Mortal Martial Arts Group Tower.
A roaring Ghostfire motorcycle raced through the clouds, speeding towards the upper floors before coming to a stop at a level over a hundred stories high.
Shen Ye jumped through the open window, waved his hand, and stored the motorcycle into his ring.
The door immediately rang.
Shen Ye opened it, finding two fully armed professionals standing in the hallway.
“What was that noise just now?” one of them asked.
“I sent my bike out for a spin through the clouds. No problem,” Shen Ye said with a smile.
“It’s too loud. Don’t do that at night. Besides, it’s not safe,” the other person said.
“Apologies. It won’t happen again,” Shen Ye replied.
The door closed.
Shen Ye let out a long sigh of relief.
He took a quick shower, grabbed some food and drinks from the fridge, then sat cross-legged at the dining table, eating while recalling that video.
According to what Song Qingyun had said—
As a child…
Did something like that really happen?
Thinking carefully, it seemed that when he was five or six years old, something like that had indeed occurred.
How ridiculous.
He had been searching through his memories for people he might have offended, hoping to find the reason for being hunted down.
Who would have thought—it was because he had helped two girls and for that he was being targeted!
Shen Ye couldn’t help but shake his head.
Damn it.
These aristocratic heirs really were inhuman.
And now… when they realized he wasn’t dead, what would they do?
If sending assassins was just “playing around” to them, what would they do if they got serious?
Shen Ye instinctively flexed his wrists.
Damn it.
He had no offensive techniques at all.
Only in high school could he start learning various combat skills… This time, he had to pass the entrance exams for the three prestigious academies!
For now, what he needed most was more attribute points.
His phone suddenly rang.
Glancing at the screen, Shen Ye raised an eyebrow.
It was a number he had never been contacted by before, labelled simply as “Shen Family.”
“Hello?”
Shen Ye answered the call.
“Shen Ye?” A deep and authoritative male voice came through.
“It’s me.”
“I’m your uncle.”
Uncle…
The Shen family’s eldest uncle, Shen Shuopeng.
He was his father’s older brother, responsible for managing the daily affairs of the Shen family.
Every time they returned home for New Year’s, he had been the coldest toward them, never acknowledging his mother or him, sometimes even ridiculing his father.
Why was he calling?
“Hello, Uncle,” Shen Ye said.
“I just wanted to ask—how have you been lately?” Shen Shuopeng asked.
“I’m doing fine,” Shen Ye replied.
“I heard you were sick recently.”
“Yes, but I’ve recovered now.”
So—
Xiao Mengyu really did leak the matter.
Now, the whole situation was beginning to take effect.
His uncle making this call was nothing more than a gesture, a way for the Shen family to show they were “paying attention” to the issue.
Shen Ye shook his head.
If the Shen family truly cared about him, they would have sent someone to find him, get the full picture, and ensure his protection.
Instead, all he got was a phone call.
“That’s good to hear. Actually, there’s something I need to tell you,” Shen Shuopeng said.
“Oh? Please go ahead,” Shen Ye said, a bit surprised.
“Do you remember that every year when our family gathered for New Year’s, young heirs from other aristocratic families would come to visit?” Shen Shuopeng asked.
“I remember.”
“You caused a lot of trouble back then because of your immaturity. I’ll make arrangements, and in a few days, you’ll come back and apologize to them in public.”
“Apologize?” Shen Ye repeated.
“This is for your own good. You offended too many people as a child. Now, you need to come forward and apologize to earn their forgiveness. That way, the Shen family won’t lose face. Do you understand?”
Shen Ye slowly processed his words.
So despite being the victim—the one being hunted down—
Now that the Shen family was aware of the situation, they wanted him to apologize?
An apology?
If he apologized, it would mean the victim was willingly freeing those aristocratic heirs from the blame, asking others not to hold them accountable.
Would his uncle gain some favour from this?
—Or was there another benefit?
Shen Ye took a sip of pineapple juice and said unhurriedly,
“I remember everything that happened back then, and as far as I recall, I never offended anyone.”
“—Perhaps, Uncle, you could list a few incidents? Who exactly did I offend? How did I offend them? When did it happen?”
“You don’t need to concern yourself with that. Just do as I say when the time comes,” Shen Shuopeng said sternly.
Shen Ye chuckled silently.
If he hadn’t known the truth, he might have genuinely believed he had wronged someone.
If he had bullied others in the past, and the family now wanted him to apologize to avoid trouble, he wouldn’t have minded saying sorry.
However—
Now that he knew the truth,
Did they still think they could manipulate him?
Not a chance.
“Uncle,” Shen Ye said thoughtfully, “but there’s a problem. If we don’t resolve this, I won’t be able to follow your instructions.”
“What problem? Is it about the Marrow Replenishing Pill? Hmph, at such a young age, you’ve already learned greed,” Shen Shuopeng mocked.
“No, it’s a question that’s been bothering me since this conversation started. It keeps me from complying with your order,” Shen Ye said.
“What question?”
Shen Ye carefully asked, “Who the hell do you think you are?”
