Chapter 98 – A Debt of Gratitude That Cannot Be Repaid

Most of the time, people’s values do not align.

Su Ming understood that some things might seem trivial to him but could hold immense importance to others, so their perspectives shouldn’t be conflated.

However, this didn’t change the fact that the matter itself was truly insignificant in Su Ming’s eyes.

Had he not encountered Yun Langyue again and been reminded of this past event through her words, Su Ming wouldn’t even have remembered it.

This showed just how little importance Su Ming attached to it.

Yet Yun Langyue seemed to have never forgotten this matter—nor Su Ming.

Despite having done many things for him, she still felt she hadn’t fully repaid her debt.

Despite knowing much about Su Ming, she still believed she ought to help him and do things for him.

Conversations like today’s had actually occurred many times between Su Ming and Yun Langyue.

So, Su Ming knew exactly how Yun Langyue would respond when he insisted she owed him nothing.

Sure enough…

“What I owe you can never be repaid in this lifetime.”

Yun Langyue uttered these words lightly, as if pledging her entire life.

“Perhaps what you did back then seems trivial to you, but that experience, those words, influenced my entire life and pulled me out of the abyss.”

As she spoke, Yun Langyue wrapped her arms around one of Su Ming’s.

“Anyway, this lifetime is still long. There are many things I can do for you. Let’s take it slow, my great benefactor.”

Only at this moment did a genuine smile grace Yun Langyue’s exquisitely beautiful face—real and heartfelt, unlike her usual cheerful demeanor that felt somewhat deliberate.

Su Ming wanted to say:

“If this continues, the one owing an unrepayable debt will probably become me.”

In the end, Su Ming didn’t voice these words.

Because it was pointless.

Even if Yun Langyue heard them, she wouldn’t change her ways.

Having known her for nearly a year now, Su Ming had come to understand her true nature somewhat.

She held grudges fiercely and remembered kindness just as strongly. Once she set her mind on something, she pursued it relentlessly—even eight oxen couldn’t pull her back.

Being hated by her was terrifying, but being grateful to her was equally overwhelming.

While many people casually say “a drop of kindness deserves a flood of rewards,” this woman actually lived by it.

Similarly, when it came to “repaying today’s humiliation tenfold tomorrow,” she would truly follow through.

This was a woman who would repay both kindness and hatred ten times over—or even more.

She once declared that she never wanted to owe anyone favors and would never let anyone who wronged her go unpunished.

Su Ming was helpless against Yun Langyue—not just because she had him somewhat wrapped around her finger, but because she genuinely helped him in countless ways without asking for anything in return, making him feel somewhat indebted in her presence.Especially this woman’s completely unguarded attitude towards him often made Su Ming feel a sense of panic, as if his heart was gradually being eroded by her presence.

This wasn’t just empty talk.

Like this time, when it came to brewing the Nightmare Species Phantom Demon Potion, the first person Su Ming thought of who could help him and whom he could trust was Yun Langyue.

Similar situations had happened many times before—whenever he encountered problems and needed help, Yun Langyue was always the first person that came to his mind.

If things continued like this, he would eventually be completely conquered by this woman.

This realization made Su Ming feel both anxious and… damn frustrated.

It wasn’t without reason that he wanted to keep his distance from Yun Langyue.

Unfortunately, whether Yun Langyue hadn’t noticed his discomfort, or had noticed but didn’t care, or was even doing it intentionally, Su Ming had never seen her change her attitude towards him.

Feeling helpless, Su Ming could only choose to change the subject.

“By the way, is it really okay for you to casually come to a place like this?” Su Ming asked Yun Langyue: “Your mother probably wouldn’t feel comfortable with you coming to this battlefield alone, right?”

“Not comfortable? That’s putting it mildly!” Yun Langyue toned down her smile slightly, pouting as she said: “If she found out I randomly came here, she’d probably send someone to drag me back home.”

“What?” Su Ming was momentarily stunned, then said with utter astonishment: “You mean your mother doesn’t know you’re here?”

“Isn’t that obvious?” Yun Langyue smiled slightly, her expression completely natural: “Unlike you Professionals with your extraordinary strength, I don’t have any superhuman abilities. How could my mother possibly agree to me coming to the battlefield at a time like this?”

That’s right—Yun Langyue wasn’t a Professional.

Although she came from an extraordinary background, her father was a Sorcerer and her mother was a Mortal. Neither of them were Hunters, so they hadn’t passed down any Bloodline to Yun Langyue.

