Noble Academy's Mob Character: Reborn as the Campus Heartthrob - Chapter 68

Chapter 68: Beastman World (Epilogue)

The next morning, a thick fog still lingered outside the cave at dawn.

Qi Yuan was boiling water, feeding firewood into the roaring blaze. The flames blazed fiercely, radiating intense heat.

He wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

Judging the fire sufficient, he stood up, ready to stop adding wood.

“Is there enough firewood left?” Jiang Wang asked, approaching Qi Yuan from behind.

Qi Yuan pondered the matter. They had been using firewood heavily these past few days, and with restrictions preventing them from gathering more outside the tribe, their original reserves were indeed dwindling. He chose to be honest.

Looking at Jiang Wang, he shook his head. “No, we’re running out. We’ll need to venture outside the Tribe to collect more.”

“No need to go out,” Jiang Wang insisted. “My injuries have mostly healed. I can handle it.”

Someone offering to do the work for me? Why refuse?

Qi Yuan beamed. “Alright, thank you, Jiang Wang.”

Just then, Xu Fu, who had vanished early that morning, rushed back with an odd expression on his face.

He grabbed Qi Yuan by the arm and dragged him outside the cave.

“Qi Yuan!”

“I have to tell you, He Zhou is back!”

Qi Yuan initially saw this as good news, but Xu Fu’s strange expression puzzled him. He detected no joy, only a tangled mix of concern and pity.

“That’s good news,” Qi Yuan said.

“Now is a critical moment for the Tribe. Having a powerful warrior return will significantly ease our burden.”

Qi Yuan’s expression remained neutral as he spoke objectively.

Xu Fu sighed. “Ah…”

“But… but…”

He hesitated, torn between telling Qi Yuan that He Zhou had lost his memory and that the savior who rescued He Zhou and brought him back was also a Transmigrator—a handsome young man, no less.

After careful consideration, Xu Fu decided that since Qi Yuan would inevitably find out eventually, it was better to tell him now, allowing him time to prepare.

“I’m going to tell you about He Zhou’s current situation. You must stay calm, absolutely no impulsive actions.”

He gripped Qi Yuan’s arms with both hands, his expression earnest.

Qi Yuan felt perfectly calm, but seeing Xu Fu’s determined look—as if he would spill everything if Qi Yuan didn’t respond—he reluctantly agreed. “Fine, I’ll stay calm. Go on.”

Xu Fu: “He Zhou has lost his memory.”

“And he brought back his rescuer—one of our own kind.”

“Doesn’t this sound familiar?”

“Doesn’t it feel like the melodramatic start of some cheesy romance novel?”

“It’s even similar to how He Zhou found you and brought you back in the first place.”

“Qi Yuan, tell me—how does a massive Black Python like He Zhou act like a dog, always picking up strays everywhere he goes?”

Qi Yuan, who had been appraised like an object, fell silent.

That was a bit rude, wasn’t it?

He snapped, “How should I know?”

Then he poked Xu Fu’s forehead with a finger. “Stop spouting nonsense.”

“And aren’t you terrified of He Zhou? Why would you go poking around where he is?”

Xu Fu: “Of course I did it for you!”

“Have you forgotten you’re already bound to He Zhou by a Mate Bond?”

Qi Yuan desperately wanted to say, Sorry, I genuinely forgot.

He realized that the feelings he’d once harbored for He Zhou had faded over time. Humans are easily swept up in the moment, and he’d indeed been a little smitten with He Zhou when he first entered this Dreamscape, partly because he had no choice but to rely on He Zhou, and partly because He Zhou had taken good care of him.

But once they parted ways, he quickly regained his composure.

His missing rationality returned. He repeatedly reminded himself that this was just a dream, and he’d be leaving soon. Rather than worrying about fictional people, he should focus on his own well-being.

“You’re right, I did forget. Since He Zhou has amnesia, I’ll go dissolve the Mate Bond with him.”

“If you hadn’t reminded me, I wouldn’t have remembered. Thanks for the heads-up.”

