C10 The School Beauty Touched Her Hand

"Ye Rong?" The girl who had just opened the door stared at him, her expression one of surprise, as she greeted him.

Ye Rong turned, equally puzzled, and met her gaze. He didn't recall being particularly well-known.

The library was spacious, yet the entrance was narrow. Standing close to each other at the doorway, Zhang Yumeng's eyes locked with Ye Rong's, startling her enough to take a step back.

"You, why are you looking into my eyes today?"

"No, I mean, you seem very lively today."

Ye Rong chuckled. Was she always this skittish, or did he look intimidating somehow?

He rifled through the original Ye Rong's memories and recalled that the girl was Zhang Yumeng, who worked part-time at the library. They had interacted before, but the former Ye Rong never dared to meet her gaze directly.

"Well done. The eyes are the windows to the soul, and avoiding a woman's gaze can indeed shield one from her 'poison,'" he mused to himself, nodding in silent appraisal.

"Ah, the morning does bring out my energy."

Ye Rong was amused to realize that his predecessor had been quite cautious around women, with his own set of defenses.

Zhang Yumeng was taken aback by Ye Rong's smile, sensing something different about him today.

"Why did you come so early? Isn't the morning shift mine? And... I heard rumors that you were let go. Is that true?"

"I'm here to read. Morning shift? What's that about?" Ye Rong paused, then it hit him—of course, he used to have a part-time job here, managing the library, and that's how he knew Zhang Yumeng!

He needed the job to earn money. Coming from a poor rural family, he was solely responsible for his living expenses. His family had exhausted their savings to put him through university.

The student part-time job had strict rules, so getting fired for missing two days of work wasn't out of the ordinary. Ye Rong wasn't bothered by it, but... what was this about others talking?

It made sense for Zhang Yumeng to know him, but who were these people discussing him?

"I'm not familiar with them either... They're the new replacements. When I inquired about you, they mentioned you had been dismissed..."

Although her voice was barely above a whisper, as if reluctant to share, Ye Rong still detected a hint of disappointment and displeasure on Zhang Yumeng's face as she spoke. It appeared that the "them" she referred to were either ill-disposed or involved in some other incident with her.

"Yeah, that's probably true. I was let go a couple of days ago due to some issues, so there's not much I can do about it."

"Ah... really?" Zhang Yumeng nodded, her spirits dampened as she made her way to the library's management desk.

Meanwhile, Ye Rong strolled over to the bookshelves, randomly selecting a book to peruse without even glancing at the genre.

The library was quiet with just the two of them present. Zhang Yumeng, with little to occupy her and lost in thought, found herself gazing at Ye Rong engrossed in his book. She seldom saw him reading; he was usually engrossed in his work, taking it very seriously, though he did occasionally borrow books to take home. What could have brought him to the library so early to read this time?

Her curiosity turned to surprise upon noticing his choice. Was he actually reading? He held a book titled "The Glorious Era," flipping through the pages every two to three seconds. She remembered the book well, with its dense text that took time to digest. Surely, he was just skimming, not reading!

Despite it being none of her concern, she couldn't help feeling a twinge of disappointment. Was he only here to put on an appearance of reading?

Unaware of her scrutiny, Ye Rong was immersed in the cultural offerings of this world, sifting through for valuable insights. "This novel isn't half bad," he mused, setting aside "The Glorious Era" and reaching for another book.

He sighed internally. Flipping through pages at this pace was agonizingly slow. With his current spiritual prowess, he could easily scan five books simultaneously if he employed some mystical techniques. But, constrained by his less-than-ideal physical state, he had to take it slow.

Ye Rong shook his head in resignation, his ambitions exceeding his current capabilities.

Hours passed, and as sunlight streamed into the library, more patrons arrived. Zhang Yumeng busied herself with her duties, while Ye Rong continued to methodically work his way through the books, oblivious to the world around him.

Before his arrival, Ye Rong had sifted through his predecessor's memories. Libraries were generally peaceful places; as long as one remained quiet, there was no need to fear attacks or disturbances. Reflecting on Han Xiaotian's earlier reservations, he recognized that the school was a place where it was easier to engage with people. That's why he had instructed the Sword Dancer in the method of absorbing vitality.

"This book has its charms," Ye Rong mused, even though it wasn't particularly helpful for what he wanted to know, it was to his liking. The book was split into three volumes. Having finished the first, he reached for the second, but as his hand neared the cover, another hand landed on top of his, a beat too late.

The library fell into a hushed stillness.

A wave of cold swept through the room.

Somehow, all eyes had turned to this spot.

Yet, it wasn't Ye Rong's gaunt appearance that had drawn their attention; it was the person standing before him.

Due to her, the focus had shifted to Ye Rong.

A phrase sprang to his mind... was this the epitome of 'fire and ice'?

Her gaze was warm like the morning sun, while the looks he received were as cold as winter frost. This must be the scenario Ye Rong had heard about.

"I had this book first, but since you're interested too, there's no hurry. May I read it for three more minutes?" Ye Rong spoke up, not keen on a drawn-out encounter. Three minutes was tight, but if he read quickly, it would suffice.

The onlookers reacted with surprise, their stares growing colder, some even scoffed.

Was this man unaware of who he was dealing with?

Such individuals were rare at Diaton University.

Even if he didn't recognize her, the scene before him should have clued him in!

Yet he didn't retract his hand, daring to vie with Diaton University's most admired beauty, Shangguan Xian, for a book.

The last person who did that probably ended up lighting a lantern in the restroom...

"Take your hand off and get out of here!"

The woman remained silent, but a man had already stepped forward, his voice sharp with command.

Zhao Qi!

One of Shangguan Xian's Black Knights, he hailed from the prestigious Zhao family of Ineron. Far from the typical playboy, his lineage traced back to the underworld, but in time they had turned to the martial arts. Zhao Qi himself had been trained in combat from a young age. Just last semester, he had bested a black belt in Taekwondo during a martial arts competition, making it look effortless.

Yet, this formidable man chose to serve as a Black Knight under Shangguan Xian, patiently hoping that one day she might reciprocate his feelings. It was clear how much she meant to him, but now, to see another man casually touching Shangguan Xian's hand was infuriating.

His patience had reached its limit with those words he had just uttered!

Ye Rong's eyebrows twitched. Not out of fear, but from his own struggle to maintain composure.

"It seems that... not all the experiences from my memories can be taken at face value."

Lately, his luck had been abysmal. His attempt at Communicating with Deity had failed, leading to an unexpected transmigration. He had been attacked upon arrival, targeted for a beating upon his return to school, and now, even in the supposed safety of the library, trouble had found him.

"Are you certain you won't intervene?" When a dog bites, it's the owner's responsibility to pull it back.

"Has he done anything wrong? Besides, you're not here to read, are you? I've been through two books while you've just been watching me, flipping pages every two seconds. This treatise on Universe Theory is one of the least sought-after books here, hardly touched once a month. Yet today, when I decide to read it, your hand conveniently reaches out. Wasn't that your intention all along?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qi's anger intensified. He stepped forward, ready for a confrontation, his demeanor as tense as a drawn sword.

Chapter 12 – The Duel of the Swords