We are a team of three

“I absolutely refuse!”

Li Yu’an’s voice was cold and firm. She crossed her arms, staring down at Bai Zhu.

“Hero missions carry significant uncertainty—even the risk of injury or death.”

“If you take Yang Yuan with you and something happens, what then?”

Her logic was flawless, every word framed around Yang Yuan’s safety.

“Your reasoning is flawed!”

Bai Zhu slammed her hand on the table—so hard the lightning-struck wood on the desk jumped.

“This journey is a crucial trial on my destined path! Lord Yang Yuan, as the fated [Witness], must accompany us!”

“I shall protect his safety with my sacred blade and my life! There is no need for Lady Saintess to worry!”

“Witness? Fated?”

Li Yu’an let out a cold scoff, her voice dripping with disdain.

“Miss Bai Zhu, please wake up from your fantasy world. Missions aren’t games. Yang Yuan’s safety can’t be guaranteed by your chuunibyou declarations.”

“You… you dare defile the path of my chivalry!” Bai Zhu trembled with rage.

“I’m simply stating facts.”

The argument had been going on for nearly ten minutes. The cause was simple.

Bai Zhu had received a mission notice from the Hero Center. The task required a team of three—so she immediately ran to invite Yang Yuan.

That was when Li Yu’an’s alarm system went off.

They traded blows, attacking each other’s ideologies, but both knew the real issue wasn’t strategy or safety.

It was about control.

About keeping Yang Yuan firmly within their own domain.

“In short, I won’t let you take Yang Yuan anywhere dangerous.”

“Lord Yang Yuan’s will should be decided by him, not by you alone!”

Bai Zhu shot back, refusing to back down.

Both women turned their gaze to the center of the storm.

“Yang Yuan, you decide!”

“Lord Yang Yuan, the choice is yours!”

They spoke in unison, tossing the final decision to him.

The room fell silent.

Yang Yuan, the one under scrutiny, calmly pulled two earplugs from his ears.

“I’m just curious—why me? Why bring an ordinary guy like me along?”

Before Bai Zhu could answer, a lazy female voice came from the sofa behind them.

“Because we couldn’t find anyone else.”

Yang Yuan turned—only to realize Chun Nana had been sitting on the armrest the whole time, as if she’d been there since the beginning.

“Let me explain. Me and Bamboo here? We’re not exactly popular among the Reserve.”

“Reserve missions are mandatory, but they encourage self-organized teams to build future synergy. The minimum is three people. But, well…”

She tilted her chin toward Bai Zhu.

“Bamboo here talks like a mad prophet. No one gets her. No one dares team up with her—they’re afraid she’ll have a breakdown mid-mission.”

“Na Na!” Bai Zhu protested.

“I simply walk my own path! It’s the common rabble who cannot comprehend my realm!”

Chun Nana ignored her and continued, “As for me? They say I’m mean, always mocking people. They say being around me is stressful.”

“So yeah, no one wants to team up with two weirdos. We had no choice but to grab someone familiar. And the first person this white knight thought of… was you.”

The explanation was blunt, but fair.

Yang Yuan recalled their usual behavior—yeah, neither of them was exactly the type to make friends easily.

He began weighing the pros and cons.

Going meant facing unknown dangers—and dealing with his childhood sweetheart’s inevitable emotional fallout.

Staying was clearly the safer, smarter choice.

“Sorry. I don’t think I’m the right fit.”

“I’m just an ordinary person, not a fighter. I’d only be a burden. You should find someone else.”

After the rejection, Bai Zhu looked visibly heartbroken. Chun Nana didn’t seem surprised. Li Yu’an’s tense shoulders finally relaxed.

After sending off the three girls—each with their own motives—Yang Yuan finally had a moment of peace.

But not for long.

The door opened, and Luo Jinghong walked in.

“You always show up with bad news,” Yang Yuan said, slumping in his chair without even looking up.

“Am I really that scary? I just want you to accept Bai Zhu’s invitation.”

“You already know?” Yang Yuan wasn’t surprised. Of course she did. She was the Prophet.

“More than that—I saw it.”

“Not only will they fail this mission, but they’ll get injured. Especially Bai Zhu—her wounds will be severe.”

Yang Yuan sat up straight. He didn’t care much about mission failure, but Bai Zhu getting seriously hurt? That wasn’t something he wanted.

“You’ve already changed one future. So I’m wondering… can you change this one too?”

Yang Yuan hesitated. If even Bai Zhu and Chun Nana would get hurt, the danger level must be terrifying.

“Don’t forget about your childhood sweetheart, Su Xiaoyou.”

Luo Jinghong seemed to read his mind. She knew this wasn’t an easy decision.

“What does Xiaoyou have to do with this?”

“Not much. I don’t know what crisis triggers her death future.”

“But one thing’s certain—whatever happens, you won’t be able to handle it alone. You’ll need real allies you can trust.”

With that, Luo Jinghong placed the mission file in front of Yang Yuan.

[Mission Objectives]:

Travel to Lin Family Manor in Nanping Town. Investigate and identify the source of all abnormal phenomena within the estate.
Based on findings, uncover the truth behind the “haunted manor” rumors.
Yang Yuan couldn’t help but mutter, “Now heroes have to moonlight as exorcists?”

“Exorcists? We’re all firm atheists.”

After retrieving the file, Luo Jinghong leaned close to Yang Yuan.
“The details will be explained by Bai Zhu and the others. But whether you go… that’s still your choice.”

“My advice? They’re raw gems with potential. Maybe you should be the one to polish them.”

“Polish them…”

Yang Yuan turned the words over in his mind. Luo Jinghong wasn’t wrong.

“But if I do go, I’ll need to talk to Xiaoyou first.”

“You don’t actually need to.”

Luo Jinghong stood up, a triumphant smile on her face.

“Before I came here, I already met her. I spoke on your behalf.”

“You… what did you say to her?”

No answer.

Luo Jinghong walked to the door, then glanced back with a playful wink.

“That’s a secret between us girls.”