Free Web NovelChapter 2160: Chapter 197: The Four Teams Reunite
Zhao Xiner’s eyes flashed, she stared carefully at Ding Fan for a few moments, but he looked more and more familiar. She pondered as she looked at the mask on Ding Fan’s face and said with a smile, "Young Master Ding, we are old acquaintances, can’t we meet face to face?"
Zhao Xiner actually knew him? Ding Fan’s eyes showed a hint of surprise, then he took off the mask and said with a bitter smile, "Ding Fan pays respects to Miss Xiner."
Seeing Ding Fan’s face, Zhao Xiner felt a bit dazed. She recalled the rainy night at the Wu Family Fortress on Great Python Mountain, remembered the Divine Realm Second Level Peak experts Ding Fan had killed, and the rebirth of Xia Mengqing in the flames.
Seeing Ding Fan together with the people from Tianmu Sea now, and having advanced so quickly to the Divine Realm Second Level Peak State, she couldn’t help but feel a trace of emotion.
Zhao Xiner didn’t say anything, didn’t talk about the battle she witnessed that night. She just glanced at the wooden house and said, "Young Master Ding, this wooden house is very beautiful. Can you help me build one?"
Ding Fan had a good feeling towards Zhao Xiner. That day outside Frostbite Cliff, she advised him to be careful, even though it was just one sentence. At that time, in Ding Fan’s eyes, Zhao Xiner appeared like a celestial fairy. He was very grateful despite their vastly different statuses, Zhao Xiner could still offer him a reminder.
So Ding Fan nodded without hesitation, saying, "To serve Miss Xiner is Ding Fan’s honor."
"Pft!"
Seeing Ding Fan agree so readily, Herr Rufeng suddenly felt displeased. Zhao Xiner was the jewel of the Divine Heaven Country, but she was the jewel of Tianmu Sea. In her opinion, her status was not inferior to Zhao Xiner’s. So why did Ding Fan treat them so differently?
Herr Rufeng had always had a blunt personality, unable to hide anything. She stood up and said, "Ding Fan, you promised us first. If you don’t help us build ours first, how can you help an outsider?"
The word "outsider" caused Miss Zhao’s face to turn unfriendly. Zhao Xiner’s expression didn’t change, she looked at Herr Rufeng with a smile and said, "Miss Rufeng, that’s not right. Ding Fan first appeared at Great Python Mountain, he’s one of us from the Divine Heaven Country, how can he be an outsider to us?"
"Hmph!"
Herr Rufeng became even more unhappy, her tone more unfriendly than before, unwilling to appear weaker than them. She said, "Ding Fan is now the Island Master of Tianmu Sea and can enter Tianmu Sea. This shows you’re not very friendly towards Ding Fan. Since you can’t keep him in the Divine Heaven Country, he can only come to Tianmu Sea."
Ding Fan suddenly had a headache. The two ladies’ argument put him in an awkward position. He clenched his fists and bowed towards both of them, "Misses, if you continue arguing, I’m afraid this wooden house can’t be finished in a few days. Miss Zhao, you return first, then once this is built, I’ll go over to build yours. How about that?"
Zhao Xiner smiled faintly and nodded to Ding Fan, then turned and left with her people. Herr Rufeng watched her walk away and said to Ding Fan, "Ding Fan, you’re one of us from Tianmu Sea, you shouldn’t flirt with outsiders."
"Oh, come on..."
Ding Fan was speechless again, he turned his head, and bluntly said, "Don’t flirt with outsiders? Should I flirt with you all then?"
"Pah, shameless!"
Herr Rufeng’s face turned red, ashamed, and she stomped her foot and ran away like the wind. Ding Fan laughed, nearby young ladies heard and were too shy to help, turning away from Ding Fan to follow Herr Rufeng.
The only one left was Xu Xingying. She seemed to want to say something, seeing her expression piqued Ding Fan’s curiosity, so he asked her, "Miss Xu, why don’t you run along with them? Or do you want to flirt with me?"
"Pah, shameless~"
Xu Xingying’s face was red like an apple, then she gritted her teeth and said, "Ding Fan, don’t be delusional, your status doesn’t allow you to marry Miss Rufeng or Miss Ningshuang. Better drop the idea, if you continue reckless behavior, everyone would dislike you and our Xu Family can’t protect your Skull Island."
"Status? Ha! What are you talking about?"
Ding Fan smiled faintly. If he revealed his identity as the Heir of the Sirius Clan, it would turn out that the Herr sisters might not match him!
But he really didn’t want to, nor did he want trouble. He thought Xu Xingying indeed made sense.
The Herr sisters were the goddesses in the hearts of all Tianmu Sea families’ children. If he became too close to the two goddesses, trouble would never end once this matter was over and he left Skull Island.
He glanced at Xu Xingying, and suddenly smiled, saying to her, "Miss Xu, don’t overthink. I have no designs on those two ladies; my heart belongs to one person who truly moves me."
"Who?"
Xu Xingying asked in surprise, thinking that Ding Fan’s attitude toward Zhao Xiner indicated this toad had fallen for Zhao Xiner, the swan?
Ding Fan smiled mysteriously, his eyes swept over Xu Xingying and said, "That woman is extraordinarily beautiful, a beauty of heavenly and earthly standards. Her surname is Xu, and her name is Xu Xingying."
"Pah!"
Hearing Ding Fan’s teasing tone, coupled with his mocking gaze, Xu Xingying, not being a fool, immediately realized Ding Fan was flirting with her. Furious, she spat in his direction and turned to run towards Herr Rufeng.
