Chapter 65 Inner Circle Test - Simple.
Today, the morning was a bit special — it snowed. As the white motes fell from the sky and children looked up in wonder and joy, in the center of the village, where the white flag was usually raised every month, stood two people.
It was none other than Liyue and Han Li. The place was rather empty today and there was no hubbub or audience, just them both, waiting. Liyue's nerves were taught and she was in a bit of a panic, but Han Li's hands rested on her back, making her more confident.
"Ah! Really! Finally, it was damn time the snow came and you guys had to pick this exact day to take the test? Bloody..." Said a voice from the side, which suddenly grew silent.
Han Li looked sideways and frowned inwardly. The person overseeing the test was Li Ming. Coming to the flag area after reporting it to an Evolved was the way of inner circle testing. He had already gone in the morning to meet the iron-masked Fang Li and was told to wait here for the test taker to come.
Silently walking in front of them, Li Ming looked at them with wide eyes and pointing fingers. "You...You...!"
Han Li calmly said, "She is here to take the test. I am not."
Li Ming's heart pained slightly. In front of him was a woman he was supposed to marry, with another man. But more than that, a man he had affection for.
Eyes twitching. Han Li glared at him with his piercing red eyes. "Are you the one here to oversee the process?"
Li Ming pushed down his building anger and nodded. He was someone trained from a young age. Someone believed to have the talent to reach Evolution safely; his mind was quite different from ordinary people.
He nevertheless glared at the woman, his emotion once again stirring.
The Shan Liyue in front of him didn't exactly look like the woman he was supposed to marry some days ago. The current her was like a spear. Silent and ready to move at a word. She wasn't exactly the most beautiful out there but her long black hair and night-like black eyes even made someone like him — who had come to know of his own liking for men — notice it.
She even seemed to have gained some confidence in her brows.
Liyue looked back at him with an awkward face. Still, she tried as hard as she could not to look down at the ground. Han Li had told her not to look down like that.
Feeling the man's gaze was about to move into improper areas of his woman, Han Li said lightly, "We should start the test if you are the overseer."
Li Ming cleared his head and once again turned to look at Han Li. He had somehow become much more handsome than some days ago. His neck had slight curves and he seemed somehow more manly overall.
How cool! How handsome! Look at those eyes, I almost want to kiss him. Thought Li Ming as he finally nodded and looked at the big flagpole to the side.
"Brother Han, please don't misunderstand me. I was just shocked that you were the one who married Liyue. No wonder, I don't even feel defeated if it's you!"
Han Li just pointed his gaze at the flagpole, his eyes calm.
Smiling wryly, Li Ming put the subject to the back of his head and became a businessman. Just like he had some days ago when he willingly let go of Liyue for the money Pang Li had given him.
Han Li nodded but Li Ming didn't let go of the medallion yet. "And Brother Han, I don't mind you having a relationship with women."
Irritation building up. Han Li took the medallion and with a sigh, walked away with the faint-headed Liyue in tow. Had it been a safe place, that kid's head would have rolled today for being too weak and too irritating.
But he was someone usable. A pawn in the making if he actually Evolves.
Taking Liyue on his back, he chuckled as he walked away. Some day, someday he will have such power again. Where he could go on murder sprees whenever he felt like it.
Behind his back, Liyue was feeling a situation of cold and warmth all over her body and was feeling drowsy. So she gently laid on his back and with a smile, Han Li headed to the library of the inner circle. Only people with a medallion were allowed to buy a magical resource and he could buy one there.
Liyue asked, feeling a sense of surreality, "Big Brother Han... did I become an inner circle member?"
"Yes, you became one."
"So..So I am also one of those young people said to have a chance at Evolving now?" she asked hesitantly, her voice filled with disbelief.
Han Li shook his head inside. 'Minor achievements that can't even be called an achievement.'
But still, he smiled, somehow, this girl made him calm down slightly.
Maybe because of her slight resemblance to Yue Li or maybe he was just becoming less wary of people in general and loosening his hold over himself.
"So...So, I and Li Ming are now equals?" she asked, her hands wrapped around his neck.
"No, that Li Ming kid will kill you in one blow. His body is top-notch in every angle and by his posture, he should also have 'High' proficiency at either a war blade or a Saber. Take either of them and add his experience to the mix. My little fiancee doesn't stand a chance."
Liyue blinked. Feeling embarrassed, but then realized she was literally on his back. She blushed fiercely and tried to calm down. Big Brother Han had already touched me down there and we're going to become husband and wife. I don't have to be shy!
Soon, they reached a small building. Entering inside, Han Li smirked as he saw an old man with flaring nostrils. "Old Man Book, you are as energetic as ever, I see?"
The old man looked up from the scroll in his hands and looked at Han Li. "Oh, Han Li?" The old man blinked tiredly. "What book do you need this time?"
"I don't need books. I need a Fire Burst Fruit and Air Soft Berries. I have 3700 sacred coins at hand. Give me as much as you can!"
That was the whole coin savings Pang Li left behind added with his own. Now, he was officially broke.
Of course, he still had a stall in the outer circle which he could run or sell. And with Liyue's medallion, they could even move to the richer part of Starlight Zone if they wanted to.
Old Man Book looked at him with wide eyes and then sighed. "What a lucky man you are to marry a useful wife. Mine was so useless when it lived. Ugh, bad experience, bad experience!" He cursed and went behind a curtain to take the said resources.
Luckily, everything mentioned was in stock.