Chapter 191 - 190: Beast Tide Outbreak

「The next day.」

「The library.」

The library was as quiet and empty as ever, with few patrons to be seen.

BEEP—

"Clocked in. Qin Yang. Arrival: 7:45 AM."

"First to arrive two days in a row. Congratulations! Please keep it up!"

The time clock’s cold, emotionless voice offered its encouragement...

After clocking in, Qin Yang opened his mouth as if to say something, but then fell silent. With a look of regret, he returned to his seat to continue slacking off.

It was another ordinary day.

With nothing much to do, his manager had granted him the imperial authority to slack off during work hours, which, oddly enough, made him feel a bit out of sorts.

’Without the thrill of hiding from the boss, it’s actually kind of boring.’

Qin Yang sat on a small stool, his preferred spot for slacking, and submerged his consciousness into the Enlightenment Space to check his progress with the *True Understanding of Refining*. His Spiritual Power spread out like water, blanketing the entire library and monitoring for the slightest disturbance.

Jianghai hadn’t been peaceful lately; there were too many fanatical cultists blowing themselves up.

This had scared off quite a few of the library’s security guards.

After all.

Who was going to risk their life for a three-thousand-a-month salary?

So, anyone with any sense had already taken off!

And now, the duty of guarding the library had ultimately fallen to him.

"Sigh."

Qin Yang let out a sigh.

Just then.

A familiar aura entered his spiritual senses. It came through the main entrance and moved slowly toward his slacking spot.

It was Xia He.

’Why is this kid here again?’

Qin Yang frowned, his gaze fixed on the revolving glass door. ’Is he here to buy more Pear Blossom Needles in bulk?’

His question still unanswered, it wasn’t long before Xia He arrived at the ’slacking corner’ in Area 1.

"Old Qin, I never would’ve guessed. You’ve been hiding this whole time..."

Xia He leaned against a bookshelf, studying Qin Yang carefully. "I finally get it now. I understand why you’re so incredible."

Ever since the Commander gave him that clue last night, he’d put all the pieces together. He’d tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep a wink.

I mean.

Who was the Jianghai Sword God?

He was an icon for all of Jianghai City, with three thousand disciples and grand-disciples, an internet sensation... Which young person in Jianghai hadn’t joked about being a disciple of the Jianghai Sword God?

But the thing was...

Xia He looked at Qin Yang.

’Everyone else was just joking around, but you were actually serious?!’

’This is insane!’

The thought that a disciple of the Sword God had been right beside him this whole time, while he was busy flaunting his Ziwei Plus and pretending to be a big shot, made Xia He’s heart ache with bitterness and insecurity.

’I’m such a clown!’

"What’s up?"

Qin Yang put down his phone and glanced at Xia He’s odd behavior. He frowned. "What’s on your mind? Why the long face?"

"Old Qin, I know everything,"

"Know what?"

"You’re actually..."

Xia He looked at Qin Yang, hemming and hawing. The words were hard to get out.

’What would happen if I say it?’

’Can we still be brothers with Old Qin?’

’He’s a disciple of the Jianghai Sword God now, a peer to geniuses like Li Zixuan, with extraordinary skills in Artifact Refining and Alchemy...’

’And me?’

’Other than having a bit of money, I’ve got nothing. Other people succeed through their own hard work, but I just coast on my father’s success. We’re not even in the same league!’

’I’m so pathetic. Old Qin will probably start avoiding me now...’

’Whatever. If he wants to distance himself, then so be it.’

Xia He sighed. Staring at Qin Yang, he nervously clenched his fists and, gritting his teeth, whispered, "Old Qin, you’ve been hiding this huge secret... You’re a disciple of the Jianghai Sword God, aren’t you?"

As soon as the words were out.

The air suddenly went still. Time seemed to freeze. Xia He didn’t even dare to open his eyes. He could only keep them shut and wait for Qin Yang’s response, an endless darkness before him.

’I’ve said it.’

’What if I open my eyes... and Old Qin has just vanished?’

’Aren’t disciples of great masters like him supposed to hate all this mundane, worldly stuff?’

After a long moment of silence,

Xia He waited, his eyes still closed.

Qin Yang’s calm voice finally broke the silence, as nonchalant as ever.

"Tsk, you’re not going to sell me out, are you?!"

"Sell you out? Never, Old Qin!"

Hearing this, Xia He quickly opened his eyes. He met Qin Yang’s calm, composed gaze and explained, "You know me better than that!"

"..."

Qin Yang pursed his lips. "As long as you didn’t sell me out, we’re good.

So you figured it out. Big deal. Just treat me to some barbecue after work and we’ll call it even. Don’t keep going on about it."

"That’s your reaction?"

Xia He froze, completely stunned.

’Wait a minute...’

’This isn’t the right reaction!’

’Shouldn’t he be furious?’

’Or vanish on the spot...’

’Whatever it was, it shouldn’t have been *this*!’

"What kind of reaction did you want? For me to act all shocked? To jump three feet in the air?"

Qin Yang rolled his eyes, annoyed. "After all the stuff I’ve given you and the number of times I’ve protected you, you should have figured it out ages ago. It’d be weird if you *hadn’t*."

His words hung in the air.

His tone was still perfectly calm and composed.

Xia He swallowed hard. As he listened, a wave of relief washed over him, and Qin Yang’s words sounded better and better.

’Holy crap!’

’He hasn’t changed a bit!’

’His tone was still the same Old Qin. There was no distance between them at all!’

"Heh heh, a disciple of the Sword God is my brother! That’s awesome, Old Qin!"

Xia He grinned smugly and slung an arm around Qin Yang’s shoulders, saying excitedly, "To think an expert was by my side this whole time! From now on, you’ve gotta have my back, brother."

"..."

’Be my brother?’

At his words, Qin Yang said no more, a wave of complex emotions washing over him.

’With the Beast Tide about to descend and the Beast God Sect on the move, being my brother... that won’t be an easy path...’

......

「Evening.」

「Fuhai Villa District.」

On his balcony at home, Qin Yang sat cross-legged. A breeze rustled the spiritually vibrant plants. Xiaobai was nestled at his side, peacefully enjoying the nourishment of the Power of Laws.

CRACKLE—

Arcs of purple lightning surged around his body as the Thunder Law roared, gathering its power.

The Wood Law manifested as a verdant, fluorescent light that descended upon Xiaobai, nourishing her fur before being completely absorbed into her body.

"Ahh, that feels so good, Master. Give me a little more."

Xiaobai wriggled closer to Qin Yang. "This little bit isn’t enough. More, more..."

As she spoke.

The verdant light intensified, showering down around Xiaobai like a spring rain.

"Yay! Master is being so gentle to this Fairy today."

Xiaobai licked her fox fur, greedily absorbing all the nourishment. Flicking her fluffy tail, she said in a delicate voice, "I wish every day could be like this."

Just then.

PLINK—

A subtle disturbance appeared in his Spiritual Domain, like a single raindrop falling into a still lake, sending out gentle ripples.

’They’re here!’

Qin Yang’s eyes snapped open. He gazed into the distance, his vision stretching past the dense rows of skyscrapers, peering far beyond.

After a moment.

His gaze locked onto a location beyond the city’s outskirts.

It was the direction of the Da Li Mountain Range!

A violent aura surged toward the heavens. Dark clouds gathered as a heavy, oppressive presence spread out. Some kind of behemoth was approaching the city limits.

’The Beast Tide... it’s finally starting.’