Asianovel

Chapter 96: Imprisonment

Shen Xingzhuo carried his coffee up to the second-story balcony.

Shen Xingyu was seated at a round table on the balcony, engrossed in some documents.

The two brothers didn't have the best relationship; they glanced at each other from a distance before attending to their own affairs.

However, Shen Xingzhuo couldn't stay still. He alternated between sitting and standing, peering down from the balcony.

He muttered, "How shameless of Ji Min to even block me, his own brother."

Finding this irritating, Shen Xingyu closed the file he was reading and prepared to leave.

Just as he was about to stand up, Shen Xingzhuo leaned over the balcony again, frowning. "Why is the Lino family's car still here? That old man must be losing his mind to associate with them."

The Shen and Lino families were long-standing enemies.

Even if Shen Xingzhuo was an uninvolved and carefree heir, he didn't have any favorable impressions of the Linos.

He looked down for a moment before turning to ask Shen Xingyu, "Hey, do you know if there's something sinister on the old man's mind?"

Shen Xingyu frowned but didn't respond, instead saying, "That's our father. What kind of address is that?"

Shen Xingzhuo rolled his eyes and ignored him.

After a while, when Shen Xingyu had already reached the balcony door, Shen Xingzhuo suddenly said,

"He's back today. He even brought two bodyguards with him when he returned to his own home."

Shen Xingyu froze, quickly realizing who 'he' was in Shen Xingzhuo's words.

His fingers, which were on the doorknob, relaxed, and he slowly withdrew his hand.

Turning away from the door, he returned to the balcony and sat down at a random seat, continuing to look through the documents in his hands, though clearly not fully focused.

"Don't you want to go down and see him?" Shen Xingzhuo asked.

"There's no need."

Shen Xingyu flipped through the pages in his hand.

Shen Xingzhuo didn't descend either, merely leaning against the railing and gazing down indolently.

After a moment, he asked, "Is Ranran not home today?"

"I don't know," Shen Xingyu replied coldly.

Shen Xingzhuo found his attitude irritating.

He wanted to leave the balcony, but his feet remained still.

Downstairs, Lu Ran was engaged in some unknown activity.

To be honest, Shen Xingzhuo wasn't sure how to approach Lu Ran.

He had always been accustomed to doing as he pleased.

Due to his family background, his playmates usually revolved around him.

Aside from Shen Xingran, Shen Xingzhuo had never tried to curry favor with anyone else.

Treating Lu Ran the same way as he did with Shen Xingran somehow felt odd.

Moreover...

People generally found it challenging to confront their mistakes, let alone make amends for them.

With his own mood spoiled, Shen Xingzhuo found himself particularly intolerant of Shen Xingyu.

"Hey, do you think he carries bodyguards around because of you? It's all because you've been treating him awfully," Shen Xingzhuo commented.

Shen Xingyu's grip on the document paper paused abruptly.

Suddenly, he recalled Ji Min's words.

"At that time, he was so cruel to me, probably because he knew you were my brother," Shen Xingyu mused aloud.

But in the next instant, Shen Xingyu resumed his actions.

Shen Xingzhuo simply walked over and sat down on the sofa beside him.

After a moment of contemplation, Shen Xingzhuo spoke with a tinge of injustice, "Why is that? You were so harsh on him, yet why did he spare you so much mercy?"

"Spare me mercy?" Shen Xingyu recalled the events since his return home and raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

Shen Xingzhuo made a thoughtful comparison.

Between having dog feces thrown on his back and accidentally eating a cockroach...

Shen Xingzhuo still felt that he had it worse.

"I only put some bugs there to scare you. Do you have any idea what I've been through?"

Shen Xingyu was unaware and didn't bother to investigate.

He just found Shen Xingzhuo's nagging annoying.

Shen Xingzhuo continued to grumble indignantly, "He definitely held back. This guy has had a crush on you since he was young, always sticking by your side, right?"

Shen Xingyu abruptly closed the file in his hand.

He got up and walked out onto the balcony.

Returning to his room, he put down the documents.

After a moment of hesitation, Shen Xingyu opened his door and stepped out.

Ever since his last encounter with Ji Min, he hadn't seen Lu Ran again.

He descended the stairs slowly, expecting to witness a heated argument between Lu Ran and Shen Hongyuan.

Surprisingly, however, the first floor was unexpectedly quiet.

Not only was Lu Ran absent, but also the Lino family and Shen Hongyuan were nowhere to be seen.

Shen Xingyu frowned as he glanced at the courtyard.

The Lino family's car was still there.

He stopped a passing servant and asked, "Where are the head of the family and the guest?"

Upon seeing Shen Xingyu, the servant showed great respect and said, "Young Master Lu Ran seemed to have something to attend to just now. He asked the head of the family and the guest to follow him to the..."

Pausing for a moment, the servant then pointed in the direction of the first floor restroom, "To the restrooms."

"Did they go together? How long ago was it?" Shen Xingyu inquired.

"A while," the servant replied.

After a moment of thought, the servant added, "It seemed like the two young masters from the Lino family went into the restroom with Young Master Lu Ran first. Later, Young Master Lu Ran rushed out to speak with the head of the family, and then the head went over."

Upon hearing this, a deep frown formed between Shen Xingyu's brows.

He didn't ask further and simply walked toward the restroom.

As he proceeded, his expression grew even more solemn.

Shen Xingyu could roughly guess Shen Hongyuan's intentions.

The HZ project was likely to provoke a fierce battle between the Shen and Lino families.

Currently, there was a severe financial deficit within the Shen family, while the Lino family had just recently shifted their base domestically, with an unstable foundation.

A collaboration between the two families was indeed a viable solution.

Marriage served as a crucial bond to solidify such cooperation.

Even if the collaboration couldn't be negotiated, using marriage to stabilize the Lino family temporarily would still be a decent strategy.

From the perspective of the Shen family, Shen Hongyuan was doing the right thing.

In theory, Shen Xingyu shouldn't intervene at this juncture.

Yet...

Shen Xingyu blinked his eyes shut.

He recalled the eldest son of the Lino family, who was quite unpredictable.

There had been numerous scandalous incidents involving him overseas, engaging in excessive romantic escapades.

But this was the Shen family's residence; surely nothing like that would happen here...

Shen Xingyu paused in front of the bathroom door.

Without knocking, he reached out and pulled the door open.

In that fleeting moment, a horrifying sight greeted his eyes.

Reacting instinctively, Shen Xingyu raised his hand.

With a sharp "slam," he closed the door.

This instinct was born out of sheer terror.

Forgive him for having never witnessed such chaos in his life.

"The... What happened here?" The servant walking beside him asked cautiously.

Shen Xingyu took a deep breath.

Shouldering the responsibility as the family heir, he gathered himself and opened the door once more.

Now, only the "victims" remained inside.

The eldest son of the Leno family was leaning against the toilet bowl, his expression dazed.

The second son was desperately trying to pull a toilet brush out of his mouth while hunched over, spitting repeatedly.

Old Leno had a plunger stuck on his forehead.

As for Shen Hongyuan, the front of his shirt was soaked, and he was holding onto the toilet, muttering deliriously, "Rebellious child! Rebellious child!"

Shen Xingyu double-checked the setting.

Indeed, it was a bathroom.

Washing his face silently, Shen Xingyu finally grasped the meaning behind Shen Xingzhuo's words "go easy on them."

"Go... call an ambulance?"

He instructed the servant beside him with uncertainty in his voice.

To his surprise, the three Lino family members reacted intensely upon hearing this.

They sprang up from the ground and exclaimed, "No way!"

Spotting Shen Xingyu, who hadn't witnessed the incident, standing outside the door, they desperately tried to justify themselves, "No, nothing happened! We were just playing around; there's no need to go to the hospital!"

If news of them being rubbed against the toilet bowl were to spread, how would their Lino family be able to save face?!!

Shen Xingyu: "..."

Meanwhile, Lu Ran hadn't left yet.

He unlocked the door to Shen Hongyuan's study with a key.

Only after entering and locating the cabinet that Shen Hongyuan had mentioned did Lu Ran realize that the cunning fox had once again told a lie.

That was because the cabinet was equipped with a digital lock.

Lu Ran's gaze darkened.

Exiting the study, he spotted Shen Xingyu and promptly approached to seize the man's wrist.

"Come here, to me."

Intent on seeking out someone to "make a formal complaint," Shen Xingyu was momentarily taken aback, allowing the youth to tug him forward by the wrist.

