Volume One: Another World Chapter Five: He Might Really Be a Fool

After much persuasion, Huang Xiu finally put down the phone in her hand. The main reason was that Li Yu’s appearance was simply… His face was black as coal, his hair a wild explosion, and parts of his clothes were singed to a crisp. There was even an electric wire snaking behind him, just visible. The moment Huang Xiu pushed open the half-closed door, she was so startled by the scene that, in a panic, she called for help with a trembling voice.

“Are you really alright?” Huang Xiu’s eyes were rimmed red.

“Really, I’m fine!” Li Yu patted his chest, trying to prove he was very much alive and kicking.

“Alright, alright, you eat first. I’ll take a quick shower and join you!” As Li Yu spoke, he tugged at his clothes, finally realizing he was barely dressed. Grabbing some fresh clothes, he dashed into the bathroom.

Soon, the sound of running water came from the bathroom, which finally convinced Huang Xiu. She let go of her worries and sat down at the dining table.

In the bathroom, Li Yu felt the water streaming over his body. “System, why can’t I feel the Thunderblood anymore?”

[…]

Clearly, the system had no intention of answering. Li Yu frowned deeply, but no matter how he tried to sense it, he found nothing at all. It was as if his body had undergone no change. Yet, when he first received the Thunderblood, he distinctly felt a vast and powerful force growing within him.

“Thunder… isn’t it just electricity?” Li Yu muttered, his gaze drifting to the socket on the wall.

He hesitated—“Ouch!”—and a sudden moan echoed from the bathroom. At the table, Huang Xiu’s cheeks flushed bright red.

Such strange sounds… and in the bathroom, no less…

She’d heard that sometimes boys did secretive things, and after, they had to wash up again. Huang Xiu’s ears perked up, and sure enough, she heard the water start running again after a short pause.

She recalled the kinds of racy topics her classmates sometimes whispered about. Nodding to herself, she thought: At Brother Yu’s age, doing such things alone is perfectly normal.

So, when he was in the room, using electricity wasn’t an accident? Was he seeking excitement?

“This is too dangerous. I should talk to Brother Yu,” Huang Xiu thought to herself.

“What’s wrong? Why did you stop eating halfway?” Li Yu asked, drying his hair as he stepped out.

“Ah?” Lost in thought, Huang Xiu suddenly realized Li Yu was already out of the bathroom. Her face reddened, and she immediately lowered her head and started eating.

…

What’s up with this girl? Could she be in an early romance at school?

The Thunderblood really works, Li Yu mused as he shoveled down his food, but it seems to be inactive for now. When I got shocked just now, I didn’t feel any negative effects—that must be the bloodline’s power.

In the bathroom, Li Yu had eyed the wall socket. Knowing the voltage wasn’t too high, he boldly touched it, certain nothing serious would happen. Just as he expected, although the Thunderblood lay dormant, he still had resistance to electricity.

His hair had exploded into a frizz again, so he had to wash it once more.

What’s with her? Li Yu wondered as Huang Xiu rushed off after dinner, but he didn’t dwell on it and continued eating. Since fusing with the Thunderblood, his energy needs had increased a lot—three bowls of rice barely filled him.

So, they say these things drain you, Huang Xiu thought, watching Li Yu clear the dishes. He ate three bowls tonight!

Li Yu never suspected that Huang Xiu’s odd behavior was all because she thought he was doing strange things in the bathroom.

…

There’s a human society here… basic public infrastructure… That afternoon, Li Yu meticulously considered how to blend into this unfamiliar world, browsing through many insightful online comments.

By evening, after hurriedly eating and washing up, he retreated to his room.

Time to go! Otherworld!

The next moment, Li Yu vanished from his room.

He reappeared in a public restroom, quickly scanning his surroundings. The last time he left, he’d been near the exit—if anyone happened to be using the restroom now, his sudden appearance would surely be noticed.

The restroom was empty!

Satisfied it was safe, Li Yu was about to step out when his eyes were drawn to the light source on the wall.

No way, no way, no way! he exclaimed in shock.

Embedded in the wall were several massive luminous pearls.

Li Yu’s expression flickered uncertainly.

After a long while…

The restroom door creaked open. Amid the darkness, a head poked in, looked left and right, and then left as if nothing was amiss.

Why is there no one around? After crossing two streets, Li Yu frowned deeply. Although light sources stood at intervals along the road, illuminating the streets, every door was shut tight, and not a soul was in sight.

He explored a few more streets. Just as he was about to give up and consider entering one of the houses, he heard shouting nearby.

Let’s go see.

Without hesitation, Li Yu sped toward the source of the noise.

…

On a high platform, an old man ran a hand over a youth’s head while the other lightly touched a massive stone, from which nine stripes appeared.

“Ninth rank bloodline!” The old man looked frail, as if already half in the grave, but his voice rang out powerfully.

The high platform, roughly constructed, was set at one corner of a vast square. Below, a dense crowd erupted in joyous cheers.

Li Yu blended into the back of the crowd. Even with his normal vision, the stage was a blur—the square was truly enormous!

Yet the old man’s voice reached him clearly, cutting through the hubbub without any amplification—the old man could silence the entire square with his voice alone!

This world was definitely one of immortal cultivation!

If only I could obtain some cultivation methods here… Li Yu calculated inwardly.

On the platform, several youths had already been tested.

The old man’s voice showed no fatigue. Most tested showed no rank at all, but when a girl caused eight stripes to appear on the stone, the old man’s voice trembled with excitement.

The crowd roared themselves hoarse in celebration for the girl.

Li Yu didn’t know what it meant, but to fit in, he joined the cheers.

System, am I getting the pronunciation right? Li Yu asked.

[Host’s pronunciation is very standard.] The electronic voice echoed in his mind.

Relieved, Li Yu marveled at the system’s thoughtfulness—even real-time language translation was included.

As Li Yu played the part of an oblivious but enthusiastic onlooker, someone tapped him on the shoulder.

“Why haven’t you had your bloodline tested?”

Turning, Li Yu saw a woman of about twenty-one or twenty-two, clad head to toe in snow-white armor.

“Huh?” Li Yu feigned confusion. “Abba abba?”

Even with the system’s real-time translation, Li Yu had no idea what her words meant when strung together.

He managed to keep his composure, certain he hadn’t revealed any flaws. He’d already observed from the shadows and was sure he looked no different from the others—his clothes were of a similar style.

Is he a fool? Doesn’t seem to be from the village. The woman’s brows arched, but when her small device at her waist flashed at Li Yu, she hesitated, then grabbed him by the arm. “Since you meet the criteria, you’ll be tested as well.”