Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 61

Chapter 61: Beast World 6

Xu Fu, waiting nearby, stroked his chin, musing that Qi Yuan’s charisma remained undiminished even across realms.

Tsk, tsk, tsk.

Another one gazing at Qi Yuan with those dazed, love-struck eyes.

Qi Yuan, however, remained oblivious to You Qinghe’s unusual behavior. This was likely because the You Qinghe he’d encountered in previous dreamscapes had been far more intense. In this Dreamscape, You Qinghe had shown considerable restraint, so it would have been odd for Qi Yuan to sense anything amiss.

Noticing You Qinghe still occupied with pressing matters, Qi Yuan refrained from disturbing him and left with Xu Fu.

Moreover, he preferred not to entangle himself too deeply with You Qinghe in this Dreamscape. He had a premonition that the key to escaping this realm lay elsewhere, likely unrelated to You Qinghe.

“So sweet!”

Xu Fu plucked a Sweet Fruit from the basket and popped it into his mouth. The syrupy juice burst across his palate, vanishing as quickly as he swallowed.

“No wonder they call it Sweet Fruit—a truly natural, additive-free snack.”

He didn’t stand on ceremony with Qi Yuan, grabbing a handful and devouring them one after another.

The two men settled down in a quiet spot not far from the Chieftain’s residence, away from prying eyes.

Qi Yuan also stuffed Sweet Fruit into his mouth. He actually wanted to wash them, but he wasn’t sure where he could find water and didn’t dare wander off.

When he was with He Zhou, he never had to worry about such things. He Zhou would always wash the Sweet Fruit and place them right in Qi Yuan’s hand.

Qi Yuan and Xu Fu’s leisurely demeanor stood out starkly, quickly drawing the attention of Zuo Yu and his companions who had just arrived.

“Qi Yuan! Xu Fu!” Zuo Yu called out.

He and his friends surrounded the pair and settled down beside them, mimicking their relaxed postures.

Zuo Yu looked puzzled. “Why aren’t you guys worried at all?”

Xu Fu didn’t understand the question. “Why should we be worried?” he countered.

Seeing their blank expressions, Zuo Yu suddenly realized. “Oh, you didn’t know!”

“A small tribe on the edge of the land has somehow gained Divine Power. They’re claiming they’ll unite the entire land, and any tribe that refuses to submit will face divine punishment.”

Qi Yuan frowned. “What exactly is this Divine Power?” he asked, sensing something ominous.

Zuo Yu explained, “My Big Brother told me it’s a force that can crumble mountains and shake the earth with deafening roars—absolutely terrifying.”

Xu Fu gasped in shock. “What?!”

“That’s gunpowder…”

Gunpowder had barely escaped his lips before he choked it back, leaving the word unfinished.

He gripped Qi Yuan’s hand, his eyes speaking volumes.

Damn it, so we’re not the only transmigrators after all.

Xu Fu couldn’t fathom it. How could other transmigrators be thriving so spectacularly, already crafting gunpowder and plotting world domination, while he and Qi Yuan were barely scraping by?

Zuo Yu, sharp as a hawk, seized on the unspoken meaning in Xu Fu’s unfinished sentence. “You know what the Divine Power is?”

Xu Fu froze. He knew, alright, but he hesitated. Should he reveal the truth?

Torn, he shot a desperate glance at Qi Yuan for help.

Qi Yuan patted Xu Fu’s hand and nodded, signaling him to confess. This is a different kind of seeking protection, he thought, relying purely on knowledge, without compromising his conscience to play the scumbag. It suits Xu Fu perfectly.

“I know,” Xu Fu said, taking a deep breath.

“It’s not some Divine Power at all. It’s gunpowder—a devastating weapon crafted by human hands.”

“With the right raw materials and knowledge, anyone can wield it.”

Zuo Yu stood abruptly, biting his lip. He gestured for his companions to watch Qi Yuan and Xu Fu while he went to find the Chieftain and the Shaman.

Soon, the group who had been locked in a heated stalemate at their dwelling emerged hastily after hearing Zuo Yu recount Xu Fu’s words. They promptly took Xu Fu away.

They had intended to take Qi Yuan as well, but He Zhou stopped them. Xu Fu understood what the Divine Power truly was, but Qi Yuan did not.

Qi Yuan, munching on a Sweet Fruit, exuded an air of utter relaxation.

In truth, he did know about gunpowder, but he was acutely aware of its dangers. Blowing himself up would hardly be worth it, and frankly, his knowledge was limited anyway. It made more sense to let Xu Fu handle this, as it would help him integrate into the Tribe faster.

Qi Yuan stood silently to the side, observing.

