Chapter 172: Young Man, Don't Be So Impulsive Next Time

Longyao City, Mirror Lake District.

Perhaps due to the increasing unrest lately, the nights had grown even more desolate and quiet, with hardly a soul in sight.

After leaving the Academy, Su Ming couldn’t hail a taxi, so he rode his treasured motorcycle, Longdan, speeding all the way into the Mirror Lake District until he arrived in front of Xu Qianqian’s villa.

Outside the villa’s gate, the usual reception by servants and maids was nowhere to be seen.

It seemed Xu Qianqian had dismissed the servants and maids, allowing them to refrain from working outside after dark, making the place appear even more desolate and quiet.

Su Ming didn’t mind. After parking Longdan, he entered the villa with practiced ease.

Although he had only been here twice, his demeanor might easily lead others to think he visited frequently.

“Huh?”

Just as Su Ming was about to step into the villa, he suddenly noticed some movement and let out a sound of surprise.

At that moment, a cold shout rang out.

“Who’s there?!”

Following the voice, several figures swiftly surrounded Su Ming.

Su Ming didn’t react defensively. Instead, he looked with interest at the two leaders of the group.

The moment they closed in, the two recognized Su Ming, first freezing in surprise, then exclaiming:

“It’s you?”

“Young Master Su?”

The voices came from a man and a woman, respectively.

“Yo, long time no see.” Su Ming smirked. “If I remember correctly, you’re called Lie and Heyin, right?”

The man and woman were none other than members of Xu Qianqian’s private army, the two who had once been assigned to protect Su Ming.

“What are you doing here?” Lie frowned, speaking to Su Ming with his usual lack of courtesy.

“Young Master Su, are you here to see the Young Miss?” Heyin, as before, remained polite and even respectful toward Su Ming.

The others around them exchanged glances but did not let their guard down.

They had recognized Su Ming’s identity.

However, that wasn’t reason enough for them to relax their vigilance.

Of course, Su Ming paid it no mind.

“Looks like you’ve fully rejoined the team. Have your injuries healed?”Su Ming’s tone was meaningful.”

During the Huaming Campaign, due to the attacks by Gao Xu and Xu Yanyan, Xu Qianqian’s private army had suffered heavy losses. They were also caught in the aftermath of the fierce battle between Su Ming and Gao Xu, scattered and blown away, their whereabouts unknown.

Later, after enduring countless hardships, the private army finally returned to Xu Qianqian’s side and regrouped. However, since many were still severely injured, after the war ended, Xu Qianqian sent them back to the Xu Family to recuperate.

During the period when Little Hai’er was brought here by Xu Qianqian for placement, the private army had not yet returned.

Now, it seemed they had mostly recovered and even had energy to spare for some tricks.

Recalling the movement he had just detected, Su Ming’s attitude turned meaningful.

Unfortunately, his meaningful tone clearly did not win him any favor with these people.

“None of your business,” Lie retorted bluntly. “It’s so late—why are you here?”

Clearly, Lie had no intention of stepping aside.

The others shared similar expressions, making it evident that Su Ming was not particularly welcome.This private army already had some reservations about Su Ming. Combined with their recent near-total defeat that nearly led to Xu Qianqian’s tragic demise, their cautious, almost exclusionary behavior was entirely understandable.

They were also unaware that this seemingly fortunate individual—who appeared somewhat disrespectful toward their Young Miss yet inexplicably enjoyed her favor—was the mysterious expert who had saved their Young Miss right under Gao Xu’s nose last time.

Yin, however, attempted to reason with her companion.

“Watch your words,” Yin said with a furrowed brow. “Young Master Su wouldn’t come this late unless it were urgent.”

“What could be so urgent it can’t wait until tomorrow?” Lie remained unconvinced.

This impulsive man, having narrowly escaped death last time, had grown even more reckless instead of exercising caution—though this stemmed from his deep concern for Xu Qianqian’s safety.

Su Ming ignored the man who had expressed strong disapproval during both encounters, focusing instead on Yin.

“Your Young Miss asked me to come,” Su Ming shrugged. “Do you really think I’d mean her any harm?”

