「Inside a building in Jinmen City.」

Qin Ying watched the two approach from afar, a faint smile on her lips, betraying neither joy nor sorrow.

「Outside Jinmen City.」

Wang Zhan was taking a leisurely stroll across a green meadow with Yao Yao, aimlessly.

They finally stopped when they reached a spot with a splendid view, where layers of white clouds adorned the distant horizon and the ground teemed with wildlife.

The two held each other tightly, savoring the azure sky and the jade-green earth around them.

"It's been a while... Student Wang Zhan!" Yao Yao gazed, captivated, at Wang Zhan, whose masculine aura had grown even more distinct. She murmured,

Wang Zhan chuckled, stroking Yao Yao's waist—her skin felt incredibly soft and smooth.

"It's been a while, Student Yao Yao!"

Though only the two of them were there, they had both been through so much.

After parting with Wang Zhan the last time, Yao Yao had been directly dispatched to another battlefield, not to mention other pressing matters that demanded her immediate attention.

Wang Zhan himself had very nearly died on the Jing State Wilderness Battlefield, and even in the Small World, his life had hung by a thread.

However, Wang Zhan didn't tell Yao Yao about these things, fearing it would worry her. He merely glossed over these events.

"...Really, if I had possessed the ability back then, I would have snatched it all. Pure Yuan Liquid... they called it a pool, but it turned out to be an entire ocean..."

The mere mention of it made his teeth ache with regret.

It felt as if the greatest opportunity of his life had irrevocably slipped through his fingers, and there was nothing he could have done.

After listening to him, Yao Yao couldn't help but chuckle, then asked softly, "Have you thought about what you're going to do next? What belongs to others will always belong to others. We're still too weak. Only by continuously growing stronger can we protect those we wish to protect."

Wang Zhan chuckled. "I have some plans. By the way, how strong are you now? I took a quick look earlier, but I couldn't quite tell. It feels like your strength is rather mysterious—you might experience advanced rapidly after a single breakthrough."

Yao Yao's face showed a mixture of determination and tenderness. "But, one always has to pay a price for what one gains! Don't think shortcuts are easy; in reality..."

She couldn't continue, hesitating, debating whether or not to reveal this to Wang Zhan.

For instance, with a single genetic agent, it's possible that out of a thousand test subjects, all one thousand could die, leaving no survivors.

If not for her unique constitution, she likely would have perished on the operating table long ago, never mind standing before Wang Zhan now.

It was precisely because of this dimly understood yet undeniable fact that she qualified to become the public face of the Federal Laboratory. Even though she couldn't create something from nothing, she represented the hope that the strong could strive to become even stronger.

Wang Zhan, of course, was well aware of the complexities involved. After discussing it with Qin Ying, he understood even more clearly.

He gently lowered his head to look at Yao Yao nestled in his arms, and spoke tenderly yet firmly, "I know. Let's both work hard. One day, I'll be strong enough to protect you!"

Yao Yao smiled sweetly at him.

Although she felt strong enough to protect herself, she truly liked Wang Zhan. Even his domineering moments only made him more attractive in her eyes.

Suddenly, Wang Zhan's tone turned serious. "But Student Yao Yao, before that, let me give you a gift first. Would that be alright?"

Yao Yao, puzzled, looked up at him. "What is it... um..."

For a moment, an amorous haze seemed to fill the air.

"Heh, scumbag!"

Just a short while after Wang Zhan and Yao Yao had parted ways, Qin Ying directly sought him out.

Without the slightest hesitation, she branded him a 'scumbag,' the label making Wang Zhan shudder inwardly.

"Me... when did I become a scumbag?"

"Just now."

"Then how come I didn't know?"

"Heh!"

Qin Ying shot Wang Zhan a look that dared him to feign ignorance.

Her expression then darkened, a hint of her usual aloofness and sharp temper returning. She extended a slender, jade-like finger towards Wang Zhan. "Come here?"

Wang Zhan quickly stood his ground, shaking his head. "No! If I go just because you tell me to, wouldn't I lose face?"

"Are you coming or not?" Qin Ying wasn't so easily fooled; her expression grew even darker, practically blackening with suppressed anger.

Wang Zhan's feet trembled slightly. "Can't we just talk? Why make things so tense? What exactly is our relationship, anyway?"

"Heh, why don't you tell me what our relationship is?"

In the end, Wang Zhan couldn't hold out. Qin Ying pulled him close, but the situation unfolded differently than he'd anticipated.

"HISS... Be gentle!"

"...MMHM... Serves you right if it hurts!"

Nearly an incense stick's burning time later, Qin Ying, face flushed, finally snuggled into Wang Zhan's embrace and asked softly, "Did you really miss me?"

"...Yes."

"So, did you miss me more, or that woman Yao Yao more?"

A headache washed over Wang Zhan.

He hadn't even become a Martial King yet, couldn't even handle this fire, and already his house was in an uproar.

"I... I missed you more!"

But what else could Wang Zhan do? Regarding this unconventional relationship, he could only hope Qin Ying would be reasonable and not expose it.

Qin Ying had always known this, but even though a part of her felt a chill, she couldn't help but lose herself in the moment, unable to resist.

She lifted her head, looking at Wang Zhan's chin, and murmured, "Do you think that just because I can be reasonable, you can bully me?"

