Chapter 127: You

Ding Huan had just stepped out of the meeting room when a gray-clad man with a blank expression blocked his path.

The fellow was short and frail-looking.

Yet Ding Huan sensed his strength was slightly greater than Zhong Chi's, comparable to Cang Beichun, whom he had killed.

He hadn't expected such a strong presence to be hiding here—but so what? Cang Beichun had been helpless before him too.

"Shua!" A long whip snapped out from his hand.

The whip whipped up a shadow that locked the space where Ding Huan stood, yet the shadow did not lash toward Ding Huan.

Clearly, this was a battle-hardened veteran.

If Ding Huan's strength were even close to his—or slightly stronger—he would still be trapped by this shadow's pressure; this was Qi.

Others didn't understand, but Ding Huan understood.

Ding Huan didn't even ask Qi Xinyue or Seeing Qu Yi to move aside—Qi only affected those of similar strength.

This opponent was a Level Nine Gene Cultivator; in Ding Huan's eyes, he was nothing at all, not worth his attention.

"Stop, Leng Qi," Li Chuan, the Guardian Academy's dean, arrived in time.

After calling out to Leng Qi, Li Chuan bowed to Ding Huan:

"Teacher Ding, Leng Qi is a rare talent. Shi Changyi saved his life, and ever since, he has guarded Shi Changyi faithfully."

His gene cultivation talent is unparalleled; under scarce resources, he reached Level Seven Gene Cultivator in just one year.

In two years, he reached Level Nine Gene Cultivator."

Hearing that Leng Qi had reached Level Nine Gene Cultivator in two years under scarce resources, Ding Huan felt a pang of awe—his talent far surpassed his own.

If he had no Qi Stones or Zhan Shen Crystals, he'd be stuck at Level Three Gene Cultivator at best—and even that would require luck.

At this moment, Ding Huan suspected Leng Qi might possess a spiritual root.

"Leng Qi, Shi Changyi has acted against righteousness, selfish and cruel. Now that he's dead, you should contribute to humanity on Earth, not continue aiding evil and abetting tyranny."

Li Chuan shouted.

Then he bowed again to Ding Huan: "Teacher Ding, Earth's strong cultivators are few. Please show mercy and spare Leng Qi this time."

Ding Huan nodded and looked at Leng Qi: "You're no match for me. Leave."

Saying this, Ding Huan turned and walked away.

Leng Qi's talent was indeed impressive—but what did that have to do with him?

He hadn't killed Leng Qi yet because Leng Qi hadn't moved against him yet.

If anyone thought a man like Leng Qi would risk his life killing ferocious beasts to protect Earth, Ding Huan would laugh.

Almost the instant Ding Huan turned, a crimson streak like lightning pierced toward his back.

Death's aura enveloped Ding Huan; Li Chuan was stunned.

If Ding Huan were assassinated because he trusted Li Chuan's words, Li Chuan would never forgive himself.

The moment the crimson killing light touched Ding Huan's back, Ding Huan seemed to suddenly shift direction.

The crimson light grazed his back but left not a scratch.

Ding Huan turned his head and saw the crimson light vanish into Leng Qi's sleeve.

"Leng Qi, you're utterly dishonorable!"

Li Chuan roared in fury; though Ding Huan had dodged, it had been terrifyingly close.

Leng Qi spoke calmly:

"I owe Shi Alliance Lord my life. If I didn't strike, I'd rather die. Now, I owe Shi Alliance Lord nothing."

"Teacher Ding, I apologize for Leng Qi on his behalf—this matter…"

Before Li Chuan could finish, Ding Huan waved a hand with a smile:

"It's only right. This is repayment for a life saved. Leng Qi is a man of principle—I admire such men."

Leng Qi, knowing he was no match for Ding Huan, glanced at him once and turned to leave.

He had misjudged: Ding Huan's strength wasn't just greater—it was vastly greater.

He had been right: Ding Huan hadn't moved against him.

Li Chuan exhaled in relief; Ding Huan was far more reasonable than he'd expected.

Almost the instant Leng Qi turned, two deathly auras locked onto him.

Leng Qi's heart lurched; he leapt upward, diving sideways.

"Pū!" A spray of blood exploded. Leng Qi collapsed to his knees, clutching his throat, gasping, unable to speak.

He understood now why he'd escaped those two deathly auras—they weren't meant to kill him, but to force him to rise.

The true killing blow was the blade-light that struck after he leapt.

He regretted it—he regretted attacking Ding Huan.

Because of Ding Huan's words, he'd assumed Ding Huan was the type who feigned magnanimity to build his image.

Combined with his astonishing talent, he thought Ding Huan wouldn't kill him—he could still contribute by killing ferocious beasts.

Leng Qi could only say that Ding Huan and Li Chuan had overestimated him. To send him to kill beasts? Ha. Dream on.

What did it matter to him if Earth perished and humanity vanished?

So he believed that even if his assassination failed, Ding Huan wouldn't punish him.

And he trusted his sleeve crossbow utterly—even cultivators far stronger than him could be killed by its ambush.

Ding Huan was indeed stronger, but in his view, not by much. He thought he could kill Ding Huan.

After failing to kill Ding Huan, he immediately concealed his killing intent—he would strike again someday.

He never imagined Ding Huan wouldn't give him a tomorrow.

