“You! What are you doing here?” Locking gazes with the newcomer, Hu Yuexin questioned in a frown. Truthfully, the man in front of her was the last person she wanted to encounter on this planet.
Indeed, looking into his eyes directly, Hu Yuexin spotted an ancient glint within Virus’ eyes which was preventing her from figuring out what exactly was going on inside that brain of his.
And if anything Hu Yuexin had learned from these types of people, it was the fact that they were always scheming something and it was very risky and dangerous to be around someone like him even for a single second.
Still, recalling how the previous host of her body had owed the man one Red-Crystal, Hu Yuexin took out two Red-Crystals and threw them at him. “I thought I told you whatever relationship we had ended that night and that I didn’t want to see you ever again. Could it be you’re here because of my debt to you? If so, here you go. One is my debt, the other is the interest. Take it and leave!”
Catching the two Red-Crystals, Virus took a short glance at the Red-Crystals as unknown notions began to pass through his head as he was hit with nostalgia.
A few seconds later, looking back at her, Virus found the same ancientness flickering in her focus which was easily recognizable to him just as it had been the very first time he cast his eyes upon the newly resurrected Hu Yuexin. That abruptly forced him to make a specific inquiry. “Hey, just tell me this… who are you?”
Being thrown with such an interrogative question all of a sudden and that probing light shimmering on his serious expression forced a shudder on Hu Yuexin’s body as she inferred. ‘H-he… knows!’
‘He knows I’m not the real Hu Yuexin!’
“Hmph, what are you even talking about?” Letting out a harrumph, Hu Yuexin denied before adding, “and why would I need to explain myself to you?”
“So you’re not going to answer, huh?” That promptly forced Virus to let out a sigh of helplessness as he opened his mouth again, “I thought maybe you were just suffering from some kind of traumatic brain injury causing you something like Dissociative Identity Disorder or something and that the burst of power you’ve shown me the previous time was a result of you awakening your Trait.”
After remaining silent for a short few seconds, Virus went on, “however, imagine my surprise when I saw you truly awaken your Trait after absorbing a Red-Crystal… and that you were actually cultivating! And those odd methods you use for cultivation… sigh, I don’t want to continue, just tell me who you are before I decide further on what I’m going to do with you.”
Listening to Virus’ every word, trembling, Hu Yuexin understood. ‘He’s been watching me ever since then! But how?!’ At this point, Hu Yuexin’s level of stupefaction could not be higher since previously she had been absolutely indubitable that no one was watching her since in case anyone ever did indeed spy on her, she was sure, using her own unique methods, she would’ve discovered it that very first second.
‘How is this possible? If he could spy on me without me even noticing, then nowhere on this planet is safe anymore!’
“What are you talking about?! And regardless, I think I told you it’s none of your business!”
Seeing her determination to not respond, shaking his head, Virus decided, “looks like I need to bring you with me to a safe location and figure that out slowly by myself.” Proceeding to throw the Red-Crystals back at her, Virus uttered again. “Also, the debt Hu Yuexin owes me is for no one but Hu Yuexin herself to pay back. So get this garbage of yours back and stop pretending to be her, it sickens me.”
“Follow you? Are you an idiot? Do you believe I would just follow you because you want me to? Or do you think you’re strong enough? Hehehe.” Comprehending what was going to happen next, Hu Yuexin chuckled, getting ready for battle. If it was the first time they had met, Hu Yuexin would’ve done everything in her power to avoid a fight with this mysterious man in front of her. But now that she had gone through enough preparation and power-ups, in case he insisted, she was ready to meet him head-on!
“To be honest, I wanted to leave you be and just proceed with keeping you under my watch until I find a way to bring Hu Yuexin back… but seeing how you keep putting her body in a dangerous situation, to the point that the entire Shanghai is now currently after you, I’ve changed my mind. You will either come with me obediently or I make you!”
“Make me if you can! Hahaha!” Laughing in ridicule, Hu Yuexin’s battle intent was shooting through the roof. It was clear she was nothing but thrilled at the idea of going against Virus now.
‘I suppose this is the best outcome considering how he can keep an eye on me from the shadows. The best course of action would be to bring him down and stop further troubles from coming my way.’ Determined, Hu Yuexin was now looking forward to fighting him.
Closely afterward, just as she was finished letting out a peal of laughter, much to her shock, she saw Virus appearing in front of her as he sent a punch directly at her face. He wanted to end this quickly and fast.
‘What a speed!’ Alarmed, Hu Yuexin didn’t delay trying to dodge the incoming fist. Albeit, it was as if her opponent’s fist had a life as it changed course like a snake and continued shooting in her direction.
‘But,’ Noticing this, Hu Yuexin’s eyes went wide open as she promptly released her own fist to meet Virus’, ‘I’m fast as well!’
BAM~
As a result of their direct confrontation, although they both had to retreat a few meters back, Virus was forced a few steps further which immediately forced numerous calculations to begin within his head as he concluded. ‘She’s already broken through to the fourth level of Liberation. Her speed of cultivation is frightening indeed. No, it’s that Trait of hers which adds to her speed of cultivation like crazy!’
‘Furthermore, she’s probably nearly capable of fighting foes three levels higher than her in their cultivation.’
‘This kind of genius probably does not exist on the Cultivation Earth. Hmm, even when put in the entirety of the Cultivation Multiverse of my past world, she’s perhaps a genius of almost the highest tier, a super-genius!’ Through that simple exchange of fists and estimating the rough level of energy that was exuding from Hu Yuexin, Virus was capable of coming to this final deduction as he was quickly aware that the battle ahead of him was going to be anything but easy.
In the past, using nothing but his ring, Virus was somewhat able to defeat those at the first level of Liberation at the Martial Contest in the Cultivation Earth. Hadelia of the Burning Sparrow clan had been at this level before and Virus defeated her in the contest.
And later on, when Virus fought against the horned pigs who he assumed to be on par with cultivators of the second level of Liberation, he was capable of killing it using nothing but his True Sixth level of Corporeal Tempering, Ethereal Metamorphosis.
Subsequently, facing the flying pig, their leader, who Virus deemed as comparable to the Third Level of Liberation, Virus had to use both his ring and corporeal tempering strength in order to defeat it.
Afterward, never having gone against anyone comparable to the fourth level of Liberation, Virus directly fought against the infant Plant Kraken in Shanghai, who was equivalent to someone at the Fifth Level of Liberation.
And for the sake of having a chance against and killing that monster at the time, not only was Virus compelled to break through to the First Level of Liberation, he also had to utilize both his ring and the additional strength of the True Sixth level of his Corporeal Tempering Stage together!
And at last, now that Virus was at the second level of Liberation with fifty-eight percent fusion rate between his third and fourth yin and yang pathways, while employing all three of his current perks, meaning his second level of Liberation together with his ring and True Sixth level of Corporeal Tempering stage, Virus was somewhat positive he would be able to go against someone approximately at the Sixth Level of Liberation.
However, confronting Hu Yuexin who was only at the Fourth Level of Liberation but was, in fact, comparable to someone at the very peak of Sixth Level of Liberation or maybe even higher left Virus uncertain and in some doubt.
