Chapter 119: What Does It Have to Do with Me?

PS: Thank you to the fake fans and Morty for the pink gifts—sending you all a big, heartfelt hug. Also, thanks to Shuangjue for the reward; it truly makes me happy.

Watching Xuan Xuan, Zhan Yu felt a twinge of confusion.

Wan Qi Xuan Xuan seemed especially well-informed about Kuang Shao and his affairs. The moment she laid eyes on the Phantom Grass, she smiled knowingly—surely she had seen the form Kuang Shao took after consuming the Phantom Grass and turning into a woman.

Moreover, every one of her gestures, every habit, felt strangely familiar to Zhan Yu, indistinguishable from those of her teacher.

Could it really be because they were master and disciple?

Is that why they shared so many similarities, and the details about Kuang Shao and me were told to her by her teacher?

It seemed plausible, yet Zhan Yu couldn’t shake the feeling that Wan Qi Xuan Xuan knew him intimately.

After Xuan Xuan finished preparing the potion, the three of them followed at a distance behind Xuan Guo and his group. During this time, Xuan Guo showed no signs of trouble.

At night, their small group lit separate campfires and began preparing dinner. It seemed, to avoid Xuan Guo, that Ai Zhe also went out hunting.

Seeing Ai Zhe depart, Xuan Xuan quickly called over Zhan Yu and Kuang Shao, stepping in front of Ai Zhe.

At the slightest noise, Ai Zhe immediately halted, his eyes flickering with danger, though beneath his glasses it was hard to discern. Wind elementals swirled around him. “Who’s there?”

Xuan Xuan stepped forward, noting his wariness, and called softly, “Ai Zhe?”

Recognizing her, Ai Zhe lowered his guard, warmth and a hint of worry flashing in his eyes. “Xuan Xuan? Why are you out here alone? Let me escort you to find Wan Qi Weihao and the others.”

Xuan Xuan glanced back as Zhan Yu and Kuang Shao approached from behind.

Only then did Ai Zhe notice they were together. The two stepped forward and nodded at Ai Zhe.

Ai Zhe looked from Xuan Xuan to Zhan Yu, a shadow passing through his eyes. Still, he nodded politely. “What’s the matter?”

“Do you know about the recent infestation involving the insectoid parasites?” Xuan Xuan released her domain and spoke.

Ai Zhe showed a trace of puzzlement but trusted Xuan Xuan enough to nod. Such a widespread event couldn’t have escaped his notice.

“Yes, I know. What about it?”

“We suspect that the queen parasite has infested Xuan Guo,” Kuang Shao stepped forward.

“Do you want me to help?” Ai Zhe looked at Xuan Xuan. If she asked, he had no objections.

Xuan Xuan nodded. Though Ai Zhe had a bad temper, he was quite reasonable. He had even helped her once at the amusement park. “I suspect Xuan Guo also implanted larvae in you.”

Ai Zhe was clever and immediately touched his right hand—the injury he’d sustained earlier that afternoon, the only time Xuan Guo had been close enough to touch him.

He raised his right hand. “Is it this?”

Xuan Xuan nodded. “Most likely.”

Zhan Yu watched their exchange with a slight frown. Wasn’t the Ai family at odds with the Wan Qi family? Why did their relationship seem so familiar?

“What’s the purpose of her parasitizing me?” Ai Zhe asked. “Does this infestation have any effects?”

Ai Zhe remained calm; after all, he knew Xuan Guo wouldn’t kill him. Her ambitions were too self-serving; his death would bring her no benefit. Though surprised, he calmly asked.

Xuan Xuan explained, “The larvae release toxins inside the host, then parasitize the body. Through the queen’s control over the larvae, she can manipulate the host.”

“So, she wants to control me?” Ai Zhe’s lips curled into a mocking smile. Controlling him seemed a modest goal—surely that wasn’t the endgame.

“Yes,” Xuan Xuan shook the potion she had made earlier. “I will extract the larvae from your body. If you drink this potion, it will affect the larvae inside Xuan Guo, making her believe the larvae inside you still exist.”

“And then?” Ai Zhe knew that Xuan Xuan and her companions wouldn’t undertake anything futile, especially with the two behind her.

Kuang Shao stepped forward. “We need your cooperation. We want to trace the origin of these insectoids through Xuan Guo. So many of them appeared suddenly near the Imperial Capital. You’re part of the Federation; you should understand the gravity of this.”

Ai Zhe twisted a wry smile, eyes gleaming with a sinister light Xuan Xuan had never seen before. “What does this have to do with me?”

Indeed, what did it matter to him? Even if the Federation fell, so what?

“You! If the insectoids invade the Imperial Capital, what benefit would that bring to your Ai family?” Kuang Shao snapped angrily. This wasn’t just about the Kuang, Zhan, or Wan Qi families — it concerned all humanity.

“That accusation is too big a burden for me to bear,” Ai Zhe adjusted his glasses. “Even if the Ai family were destroyed, what business is it of mine?”

Zhan Yu glanced at Ai Zhe and suddenly realized the bleak future of the Ai family. They had pinned their hopes on someone utterly lacking any sense of family honor.

Ai Zhen had truly misjudged.

“This is a favor we’re asking of you,” Zhan Yu said earnestly.

