Chapter 172: We Just Knew

"Lian Ye, where have you been these days?"

At the Konoha Camp, Yuanfei Rizhan asked Lian Ye, who had just returned to the camp.

A few days earlier Lian Ye said he would leave the camp for a while; the others thought he would return soon, but he ended up being gone for more than ten days.

During that time they worried Lian Ye might be in danger, even went out to look for him several times, but found nothing.

This kept them worried for a long time, fearing something might happen to Lian Ye…

They thought that if Lian Ye still didn't return, they'd have to inform Teacher Feijian.

Fortunately, on the eleventh day after his departure, Lian Ye returned to the camp.

As soon as Lian Ye arrived, Yuanfei Rizhan and the others surrounded him, meeting their concerned gazes.

He smiled and explained, "I was researching something, that's why it took so long."

Lian Ye didn't tell the others about the powder he'd developed to deal with the strongman, wanting to give them a little shock later.

Saying it now would lose that feeling.

"Lian Yejun, are you okay?" Xiaochun Zhuanqin, noticing Lian Ye's pale complexion and heavy dark circles, asked softly.

"I'm fine, just haven't rested much," Lian Ye waved his hand, "I'm going back to the camp tent to sleep; we can talk later."

These days he's been continuously improving the powder, hoping to achieve its best effect.

Moreover, the powder has a serious flaw: it doesn't distinguish friend from foe!

As soon as the powder contacts the body, the flow of chakra is affected, Lian Ye himself included, let alone anyone else.

During those ten days, besides enhancing the powder's power, he also worked on a corresponding antidote.

Since he didn't know when Cloud Hidden would launch an attack, Lian Ye had to develop the antidote in the shortest time possible.

Time was tight, the task heavy.

Thus he barely had any rest; he was either catching "Lab Mouse" or refining the powder and making the antidote.

Ten days without sleep, even Ultraman would have to flash a red light!

If the Long-haired Strongman's threat weren't so great, he wouldn't be working so desperately.

If this went on long-term, living to fifty would already be a full life.

Lian Ye didn't continue the conversation, dragging his exhausted body away, needing to go back and get a good sleep!

The others watched Lian Ye's departing silhouette, unable to hide their doubts.

"You all think… what exactly has Lian Yejun been doing these days?" Uchiha Jing couldn't help his curiosity, he asked.

Yuanfei Rizhan pressed his chin, "I feel something's off; Lian Ye must be hiding something from us!"

"I think so too; what exactly is he concealing?" Mizuto Menyan was a bit puzzled.

"Hehe, I think I've guessed the reason." Zhi Cun Tuan Zang narrowed his eyes, as if seeing the truth.

"What's the reason?!" the group asked anxiously.

"I've known Lian Ye for so many years, so I understand him fairly well…" Tuan Cang's mouth twitched upward, "The only reason he'd hide something from us is that he's looking for a girlfriend."

"A girlfriend?!" the others stared in shock, looking as if they'd seen a ghost.

"Besides that… would Lian Ye hide anything else from us?" Tuan Cang retorted.

Hearing this, the others fell into contemplation.

Thinking carefully, it seemed Tuan Cang might be right…

If it didn't involve a private matter, as lifelong companions, Lian Ye would have no reason to hide anything from them.

"Actually there's another explanation: Lian Ye met a girl he likes, and has been spending this time accompanying her." Mizuto Menyan followed Tuan Cang's line of thought.

"Don't say it, but that's a real possibility!" Yuanfei Rizhan echoed.

"The girl Lian Yejun likes probably isn't a Konoha ninja, otherwise he wouldn't have been away so many days." Xiaochun Zhuanqin, looking gossip‑filled, asked, "What do you think?"

"Makes sense; where might she be from?"

"Could she be from Cloud Hidden Village?!"

"It's not impossible…"

Uchiha Jing saw the others analyzing seriously, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth, thinking the discussion was getting more and more absurd.

He always felt they were rambling, but had no evidence to refute them.

Based on his knowledge of Lian Ye, he felt Lian Ye didn't seem like the type to like women.

Wait, could Lian Yejun like men?!

Uchiha Jing was shocked by his own outrageous train of thought, quickly discarding the absurd idea from his mind.

If Lian Yejun found out, he'd definitely not let him off!

"Speak quietly, don't let Lian Yejun hear," Uchiha Jing whispered.

…………

Inside the camp tent, Lian Ye fell asleep without a clue that the others were spreading rumors about him behind his back.

If he found out, he'd be so angry he couldn't sleep.

He'd been studying diligently for dozens of days, yet people rumored he went out to look for a partner.

Anyone would find that unbearable!

When Lian Ye woke up, it was already dark.

He stepped out of the tent and saw Yuanfei Rizhan and the others sitting around the campfire, whispering something.

"What are you talking about?"

He curiously walked over, sitting beside Zhi Cun Tuan Zang, ready to hear what they were discussing.

With Lian Ye's arrival, the previously lively atmosphere suddenly fell silent; the others stared at each other for a long moment, yet no one spoke.

Lian Ye was instantly baffled.

No, what does this mean?!

His gaze swept over the few people one by one, and at the moment he met Lian Ye's eyes, each of them lowered their heads without exception, as if they had done something guilty.

"What are you doing?" Lian Ye asked, puzzled, "Why are you ignoring me?!"

He began to wonder what outrage-worthy act he had done that caused such a reaction from them.

But even after racking his brain, he couldn't figure out the problem…

Hearing this, the few of them looked at each other.

Finally, Yuanfei Rizhan broke the awkward atmosphere first, smiling, "We were just curious what you were doing; you took so long to come back,"

Lian Ye instantly understood; these guys were trying to probe his information.

How could he possibly tell them such a thing easily?

He was planning to give them a surprise.

If they found out in advance, would it still count as a surprise?

Lian Ye prepared to make up a random excuse to brush it off.

He could already imagine their expressions when they later saw the surprise.

Thinking of that, the corner of his mouth couldn't help but lift.

Lian Ye's smile, in the eyes of Yuanfei Rizhan and the others, was pure happiness!

Their speculation hardened, and even Uchiha Jing began to doubt—could Lian Yejun really have found a partner?!

"Actually…" Lian Ye hadn't spoken yet when Yuanfei Rizhan cut him off.

"Lian Ye, you don't need to explain; we all understand!"

"Exactly, we all get it!" the other four hurriedly agreed.

Lian Ye: "???"

I haven't even spoken yet, and you already know?!

He had just been trying to make up a story about his recent travels…

Even though he didn't know what they were talking about, Lian Ye nodded in acknowledgment.

"Since you know, I won't explain then."

Seeing Lian Ye not deny, the group displayed expressions of "I told you so."

"We knew it!"

"Haha, as long as you know," Lian Ye replied with a smile.

At this moment, he still hadn't realized the seriousness of the situation…