“The Young Miss summoned you?” Yin suddenly understood. “Please wait a moment, Young Master Su. I’ll inform her.”

“Go ahead.” Su Ming waved dismissively.

Yin promptly turned and entered the villa, leaving Su Ming alone with Lie and the others. They exchanged awkward glances, the atmosphere growing tense and subtle.

It was then Lie spoke up.

“You really don’t learn, do you, Young Master Su?” Lie addressed him directly. “Last time in Huaming District, we practically spelled it out for you—getting too close to our Young Miss has made you a target for malicious individuals. You could lose your life at any moment. Yet here you are, still visiting her so frequently?”

His tone was surprisingly measured this time.

Though displeased by Su Ming’s late-night visit to Xu Qianqian, Lie genuinely believed Su Ming was risking his life by maintaining such proximity after their last ordeal.

“Aren’t you afraid of being targeted again?”

Lie’s words carried a hint of malice.

Su Ming glanced at him coolly. “I’ve already been invited to the Xu Family for a formal dinner by your Young Miss’s father. If anyone wanted to target me, they’ve had ample opportunity.”

This left Lie momentarily speechless.

Seizing the opening, Su Ming responded with equal sharpness.

“So you knew about that. Of course—your Young Miss’s father made no attempt to hide it. The dinner was conducted quite openly. In that case, you must also know that your Young Miss survived last time precisely because of this ‘slow learner,’ correct?”

Su Ming’s words visibly darkened the expressions of Lie and the other private soldiers.

That incident remained a stain on their professional records—a humiliation of failing to protect their Young Miss, nearly resulting in her death.

And it was undeniable that her survival hinged entirely on the man before them.

“Hmph.” Lie snorted bitterly. “If the Young Miss of the Yun Family Estate hadn’t intervened out of respect for you, sending reinforcements, what could a mere second-year ordinary student like you have accomplished?”Su Ming merely grinned at Lie’s resentful outburst.

“As long as you remember it’s my face that matters,” Su Ming said. “Also, I’m already an elite student now. Remember to update your intelligence on me next time.”

“You…!” Lie was easily provoked.

As Lie fumed and prepared to shout something, Su Ming’s expression suddenly changed as he looked behind Lie.

“Senior.”

Su Ming called out.

Lie and the others immediately reacted.

“Young Miss!”

The private soldiers uniformly stepped back and bowed respectfully.

“Pfft!”

The deadpan Su Ming burst out laughing.

Lie and the others froze for a moment before realizing Xu Qianqian hadn’t actually arrived.

In other words, they’d been tricked by Su Ming.

“You… you dare mock us?”

“Bastard!”

“Despicable guy!”

Now, not just Lie, but all the other private soldiers grew furious.

“You actually made a fool of me?”

The hot-tempered Lie was particularly enraged, raising the weapon he’d been holding all along and pointing it at Su Ming as if ready to strike at any moment.

Suppressing his laughter, Su Ming said with a straight face, “I was training your reaction skills. How can you call that mocking you?”

Only a ghost would believe that.

“Take this!”

Lie could bear it no longer. His figure suddenly shot forward, darting in front of Su Ming as he swung his sword.

A cold whistling sound cut through the air as Lie’s weapon sliced through space in a flash.

Su Ming sidestepped slightly, evading Lie’s strike with fluid movements.

“Huh?”

Lie froze momentarily, seemingly surprised.

“He actually dodged it?”

This was unexpected for Lie.

Although he hadn’t been serious—just wanting to teach Su Ming a minor lesson without actually intending to hit or injure him—Su Ming’s effortless evasion still surprised him considerably.

But Lie was impulsive by nature and didn’t overthink it. When one strike failed, he immediately pursued and swung again.

This slash was three times faster than the previous one.

Yet Su Ming simply sidestepped once more, evading it with ease.

“Oh no, he’s trying to kill me!”

Su Ming smiled at Lie while dodging, feigning panic in a flat, uninflected voice like an innocent civilian being chased by a serial killer.

“Bastard!”

Lie felt mocked again, instantly flying into a rage as he accelerated further, unleashing a flurry of cold, gleaming saber and sword shadows.

One chased while the other dodged; one attacked while the other evaded—one furious and flustered, the other calm and composed.

