Chapter 00077: The Ancient Cypress Splits
# The Ancient Cypress Splits
Chapter 77
Novel: After the Myth
Chapter 77: The Ancient Cypress Splits
"Jian Sha, Ding Huan is my university classmate, and one of the three mentors from Yujiang University who guided students into the top ten academies of Blue Star," Luo Xinwei said, her voice tinged with uncertainty.
Rumors had been swirling that Ding Huan was the true mentor behind the success of Fang Chong, Lü Zi, and Li Wanran.
Luo Xinwei had her doubts, especially since Ding Huan himself didn’t seem to acknowledge it.
She was familiar with Ding Huan—he had rarely left her sight until the past six months.
How could he suddenly become so remarkable?
What puzzled her even more was that if Ding Huan was truly as insignificant as he claimed, why was the Gene Alliance so intent on capturing him? And why hadn’t they succeeded yet?
No matter what, she needed to have a proper conversation with Ding Huan today.
"My name is Qiao Jian Sha, and Qiao Yi is my cousin," the tall man said, his tone laced with arrogance as he approached Ding Huan.
He didn’t need Luo Xinwei’s introduction to know who Ding Huan was.
Ding Huan couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge him and turned to leave.
He had heard from Liu Aimei that the Qiao family had been searching for him at Yujiang University for some time.
Previously, he had avoided them, but if they continued to act unreasonably, he wouldn’t hesitate to throw a wind blade their way.
Ding Huan was certain this arrogant man would follow him, and when he did, a wind blade would be waiting.
At this point, killing Qiao Jian Sha wouldn’t be a problem.
What could the Qiao family do to him?
To Ding Huan’s surprise, Qiao Jian Sha didn’t follow.
Instead, he immediately pulled out his phone to report back to his family.
The Qiao family had been searching for Ding Huan for over half a year, but now that they had found him, Qiao Jian Sha hesitated.
Why would Ding Huan appear so openly?
The news that came through the phone sent a chill down Qiao Jian Sha’s spine.
Ding Huan’s three students had recently made a name for themselves on the human corridor defense line.
Not only were several of them Level 4 Gene Practitioners, but three had also earned international Star Protector titles, with one even holding a two-star rank.
This was not a force the Qiao family could afford to offend.
Seeing that Qiao Jian Sha wasn’t going to cause trouble, Ding Huan didn’t bother with him either.
"Ding Huan, you’ve changed a lot. Do you have time today? Let’s have a meal together," Luo Xinwei said, surprising Ding Huan.
Despite being with Qiao Jian Sha, she still dared to invite him to dinner.
"Luo Xinwei, do you think you can just take what’s mine and walk away unscathed?" A voice filled with killing intent interrupted, and a man and two women appeared before them.
Ding Huan was even more surprised when he saw the woman.
It was Fu Mei, the daughter of his former housekeeper.
This woman had sold his house, bought a damaged gene potion, and become a Gene Practitioner.
He had reclaimed the house in this life, but Fu Mei’s cultivation had advanced even further.
She was now a Level 2 Gene Practitioner, her body radiating a strong fire attribute.
Had she fused with a fire-based gene potion?
He remembered that Luo Xinwei had been killed by this woman.
Could it be today?
Ding Huan’s gaze shifted to the two people beside Fu Mei—both Level 2 Gene Practitioners.
It seemed Fu Mei had joined the Gene Alliance, and these two were her allies.
"It’s you? Ding Xiaotu?" Fu Mei’s eyes burned with hatred when she saw Ding Huan.
She hated Luo Xinwei, but her deepest hatred was reserved for Ding Xiaotu.
She hadn’t expected to find him here while searching for Luo Xinwei.
What a pleasant surprise.
Ding Huan was puzzled.
He was quite famous now—how could Fu Mei not know he had changed his name to Ding Huan?
Ignoring Fu Mei, Ding Huan remained silent, but Fu Mei sneered, "Good."
She then turned to Luo Xinwei, "Get my things ready. I’ll make sure you understand that what’s mine isn’t so easily taken."
Luo Xinwei instinctively stepped back, positioning herself behind Qiao Jian Sha.
Fu Mei didn’t bother with Luo Xinwei, perhaps confident that she couldn’t escape.
Instead, she walked up to Ding Huan.
"Do you know how much I want you dead? I was planning to find you, but the heavens have delivered you to me. You dared to sell my house and have me thrown out like a dog. Heh…"
"Spit it out if you have something to say," Ding Huan said, uninterested in her rambling.
Was this woman’s brain made of pig intestines? She was just the daughter of a housekeeper.