If not for the fact that Yun Langyue’s father had indeed been an exceptional Sorcerer with a large group of loyal followers—who to this day remained willing to serve Yun Langyue’s family—and if not for Yun Langyue’s own considerable capabilities in gathering numerous experts around her, whether she could reclaim what was lost and restore her family’s glory would still be unknown.

This Yun Langyue was a genuine ordinary person with no combat ability whatsoever.

“Have you gone mad?” Su Ming’s expression changed, his voice rising involuntarily: “You actually came to the battlefield alone? There should be limits to being reckless!”

Su Ming had thought Yun Langyue had convinced her mother and at least brought guards with her.

But now it seemed Yun Langyue really hadn’t brought anyone along.

This truly surprised Su Ming, and shocked him as well.

“Are you worried about me? My great benefactor?”

Yun Langyue immediately blinked at Su Ming, wearing a teasing expression.

Su Ming subconsciously raised his hand, wanting to knock on Yun Langyue’s head.”Alright, alright, I’ll stop teasing you.” Seeing this, Yun Langyue quickly surrendered, saying, “Although I didn’t bring any guards, I have plenty of life-saving items on me. Master Shi Lin himself is a Sorcerer, and even if he’s an Alchemist, as long as we don’t venture to the very frontlines or encounter high-level Phantom Demons, we’ll be fine.”

Seeing Yun Langyue’s utterly relaxed demeanor, Su Ming truly didn’t know whether he should remind her that it’s always wise to prepare for the worst.

But given everything this woman had been through, Su Ming didn’t believe she would be unaware of such a principle.

Surely, she must genuinely have the confidence to protect herself, which was why she chose to act this way?

“Damn it,” Su Ming said with a headache. “Now, I’m probably going to be blamed to death by your mother.”

Su Ming had met Yun Langyue’s mother before.

Perhaps because she had lost her husband and only had Yun Langyue left, or perhaps out of guilt for having let Yun Langyue suffer so much hardship in the past, her mother doted on her excessively, even to the point of spoiling her.

Whenever it came to matters related to Yun Langyue, her mother would be exceptionally attentive, never allowing her precious daughter to suffer any harm or even the slightest grievance.

Su Ming had been brought to Yun Langyue’s home before and had met her mother a few times.

As a result, Yun Langyue’s mother had practically investigated even the most private details about him, like the color of his underwear, and she had done it all herself.

In short, she relentlessly asked him all sorts of questions, firing them off like a storm, leaving Su Ming nearly overwhelmed, his mind filled with thoughts like, “Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?”

Honestly, even a blind date wasn’t this terrifying.

At this moment, Su Ming hurriedly said to Yun Langyue, “Once this matter is over, you need to leave Huaming District as soon as possible.”

A woman with no ability to defend herself, staying in Huaming District at a time like this—how dangerous it was didn’t require much thought.

“I know,” Yun Langyue nodded, seemingly unconcerned. “I’ll leave once I’ve confirmed that you’re truly safe.”

This notion of “truly safe” was also quite concerning.

Simply put, Yun Langyue had no intention of leaving until she saw Su Ming safely emerge from the dangers of taking the Phantom Demon Potion.

“You…” Su Ming wanted to say more.

“Alright, alright, my great benefactor, don’t lecture me like my mother does all the time, okay?” Yun Langyue reached out a finger to block Su Ming’s mouth, smiling. “Even at my lowest point, I found a way to survive. How much more in a small situation like this? Relax, relax.”

Someone who dared to call a war a “small situation”—you were probably the only one in the entire world.

Su Ming was almost at a loss for words because of Yun Langyue.

The two of them were like this: one constantly talking, the other constantly laughing. At first glance, they really seemed to be fooling around.

It wasn’t until later that Su Ming realized, without even noticing, he was no longer as tense as before.

This made Su Ming glance at Yun Langyue and wonder if this woman had deliberately used conversation to influence him, all to ease his tension.

“As expected, I just can’t handle her.”

Su Ming once again acknowledged this fact.

Time passed just like that.Before he knew it, an hour had quietly passed.

Su Ming had long forgotten about time. Under Yun Langyue’s seemingly unintentional yet deliberate guidance, he had been led by the nose the entire time. Though occasionally frustrated and helpless from her teasing, he no longer felt nervous, nor did he worry about the refinement process anymore.

It wasn’t until the Workshop door swung open at a certain moment that Su Ming snapped back to reality.

“It’s done.”

A somewhat weary voice, tinged with immense excitement, emerged from within the Workshop.

Shi Lin slowly walked out from the Workshop, holding a vial of alchemical potion in his hand.

Su Ming’s gaze was almost instantly drawn to that vial of alchemical potion.

In his eyes, a flicker of excitement finally broke free, unable to be contained any longer.

(End of Chapter)