Chapter 166: You Liar

Chapter 166: You Liar

What was going on? Wasn't Lu Yan邢Yuan's little lover? How did he suddenly have abilities, and not just any ability, but such a powerful Lightning-type one?!

The crowd was shocked, their minds filled with questions, almost overloading their mental capacity. Even Xing Yuan couldn't hide his astonishment. He remembered something, and his face suddenly turned ghastly, so dark it seemed to drip with water, grinding his back teeth almost to the point of breaking them—

He realized! The Supreme Dean's Lightning-type ability user they wanted to recruit was Lu Yan!! This bastard had been lying to him all along!

Not only had Xing Yuan been deceived by his arch-nemesis, he had also been intimate with him!!

Realizing this truth, Xing Yuan's chest heaved violently, his vision blurring as if he was about to faint. Luckily, Luoyang caught him in time, stammering, "Xing Yuan, s-s-should we go up and help?"

Xing Yuan snapped at him, his eyes bloodshot, his lips trembling with anger. "I don't care if he dies!!"

All the nearby lightning elements had been absorbed by Lu Yan, leaving Xing Yuan unable to even conjure a spark. What help could he offer?!

The distant thunder was too intense for the other ability users to approach, fearing that they might accidentally electrocute themselves. They could only watch helplessly as Lu Yan battled the eerie white-faced bird.

Most of the wanderers Lu Yan had killed had taken human form or were black mist. This was the first time he encountered a wanderer in animal form. The bird stood taller than a person, its feathers fluffy white, but its skin was black, resembling a black chicken from afar. Yet, it had slender phoenix eyes, a high and delicate nose, and a long, sharp beak capable of easily piercing through skulls to suck out brains.

It was bizarre, eerie, and terrifying.

Zhuo Qun was almost in tears, scrambling away. The rough sand and gravel scraped his skin, and the bird, stimulated by the scent of blood, suddenly let out a shrill cry, directly breaking through Lu Yan's lightning array and diving towards him.

"Bad!"

The ability users' faces changed drastically as they rushed forward to assist. The Supreme Dean had only one precious son, and if anything happened to him, no one present would escape blame!

Lu Yan was now a fifth-level Lightning-type, and so was the bird. He didn't necessarily have an absolute advantage, but he wasn't at a disadvantage either. Lu Yan twisted his wrist, transforming lightning into two ropes that wrapped around the bird's feet. Pulling back with force, the bird flapped its wings desperately but couldn't break free. Luoyang and the others who arrived later used their abilities together, flames rising to engulf the bird, causing it to cry out incessantly.

But this was far from enough. Third-level Fire-type abilities couldn't completely incinerate it to ashes.

Lu Yan freed one hand, compressing his ability to the extreme. A sharp lightning blade appeared in his palm. In a swift motion, he pulled the rope made of condensed ability, causing the bird to plummet from the sky. Burning feathers flew everywhere, followed by a loud "bang."

Luoyang and the others were startled, immediately retreating. Lu Yan ignored the pain of sparks landing on his skin, flipping over to grab the bird's neck. He raised the icy blue lightning blade in his hand and stabbed it fiercely into the heart of the bird. Instantly, a burst of black mist exploded, the bird's piercing cry piercing the heavens. Its steel-like wings flapped heavily, knocking Lu Yan off.

"Whoosh—!"

The bird soared into the sky, circling in agony, trying to return to its nest but losing direction due to the interference of abilities.

Lu Yan fell to the side, dazed and disoriented. After a long while, he finally regained consciousness. He struggled to stand upright, staring intently at the bird circling in the sky. His right fingertip suddenly pinched the air as if grasping a thread, and the bird was like a kite that couldn't escape.

The lightning blade had already pierced the bird's heart and was driven deeper with each flap of its wings.

Lu Yan seemed to do something, yet nothing at all. He viciously snapped the blue thread he held between his fingertips, and the bird circling in the sky suddenly froze, its belly inflating like a balloon, emitting a series of muffled gurgling sounds.

"Bang—!"

Another muffled sound, louder than before, echoed. The giant bird struggled to flap its wings, its belly growing larger, yet unable to resist the downward pull of gravity.

"Bang—!"

The final deafening explosion left everyone watching as the charred bird suddenly exploded in mid-air, its body parts scattering, dissipating into a black mist before even hitting the ground.

A high-level T5 wanderer had just been annihilated before their eyes, leaving a stunned silence among those present. Lu Yan, due to excessive ability depletion, swayed and knelt on the ground.

