Wang Zhan? Yao Yao's boyfriend? Why does the name sound vaguely familiar?

But the biggest issue wasn't this, nor was it about who Wang Zhan really was. It was about Yao Yao's middle-aged parents meeting their daughter's boyfriend for the first time, their faces flushing with embarrassment. Their attire was hardly suitable for guests.

"Ah! Ah! Wang… Wang Zhan, you… Yao Yao, you really shouldn't have! Bringing your boyfriend home without telling us in advance? You should have given us some time to prepare! This… we don't even have a proper place to welcome him. Wang… Wang Zhan, why don't you come into our home and have some water?"

Yao Yao's mother bustled about, unsure where to put her hands. She chided Yao Yao lightly before nervously extending the invitation.

Coming from poverty, she naturally understood the importance of not letting others look down on them. If their daughter were to marry, it would be better if the families were of equal social standing. If not, Yao Yao would likely endure numerous hardships.

Yao Yao's father felt the same. He wore an awkward yet sincere smile as he looked at Wang Zhan.

He's tall, and looks quite sturdy. He should be a good young man?

Yao Yao, just realizing what her parents were implying, quickly looked at Wang Zhan. She didn't need to think hard to know what her parents had been doing earlier; they must have been out collecting trash to supplement the family income. They were both unskilled laborers, and she worried they feared Wang Zhan would look down on them.

However, much to her surprise, Wang Zhan strode forward. He unceremoniously thrust the gifts he was carrying into his future mother-in-law's hands and then resolutely stayed by his future father-in-law's side, smiling.

"Auntie, you two go on up. Uncle and I will finish this bit of work and then join you. Uncle, let me help… I came from a place like this too; I'm not so delicate…"

His words and actions finally allowed the two elders to breathe a sigh of relief.

Yao Yao felt a surge of gratitude, her eyes welling with tears as she watched Wang Zhan.

It's true he came from here, but he's completely different now. If it weren't for me, why would he return to such a place and do this kind of rough work?

It must be said, a woman's ability to embellish things is truly a gift.

One should know, Wang Zhan hadn't really thought about all that. He was just a not-so-ordinary ordinary man, but still classifiable as an ordinary man.

It's just collecting trash, right? I'm a grown man, not from some noble background. Who hasn't collected trash at some point?

That night, Wang Zhan stayed at Yao Yao's house. Because the place was small, he had to sleep in the living room. Of course, this account doesn't include Yao Yao sneaking out in the middle of the night because she couldn't sleep, pulling him into her room to pass the time.

「The next day.」

Yao Yao's mother finally remembered who Wang Zhan was.

"Dear, that… that Wang Zhan, he's… he's that hero!"

"What hero?"

"The young hero from the Federation! The one who's been all over the internet lately!"

"AH!"

For a moment, a mix of bewilderment and nervousness flickered in both their eyes. They felt unsettled, along with a deep sense of helplessness.

"Then… then Yao Yao, she…"

She won't be cruelly abandoned, or something like that, will she? Although Wang Zhan used to be a poor man from around here, he's soared high and become a Phoenix now. This is a true mismatch of social standing… The road ahead is full of bumps!

「…」

Walking on the road, Yao Yao asked Wang Zhan what exactly he had given her parents.

Wang Zhan laughed and replied, "Just some essence blood of beasts and some elixirs, all things that can prolong life. But I have an idea, and I wonder if you'd mind?"

"What idea?"

Wang Zhan's gaze deepened as he looked at the far-off sky, sensing the occasional passersby.

"Do you think, at this point, even if our parents don't want to get involved, can they truly avoid being dragged into our affairs and still live their days in peace?"

Yao Yao's heart trembled.

Yes, that's their biggest weakness, and their most helpless Inner Demon. Once our parents fall into the hands of those wicked people, the best they could hope for is imprisonment without freedom. How could they possibly escape unharmed?

Wang Zhan didn't wait for her response, continuing, as he didn't want Yao Yao to worry, "So, I'm thinking of taking the elders to Jing State and finding a safe place for them to settle. Although Jing State is large and bustling with people, it's also more strictly supervised and authorities can react quickly, making it safer than here."

After a moment's thought, Yao Yao finally leaned against Wang Zhan's chest.

"Wang Zhan, thank you!"

Stroking Yao Yao's dark hair, Wang Zhan was silent for a moment, an uncharacteristic melancholy upon him.

All this fighting and killing, seemingly without reason… Not many beasts have been slain, yet so many of our own kind have perished. What is it all for?

He shook his head. Thinking too much is pointless.

In fact, Wang Zhan had already given the necessary orders. The Grandmasters stationed by his side had been divided into two teams of three, one to guard his mother, and the other to guard Yao Yao's parents.

