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

Upon hearing Chen Yuan's invitation, You Yang stopped and pondered for a moment.

Is something wrong with him?

of course not.

To the world, he was an unregistered person just a day ago, so what important thing could he possibly have to do?

Going back now would just mean lying in a hotel bed and sleeping soundly.

However, Ling Shiyao was still interrogating the people who had been arrested, and he was indeed concerned about the outcome. He probably wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully if he went back now.

Rather than spending time alone in an empty hotel room lost in thought, being with these three seems like a good alternative.

So, You Yang nodded slightly.

Upon seeing his agreement, Chen Yuan and the other two immediately showed joy on their faces.

They led Youyang into the house behind them.

Liu Zi skillfully removed the already dilapidated wooden door and leaned it against the wall. Then, Liu Zi ran out, seemingly to find a new door.

After being welcomed into the house by Chen Yuan and his sister, You Yang realized that the inside and outside of the house were two completely different worlds.

From the outside, it looks just like any other building in the slums—gray, lifeless, and devoid of any hope for life.

But as soon as you step inside, a warm and inviting atmosphere greets you. The walls are covered with warm-toned wallpaper, which, despite being a bit old, remains clean.

The furniture inside the house is arranged neatly without feeling cramped, and every space is carefully utilized.

It's clear that the person who takes care of this home must be a very meticulous and gentle person.

"The conditions are simple, with only black tea available. Please forgive us."

Upon entering the room, Chen Yuexi helped Chen Yuan to sit down on the sofa, then went into the kitchen alone.

After You Yang finished looking around the room, she came out with two steaming cups of tea and carefully placed them on the coffee table in front of him.

You Yang gazed at the clear tea in front of him and fell into a brief silence.

He always drinks only fruit juice, for a simple reason: because fruit juice is sweet.

Similarly, he dislikes anything bitter, such as tea and coffee.

But now that they have served the tea with such sincerity, it would be extremely impolite not to touch it.

After weighing his options carefully, You Yang picked up the teacup, brought it to his lips, took a small, restrained sip, and immediately put it back in its place.

Chapter 53 Ling Shiyao's phone call, Ozman's past!

"Please forgive us for the poor hospitality."

Chen Yuexi bowed slightly again, her soft hair slipping down her shoulders, a barely perceptible hint of sadness crossing her delicate face.

If it weren't for the sudden misfortune that befell their family, they wouldn't have fallen to such a state, struggling even to entertain guests.

You Yang waved his hand gently again, indicating that she didn't need to do that.

He quietly observed the girl in front of him. Her every move revealed her good upbringing. Her politeness and gentleness, which were ingrained in her bones, did not seem like someone who should exist in this chaotic slum.

On the other side, Chen Yuan held a teacup, sipping his black tea with satisfaction. The warm tea slid down his throat, dispelling the lingering chill and fatigue in his body, and his complexion improved as a result.

Unlike You Yang, who dislikes bitterness, he has been accustomed to the taste of tea since childhood. For him, the tea brewed by his younger sister is always the most mellow drink in the world.

As Chen Yuexi sat down on the other side of the sofa, the atmosphere in the room suddenly fell into a subtle silence.

After all, this was only the second time the two had interacted, and there was a sense of unfamiliarity between them.

Although we are sitting in the same room now, I really don't know where to begin.

The only sounds in the air were the soft murmur of Chen Yuan drinking tea and the faint, distant clamor of the city outside the window.

Chen Yuexi glanced at Chen Yuan, who was still enjoying his tea, and her fingertips involuntarily curled up. She wished she could go over and kick her brother a couple of times.

Is now the time to relax and enjoy tea?

With our benefactor right in front of us, shouldn't we find some topics to talk about and get to know each other better?

Then think about how to repay the kindness?

However, You Yang himself didn't have much to say about it; for him, the quiet atmosphere was just right.

Before he transmigrated, in his original world, he always made it a habit to walk alone on the bustling streets during festivals.

I quietly watched the parents coming and going, their faces beaming with happiness as they walked past, holding their children's hands.

