Chapter 114: Stealing Someone’s Beloved

“Are you sure we’re on the right path?” Ye Chong asked.

“Uh, who knows?” Shang replied irresponsibly.

Glancing around the unfamiliar surroundings, Ye Chong couldn’t help but smile wryly. Moving from one strange place to another didn’t feel much different to him. It was only now that he realized Shang didn’t have a map of this area either, so letting him lead was bound to end like this.

Compared to the chaotic Holt District, the Xiute District was orderly and calm. The pedestrians on the street appeared relaxed, and even after a long time, Ye Chong hadn’t witnessed a single fight. Such tranquility would be unimaginable in Holt District.

Everywhere stood retro brick buildings, each with a unique architectural style—some quirky, some ordinary. Most were relatively low-rise, unlike the buildings in Holt District, which, although also brick, often reached twenty meters or more, resembling warehouses.

Shops lined both sides of the street. Occasionally, one could spot technological products beyond the Rail Ring, proving that contrary to rumors, the Rail Ring did maintain some contact with the outside world.

The most common stores here were those related to Light Armor. Unlike the Far Star Region, where one orders online and has items delivered, this place seemed to reject such convenient, advanced shopping methods. Instead, it adhered to a primitive, in-person shopping style, with Light Armors displayed side by side in the storefront, allowing customers to browse leisurely and even request test drives.

Among the models for sale, the commonly seen Light Armor types from the Five Great Star Regions were scarce here. Most were models Ye Chong had never seen before, which piqued his interest greatly. The unique styles were a revelation to him.

But urged by Shang, Ye Chong reluctantly withdrew his lingering gaze.

“Ask for directions?” Ye Chong inquired.

“Of course. If you’re lost, how else can you find your way? Got a better idea?” Shang retorted.

“No!” Ye Chong replied decisively.

“Hey, Ye, look about thirty degrees to your left! Wow, what a figure! And even wearing a mask? Haha, that little mask won’t stop me!” Shang’s tone betrayed his excitement.

Ye Chong shifted his gaze thirty degrees to the left.

“What am I supposed to see here?” Ye Chong muttered to himself. A purple robe completely shrouded the figure, the face masked. Only the faint outline suggested the figure was female.

“You don’t get it,” Shang scoffed. “Every top-tier beauty naturally exudes a certain elegance and grace just by standing there! Honestly, talking about this with you is like casting pearls before swine! Let me scan her first!”

“Hmm, elegance just by standing there? Isn’t that the aura of a master? Are all top beauties experts?” Ye Chong pondered deeply.

“Uh, uh,” Shang stammered mid-scan, bewildered. “Ye, your imagination isn’t half bad!”

Ye Chong was puzzled but knew he must have said something wrong.

“Wait! Isn’t that Feng Su?” Shang exclaimed in surprise. “Why is she here?”

“Who’s Feng Su?” Ye Chong asked.

“Heavens! Ye, you don’t know Feng Su? How tragic! Life must be so dull for you. Feng Su is the most popular female star in the Far Star Region! The highest-paid and most mysterious! Tsk, tsk, I’m her biggest fan. Back in the day, her final performance silenced the entire audience for fifteen minutes—a record! What? Ye, you don’t even know that? No wonder you’ve been turned into a beast by Mu Xun. Pathetic! Looks like it’s my job to educate you into a proper man! Heh heh…” Shang teased.

Ye Chong knew that once Shang got into this mood, he wouldn’t come back for a while.

Suddenly, Shang clamored excitedly, “Ye, weren’t we going to ask for directions? Let’s ask her! Heh heh, this is a golden opportunity I made for you! Too bad there’s no Light Brain here; otherwise, I’d show you her stunning appearance—you’d fall head over heels! She’s the dream girl of countless boys! I even have her scanned measurements from just now—firsthand info, way more accurate than anything online!” Shang’s words were full of temptation.

Ye Chong remained unmoved. “No interest. Why ask her? And if she’s a star showing up here, doesn’t that seem strange? Something’s definitely off.”

Shang was amazed. “Ye, you’re getting smart! Yeah, it is odd. Why would she be here? No wonder she’s so mysterious! Ah, there must be something fishy. We should investigate; maybe we can uncover some exclusive secrets!”

“Shang, wasting time on this is pointless. We have more important matters,” Ye Chong said, displeased.

Shang muttered, “It’s just asking for directions. How much time could it take?”

Ye Chong thought for a moment, then headed toward Feng Su as Shang suggested. “Excuse me, do you know how to get to 22nd Street?” he asked the masked woman.

Feng Su turned and appraised the young man. His demeanor was calm, with subtle coldness barely concealed.

Her voice was melodious and enchanting as she replied, “Oh, 22nd Street? Just go straight from here to the third intersection, then turn right and walk about five minutes.”

Her words were softly winding and gentle, stirring something in Ye Chong’s heart.

He was somewhat surprised at her control of tone and cadence, momentarily stunned before recovering. “Oh, thank you!” he said, then turned and left.

“Shang, satisfied now?” Ye Chong asked, though he didn’t understand Shang’s fascination. Still, he tried to oblige as much as possible.

Shang was silent for a while.

“What’s wrong?” Ye Chong asked curiously. Had the voice stunned him? That seemed unlikely.