Qi Yuan withdrew his hand.

Hmm?

Xu Fu was bewildered.

Is that really what I meant?

He doubted himself, then doubted Qi Yuan, and then doubted the very nature of the world.

Why don’t you ever play by the rules? he thought darkly.

Qi Yuan retorted, Why do you assume my actions defy convention?

He Zhou doesn’t even remember me. Why would I cling to him?

On the contrary, I believe your so-called ‘conventional wisdom’ is what’s truly flawed.

Xu Fu found himself strangely convinced by Qi Yuan’s argument.

I was wrong, he reflected.

Qi Yuan patted Xu Fu’s shoulder and turned to leave, intending to ask the Shaman to dissolve his Mate Bond with He Zhou. He had only taken two steps when Jiang Wang caught up to him.

Jiang Wang, who had been vigilantly monitoring the outside world from the cave, remained uneasy about Qi Yuan’s intentions. When he saw Qi Yuan heading toward the Shaman’s quarters, he instinctively followed.

Xu Fu stood rooted to the spot, watching their retreating figures.

He stroked his chin.

Tsk, something’s off.

He was still conflicted.

How can Qi Yuan’s words sound both right and wrong?

Unable to reconcile this contradiction, he returned to the cave, only to find himself no closer to an answer. Deciding not to torment himself further, he abandoned the line of thought.

As the sun rose, the mist gradually dissipated.

Qi Yuan had no objection to Jiang Wang following him. Why would he object to having someone protect him?

As they walked, Jiang Wang asked, “Are we going to see the Shaman?”

Qi Yuan nodded.

“He Zhou is back, did you know?” Jiang Wang asked, his gaze fixed straight ahead.

Jiang Wang’s information network was far more extensive than Qi Yuan’s and Xu Fu’s combined. He was informed of events within the Tribe almost instantly.

Within five minutes of He Zhou setting foot in the Tribe, Jiang Wang would already know.

Jiang Wang glanced at Qi Yuan’s profile. “I know.”

Qi Yuan continued, “Since you know he’s back, you must also know he’s lost his memories.”

“Mhm,” Jiang Wang replied.

Jiang Wang couldn’t understand what He Zhou’s amnesia had to do with Qi Yuan seeking out the Shaman.

Qi Yuan walked on, explaining as he went, “Since he’s lost his memories and forgotten me, I should correct the wrong I committed. I’m going to ask the Shaman to dissolve our Mate Bond.”

“I unilaterally initiated the Mate Bond with He Zhou and even used his contribution points. It was deeply unethical.”

He felt a pang of guilt, like he was discarding a donkey after it had served its purpose. He could only apologize to He Zhou in his heart.

Jiang Wang asked, “Qi Yuan, are you really that desperate for contribution points?”

Hearing this, Qi Yuan couldn’t quite grasp why Jiang Wang was focusing on this particular point.

“Of course I need them.”

“Xu Fu and I are living together, but we can’t hunt. Winter’s coming soon, and Xu Fu’s contributions simply won’t be enough to see us through.”

Jiang Wang stopped.

“I can give you all my contributions.”

“As long as you need them, consider it repayment for saving my life.”

Qi Yuan blurted out, “Are you insane?”

He couldn’t believe it. “What about yourself?”

He stopped, turned around, and looked at Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang also stopped, his focus seemingly fixed on something else.

A smile crept into his eyes. “Are you worried about me?”

Even though Jiang Wang’s injury wasn’t to his head, Qi Yuan couldn’t help but suspect he might have suffered some hidden brain damage.

Still, this could be a chance to test whether Jiang Wang was the key to escaping the Dreamscape. According to the pattern of previous Dreamscapes, the last person he saw before leaving was likely the one who held the key.

Qi Yuan had no desire to spend the winter in this Dreamscape. While he loved snowy days, they were unbearable without a heated stove. He had no intention of subjecting himself to such misery.

