I will be stronger after the remake

"Sleep for whoever you are! The sun's already high in the sky!" Yuan Ji yanked the covers off. "The day's plan starts in the morning. Get up and go for a morning run. Only with a strong physique can you better deal with assassin attacks. Otherwise, you'll end up like this, with me right next to your bed and you still not even noticing."

"If I had that kind of vigilance, what would I need you as a bodyguard for?"

"I can protect you for a while, but can I protect you for a lifetime?"

After saying that, Yuan Ji feigned surprise and said with a look of disgust, "Could it be that you want to take this opportunity to propose in disguise? Humph, don't dream about it, you scoundrel!"

"You've held a grudge ever since I called you a 'lower woman' last time. You're a national martial arts champion, a martial arts master in martial arts novels. Can't you have some class?"

"That's not true. I don't understand what you're talking about," Yuan Ji said, his eyes darting around.

"Alright, alright, I'll go for a morning run then. I need to get up and change my clothes. Men and women shouldn't touch each other, so you'd better leave me alone."

"Tch, with a physique like yours, you don't even have abs and you think you can seduce me?"

Five minutes later, Tang Ping appeared at the dormitory door with heavy steps. He was wearing a loose T-shirt, his hair was messy, and his eyes were half-closed, obviously not fully awake yet.

Upon seeing this, Yuan Ji couldn't help but laugh out loud: "You're a big star who dominates the trending searches, don't you care about your image? What if your fans see this?"

"Fans will only scream with excitement when they see this. This is called the original, natural beauty, the brother's frankness and innocence. You, a 2D otaku girl, would never understand."

Tang Ping yawned and said weakly.

"I'm not a homebody, I'm a sunny and athletic girl. Now I'll let you see if I really am a homebody or not."

Yuan Ji reached out and pulled Tang Ping forward, running quickly.

"Slow down, give me a warm-up. Going straight into an intense state is bad for your physical and mental health. Do you even understand what healthy exercise is?"

The two jogged along the path in the neighborhood. Yuan Ji's steps were light and powerful, and his breathing was even, clearly indicating that he was already used to morning runs.

Tang Ping is no less impressive. He maintained his physical fitness during his university years and trained in military boxing for two months at the psionic training base. Moreover, although "Fox Demon" focuses on improving flexibility, reality is not like adding points in a game. There is no reason to only improve flexibility without considering other physical qualities.

After running three laps around the neighborhood to warm up, the two sped up and ran outwards along the street for another forty minutes before stopping to rest.

Tang Ping was covered in sweat and his breathing became very rapid, while Yuan Ji only broke out in a light sweat and looked very refreshed.

"I was worried that some fans might recognize you and rush up to ask for autographs and photos. But it seems that your popularity isn't that high. As a celebrity, are you a little disappointed?"

While making a joke, Yuan Ji took a bottle of water out of his backpack and handed it to Tang Ping.

"First of all, there are fewer people in the early morning. Secondly, most of my fans are young people, while most of those who come out in the early morning are elderly. Finally, the young people who go out before seven o'clock are basically loyal office workers. Even if they recognize me, they will only prioritize work."

While answering, Tang Ping took the water bottle and took a small sip. Feeling a little better, she asked, "Why do you like exercising so much? Aren't you tired getting up so early every day?"

"Once it becomes a habit, you won't feel tired anymore. Exercise makes you energetic, and when you go for a morning run, you can see a lot of scenery that you don't usually see, breathe fresh air, and feel refreshed. Don't you think so?"

"I don't think so. Normal exercise is fine. Morning runs don't have any special effects. It's better to sleep in bed a little longer to get enough rest. Besides, if we're only talking about improving physical fitness, daily exercise is not as efficient as improving spiritual evolution. That's the path to the non-human level."

Tang Ping recalled Ling Chong's performance yesterday. He suppressed two monsters that were as big as elephants with his physical strength alone. Even without the blessing of spiritual energy, his physical fitness had already broken through the limits of ordinary people.

Yuan Ji took back the water bottle, not caring that Tang Ping had drunk from it. He tilted his head back and drank half the bottle in one gulp, letting out a refreshing sigh. Then he said with some melancholy, "Yes, the level that martial artists used to reach through countless trials and tribulations can now be overtaken by psionicists in ten years or even less. Sometimes I wonder, is there really any point in practicing martial arts?"

She looked down at her hands; her fingers were long and strong, with distinct knuckles, and she could see a thin layer of calluses, the marks left by years of clenching her fists and practicing boxing.

