Myriad Realms Gatekeeper

Just as he was getting a bit drowsy, his phone suddenly vibrated fiercely.

He had no choice but to pick it up.

Zhao Yibing?

——Girl, can you let me sleep first?

Shen Ye couldn\'t help but yawn.

He tapped on the message, and a photo immediately popped up on his phone.

Zhao Yibing was holding an entrance exam notice, her smile blooming like flowers.

She seemed to have changed somewhat.

Was it because she had dyed her hair a striking purple?

Or was it because her originally pure and bright eyes were now outlined with deep eye shadow?

Or was it that indescribable morose temperament in her expression?

"Shen Ye, I also got the opportunity to take the entrance exam for the three great high schools."

"Let\'s meet up."

Shen Ye suddenly became wide awake.

For some reason, he always felt that there was something not quite right about it.

"President Qian, do you know that there\'s another girl from our school who has also qualified for the three great high schools\' entrance exam?"

Shen Ye asked.

Sitting next to him, Qian Rushan was reading a newspaper. Hearing this, he grunted and said,

"I also just found out. It\'s said that the girl has astonishing talent, which has been hidden all along, only to be revealed today."

"Who hid her?" Shen Ye asked.

"The Archaeological Association," replied Qian Rushan.

Shen Ye nodded slightly.

In this world, the Archaeological Association was an extremely important organization.

They were responsible for excavating all kinds of ruins, searching for mankind\'s past, and even seeking various inheritances, weapons, and martial arts techniques from the ancient era, holding immense power.

Zhao Yibing also had such a connection?

That\'s not right.

If she stood so high early on, why would she buy me breakfast every day?

Does she really like me?

——If she genuinely liked me, why would she trample on me after I had an accident?

It doesn\'t add up.

According to his memory, she never showed any sort of earth-shattering talent and ability.

Could it be...

The image of Chen Haoyu flashed through Shen Ye\'s mind.

Chen Haoyu was dead.

What about Zhao Yibing?

That\'s right, Xiao Mengyu had always been investigating this matter; she was more aware of the overall situation.

But he had made Xiao Mengyu cry before.

The girl was originally prepared to go with him, but after his words, she cut him with a sword and ran away crying.

Would she still pay attention to him?

Hesitating, Shen Ye still sent Xiao Mengyu a message:

"Do you know Zhao Yibing?"

He waited a moment.

Xiao Mengyu\'s message came immediately:

"You were late at that time, so you didn\'t see it, she\'s dead."

Dead?

How did she die?

Shen Ye was taken aback and felt somewhat at a loss, so he straightforwardly screenshotted the photo of Zhao Yibing and the text and sent it to Xiao Mengyu.

The phone suddenly vibrated again.

——A call from Xiao Mengyu!

"Hello?" Shen Ye said.

"Where are you?" Xiao Mengyu asked directly.

"On the flying shuttle——getting ready to take the exam," Shen Ye replied.

"I\'m also going to take the entrance exam, we\'ll talk when we meet up," said Xiao Mengyu.

"Alright, I\'ll be arriving at the destination in about——"

"Twenty-seven hours," the voice of Qian Rushan came from behind the newspaper.

"Okay, got it," said Xiao Mengyu.

Knowing that she had something to discuss in person, Shen Ye nodded and said,

"See you later."

Xiao Mengyu solemnly cautioned, "Remember——never meet with Zhao Yibing alone at any time. Remember my words."

"Okay," Shen Ye became serious as well.

The call ended.

Qian Rushan\'s head popped out from behind the newspaper.

"This voice seems familiar," he murmured with a gossip-hungry tone.

"Xiao Mengyu," Shen Ye said directly.

Qian Rushan nodded and once again covered his face with the newspaper.

His voice came from behind it:

"Last night at 3:25 AM, a soaring Sword Qi erupted over Bai River in the suburbs."

"After investigation, it was determined that this Sword Qi was released by Xiao Mengyu of the Luo family."

"The smart brain deduced that she had made a breakthrough in her sword technique."

"After her breakthrough, she performed forty-nine moves of swordsmanship on a solitary peak on the river, stood on her sword and crossed the river, and gracefully departed."

Shen Ye sharply caught something and immediately asked,

"A breakthrough? Why would she know how to use a Sword Technique so early, while we, also in junior high, are only learning the basics of physical conditioning?"

Qian Rushan explained, "Although she hasn\'t started high school yet, she\'s been practicing swordsmanship since childhood."

"Practicing swordsmanship since childhood? Aren\'t you supposed to learn Cultivation Techniques only after high school?" Shen Ye said.

"She is a Clan Young Master; her family has a swordsmanship heritage, so naturally, she was trained from a young age."

So that\'s it.

Normal people, unless they get into high school, wouldn\'t have the chance to learn Cultivation Techniques in their lifetime.

But the Scion of the Noble Family starts practicing from an early age.

The real head start.

Seeing Shen Ye pensively contemplating, Qian Rushan added another piece,

"Also, young masters and mistresses from clans start cultivating their \'Comprehension\' and \'Resonance\' from a young age, while you will probably only touch upon these subjects in high school."

Shen Ye sighed and said, "The gap is just too big."

"You\'re technically a Clan Young Master yourself," Qian Rushan insinuated with a jab.

Shen Ye smiled, showing tolerance and understanding for his words.

