Chapter 17: Can’t Show My Face in Public

Staring at the reward shown by the system, Chu Li widened his eyes in shock.

A fixed reward—this was the first time Chu Li had seen one. Although it wasn’t as direct and crude as instantly boosting a martial skill’s realm, it still made him pleasantly surprised.

“It’s actually a movement-type martial skill? And it comes directly at the introductory level?”

Seeing this reward, Chu Li was amazed. After all, movement-type martial skills were among the rarest of all martial arts, and they could greatly increase a martial artist’s chance of survival.

“I have to get this no matter what!”

Determined in his heart, Chu Li bid farewell to Elder Mu, turned around, and walked into the Martial Academy, ready to do his best to find someone willing to go with him.

Of course, this wouldn’t be easy.

Even a fool would know that the demons on Yunlong Mountain weren’t to be messed with—otherwise, they would’ve been wiped out long ago.

The people in the Martial Academy were all sharp, and given how the danger had been exaggerated by rumors, there probably weren’t many willing to go.

“This time, no matter what, I have to get someone to come with me. At worst, I’ll promise that I’ll do all the fighting myself… hmm?”

Just as Chu Li resolved to head to the training ground to ask around, he suddenly noticed something strange: above everyone’s heads in his vision, there appeared a mysterious mark.

For most people, the mark above their heads was red.

Only Jiang Ying, who was waiting outside, had a green mark over his head.

Chu Li: “???”

“Seriously? Even this is possible?”

Seeing these red and green marks, Chu Li couldn’t help but crack up and looked toward the system.

Then he realized the system was completely ignoring him, pretending to be dead.

“……”

Fine, whatever. He had planned to ask Jiang Ying anyway—this just saved him the trouble of trying others.

Consoling himself, Chu Li smiled, looked at the tall figure, and walked over.

“Jiang Ying, sorry to keep you waiting. I’ve finished talking to Elder Mu. Are you going in to exchange for pills now?”

“No, I was just waiting here because there was something I wanted to ask you.”

“Oh?”

Hearing that, Chu Li was a little surprised. He had thought Jiang Ying was also there to exchange pills, and that the two of them had just happened to walk together.

Here’s the accurate English translation:

He didn’t expect that it was Jiang Ying who actually had something to ask him.

“Jiang Ying, if there’s anything you’d like to know, feel free to ask—I’ll answer as best I can.”

Chu Li spoke curiously, but he didn’t expect that Jiang Ying’s next words would make his body stiffen.

“Chu Li, what is your relationship with the Chu family now?”

“!”

Looking at the tall figure who had spoken, Chu Li’s eyes narrowed under the bamboo hat, clearly surprised.

Previously, when Chu Ruyan had come looking for Chu Li, Jiang Ying had been there too. At that time, she had just stood by coldly, saying nothing.

To Chu Li, that had seemed normal. After all, probably everyone in the Martial Academy wouldn’t think he had anything to do with the prestigious Chu family that had produced Martial Gods—because he was simply too poor!

Forget about cultivation resources—he barely even had a few good sets of clothes.

Even Elder Bai had thought there was no way Chu Li could be from the Chu family—and even if he was, it would have to be from some extremely distant branch.

But to his surprise, the silent Jiang Ying had actually seen through it all long ago.

Chu Li hadn’t missed the nuance: Jiang Ying’s question had been about his relationship with the Chu family “now.”

In other words, she already knew what his relationship had been before.

“Back in the Chu family, I was almost invisible… for her to learn about me wouldn’t have been easy.”

“As expected, this Jiang Ying must have a big secret herself.”

Thinking this over, Chu Li decided there was no point pretending anymore. He curled his lips into a faint smile and shook his head.

“You want to know my relationship with the Chu family? It’s simple.”

“We have nothing to do with each other anymore.”

He said this calmly, lifting his gaze toward the distance, his eyes reflecting a sense of having seen through the world’s injustice and absurdity.

Hearing this, Jiang Ying nodded slightly and didn’t ask anything further.

