National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

Chapter 84: Chapter 84: How Could a Wandering, Aloof Soul Be Shackled by a Trivial Bond?

Chu He’s gaze suddenly sharpened like a hawk’s, piercing through the crowd to land on a distant academic building of the National Road Academy.

The building stood there, quiet and ordinary, showing no signs of anything unusual.

Liu Yuzhu sensed the change in Chu He and curiously followed his gaze, but she saw nothing out of the ordinary besides the academic building.

Puzzled, she asked softly, ”Mr. Chu, did you discover something amiss?”

Chu He retracted his gaze, his brow furrowing slightly. In a low voice, he said, ”There’s some unknown power manipulating Xia Chengli from behind the scenes.

She might not even be aware of it; her innocence and strength are likely just being exploited.

Her mind isn’t mature enough to distinguish right from wrong. I’m afraid she’s being used as a pawn.”

Hearing this, Liu Yuzhu’s brow tightened. ”Mr. Chu,” she asked with concern, ”are you really planning to let this Xia Chengli, with her unknown background, stay at the academy? I’m worried she’ll bring trouble.”

Chu He smiled faintly. ”Her strength may be considerable, but in my eyes, she’s no more than a mayfly trying to shake a tree.

When I fought her just now, I easily suppressed her without using my full strength.

The power she displayed has already surpassed the scope of the King-level, reaching the standard of the Emperor Realm.

It is indeed surprising.”

Liu Yuzhu recalled her earlier clash with Xia Chengli and asked, ”Ever since the Lighthouse Empire announced the existence of the Emperor Realm, it seems many such experts have appeared all over the world.

Mr. Chu, why is that?”

Chu He pondered for a moment before speaking slowly, ”Before this, many people might have unknowingly broken through the King-level threshold and stepped into the Emperor Realm.

They just didn’t realize it, assuming there were simply stronger and weaker tiers within the King-level.

It wasn’t until the Lighthouse Empire introduced the concept of the Emperor Realm that they had their epiphany.

That would explain the sudden increase in Emperor Realm experts.”

Liu Yuzhu nodded, feeling a little more at ease.

But she still had her doubts about Xia Chengli. ”What about her, then? Do you really trust her?”

Chu He replied, ”This girl, Xia Chengli, gives me more peace of mind than anyone else in the academy.”

What he didn’t tell Liu Yuzhu was that he had left a Primordial Spirit Avatar inside Xia Chengli’s body, allowing him to monitor her movements and character at all times.

Although a Primordial Spirit Avatar was extremely precious, Xia Chengli’s strength and naivety convinced him it was the right move.

Since Chu He had already made his decision, Liu Yuzhu knew there was nothing she could do to stop him.

Chu He’s decisions were always carefully considered and not to be questioned.

”I asked you to be a teacher at the National Road Academy. Have you considered it?”

Chu He’s gaze was fixed on Xia Chengli, the girl with the mysterious background standing before him.

Xia Chengli nodded lightly and agreed, ”Fine. I accept.”

Inside, however, her thoughts were a raging storm.

Xia Chengli thought of the story of that senior from the Xiao Clan—the one who endured the public humiliation of a broken engagement, gritted his teeth, and eventually became an invincible expert.

She recited to herself, ’Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west.

If that senior could endure it, how could I give up so easily?

Being forced to stay at the National Road Academy to teach Martial Arts to these so-called weaklings... what does that even matter?

In my eyes, this is just a temporary humiliation.

Disasters always follow one after another. That’s just how the world works.’

Xia Chengli clasped her hands behind her back, resuming the proud posture of Ye Gucheng she had adopted earlier.

She told herself, ’As long as I’m alive, there’s a chance to turn things around.’

Chu He had no idea about the chaotic fantasies and thoughts running through her head.

Seeing that Xia Chengli had agreed, he nodded slightly in satisfaction.

Then, with a flicker, his form vanished from the spot, leaving only his voice behind. ”It’s excellent that you’ve agreed, but I have something to take care of now.”

