Chapter 916: Turbulent Realities, Unexpected Cohabitation

Time flies.
Two months have passed since the unification of the martial worlds in the north and south of the Central Plains!
As the members of Yipin Tang scattered and completely left the capital area, Mu Family’s branch temples quickly spread throughout the north. From the Yangtze River basin to the grassland borders, the number of these branches surged from over 160 to 307.
The power structure in the Central Plains finally stabilized as well.
In the war for unification of the north and south…
Undoubtedly, Mu Family was the biggest winner. Not only did the entire Yangtze River basin remain firmly under their control, but almost the entire northern region was also brought under their rule, in alliance with previous local gangs. However, Mu Family also ceded some coastal cities in the east to Xifeng Tower, helping them unify those areas. The southern coastal cities were given to the Wind and Rain Alliance, while some cities in the Jiangnan region were handed over to the Heroism Gate.
The four major forces now seemed determined to redivide the world, but this situation differed from when the four top gangs had previously held equal power. After the war, the Wind and Rain Alliance, Xifeng Tower, and the Heroism Gate voluntarily gave up all their interests in the north, seemingly following Mu Family’s lead.
And the reason for this…
It was because they happily allied with Bai Xiaosheng, who effortlessly shattered the alliance of dozens of large local gangs in the capital. This allowed Yipin Tang’s forces to abandon resistance overnight and retreat to the Western Regions. This was the key to their swift victory; otherwise, the two major gangs might have had to pay a heavy price just to overthrow Yipin Tang’s dominance in the north.
However…
Many of Yipin Tang’s troops were scattered in this battle. Once a massive force of hundreds of thousands, Yipin Tang lost much support and alliance backing, and even suffered heavy losses among its own ranks. Among them, dozens of Yipin Tang disciples stationed in branches north of the Yangtze River, due to their injuries and the surrounding areas being completely controlled by Mu Family, the Heroism Gate, and their allied forces, were unable to escape. Over a hundred thousand of them had no choice but to leave Yipin Tang in search of a new chance.
After losing the entire north, although Yipin Tang quickly took control of the Western Regions, it had few remaining troops—less than a hundred thousand. Under such circumstances, they didn’t even dare to exterminate all of Mu Family’s branch disciples and instead reluctantly “sent” Mu Family’s forces out of the Western Regions…
This move completely signaled Yipin Tang’s surrender. It was also because of this action that Mu Family decided not to launch a final desperate attack in the Western Regions. Two months.

The ranks of Yipin Tang continued to shrink. The environment in the Western Regions was extremely harsh—no elegant green mountains or beautiful waters, no grand buildings with carved railings and jade decorations, and not even the narrative systems found in the Central Plains. Outside the cities lay desolate deserts and Gobi plains, or quiet grasslands, along with things like goat milk and wrestling by campfires that were unfamiliar to them. Many men and women, after enduring it for a while, chose to leave quietly… The number of Yipin Tang’s members dropped from nearly 100,000 to less than 50,000 before things slowly stabilized. They resigned themselves to living alongside Persia, Vietnam, and Thailand. The martial world of the Central Plains entered an era of relative peace… Yet outside the Central Plains, turmoil continued to rise, intensifying day by day…

After two months, the top 1,000 rankings on the Global Masters Ranking List gradually became clear, updated daily, and its prestige in the martial world grew steadily. Meanwhile, the positions on the Global Masters Ranking List changed every day. To reach higher ranks and gain recognition worldwide, battles between masters from different countries took place continuously. The authority of the list, along with everyone’s recognition of it, reached unprecedented heights. Some people, due to their high rankings, received challenges from dozens of masters at home and abroad in a single day, being blocked at their doors for three days and nights. Eventually, they were defeated, and their newly acquired rankings were snatched away. However… One person at the top of the Global Masters Ranking List remained in third place, unchanged and unchallenged! This person was Kai Xin. Since the world-shaking war to unify the north and south in the Central Plains, the Mu family’s Kai Xin led troops in a surprise attack on Yipin Tang, driving one of the Central Plains’ powerful factions to the desolate Western Regions within two days. Two months later, no one dared to challenge Kai Xin. Of course… the reason had nothing to do with that war. It was due to a REP that circulated online—the battle at Songshan Shaolin. Kai Xin first fought against Wei Zhen Tian, a master from the Global Oddities List, then easily defeated a disciple of the Goryeo Swordsmanship School who was among the top 100 on the Global Masters Ranking List using Wei Zhen Tian’s techniques. He then killed everyone present with his Dragon Slaying Sword. In just 20 minutes, he demonstrated the utmost proficiency in his skills. Many experienced players online commented that he was one of the most unchallengeable opponents… Because after seeing Kai Xin skillfully use the Qiankun Bagua Youhun Palm, many feared facing a similar fate. Being defeated wasn’t scary.

