higher-ups in the family."

When Wei Qianmei said this, her expression became more serious. "If you don't believe me, you can ask Aunt Liu Qin. Perhaps she knows more."

Upon hearing this, Liu Ruyu stared at her toes and remained silent.

Should I take the initiative to ask her?

She was the one who sent Yang Xian out of the city; she must know something!

But just asking her directly...

I was worried about Yang Xian's safety, not trying to chat with her!

It's really not a big deal to ask!

Wei Qianmei paused for two seconds, leaned back in her chair, and spoke casually:

"I'm telling you this today not to scare you."

"It's not that I'm worried about him, but that I'm just as worried as you are."

"Why are you worried about him?" Liu Ruyu looked up, a hint of suspicion in her eyes. "Are you very close to him?"

This little girl speaks too bluntly.

What exactly did Yang Xian see in her?

Wei Qianmei fiddled with the cuff of her left hand:

"I don't think you need to treat me as a pure enemy."

"You're worried about him getting into trouble, and so am I. In that respect, we're not different."

People who have shared pain are naturally closer than strangers.

This is called breaking the ice.

Of course, this is only the first step.

The second step is to establish an alliance.

In the future, if she wants to deal with that "confidante" who is far away in Nanhai City, she alone will probably not be a match for her.

We need to find some help!

Wei Qianmei is determined to win over Yang Xian, this special man.

Liu Ruyu, that jealous little thing, is also a problem. Rather than tearing each other apart later, it's better to start infiltrating her now.

"Leave me your contact information!"

Wei Qianmei smiled slightly and casually took out her phone from her pocket. "I'll let you know as soon as I have any news, and let me know if anything happens on your end too."

Liu Ruyu stared at the screen for a few seconds.

Normally, she would have swatted that thing away.

But this isn't a normal time...

"OK."

Liu Ruyu still chose to take out her phone.

The two exchanged contact information.

After finishing, Wei Qianmei stood up, adjusted her trench coat, and spoke in a very familiar manner.

"Little sister, I'll be going now. Let's keep in touch!"

"Don't call me little sister."

"Okay, little sister."

Her long red hair swayed twice in the afternoon sunlight before she disappeared from sight.

The wind blew by, and only Liu Ruyu remained on the bench.

She looked down at her phone screen.

A new name has appeared in the contact list: Wei Qianmei.

She held the phone in her palm, tapped the screen twice with her fingertips, and opened the chat window with Liu Qin.

The girl stared at the screen for several seconds before typing the first line of text.

[I'm asking you, where is Yang Xian? Is he in danger?]

The message was sent, but there was no response.

[Speak up! Don't play dumb!]

still none.

She waited for more than a minute, looking at the gray "sent" label under the two messages over and over again, her eyes growing increasingly somber.

[You're the one who led Yang Xian out of the city! Bring him back right now!]

There has still been no reply.

Liu Ruyu pressed the call button directly.

beep - beep - beep -

No one answered.

Hang up, then call again.

still none.

She put down her phone and stared blankly at the flower bed in front of her for a while.

The woman didn't reply to messages or answer phone calls.

Are you busy?

Is it because of Yang Xian that you're deliberately avoiding me?

or……

"She's already out of town!!"

Liu Ruyu suddenly stood up from the bench.

The woman knew that Yang Xian was in the crevice and that the Iron-Eating Worms had come out of it, so she ran over.

But high-level martial artists can't enter that rift, so there's no point in her going; she'd just be waiting outside.

Why weren't you notified me about this?

She can't go in, but I can!

"No! I want to leave the city too!"

Liu Ruyu unbuttoned her coat from her waist and slung it over her shoulder.

After she finished speaking, she suddenly remembered something.

School hasn't let out yet.

Even after the defense system was upgraded, she still hasn't found a single exploitable vulnerability.

"hateful!"

"Damn it! Damn it! Damn it—!"

The girl kicked the chair leg hard, the sound echoing through the garden and startling a few small birds in the nearby bushes.

She sat down helplessly, her chest heaving violently.

"Am I really forced to attend this lousy school?!"

"I'm speechless!"