If He Zhou hadn’t clung to Jiang Wang so tightly at the start, and if Qi Yuan hadn’t been completely cut off from Jiang Wang after He Zhou’s disappearance, he wouldn’t have waited this long to probe Jiang Wang’s feelings.

“Mm.”

His voice was soft, but it was enough to stir Jiang Wang’s emotions.

“I’m worried about you, Jiang Wang.”

Qi Yuan deliberately took a deep breath, feigning nervousness. His eyes sparkled like they were filled with glittering stars.

“I’ll find a way to repay He Zhou’s contribution myself.”

“You need to survive the winter too. I can’t accept you being unable to pass the winter safely because of me.”

Jiang Wang: “Don’t worry about me not surviving the winter. My contribution is far greater than you imagine—enough to repay He Zhou’s debt and still have plenty left over. You should trust my capabilities as Chieftain.”

“You saved my life. No matter what, I have to help you.”

Qi Yuan’s gaze grew complex.

“You’re helping me just because of that life-saving debt?”

He took a few steps closer, tilting his head to look up at Jiang Wang’s handsome face.

“No other feelings involved?”

“Do I get the feeling that you might like me?”

“Jiang Wang.”

“Tell me, am I just imagining things?”

Jiang Wang wore an expression as if he’d been exposed.

“Of course not.”

He took Qi Yuan’s hand and paused to kiss the back of it.

“Why did you choose to expose me?”

“Instead of playing dumb like you did with He Zhou?”

He knew Qi Yuan was clever and was willing to play along, as long as Qi Yuan was happy.

Qi Yuan smiled brightly.

“Perhaps I just didn’t want to pretend anymore. It was getting a little tiring.”

Precisely because he knew that even if He Zhou lost his memory, he would likely never let go once he saw Qi Yuan again, he had decided to expose Jiang Wang. Otherwise, they would inevitably face another messy entanglement.

Qi Yuan never considered himself particularly clever. He simply weighed the pros and cons instantly and acted decisively, never procrastinating.

Jiang Wang: “I know it’s still too early for us, and anything I say now might sound like mere fantasy.”

“But I still want to assure you that when a Male chooses a Female, it’s for life. I’m willing to live and die with you, though I don’t expect the same from you.”

“Qi Yuan.”

“Will you give me a chance to pursue you, to become your Male Mate?”

He spoke with such earnestness, as if offering his entire world in the hopes of Qi Yuan’s acceptance. This wasn’t coercion, but a plea.

Qi Yuan gazed at him.

A premonition rose in his heart: if he uttered the word “yes,” this dreamscape would shatter. The premonition was undeniable, not a false alarm.

Without hesitation, Qi Yuan spoke: “Yes.”

Immediately, the surroundings began to crumble.

Was it really this easy?

All the effort, the injuries, the hardship I endured… was it all for nothing?

Qi Yuan felt a complicated mix of emotions.

Before the dreamscape completely collapsed, he hadn’t expected to see He Zhou again, his memory wiped clean.

His cold demeanor mirrored their first encounter in this very dreamscape.

Yet even this icy Black Python, upon seeing Qi Yuan again, had the snow in his eyes melt away.

This sudden transformation left Qi Yuan stunned, the corner of his mouth twitching.

He thought he saw He Zhou’s lips moving, but it was too late.

His consciousness sank, and he returned to his familiar room.

When Qi Yuan woke up, it was already noon.

He hadn’t slept well. His temples throbbed, and his throat ached—likely the early signs of a cold.

After washing up, he sat down at the dining table.

Xia Jiqing immediately noticed something was off with Qi Yuan. He touched Qi Yuan’s forehead, but it wasn’t hot, so he guessed it was just a simple cold.

Qi Meng reacted instantly, boiling water and hastily dissolving cold medicine granules.

The meal was already prepared, and he couldn’t take medicine on an empty stomach.

Qi Yuan smelled the aroma of the food but had little appetite. He ate just enough to settle his stomach, drank the now-warm medicine, and returned to his room to continue sleeping.