Chapter 74

The clearing in the forest was quite a distance from the library's main entrance, and there was no time left to rush over there. Fortunately, Chu Min's room always had a window open, and Wen Yan, who was walking in front, chose this route without hesitation. They quickly entered the room through the window.

The noise outside the window was getting closer, and Wen Yan's state of Mingzhi was also good, reaching the fifth level. She could even hear some louder voices.

"Hurry up..."

"Over here..."

"Where are they?"

Wen Yan dared not speak, signaling for Lu Ping to remain quiet and follow her. Hiding in this room seemed too straightforward; from the clearing in the forest, this window was quite conspicuous.

But at that moment, Wen Yan heard a voice from outside the window.

"Lu Ting, come and take a look," someone said.

He's here too...

A look of disappointment flashed across Wen Yan's face because she knew that this person would definitely be able to track them down.

Lu Ting, a fourth-year student at Tianzhao Academy, was a disciple of Xia Bojian and a Qi Soul user. His special ability, "Qi Zhu," meant "chasing by scent." Some students jokingly called him "the hound" behind his back. However, everyone knew that "Qi Zhu" was not an enhancement ability, not an enhancement of the sense of smell, but a keen perception of scent information by the Qi Soul. When Lu Ting chased by scent, he didn't sniff like a dog; he just relied on the same information—scent.

Was there a scent?

Of course there was!

They had just eaten a meal nearby, inevitably picking up some food scents. For Lu Ting, such scent signals were as clear as road signs. No one saw him make any sensing movements, but he gave a clear indication.

"There!"

Lu Ting pointed directly at the window where Lu Ping and the others had just climbed in.

"So they hid here!"

Dao Ran, who was walking in front, seemed to have selectively forgotten his earlier embarrassment of being held by the wrist and screaming "ouch" that morning. His expression became more arrogant and domineering. This time, he had invited three powerful fourth-year students, who, though not close friends, were all disciples of his uncle Xia Bojian. Dao Ran didn't have to put much effort into getting them to help.

But what Dao Ran was most looking forward to was personally beating up Lu Ping. So this time, he also brought a weapon. A pair of metal-looking gloves covered his hands—hard bone gauntlets, a divine weapon rated at level two.

With the special ability "Powerful," which enhanced his strength by fifteen times, and the hard bone gauntlets, which increased the destructive power of his Soul Force by thirty percent, Dao Ran regained his confidence, arrogance, and domineering attitude, not just because he had help.

Seeing their evasive and fleeing actions, Dao Ran's arrogance only grew. He strode to the window, leaped into the room, and found everything in disarray.

Lu Ting followed closely behind, pointing to the room's door. Without a word, Dao Ran rushed forward, pulling the door to chase after them.

Flash!

A bolt of lightning seemed to flash in the dimly lit library corridor, striking Dao Ran as he pulled open the door.

Under normal circumstances, this whip would have been quite a challenge for Dao Ran, but today, he was not at all concerned. He also had a weapon, and his right hand, wearing the hard bone gauntlets, reached out and grabbed the lightning bolt.

"You really love to meddle!" Dao Ran said disdainfully, waving his hand to pull back. Wen Yan's strength was no match for Dao Ran's, especially with the lingering effects of the morning's injury. She was immediately pulled over along with the whip.

Miscalculation!

Wen Yan thought to herself. She had intended to use her weapon to block them in the corridor for a while. She didn't expect Dao Ran to also bring a weapon and grab her soft whip with a single hand. Her Tianluo whip, made from Tianluo vine, was rated at level three, higher than the hard bone gauntlets. But it was now in the hands of the enemy, and its high rating was useless.

"I have to teach you a lesson!" Dao Ran raised his hand to punch, aiming at Wen Yan, who had been pulled back. But Lu Ting, who was following behind, stepped up and supported Dao Ran's elbow, causing his punch to miss. Wen Yan quickly let go of the whip and retreated.

"Let it go, we're all from the same academy. Let's chase those guys!" Lu Ting said, speaking up for Wen Yan.

"Next time, be smarter. Consider this whip as your apology." Dao Ran said casually, keeping the Tianluo whip without returning it to Wen Yan. He then continued to chase after the others. Wen Yan stood aside, silent. As Lu Ting walked past, he glanced at her and then at the closed room door behind her. Seeing the threatening and desperate look on Wen Yan's face, he smiled and said nothing, continuing to follow Dao Ran. Shi Zhongtian and Wan Cheng, also fourth-year students and disciples of Xia Bojian, were familiar with Wen Yan. As they passed her, they each made a helpless expression and continued to chase after the others.

Clearly, they were not enthusiastic about Dao Ran's actions, but they could not refuse due to their mentor Xia Bojian's face. As for Lu Ting, he seemed to be putting in a lot of effort, but that was also because everyone knew how powerful his ability was. There were still food remnants on the tree stump, and if he said he couldn't find the target, it would be too obvious. Dao Ran was not a fool.