In the end, Luoyang was the first to react. "Hurry, let's retreat. These mutated beasts live in groups; if we attract more wanderers, it won't be good!"

They lifted Lu Yan from the ground and carried the unconscious Zhuo Qun onto their shoulders, hastily boarding the aircraft. Only Xing Yuan remained stationary, a breath stuck in his throat, his face turning livid with anger.

Luoyang leaned out of the hatch, shouting, "Xing Yuan! What are you waiting for, hurry up and get on!"

Xing Yuan slowly exhaled, then walked toward the aircraft. Before boarding, he couldn't resist looking back at the deepest part of the contaminated area. There, ruins stood tall, occasionally interrupted by indistinct bird calls. Darkness enveloped everything, and within that heavy darkness, there seemed to be a larger silhouette, vaguely humanoid. Those hollow eyes stared straight at Xing Yuan.

"Woo..."

The cold wind blew through the buildings riddled with holes, producing a mournful sound, sending shivers down spines.

The aircraft quickly took off, leaving behind the perilous place.

The sudden appearance of the bird had injured many, especially the TV crew, whose cries filled the cabin. Lu Yan, due to excessive ability exhaustion, felt dizzy, unaware of who helped him onto his seat. At that moment, his mind was consumed by a single thought:

It's over, Xing Yuan is really going to kill him now!

He wondered if jumping out of the aircraft would still be possible.

Lu Yan scanned the surroundings, searching for Xing Yuan, but others clearly misunderstood his intentions. A team doctor approached, carrying a medical kit, trembling slightly. Nervously, he asked, "Um... shall I help treat your wounds?"

Reminded by the doctor, Lu Yan subconsciously touched his forehead, realizing that during the fight, he had accidentally hit his head on a rock, leaving a half-dried blood scab. He didn't refuse the offer. "Thank you, that would be great."

The doctor hurriedly waved his hands. "No trouble at all, no trouble."

He seemed to fear Lu Yan, but beneath that fear lay admiration. Not just the doctor, but everyone else on the aircraft felt the same way, except for Luoyang, Yan Feng, Chong Yuan, and Nie Zhuguang, who sat huddled together in a corner, whispering as they recounted what had happened.

Nie Zhuguang's eyes sparkled, surprised that such a master was hidden among them. "Who is this person? How did he end up in our team?"

Luoyang nervously shook his leg, unsure. "Seems... seems like Xing Yuan's little lover."

Yan Feng looked at him in surprise. "Are you crazy? His strength is at least fifth-level Lightning-type. Why would he be Xing Yuan's lover?"

Luoyang was also confused. "Yeah, why would he?"

Chong Yuan recalled something, his expression momentarily blank. "Fifth-level Lightning-type? Could he be the black-clothed man the Supreme Dean wanted to recruit?"

Upon hearing this, the other three fell into a deathly silence. Although they found this answer ridiculous, some things in the world were just that messed up. Sky City currently knew of only two Lightning-types, and Lu Yan had to be one of them.

Luoyang nodded sympathetically. "Most likely, last time during dinner, you were forcing Xing Yuan to eliminate him at the banquet."

"Plop—"

Upon hearing this, Chong Yuan was so frightened that he fell off his chair. It was one thing to talk tough behind someone's back, but how did it end up reaching the person himself? On the day the Wanderer attacked the city, he happened to be absent. Hearing rumors, he only thought Lu Yan was all bark and no bite. But after seeing Lu Yan's strength just now, he would have to be out of his mind to try to take him down.

No wonder Xing Yuan had been evasive at the dinner table; these two had already gotten together!

Stupid! Truly stupid! Chong Yuan cursed himself for not realizing this sooner. Now, he had really offended them!

Xing Yuan sat in the last row, his face as dark as the bottom of a pot. No one dared to sit next to him, creating a vacuum around him. When Lu Yan finished treating his wounds and approached, the area around Xing Yuan became even emptier.

"Angry?"

To avoid a sudden attack from Xing Yuan, Lu Yan left a seat between them before sitting down. It turned out to be the right move, as Xing Yuan kicked out with his foot the next second. Lu Yan quickly jumped onto his seat and squatted down, successfully dodging the attack.

But this action was like pouring oil on the fire.

Xing Yuan's eyes were about to spew flames. "You dare to dodge?!"

Lu Yan brushed off the dust on his pants. "Of course I have to dodge if you kick me."

Xing Yuan gritted his teeth. "You lied to me and you still dare to dodge?!"

Lu Yan asked with a half-smile. "What did I lie about?"