Wang Zhan fell silent, looking down at her quietly.

Finally, he leaned in for a kiss, a kiss that sealed their unspoken bond.

Qin Ying couldn't be bothered to expose the scoundrel. She straightened up, her demeanor becoming serious as she asked, "You mentioned the Qin Family earlier? Did they give *you* the 'General Outline of the Supreme Pure Thunder'?"

Wang Zhan nodded. "Yes, otherwise my mental energy wouldn't have surged so drastically. I'm actually afraid to level up now, worried my mental energy might overload and kill me."

With over 40,000 points in mental energy, the gap between it and his other basic attributes could no longer be described as a 'significant lead'; they were simply in different leagues. To put it another way, if one had to define a range for Wang Zhan's mental energy, he could now cover half of Jinmen City. But this was only temporary. One should understand that he was already at the threshold of a Level 4 Warrior. If not for his deliberate suppression of his advancement, as he wanted to consult Yun Tianyi or Wei Daoming first, his mental energy could probably already cover the entirety of Jinmen City, perhaps even extending out by another half of its radius. That was Wang Zhan's current power.

Qin Ying furrowed her eyebrows slightly, took a moment to consider, then said softly, "That's not the most critical issue. It's only a tenfold disparity. For us Qin Family members, a hundredfold, or even a thousandfold, difference is what constitutes a true life-or-death crisis. However, we've actually found some effective ways to mitigate it. Besides, what you're experiencing now is just the beginning; you still have plenty of time."

Wang Zhan said with a hint of resignation, "But it only took me half a year to go from the Martial Student Realm to... a Level 3 Martial Master!"

Qin Ying's heart skipped a beat.

That's right. Who would have imagined that a mere Martial Student could break through to the Martial Master Realm in just half a year, with prospects for even higher levels? Before this, he was just an ordinary person. Was he really that far from his mental energy exceeding his basic attributes by a hundred, or even a thousand, times? Perhaps even before reaching the peak of the Martial Master Realm, Wang Zhan would see his mental energy achieve that hundredfold gap.

Her tone immediately grew stern. "You can try to find Yun Tianyi or Wei Daoming; see if they have a temporary solution. I didn't expect your mental energy to advance so rapidly, so I came unprepared this time. I can only bring it for you on my next visit..."

Wang Zhan understood. Secrets of this magnitude, belonging to a major family, weren't things Qin Ying would carry on her person, even if she was highly favored—much like the Federation's restricted ancient books.

But he shook his head and said softly, "No. I'm a man. Do you want me to spend my entire life relying on you, or on the patronage of your family?"

Qin Ying stared at him, momentarily stunned, then broke into a joyful laugh, her eyes curving into crescents. She nodded emphatically. "Alright! But you do your thing, and I'll do mine. Until you have the strength to conquer me, I won't just listen to everything you say..."

Wang Zhan smirked. "And how exactly does one 'conquer' you? Like this?"

His actions immediately made Qin Ying blush furiously, and she said shyly, "Hey, get your hand off me!"

"This isn't my hand; it's *your* hand!"

"PAH!"

Meetings are difficult, and partings no less so.

Half a day later, it was time for Qin Ying to leave, and for Wang Zhan as well.

Qin Ying had many matters to attend to, while Wang Zhan needed to visit his mother before continuing his journey.

At the door.

Qin Ying meticulously straightened Wang Zhan's attire, then asked softly, "Are you sure you don't want my help?"

Wang Zhan shook his head. He had told Qin Ying about his entrepreneurial plans, not to seek her help as if she were his mother or a nanny, but simply to share his journey of growth with her.

"No need. Whatever happens, this is my path to walk. If I'm bound to fail, then I'll just consider it money spent on a lesson!"

He had about two billion on him, after all. Hmm, perhaps I'll start by investing a hundred million to test the waters?

Qin Ying smiled. "Alright, then I won't interfere. However, I'll assign someone to stay by your side, to make sure you don't get greedy and start eyeing what's in others' pots. You won't object to that, will you?"

Wang Zhan was dismayed. "Greedy and eyeing others' pots"? Am I that kind of person?

Qin Ying didn't pursue the topic further and simply saw him off. "Go on! She's waiting for you downstairs. Remember, apart from these few women you're involved with now, if you dare to get entangled with any others, I'll definitely castrate you!"

At her words, accompanied by a snipping gesture with her fingers, Wang Zhan felt a sudden chill in his groin.

"Then... I'll be going!" He was momentarily speechless, a lump in his throat.

What "few women"? There's clearly only one, okay? Honestly, this is all my own doing. Serves me right! Wait, what am I even thinking? Am I that kind of person? I'm very devoted, okay...

「Downstairs.」

An intelligent-looking, beautiful woman stopped Wang Zhan.

Putting down her phone, she extended a fair hand towards Wang Zhan and introduced herself with a gentle voice, "Hello, Student Wang Zhan. My name is Yu Lan. I am currently Miss Qin's secretary. It's a pleasure to meet you! I hold a postdoctoral degree in Economics, with a specialization in Business Management and Application. I trust you won't find that objectionable?"

Wang Zhan quietly watched her.

A postdoctoral degree in Economics, Business Management and Application? What impressive qualifications.

"Then, can you go buy me a cup of milk tea?"

Object? Heh. You must not know me very well.

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