Chapter 41: Misreading Signals

Words : 1214 Updated : Sep 12th, 2025

Chapter 41: Misreading Signals However, before Ji Yao could even begin to make sense of the strange feeling that had taken root inside her— Before she could identify the warmth laced with a sharp edge in her chest— A loud voice called out from behind: "Hey, Saintess!" Everyone instinctively turned to look. Striding toward them with all the grace of a man who believed the world revolved around his footsteps was Lin Fan. His robe fluttered dramatically behind him, one hand raised high as he waved like they were old friends reuniting after years apart. His smile was wide—too wide. It had that cocky shine that only Lin Fan could wear so confidently. Right behind him— Yue Yu followed at an easy pace. Her own smile was far more subtle, almost secretive. There was a glint in her eye that didn’t match Lin Fan’s enthusiasm—no, her joy stemmed from something else entirely. As she passed by Hei Long, she offered a discreet little wave. Then, with a mischievous grin, she puckered her lips and blew him a quick kiss; her gaze lingering just long enough to ensure he saw it. "..." Hei Long raised an eyebrow in response, then smirked coolly and returned her wave with a slow, confident gesture. His posture remained relaxed, but his mind was already analyzing everything. His gaze shifted back to Lin Fan. ’He’s empty-handed,’ Hei Long thought, eyes narrowing slightly. ’No monster core in sight. Perfect.’ It was subtle, but he allowed himself a sliver of satisfaction. His small interference—just a minor nudge to the threads of fate—had paid off. Lin Fan had been so thoroughly distracted by Yue Yu’s charm that he’d completely lost focus on the actual goal of the competition. The proud "protagonist" had likely spent the entire time trailing after her like a fool, forgetting entirely about the monster hunt. Hei Long crossed his arms, silent. ’One step off the path. That’s all it takes... Just one step,’ he thought: ’He’s already diverging from the novel’s original plot. If this continues, he’ll start hemorrhaging Fate. And when that happens...’ Hei Long’s eyes gleamed faintly: ’I’ll be ready to kill him.’ Yue Yu shot one last teasing glance over her shoulder at Hei Long before walking past. Lin Fan, still oblivious to the subtle game playing out around him, beamed like he’d just arrived at the heart of some grand revelation. Ji Yao, meanwhile, had finally composed herself— As she simply gave a faint nod toward Lin Fan. To be honest, she had no idea who he was. There were too many people who greeted her on a daily basis—disciples trying to gain favor, admirers seeking her attention, opportunists hoping to attach themselves to her reputation. Their names blurred together, faces passing like clouds. Remembering each one was a task not even worth attempting. Normally, Ji Yao wouldn’t have responded at all. A stranger calling her title would’ve been met with silence, a cold glance at best. But something in her had shifted ever so slightly—perhaps a lingering echo of Hei Long’s words before the monster hunt. So, just this once, Ji Yao offered the bare minimum—a half nod of acknowledgment. It was a small gesture. Insignificant, even. But not to Lin Fan. He froze in place, his foot still mid-step. His eyes widened as his brain took a moment to process what had just happened. ’She nodded at me...’ Inside, fireworks exploded. ’Oh my heavens... She actually acknowledged me!’ Lin Fan screamed internally, barely holding back a grin that threatened to split his face in half. A wild sense of victory surged through him, and it took everything he had not to throw his fists into the air and yell. On the outside, however, he desperately tried to keep his composure. Lin Fan shoved his hands casually into his robes and leaned back a little, adopting what he believed was the epitome of a laid-back, totally-cool martial arts heartthrob: ’She totally has a crush on me!’ Then— Lin Fan’s eyes flickered toward Yue Yu, who was walking ahead without so much as a glance back. A bead of sweat slid down his neck. ’Damn... I can’t let her get jealous. I was just being polite! I should play this cool—real cool...’ He cleared his throat, lowered his voice by half a tone, and offered a line he’d rehearsed in his head a dozen times for moments like this: "Well, I’ll get going then. If you see me around, don’t be shy—call out my name if you need me." Lin Fan turned slowly as he said it, giving the illusion of walking away while actually positioning himself to look effortlessly confident. Chin slightly tilted up, robes billowing, eyes distant but aware—he was sure he looked amazing. However— Ji Yao had already looked away. Meanwhile, Hei Long stood a few paces off to the side, watching the whole display unfold. He couldn’t help it—a scoff escaped his lips. Lin Fan caught it. And oh, it burned. ’This fucking bastard...’ Lin Fan clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to spin around and yell something petty. Instead, he shot a quick glance at Hei Long, his expression still "cool" on the surface... but inside, he was fuming. ’Oh, how badly I want to raise my middle finger right now...’ Instead, he gave Hei Long a fake smile and a nod that was anything but respectful. ’Boy... you know, you might just be a lost cause...’ The old man’s soul lay sprawled out inside the spiritual sea—face down, arms stretched forward like a corpse dragged through humiliation. His figure looked utterly exhausted, his will to live shattered not by enemies, but by his own so-called successor. ’I’ve truly failed...’ the old man muttered, his soul body twitching slightly as he stared blankly into the abyss: ’Why... why did it have to be you? Of all the people who could’ve inherited my bloodline... Why did Heaven choose this clown?’ The old man closed his eyes and groaned as if in mourning: ’This bloodline... it was meant for someone extraordinary. A prodigy. A chosen one! Not... not this oblivious, overdramatic, horny dunce!’ ’Shut up, old man!’ Lin Fan hissed under his breath, his smile still plastered onto his face as he walked beside Yue Yu: ’You’re gonna ruin my cool-guy aura!’ ’Aura?’ The old man sat up weakly with dead eyes: ’The only thing you radiate is secondhand embarrassment.’ Lin Fan ignored him completely, adjusting his robes and puffing out his chest ever so slightly. He kept his chin tilted up just enough to look aloof, while sneaking sideways glances to see if Yue Yu—or anyone, really—was admiring his "effortless charm." Unbeknownst to him... no one was. In fact, most of the other disciples nearby had already labeled Lin Fan mentally. Some whispered behind their sleeves: "Is he always like this?" "He really thinks he’s that guy, doesn’t he?" "Why do I feel the sudden urge to make him roll?" Even those who didn’t know him very well found themselves fighting the spontaneous, inexplicable desire to deliver a clean palm strike across his face. Something about Lin Fan’s energy just invited it...

Chapter 41: Misreading Signals

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