However, just now, he had intercepted Dao Ran's punch, and then he had not exposed some things.

The group continued to chase down the corridor. After that, Dao Ran's lackeys did not dare to be too bold in front of Wen Yan, following their leader closely. When the last one ran past, Wen Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief. She turned the key to the room behind her, where Xi Fan lay inside.

Xi Fan had not eaten anything, so he would not have any food scent. Wen Yan thought he could avoid Lu Ting's "Qi Zhu." But from what just happened, it seemed Lu Ting had noticed something, but did not expose it.

Xi Fan would hide here first.

Wen Yan was a student at Tianzhao Academy, and Dao Ran could not go too far with her. This was Wen Yan's reasoning, so she stayed behind to help Lu Ping gain more time to escape, to shake off Lu Ting's "Qi Zhu" perception.

However, it seemed she had failed to gain much time, and Xi Fan's hiding was not very successful. But fortunately, Lu Ting had kept it a secret. Now, she could only hope that Lu Ping could escape by speed. But with two people, even without the burden of strength, it would still affect his movement.

Could they escape?

Wen Yan was very worried. She wanted to go and check, but leaving Xi Fan alone here made her uneasy.

Just as she was anxious, she heard footsteps in the corridor, slow and steady, getting closer and closer, until they stopped outside the door.

Who?!

Wen Yan's heart raced. The door was pushed open, and she was ready to act, but it was Lu Ting who walked in.

"You?" Wen Yan was surprised. "Why did you come back?"

"Hehe." Lu Ting smiled, walking into the room and closing the door behind him. "Because they no longer need me there."

"They caught them..." Wen Yan's heart sank, and seeing Lu Ting close the door, she had a bad feeling. Her guard, which had slightly relaxed, was immediately raised again.

"Yes, they caught them." Lu Ting nodded.

"Did you come back just to tell me this?" Wen Yan asked.

"Of course not." Lu Ting smiled. "Even though they caught them, you can't deny that I helped you earlier. So I came back to ask how you plan to repay me."

Lu Ting's smile suddenly became lecherous.

"You!" Wen Yan was shocked. She was not a child and could easily understand the implications of Lu Ting's words. She just didn't expect him to be so bold and openly threaten her.

"What? Do you want me to call them back? That boy on the floor would be in trouble. He seems to be in a strange state, maybe he's practicing something?" Lu Ting said, stepping closer.

"Despicable! Filthy!" Wen Yan cursed. She had always thought that someone like Dao Ran was already very despicable, but now she realized there were even more disgusting people.

"Want to fight? You're still injured, and you don't have your Tianluo whip. Do you think you can beat me?" Lu Ting said calmly.

"Let's see!" Wen Yan did not back down, swinging a punch. She had been preparing this punch for a long time, ever since she heard the footsteps. When she saw it was Lu Ting, she had relaxed a bit, and now she regretted that moment of relaxation. This guy was a beast in human form, and she had not noticed it in four years. Even if she killed him here, she would not regret it.

Wen Yan's punch was fast, and this one, long-prepared, carried a strong wind. At this moment, she no longer cared about causing a commotion. Even if Dao Ran returned, she would not find him more disgusting than the person in front of her.

"I knew you wouldn't give in so easily!" Lu Ting was still smiling, but his words indicated that he was also prepared. He was not surprised by Wen Yan's sudden attack. His movements were quick, and he retreated, pointing with two fingers of his right hand...

"Ah..." Wen Yan screamed in pain. The finger did not touch her, but the area where she had been injured by Dao Ran's Soul Force earlier suddenly ached intensely, and the power of her punch was completely lost.

"Hehe... That area has a strong scent of Dao Ran. What happened there?" Lu Ting leered, knowing exactly what had happened. He deliberately used his "Qi Zhu" to target that area, a cruel and insulting move.

Wen Yan gritted her teeth, determined not to give in, but Lu Ting was even more cruel than she imagined. With a quick movement, he struck again, and the injured area ached intensely once more.

"Don't blame me... You know my technique requires such specific scent marks to lock on and attack." Lu Ting said, pointing once, twice, three times... Three more strikes, and Wen Yan was in so much pain that she could barely stand, let alone fight back.

"So stubborn... I guess I have to get my hands dirty!" Lu Ting said, stepping forward. He could see that Wen Yan was completely exhausted and could only be at his mercy.

Death!

This was the only thought in Wen Yan's mind, but Lu Ting was too despicable, using his "Qi Zhu" to repeatedly strike her injured areas. She no longer had the strength to even end her own life...

"Hehehe..." Lu Ting laughed, approaching and pushing Wen Yan onto the table behind her. But then he heard a voice from the side.

"Uh? Should I leave first?"

Xi Fan, lying on the floor, averted his gaze and spoke.