“Wow, that was wonderful! Heavenly sound! Oh my, such a beautiful voice still exists on earth! Ye, don’t you feel it?” Shang was ecstatic, almost lost.

“Hmm, not bad,” Ye Chong replied indifferently.

“Hey, Ye, let’s go chat with her again. Opportunities like this come once in a century—no, once in a millennium! Just once, please!” Shang begged.

Ye Chong was unmoved. “We’re heading to 22nd Street now.”

Shang knew Ye’s character well. “You haven’t seen her hologram, or you’d be head over heels! Though…maybe not. Your tastes are unusual. Ha, I get it. Ye, you’re still secretly in love with that girl in the white training suit, aren’t you?”

“Nonsense!” Ye Chong retorted, though the fleeting image of the white-clad girl crossed his mind—her strange fragrance and the lingering taste on his tongue. Suddenly, his blood surged wildly. Alarmed, he suppressed the thought, and his pulse steadied.

“Ha! Got you, Ye! Your brainwaves spiked 30% stronger than usual, and your heartbeat and blood flow accelerated! That girl’s not bad, but we won’t be returning to Blue Sea Star anytime soon. She said she’d marry you! But Ye, don’t give up a whole forest for one tree. Compared to Feng Su, that girl is far behind! Heh heh…” Shang chuckled, delighting in teasing Ye.

Ye Chong rolled his eyes and followed Feng Su’s directions to 22nd Street, ignoring Shang’s chatter in his mind.

Number 103, 22nd Street.

This was the address Jia Zhuo had given him—a home to a deeply skilled Spell Master, their target. It took great effort to find, as the residence lay far from the main road, nestled in a secluded grove.

A low, retro brick-and-wood house with slanted eaves hung with wind chimes, which sang clear, pleasant tones whenever a breeze stirred. The second-floor window was slightly open, not tightly shut. The house was surrounded by thick woods, indicating the Spell Master preferred solitude. This suited Ye Chong, allowing him to act boldly.

“Shang, any advice?” Ye Chong asked.

“Yeah, act quickly. We know too little about Spell Masters and their strange attacks. He’s on the second floor now. Too bad the house is too small for me to sneak in; otherwise, I might help!” Shang was unusually serious now, a stark contrast to before—like two different AI personalities.

“Good point,” Ye Chong agreed. Spell Masters were mysterious. Even Jia Zhuo’s ‘Clear Heart’ skill amazed him, so he was wary.

“By the way, robbers usually wear a black face scarf to avoid recognition later,” Shang reminded him.

“Is that so? Where’d you learn that?” Ye Chong asked.

“Movies. That’s how it’s always done!” Shang said matter-of-factly.

Ye Chong couldn’t find a black scarf but had kept a mask labeled F-58 from his time in Black Horn, tucked in his pouch. Pulling it over his face was better than any scarf. He hadn’t used it in a long time and gently touched the black mask, his thoughts drifting.

“Got everything you need?” Shang asked.

“Yeah,” Ye Chong said, flicking his wrist.

Like a nimble wildcat, Ye Chong slipped into the second floor while Shang hid in the nearby woods, ready to assist if things went awry.

The wind chimes on the eaves masked all noise he made.

A quick scan inside revealed only essential wooden furniture, no decorations. The entire second-floor floor was wooden. Ye Chong didn’t have time to admire it or consider the cost and tread carefully to avoid creaking.

There was only one room on the second floor, its door firmly shut. The man must be inside.

“Who dares trespass on my property!” a dark voice suddenly echoed in Ye Chong’s mind. At the same moment, the wooden door creaked open automatically. An old man with a gloomy face and piercing gaze stared intently at Ye Chong. His eerie eyes made Ye Chong’s heart skip.

Before Ye Chong could react, he felt his body suddenly heavy, as if weighted with lead, and his vision blurred. Alarmed, Ye Chong quickly mustered all his strength and flicked his wrist.

The movement drained all his energy. He could no longer resist and collapsed to the floor. The swirling colors and lights before his eyes left him in a daze.

Then there was a thud, followed by the old man’s startled shouts and curses.

Ye Chong felt the weight lifted—his bonds vanished. After several minutes, his vision cleared.

He struggled to rise; his muscles trembled uncontrollably, cold sweat trickling down his back.

The old man lay tightly bound like a bundle on the floor, still cursing fiercely. “Who are you? I am a Spell Master! Do you realize what you’ve done? Attacking a Spell Master means eternal pursuit by the Sect!” Then his tone shifted: “I’m reasonable. If you need help, just free me and we can talk amicably. Understand…”

Ye Chong ignored him, stretched his limbs, and silently thanked his luck. The rope he’d flicked was weighted at both ends—a trick Shang had suggested. Once spun fast, it would coil tightly around anything it touched. Ye Chong’s strength was formidable; the two heavy weights, though small, were enough to entangle the old man, breaking his attack and freeing Ye Chong.

What a powerful Spell Master! Had Ye Chong not acted quickly, he would have been rendered helpless. A chill of fear gripped him.

The old man’s sharp features flickered with fury as he continued to curse.

Ye Chong had no intention of replying. Grabbing the old man, he leapt from the window, leaving the interrogation to Shang.