Yu-Gi-Oh!: This isn't a duel!

You Yang paused for a moment, then politely asked:

"you are?"

The woman approached, gracefully bowed slightly to You Yang, placed one hand lightly on her chest, and gave a slight curtsy.

“Nice to meet you, I am Vivian Thorne.”

"If you don't mind, you can just call me Vivian."

She straightened up and explained with a smile:

“Tian Dao Lian has to go out on an urgent matter, Lilith is still recuperating, and the brother and sister who came with you have also gone out to look for someone.”

"So, I was invited to stay and take care of you."

"Is there anything I can help you with?"

As Vivian approached, a faint, delicate fragrance wafted into You Yang's nostrils.

It wasn't the smell of perfume, but rather the pure, natural scent of roses.

"Gurgle—"

In this rather refined atmosphere, You Yang's stomach suddenly let out a series of loud protests, which was extremely inappropriate.

He hadn't eaten for two days, and his stomach was already rumbling.

The air froze for a second.

A blush of embarrassment flashed across You Yang's face. He was about to scratch his head to cover it up, but Vivian did not show the slightest hint of mockery.

Her smile grew even warmer, and her amber eyes curved into crescent moons.

"It seems you're recovering well, and your appetite has returned."

"Please follow me."

Although You Yang felt a little embarrassed, he didn't refuse. He was really hungry, so he naturally followed behind Vivian.

The two walked through the courtyard one after the other.

As they entered the shadowy corridor where Vivian had previously hidden, the scent of roses lingering around You Yang's nose grew stronger, even carrying a hint of sweetness.

He turned his head and looked around, only to find that the seemingly dark and shadowy corridor was actually filled with all kinds of roses.

Red as fire, white as snow, they bloom quietly in the dappled light and shadow.

Vivian must have been hiding here, quietly pruning the flowers or simply enjoying their fragrance.

The two walked quickly, and in no time they had crossed the corridor and arrived at a detached cottage surrounded by flowers.

"My humble abode is simple and unadorned; please do not find it offensive."

Vivian gently pushed open the wooden door, turned to the side and gestured for You Yang to come in.

Since he had already come with them, You Yang didn't hesitate and stepped inside.

"Please wait a moment, it will be ready soon."

After settling You Yang down at the table, Vivian turned and went into the small kitchen in the back to get busy.

Bored, You Yang rested his chin on his hand and began to examine the furnishings of the room.

Compared to the vibrant scene of flowers blooming everywhere outside, the interior of the room was much simpler and more elegant, even exuding a faint sense of desolation.

There were no valuable ornaments or special decorations; the only notable feature was…

You Yang's gaze fell on the walls and shelves.

There were many dried and withered flowers hanging there.

They retain the vibrant posture they displayed in life, yet have lost their color and moisture, frozen in the moment of death, exuding a flawed and eerie beauty.

In just over ten minutes, an enticing aroma of food interrupted You Yang's observation.

Vivian returned carrying a tray with a bowl of steaming, bright red braised noodles on it.

"I heard you're from the East and don't like the cold food here."

"So I specially made some hot dishes from there, I hope you like them."

Vivian gently placed the bowl of braised noodles in front of You Yang, and then casually handed him a pair of chopsticks as well, her movements so practiced that it was as if she were also an Easterner.

You Yang was already extremely hungry, and the commotion caused by his rumbling stomach made him disregard all etiquette and appearance.

He thanked Vivian and then eagerly picked up his chopsticks.

As the chopsticks stirred, the rich aroma of meat, mixed with the unique salty and savory scent of star anise and sauce, instantly burst into the air and filled the nostrils.

The braised pork was stewed to perfection, with a perfect balance of lean and fat, melting in your mouth. It slid down your parched throat along with the chewy noodles, hot, rich, and with a comforting warmth.

"Snoring—"

You Yang squinted, enjoying the pleasure brought by the food, and involuntarily let out a satisfied whimper.

At that moment, his mind was completely blank except for the delicious, salty, and savory flavor he was savoring.

However, just as You Yang was enjoying his meal and sweating profusely, a discordant shout suddenly broke the rare tranquility from the courtyard outside.

"Chosen One! Come out and meet us!"