The grip on the wrist was firm and unyielding, held tightly in place.

Shen Xingyu was suddenly reminded of his childhood.

Back then, when his relationship with his younger brother hadn't soured and the child didn't fear him.

Occasionally, he would have the leisure to play with the child for a while.

It seemed to be right after school had ended that day.

Upon entering the house, a soft little hand reached out and grabbed his wrist.

The child eagerly pulled him along to the backyard, eager to show him the small nest he had crafted for the rabbits.

Shen Xingyu blinked, and the blurred scene before his eyes cleared away.

What now held his wrist was no longer that soft, pudgy little hand devoid of any notable strength.

It was not the hand of an elegant scholar, but one with calluses on its palm and fingertips, indicating the strength of a youth who labored frequently.

The one pulling him was no longer that short and plump ball from those years; they had grown into a somewhat slender figure.

Shen Xingyu remained in a daze.

Then, he felt a chill on his fingertips.

His hand was forcefully pressed onto a fingerprint scanner.

What awaited him was no longer the soft nest made of tissues and cotton from years ago.

Recalling his surroundings, Shen Xingyu frowned and asked, "What are you doing?"

But Lu Ran didn't reply.

Fixated on the fingerprint lock displaying an error, he cursed under his breath.

Then, he left Shen Xingyu behind, rushed downstairs, and dragged the unsuspecting Shen Hongyuan, who was washing his face, upstairs.

He pulled Shen Hongyuan over and pressed his hand against the cabinet.

"Beep," the lock unlocked.

Shen Hongyuan was infuriated by Lu Ran's brazen behavior and eventually pointed at Shen Xingyu beside him, asking,

"Look at him, aren't you going to do anything?"

Shen Xingyu's lips quivered.

In the end, he sighed and asked Shen Hongyuan, "What on earth are you hiding?"

"Hiding something?" Shen Hongyuan raged in frustration, "Everything in the Shen family belongs to me! What do you mean by me hiding something?"

Lu Ran paid no attention to the two of them.

The cabinet was almost empty.

As expected, someone like Shen Hongyuan would never trust his sons and wouldn't keep anything important at home.

At the very bottom, there was a box that hadn't been dealt with yet.

Lu Ran glanced at the pattern—it was the same as the gift box for the wristwatch that Shen Hongyuan had given him previously.

He took out the gift box and waved it at Shen Hongyuan. "Old fellow, I hate it when others hide my things."

"However, if you have some peculiar hobby and enjoy drinking toilet water, then by all means, keep hiding it."

With that, he ignored the father and son, and left the Shen residence with the box in hand.

That evening, Ji Min returned home from work.

But one figure was missing from the dinner table.

Ji Min waited for a while, but to no avail.

Somewhat surprised, he turned to ask Manager Chen who sat beside him, "How odd. What could have kept him from even having dinner?"

Manager Chen replied, "He said he was a bit tired and went straight to his room to rest after coming back."

Ji Min paused, then didn't say anything further.

He had a light meal and called over the two bodyguards who had been with Lu Ran.

"Something happened today, right? Why is he so exhausted?" Ji Min inquired.

Upon hearing Ji Min's question, the expressions of the two bodyguards became rather animated.

After pulling off such a grand feat, it was only natural for him to be tired!

Seeing that they were hesitant to speak, Ji Min faintly frowned. "Speak."

He exuded a strong aura of authority on any ordinary day.

Now, with just one word from him, coupled with the bodyguards' guilty consciences, they immediately began pouring out their tale like beans spilling from a bowl:

"I'm sorry, Boss, we didn't intentionally let Young Master Lu Ran take matters into his own hands."

"Though it was quite explosive to push someone into the toilet, we did eventually go to assist. Uh... I was the one who stuffed the toilet brush!"

The other bodyguard also eagerly raised his hand, claiming his part. "I was the one with the plunger!"

Ji Min: "..."

He sighed, resting his forehead in his hand before he continued, "Hold on, that's not important. I'm not asking about that..."

The bodyguards' eyes widened in disbelief.

Not important?

How could this be unimportant? What possibly could be more significant?

They assumed it was because they hadn't been sincere enough and quickly reassured him:

"Please rest assured, Sir. From now on, leave such matters to us. Young Master Lu Ran says whom to massage, we'll massage whom!

"We absolutely won't let Young Master Lu Ran lift his sleeves even once!"

Ji Min: "...."

These two used to be quite reliable.

How did spending time with Lu Ran turn me into this?

Interrupting the duo's detailed account, Ji Min sighed again before inquiring, "I meant, where did he go today?"

"Oh, Young Master went back to the Shen residence."

Upon hearing this, Ji Min had a vague idea of the situation.

He dismissed the bodyguards.

Ji Min lingered downstairs for a while longer before taking the elevator up to the second floor.

Exiting the lift, he steered his wheelchair toward his bedroom.

Yet, his gaze strayed to a room at the other end of the corridor.

Half the lights in the hallway were off, casting a dim glow.

Ji Min paused for a moment, turning to glance at Manager Chen beside him and saying,

"Go check if he's awake and bring him something to eat if he isn't," the butler Chen instructed.

But Chen continued without waiting for Ji Min's response, entering the elevator immediately.

Ji Min: "..."

He stood still for a moment before slowly maneuvering his wheelchair down the dim and tranquil hallway, heading towards Lu Ran's room at the end.

The wheelchair came to a halt in front of the door.

The door was still ajar, not even latched shut.

Ji Min hesitated, knuckles poised to knock, then thought better of it. Perhaps Lu Ran was asleep, and he shouldn't disturb him.

In the soft glow, the usually tightly sealed barrier seemed slightly more permeable.

Gently, Ji Min pushed the door open and rolled his wheelchair inside with barely a sound.

Entering the suite, the door to the bedroom inside was still ajar.

Warm yellow light illuminated the space.

For some reason, Ji Min felt an instant relief.

He's still awake...

The teenager in the bedroom must have just woken up.

With disheveled hair, he was sitting at the head of the bed, engrossed in something, so much so that he didn't even notice someone had entered the room.

Ji Min cleared his throat softly and tapped on the bedroom door with a bent finger.

The youth seated on the bed startled, fumbling in a flustered haste to gather the scattered items upon it.

Owing to the intensity of the movement, some items were sent flying out directly.

Ji Min raised an eyebrow as he cast a glance at the youth, then bent down to retrieve the scrap of paper that had drifted to his feet.

That was a photograph.

In the picture, a fluffy little child was stretching out their arms, asking for a hug directly into the camera.

Chapter 176 - Silver Ear Mushroom

Since the trip was spontaneous and they had just finished breakfast, Sang Luo assumed they would return by the time it was time for the afternoon meal. Thus, she didn't bother packing any food and simply filled two bamboo tubes with cold water.

As she and Shen Lie were getting ready, Shen Ning came downstairs hastily, her eyes sparkling. She whispered into Sang Luo's ear, "Sister-in-law, did Aunt Tian make the divine tofu already?"

Sang Luo chuckled. "She probably did last month, but I haven't had a chance to go out. I'll check when I'm back and bring some for you if I find it."

Shen Ning was overjoyed. Then, she remembered something and said, "Which families are going? If there are too many people, we shouldn't get it. I'm not that hungry anyway."

If the recipe got leaked, they wouldn't have anything to sell in the future, and life would be peaceful.

Seeing how cautious Shen Ning was, Sang Luo's eyes curved into a smile. "Just Aunt Tian and Brother Da Shan. I'll keep that in mind. If there's an opportunity, I'll bring some back. If not, then it's fine."

The two of them whispering together caught Shen Lie's attention, who was sharpening his machete with a longer handle.

Once he finished preparing, the Chen family arrived, and Chen Da Shan held a machete with a new long handle, given to him by Chen You Tian.

Previously, their hunting targets were mainly wild boars and chickens, so they usually ventured towards more open areas near the forest edge, grasslands, and mountain streams. However, Sang Luo and Qin Fang Niang's outing clearly didn't prioritize hunting.

With foraging as their main task, climbing mountains and delving into forests was inevitable. A long-handled machete was crucial for opening paths and scaring away snakes. As long as they kept a safe distance from the valley, they wouldn't worry about being detected. Thus, both families coincidentally prepared similarly.

On the Chen family's side, Qin Fangniang accompanied them. Old Lady Chen exhorted her daughter-in-law and grandson, "That plant grows at the edge of the forest and in broad-leaved forests too. Search carefully and gather as much as you can."

