Versatile Mage : Reborn As Mo Fan

"Osaka, we're almost there!" Jiang Shaoxu was more interested in eating and shopping than in slaying sea monsters.

It was as if she wasn't on a world expedition but more of a world tour to eat and drink.

To be fair, her fluent Sakura language showed she often came here. And every time she spoke with that alluring tone in such a native way, it gave Mo Fan some... interesting thoughts.

"Come on, I'll take you guys to some great food!" Jiang Shaoxu, clearly uninterested in resting, linked arms with the other girls, ready to head off toward the food paradise.

Osaka is indeed a food paradise—desserts, snacks, and tea treats—one could indulge for days on end.

The girls in the group weren't all food lovers, but once Jiang Shaoxu pulled them along, they couldn't refuse. In the blink of an eye, their graceful figures disappeared from the train station. Jiang, being sneaky, even reminded the men not to follow, so as not to interrupt their "girls' romantic time."

Absolutely unfair!

With no other choice, the men decided to head toward the pavilion by themselves. The instructors hadn't given other coordinates, but they had been provided the location of the country's pavilion in advance.

The countries they visited during the expedition were always arranged personally by the instructors.

The Osaka pavilion's location was quite unique, situated on two towering, similar-looking mountains about seven or eight kilometers from the coastline.

These two mountains, known as "Mutual Gaze Mountains," had steep, jagged cliffs. The road leading up wound around the mountain's waist, occasionally revealing treacherous 180-degree turns with sheer drops on one side.

The pavilion was on the summit, known as "Double Guard Pavilion," with two gray-white castles standing tall atop the mountains. Between the twin castles, a suspended wooden corridor stretched across a high, precipitous cliff. There was only one road, so to reach one of the pavilions, you had to cross the sky corridor!

This "Double Guard Pavilion" was famous both domestically and internationally. One of the pavilions was even a nightmare for some heinous criminals.

When they arrived at the western pavilion and stood in front of the stone wall, two Sakura mages, dressed in traditional warrior robes, guarded the gate. They immediately narrowed their eyes, looking at Mo Fan and the group as if they were trespassers in a forbidden zone.

"Hey, you guys are from the Xia Kingdom, right?" A voice called out in English.

The group turned to see a young woman in a kimono holding a parasol walking toward them. Though she took small, delicate steps, the moment she stood before them, there was no trace of warmth or friendliness—only full-on hostility.

"Yes, we're from Great Xia," Ai Jiangtu replied.

"As expected of Great Xia people, rude as ever. Didn't you see the 'No Tourists Allowed' sign at the base of the mountain? Or are you illiterate!?" the woman scolded sharply.

"Who told you we're tourists?" Mo Fan said.

"This place doesn't accept any jobless, freeloading Chinese. Get off the mountain, or I'll personally throw each of you down," the kimono-clad woman said arrogantly.

She puffed out her chest proudly, her tall wooden sandals elevating her already haughty stance, and her gaze toward the Xia team was filled with pride and disdain. Hearing her words, everyone in the group was naturally quite pissed.

After all, they had fought their way to get here, and everyone had their own pride. This arrogant woman not only looked down on them but also dared to show contempt for all Chinese people. Where did she get such audacity?

"You arrogant hag, if you keep yapping, I'll burn down this damn pavilion!" Mo Fan, although aware of her temper, couldn't hold back anymore.

"What did you say!?" The kimono woman was instantly furious.

"Didn't you hear me clearly? You arrogant hag!" Mo Fan knew what she meant but deliberately kept provoking her.

The kimono-clad woman threw aside her parasol and raised her hands, slowly pulling back her loose hair, which had been draped over her shoulders. With a cold voice, she said, "Not that. What you said before."

"Hag."

Mo Fan continued to provoke her, refusing to say what she wanted.

At that moment, she had already finished tying her hair up. While her hair was down, her face wasn't entirely visible, but now, her stunning features were fully revealed—an exceptionally beautiful woman, with silver earrings that accentuated her milk-like smooth skin.

"You're asking for death!" she snapped.

As she spoke, the smooth gray marble under her feet began to sprout strange vines.

Before anyone realized it, the vines had grown thicker, intertwining into five large petals that bloomed like a bellflower, lifting the kimono woman into the air!

But just as she was about to attack, a rough voice called out from the direction of the western pavilion: "Chiyou, stop!!"

Despite her gritted teeth and obvious reluctance to stop, the woman eventually calmed down after hearing the voice again. After all, the one calling her was the family elder, and she had no choice but to obey.

The mass of plants writhing across the ground quickly withered, turning into gray powder that scattered everywhere. The tense atmosphere vanished, though the kimono woman's chest still heaved with anger.

"Your attitude is annoying, but that figure's not bad at all." Mo Fan provocatively 'complimented' her as he watched her seethe with anger.

"Hmph!"

Chiyou didn't retaliate this time. She knew full well that Mo Fan was only trying to provoke her.

Still, she couldn't help but hold her fury in check.

"Chiyou, why is your temper still so bad after all these years? You didn't even ask their identity before trying to throw them out?" A sturdy old man with a grizzled beard stepped out. He looked full of vigor, and if it weren't for his white hair, he could be mistaken for someone much younger.

"Why would I ask? This punk dared to say he would burn our pavilion to the ground, and he said it right in front of me, the eldest daughter of the Mochizuki family. Do you think I could tolerate such outrageous words?" Chiyou fumed.

"Still, you insulted them first. That was uncalled for. Stop being childish. These people are our esteemed guests," the old man said, stepping up beside Chiyou and giving her a stern look.

"Guests?" Chiyou scoffed.

"Old man, is this your junior? I suggest you discipline her more. With her temper, she's bound to get beaten up. If you hadn't shown up just now, I would've already taught her a harsh lesson." Mo Fan switched to English, sounding serious.

"Baka! You're humiliating me!!" Chiyou locked onto Mo Fan, seething with rage.

"Am I? I'm just thinking of your well-being," Mo Fan responded coolly.

(End of Chapter)