How could she think the house belonged to her? The world was full of strange people, but this level of delusion was new to him.
"You’re asking for death!" Fu Mei lunged at Ding Huan, her hand aiming for his face.
Ding Huan raised his hand and sent out two wind blades.
"Thud! Thud!" Two streaks of blood splattered as Fu Mei’s arms fell to the ground.
Her body, drained of energy, collapsed to her knees as she stared at Ding Huan in shock.
"You…" Fu Mei couldn’t believe her arms had been severed.
The sacrifices she had made to join the Gene Alliance and advance to Level 2 were unimaginable.
She had volunteered for the most dangerous experiments, enduring months of pain and suffering.
She had thought she could easily crush Ding Huan, but he had effortlessly cut off her arms.
The two people who had come with Fu Mei were not as ignorant as she was.
They had heard rumors that Ding Huan was the one who had destroyed the Gene Alliance’s base in Puhai.
Seeing Fu Mei’s arms severed mid-air, they were certain Ding Huan was the ruthless killer who had wiped out the Gene Alliance’s leadership.
Without waiting for Fu Mei to call for help, they turned to flee.
"Come here," Ding Huan said, his gaze fixed on them.
The two didn’t hesitate—they turned and ran.
But before they could take more than a step, two wind blades sliced their bodies into four pieces.
Qiao Jian Sha, who had been watching from a distance, felt his heart race.
If he hadn’t called his family earlier, he would have been a corpse by now.
Ding Huan’s merciless methods left no doubt that he wouldn’t hesitate to kill him.
Luo Xinwei’s face turned pale as she finally realized the truth.
Ding Huan was indeed the mentor who had guided Yujiang University’s three prodigious students.
He was no longer the Ding Xiaotu she had known.
He had undergone some extraordinary transformation.
She felt a surge of excitement.
If Ding Huan could teach her, she too could enter one of Blue Star’s top ten academies.
She clenched her fists, regretting the missed opportunities.
No matter what, she would convince Ding Huan to teach her today.
As for whether Ding Huan would agree, that wasn’t even a question.
Of course, he would.
Seeing her two companions cut down before they could even escape, Fu Mei’s heart sank.
When had Ding Xiaotu become so powerful? He must have sold the house and used the money to buy a gene potion.
That opportunity should have been hers.
"I’ll ask you one question. Do you know anything about my father, Ding Baishan’s death?" Ding Huan asked coldly, looking down at the kneeling Fu Mei.
Fu Mei spat blood and said, "Ding Xiaotu, I know a lot. If you promise to spare me, I’ll tell you everything…"
Before she could finish, Ding Huan sent a wind blade through her neck, severing her head from her body.
He then conjured a fireball and let it consume her remains.
Why? That was Fu Mei’s last thought.
She hadn’t even finished speaking.
"Internal energy transformed into fire?" Qiao Jian Sha’s eyes widened.
He had heard of such techniques, but Ding Huan’s effortless display was far beyond anything he had ever seen.
Luo Xinwei’s eyes sparkled with admiration.
She wanted that power for herself.
Ding Huan tossed two more fireballs, reducing the other two bodies to ash, then turned to leave.
"Xiaotu, wait!" Luo Xinwei rushed to Ding Huan, her voice filled with excitement.
"Can you teach me those techniques? I didn’t know you could do such things. I didn’t realize you were the one who trained those three students from Yujiang University."
Her long-standing habit made her believe that Ding Huan would grant her request.
It was only natural.
Ding Huan looked at her and nodded.
"Of course, you can learn."
"Then let’s go to the school. I have a private dorm where you can teach me…" Luo Xinwei said eagerly.
"Sorry, I have urgent matters to attend to. I won’t waste your time. Oh, and I saved your life today. Remember that favor. Goodbye."
With that, Ding Huan vanished, reappearing dozens of feet away before disappearing completely.
Luo Xinwei stood frozen, staring at the spot where Ding Huan had been.
What just happened? He hadn’t taught her anything.
Why had he left?
It took her a moment to realize that Ding Huan had no intention of teaching her.
When he said she could learn, he didn’t mean from him.
Tears welled up in her eyes.
She couldn’t understand why Ding Xiaotu wasn’t the same obedient person he used to be.
She only thought about why he didn’t listen to her anymore, forgetting that he had just saved her life.
"Crack!" A deafening sound made Luo Xinwei and Qiao Jian Sha jump.
They turned to see the ancient cypress, a world heritage site, splitting apart.
Cold sweat dripped down their backs.
(End of Chapter)