Qin Fangniang nodded.

In this valley, the greatest pressure undoubtedly fell on Shen Lie and her husband, Chen Dashan, since they led every outing. Hence, Qin Fangniang took this matter seriously, feeling more secure with extra means of defense.

Sang Luo had become quite skilled at climbing rocks and entering caves, but it was Qin Fangniang's first time. Relying solely on Chen Dashan's guidance and Shen Lie's strength to pull her up, Qin Fangniang's legs turned weak. Nonetheless, she managed to ascend.

The entrance to the valley was usually locked from the inside. If someone left, it could still be secured, but someone needed to guard it. When Shen Lie and Chen Dashan set out, Shi Erlang immediately volunteered to watch over the cave. After the group exited and he locked the entrance, he sat below it.

The path outside the valley wasn't initially difficult, as they stuck to the forest edges. After about an hour and a half, they had traveled a considerable distance from Yun Valley before venturing deeper into the mountain range. Judging by the height of the surrounding peaks encircling Yun Valley, these mountain ranges were towering. To explore the dense forest would be challenging. Shen Lie and Chen Dashan took turns clearing the way.

Inside the mountain range, the sounds of insects and birds filled the air. Small, unknown animals occasionally darted past them. Sang Luo even saw something leap from the ground to a tree. She grabbed Shen Lie's arm, asking, "Was that a little monkey just now?"

Shen Lie nodded and smiled. "Yes, there should be no large carnivores in this mountain peak."

If large carnivores roamed, small animals wouldn't be so relaxed and active.

Upon entering the mountainous region, although the path was challenging, the rewards were evidently more abundant than in the open areas at the foot of the mountains. They had yet to find any herbs, but due to the continuous rain, mushrooms grew in clusters, especially in places with ample fallen leaves.

Being experienced in navigating the mountains, they wouldn't rashly approach. Instead, they would first use their pointed hoes to disturb the thick layer of leaves, scaring away any insects lurking beneath before venturing closer.

This precaution wasn't just to avoid venomous insects hidden in the leaves; it was also to protect themselves from snakes that could blend seamlessly with the leaf litter. Animals were adept at using similar colors for camouflage.

When both families had filled their baskets halfway with mushrooms, Sangluo finally spotted the herb the old lady had mentioned. After showing it to Shen Lie and the others, who all confirmed its identity, they dug it up. Qin Fangniang smiled upon inspecting the root: "This should be the one. Let's dig it up and take it back to examine it further."

Knowing this herb was poisonous, Qin Fangniang carried a small basket specifically for it.

As they continued to collect mushrooms, wild vegetables, and herbs, Qin Fangniang glanced up and noticed a cluster of green mountain grapes. Although they were still unripe, they were quite large. She paused and asked Sangluo, "Is autumn almost here?"

Qin Fangniang knew that Sangluo had a habit of keeping track of dates. She had seen her doing so when she visited the Shen family previously.

Sangluo nodded, "In about eight or nine days, it will be July."

The calendar of the Great Qian Empire resembled the lunar calendar of later times. According to the Gregorian calendar, by the end of the lunar June, they would have already entered August.

Qin Fangniang sighed, "Time truly flies."

They had fled from Ten Li Village into the mountains in early February; now nearly half a year had passed in the blink of an eye.

She merely sighed with emotion. The grapes before her were more appealing. She plucked a cluster and picked out the biggest one, offering it to Sang Luo. "Try it."

She then picked one for herself, peeled it, and popped it into her mouth. The sourness caused her entire brow to wrinkle, and she even shivered.

Sang Luo watched her, still smiling, and decided to give it a try as well. Shen Lie, standing nearby, couldn't help but laugh at her expression. Before Sang Luo could recover, he averted his gaze, looked around, and took a few steps forward. He used his machete to cut down several branches.

After a long while, Sang Luo managed to stifle a hiss. "These probably won't be ripe for another twenty days or so. Should we come back?"

Qin Fangniang was about to nod when Shen Lie and Chen Dashan had already moved ahead, cutting down a few branches with their machetes. They brought down a cluster that was slightly purple and handed it to Sang Luo. "Try this bunch and see if it's ready."

Sang Luo no longer had the courage to taste it. "Take them back for the children to try. Remember this place, and let's come again in about twenty days?"

Shen Lie wouldn't refuse such a suggestion. He smiled and agreed.

As they continued walking, there were several more clusters of wild grapes. They could easily pick tens of pounds.

Sang Luo found them fascinating. These would make excellent wine ingredients. Honestly, she wasn't willing to use grains for brewing; she had made some sweet rice wine in June and cherished it dearly. She only used a little for making bread and occasionally made rice-wine eggs when she craved them.

Continuing on their path, Sang Luo noticed from a distance a white object attached to a tree trunk. Her eyes lit up, and she halted in her steps.

Following her gaze, Shen Lie inquired, "What is it?"

Sang Luo pointed to the tree above them. "That white thing on the tree trunk looks like a silver ear fungus to me."

It was something that neither Shen Lie, Chen Dashan, nor Qin Fangniang had ever heard of before.

Both Chen Dashan and Qin Fangniang, who were walking ahead, turned back. Following Sang Luo's indication, Qin Fangniang, having encountered this before, was surprised and asked, "Can you eat that?"

In the nearby mountains of Shili Village, she had stumbled upon it once, but it was quite rare.

Those living in the mountains knew better than to taste unknown mushrooms and wild fruits blindly. Qin Fangniang was indeed unaware that this particular one was edible.

Sangluo didn't hide the truth from her and nodded, saying, "It's edible, and very tasty too. It's even considered a nourishing delicacy. However, it needs to be dried and rehydrated before being cooked. Eating it fresh might be poisonous."

It was like a commoner's bird's nest, of course. This referred to the modern era when it could be cultivated artificially. In ancient times, finding Tremella was no easy task, making it a rather rare mountain treasure. In Sangluo's own time, it was treated as a tribute reserved for the royal family; commoners could hardly afford it.

With Sangluo's assurance that it was edible, no one present doubted her.

"Let's go up and take a look," Shen Lie cleared a path, which was rather steep. After climbing up, he turned back to pull Sang Luo along with him, helping her ascend.

As they drew closer, Sang Luo confirmed her discovery with delight, "It's indeed the silver mushroom."

She then turned to Shen Lie and the approaching Chen Dashan and Qin Fangniang, "The environment here seems suitable for the growth of silver mushrooms. Look around on the trees; there should be more."

Chen Dashan and Qin Fangniang both examined the area closely before venturing off to search for more silver mushrooms.

Shen Lie, however, didn't venture too far. He remained just a few steps away from Sang Luo, scanning the surroundings. Even from this spot, he spotted several more locations with the precious fungi.

As Sanlao mentioned, the mountains here are perpetually shrouded in mist, with temperatures and other environmental conditions seemingly ideal for the growth of silver ear mushrooms.

Having wandered in these mountains for over an hour, each family had gathered more than twenty silver ear mushrooms. Shangluo was overjoyed; to her, even if they found nothing else of value that day, merely discovering these medicinal herbs and the silver ears would already constitute a bountiful harvest.

Having climbed over two more mountains, the Guanyin wood was indeed sighted, but today the forest abounds with such a profusion of finds that Sanluo fears her basket may not accommodate them all. Thus, she decides to set it aside for now.

During their exploration, they stumbled upon several caves. This reminded Sangluo of something, and she inquired of Shen Lie and Chen Dashan, "Have you ever come across any hidden caves near our valley that could conceal someone?"

Shen Lie shook his head. "There were one or two shallow ones, but I didn't notice any deep ones. I didn't search thoroughly."

Sang Luo commented, "Actually, I think we should search, especially in the mountains surrounding the entrance of our valley. It would be best to occupy one. Just because there's no one in the inner area now doesn't mean it will stay that way. If it comes to a point where entering and exiting the valley becomes difficult, we'll have a temporary resting place."

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan exchanged glances; she had a point.

Shen Lie replied, "We'll keep an eye out for such spots, Dashan."

By the end of the afternoon, all four of them had filled their baskets, and even the small basket used for digging herbs was overflowing. Seeing that it was getting late, they prepared to return home. However, not long after descending the mountain, they accidentally bumped into two panicked young lambs.

They were truly tiny.

Their horns had yet to grow.

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan caught them immediately. The lambs bleated in fear.