As an executive of the Human Martial Arts Group, it was only natural for Qian Rushan not to want him to leave the Group and return to his clan.

That\'s why he would say such a thing.

But it was also a fact——

He was about to graduate from junior high and had never been in contact with any heritage of the family, nor had he received any form of cultivation and training.

"After her breakthrough, Xiao Mengyu can walk on the river."

"——It seems she\'s also made a breakthrough in her movement technique," remarked Qian Rushan with admiration, "Truly a hero in the making."

"Let\'s not talk about this anymore, I\'m going to take a nap. Wake me up when we get there," Shen Ye stretched and said.

He had just fastened his eye mask when his phone vibrated once more.

Another message appeared on the screen:

"Shen Ye, I\'m about to set off for the exam. How about we go together?"

Zhao Yibing\'s new message.

"You\'re already dead."

"Are you going to die or not!"

—I really haven\'t been sleeping, please stop texting!

Shen Ye thought for a moment, browsed through old photos on his phone, and then replied:

"You go ahead, I\'m at Nanshan Temple offering incense, and I\'m also climbing the mountain. I\'m going for a big meal at Fahai\'s stall tonight, and I won\'t be leaving until the day after tomorrow."

There was no reply from the other side.

A few minutes later.

Shen Ye selected an old photo of his visit to Nanshan Temple and posted it in his Moments.

Soon there was a notification sound.

Someone commented!

Shen Ye tapped the screen.

"What a coincidence, I\'m also visiting Nanshan. I didn\'t see you just now, where are you at the moment?"

It was a comment from Zhao Yibing.

—No sooner had I posted a photo of Nanshan than you, Zhao Yibing, are also at Nanshan?

I don\'t believe you for a second!

We boys tend to be simple and kind-hearted. When out in the world, we must remain vigilant and protect ourselves.

I must remember this.

Shen Ye put down his phone, secured his sleep mask, and took the opportunity to catch up on sleep.

Very soon.

He entered a deep sleep.

Those long-lost memories were sequentially activated during his sleep, resurfacing in his mind.

Darkness.

Snowflakes drifted through the manor.

I was under the eaves, listening to the distant sound of firecrackers.

Suddenly.

Two little girls came running in a panic, crying as they ran.

A hunting dog was chasing after them.

Hunting dogs are generally very fierce, able to tear open the throat of their prey once they pounce.

Not good!

I saw myself rushing forward, standing in front of the two little girls.

The scene flashed by.

In the hospital.

I was wrapped up like a zongzi.

The doctor\'s voice came from the corridor:

"Lucky to be alive..."

"...any closer, and..."

"He\'s not out of danger yet..."

The scene flashed again.

I don\'t know how much time had passed.

I was sitting up in my hospital bed, nearly recovered.

The two little girls came to thank me.

We chatted happily.

Later, once I had recovered, the three of us played together for most of the vacation.

Winter break ended.

They had to go home.

So did I.

"We have a card for you," said the two girls.

I also took out a greeting card as a parting gift.

From then on, we never saw each other again.

In the blink of an eye, it was ten years.

Ten years...

We\'ve all grown up.

And never met again.

Our fates had become completely different.

Someone patted me.

Shen Ye opened his eyes, still groggy, and asked:

"What?"

"I see you\'ve had enough sleep, let\'s go eat. We\'re flying for an entire day, let\'s go!" Qian Rushan said.

Shen Ye came to his senses and realized he was indeed hungry.

"Do you have instant noodles?" he asked.

"Noodles my foot, you\'re with me and still want noodles? Come on, let\'s have something good," Qian Rushan said.

"President Qian is pretty generous!"

Shen Ye\'s spirits lifted instantly.

He followed Qian Rushan as they rose from their seats, walked through the spacious and clean corridor, pushed open the door, and entered the dining room.

"Wow, this place is so spacious," Shen Ye remarked.

"Nonsense, this is the most advanced, most luxurious flying shuttle," Qian Rushan said as he found them seats to sit down.

A beautiful stewardess brought over the menu.

Qian Rushan ordered seafood congee.

Shen Ye ordered pork rib rice, roasted lamb hooves, twenty beef skewers, and iced cola.

Qian Rushan said, "You\'re not eating even a single vegetable? Eating only meat is not okay—don\'t worry about saving me money on food and drink."

"President Qian, look, this is vegetarian," Shen Ye said, picking up a clove of garlic.

It wasn\'t long.

The food was served.

Both started to eat.

Although Shen Ye was starving, his appetite was a bit more than he could handle, and he left a few beef skewers unfinished.

Suddenly.

A voice came from beside:

"Excuse me, why did you leave these skewers? Are they edible?"

Shen Ye turned his head to see that the speaker was a dark-skinned, crew-cut slim boy.

The boy seemed about his age, his eyes fixed on the skewers in Shen Ye\'s plate, his Adam\'s apple bobbing up and down.

Shen Ye was about to answer, but suddenly felt unsure of how to respond.

That\'s not right.

Wait a moment.

He began to realize the implications of the statement.

"Are they edible?"

This sentence had several possible meanings.

First.

Whether the food is good or bad, and whether it would cause stomach problems.

Second.

Can I have this food?

Third.

Is it free?

From the context, the boy meant the second with a hint of the third meaning.

—This kid is interesting!