You Yang would linger for a long time, as if simply watching could draw a touch of familial warmth from that lively atmosphere.

Now, sitting in this cozy living room that doesn't belong to him, looking at the brother and sister who depend on each other for survival, he feels no different than he did back then.

This peaceful atmosphere, filled with the warmth of everyday life, is far better than returning to that empty, cold, and sterile hotel room.

Just as the silence lasted for a moment, and Chen Yuexi was racking her brains to find a topic to start a conversation—

"Ring ring ring—"

A sudden, urgent cell phone ring broke the silence of the room, causing Chen Yuexi and Chen Yuan to instinctively look in the direction of the sound.

You Yang took his phone out of his pocket, the cold light from the screen illuminating his calm face.

The caller ID displayed the name "Ling Shiyao," which wasn't surprising, as this was the only number he had saved in his contacts.

He swiped to answer the call and put the phone to his ear.

"Hey, how's it going?"

"Not going very smoothly."

Ling Shiyao's slightly annoyed voice came from the other end of the phone, with the sound of wind whistling in the background.

"It seems the owner of that underground arena received advance notice. By the time we arrived, the place was already deserted."

Hearing the words coming from the receiver, You Yang raised his eyebrows slightly, revealing a hint of surprise.

It's 2 a.m. now. Ling Shiyao and her team's operation was undoubtedly a surprise arrest, and in theory, it should have been foolproof.

How could they have escaped? Could there be a traitor among them?

How are things going on your end?

Ling Shiyao pressed for an answer.

"It's been resolved, but that Dark Duelist is dead."

You Yang calmly stated the facts.

"Are you OK?"

The voice on the other end of the phone suddenly rose in pitch, filled with concern.

"fine."

"It's alright, that's good."

After confirming You Yang's safety, Ling Shiyao's tone relaxed, but it was soon tinged with suppressed anger and dejection.

"The Dark Duelist is dead, so be it."

It was clear that she was very dissatisfied with the anticlimactic outcome of the operation.

You Yang didn't object to Ling Shiyao's statement, since Dark Duelists were criminals.

He asked instead:

"Do you know Ozman?"

“Ozman?” Ling Shiyao repeated the name on the other end of the phone, followed by a moment of silence.

You Yang could hear faint keyboard tapping sounds coming from the other end, as if someone was looking up some information.

After a while, Ling Shiyao's voice rang out again, this time with an extremely solemn tone.

"Ozman, a first-class citizen of the Free Federation."

"Historically, he participated in the 42nd Duel Tournament of the Free Federation Organization and fought his way through to the finals."

"But he did not show up as promised on the day of the final."

"Due to Ozman's unexcused absence, his opponent automatically won the championship of that tournament."

"After that, Ozman disappeared without a trace."

"His next appearance will be in the lead-up to the 43rd Duel Tournament."

"He attacked the previous champion and sacrificed the entire family."

"From then on, he was officially defined as the Dark Duelist and has been wanted by the Free Federation and the Eastern Alliance at the highest level."

At this point, Ling Shiyao paused, her voice trembling with disbelief as she asked:

"What's wrong? You... ran into him?"

After listening to Ling Shiyao's words, You Yang softly hummed in agreement on the other end of the phone.

Although he didn't know the specific details, just by listening to the story, he could roughly guess what kind of tragedy had happened to that man.

"Are you really alright?!"

On the other end of the phone, Ling Shiyao's voice instantly became excited.

"I'll be right there!"

That's someone who once made it to the finals of the Free Federation Duel Tournament!

The Free Federation's dueling tournament is the world's largest and most prestigious event, attracting almost all of the world's top duelists.

To be able to break through in such a competition, one can imagine how terrifying Ozman's strength is!

Although the world of duels is changing rapidly, with new cards and decks appearing every moment.

The previous champion could very well lose to an unknown player.

But after all, they almost won the championship.

"It's really nothing, don't worry."

You Yang quickly tried to comfort her, as he could imagine Ling Shiyao's anxious expression on the other end of the phone.