Xia Chengli was stunned by this.

She carefully scanned the surrounding aura and confirmed that Chu He had already left the National Road Academy.

She couldn’t help but burst out laughing. ”HAHAHA... I didn’t expect my chance to come so quickly!

Oh, Chu He, Chu He, you underestimated me after all. It seems you’re just a simple-minded brute with more brawn than brains.

Did you think I was the kind of person who would submit so easily?

How could a wandering, lofty soul be bound by such a petty chain?”

She turned, waved to Liu Yuzhu with a look of pure relief on her face, and said, ”Woman, farewell.”

Before her voice had even faded, she leaped into the air. Her figure flickered a few times and then vanished from sight.

Seeing this, Liu Yuzhu’s heart tightened. She cried out anxiously, ”Just as I thought! This Ye Gucheng... oh, no, Xia Chengli... she can’t be trusted at all!”

She was well aware of the animosity between Xia Chengli and Chu He and worried that Xia Chengli would hold a grudge, perhaps even viewing the entire Great Xia Empire as an enemy.

Based on Chu He’s earlier assessment, Xia Chengli’s strength had very likely reached the Emperor Realm.

If someone like that were to become hostile toward the Great Xia Empire, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Liu Yuzhu’s heart sank to the depths.

The Great Xia Empire was already facing multiple crises. Adding Xia Chengli to the mix would undoubtedly be like pouring salt on a wound.

And now, with Chu He’s whereabouts unknown, she felt an unprecedented level of pressure and anxiety.

All she could do was pray silently for Chu He’s swift return.

...

In the depths of a bustling shopping plaza, a woman in red sat quietly at a corner table by the window, enjoying the tranquil afternoon.

Dressed in a crimson gown, she was like a blooming flame, a stark contrast to the peaceful surroundings.

She held a cup of coffee, taking a light sip, while the screen of her phone displayed a live feed from the National Road Academy’s surveillance.

When she saw Chu He’s figure disappear from the screen, the red-clothed woman’s brow furrowed, and the coffee in her hand seemed to lose its usual sweetness.

She couldn’t help but sigh as turmoil stirred in her heart. ’So even Xia Chengli, that genius Martial Artist who’s been making a name for herself recently, is no match for Chu He?

And from the look of the footage, the gap between them is enormous.

It seems Chu He was already an Emperor Realm expert back in the Great Jing Empire. Thank goodness I didn’t act rashly.’

The woman in red congratulated herself for not making a move. The consequences would have been unimaginable.

But Xia Chengli’s identity was extraordinary; complex powers were hidden behind her.

Chu He was now bound to face numerous troubles and challenges.

The woman in red prayed silently, hoping Chu He would live a little longer.

After all, taking revenge with her own hands would be the most satisfying.

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, a sudden turn of events shattered the peace.

A hand materialized out of thin air, ghost-like, and seized a handful of hair at the back of her head.

Immediately after, an immense force slammed her head down onto the glass table in front of her.

Caught completely off guard, the woman in red’s beautiful face collided with the hard glass, creating a piercing CRACK.

The entire glass tabletop instantly shattered, sending fragments flying everywhere.

The other customers in the coffee shop screamed at the sudden violence and scrambled for the exit.

Even the staff behind the counter quickly ducked for cover, avoiding the sudden disaster.

Before the woman in red could even react, Chu He’s figure had already appeared before her.

He lashed out with a kick, striking her squarely in the abdomen.

The force of the kick was so great that she felt as if her internal organs had been pulverized.

She coughed up a spray of blood as her body flew backward uncontrollably, slamming hard against the wall.

”No wonder you suddenly disappeared from the screen. You must have sensed my presence.”

The woman in red struggled to support herself, using the wall to get back on her feet. She wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand.

Chu He strolled toward the woman in red, his expression devoid of any warmth, as if looking at an annoying fly he was about to crush.

He stared at her and said coolly, ”You must be the last remnant of the Ruan Family.

Let me think... your name is... Ruan Hongyi?”

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