"Sometimes I feel fortunate that the uniqueness of my awakening has a fixed upper limit, forcing me to practice martial arts. Otherwise, I would doubt whether I could stick to my original intention if faced with more efficient ways to become stronger."

The morning sunlight shone on Yuan Ji, lengthening her shadow and making her profile, which wasn't illuminated by the sunlight, appear particularly forlorn.

The surroundings gradually became lively, with the chirping of birds and the sounds of morning exercises in the park in the distance blending together, creating a vibrant atmosphere.

The environment and the people create a stark contrast; if a camera had captured this moment, it would surely have become a classic image.

But Tang Ping was not in the mood for that at all, and even took the initiative to ruin the atmosphere: "I'm sorry to interrupt your sad memories. Although I wanted to express myself in a more tactful way, you didn't seem to understand what I meant at all, so I can only be more direct - could you please stop dragging me to morning exercises in the future? I have no pursuit of martial arts, and I am healthy and get enough exercise normally. Morning exercises are not cost-effective for me."

“No way!” Yuan Ji refused outright.

"why?"

"Because I've come to understand something: there's no such thing as a thousand days of guarding against thieves, only a thousand days of catching them. Instead of living in constant fear of an enemy who might appear at any moment, it's better to lure them out of their hole and teach them a lesson they won't forget."

"Is this your reason for choosing to go for a morning run? Because there are fewer people around in the early morning, making it suitable for a surprise attack and avoiding harming innocent bystanders?"

"That's right!"

Tang Ping was silent for a moment, then sighed, "You already possess unparalleled martial arts skills, why bother with extraordinary wisdom as well?"

Yuan Ji frowned: "Are you mocking me?"

"Ah, they actually recognized it!" Tang Ping exclaimed with an exaggerated expression.

Yuan Ji clenched his fist and threatened, "I'll give you a chance to explain."

"First, compared to a morning run, a dimly lit night run is more suitable for a sneak attack. Second, the plan to lure the snake out of its hole requires sufficient armed support, and according to my perception, you seem to be the only bodyguard nearby. If there are any other bodyguards who are good at concealing their presence, please be sure to tell me, and I will apologize to you."

"Isn't one of me enough? Who else do you want to protect you?"

“I feel very safe with the Spirit Squad leader of the Wuhan Psionic Administration Bureau.”

"Ling Chong?"

Yuan Ji recalled for a moment and sneered, "It's that guy who nicknamed himself 'Fierce Man,' right? Hmph, he's just a show-off. His skill in spiritual arts is much higher than his skill in martial arts. Last year, the Department of Spiritual Energy Management held an exchange meeting, and he was my defeated opponent."

"This is impossible!"

Tang Ping found it hard to accept that it wasn't identified as a lie, especially since she had just witnessed Ling Chong's incredible power yesterday.

"It's not about being big to be powerful. No matter how strong you are, you still need to be able to hit someone. His weakness is too obvious."

"But you can't even handle Han Lin."

Yuan Ji's face darkened: "That's because you and the director are two burdens. I have to pay attention to your safety. Moreover, Han Lin has a special constitution. Once he is seriously injured, he will escape. Just defeating him is useless. We have to kill him in one blow."

Seeing that Tang Ping still didn't believe him, Yuan Ji couldn't stand it anymore and grabbed his arm, saying, "Let's go to the Illusionary Realm right now and let you see my true abilities for yourself!"

Chapter Seventy-Four: Yaksha and its accomplices

"Yuan Ji's figure is agile and well-proportioned, as if every inch of her muscles contains explosive power. She is about 1.7 meters tall, with straight shoulders, a slender yet powerful waist, and a steady gait with a unique sense of rhythm. Her skin has a healthy wheat color due to years of outdoor training, and it is smooth and firm, as if it is coated with a faint luster in the sunlight."

"Her features are three-dimensional and exquisite, with a heroic air between her brows. Her eyebrows are long and slightly raised, like two sharp swords, which makes her eyes even sharper. Her eyes are large and bright, with pupils as black as ink. Her gaze is firm and clear, as if she can see through everything. Her nose is high and straight, and the corners of her lips are slightly upturned, with a confident smile, giving people a feeling that is both friendly and unapproachable."

"Her hair was thick and black, usually tied in a high ponytail, which looked neat and tidy. The hair swayed gently in the wind, and occasionally a few strands of hair fell in front of her forehead, adding a touch of softness to her..."

"Stop! What exactly are you trying to say?"

Yuan Ji said with a hint of embarrassment and annoyance.

Not long after entering the Realm of Illusion, Tang Ping began to describe her appearance as if reciting a text, full of praise.