The surrounding private soldiers initially watched coldly, but gradually their expressions changed too.

“That guy can actually dodge Lie’s attacks so easily?”

“Is this for real?”

“Isn’t he just a second-year Sorcerer at the Academy with average grades?”

“Was Lie holding back?”

They grew increasingly doubtful and unsettled.

Fortunately, Su Ming knew his limits—he only dodged without counterattacking. Afterwards, he could easily explain it as having exceptional spiritual sensitivity and extraordinary Spirit Sense, allowing him to perceive Lie’s attacks clearly and evade them effortlessly.If Su Ming were to retaliate and display his strength as a Hunter, they would be utterly dumbfounded.

Su Ming continued to toy with Lie in front of the villa.

At one point, Su Ming suddenly looked behind Lie and called out:

“Senior!”

This shout did not make Lie stop; instead, it infuriated him even more.

“You’re still trying to mess with me?”

At that moment, Lie wanted to unleash his full strength and strike at Su Ming.

Then…

“What are you all doing?”

A cold voice sounded from behind Lie.

Lie’s figure froze.

The onlookers, who had initially paid no mind, were also greatly startled and abruptly turned around to look toward the villa.

There, Xu Qianqian had appeared at some point, standing on the steps and coldly watching them.

Behind her, Yin stood with a bitter smile, looking as if he didn’t know what to do.

“Young… Young Miss!”

Everyone exclaimed in unison, quickly lowering their heads.

Lie also turned around and looked at Xu Qianqian, who was staring coldly at him, nearly on the verge of tears.

So this time it was real…!?

“Pfft!”

Su Ming, utterly shameless, laughed again.

“You bastard!”

Lie was so enraged he felt as if his soul were leaving his body.

He was certain this bastard had done it on purpose.

If this wasn’t intentional, he’d stay single for life.

Unaware of Lie’s current thoughts, Su Ming simply patted him on the shoulder.

“Young man, don’t be so impulsive in the future. Learn from this lesson, understand?”

These earnest words nearly made Lie explode with anger.

Just as Lie was about to drag Su Ming down with him, Xu Qianqian’s voice rang out again.

“All of you, step back and attend to your own duties.”

Who would dare disobey Xu Qianqian’s command?

“Yes…”

The private army members could only respond weakly, then glare angrily at Su Ming before reluctantly retreating.

“Just you wait!”

Lie even spat out a fierce threat, looking utterly menacing.

“Senior!”

Su Ming paid no mind and instead called out again toward the space behind Lie.

This time, Lie was caught in a dilemma—whether to react or not—and could only twist his face in frustration before abruptly turning around and fleeing as if running for his life.

Yin followed with a bitter smile.

“Haha!”

Su Ming burst into hearty laughter, leaving the private army members both furious and helpless as they quickened their pace to leave.

“Was it fun?”

Only then did Xu Qianqian approach Su Ming and speak expressionlessly.

“Uh, it was alright.” Su Ming stopped laughing and let out an awkward chuckle. “I was just playing around with them.”

“I think you were trying to get back at them,” Xu Qianqian glanced at Su Ming, “because they held a grudge against you.”

“Just playing around, that’s all,” Su Ming emphasized. “Wasn’t I helping you train them?”

The experience of being surrounded and attacked by Gao Xu and Xu Yanyan had likely left a deep impact on this private army.

They seemed to feel their own inadequacy and were now training diligently upon their return.

Earlier, the commotion Su Ming noticed when he arrived at the villa was the sound of the private army sparring.

That was why Su Ming said what he did.

At the same time, Su Ming also realized why Xu Qianqian had sounded somewhat tired during her earlier phone call.”You’re training too?” Su Ming looked at Xu Qianqian, who was drenched in fragrant sweat, and said, “It’s so late, why aren’t you resting properly? What are you training for?”

“Just practicing casually,” Xu Qianqian replied nonchalantly. “Being inadequate in strength is truly unpleasant.”

With these words, Xu Qianqian didn’t give Su Ming a chance to continue the topic. She turned around and said, “Let’s go, we can talk inside.”

Hearing this, Su Ming shrugged.

The two then walked into the villa together and left the area.

(End of Chapter)