The two men were no strangers to encountering flocks of sheep in the mountains. Hearing the distress in their bleats, they straightened their expressions, handed the lambs to Sang Luo and Qin Fangniang, and set down their baskets. They instructed the women to be cautious as they picked up their weapons and headed towards the corner of the mountain.

Before they could fully turn around the corner, the pungent smell of blood reached their noses. Pushing aside the branches and leaves, they saw a wolf tearing at a struggling ewe. Beside it lay a dead lamb, already bitten to death.

No words were necessary. The two of them simultaneously notched arrows and aimed. As the arrows whistled through the air, both struck the wolf, one in its head and the other in its body, causing it to collapse instantly.

After confirming that there was only one sheep, Shen Lie and Chen Dashan dared to call Sang Luo and Qin Fangniang over.

The ewe was still alive but had severe bite wounds. One of her front legs had a large chunk of flesh torn off. She was limping around the dead lamb, constantly looking at the other two lambs being held by Qin Fangniang and Sang Luo.

Shen Lie shot an additional arrow into the wolf, ensuring it was thoroughly dead, before he said, "This ewe must be out foraging with her young for the first time."

Sang Luo looked at the ewe and had an idea. She asked Shen Lie, "Did you bring any wound medicine?"

It was a habit for Shen Lie and Chen Dashan to carry such supplies whenever they ventured out of the valley.

Upon hearing this, Shen Lie raised his eyebrows. "You want to raise it?"

Sang Luo nodded. "Isn't the Big Mountain Cave still empty? With all those layers blocking the entrance, the sheep's bleating wouldn't be heard, right?"

Qin Fangniang's eyes lit up. "That's a good idea. Our firewood pile is in that high cave anyway. It'd be beneficial to keep some livestock. We can cut more grass to dry and store, and sheep can eat hay too."

For farmers, raising livestock was an innate instinct.

"Alright."

Shen Lie didn't say anything further. He took out the medicine and applied it to the ewe.

The ewe tried to evade, but with her lamb in human hands, she had no choice but to submit obediently to Shen Lie's treatment, regardless of how he managed it.

The wolf and the dead lamb were carried on sticks that pierced through their bound legs. Sang Luo and Qin Fangniang held the other two lambs. The ewe, due to her concern for her young, allowed Shen Lie to put a rope around her neck and lead her away.

When they returned to the valley in the late afternoon, Shen Lie pulled open the hidden entrance. Shi Er, who was guarding inside, verified Shen Lie's identity before unlocking the door. Upon hearing the bleating, he was stunned.

"Live sheep?"

Chapter 130: Heading Home

Final exams had been ongoing for six days. Ever since Wen Ying discovered the situation with Yang Rixi's puppet body, he had been supervising his cultivation in the room without leaving. Apart from watching mobile game-related videos on his phone, he did nothing else.

After Yang Rixi beat up his younger brother, Yang Shiming, the latter didn't come to cause trouble for a while. Yang Shiming even claimed that he intentionally let Yang Rixi vent his anger, so Yang Zhenxing and Cai Yiyi didn't comment further.

Wen Ying woke up feeling inexplicably melancholic this morning. It was already the sixth day, yet he still hadn't made any substantial progress. The sword of Damocles hanging over his head made it hard for him not to be restless.

He wondered how the other demons were faring.

No matter how talented Yang Rixi was, he couldn't have advanced his cultivation at a rapid pace within such a short time. Wen Ying's eyes blanked as he pondered over what he should do next. He needed to devise a plan that would consume the least amount of magic power.

Just as he was racking his brains, he suddenly sensed the magic power fluctuations of an exorcist outside. Startled, he jolted awake and kicked Yang Rixi, who was meditating cross-legged, off his pillow.

"Ouch…" Yang Rixi covered his face, a mix of astonishment and fear in his eyes. "What's wrong? Did I mess up my cultivation?"

He asked because he saw an unprecedented level of tension and seriousness on the demon puppet's face.

Wen Ying said, "Quickly retract all your magic power. Don't let even a single bit of it leak out. Official exorcists are approaching for some reason."

"…The authorities?" Yang Rixi's heart skipped a beat. Could it be that his cultivation was illegal? Otherwise, why would this demon puppet be so afraid of being discovered?

Was he destined to live in fear of the police from now on?

Wen Ying flew to the balcony and peeked through the security bars discreetly.

Yang Rixi's room was on the second floor. As Wen Ying cautiously peered out, he saw a group of people standing at the entrance of the villa. Upon closer inspection, the exorcists didn't radiate a strong aura, posing no real threat. Moreover, judging from their vibe, they didn't seem to be approaching with hostile intentions.

Wen Ying returned and found Yang Rixi looking anxious. He asked, puzzled, "Why are you so nervous?" If anyone were to be caught, it would be him.

Lowering his voice, Yang Rixi replied, "Am I practicing illegally?"

Wen Ying chuckled. The joke lightened the tension on his face. Flying back to the door, he pressed his ear against it, listening carefully to the sounds outside while saying, "Don't worry, if anyone's getting caught, it'll be me. You don't need to be concerned about me. My true form isn't here, so even if this body is captured, it's not a big deal. It's just that my... internship score will suffer."

Worried about his scores even at such a time, it seemed that the demon's talk about graduation and internships was genuine, Yang Rixi thought. In his mind, Wen Ying's image was gradually blending with that of a recent graduate on an internship.

As Wen Ying reassured Yang Rixi, he was deeply perplexed. Having stayed indoors for days, how could exorcists have found their way to his doorstep? Was it Old Hong or Diao Mei? They both seemed quite cowardly, so Wen Ying was quite baffled.

Yang Rixi took the initiative to open the door and said to Wen Ying, "I'll go downstairs and see what's going on."

It was still early in the morning, and Yang Zhenxing had yet to leave for work. Cai Yiyi hadn't gone out either. Yang Shiming had been out partying the previous night and was still sound asleep. As for Yang Shize, he had mentioned a few days ago that he was working on a project and would be staying elsewhere for a few days, hence his absence.

Wen Ying pondered for a moment and suggested, "Put on a jacket. I'll come down with you to listen in."

As Yang Rixi changed and descended the stairs, he overheard one of the exorcists say, "We're not frauds. Your adopted son has indeed been using demons for illegal activities."

So it wasn't directed at them. Upon hearing this, Wen Ying's tense nerves relaxed, and a sense of curiosity to witness the drama arose.

Yang Rixi, having learned from Wen Ying about Yang Shize's demonic dealings, understood that this was the reason behind the constant frame-ups and successful schemes against him since he joined the family. The people around them seemed to have their intelligence lowered, blindly trusting anything Yang Shize said.

"We've discovered traces of magic on many individuals associated with Yang Shize, apart from the recent victim."

If not for the national identification cards they presented initially, Yang Zhenxing and Cai Yiyi would have already chased these absurdly speaking men away. However, as their claims became more outrageous, even their patience wore thin.

"Our son used a demon to harm others?" asked Yang Zhenxing.

The lead man replied earnestly, "Not harm, but he exploited a low-level succubus to manipulate the victims into obedience. This act is illegal, and considering the available information, he could face at least a decade in prison."

It sounded absurd but also strangely logical. Yang Zhenxing's expression turned peculiar. "Can you show me this demon you're talking about?"

The group was well-versed in dealing with ordinary people's disbelief in demons. They had a routine. The leader, a man, skillfully stretched out his hand, palm up, and a flame spontaneously appeared in his grasp.

The young men and women behind him also raised their hands, with either water globes forming in their palms, or vines emerging, or even casually attracting a pack of tissues from the nearby table as if they were magnets.

Everyone in the living room, from the young to the old, was left dumbfounded. The servant, who had just brought out freshly baked croissants, was so astonished that she nearly dropped the tray.

The exorcist with the vines in his palm reacted swiftly, commanding the vines to extend and wrap around the tray, preventing it from falling. The servant stumbled, on the verge of falling, but was promptly steadied by the vines.

This was undoubtedly no mere sleight of hand. Who could perform magic that stretched across such a vast distance with such agility?

Everyone felt their worldview shatter and reassemble. Yang Zhenxing and Cai Yiyi's faces fell; if they weren't frauds, then it meant Yang Shize's collaboration with a demon in malevolence was true, and his imprisonment was real as well!

Cai Yiyi immediately said, "My child... he's... inexperienced and unaware of such matters. Is there any way to avoid prison?"

Yang Zhenxing also looked expectantly at the group who claimed to be exorcists.

