Zhang Chulan froze at Hikaru Uchiha's teasing remark—
"Probably."
"What do you mean probably?!" he shouted.
Hikaru laughed outright, unable to resist the sight of the boy's flustered face. He patted Zhang Chulan's shoulder reassuringly.
"Relax. If I dared to leave you my power, it means I can guarantee your safety."
They exchanged knowing smiles, ending the playful scene in quiet understanding.
Zhang Chulan knew Hikaru was teasing, yet played along. Hikaru knew Zhang Chulan was playing along, yet indulged him anyway.
Then Zhang Chulan bowed sincerely.
"Senior Hikaru, thank you. I'll never forget this favor."
Hikaru snorted. "Tch, don't get all sentimental. You a man or not? Let's go!"
Turning on his heel, he walked off with Xia He, leaving Zhang Chulan standing there in disbelief.
Feng Baobao lingered behind, eyes uncertain as she watched them disappear.
Once they were alone, Xia He's usual composed front melted away. Her gaze turned languid, voice soft and playful.
"You were impressive today," she purred. "I wonder if you'll always be that impressive… later."
Feeling her warmth pressed against him, Hikaru smirked.
"Oh? You don't know whether I'm impressive?"
Without warning, he lifted her in his arms and vanished.
They reappeared in a secluded pocket realm—a secret hideaway brimming with gentle light and still air, a tranquil paradise between worlds.
Inside, Xia He's eyes shimmered mischievously. She brushed a finger along his chest and murmured,
"So, you gave that boy something special. Where's mine?"
Her tone carried both jest and a hint of longing.
Hikaru raised an eyebrow, pulling her closer.
"What nonsense. You're mine. Protecting you is my duty."
The door slid shut on its own, sealing them from the world beyond.
Only the faint motion of silk-draped legs could be seen, curling and tightening—then the night consumed all sound.
When dawn came, Hikaru visited Zhang Zhiwei, the Old Celestial Master.
But what greeted him was so unexpected that even a shinobi like him couldn't keep a straight face.
Zhang Zhiwei's eyes were swollen black and blue like a panda's. His brother Tian Jinzhong didn't look any better—his face was bruised purple from temple to chin.
Hikaru, trained to maintain composure under any circumstance, couldn't hold it in. He burst out laughing.
Catching himself, he quickly asked, "Elder, what happened to you?"
Zhang Zhiwei brushed it off with dignity.
"Last night, my chakra flow reversed during cultivation. A small mishap. It'll pass."
Hikaru's laughter only deepened.
He glanced at Tian Jinzhong. "And your brother?"
Zhang Zhiwei stroked his chin, feigning solemn wisdom.
"Your level's too low to grasp the intricacies of it. When I lost control, Jinzhong was beside me—he took some backlash, that's all."
He spoke with such confidence that for a moment it almost sounded plausible.
But Tian Jinzhong wasn't having it.
"Senior Brother! You were punched by Lu Jin, and I got caught in the crossfire! You used me as a shield!"
He sighed bitterly. "Of all things to bring, you just had to use that embarrassing old duel tape against him. What did you expect?"
The Old Celestial Master didn't even blink.
"My mastery's so profound that Jinzhong's memory's clearly muddled. Poor thing's still delirious."
Hikaru's amusement turned to awe.
"Respect," he said sincerely.
Zhang Zhiwei grinned. "Flattery gets you everywhere."
They both laughed, the tension dissolving like smoke.
Then, from within his robes, Zhang Zhiwei produced a scroll—
the Heavenly Talisman.
The moment Hikaru touched it, his System Interface chimed within his mind. It was genuine.
He had expected no less. A man like the Old Celestial Master wouldn't fake a gift—he'd simply refuse.
Now that his objective was complete, Hikaru had no reason to linger.
His next destination: Biyu Village, to find Ma Hongxian, who could lead him to Qu Tong.
Two tasks remained—Divine Mechanism Refinement and Grand Luo Vision.
The first seemed within reach, but the second was shrouded in mystery.
No one in the recorded histories had ever wielded it, or perhaps its bearer had long vanished into the void.
Either way, Qu Tong held the key.
Her existence alone was a living enigma—
and Hikaru intended to unravel it.