This matter really did require Ai Zhe’s involvement.

Ai Zhe didn’t even look at Zhan Yu—if only he were a few years younger, humph.

He looked instead at Xuan Xuan. “You want me to help?”

“Preferably,” Xuan Xuan shrugged.

Of course, it would be best if Ai Zhe agreed. If not, she wouldn’t force it. But it seemed Ai Zhe was at odds with everyone—from Wan Qi Weihao’s group to Zhan Yu and Kuang Shao now. Truly a bad temper.

Before Ai Zhe could respond, Kuang Shao sneered, “Don’t count on him. It’s already good enough if he refuses to help the insectoids.”

Ai Zhe appeared not to hear Kuang Shao’s remark, nodding at Xuan Xuan. “How should I cooperate?”

Seeing Ai Zhe speak, Kuang Shao found himself unable to deliver the rest of his insult. What was going on?

Xuan Xuan’s eyes twinkled with a smile. Despite his bad temper, he was still reasonable.

“Drink the potion. Then I’ll extract the larvae from your body. Just be a bit nicer to Xuan Guo,” Xuan Xuan said. “It’s best if you obey her.”

Ai Zhe frowned. “Obey her?”

Xuan Xuan covered her mouth, laughing softly. “She parasitized you to make you obey her. If you don’t treat her well, she’ll surely get suspicious.”

Ai Zhe’s frown deepened. Being nice—obedient—to Xuan Guo? That was a tall order for him.

Seeing his expression, Xuan Xuan smiled further. “It’s only for a while. Once we find the insectoids’ nest, it’ll be over.”

Kuang Shao chuckled beside her. Smiling at a woman like Xuan Guo was indeed quite the predicament.

Seeing Xuan Xuan’s smile, Ai Zhe couldn’t help but smile faintly. He nodded. “Shall we begin?”

“If it takes too long, they might get suspicious,” Xuan Xuan added.

Since the larvae had only recently entered Ai Zhe’s body, they hadn’t caused much harm. The extraction was quick, and she used a “healing potion” to mend his wounds, giving him the remainder.

Xuan Xuan also gave him a bottle of “antidote” and one of “calming potion.”

She reminded him, “Try not to have wounds. This kind of insectoid parasite enters through injuries. If you feel dazed or unfocused, likely due to the insectoids inside Xuan Guo, you can drink these potions.”

Though surprised by the items Xuan Xuan gave him, Ai Zhe smiled and nodded.

At this, Xuan Xuan withdrew her domain. Using it so often lately was wearing her out.

“You should go back now. They might suspect something. I’ll contact you if anything comes up,” Xuan Xuan said.

Ai Zhe nodded to her, then glanced at Zhan Yu and Kuang Shao before leaving.

Xuan Xuan watched Ai Zhe’s retreating figure with a mix of reluctance and melancholy. These potions were precious—each bottle consumed left fewer remaining. She wondered when she could build a base like the one in the Star Network in reality.

Zhan Yu noticed Xuan Xuan’s lingering gaze and thought of her earlier familiarity with him. A flicker of an emotion, even he couldn’t name, crossed his eyes.

“Are we eating anything else tonight?” he asked, diverting her attention.

Xuan Xuan immediately looked at Zhan Yu. “Braised pork, twice-cooked pork, braised ribs…”

She rattled off a string of meat dishes, then glanced around the environment and sighed. “Better just do barbecue.”

A smile touched Zhan Yu’s eyes as he looked at Kuang Shao. “Still no luck catching rabbits?”

“Why me again?” Kuang Shao grumbled. All the hard work fell to him. Catching a rabbit in the rainforest was as difficult as tracking a monkey in the city, and yet they insisted on rabbit.

Though complaining, Kuang Shao moved. Wan Qi Xuan Xuan hadn’t specified exactly what to eat.

“Does your teacher often talk about me and Kuang Shao?” Zhan Yu fixed his dark eyes on Xuan Xuan and asked.

Xuan Xuan’s heart skipped a beat. The pressure Zhan Yu radiated had grown stronger lately. Why ask this now? Wasn’t this matter settled? She’d said her teacher wouldn’t return. Why still ask?

“What’s the point of asking?” she countered.

Zhan Yu pressed on when she avoided the question. “You seem very familiar with Kuang Shao and me. Does your teacher mention us often?”

When had she let slip that she was so familiar with them?

Xuan Xuan thought for a moment, then said, “Not much.”

Unsatisfied with her perfunctory answer, Zhan Yu persisted. “I remember you trusted me the first time we met?”

The first time?

Xuan Xuan wanted to smack her head. How could she have forgotten? “Did I? I was still little then.”

“What about when you were in elementary school?” Zhan Yu kept pressing. The more Wan Qi Xuan Xuan tried to dodge, the more he wanted to get to the bottom of it.

“Why so many questions?” she snapped.

Zhan Yu’s brow twitched, wondering if such anger was really necessary.

Looking at her, he hadn’t noticed before, but now he saw a striking resemblance between Wan Qi Xuan Xuan’s features and those beneath her veil.

Just a few questions, and Wan Qi Xuan Xuan was already furious.

Zhan Yu stared at her silently before turning away.

His mind was tangled with countless thoughts, but one thing was certain: Wan Qi Xuan Xuan was hiding something.