She had already gotten the answer she wanted.

“Jiang Ying, there’s something I’d like to ask you too, if you don’t mind.”

“It’s fine, go ahead.”

“I’m planning to head to Yunlong Mountain soon to slay demons. Would you like to come with me?”

Hearing this, Jiang Ying was visibly surprised. She didn’t answer right away but instead fell silent, as if deep in thought.

oks like your last message only says:

I’m

After a long pause, she slowly nodded and gave a concise answer.

“Alright.”

The next moment, the system notification sounded.

【Ding】

【Congratulations on completing the one-star mission: Fellow Traveler】

【You have received the reward: Wind and Cloud Step (Beginner)!】

Three days later, on the Eastern Road of Yunzhou.

On the official road, the bodies of more than a dozen bandits lay scattered across the street.

By the roadside, a tall figure stood alone, wiping the blood off his fists. His imposing stature, nearly two meters tall, looked extremely intimidating.

On the other side, Chu Li was busy calming the nearby crowd, bustling with activity.

“The Wu family gang has been occupying here for many years, committing all sorts of atrocities. Today, they’ve finally been wiped out!”

“That warrior has amazing skills! He took down the entire Wu family gang by himself!”

“He must be a late-stage Qi Condensation realm martial artist, right?”

“Hero, please accept me as your disciple!”

On the official road, the crowd who witnessed Jiang Ying dispatching the bandits with just a few punches were abuzz with excitement. Many eager young men wanted to rush forward and become disciples.

Meanwhile, around Chu Li were some frightened women and children, chattering noisily.

“You’re really lucky to have such a companion. Otherwise, you definitely would have been robbed.”

“With your looks, if any bandit who loves handsome guys sees you, it’ll be over. You must not show your face in public so openly anymore.”

An elderly woman in her sixties said this, patting Chu Li’s hand repeatedly as a warning.

In their village, the son of Mr. Xue was captured by bandits because he looked like a girl—too handsome. When he returned, he was in such a miserable state, unable to even walk properly.

This young man’s looks were at least ten times more handsome than that Xue son. If bandits saw him, it would be a disaster!

“Grandma, you don’t have to worry. Actually, I am a martial artist…”

“Ah yes, yes, yes.”

Faced with Chu Li’s explanation, the old woman nodded repeatedly, but her expression clearly showed she didn’t really believe it—and the reason was simple.

In her impression, martial artists were all big and burly, like the instructor in their village who was in the Qi Drawing realm: nearly 1.9 meters tall and could eat an entire bucket of rice by himself.

But Chu Li?

His body looked so frail it seemed like a gust of wind could blow him over!

How could such a person possibly be some powerful martial artist?

The old woman clearly didn’t take it seriously. Seeing this, Chu Li just smiled and didn’t bother to explain further.

Most Qi Drawing realm martial artists look strong because their flesh and blood hasn’t yet been refined—they haven’t stepped into the Postnatal realm.

Chu Li, however, was already in the late Postnatal realm. Although he looked thin, once the power in his flesh and blood exploded, he would be hundreds of times stronger than those sturdy bandits lying dead on the ground.

They could slash at him with blades, and might not even break his defense.

Of course, explaining this to an elderly passerby was pointless. What mattered more to Chu Li was the strength Jiang Ying had displayed along the way.

“At least mid-Postnatal realm.”

With this assessment, Chu Li was a bit surprised.

If he remembered correctly, Jiang Ying was the same age as him—and reaching mid-Postnatal realm at this age was truly exceptional.

One had to know: even with Chu Li’s talent, before obtaining the Martial God Bone he had only reached early Postnatal realm.

Mid-Postnatal realm at this age meant her strength would rank among the top even in the Sacred Martial Academy.

“Wait, someone like her will most likely make it onto the Heaven’s Pride Ranking in the future, right?”

“Could it be… I actually know Jiang Ying’s real identity?”

Remembering memories from his previous life, Chu Li began to ponder.