Several intense gazes fell upon him, but he feigned ignorance, pretending not to notice.

Jiang Wang, usually calm and self-assured, appeared to avoid lingering eye contact with Qi Yuan, but it was clear he was forcing himself.

When Jiang Wang had first returned, the Shaman had immediately reported the Tribe’s situation. That night, he had already suspected that the alluring scent he had smelled belonged to one of the two newly arrived Females.

As expected, his hunch had proven correct.

Jiang Wang, who had become the Tribe’s Chieftain at a young age, had long since mastered the art of concealing his emotions. His mind remained remarkably calm, understanding that until a formal Mate Bond was established, any intimacy remained illusory. Even if the Female now carried He Zhou’s scent, what did it matter?

He was confident that in time, the Female would bear only his scent.

With his silver hair and pale eyes, You Yuanxiu already possessed striking features. Enhanced by these ethereal qualities, he exuded an otherworldly, almost divine aura.

You Yuanxiu, a man of few emotions, believed that as the Tribe’s Shaman, he shouldn’t harbor personal attachments. Yet when he gazed at Qi Yuan, his composure faltered. Though Qi Yuan should have been taken along with Xu Fu, when He Zhou claimed Qi Yuan knew nothing of the situation, You Yuanxiu seized this as a convenient excuse to justify his own desires.

The Tribe’s confinement wasn’t exactly comfortable, and there was no need to mistreat an innocent Female who knew nothing of the matter—this was the unspoken consensus among them.

And so Qi Yuan was spared being taken away with Xu Fu, remaining behind in circumstances that seemed almost too convenient. No one had yet realized the multitude of hands guiding his fate, all pushing in the same direction.

With He Zhou still occupied with matters in Hezhou and Xu Fu taken away, Zuo Yu was the only one available to look after Qi Yuan. He Zhou entrusted the task to him.

Zuo Yu agreed without hesitation. He was quite fond of this handsome male with his gentle temperament and naturally wouldn’t refuse.

Within the tribe, Zuo Yu was renowned for his popularity and kind nature. Many males coveted him, but he seemed to find none of them to his liking.

Considering all these factors, He Zhou felt confident entrusting Qi Yuan to Zuo Yu’s care.

Eventually, everyone departed, leaving only Zuo Yu and Qi Yuan behind.

Zuo Yu grasped Qi Yuan’s arm, his face lighting up with a smile that revealed a dimple hidden unless one looked closely.

“It seems He Zhou truly cares for you,” he remarked. “When do you two plan to form the Mate Bond?” he asked with curiosity.

Mate Bond? Qi Yuan thought, puzzled. Why does it sound so much like marriage?

He lowered his gaze, pretending Zuo Yu was asking him when he planned to marry He Zhou.

“Zuo Yu,” he said sincerely, “you know He Zhou and I have only known each other for a few days. The time we’ve spent together is too short to support a Mate Bond right now.”

Zuo Yu wholeheartedly agreed with Qi Yuan’s perspective.

“I understand completely!”

“I just don’t want to settle for less. I want to find a male I truly love, and one who loves me back! That’s why I’ve waited so long!”

“In another year, I’ll be the oldest unmarried female in the tribe, but I have no regrets!”

His gaze now held the admiration of a kindred spirit, and his affection for Qi Yuan deepened.

Zuo Yu continued to share his innermost thoughts.

“My peers don’t understand me. So many outstanding and powerful males are interested in me, yet I refuse to let any of them become my Male Mate.”

“Even though He Zhou brought you back from outside the tribe, and according to tribal customs, you’re now his female, our tribe is quite merciful. Females brought back against their will aren’t forced to follow these rules. So you don’t have to fear rejecting He Zhou.”

“If He Zhou throws you out of his cave for rejecting him, you can come find me.”

“No, Qi Yuan, you can move into my cave right now!”

“My Male Fathers and Mate Father found me a nuisance, so they packed me up and kicked me out as soon as I came of age. I live alone, and my cave has plenty of space—more than enough for the two of us.”

“So, what do you say? Do you agree?”

His eyes lit up as if he’d had a brilliant idea, his entire being vibrating with excitement.

Qi Yuan didn’t agree outright, but the idea did resonate with him.

Until his relationship with He Zhou was settled, living together would indeed be inappropriate.

Yet he couldn’t just pack his things and move out of He Zhou’s cave right away.

“Let me have a proper talk with He Zhou tonight before making a decision,” he told Zuo Yu.

Zuo Yu immediately understood Qi Yuan’s dilemma. He realized that speaking with He Zhou first was essential, and there was no need to rush. With an understanding nod, he agreed.