“Shen Ye! I’m warning you—don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit!” The voice on the other end erupted in anger.
“You seem to think quite highly of yourself,” Shen Ye said with a playful tone. “If you’re so capable, why don’t you go grovel before them?”
Shen Shuopeng hesitated, then asked in surprise, “You know?”
“Know what?” Shen Ye feigned shock. “Uncle, are you really planning to wag your tail in front of them?”
“This isn’t up to you. Do you think you can defy your grandfather’s decision?” Shen Shuopeng said.
The call abruptly ended.
Shen Ye curled his lips in amusement. After a moment’s thought, he called his mother, Zhao Xiaoshang, only mentioning that his uncle had called to check on him.
To his surprise, his mother immediately snapped in anger:
“Hah! We tried to return and request a Marrow Replenishing Pill, but he berated us and wouldn’t even let us through the Shen family gates! And now he cares about you?”
“Don’t ever answer his calls again!”
Shen Ye felt even clearer about the situation now.
After reassuring his mother with a few words and chatting casually until her mood improved, he finally ended the call.
The Shen family’s affairs?
He wouldn’t care.
Even if they begged, he wouldn’t go back!
The phone suddenly rang again.
“Hello?”
“Hi,” a girl’s voice came through, carrying a hint of amusement. “I’m Yan Qiuling from Southeast Phoenix Island. I’m sure you’ve heard of the Yan family.”
“Ah, of course, I’ve heard of you. Your family is a renowned great clan, known far and wide. What can I do for you?” Shen Ye asked.
“Shen Ye, right? I’d like to invite you to my midnight party. There are quite a few girls here, and everyone wants to meet you.” The girl’s voice still carried a hint of laughter.
“This might not be a good idea. It’s already too late, and it’s inconvenient for me to go out,” Shen Ye replied.
“No problem. Just do me this favour. I’ll send a flying shuttle to pick you up,” Yan Qiuling said in a tone that allowed no argument.
“I can’t. We boys can’t just go out at night so easily—we have to protect ourselves. Thanks for your kindness, but bye-bye.”
Click.
The call ended.
Shen Ye’s lips curled into a cold smile.
—Xiao Mengyu said the matter had already been exposed.
The great clans had the best intelligence networks; they must have learned about everything, which is why a noble daughter from a prestigious family was calling him now.
“The man Song Qingyun wants to marry.”
They were just curious, wanting to see what kind of person he was.
But really, if you were inviting someone you’ve never met before to a party, shouldn’t you at least plan ahead and notify them in advance?
An invitation sent at the last minute—most of the time, it just means they don’t respect you.
—Except when it’s from a really close buddy.
The phone rang again.
“Hello?”
Another female voice came through. “You’re really disrespecting Sister Yan. Do you even realize what a great honor this—”
“It’s not that,” Shen Ye interrupted, his voice small and full of grievance. “It’s just that there are so many women there. I’m afraid you’ll get me drunk, mess around with me, and then point at my perfectly sculpted muscles saying, ‘Look, this is that guy.’”
The other end of the line went silent.
Shen Ye hung up again.
And turned off his phone.
He stretched lazily, then stood up and moved his body.
—Strength is the most important thing.
So they want to put me on display like some exhibition piece? If I were truly a “calamity,” would they dare to summon me like this?
A thought suddenly surfaced in his mind.
That special event—
“If the next evaluation entry you receive is once again the green-tier ‘Comrade,’ you will earn the special honor title: ‘An Ordinary Person Who Has Exceeded the Limit Three Times in a Row.’”
“This honorary title will trigger a powerful resonance, summoning a hidden ability.”
“You have only one chance to obtain this hidden ability.”
Hidden ability.
Shen Ye repeated the words in his heart and let out a deep sigh.
Could there really be such a convenient power in this world—one that lets you sit at home and eliminate all your enemies?
No.
Even The Skinner himself had faced him.
If he hadn’t intervened that day, Xiao Mengyu would have surely died, and the truth would have remained buried. Everything would have gone differently.
So right now, the most important thing for him was to grow stronger.
Whether it was resisting his family’s arrangements or wiping out those noble brats to avenge both himself and the innocent, he needed power!
—An unstoppable power!!!
It looked like he had to take this chance.
If he could, he had to obtain that hidden ability.
“Door.”
A door silently appeared before Shen Ye.
Unlike before, lines of faintly glowing text began emerging on its surface:
“7 minutes until midnight.”
“Your first entry into the Gate on a new day will grant you an evaluation entry.”
“You currently have a chance to obtain a special hidden ability.”
“Condition to fulfill:”
“Obtain the ‘Comrade’ evaluation for the third time.”
“Since you have already received this evaluation twice, key hints will be provided in your actions.”
“Remember, this is your only chance to gain this hidden ability!”
7 minutes.
Shen Ye pondered for a moment, then opened the fridge, stored some food and drinks in his ring, and quietly waited.
Time passed quickly.
The clock on the wall ticked away.
—Midnight had arrived!
Shen Ye pushed open the door, stepped through, and instantly found himself in a dense forest.
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