Since Yang Rixi was carrying the demonic puppet, he didn't dare to approach too closely and stood at a spot where he could still hear clearly. Upon hearing this, he kept praying inwardly, "He must go to jail, he must go to jail, there shouldn't be any other alternatives."

The man looked at the couple with a strange expression. He opened his mouth slowly, his words measured, "Are you aware that there are also traces of bewitching magic on your bodies?"

Yang Zhenxing and Cai Yiyi were startled.

The Yang family was one of the prominent families in Mu City. The story of the switched babies had spread like wildfire, and this man had heard about it too. Immediately, conspiracy theories raced through his mind – perhaps the fake heir had used demonic powers to suppress the real one. It was a common plot in novels. His eyes widened, not missing any expression on Yang Zhenxing and Cai Yiyi's faces.

On the front line of gossip, the exorcist beside them was equally vigilant.

Few in wealthy families were foolish, let alone the heads of the family. Yang Zhenxing was more perceptive than Cai Yiyi. Recalling past events, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes as he stepped forward and asked, "Mr. Exorcist, do you know when the bewitching magic on us disappeared?"

"It should have been within these few days."

That matched up. Yang Zhenxing's face turned grim, while Cai Yiyi wore an expression of disbelief. Both felt a chill run down their spines as memories of Yang Shize's smiling face – so obedient and gentle – now sent shivers down their spines.

Wen Ying thought that Diao Mei was quite clever. After making contact with the magic on Yang Zhenxing and Cai Yiyi, no traces remained. Diao Mei had returned to cast the spell anew and then erased it.

Though not visually appealing, its abilities were commendable. Wen Ying contemplated truly recruiting Diao Mei. It seemed likely that Diao Mei was the one who leaked the information.

This scheme of framing someone and watching from the sidelines had a certain... Suddenly, Wen Ying became alert. He had just thought that it bore a resemblance to the style of the extremely wicked bird.

Human beings inherently fear the unknown, and at this moment, the couple, both pale with fright, didn't dare to mention the topic of "redeeming" anyone.

From the corner of her eye, Cai Yiyi caught sight of Yang Rixi standing at a distance and gestured for him to come over.

Yang Rixi was enjoying the spectacle, but when Cai Yiyi beckoned him, his leisurely mood instantly turned tense. He had a devil hidden in his pocket!

Pretending not to understand, Cai Yiyi approached and embraced him tightly. The warmth of his body slightly alleviated the chill in her heart as she murmured, "After all, blood is thicker than water."

Yang Rixi hesitantly raised his arms and wrapped them around her.

A few days ago, when he encountered Wen Ying, his face was likely as white as Cai Yiyi's, if not paler, given that it was late at night, making the atmosphere even more terrifying.

"In recent times, we're in a strict crackdown period. There's no escape for Yang Shize. He exploited his devil's powers during the bidding process to make the notary divulge confidential information for profit, forged gold to sell for personal gain, and there are other various offenses," someone explained solemnly.

Curious, Yang Rixi asked, "What other sorts of offenses?"

An exorcist replied awkwardly, "His devil is a succubus. He utilized its powers to implant false memories in several victims, making them believe they had slept with him. The other offenses are similar in nature."

Yang Rixi's expression revealed his astonishment. Yang Shize truly broadened his horizons.

Upon hearing this, everyone present was astonished, especially Yang Zhenxing and Cai Yiyi, who wore expressions of disbelief.

Wen Ying thought to himself that true succubi didn't need magic; they could merely flash a glance or beckon with a finger, and countless people would eagerly offer everything they had. For example, Essence, that devilish creature.

Sending a telepathic message to Yang Rixi, Wen Ying said, "Ask Yang Shize how he was exposed. Why wasn't he caught before?"

Yang Rixi's confusion was evident as he asked, "If he has been using demons for evil deeds for a long time, as you say, why was he only caught recently?"

His words implied that the exorcists were incompetent.

An exorcist, displeased, replied, "We usually deal with demons involved in fatal incidents first. A demon like the one Yang Shize kept is well-hidden among the masses, making it difficult to detect. This time, it just so happened that a few wealthy second-generation kids, whom he had cast spells on, ran into an exorcist on the street. The exorcist noticed a uniform magical fluctuation on them, which led to the investigation."

The leader of the group gestured for the exorcist to be quiet and apologized, "It was our oversight not to have discovered this earlier. Please forgive us. Now, we need all of you to sign a non-disclosure agreement."

...

After signing the non-disclosure agreement, Yang Rixi intended to go upstairs and ask Wen Ying for more details about the incident. However, Yang Zhenxing and Cai Yiyi detained him with their concern. Yang Shiming, awakened by the noise, came downstairs, puzzled. He was spotted by the departing exorcists, who pulled him aside and made him sign the same agreement.

Yang Shiming was also shocked by the news and couldn't believe that Yang Shize, whom he had always perceived as a gentle person, could be capable of such acts. He wondered if they had made a mistake and even suspected Yang Rixi of being the mastermind behind it all. But when he saw Yang Rixi raise his arm inadvertently, he swallowed his words.

Yang Rixi had really hurt him that day.

After Yang Shiming grieved over Yang Shize, he suddenly remembered the crucial matter of magic and wanted to ask if he could practice it. However, the person was nowhere to be seen. He slumped his shoulders and devoured steamed buns dejectedly.

Yang Rixi finally freed himself from the belated affection of his parents. It was almost noon when he hurried upstairs, eagerly shut the door, and took out the puppet from his pocket, asking, "Did you do this?" His eyes curved into a smile.

Wen Ying replied slowly, "Yes and no."

Yang Rixi's smile froze. "What do you mean?"

"It's just… a bit complicated," Wen Ying crossed his arms. "I'll explain when I sort it out. The process is complex, and even I'm not quite sure yet."

He needed to figure out if it was Muershi.

In a luxurious apartment, a handsome young man put down his phone, stretched out his arms, and leaned back on the sofa with a smile in his eyes.

"He's been caught."

Miniature Muershi gradually emerged from the side, holding a small black blob with a large head and tiny body in his hand. The blob trembled and squeezed out a pleading smile. "Um, can I go now?"

Lately, its luck seemed to be at an all-time low, encountering two life-threatening big shots in a row.

Muershi tilted his head. Though his expression was anything but menacing – with a smiling face and casual tone – Diao Mei felt that this demon was even more terrifying than the silver-haired one.

"Not allowed," the mischievous fiend bird relished the sight of the other's anxiety and fear before giving his answer with a laugh. He laughed wildly and carefree, as if he had stumbled upon something delightful, yet the laughter in his eyes was icy cold.

Listening to Huo Jue's light-hearted and nonchalant laughter beside him, thoughts of his own deceived wish soured his mood instantly.

Wen Ying realized he didn't have Diao Mei's contact information. Old Hong had also communicated through Diao Mei, leaving him with a headache. Originally, he thought he could just find Diao Mei by going to Yang Shize, only to discover that Yang Shize had been taken in.

Well, he'd start with Lin Wenpu then. Wen Ying rushed back home, planning to ask his parents if they knew where Lin Wenpu lived in their neighborhood.

It had been a while since he last saw his parents. Wen Ying flew into his room through the window. The burnt cabinet had been dealt with and replaced with a brand new, identical one, though the dolls inside were gone.

After another round of curses directed at the demonic mask, he opened the door and stepped out.

There was someone else's presence in the living room – his father was there. Reunited after a long time apart, Wen Ying's heart raced as he flew over, shouting, "Dad!"

In a house where no one else should have been, Lin Tianbao was startled by the unexpected voice of his son, who hadn't been seen for ages. He straightened up, only to turn around and see a doll calling him 'Dad.' His lips trembled, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed onto the sofa.

Wen Ying: "..." He had momentarily forgotten about his father's timid nature.

Wen Ying clenched his teeth and used an illusion to transform back into his human form, shaking Lin Tianbao awake.

Awoken, Lin Tianbao was still trembling in fear. He sat up, looking around nervously. Seeing Wen Ying, he murmured in confusion, "Little Ying, you're back?"

Memories flooded back, causing Lin Tianbao to shiver. "I think I just had a dream where a puppet called out for my dad."

Wen Ying replied irritably, "That was me. My return to the human realm this time was rather unusual; I came back using a puppet's body."

With that explanation, Lin Tianbao wasn't scared anymore. He placed a hand on his chest. "Next time, give me a heads-up before you appear. Don't scare me like that. I'm quite a timid person."

"I forgot, alright?" Wen Ying muttered softly.

