At Daxing City Airport, Chen Shu and the other two completed their check-in and boarded the flight to Kyoto.
Xia Bing sat beside him and said in a low voice, "Chen Shu, thank you."
"It's just a small matter, I'm just doing my duty."
Xia Bing was a little confused and asked instinctively, "Huh? What duty?"
Chen Shu grinned, his expression righteous, and said, "A bandit's duty!"
While the three of them were waiting for takeoff, the atmosphere on Xia Yan's side had become somewhat strained. A group of people remained silent, and it seemed the scholar's banquet, which hadn't even begun, was already heading towards an end.
The relatives around looked at Xia Yan with confusion. They thought that as the top scholar of Daxing City and admitted to Huaxia University, he was already an important figure. However, he was severely beaten and dared not retaliate, even changing his principles.
Wu Tianchen asked, "Little Yan, what happened?"
Xia Yan sighed and explained the cause of the incident. Having already been intimidated by Chen Shu, he actually didn't dare to provoke Xia Bing. But he didn't expect a group of relatives, ignorant of the situation and arrogant, wanting to curry favor with him, which led to the forceful detention of Xia Bing. Coupled with his father, who also didn't understand the situation and wanted to leverage Xia Yan's status to prove that his choice to abandon his wife and daughter years ago was not wrong, the instigation from everyone gave Xia Yan a glimmer of hope.
As a result, he ran into a nuclear bomb again.
"Truly foolish! Without absolute certainty, one must not provoke that bandit and those around him!"
Chen Shu gazed out the airplane window, as if lost in thought.
"Chen Shu, what are you thinking about?" Xia Bing turned her head, looking at Chen Shu's profile, her eyes filled with curiosity. This was the first time she saw Chen Shu looking like a philosopher. Could he be contemplating the meaning of life?
"Xia Bing, tell me, if you throw an explosive agent from high altitude, would it become the most dazzling fireworks in the world?"
"???" Xia Bing was completely bewildered. She patted her head, realizing she had actually thought the bandit was pondering philosophical principles!
"Your thoughts are quite unruly," Xia Bing mused for a moment, finally uttering a word.
A moment later, Chen Shu spoke again, "I'm feeling a bit stifled."
"We'll arrive in two hours." Xia Bing opened her eyes and said.
Immediately after, as if remembering something, her eyes widened in horror, "Don't tell me you want to open the window?!"
"How could that be?" Chen Shu silently lowered his restless hand and said, "I'm not someone who courts death!"
In a mere two hours, Xia Bing had experienced the most terrifying moments of her life, filled with trepidation. Finally, the three arrived at Kyoto Airport.
"Hoo~" Xia Bing let out a sigh of relief, a fine sheen of cold sweat on her forehead, despite it being the scorching hot July.
Chen Shu looked at her with concern, "Committee Member Xia, are you feeling unwell?"
"No, no," Xia Bing's legs were a little weak. They finally left the airport.
"What hotel did you book? I'll give you a ride?"
"No need, my mom and I will take a taxi." Xia Bing waved her hand. She was worried that if she stayed with Chen Shu any longer, she might end up spending seven days at the Kyoto Spirit Suppression Bureau.
At this moment, a voice called out. "Why be so polite? Auntie, Xia Bing, get in!"
A black sedan pulled up stylishly in front of the three. The car window rolled down, revealing a delicate face wearing sunglasses, a faint smile on her lips.
"Sister Fang Si!" Xia Bing appeared somewhat excited and, at the same time, relieved. With Fang Si around, Chen Shu would surely not dare to act recklessly.
Fang Si smiled and said, "Get in."
"Thank you, Sister Fang Si!" Xia Bing smiled sweetly, opened the trunk, and placed the luggage.
"Sister Fang Si, you're punctual!" Chen Shu opened the car door and sat in the passenger seat. The sedan roared to life, like an arrow released from a bow. People around cast envious glances at the exclusive license plate of Huaxia University.
Fang Si drove while smiling and asked, "Chen Pi, how have you been lately? You must have made quite a bit of money, right?"
"What money?" Chen Shu was startled and looked confused.
"Advertising fees, aren't you the top scholar of Nanjang City's college entrance examination? Haven't companies approached you for product endorsements?"
"Holy crap, no!" Chen Shu's eyes widened, and he threw his hands up, looking bewildered.
"Impossible, every year the top scholar gets approached by companies. I haven't received any!" Chen Shu slumped back, wailing to the sky, filled with indignation. By all accounts, companies should have approached him for collaborations. However, Chen Shu's reputation had already spread throughout Nanjang City. Approaching him for advertisements would be tarnishing the company's image! Even the government's planned interviews for top scholars had been suspended, as any interviews reaching Kyoto might affect Nanjang City. It had to be said, this year was the most peaceful in Nanjang City's history! Chen Shu had also become the most special top scholar in Nanjang City's history!
"Sister Fang Si, why don't you share some of your advertising fees from three years ago with me?" Chen Shu rubbed his hands, looking a bit greedy.
Fang Si grinned and said, "You brat, you've gotten bold! Trying to blackmail me?"
Chen Shu corrected her righteously, "This is called resource sharing!"
"Get lost!" Fang Si made an international gesture and said, "One-sided sharing is robbery!"
"Who said that? I have resources to share with you too!" Chen Shu opened his backpack and quietly took out a bag of urea.
"Get away from me, you scoundrel!" Fang Si's mouth twitched, and her eyes showed a hint of vigilance, fearing Chen Shu might launch a sneak attack. Chen Shu was now also Black Iron rank, and their physical conditions were similar. Although Fang Si had practiced combat skills, Chen Shu's physique was strong, and it was hard to say who would win in a fight.
Watching the two bicker and laugh all the way, Xia Bing in the back seat looked on with envy. In her opinion, Chen Shu and Fang Si's relationship was indeed extraordinary.
An hour later, Xia Bing said, "Sister Fang Si, we'll get off here."
Fang Si nodded and said, "Be careful, Xia Bing! You can call me anytime if anything happens!"
"Mm, thank you, Sister Fang Si!" Xia Bing took her mother to the hotel, preparing to start their tour of Kyoto.
"Sister Fang Si, what kind of异空间 (dimensional rift) are we going to explore?" With only him and Fang Si left in the car, Chen Shu directly inquired.
Fang Si smiled and said, "A Danger-level异空间!"
"Danger-level? Doesn't that mean there are Silver-level Lords?!" Chen Shu's body trembled, and his expression became extremely excited.
"Are you seriously that excited?" Fang Si's mouth twitched. She had initially thought Chen Shu would look grave, as even she, as the squad leader, was only Black Iron Three-star. The risk of venturing into a Danger-level space without any Silver-level members was extremely high. But now, it seemed she had overthought it.