The special moves and ultimate techniques one has painstakingly trained for being taken by others and even used to great effect—that’s truly the most pitiful… It truly embodies the saying “losing both the wife and the soldiers.”
…
However, as the competition for spots on the Global Masters Ranking grew more intense, a team named “Wild Wolves” emerged abroad.
A team composed of masters from different countries, not large in number but all top-tier fighters listed on the Global Masters Ranking. They were said to be a group that played by their own rules.
While others challenged them for fame, they did so for money and profit. Once targeted by them, one might end up having their resources seized and forced to pay protection money; in worse cases, their entire gang could be destroyed.
These people were ruthless and well-informed, able to easily find their targets and identify their weaknesses. They became famous in just two months—during that time, over thirty gangs in North and South America were extorted, suffering heavy losses…
In Asia, aside from the Central Plains which hadn’t yet been disturbed, masters from smaller countries were mostly targeted, not even the Persian Snake King “Gujite” escaping…
“Xin, holidays are coming soon. Do you need to go back?”
“No need. I’ve already told my parents I’ll work outside. How about you?”
“My parents know my current situation. Besides, with all of you around, I’d feel uneasy staying home idle. Also, during the New Year, the official website wants me to attend an event—I really can’t leave.”
“So,” Xu Xin said with a smile, “you don’t even have time to eat. I can only reluctantly stay to prevent you from becoming a stray dog—how pitiful that would be.”
“Then I must thank my master.”
“Ah, get away…”
Xu Xin blushed as she pushed away the stubborn guy clinging to her, but still got kissed by that shameless man.
“I’ve changed my mind now. You’re getting worse and worse. I think I need someone to keep an eye on you to stop you from doing bad things to others,” Xu Xin said, blushing.
Kai Xin was stunned: “Which bastard dares to compete with me for a woman? Isn’t he afraid of my ‘Nine Yang Divine Skill’?”
Knock! Knock!
Before he could finish speaking, someone knocked at the door.
Xu Xin stood up happily: “They’re here. I’ll go open the door.”
Kai Xin was dumbfounded and frustrated. So this girl had already prepared… He really had underestimated women, thinking they were simple—turns out she had brought her own rival along. Still… “Is it you?”

Seeing Xu Yao being welcomed in by Xin Er, followed by a group of familiar faces carrying bedding and toiletries, Happy’s joyful expression stiffened slightly.
Having lived together with Xu Yao for over two years in her past life… she never expected they would end up together again in this life. Although Xu Yao’s performance during the battle with Yipin Tang had relieved him somewhat, living together before had caused many inconveniences. Now… she was killed by that silly girl, Xu Xin.
Happy’s joyful expression turned extremely ugly.
The group of men and women sensed the host’s displeasure even before entering and were immediately startled:
“It’s none of our business.”
“Things are tense—let’s go!” “Hurry up, dumb girl!”
The Lonely Three Wolves, along with Yu Cha Zhe, Nuomi, and the others, hurriedly dumped their things in the living room, ducked their heads, and rushed downstairs.
Only Xu Yao, looking uneasy, Xu Xin, acting defiantly, and Happy, rubbing her forehead, remained behind.
“Xin, this isn’t right, is it?”
“Why not? Sister Yao can’t stay in the dorm alone—it’s too lonely and dangerous. Since we’re not leaving anyway, we can just keep each other company.”
Before Xu Xin could finish speaking, Happy forcefully pulled her into her arms! Her face turned red instantly as she struggled and shouted, “What are you doing… idiot…”
“It’s not easy to have a quiet time together as the two of us. You’ve brought in such a big distraction—you’re the real idiot.”
Happy wanted to slap Xu Xin with a Ruyi God Palm.
Boom!
Hearing this, Xu Xin’s cheeks turned red immediately:
“Stop talking nonsense, Sister Yao! Don’t listen to her…”
Only then did Xu Yao realize why Happy looked so upset. Ruining the boss’s private time was a serious offense. Determined to do things properly, she started to reconsider, but with all the stuff scattered around, she didn’t know what to do.
Seeing this, Happy wanted to call Yin Hu and Dao Zi right away to come down and act as porters, throwing all the stuff downstairs. But considering Xu Xin’s sensitive nature, she decided against it.
“I’ll ask Yin Hu to free up a room for you to stay in.”
“No! That won’t do!”
Xu Xin stepped forward again, hands on her hips, her cute big eyes wide, and declared firmly, “Sister Yao should sleep with me. You go live with Yin Hu…”
“You…”
Just then, Yin Hu, who had come downstairs to check on things, passed by. Seeing Happy’s furious state, he callously left behind, “Jia Xi Fengling said she’s coming. I don’t have any free rooms. You can ask Dao Zi and the others… but I guess they’re busy too.” With that, he turned and left, afraid Happy would stick to him.
Bang.

Happy angrily shut the door.
“Sister Yao, I’ll help you carry the things in, huh!” Turning her back on Happy, the woman acted like the hostess and instructed Xu Yao to bring in the bedding.
Happy stood there dumbfounded, powerless to stop it all.
“I definitely don’t want to live with this woman… No, I’ll take care of Xin’er tonight and kick Xu Yao out. That’s it!”