Chapter 13: Vanishing Like Smoke and Clouds

In fact, Yang Fan could see every subtle change in Wang Huai's expression with perfect clarity—the Eye of the Web was far superior to any high-definition camera. With himself at the center, this ability allowed him to sense any unusual activity around him. Danger could be detected in advance, and he could witness sights others would never see.

He grinned mischievously. “Honestly, don’t you get tired following me around like this? Just how unbalanced must your hearts be to flaunt your love so brazenly in front of me? Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘Those who show off their love don’t last long’?”

Wang Huai’s face darkened, while Bai Tiantian was immediately displeased—was that a curse?

“Darling, he just said we won’t last long,” Bai Tiantian almost melted into Wang Huai, her delicate charm on full display as she cooed at him. Yang Fan couldn’t help but think: this woman who once exuded icy aloofness had truly upended all his notions.

“What did you say, punk?” Wang Huai snapped.

Yang Fan paid him little mind, his attention instead focused on the twin sisters nearby—and his embedding technique, which he had just activated. The element he had chosen was a single drop of water.

He could alter the very nature of his body for fifteen minutes.

“What, you want to fight? You, a pampered rich kid? Even your clothes are expensive!” Yang Fan said.

Wang Huai looked smug. Truly, for someone of his background, fighting was beneath his status.

“Darling, he’s saying you’re not up to it!”

“What? Are you saying I’m not up to it?” Wang Huai exploded.

Yang Fan burst out laughing. The intelligence of this rich boy was truly worrying.

“Did I ever say you weren’t up to it? It seems to me that it was the lady by your side who said so. It’s strange, isn’t it? Whether you’re up to it or not, only she would know. But then, maybe it isn’t your fault at all—maybe some people just have too big an appetite? Otherwise, why hide your affection by showing it off this way?”

“Yang Fan, you…” Bai Tiantian was momentarily speechless. She’d never realized Yang Fan was so sharp-tongued.

“What do you mean?” Wang Huai demanded.

“I mean, don’t let yourself be used as someone’s tool,” Yang Fan sighed.

Truly, if Bai Tiantian hadn’t provoked him, it wouldn’t matter to him who she depended on. Yet she insisted on blaming all her unhappiness on him.

Yang Fan felt innocent. If she wanted to force him into a role he never chose, could he not defend his own dignity? If he refused to be used, she laid every misfortune at his feet. Was this the decay of morals, or the distortion of human nature?

“Darling, he insulted you again. He called you brainless.”

Wang Huai was instantly furious. In truth, he wasn’t stupid, but his sense of superiority meant that, faced with someone from the lower classes like Yang Fan, he cared more about his own pride.

In his eyes, Yang Fan was a tiny ant he could crush at will. To be bested by such a nobody would be the ultimate humiliation.

“All right, kid. You’re the first who’s dared insult me. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson—some people are just out of your league.”

Yang Fan remained calm, smiling. “Funny, that’s exactly what I wanted to tell you.”

After all, once his embedding technique was activated, it didn’t matter how many came at him—they’d have to catch him first. Besides, with the Memory Eye, Wang Huai was an open book to him, without a single secret left.

Just then, the unexpected happened—the twin sisters made their move. As highly trained bodyguards, only one needed to act against Yang Fan; her speed was astonishing, and she reached for his collar. But right before everyone’s eyes, Yang Fan vanished without a trace.

After all, his embedded element was water, and water has no fixed form.

While everyone was stunned, Yang Fan reappeared before Wang Huai and delivered a resounding slap.

The sharp sound was even more crisp in the darkness.

“Who hit—”

*Smack!*

“What the—”

Yang Fan’s hand flashed again, preventing Wang Huai from uttering a complete word.

Next to Wang Huai stood a girl; as Yang Fan reappeared, she struck out, her fist passing straight through him. He had become water again—her punch hit nothing but air.

Bai Tiantian was terrified. Yang Fan answered her fear with a slap—some people really did need to be taught a lesson.

The twins were grim-faced. Even knowing Yang Fan’s bizarre ability made catching him almost impossible, they had to act as Wang Huai kept getting hit.

Their punches were fast, but Yang Fan turned to water once more. In their confusion, he pressed the slave seal into one sister’s forehead.

A phantom seed appeared in Yang Fan’s mind—the master control of the slave seal. In a single breath, the seed took root.

Then his form flickered—his embedding technique had reached its time limit.

The other twin struck again, her fist about to land solidly on him, when her sister suddenly stepped in front of Yang Fan.

Their fists collided, sending both of them staggering backwards.

“Sister, what are you doing?”

“If you want to hit him, you’ll have to go through me first!”

The elder twin’s face twitched. The situation was so sudden she couldn’t process her sister’s strange behavior.

“What did you do to my sister?” she shouted, striding forward to confront Yang Fan.

But her sister shielded him, and after several futile attempts, the elder could only stand aside, not wanting to hurt her sibling.

To be honest, Yang Fan was a little moved. The slave seal compelled the younger twin to protect him, while also restraining her sister.

He’d never considered using such a seal on Wang Huai—what use was a spoiled, idle rich kid compared to two top-level bodyguards?

Wang Huai was terrified, and Bai Tiantian just as fearful, as Yang Fan stepped out from behind the younger twin to face them.

“A ghost!” they both trembled, unable to comprehend someone disappearing and reappearing at will.

Yang Fan ignored them, swiftly stripping off Wang Huai’s jacket—the garment where Wang Huai kept all his secrets.

Wang Huai clung to it desperately, but Yang Fan kicked him aside and snatched it away.

He reached into a pocket and pulled out a card.

“What are you going to do?” Wang Huai crouched on the ground, trembling.

“Don’t be afraid. I just want you both to forget what happened today.” Yang Fan smiled, then said, “Borrow: Memory Modifier, to alter Wang Huai and Bai Tiantian’s memories of the past half hour.”

“Borrow: Red String of Fate.”

“What do you want?” Bai Tiantian was frantic now; Wang Huai was too frightened to speak.

“I want you to be happy. After all, I pursued you for four years. Now you’re marrying into wealth—just behave yourself from now on,” Yang Fan said quietly. For Bai Tiantian, it was as perfect an ending as she could have.

“Borrow: Memory Eraser. Erase Bai Tiantian’s memories of Liu Mingfeng. Erase Wang Huai’s interest in Liu Mingfeng. Erase Wang Huai’s memory of hiring the twin bodyguards at great cost!”

Yang Fan now held all three items. With the lightest squeeze, they would all take effect.

“Forget the past, and you’ll find happiness,” Yang Fan said, his familiar smile appearing once more. For Bai Tiantian, he had truly cared over those four years.

Bai Tiantian nodded in terror, and as Yang Fan squeezed his hand, all the memories of the past vanished like smoke…