You're Strong But Now You're Mine

When attending the gathering at the Golden Pavilion, Le Yu had a small doubt: Everyone was very enthusiastic about assassinating Cha Huan, as shown by each side proactively sending out their strongest MVP candidates.

Although this seemed natural at the time, Le Yu didn't think much of it, but upon reflection, it felt more and more bizarre: the risk of killing Cha Huan was too high, almost certainly a mission of no return, yet the reward had little to do with the assassins. The goal of 'replacing the principal' was such a simple and wildly unstable one, it wasn't enough to make everyone willing to sacrifice their highly trained senior operatives, considering the resources and time involved in grooming one.

Now, after hearing Cha Huan's 'confession', Le Yu had no doubts left—if he were the other factions, he would also seize any opportunity to take Cha Huan out.

Specific attributes of Cha Huan—

Heartless and ruthless, showing no mercy, never compromising;

Principal of the Imperial Academy, with students worldwide, great influence;

Former lover of the Empress Dowager, can secure royal support, and vice versa support the royal family.

The first two attributes are understandable, but the last one is the reason Cha Huan must die: those loyal to the Imperial Family cannot tolerate such a scandal; while those eyeing the Imperial Family cannot allow such a powerful ally like Cha Huan to join the royal ranks.

This time, Cha Huan indeed seems like Zhu Bajie looking in a mirror, neither an insider nor outsider. But for Cha Huan, perhaps this is exactly what he hopes for—fools are angry at him yet can't do anything to him, he can surely derive amusement from this perverse pleasure.

"Can there really be feelings involved?"

"Hmm?"

"You've experienced so many life and death situations, and been at the Imperial Academy for thirty years; she's become a mother, and who knows what kind of court intrigue she's experienced in the deep palace." Le Yu curiously asked, "Can you two really rekindle the innocent romance from your academy days now?"

"An interesting question."

Cha Huan set down his teacup and said, "Indeed, from a worldly perspective, love is something reserved for children, budding young teens, and youthful men and women; middle-aged people only have responsibilities and life, while elders have only unfulfilled wishes and fears…"

"Even though we're martial artists who often train to maintain ourselves, our skin inevitably ages and sags, and our bodies aren't as vigorous as at twenty-five. Handsome grandpas and pretty grandmas are still just grandpas and grandmas."

"However," Cha Huan said proudly, "Besides aging, I have gained more from time: knowledge, wisdom, eloquence, maturity… so has she."

"All these years, it's not that no one has confessed to me, some even this year, like a twenty-year-old girl admiring my wisdom, willing to serve me… I've considered starting a new relationship since I have normal emotional needs, but no one has offered what I want—including you, brat. People who have caught my eye these years don't exceed ten. Chatting with those young girls, I just wanted to kick them back to high school to study well; there are so many fools in the world, and dealing with them only brings negative emotional experiences. Xie Liting is more interesting than them."

"People always talk about love, but most people have no love; they are just attracted because of appearance, voice, income, or even family background; actually, in loving and being loved, they love only themselves. They love the vanity of being loved, the sense of existence when tormented, even the self-abasement from unrequited love. In the end, they love the imagined emotion, which is not love at all."

Le Yu shrugged, "Your standards are too high, people just mate when it's mating season. If everyone were like you, Huiyao would be extinct."

"True." Cha Huan nodded in agreement, "I sometimes think, am I not the same species as you? There's too much divide between us. That's why I love building toilets—how hard is it not to pee and poop everywhere!?"

Le Yu reminded, "Tell the story, stop talking about gross stuff."

"There's nothing much to say, it's like back then, she and I, having nothing, and wanted to research something together, but got interrupted for various reasons. Now we have a chance to continue, with more funds, ability, experience, and skills, ensuring a more perfect paper than before."

Cha Huan took out a comb, smoothing his flawless gray hair, "Moreover, just like back then, we're overdue children."

Le Yu blinked, thinking to ask if he regretted not starting this project back in the academy, but decided against it, worrying it might insult him or he might throw him off the seventh floor in anger.