At first, she didn't take it to heart, thinking that the other party was just trying to stir up trouble again, such as praising someone first and then suddenly making a 180-degree turn to satirize them, so she just looked at them coldly.

But to everyone's surprise, Tang Ping didn't change the subject at all, praising her from head to toe. Even though she knew that the other party had ulterior motives, she couldn't help but feel ashamed and hurriedly interrupted.

"I just suddenly wanted to praise you. Look, I even wrote a poem about it."

Tang Ping took out a piece of paper and a pen, and quickly wrote a line of text.

Yuan Ji took the paper with some skepticism, glanced at it, his eyes narrowed slightly, and then a blush rose to his cheeks. He tore the paper into pieces with both hands, and said somewhat angrily, "Don't you understand that this is a form of sexual harassment?"

"Then let's hurry back to the real world, so you can report me to the boss."

"Hmph, so you've shown your dagger now, huh? Let me tell you, don't even think about it!"

"I've praised you so much, can't you be a little kind?"

"These are two different things. Today, I'm going to show you my skills so you won't continue to look down on me."

Yuan Ji gave Tang Ping a shove in the chest and strode towards the river ahead.

Tang Ping clutched her chest, carefully putting away the things the other person had slipped to her. Her gaze swept over the reeds beside her, and she cried out anxiously, "Don't leave me alone! You're my bodyguard, you're supposed to protect my safety. Be careful, or I'll report you for dereliction of duty!"

"Take it or leave it."

Yuan Ji ignored him and went to the riverbank.

Tang Ping walked to the side, looking helpless, and asked, "What exactly do you want to do?"

"The location here corresponds to the Qiantang River in the present world. There is a myth about the Liuhe Pagoda in the Qiantang River. It is said that there used to be a dragon king in the Qiantang River with an extremely violent temper. He was capricious and would stir up huge waves, capsize fishing boats, and flood farmland at the slightest displeasure, bringing endless suffering to the people along the river."

"At that time, a mother and son lived on the banks of the Qiantang River. The son was named Liuhe. They made a living by fishing and depended on each other for survival. One day, Liuhe and his mother were fishing in the river when the tide suddenly surged. In the critical moment, the mother pushed her son away, but she herself was swept into the river."

"Liuhe watched helplessly as his mother was swept away by the giant waves. He was heartbroken and finally made up his mind to follow the example of Jingwei filling the sea and fill the Qiantang River with stones. The Dragon King was not bothered by this and had to compromise, returning Liuhe's mother's body and promising that no more giant waves would surge on the 18th of August."

"From then on, the tide only reached the height of the small mountain that Liuhe mentioned, and no longer caused harm to the world. In order to commemorate Liuhe's achievements, people built a tower on the banks of the Qiantang River and named it Liuhe Tower."

After listening patiently, Tang Ping commented, "This story is completely untenable. Not to mention how much of an effect a mortal throwing stones could have, even if the Dragon King of Qiantang was annoyed, he could have simply raised the tide and swept the child away as well. It can't be that he suddenly had a change of heart and abandoned evil for good, can it?"

Yuan Ji didn't take it seriously: "It's just a myth. Logic is secondary. Anyway, there's such a legend, and then the corresponding monster was born."

Tang Ping looked at the river: "You mean, a dragon king lives in here?"

Yuan Ji shook his head: "It's just an ordinary river dragon, not a dragon king. After all, this story isn't very famous, and even locals might not know it."

“But a dragon is a dragon. Jianglong belongs to the orthodox dragon clan, which is incomparable to those chicken dragons, fish dragons, and jiaolong. It is at least a third-level dragon.”

"Well, the Psychic Management Bureau hasn't touched it because these kinds of monsters have a strong sense of territory and don't go out casually. And under normal circumstances, we don't cross the river, so there's basically no conflict. The higher-ups think it's okay to leave it alone."

"Judging from your posture, you're planning to use it as a whetstone. Are you sure you're confident?"

Tang Ping emphasized the last sentence, as if she didn't trust the other person at all.

Yuan Ji didn't bother to explain, and simply waved his hand, saying, "Step aside, stay away, so you don't get hurt later."

Tang Ping had no choice but to retreat thirty meters.

Yuan Ji took out a glass bottle containing red liquid, opened the cap, and poured the fishy-smelling red liquid into the river.

Tang Ping was quite puzzled: "Dragons are attracted by blood energy? What story has such a setting?"

He soon realized that the blood energy was not meant to lure dragons, but yakshas.