"Ha...!"
Ding Fan chuckled, inexplicably, his mind conjured the beautiful face of Xia Mengqing.
If there truly is a woman who occupies his heart in this world, it would be Xia Mengqing. If she were here, he would certainly pursue her passionately. In his eyes, Xia Mengqing is the most perfect goddess!
He spent four hours constructing more than a dozen cabins. As for Zhao Xiner’s side, he only helped build one small cabin and one large cabin, so Zhao Xiner’s team of ladies could squeeze together. He really didn’t have the time or interest to build a cabin for each of them.
Next, the two teams began searching for a way out, almost thoroughly inspecting the valley, yet they found nothing.
Ding Fan and Herr Ningshuang personally set out, but apart from the two doors that might lead back to the maze, none of the other doors could be opened. They found no mechanisms and no exit.
A group of young masters and young ladies felt a bit uneasy. Fortunately, food was still adequate, and no conflicts occurred between Tianmu Sea and Divine Heaven Country; everyone lived in peace.
Ding Fan roasted meat twice a day and would always deliver some to Zhao Xiner. Zhong Wugu ground his teeth in spite, as they also hunted some deer and tried to roast them. Eventually, just like the young masters of Tianmu Sea, the roast venison was charred on the outside and still raw on the inside, making it inedible.
Ding Fan also caught some fish to roast and eat. The young ladies from Tianmu Sea, grateful though some inwardly disliked Ding Fan, acted politely on the surface.
Unable to find an exit, everyone was downcast; with no entertainment options, savoring delicious food became their only spiritual solace during the moments they ate meat.
Of course, two young masters from Fourth Grade forces started madly pursuing Herr Rufeng as a spiritual support, prompting some others to mimic their actions, pursuing some of the young ladies here, treating it as a pastime.
Yet Herr Ningshuang went unpursued. Perhaps she was too intelligent, or her very being exuded a coldness that rejected others from afar, leaving the young masters too intimidated to entertain even the slightest improper thought about her.
Among the twin sisters, Herr Rufeng was evidently more popular, for this silly girl was nothing but a decorative pillow stuffed with straw, easy to deceive. freewēbnoveℓ.com
The young masters knew they were unworthy of these twins, especially as the pair were Seventh Grade Inherited Warriors, which discouraged many from pursuing Herr Ningshuang. Truly seeking her could mean a beating if she became displeased, which seemed pointless.
Ding Fan didn’t care; his heart already belonged to Xia Mengqing, and no other woman could sway him or ignite feelings. He feared dragging others down—time was tight, and if he were to devote himself entirely to training, how could he possibly have time to chase after girls?
Apart from barbecuing, he was perpetually training, not bothering to think about leaving the valley when they hadn’t found a way out; besides, Herr Ningshuang and her companions were constantly searching. Having one more or less person made little difference.
"Ding Fan?"
Ding Fan’s real identity inevitably reached Zhong Wugu. One day, Zhao Xiner brought some young ladies over, as they now lived in the cabins Ding Fan helped build, and Ding Fan would occasionally have people send roasted meat over. Grateful, the young ladies couldn’t help but talk about him after learning Ding Fan’s name from Herr Rufeng.
Zhong Wugu wasn’t particularly impressed by Ding Fan, but the battle at Wu Family Fortress had embarrassed the Yu Family Clan; the Zhong Family was shaken, bringing his grandfather out personally. Thus, Zhong Wugu vaguely remembered the name Ding Fan.
A suspicion arose in his heart, and he took the opportunity to ask a young lady from Tianmu Sea about finding an exit, casually speaking a few words to glean what he wanted to know. It was widely known that Ding Fan escaped to Tianmu Sea recently, aligning with Skeleton Sect.
"That bastard!"
Yu Mao growled lowly through clenched teeth, but refrained from acting impulsively. This time, all factions had agreed not to kill inside; Herr Qianjun was waiting in Tianmu Sea, ensuring Yu Mao wouldn’t be spared if he started killing in the Tomb of Emperor Yelang.
Not being able to act openly didn’t mean there was no way; Zhong Wugu coldly watched Ding Fan roasting meat by the pool before turning to continue exploring the exit.
Two days later, a door suddenly opened, and a group rushed out. Once outside, many people were filled with joy, led by Lin Zixuan from Shenwu Country; finally, Divine Heaven Country had emerged from the maze.
"Why haven’t Tian Qianlian’s team come out yet?"
Zhao Xiner furrowed her brows in worry. She had gotten along well with Tian Qianlian at Frostbite Cliff. With Lin Zixuan out and no sign of Tian Qianlian, Zhao Xiner felt sorrowful. Considering the still-missing exit after so many days, she grew increasingly anxious.
One hour later, a door suddenly opened, and a group rushed out. Zhao Xiner was the first to approach Tian Qianlian, whose clothes were tattered and looked exhausted. Zhao Xiner felt heartache, and seeing her, Tian Qianlian hugged her and cried aloud, eventually fainting from emotion.
Lin Zixuan’s team lost three people, while Tian Qianlian’s team was missing eight. Those who emerged seemed slightly deranged, each noticeably thinner.
Herr Ningshuang sighed slightly; the good times were over. They entered early with a strong advantage, but failed to find the entrance. Otherwise, the treasures of the Tomb of Emperor Yelang might have already been claimed by the teams from Tianmu Sea.
The key problem was four teams had entered, making food suddenly scarce; conflicts over food might erupt. Lin Zixuan’s and Tian Qianlian’s teams had been trapped for so many days, harboring significant resentment, and a melee might break out.
