Chapter 148: He was angry

The guards heard those two words and showed shocked expressions.

Their gazes unconsciously drifted toward the girl.

Meanwhile, the boy in white slightly turned sideways, skillfully using his tall, straight body to block most of the girl's figure, and his hand also covered her upper face, making her identity unrecognizable.

The guards exchanged a glance, after searching the alley, they gave this boy and girl a meaningful look, then left.

Upon hearing the guards' footsteps fade away, Yuan Yao immediately lifted her foot and stepped hard on Xie Yan's instep.

"Who are you having an affair with!"

Xie Yan winced slightly from the pain.

Yuan Yao tried to pull his hand down, but he pressed his palm firmly over her eyes, his voice turning cold: "Don't move! Do you really want to see my true face?"

"Anyone who sees my true face and knows I am Xie Yan's person must die!"

Xie Yan warned in a low voice.

Upon hearing that, Yuan Yao instantly didn't want to pull his hand away.

Seeing her calm down, Xie Yan felt an inexplicable tightness in his chest.

He took out a mask with one hand, covered his face, then released his grip.

His palm still retained warmth; he shifted his fingers slightly, feeling a bit uneasy.

At that moment, Yuan Yao kept her eyes tightly shut and asked, "Is it on?"

Xie Yan said nothing.

"Is it on?" Yuan Yao took a deep breath.

Seeing how terrified she was of seeing his face, Xie Yan recalled that even in the Wuduan Mijing, despite his unconsciousness, she had never removed his mask.

He suddenly spoke, "Aren't you curious about my appearance?"

Yuan Yao froze.

"Why be curious? I know that people who wear masks are either disfigured or hiding a secret. If so, why bother being curious? Besides, you're not someone particularly important—just a passing acquaintance..."

After hearing those words, Xie Yan fell silent for a moment, then smiled sinisterly: "You're right—I wear the mask because I'm disfigured. If an insignificant person catches sight of my true face, I'll snap her neck."

Yuan Yao: "?" How come he suddenly lost his temper?

Could it be that I accidentally exposed his disfigurement, making him unhappy?

She coughed lightly, trying to change the subject: "Xie Yan, have you put on the mask?"

"No."

"Is there something wrong with your hand? It's been this long—why haven't you put on the mask yet?"

"I don't want to wear it." Xie Yan's lips curled. "If you dare open your eyes, I'll kill you."

"You swore you wouldn't kill me." Yuan Yao felt his temperament was too fickle, his emotions unstable, and he couldn't be her ally.

Xie Yan seemed to have heard a funny joke, his tone wicked: "You think I'd care about a mere inner demon?"

He watched her eyes move beneath her thin eyelids.

Just as he was about to lean in to look, Yuan Yao opened her eyes.

The two locked eyes at close range.

Xie Yan's body stiffened slightly.

"Xie Yan, you bastard! How dare you toy with me!" Before he could react, Yuan Yao swung a hard slap at his face—specifically, at the cold mask.

Smack!

Xie Yan was dazed by the blow.

Immediately after, he was shoved hard by Yuan Yao, who then sprinted out of the alley.

She truly had her mind clouded by pig fat today—how foolish to think she could persuade him to be her ally and go after the male lead, Xu Yanzi, together.

Yuan Yao rushed into the crowd, about to head back toward the Carefree Travel Institute, when a voice from her sea of consciousness announced the 250 System.

【Target: Xie Yan, Awakening Value reached -80.】

Upon hearing it, Yuan Yao was instantly startled.

When did Xie Yan's Awakening Value increase so much?!

Before, it rose point by point; now it jumped up by several points at once.

Yuan Yao glanced back and saw a tall, straight youth standing at the alley mouth, his eyes venomous like a snake's, cutting through the crowd to lock onto her.

Yuan Yao's heart jumped, and she immediately took off running.

Because she feared he would retaliate against her.

After all, she had just slapped him hard.

Actually, her hand hurt from the strike as well…

Yuan Yao hurried toward the Carefree Travel Institute; just as she was rushing, a hand from behind grabbed her shoulder.

She startled, thinking it was that bastard Xie Yan, and was about to gather spiritual power to strike him back—

"Why are you so panicked?" a familiar voice came.

It made her forcibly lower her raised hand.

She turned her head to see who it was and called out, "Second Senior Sister."

Not only did the Second Senior Sister arrive, but the Eldest Senior Brother, Third Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Brother, Youngest Senior Brother, and Senior Sister Yao Linglong all came as well.

Song Yan looked worried as he asked: "We weren't at ease, so we came to find you. Yao Yao, why do you look so panicked? Is someone trying to harm you?"

Yuan Yao shook her head: "No… I just really want to get back to the institute."

"You're lying." Xiao Lingwei curled her finger and lightly tapped her forehead.

Yuan Yao gave an embarrassed laugh.

Cang Li had taken a sobering pill and was now completely sober; he stared at Yuan Yao with suspicion: "Could you have done something bad?"

"I haven't done anything bad, stop asking." Yuan Yao said.

Ying Wuji said, "Let's go back first."

"Fine, let's go back first."

…

Inside the Carefree Practice Hall.

After Yuan Yao followed her senior brothers and sisters back to the practice hall, she sent a message to Weng Mingshu to report her safety and inquire about her current situation.

Weng Mingshu replied, "Don't worry, I've returned to the Heavenly Clouds Practice Hall. I'll contact you again tomorrow."

After hearing that, Yuan Yao sent a message: "Tomorrow I will stay in the practice hall to cultivate. After the sect grand competition ends, I'll contact you again."

Weng Mingshu replied listlessly, "Okay."

Yuan Yao: "You should cultivate diligently as well."

Weng Mingshu: "You're just like my parents."

Yuan Yao: "Then, in this year's sect grand competition disciple rankings, my rank should be much higher than yours."

Upon hearing that, Weng Mingshu was provoked and replied, "I won't lose to you!"

Yuan Yao chuckled.

She put away the communication crystal and gazed toward the room where Lu Xiangxiang lived.

She suddenly thought of someone—Shiziwen.

Shiziwen seemed to have suffered serious injuries in the Secret Realm Points Competition, but his ranking on the points leaderboard is not low.

Ranked seventy-fifth.

Yuan Yao tried to pry some information about Lu Xiangxiang from Shiziwen's mouth, but realized she had no way to contact him.

She had no choice but to go find Shiziwen herself.

As she headed toward Shiziwen's residence, she gradually noticed someone following her from behind.

Yuan Yao deliberately turned left and right, wandering slowly back and forth.

Afterward, she arrived at a secluded spot inside the Carefree Practice Hall, with no one around, no lights, and a dim atmosphere that carried a hint of gloom.

She slowly turned around, immediately focused her mind, and used her mental power to track back the follower.

When that person realized they had been discovered and tried to leave, they suddenly fell into the formation Yuan Yao had set up!

Yuan Yao rushed over and saw that the person following her was actually a senior brother from the Heavenly Learning Peak!