His voice was loud and penetrating, carrying an undeniable coldness.

You Yang paused slightly, holding the noodles between his fingers, and turned around in surprise to look out through the carved window behind him.

In the sunlight outside the door stood a tall man.

He had short, cool-toned silver-blue hair, every strand of which was meticulously styled and combed back, exuding an aloof and ruthless efficiency, like that of a precision instrument.

His attire also clashed with the natural ambiance of the courtyard.

The man wore a charcoal gray turtleneck bodysuit that accentuated his muscular physique, and a long, belted black trench coat with a functional style.

The trench coat was made of a special material. Under the midday sun, it did not reflect a dazzling light, but instead had a matte texture similar to carbon fiber, making it look tough and mysterious.

The edges and seams of his trench coat were adorned with extremely thin, pale blue fluorescent stripes that shimmered slightly with his movements, outlining his tall and slender silhouette.

Although he addressed You Yang as "the one favored by the gods," You Yang could clearly hear from his cold and scrutinizing tone that this visitor had no respect whatsoever, but rather a hint of provocation.

"It's alright, don't worry about it. He won't dare come in."

Vivian merely glanced out the window and then lost all interest in it.

He knew who was on the other end of the line, but precisely because he knew, he didn't care.

She turned her head, her gaze returning to You Yang, looking at the sauce on the corner of his mouth, her amber eyes full of smiles.

As someone who loves food and life, seeing the food she made so "ruthlessly" devoured is an extremely happy thing for her.

As for the intricate power struggles and probing among the arbitrators, she didn't want to get involved, much less let these trivial matters disturb You Yang's meal.

Lilith asked her to take good care of Youyang, so that no one could disturb him.

You Yang smiled and quickened his eating pace, finishing the remaining noodles and gravy at the bottom of the bowl in just a few bites.

He pulled out a tissue to wipe his mouth, then stood up, his eyes regaining their clarity.

"Thank you for your hospitality, the food was really delicious."

You Yang straightened his clothes and looked out the window at the still upright figure:

"But since they came specifically to find me, hiding isn't an option, so I'll go and see what's going on."

He could probably guess the other party's intentions.

Although he has an easygoing personality and doesn't like to cause trouble, he is never afraid of trouble when it comes his way.

Upon hearing this, Vivian did not object further.

She put down her teacup and rose gracefully:

"In that case, I'll go with you."

The two walked out of the hut one after the other.

Upon seeing You Yang finally appear, the silver-haired man outside the door, whose face had been tense the whole time, visibly relaxed his shoulders slightly, as if he had breathed a sigh of relief.

"So, who are you?"

"What do you want from me?"

You Yang stood on the steps and asked directly, without any beating around the bush.

The man pushed up his frameless glasses, which also gleamed with a cold light, and his sharp eyes behind the lenses stared intently at You Yang. His answer was equally crisp and decisive:

“I am Kairos von. One of the ‘Seven Stars’ of the Celestial Arbiters.”

"I'm here for only one purpose—I want to know if you're qualified to lead us!"

Kelos's voice was calm, but every word was like a nail driven into the ground.

You Yang scratched his head, not quite understanding what "one of the Seven Stars" meant, nor why this group of people always felt that he was going to lead them.

However, he fully understood the other party's intention to "test its quality".

Although he came here only to cooperate with Tiandao Lian to give an explanation, he did not intend to become any actual leader or boss.

But since they've already come knocking on our door in such a menacing manner...

You Yang stretched his wrists; he had just finished eating and needed some exercise.

"Then let's treat it as a post-meal digestive aid."

You Yang's lips curled slightly as he looked at Kairos.

"So, we're going to settle this with a duel, right?"

"Correct!"

Upon hearing this affirmative answer, the aura in You Yang's eyes instantly changed.

hum!

A flash of crimson light crossed his eyes.

Immediately afterwards, crimson elven energy gathered wildly on his left arm like flowing magma, the light intertwining and solidifying, finally transforming into a magnificent, ancient-looking gold and red duel disk!

Seeing that You Yang could actually use the power of the spirits to create a physical duel disk out of thin air in the real world, a hint of surprise flashed in the eyes of Kelos and Vivian behind him.