Xing Yuan grabbed his collar and pulled him close, his eyes bloodshot. "Lu Yan, you're still denying it. The headmaster said the lightning ability user they wanted to recruit was you. Why didn't you tell me?!"

Lu Yan admitted to part of the accusation. "That lightning ability user is indeed me."

Each answer he gave made Xing Yuan feel like he was being strangled, but there seemed to be a twist coming.

"But I didn't intentionally hide it from you," Lu Yan continued. "If you had asked, I would have told you."

In other words, Xing Yuan hadn't asked.

Xing Yuan stared at him, dumbfounded.

Xing Yuan glanced over to see everyone watching the spectacle. He decided to grab Lu Yan by the collar and flash into the nearby storage room. In the darkness, he said through clenched teeth, "Lu Yan, do you want to die?!"

Xing Yuan's eyes were red in the darkness, his fingertips trembling. He truly harbored murderous intent. No one had ever dared to toy with him like this:

"What's your purpose in getting close to me?! Who put you up to this?!"

Lu Yan removed the hand on his collar, thinking that Xing Yuan was quite adorable when he was angry. However, this time, he was genuinely upset. It might be tricky to placate him. In the darkness, Lu Yan embraced Xing Yuan, feeling the tension in his muscles through their clothes. "It was wrong of me to keep this from you, but no one put me up to it. Can't I simply like you?"

"Bullshit!" Xing Yuan swore, lowering his voice in anger. "You just want my money!"

Lu Yan didn't think so. There were plenty of rich people in the world; why would he specifically target Xing Yuan's wealth? Leaning in, he kissed Xing Yuan's reddened eyes gently. His voice was low and tender. "You say I'm a lightning ability user. If I wanted to make money, it would be a matter of seconds. Why would I deceive you?"

He concluded, "I don't want your money; I want you."

Xing Yuan nearly laughed in disbelief. Coldly, he asked, "Like? We hadn't even met when you added me as a friend. What do you like about me?"

Lu Yan asked seriously, "Don't you think our avatars, both foxes, are a perfect match?"

Xing Yuan's expression darkened. "Lu Yan, I'm not joking with you."

Lu Yan sensed the danger in his tone and finally reined in his frivolity. After some thought, he slowly began, "Do you remember the time you came to my house?"

Xing Yuan frowned. "When did I ever come to your house?"

Lu Yan reminded him, "Number 26 South Wind Road. A couple died upstairs, along with several infants. Your ability squad investigated it at the time. I lived next door. You forgot?"

With Lu Yan's reminder, Xing Yuan finally recalled something. Looking at him with uncertainty, he asked, "It was you?!"

Lu Yan nodded solemnly, then hesitated. "Actually... actually, I fell in love with you at first sight back then."

Xing Yuan retorted, "You fell in love with me at first sight, my ass. You added me as a friend in the group before we even met. So, do you usually add strangers as friends when you're bored?"

He was clearly a playboy fishing everywhere!

Lu Yan said without batting an eye, "At that time, I didn't know it was you. I heard that Sky City's number one was also in the group, so I wanted to spar and get to know you. We only started chatting after we met. Didn't you notice that I never initiated a conversation with you before we met?"

Perfect, flawless. Lu Yan was ready to give himself a pat on the back.

Xing Yuan stared expressionlessly at Lu Yan, narrowing his eyes, trying to find any trace of lying on his face. "Then why didn't you tell me you were that lightning ability user?"

Lu Yan sighed silently. "I thought, given our relationship, you would recognize me when we met. I didn't expect..."

This was a blatant counterattack.

Xing Yuan struggled to suppress the urge to punch Lu Yan. His deep voice echoed in Lu Yan's ear, each word dripping with anger in the darkness. "Lu Yan, it won't be easy to brush aside what you've done to me. Better not let me catch you in Sky City again, or I won't let it go!"

"Bang!"

After saying this, he slammed his fist heavily against the wall of the spacecraft beside him before storming out. Lu Yan heard the footsteps fade away and looked curiously at the spot where Xing Yuan had struck. The wall was now marked with an uneven indentation.

Goodness, if that punch had landed on someone, they would have lost half their life.

Was Xing Yuan signaling that he wanted to sever ties?

Luoyang and the others had been peering outside the entire time. Seeing Xing Yuan emerge from the storage room with a grim face, their curiosity was piqued like cats scratching. Their gazes involuntarily drifted towards him.

Sitting in his seat, Xing Yuan met Luoyang's curious gaze. His eyes shot daggers. "What are you looking at?!"