In an instant, twelve eerie green lanterns pierced the river mist, and the Yaksha leader, with a body three zhang tall, emerged from the water. Its dark blue scales were covered with water plants, and its black iron fork stirred up the whirlpool. Behind it, twelve Yaksha guards formed a tortoise shell formation and slowly swam out, the water-repelling beads embedded in their shells glowing blue.

"Humans, was it you who injected the turtle's blood?"

The Yaksha leader let out a bubbly laugh, and his iron fork slammed into the water. A circular curtain of water rose from the riverbed and rushed towards Yuan Ji. His men also picked up their weapons and formed a battle formation to launch an attack.

Seeing this, Yuan Ji sneered, flipped his palm, and a stream of air appeared under his feet, making his body feel light. Taking advantage of the fact that the tortoise shell formation had not yet closed, he walked across the river and took the initiative to rush into the formation.

Unexpectedly, their prey dared to attack first. The yakshas panicked slightly and had no time to react. With lightning speed, one of them thrust his halberd into the scales of the yaksha at the front, piercing through it, and then flung it to the yakshas behind him, disrupting their formation.

The Yaksha leader shouted and tried to manipulate the water to form a cage to trap Yuan Ji. At this moment, Yuan Ji turned his head and met his gaze. His mind was momentarily stunned, and he was momentarily dazed.

When it came to its senses, it felt a sharp pain in its chest. Looking down, it saw that the Azure Dragon Halberd had cleaved through its heart-protecting scales and pierced through it, just like the process of killing its subordinates earlier.

"You wretched woman—"

The Yaksha leader possessed remarkable vitality. He gripped the halberd with both hands, his eyes bulging, and his face contorted in a ferocious expression as he prepared to launch a final, desperate counterattack, determined to inflict heavy damage on his enemy even in death.

Yuan Ji remained unmoved, coldly rotating his halberd. A large amount of energy flowed into the opponent's body, instantly causing a series of cracking sounds as bones burst. The Yaksha commander exploded on the spot, turning into countless pieces of flesh that scattered everywhere!

The surviving Yakshas, ​​witnessing this scene, were filled with panic and forgot to maintain their formation.

In that instant, the halberd swept across, drawing a full moon arc of light, and eleven heads shot into the sky. The bodies stiffened slightly before sinking into the river.

After finishing his work, Yuan Ji carried the Green Dragon Halberd back to the shore, looking as relaxed as if he had just taken a stroll in the park.

Tang Ping realized the other party's intention but did not ask any questions.

Sure enough, the next moment, thirteen ghostly figures appeared behind Yuan Ji; they were the Yaksha cougars who had just been subdued.

Chapter Seventy-Five: The Intended Assassin

"The subdued changgui can retain about half of its strength from its previous life, but it will gradually weaken over time. It must be preserved with appropriate ghost-raising methods. Unfortunately, I have no talent in yin-attribute spirit arts. I have been studying for half a month but have not even mastered it, so I have to give up."

Yuan Ji explained to Tang Ping.

"If you can't do it yourself, can't you use the power of a magical artifact? Like the Myriad Soul Banner, which is very common in cultivation novels?"

"That would require such a magical artifact. Unfortunately, our organization doesn't have one. Perhaps the weapon refiners don't want to forge such an evil-sounding artifact. Things involving the soul are always handled with extreme caution by those in power."

Tang Ping nodded upon hearing this and said, "It's not that I can't understand it. Although there is a saying that 'whether magic weapons and martial arts are evil depends on the user. If used for good, they are good; if used for evil, they are evil,' it is difficult to control yourself from abusing a treasure that can bind other people's souls. As the saying goes, 'If you have a sharp blade, you will naturally have the desire to kill.'"

Yuan Ji said in surprise, "I didn't expect you to be a conservative as well."

“I don’t support it, but I can understand their point of view. Even if you can control yourself and not abuse it, it is a big problem to convince others that you will not abuse it.”

"For example, if your neighbor has a gun but you don't, and there happens to be a famine, but you have food at home, in this situation, do you choose to trust your neighbor's character, or go to the black market and exchange some of the food for a gun?"

“Once a chain of suspicion is formed, it will only lead to a situation where everyone is in danger. ‘Trust’ is too much of a luxury.”

Yuan Ji sighed and said, "You always manage to come up with something very convincing."

Tang Ping said, "It sounds very convincing, but it may not work in reality. For example, what if we snatch a Ten Thousand Soul Banner from foreign psychics? It is a magic weapon after all. We can't just destroy it, can we? No matter how strong the Chinese psychic community is, it is not enough to dominate the world. The rules we make can only restrain ourselves, not others. In the end, there will most likely be special cases."