Duan Kun was at Chu State's Martial Arts Academy, so Wang Zhan wasn't initially worried about him. However, just to be safe, he had also dispatched Yang Qi to keep an eye on things. After all, Wang Zhan himself was paradoxically the safest among them.

「…」

So, after completing a series of prearranged tasks, Wang Zhan's final excursion in Chu State—a trip to the Black market—was officially on the agenda.

However, just as he and Yu Lan were leaving the Chu State Military Academy and approaching the Black market, a series of extremely strange coincidences unfolded before him.

In a narrow alley, a group of menacing men in black stood brazenly in the sunlight, facing a helpless, plump woman. Malicious smiles played on their faces as they cornered her.

"HEHEHE, pretty lady, where do you think you can run?"

"We've got this place surrounded. Your cries for help will fall on deaf ears. You'd be better off serving us for a while; we'll be sure to 'take good care' of you…"

Their expressions were a revolting mix of grotesque desire and brutal intent.

The woman had already fallen to the ground in terror. On the verge of tears, her shoulder strap slipping, she pleaded desperately, "Sirs, sirs, please, spare me, spare me! My child is at home waiting for me to feed him. I beg you, please be kind and let me go…"

SMACK!

A slap landed squarely on her face, leaving a bright red handprint.

Looking up, the woman saw their faces contorted with ferocity and a brazen, unrestrainable lust.

"So, you prefer the hard way since you won't take the easy one, huh? Do you really think you're someone special?"

With that, one of them reached out, causing the woman's face to pale as she let out a terrified scream.

"AHH..."

"HEHE, HEHE, go on, scream! Scream all you want! No one will come to save you!…"

「…」

With a sharp sound, a fair hand struggled desperately to break free from Wang Zhan's five fingers, which had her tightly gripped.

"Let go of me!" Yu Lan's expression was grim, her gaze fixed fiercely on Wang Zhan.

An injustice, clearly about to escalate into a tragedy, was unfolding right beside them, yet this man just stood there watching, doing nothing? Is he even a man? What on earth does Qin Ying see in him? He's simply heartless, shameless, a scumbag, a degenerate, the dregs of society…

Wang Zhan looked at her expressionlessly and said softly, "Believe it or not, if you struggle any more, I'll treat you the same way those men are treating that woman."

"You dare!" Yu Lan laughed, furious.

Does he really think I'm some pushover he can bully as he pleases? In all her life, no one had ever dared to make such an outrageous demand of her!

But Wang Zhan, who had long since seen through it all, had no inclination to play such petty games with Yu Lan. Seeing he couldn't restrain her, he released her hand with a light flick.

"Fine, I won't stop you. But I'm just a Martial Master. I want to save her, but I lack the strength… So, you go ahead. Don't mind me; I'm not in any danger. Actually, I'll head to the Black market first. You can find me when you're done."

She vaguely sensed something was amiss, but Yu Lan, consumed by her anger, failed to grasp the subtleties.

All she knew was that Wang Zhan's claim of being willing but unable to help was utter nonsense! Hadn't this guy always unleashed his power when pushed to the limit, virtually annihilating anyone who opposed him?

So, without hesitation, she turned to rescue the woman.

But she didn't stop to think: why should Wang Zhan intervene? Just because he witnessed an injustice, was he obligated to step in and help?

Wang Zhan chuckled internally.

If it were anyone else, fine, but for Yu Lan not to see through such a clichéd plot… she really has buried her head in books, taking everything too literally. So single-minded. Besides, if something truly terrible were about to happen, who would have the time to engage in such an obvious, taunting 'scream all you want, no one will save you' charade? It's clearly bait.

Wang Zhan genuinely had pressing matters to attend to and wasted no more time. He was no longer the person he once was. Now, he possessed the confidence to lift veils he hadn't dared to touch before and discover which influential figures enjoyed playing hide-and-seek behind the Federation's curtains.

「…」

Events unfolded exactly as Wang Zhan had predicted. By the time he had single-mindedly set off for the Black market and subsequently reached his destination...

「Meanwhile.」

Yu Lan, that witless yet well-intentioned woman so eager to play the hero, had indeed fallen into a meticulously woven trap.

"COUGH, COUGH… Who exactly are you people?" Yu Lan had lost her earlier composure. Her clothes were disheveled, and she found herself cornered by a group of figures exuding the aura of Grandmasters and Martial Generals.

"That young man is quite capable, to have not fallen for it. A pity. You, however, have become his scapegoat…" The woman who had feigned being nearly assaulted—a provocative glimpse of her snowy skin now visible at her chest—stood before Yu Lan, a sweet smile on her face as she spoke in a gentle, lilting voice.

Actually, she was a bit troubled by this outcome too. This time, she had only wanted to test Wang Zhan and perhaps meet him. But… This kid is indeed tricky…

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