Chapter 134: By What Right

Zhang Ning was momentarily stunned by the sudden turn of events. He looked toward his master, Chu Hanyu, who asked, "What is it? Do you wish to rid the people of a scourge?"

Zhang Ning opened his mouth, but for a long time, no words came out. He simply gave a slight nod. Seeing this, Chu Hanyu let out a soft "Mm," without revealing his stance. Yet, Zhang Ning inexplicably felt that his master was still waiting for an answer.

Zhang Ning scuffed the sole of his shoe against the ground, staring at the dim light spilling from outside the farmhouse courtyard, and finally spoke. "Master, why did he have to do that?"

Chu Hanyu raised an eyebrow, studied Zhang Ning for a few seconds, and replied indifferently, "He likely wasn't engaged in combat... It was simply because he wanted to, and he could."

It was as if Zhang Ning had been struck by a bolt of lightning. He instantly recalled the answer he had heard from Han Zun earlier. After Zhang Ning had a conflict with a pair of sisters at the market, he had been targeted for assassination. Although the outcome had been almost farcical due to Zhang Ning's identity, it had left a deep mark on his heart.

But that was the Azure Realm, a world where might made right! The culture there was such that even the lowest of the low treated human life like blades of grass. The chasm between people was vast, and to commoners, those with high cultivation were no different from gods. Yet, the development of this world was so similar to Water Blue Star. Zhang Ning could feel from every aspect that the social and human development here was quite sound. How, then, could that person commit such an act?

Zhang Ning hung his head in silence, lost in his own thoughts. Chu Hanyu made no move to intervene, quietly keeping him company. A while later, he took two straw mats from Old Man Li, who clearly had been well-prepared, having even readied bedding for sleeping outdoors.

About ten minutes later, police cars came wailing by. Seeing them staying outside the house and learning they were unharmed, the officers breathed a sigh of relief, warned them of potential aftershocks, and advised them not to sleep indoors before driving off.

From a distance, Zhang Ning could hear Old Man Li boasting about his foresight, mingled with the voices of his family slowly settling down. They had adapted to this situation—a life where they had to live in fear and make do with sleeping outside for the night. Perhaps in the future, they would become even more accustomed to it... But why? Why should they have to get used to it?

For some reason, this incident had a profound impact on Zhang Ning. Perhaps it was because it reminded him of Water Blue Star; he simply could not accept such things. Coupled with the memory of the person who had blocked their path up the mountain, shouting "Your Excellency, the Esper," his mind was in turmoil. He was so distracted that he didn't even register when his master picked him up and laid him flat on the straw mat.

What jolted Zhang Ning awake was a cool breeze. As summer neared its end and early autumn approached, the night still felt muggy while lying on the mat outside, so the breeze was incredibly refreshing. Upon waking, however, Zhang Ning discovered that his master was lying on his side next to him, gently fanning him with the fan Old Man Li had provided.

In a daze, Zhang Ning realized: he was the disciple of the Myriad Phenomenon Demon Lord, the successor to the Demon Sect; was being this concerned about the world a bit... out of character? He dared not meet his master’s gaze. Chu Hanyu, however, did not scold him, nor did he intend to lecture him. He simply said, "Sleep. Sleep for now."

Zhang Ning felt a wave of soreness in his heart at the calm tone. He wanted to say something, but his eyes grew hot with tears. He quickly squeezed his eyes shut and whispered, "Yes, Master."

Perhaps because his mind was too chaotic and his body too exhausted, Zhang Ning didn't think of anything else and slowly drifted off to sleep.

There were quite a few mosquitoes at this time of year. Chu Hanyu seemed to be on guard, showing no sign of wanting to sleep; instead, he kept fanning Zhang Ning, who was sleeping restlessly with a furrowed brow. Throughout that mosquito-ridden summer night, Zhang Ning didn't get a single bite.

He did not sleep soundly, waking several times throughout the night. Yet, no matter when he woke, in his hazy consciousness, he always saw his master fanning him.

It wasn't until the next morning, when he saw the fan left beside him and his master nowhere to be found, that Zhang Ning thought: as the disciple, he should have been the one fanning his master; how could he have been such a burden? Reason dictated he should feel guilty and ashamed, but as he looked at the fan, he felt only a surge of warmth in his heart.

When Chu Hanyu returned with steaming buns, he found Zhang Ning sitting cross-legged on the mat like a little adult, holding something tightly to his chest, his face once again solemn and expressionless. Zhang Ning said to him, "Master, this disciple will change all of this!"

Chu Hanyu laughed instantly, showing no mercy as he said, "Since you have made such a grand vow, I naturally will not stop you... But you must fill your stomach first, must you not?"

Ten days later.
Downtown Bulin City.
Early morning.

Zhang Ning and his master were sitting at a roadside stall. Zhang Ning was eating bean curd pudding nonstop, while a bowl of beautifully presented pudding sat before Chu Hanyu. Chu Hanyu had not touched a bite; his brows were tightly knit, his right hand held a mobile phone, and his left hand tucked his long hair behind his ear. He was tilting his head, looking utterly distressed.

Zhang Ning, while eating his breakfast, kept stealing glances at his master and couldn't help but chuckle. Chu Hanyu looked up at him a few times, but when the laughter didn't stop, he simply couldn't be bothered to care and returned to staring at his phone.

Zhang Ning found the idea of his master being "technologically challenged" incredibly adorable and felt he couldn't handle it. Even though he was terrified of his master settling scores later, he still couldn't stop himself from laughing.

"How can he be this cute? Heavens, I must have saved the world in my past life and died a miserable death to have such a cute master in this one!"

Previously, in Zhang Ning's heart, Chu Hanyu was the bright, solitary moon in the sky—silent, stern, and dignified. The term "flower on a high ridge" seemed tailor-made for him. Now that he had seen this side of his master, he felt both a sense of expectation fulfilled and a pleasant surprise. All the flowery adjectives he had once used to praise Chu Hanyu out of admiration were now replaced by this one thought of "cute."

Soon, Zhang Ning finished his pudding and propped his chin up to watch Chu Hanyu intently. Sensing his gaze, Chu Hanyu looked up at him for a moment before returning his focus to the phone, as if trying to conquer a difficult challenge.

And indeed, to Chu Hanyu, this was quite a challenge, Zhang Ning mused. About three days ago—seven days after arriving in this world of espers—Chu Hanyu had told Zhang Ning that they could safely go out and about. Zhang Ning only then realized that in this short week, Chu Hanyu had recovered an unknown amount of his strength and no longer had anything to fear.