Chapter 101: Qingyan’s Identity

Lin Shuang stayed by Xi Yan’s side as they both watched A Yuan and the Great White Bear fight.

During the battle, A Yuan caught a glimpse of the situation by Xi Yan and immediately widened his eyes in surprise.

...

At the Eighth Survival Zone service area.

“When exactly will you let me go?” Qing Yan sat on the sofa, displeased.

Kra sat on another sofa opposite her. Qing Yan had asked this question many times, but Kra always responded the same way.

“I have never detained you, young lady, so how could I possibly ‘let you go’?” Kra’s smiling expression was infuriating.

Seeing Kra’s smug grin, Qing Yan wanted to storm over and give him a good beating, but she held back.

“Kra, stop playing the fox with me. What exactly do you want?” Qing Yan suppressed her anger and stared at him.

Kra kept smiling and then clapped his hands. The white-clad attendant behind him respectfully handed over a crystal.

Qing Yan sat on the sofa, puzzled as she looked at the crystal in Kra’s hand, but she wasn’t about to ask.

Curiosity could be deadly, and Qing Yan knew this very well—after all, she had dealt with many curious minds before.

Some things were not meant for them to know; if they found out anyway, there was no choice but to…

“Miss, do you find this attractive?” Kra held the crystal out to Qing Yan.

Without looking at it, Qing Yan propped her head up with one hand and toyed with her hair with the other.

Her gaze stayed fixed on her hair, completely ignoring the crystal.

Lowering her head, she said to Kra, “Stop teasing me. Just say what you want. I’m not in the mood for games.”

“This was sent by your father, Miss. Take a look,” Kra urged as he passed her the crystal.

Qing Yan’s anger flared. “I told you! I have no father! Do you understand?”

“Alright, alright, I’m sorry, Miss. It was sent by that gentleman. Please have a look.” Kra remained the picture of a gentle gentleman.

Hearing this, Qing Yan finally took the crystal.

The crystal appeared ordinary, indistinguishable from a core crystal, only larger in size.

Qing Yan looked up at Kra and asked, “What exactly is this?”

“I’m not sure. The gentleman asked me to give it to you. He said you should know how to use it,” Kra replied honestly.

Qing Yan rolled her eyes and began studying the large crystal in her hand, thinking to herself:

He said I know how to use it, but I have no idea. Could it be…

...

Qing Yan’s thoughts suddenly drifted back to a year ago. Before she left, the man had said to her:

“Yan’er, if you ever receive anything I send, just drop this on it.”

At the time, Qing Yan hadn’t paid much attention. The man had given her a small vial of potion, which was one of the conditions for her release—she had to carry it with her.

...

Remembering this, Qing Yan retrieved the vial from her “backpack” and dropped a few drops onto the large crystal in her hand.

What happened next shocked Qing Yan.

A virtual figure appeared before her. It was a man, young but serious in demeanor.

Seeing him, Qing Yan sneered disdainfully. “You actually used virtual communication for this.”

“Heh heh, little Yan’er, haven’t you missed me? It’s been a year since you left…”

Upon hearing Qing Yan’s words, the man immediately looked pitiful, a stark contrast to his earlier serious appearance.

“Be careful, okay? The Eighth Lord is still here…” Qing Yan said helplessly.

The man speaking to Qing Yan paid no mind. “Kra? Oh, so you’re still here. Kra, you want to listen while I talk to my daughter?”

“No, Your Lordship, please continue. I’ll go see if there’s something to eat.” Kra smiled and then left the room, leaving Qing Yan and the lord alone.

Seeing Kra being sent off, Qing Yan pouted. “How can you do that? This is Kra’s place, and you just let him leave?”

The lord nodded, then looked at Qing Yan pitifully. “Darling Yan’er, you like Kra’s place, but your place is even nicer. Come back, how about it?”

Qing Yan gave the virtual figure before her a look filled with exasperation. She had been sitting upright just moments ago, but now, unwilling to maintain appearances, she collapsed back onto the sofa.

“What do you want from me?” Qing Yan said impatiently, eyes closed, refusing to look at the lord.

“Just… I missed you, little Yan’er. Don’t you… don’t you miss me at all?”

The lord looked utterly pitiful, but Qing Yan showed no mercy, snapping sharply, “I don’t miss you. Don’t play the victim with me—I know exactly what you’re like. Are you missing me as my father or as the lord?”

Qing Yan’s words stunned him. Then he pursed his lips and regained his serious expression.

“See? This is much better.”

Seeing the lord return to his stern demeanor, Qing Yan quickly praised him. Yet his face remained unchanged, as if the pitiful, playful figure was not him at all.

The lord said coldly, “In the name of your father, I forbid you from liking Xi Yan. Understand?”

At this, Qing Yan instantly flared up. She rose from the sofa and confronted him angrily. “Why not? It’s my freedom. If you want to stop me, then kill me.”

“You!” The lord was at a loss for words.

Qing Yan pressed on, “Besides, when did I ever say I like Xi Yan? He’s the one involved in that matter, right? The one you’ve been looking for all along?”

The lord fell silent at this. He didn’t answer but changed the subject. “Yan’er, I’m doing this for your own good. Being with him will bring you great danger. Come back to the capital city. I’ll have Kra escort you so you won’t face any risks.”

“I won’t go back. What’s the point? To be sacrificed like my mother, just a pawn for your power!” Qing Yan shouted in fury.

The lord opened his mouth to say something but finally said, “You… don’t have to come back if you don’t want to. Just be careful. I know everything you do. Isabel told me she saw you last time but was too busy to bring you back.”

“Stop always hanging around with Xi Yan. He’ll bring you nothing but danger…”

“Enough! You’re so annoying. I’m not going back. That’s it. Goodbye.” Qing Yan cut him off and crushed the crystal in her hand. The virtual image vanished instantly.