Lin Tianbao picked up Wen Ying and swayed him in his hand. "How amazing! What's it like being bound to a puppet?"

"There's not really any special feeling," Wen Ying said. "Dad, do you know Lin Wenpu, a shareholder of the Devil Mobile Game company?"

Lin Tianbao smacked his lips. "I know, Mom met him just a few days ago."

Wen Ying's eyes lit up. "Does Mom know where he lives in this neighborhood?"

Lin Tianbao pondered. "I think it's in Villa 14. He doesn't have anything to do with demons, does he? I need to tell Mom not to have any contact with him."

"Why would Mom have contact with him?"

"The demon company wants to make a spin-off TV series based on their mobile game and approached Mom for discussions…" Lin Tianbao suddenly panicked as he spoke. "That demon company isn't really owned by a demon, is it?!"

The corner of Wen Ying's mouth twitched. His father's timidity was fortunately not inherited by him.

"For now, it seems like it's actually run by an exorcist."

Lin Tianbao sighed in relief. "That's good to hear."

"By the way, Dad, what has our great-grandfather been up to lately?"

"He said he wanted to go fishing in the countryside, so he's been living in the village for quite some time now."

Wen Ying: "…" Now he knew where his father's bravery came from. He originally wanted to ask Wen Dingjue about Aruda, but he felt embarrassed to inquire about it through the latter's phone.

He would call Wen Dingjue again using his parents' phones in a few days. Rubbing against his father's face, Wen Ying reluctantly said, "Dad, I'll be going now."

Lin Tianbao was taken aback. "Leaving so soon after just arriving?"

"I returned to the human realm for my final exams. I need to earn some points now."

"Then hurry up and don't fail," Lin Tianbao promptly replied. "Don't disgrace us humans, and take care of yourself. Avoid conflicts with other demons. If you can't beat them, just give in."

Wen Ying: "…Okay."

Unaware of the hesitation in Wen Ying's 'okay', Lin Tianbao watched his departure with concern.

It was better not to let his father know about his feats in the demon realm, Wen Ying thought to himself.

He flew to Villa 14 and cast an invisibility spell on himself before sneaking inside.

There were no magical fluctuations within. There were no barriers or detection spells – it was as clean as an ordinary human household.

Lin Wenpu was absent, leaving only a few servants inside. Wen Ying explored the villa but found no signs of anything suspicious. Frowning deeply, he realized that the transaction site wasn't here.

The next location to investigate was the headquarters of the Devilish Company, which happened to be located in Mu City as well. Wen Ying flew over and detected a strong magical reaction from the building. He retraced his path, planning to borrow Yang Rixi's body later. With their causal contract in place, he could do so without attracting undue attention from exorcists.

In the afternoon, when his mother was not at home, Wen Ying returned in the evening. Wen Qinxue was thrilled to see him, and after an emotional reunion, Wen Ying shared his intentions with her.

Wen Qinxue was surprised. How could that company be involved with both demons and exorcists?

"Mother, I'm also puzzled. I'm investigating right now. Next time you discuss that TV drama with them, could you request to have the meeting at their premises? Bring along my current host, Yang Rixi."

"Yang Rixi?" Lin Tianbao leaned in. "Isn't that the main figure in the recent sensational case of the Yang family, where a child was switched at birth?"

"It's him."

Wen Ying recounted the recent events, including Yang Shize's exploitation of demons for personal gain. Lin Tianbao and Wen Qinxue listened in astonishment and relief, grateful that they had not crossed paths with someone like Yang Shize, accompanied by a demonic entity.

{Wen Ying} personally crafted miniature "amulets" for them on the spot, imbuing them with dispelling magic to counter illusions, and further enveloping them in a layer of concealment magic. Thus, the exorcists would not detect any trace of these amulets.

Lin Tianbao immediately swore to wear it constantly, revealing his obvious fear.

Wen Qinxue had yet to discuss the next meeting's time and location with the other party. Taking advantage of the moment, she pulled out her phone to inquire and set a date. The other side agreed without hesitation and even warmly invited Wen Qinxue to visit their headquarters.

The meeting was scheduled for the following day, as they were eager to finalize the TV series adaptation.

With the business settled, Wen Qinxue held the doll gently in one hand while stroking its face, concern etched on her features. "Your life in the Demon Realm must have been tough. I wonder why Grandfather was so insistent on sending you there."

Lin Tianbao nodded. "If he hadn't said that your body would become stronger in the Demon Realm, I never would've let you go to such a perilous place."

Each month, he used Aruda's phone to reassure his parents of his safety, but to maintain his image as an obedient son, he omitted any mention of his aggressive behavior in the Demon Realm – fights and bullying were completely absent from his stories.

Listening to his parents' worries, Wen Ying felt a twinge of guilt and hastily flew away. "Don't worry, I'll possess Yang Rixi tomorrow. Mom, just pick me up at the neighborhood entrance at eight in the morning."

Back at the Yang residence, he informed Yang Rixi that he would need to borrow his body for a day. Delighted that Yang Shize was now inside, Yang Rixi readily agreed.

The next day, Wen Ying accompanied Wen Qinxue as they confidently entered the building through the main entrance.

"Friend's child, bumped into him by chance, said he loves your demon mobile game, so I offered to bring him over for a visit," Wen Qinxue explained to those around them.

Wen Ying followed Wen Qinxue from the elevator to the conference room, observing along the way that several exorcists could be seen casually around the company. These exorcists didn't appear menacing or radical, making it hard to associate them with extremist groups.

Suddenly, Wen Ying spotted a tall and sturdy man approaching them, causing her heart to skip a beat. It was the renowned Cosplayer Hell Orange, also a formidable exorcist. He was chatting and laughing with the nearby employees and politely nodded at their group when he met them.

"Wonderful lad, are you interested in joining the entertainment industry?" Wen Qinxue's eyes lit up at the sight of Hell Orange, envisioning various roles he would excel in on screen.

Hell Orange politely declined, "Sorry, I'm just a Cosplayer, not skilled in professional acting."

Wen Qinxue expressed her regret, "You'd be perfect for portraying the Hellhound in this mobile game."

Hell Orange grinned, revealing his canines, "Your taste is impeccable, I specialize in cosplaying that character."

Hell Orange turned his gaze to Yang Rixi, who was possessed by Wen Ying, and walked over, leaning in with a smile. "Handsome young man, are you also in the scriptwriting field?"

Chapter 92: Stop 23: Ascending Son

Yan Qiling picked up his wolf-hair fine brush, flipped open the red paper, ready to inscribe those two characters.

However, when he clearly saw the rule written on the red paper, his pen tip hesitated.

Because the rule on the red paper had changed.

It originally read: "Say 'may you have a son soon' to a woman, and she will assist you."

Additional words, written in cinnabar, appeared below: Can only be spoken to by married women.

He lowered his gaze, inscribing the eight characters at the end of the red parchment with ink, gently tapping the tip of the calligraphy brush on it.

As he wrote, he witnessed the phrase "Lights out when no one's around, never forget" seem to dissolve as if touched by water, becoming indistinct.

In the blink of an eye, that reddish blur slowly reassembled, forming a new rule:

A lamp must be lit within the first cup of tea upon entering the room.

Yan Qiling gazed thoughtfully at the two lines of rewritten rules.

From behind the shelf, Shi Wenming emerged and noticed his pensive expression, feeling slightly embarrassed but now determined to approach this peculiar yet reassuring man with boldness.

Seeing the extra half-sentence that suddenly appeared in the rules, he blinked, then, after confirming he hadn't misread, asked hesitantly,

"Did... the rule change?"

Yan Qiling nonchalantly hummed in response.

Shi Wenming, however, couldn't remain as calm. He quickly sensed something amiss,

"Is it possible... someone already has...?"

"Mm. We'll know later."

Yan Qiling closed the red slip, appearing unruffled as if the matter didn't weigh on his mind at all.

As dusk settled in, the lights in the room automatically flickered on. He glanced sideways at the lamp, his gaze wandering until it rested on a bronze mirror on the opposite cabinet.

The patina on the copper mirror's surface melted away as swiftly as summer snowflakes, reverting to its original clarity, smooth enough to reflect the faint candlelight.

Before Yan Qiling could avert his gaze, an unfamiliar young servant squeezed himself in through the door.

A servant entered and bowed respectfully towards them.

"Mr. Yan, Mr. Shi, there has been an incident in the main courtyard. At the request of Manager Xi Yi, I humbly ask both of you to come and investigate."

