Chapter 52: I Was Just Joking With You

"Lian Yejun, why are you so absent‑minded?"

A few days later, in the caravan.

Xiaochun Zhuanqin watched Lian Ye, who was sitting on the carriage staring off into space, with a puzzled expression.

Their mission this time was to escort the caravan to Earth Country.

But along the way, Lian Ye kept his weapon clutched and said nothing, his thoughts unknown.

Originally she didn't want to ask; everyone has their own concerns, no need to pry.

But Lian Ye was different; he was the core of the squad, and such a condition couldn't occur, otherwise danger would easily arise during the mission.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang turned his head to look; this was the first time he had seen Lian Ye in such a state.

He was very curious about what exactly had happened to make Lian Ye so absent‑minded all the way.

Lian Ye had been pondering the matter of eye opening, and only when he heard the question did he come back to himself.

He turned his head toward the two curious onlookers and explained, "I'm thinking about how a Single Tomoe can quickly advance to a Double Tomoe, and even to a Three Tomoe…"

"Lian Yejun, is eye opening for your Uchiha Clan difficult?" Xiaochun Zhuanqin asked.

Hearing this, Zhi Cun Tuan Zang subconsciously furrowed his brow and looked at Xiaochun Zhuanqin with displeasure.

In his view, Xiaochun's question was rather presumptuous, asking about another family's eye opening method; such behavior was no different from that of a spy.

Fortunately Lian Ye was their teammate; if it had been another Uchiha Clan's member, they might have seized this foolish woman for interrogation.

After all, eye opening is a secret of the Uchiha Clan!

Lian Ye didn't think much; in his view the Uchiha's eye opening method wasn't a secret, nothing was unspeakable.

"It is indeed somewhat difficult…"

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang was somewhat surprised; he hadn't expected Lian Ye to answer such a sensitive topic, and he quickly perked up his ears.

This was a good opportunity to learn about the Uchiha.

"The Sharingan evolves after undergoing intense emotional stimulation, and once the chakra level is sufficient, it naturally evolves."

That sounds simple, but the actual practice is different.

Among the Uchiha Clan, most members who can open their eyes stop at the Double Tomoe, and only a few can reach the Three Tomoe.

Because strong emotion is too abstract.

Some members have such strong psychological endurance that ordinary emotions rarely trigger eye evolution, unless they witness a beloved's death right before their eyes, which then has a chance to cause evolution.

Thus, within the Uchiha Clan, excessive psychological resilience is not a good thing.

For Lian Ye, getting his eyes to evolve becomes even more difficult.

He is a Transmigrator, and he always feels detached from this world, unable to quickly integrate or form strong emotional bonds.

It is this very point that troubles him greatly.

Ordinary emotions rarely stimulate him, unless… he witnesses a comrade or a close friend die; otherwise it is hard for the Sharingan to evolve.

Of course, strong emotions aren't limited to anger; there's happiness, excitement, fear…

In life‑or‑death crises, the eyes can also evolve.

"So the Sharingan's evolution requires strong emotion?" Xiaochun Zhuanqin realized.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang was somewhat stunned, murmuring, "Is emotion alone enough?"

He had thought the Sharingan's evolution was complex, but it turned out that merely strong emotion sufficed.

That inevitably made him a bit jealous.

Damn, ninjas from great families get stronger easily…

These small families, lacking a powerful Kekkei Genkai, can only keep grinding to become stronger.

We work ourselves to death just to get stronger, and then we see the neighboring Uchiha members, who, because of anger, activate the Sharingan and instantly surpass us—it's as if the heavens collapsed!

Lian Ye didn't know what Tuan Cang was thinking; otherwise he would have definitely rebutted him.

Is eye opening for the Uchiha really that simple?

Lian Ye rubbed the Wuku in his hand, looked thoughtfully at the two, and asked, "You both say, if you die in front of me, could I open my eye?"

Hearing this, the two instantly widened their eyes, showing incredulous expressions.

Lian Ye, that guy, is he crazy about opening his eye?!

"Lian… Lian Yejun, don't do that." Xiaochun Zhuanqin swallowed nervously.

"Haha, Lian Ye, stop joking with us." Zhi Cun Tuan Zang gave a dry chuckle twice.

Lian Ye's idea was dangerous; they had to dispel that thought.

Otherwise they truly feared that Lian Ye might act on them or refuse to save them during the mission just to open his eye…

At this moment, the two finally understood the meaning of Teacher Feijian's earlier words.

【The Uchiha Clan's temperament is extreme, prone to extremes.】

Lian Ye stared quietly at the two, his voice cold: "I'm not joking."

As he spoke, he placed his hand on the hilt; with a metallic hum, the blade extended more than three inches from the sheath.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang and Xiaochun Zhuanqin, seeing this, instantly widened their eyes in terror.

Damn, this is scarier than betraying a teammate—just go for it?!

"Lian Ye, calm down!"

"Even if you kill us, you might still not open your eye!"

They hadn't expected Lian Ye to actually intend to act against them.

Seeing Lian Ye's blood‑red eyes and indifferent expression, cold sweat instantly poured down the two.

If they truly fought, they really wouldn't be a match for Lian Ye.

Tuan Cang and Xiaochun's internal alarms blared; they would die, they would truly die!

Intense fear made their legs go weak, and they even forgot to run away.

Seeing the two's pale faces, Lian Ye gave a slight smile, sheathed his sword, and said, "Tsk, don't be so nervous, I'm just joking with you."

Hearing that, the two twitched the corners of their mouths.

If they could beat Lian Ye, they would definitely beat this bastard to a pulp!

Damn it, this joke isn't funny at all.

They almost got scared themselves to the point of wetting themselves just now.

"Lian Yejun, you really are… you scared me to death." Xiaochun Zhuanqin, embarrassed and angry, punched Lian Ye in the chest.

"Haha, sorry about that." Lian Ye laughed and scratched his head.

Zhi Cun Tuan Zang stared at Lian Ye with a complicated expression; he kept feeling that Lian Ye wasn't really joking just now.

In that instant, Lian Ye seemed truly ready to strike them.

After all, that intense murderous intent couldn't be feigned…

"Teacher Feijian is right; the Uchiha Clan are all lunatics!"

No wonder Teacher Feijian has to keep watching the Uchiha Clan; in the situation just now, who would dare ignore the Uchiha?

At that moment, he deeply understood Teacher Feijian's well‑intentioned caution.

Thinking that, Tuan Cang subconsciously put distance between himself and Lian Ye.

If Lian Ye shows this kind of sign again, he'll have to run away.

Lian Ye's actions made him start fearing the Uchiha.

Such unstable factors should be eliminated early, lest they harm others!

"Tuan Cang, don't be nervous, I really am joking with you." Lian Ye, seeing Tuan Cang's small movements, said helplessly.

He was bored on the road, so he thought of making a joke to liven the atmosphere, but didn't expect to scare the two.

Tuan Cang said nothing, and again put some distance between himself and Lian Ye.

Seeing this, Lian Ye didn't know what to say.

As for whether he was joking just now, perhaps only he knows.