"Teacher Ding…" Li Chuan stared at Ding Huan, unable to believe it.

Ding Huan ignored Li Chuan and looked at Leng Qi: "I only told you to ambush from behind; otherwise, you wouldn't have had a chance to strike at all."

"Why?" Leng Qi's throat was slit; he managed three blurred words, leaking air.

"You're not worthy to know." With that, Ding Huan signaled Qi Xinyue and Seeing Qu Yi to leave quickly.

What a joke—high talent means nothing to him? He never lets anyone who wants to kill him live.

From start to finish, Ding Huan never intended to spare Leng Qi.

In other words, even if Leng Qi hadn't ambushed him, he'd have lived only a few more seconds.

Not only did he already plan to kill Leng Qi, he'd been watching for it.

In fact, Leng Qi carried that faint, elusive killing intent—he felt it clearly too.

To mistake Ding Huan for Zhong Chi is to say Leng Qi is blind.

Seeing Ding Huan kill Leng Qi, Seeing Qu Yi exhaled in relief.

She was no longer that naive girl from years ago; she'd fought savage beasts on the Human Corridor Frontline and dealt with the Gene Alliance.

She knew better than anyone that Leng Qi was a venomous snake—utterly without humanity.

Fortunately, Brother Ding wasn't fooled by Director Li's words; otherwise, as long as he stayed on Earth, he'd surely be betrayed by this man someday.

"Brother Ding, your eyes are fine—I'm so happy." Only now could Seeing Qu Yi voice the indescribable emotion inside her.

Ding Huan smiled: "My recovery ability is excellent. What about you? How bad are your injuries?"

Seeing Qu Yi shook her head:

"My recovery ability is also very strong. Did Brother Ding help me? I actually recovered in just over ten minutes."

Ding Huan nodded—he had fused a recovery-enhancing gene serum for Seeing Qu Yi.

So her rapid recovery was normal.

"Who is this sister?" Seeing Qu Yi looked at Qi Xinyue, feeling a strange, inexplicable emotion inside.

Ding Huan quickly said:

"This is Qi Xinyue. She's not from Earth. When I was being chased by the Giant Gorilla, she saved my life."

"Ah…"

Hearing Ding Huan had nearly died, Seeing Qu Yi gasped—in her heart, Ding Huan's life mattered more than her own.

"Thank you, Sister Xinyue. I'm Seeing Qu Yi. My life was saved by Brother Ding."

Seeing Qu Yi quickly bowed in thanks.

Qi Xinyue hurriedly said:

"Ding Xiaotu mentioned you to me. He was very worried about you, so as soon as he heard you were in trouble, he came right over."

Ding Xiaotu?

Seeing Qu Yi paused slightly.

Ding Huan smiled:

"Seeing Qu Yi, you can call me Ding Xiaotu too. I'm not older than you."

If Qi Xinyue hadn't called Ding Huan Ding Xiaotu, Seeing Qu Yi would never have dared to call him that.

Now that Ding Huan said it, she immediately replied: "Mm… Ding Xiaotu…"

She'd been about to add "brother," but since Qi Xinyue didn't call him "brother," she couldn't either.

As the three spoke, they reached the side of the Blue Star.

"This warship is so beautiful."

Seeing Qu Yi, gazing at the Blue Star, couldn't help saying.

Then she seemed to remember something:

"Brother Ding, I heard Senior Zhong say you're leaving Earth?"

Instantly, she reverted to calling him "Brother Ding."

Calling him "Ding Xiaotu" still felt unnatural to her.

Ding Huan nodded:

"After I deal with the Demon Dragon and the Giant Gorillas here, I'll go to Yanjing and Ocean Biology."

Once those two places are settled, I'll leave Earth."

Going to Yanjing and Ocean Biology was to investigate his father, Ding Baishan.

But Ding Huan knew clearly—his father was almost certainly dead.

It was irreversible, because it happened before his rebirth.

If not for Seeing Qu Yi's situation, he wouldn't have appeared here first—he'd have appeared in Yanjing.

"Xinyue, Qu Yi, wait here for me. I'll go out and see if I can find that Demon Dragon."

Ding Huan pointed at the Blue Star.

Seeing Qu Yi hurried forward:

"Ding Xiaotu, let me come with you. I'm a Level Five Gene Cultivator now…"

Ding Huan shook his head:

"A Level Five Gene Cultivator won't survive a single clash with that Demon Dragon. Stay here and wait."

If nothing happens, you can train aboard the Blue Star until I return."

"That's right, Qu Yi. I've seen that Demon Dragon—it's extremely strong. If it's healed now, it's even stronger. We'd be useless if we went."

Qi Xinyue spoke, far more rational than Seeing Qu Yi—she knew clearly that going along would only be a burden.

Seeing Qu Yi could only nod, though she wondered: What if her parents won't let her follow Ding Huan off Earth?

Ding Huan prepared a small wooden raft to help him walk on the sea.

He also didn't know whether that demon dragon was still in the sea, or hiding in some corner somewhere.

Ding Huan decided to search the sea for one day. If he couldn't find the demon dragon within that day, he would go back and pilot the Blue Star through the undersea avenue.

The undersea avenue was so long that even using the Wind-Riding Technique to traverse it would be too much of a waste of time.