Chapter 229: Lightning‑System Talent

Lu Jing slowly opened his eyes, watching the mountain scenery outside the window constantly flashing by.

As the bus continued forward, the distance to the destination grew ever closer.

Seeing Lu Jing looking like he was about to fall asleep, the female tour guide quickly shouted over the loudspeaker: "Hey kid, don't sleep yet, or you'll bump your head later—hold on, we'll be there soon!"

Lu Jing didn't move; suddenly the little girl beside him patted his leg and said with a grin, "Big brother, don't sleep—come play a game with Xiao Yu!"

"Come on over, don't disturb big brother!"

A pair of big hands lifted Xiao Yu up and placed her on his lap.

He was precisely the middle‑aged man who had shared a ride with him on the high‑speed rail before.

Lu Jing glanced at the man, his eyes thoughtful.

Whether by coincidence or design, this father‑daughter pair had actually signed up for the same tour group as him.

Lu Jing seriously suspected that the man had overheard his phone call with the travel agency.

However, for now he sensed no killing intent or hostility from the man...

"It's fine; I'm just bored anyway."

Lu Jing turned his head, smiled and nodded at the little girl: "Xiao Yu, what game do you want to play?"

"This one!"

Xiao Yu pulled a deck of cards from her pocket and asked, "Big brother, can you do magic tricks?"

The middle‑aged man looked at Xiao Yu affectionately, then helplessly set her down.

Five minutes later.

"When are we getting there? My butt hurts from sitting, this godforsaken place has not a soul in sight—I'm just bored out of my mind coming here to travel..."

To Lu Jing's front‑left, a short‑haired girl in a skirt, showing her fair thighs, muttered a complaint, thoroughly dissatisfied with the trip.

Beside the short‑haired girl sat an equally youthful and lovely companion, her style leaning toward the mature, seductive "older sister" type, with cascading curls over her shoulders and tempting black‑lettered stockings on her legs, who said, "Oh come on, Li Xixi, stop complaining—didn't you pick this place yourself?"

The older‑sister‑type girl patted Li Xixi's shoulder and said with a smile, "Do you remember what you said yourself—that you'd cleanse your soul with the lightning from Thunder Pond? How come you're already regretting it before we even get there?"

"Big sis, please stop criticizing me—I was just speaking rashly when my head was hot; isn't it enough that I admit I was wrong?"

Li Xixi brushed off the older sister's hand resting on her shoulder and said irritably,

"Fine, fine, I won't say anything more—okay?"

The older sister shrugged, her gaze sweeping past the short‑haired girl to land on the boy performing magic tricks.

Only a single card was seen flipping back and forth between the boy's fair fingers at blinding speed, making the little girl giggle nonstop.

Beside the two of them sat another middle‑aged man, who seemed to sense the older sister's look and lifted his eyes toward her.

Their eyes met, and the older sister actually detected a flicker of electricity in the man's pupils, causing her to feel an inexplicable palpitation.

"Whoa..."

She was startled, quickly turning her head and sitting upright.

"What kind of look was that just now? Definitely not something an ordinary person could produce."

"Zhang Yujie, what's wrong with you?"

Li Xixi noticed that Zhang Yujie's expression was off and quickly asked.

"I'm fine, you absolutely must not look back…… "

"Don't look behind?"

Li Xixi felt puzzled; the more Zhang Yujie refused to let her look, the more curious she became.

"Wow, big brother, you're amazing—are you a magician?!"

Behind them, a clear, bell‑like laugh rang out.

Li Xixi couldn't hold back and turned to look.

She happened to see the boy in the rear seat flipping the cards in his hand.

The motion of raising his hand perfectly revealed the firm muscle lines on his arm, and combined with his handsome, clean‑cut face, it gave the impression of a movie male star.

Li Xixi found herself staring, unable to look away.

"That Zhang Yujie, spotting a handsome guy and then hiding it, even telling me not to look back—how petty!"

Seeing the handsome guy's eyes light up, she didn't mind her sore butt from sitting, turned and greeted, "Little sis, big sister can do magic too—want me to show you?"

"Sure, sure!"

And just like that, Li Xixi joined in, the three of them chatting and laughing together.

The older sister sighed, "This Xixi really—her obsession with looks is a habit she'll never break."

Another roughly half hour passed.

The bus slowly came to a stop.

"Everyone, we've arrived—please line up to disembark, no pushing!"

As the doors opened, everyone let out a sigh of relief.

"Finally here—my back is killing me."

"What a waste of money to suffer like this—I'm never going out again……"

Under the tour guide's direction, everyone disembarked in an orderly fashion.

"This place looks so rundown—I have no idea what the lodging will be like."

Li Xixi stepped off the bus and glanced around; all she saw were brick‑tile houses that seemed like relics from the last century.

"Don't get the wrong idea—we're not staying here," the tour guide, hearing the complaints, hurriedly explained, "Just follow me forward a bit; when we get there you'll understand."

"Ah, we still have to walk…"

"Goodness, this is exhausting."

Amidst a chorus of groans, everyone set off, walking along the narrow path deeper into the area.

Lu Jing was about to catch up when Xiao Yu came running over, hopping and skipping.

"Big brother, I still want to play with you again!"

"Okay, when I have time I'll show you another magic trick, alright?"

Lu Jing smiled, squatted down, and rubbed Xiao Yu's head.

"Okay, promise kept!"

Li Xixi, watching from the side, also came over and said with a cheerful laugh, "Sis, can I join you?"

"No, sis can't do magic at all, you're lying!"

Xiao Yu stuck out her tongue at Li Xixi, then proudly ran back to the middle-aged man.

Li Xixi's smiling face instantly fell, a black line appearing on her forehead as she didn't know what to say.

"Tch, what does a little brat know?"

Li Xixi snorted, seeing Lu Jing already far ahead, and hurried to catch up.

Ten minutes of walking later.

A very modern hotel appeared before everyone's eyes.

"Everyone, first follow me to the front desk to check in," the female tour guide called out: "Tomorrow we'll get up early and form a team to go up the mountain to visit Thunder Pond!"

After Lu Jing got his room key and was about to go upstairs, he saw Li Xixi running over with her cheeks flushed.

"That handsome guy... can I add your contact?"

"Sure."

Lu Jing hesitated a moment, then still took out his phone.

"Thanks, let's go up the mountain together tomorrow."

Li Xixi smiled, gave a greeting, then went to find her own room.

Watching Li Xixi's figure disappear down the hallway, Lu Jing's smile vanished, and a strange light flickered in his eyes.

"Interesting, I actually ran into a Talent Endowed here, and a lightning-type one at that..."

Lu Jing looked toward the direction of Xiao Yu and her father, lost in thought.