Shi Wenming didn't dare to readily accept such an unexpected invitation, stealing glances at the enigmatic man beside him.

Tucking the red note into his sleeve, Yan Qiling lowered his hands, revealing a perfect, warm smile.

"Lead the way, please."

As they exited, Yan Qiling's fingertips lightly flicked, extinguishing the lights within the room.

The servant cast a glance back but said nothing, continuing to walk hastily with his head bowed.

They passed through several moon-shaped archways and gradually could hear the buzz of voices, though it was subdued, as if many people were whispering in close proximity to one another.

As they entered the gloomy courtyard, they found it already surrounded by quite a number of people.

The men and women stood distinctly apart, with their ranks clearly defined. Essentially, only those servants with some authority could stand forward, leaving a path cleared in the center.

Yan Qiling walked directly down this path, revealing the scene hidden behind the bustling crowd.

A worn-out straw mat was laid on the ground, upon which lay a drenched young girl. Her face was pale, her eyes devoid of life, and water stains could be seen around her mouth and nose – it was Yue Pengpeng.

Her skin had turned white from soaking, and she stared helplessly and resentfully at the foggy sky above her. Her frozen expression revealed an extreme terror, capturing the hope and despair of her final moments in stark clarity.

Flies, seemingly from nowhere, crawled over her open eyes, leisurely grooming their forelegs.

Yan Qiling didn't know Yue Pengpeng well.

But he knew the Master of the Endless Abyss.

He could almost smell the lingering, pungent scent of the soul left behind.

This was what the Master of the Endless Abyss cherished most, the sweetest taste to savor.

The Unbounded Lord relished in souls steeped in despair, agony, hatred, and resentment, savoring the essence of negativity.

This extremity of emotion offered the Unbounded Lord a thrilling sensation, creating an irresistible addiction.

In pursuit of more intense pleasures, the Unbounded Lord would distort their hedonistic inclinations, ultimately descending into darkness.

Torment was the supreme culinary art that the Unbounded Lord inflicted upon their "fare," as evident with Yue Pengpeng, whose soul had been devoured entirely, leaving behind only faint vestiges of her spirit.

In her open palm lay a crimson mark.

It was the character "Sheng," vividly carved with some unknown object, its red hue vibrant.

Drowned.

But the actual cause of death remained unclear.

Shi Wenming didn't dare to examine the corpse up close, so he waited until Yan Qiling had finished his inspection before mustering the courage to whisper softly.

"Weren't they always confined to the embroidery tower? How did she suddenly come out and end up dead here?!"

"I have no idea."

Yan Qiling answered straightforwardly:

"However, since Xi Yi has invited us to inspect, they will likely invite others as well. It doesn't matter how Yue Pengpeng died; what's important is that the Bai family plans to make an issue out of this."

Shi Wenguang broke into a cold sweat from his two sentences.

Before they could discuss further, the servant who had summoned them indeed returned, still respectful:

"Since both gentlemen have had a good look, please follow me to the Fish Dragon Hall."

Shi Wenguang's expression immediately turned grim.

The two, having seen the accounts, naturally knew that the so-called Fish Dragon Hall was the "Holy Temple" the Bai family had always revered.

Yan Qiling lifted his foot to follow, but Shi Wenguang suddenly clutched his stomach and struggled to say:

"Apologies, for the moment... I have a bit of an upset stomach... Could we perhaps postpone it until later?"

The servant didn't give him a hard time but instead glanced at the sky and suggested,

"Mr. Shi, why not endure it a little longer? There's a guest room outside the Fish Dragon Hall where you can rest. According to Butler Xi's wishes, you'll be treated with utmost hospitality, so there's no need to worry about any discomfort."

...Was it truly a hospitable reception, rather than a punishment fit for a VIP?

Shi Wenguang didn't dare to bet on that. At this moment, he only wished to buy himself a few more minutes, and he turned to Yan Qiling with a pleading look.

Yan Qiling didn't stop him but simply smiled at the servant and said,

"Since Mr. Shi wants to rest, let him take a short break before coming. I'll go with you first."

The servant fell silent for a moment, then nodded and led Yan Qiling forward in silence.

As the servant had said, they didn't head straight into the Fish Dragon Hall but instead went to a side guest room prepared outside first.

Indeed, as Shi Wenguang had noticed, he wasn't the only one seated in the guest room.

Ming Yiyang and Lin Yongjian looked up almost simultaneously upon hearing someone enter.

Upon seeing him, Ming Yiyang continued wiping his knife with his head lowered, while Lin Yongjian stood up. He almost called out "Teacher Yan" but held back, addressing him instead with:

"Mr. Yan."

Yan Qiling acknowledged with a soft hum. His gaze swept around the guest room, noticing Quai was also present, hugging the back of his head tightly with both hands, shivering in his chair.

The man's neck was wrapped messily with bindings, suggesting an injury there. Overall, he appeared even more disheveled than earlier that morning.

After a moment of deliberation, Yan Qiling asked:

"Just the few of us?"

"There should be more coming. They were taken to see Yue Pengpeng," Ming Yiyang replied casually, his hand pausing slightly in his knife-wiping motion.

"Shi Wen Guang?" he inquired.

"He's feeling unwell and will arrive later."

Yan Qiling also observed them, turning to Yu Kui and asking,

"Where's Yi Hongda?"

Yu Kui leaped up as if burned, shouting,

"I don't know! He... I don't know! He ran, he ran away!"

Confused by Yu Kui's reaction, Yan Qiling quickly realized what was happening and immediately turned to Ming Yiyang, his tone tinged with surprise,

"He's gone mad?"

"Something like that."

Lin Yongjian seized the opportunity, casually blocking Yan Qiling's view of the silver-haired young man behind him,

"Yi Hongda is no more."

Yan Qiling's gaze, which was about to turn away, paused slightly as he asked for the first time:

"How did he die?"

Lin Yongjian glanced at Yu Kui, who seemed to be mentally unstable, and sighed deeply.

"Madam Bai found out about Yi Hongda and Yu Kui's visit to the Wen family. She used the excuse that they had been tainted by Young Master Wen's aura and sent them to the Dragon Fish Hall to offer a soul lamp to Young Master Wen, saying it would 'boost his yang energy.'"

"Yu Kui mentioned that they were separated into two different rooms, with only a wall between them."

"Suddenly, he heard a cat's meow, but remembering that the rules had changed, he held back and didn't go out... But somehow, Yi Hongda ran out from the adjacent room... After that, he forgot to extinguish the lamp."

"When we found him, he had already been burned to death, his body charred beyond recognition... If not for the watch on his wrist that hadn't been completely burned, we wouldn't have been able to identify him."

Yan Qiling's expression remained neutral. He looked again at Yu Kui, who was trembling from the recounting of events, and asked,

"Were there bloodstains on Yi Hongda's body?"

Lin Yongjian nodded.

"Certainly."

Then, he took the man's surprisingly cold hand in his own.

Startled by the unexpected chill, Lin Yongjian quickly composed himself and wrote the character "Gui" using his fingers on the icy palm.

"It's the 'Gui' from longan," he explained, not releasing the man's hand.

This gesture deepened the silver-haired young man's gaze significantly. With his unchanging dark eyes, he glanced at the interlocked hands of the two without uttering a sound.

Of course, Lin Yongjian sensed that piercing gaze, but he pretended not to notice, maintaining a serious expression as he said, "To be honest, the three characters we've gathered so far—'Jujube,' 'Rise,' and 'Osmanthus'—remind me of the phrase 'Jujubes bear osmanthus flowers.' However, I'm unsure why Yue Pengpeng's 'Rise' refers to 'ascending.'

"Is there a possibility that it's the 'rise' in 'promotions and wealth'?"

The silver-haired youth nonchalantly finished sharpening his blade and stood up immediately.

An imposing figure loomed over the two men, exerting an intangible sense of pressure.

He gazed down at Lin Yongjian's hand holding Yan Qiling's, his expressionless face delivering the words,

"Mr. Lin has finished what he needed to write. It might not be appropriate for you to still be holding Mr. Yan's hand like this."

Lin Yongjian was undaunted and replied straightforwardly,

"I don't mind."

"You might not mind, but I have a feeling Mr. Yan would be quite particular about it."

Ming Yiyang deliberately bent his waist and tilted his head, drawing close to Yan Qiling's countenance, his gaze locking with the mandarin duck-hued pupils of the other. In an almost imperceptible whisper, he breathed out:

"Professor Yan, what do you think?"