"Speaking of which, do you like anyone?" Cha Huan suddenly gossiped.

"Yes, but I won't tell you."

"Do you really think I want to know!" Cha Huan snorted coldly, and asked, "Don't say a name, can you describe their personality?"

"Personality?" Le Yu thought for a moment, "Well, somewhat emotional, a bit insecure, but very strong-willed, always worried because of important work if not done well, usually plays well with me, battle card skills just slightly worse than mine. Even if I suddenly disappeared, she could rally and make her career better…"

Cha Huan nodded, summarizing, "So simply, you like a successful man?"

"Bollocks!" Le Yu waved, "Stop talking nonsense, talk about the plan, the plan."

Cha Huan, not one to dawdle, arranged the 'counter-kill plan' in ten minutes. Without staying longer, Le Yu stood up to leave, almost stumbling.

During the hour in Cha Huan's office, Le Yu maintained an 'air chair' position without moving. For Le Yu with the 'Ice Blood Physique', he felt no thigh pain, keeping up this facade for a full hour.

Cha Huan laughed, stopping Le Yu, and pulled a book from the drawer, tossing it to him.

Le Yu caught it, "What is this?"

"A fusion of Blood Drinker Eight Rice Flow and Blood Thorn Eight Rice Flow. Blood Thorn Eight Rice Flow is just a shallow idea of mine, recently improved and incorporated into Blood Drinker Eight Rice Flow, ought to help you." Cha Huan said, "Shi Wen, although foolish, is among the few fools I don't loathe."

"As for Laiya, hm, her Ruyi Sword Combat Technique is very well practiced, you don't need to concern yourself too much."

Le Yu nodded, curiously asked, "Do you major in Eight Rice Flow since you know so much?"

"No, I major in Sword Combat Technique." Cha Huan calmly said, "But the one who tore off my left arm back in the day was a Eight Rice Martial Artist."

Le Yu instantly understood and knew better than to ask more.

Passing by the birdcage, Le Yu whistled and the parrot flew over, loudly shouting, "Believe me, I was really turned into a parrot by Cha Huan, not fake, not fake!"

It actually said a second different sentence!

At this moment, Cha Huan's voice came from behind, "Though I taught it well, ultimately, it can't deceive. After all, human flesh can never turn into a parrot's body."

Le Yu nodded, looked at the parrot, and walked into the mechanical ladder to descend, while the parrot kept calling until the ladder activated, carrying him away from the seventh floor.

At noon, went to the pigs' mess hall to eat; after lunch, gave Shi Wen Laiya a class; at night, chatted online with 'Yin' at eight.

The day passed, Le Yu lay in bed staring at the ceiling and suddenly realized a problem.

Yes, human flesh can never turn into a parrot's body.

However, a human soul might not be unable to enter a parrot's body!

If Le Yu were pecked to death by a parrot, who's to say he wouldn't turn into a parrot!

In this slightly magical world of Huiyao, soul transfer isn't entirely impossible, Le Yu himself is the most vivid example!

Damn, so is there really a human soul inside that parrot!

...

...

After Le Yu left the seventh floor, Cha Huan took a newspaper from his drawer.

With his high position and power, Cha Huan could access local newspapers, like the Youth Daily, two days earlier than ordinary people in Yanjing.

The latest Youth Daily, besides the final chapter of Your Name and the new book preview by its author 'Mr. Tree-man', had nothing to draw Cha Huan's attention.

But that issue had a small announcement catching Cha Huan's eye.

Because this announcement was very unusual.

"Announcement: Former Director Zhengwei and Qin Leyin have no special relationship beyond work. Zhengwei is upright and honest, Qin Leyin is pure and chaste, rumors end with the wise. Please do not echo falsehoods. Any claim of literature regarding Zhengwei and Qin Leyin shall be destroyed from this date, with severe penalties for discovery."

"Looks like…" Cha Huan remarked knowingly, "Seems like…"