His voice was so soft that Lin Yongjian failed to catch what he said.

Yet, Yan Qiling heard every word clearly.

His long eyelashes cast a shadow over his eyes as they turned towards the person beside him, who wore a mischievous smile. He then tugged at the wrist that was being held captive.

Unconsciously, Lin Yongjian tightened his grip, not allowing the other person to break free.

He was about to say more, but Ming Yiyang had already positioned himself half behind Yan Qiling, politely yet firmly grasping Lin Yongjian's wrist with a leisurely smile.

"Mr. Lin, why bother? Forced affection never bears sweet fruit."

The young man stepped closer, and suddenly, countless violets blossomed in his pupils, transforming his dark irises into an exquisite purple hue.

The words that tumbled out turned ominous in an instant:

"Should you touch my people again, don't blame me for being impolite."

Chapter 95: Each Time

Observing Jin land on his bottom in the toilet bowl, Lu Ran clapped his hands, then opened the bathroom door and walked out.

The two bodyguards noticed Lu Ran's exit.

Their tone instantly became respectful and hesitant, "How are we supposed to explain this to Mr. Ji?"

"My boss?"

Lu Ran waved it off, "Oh, he's long accustomed to it."

The bodyguards continued to be astonished.

Lu Ran, on the other hand, was pleasantly surprised to see them.

He instructed, "I happen to have something to attend to outside. You two go in there and keep an eye on that one, make sure he doesn't escape!"

With that, Lu Ran left.

The two bodyguards glanced at Lu Ran's retreating figure and then at the one still bent over in the restroom.

They jokingly extended their arms in an "Elang" gesture towards Lu Ran.

However, Lu Ran had already vanished in the blink of an eye.

One of the bodyguards couldn't help but wipe his face as he asked, "Big Brother, what should we do now?"

The other one was equally uncertain.

Eventually, he said helplessly, "What else can we do? Let's go in!"

Lu Ran wandered around the corridor for a bit.

From a distance, he noticed Shen Hongyuan and Old Leon engaged in conversation.

Second Young Master was nowhere to be seen.

Therefore, Lu Ran didn't approach them and continued strolling down the corridor instead.

Sure enough, he soon spotted Yan Lino on his own.

Lu Ran pondered for a moment.

He mussed up his hair slightly and then approached Yan with a flustered expression.

"Second, Second Young Master, can I ask for your help?"

Yan looked at Lu Ran, somewhat surprised.

He was still upset by Old Lino's words earlier.

His father had mentioned that marrying into the Lu family seemed like an incredible opportunity.

Yet, as usual, such fortunate arrangements were made for his older brother instead of him, despite them both being his sons. It was as if he, the second son, didn't exist.

Seeing Lu Ran approach, Yan was still feeling indignant. "Aren't you with my brother?"

"The issue lies with your older brother. He's suddenly acting very strangely, and I still hope that Second Young Master Ji can lend me a hand..."

Lu Ran whispered.

Upon hearing this, Yang perked up unexpectedly.

He had always been overshadowed by his older brother. Now, someone thought his brother was unreliable and sought his help instead?

"I'll accompany you then," Yang said.

"Thank you so much." Lu Ran smiled at him and turned to lead the way ahead.

Yang observed the young man before him the entire journey.

Frankly, he didn't have any particular first impression of Lu Ran. When they first met, he only remembered Lu Ran as a shabbily dressed follower beside Ji Min.

Upon learning that Lu Ran was associated with the Shen family, his impression had soured even further.

That was why he had taken out his frustration on Lu Ran without hesitation, dousing him in alcohol.

Yet, given Jin's evident interest in Lu Ran, Yang couldn't help but study Lu Ran for a while longer.

He even entertained the thought, somewhat distractedly, that perhaps Lu Ran was not interested in his brother but in him instead?

If that were the case, wouldn't he be the one to seize the "opportunity" through an alliance with the Shen family?

Opportunity was all Yang could think about, so much so that he didn't notice when Lu Ran led him towards the restroom.

By the time he snapped back to reality, the young man in front of him had turned around and pushed him into the restroom, shutting the door with a loud "slam."

One could only say that the brothers Jin and Yang shared similar instincts.

Upon witnessing Lu Ran's actions, Young Master Two's heart raced with anticipation.

Assuming they were about to have a moment in the restroom, he raised his arm, ready to pin Lu Ran against the wall.

However, halfway through, his arm froze in mid-air.

For he had finally caught sight of a familiar figure, desperately struggling with their head wedged inside the toilet bowl in one of the adjacent stalls.

If he recalled correctly...

Why does this person wear clothes that resemble his brother's so closely?

Yang devoted himself to his studies for a while, and upon lowering his gaze once more, he found that the very same youth who had just been gazing up at him with an obedient smile now held a toilet brush in hand, its origin inexplicably obscure.

Yang's eyes dilated, and he quickly took a step back. "W-What do you intend to do?"

Lu Ran was somewhat astonished by the second young master's intelligence.

He asked, "You saw your brother in this state and still asked me what I was doing?"

Yang turned his head again to glance at the cubicle over there and then at the toilet brush in Lu Ran's hand.

Only now did he realize, albeit belatedly, how his elegant and captivating lover, who could be found everywhere, had ended up in such a predicament.

"Haha! With your scrawny frame, what can you possibly do to me?"

Yang scoffed disdainfully.

He was no Jin, all show and no substance.

Speaking, he reached out to seize the "weapon" in Lu Ran's hand.

But as both hands extended, brandishing various moves, he astonishingly found that there was nowhere to actually make a move?

"You! Just you wait!"

Realizing the situation was turning unfavorable, Yang immediately moved to open the door and leave.

Lu Ran sighed.

Given Yang's physique, it was indeed a bit challenging for him.

Feeling slightly defeated, Lu Ran could only say, "Come out, then."

Yang was just about to unleash another threat.

Glancing up, he noticed the adjacent stall wide open, and two burly men stepping out from within.

They pinned him down, one on each side.

A muffled cry echoed through the corridor.

moments later, Lu Ran reappeared.

He had deliberately washed his hands thoroughly, meticulously drying each finger with a tissue.

Then, with a look of panic on his face, he dashed towards where Shen Hongyuan and Old Lino were conversing.

Midway, Lu Ran paused.

From a distance, he cast a disdainful glance at Shen Hongyuan.

Afterward, he reached up to tousle his clothing, creating a slightly disheveled appearance.

Meanwhile, Shen Hongyuan and Old Lino were still engrossed in their conversation.

There was Lu Ran, disheveled and rushing over. After standing still, he seemed to suppress his anger with great effort as he shot Shen Hongyuan a glance.

Seeing this expression, Shen Hongyuan knew that he must have suffered a great loss.

Putting on an oblivious facade, Shen Hongyuan smiled warmly at Lu Ran and asked, "What's the matter? Why are you in such a hurry?"

Lu Ran glanced at him but didn't pour out his grievances. Instead, he turned to Old Renald and said,

"Uncle, Jin Heyang and I... They started fighting over me!"

Both Shen Hongyuan and Old Renald were taken aback by these words.

With a worried look on his face, Lu Ran continued, "Jin was with me... when Yang suddenly came over and punched Jin, asking why it was always him..."

Lu Ran's explanation was vague.

But Old Renald knew his two sons well and immediately connected the dots.

Given Jin's nature, he would certainly be trying to touch someone up right now.

There was even a chance that it might turn into a forced situation.

Yang was a fool who lacked his elder brother's intelligence but insisted on mimicking him.

It was something only a pig-brained person would do to intervene at such a crucial moment.

They were in the Shen family's house right now!

The Linos and Shens had a long-standing feud, yet these two brothers were actually fighting over a member of the Shen family within their home?

This was a massive disgrace.

Old Linos nearly fainted from anger.

He immediately stood up and exclaimed, "These two ungrateful brats, to actually do such a thing. Where are they?"

"They're... in the restroom on the first floor," Lu Ran whispered.

Old Linos promptly headed for the restroom.

In the face of trouble caused by someone from another family in his own home, the head of the family, Shen Hongyuan, naturally followed.

Lu Ran accompanied him, lingering behind.

"You did that on purpose to Jin…" Lu Ran gritted his teeth.

Shen Hongyuan's expression showed genuine surprise, not a hint of guilt for involving his own son in trouble.

He pretended to inquire, "What's wrong? What happened between you and Young Master Jin?"

But seeing Lu Ran's enraged state, Shen Hongyuan completely relaxed his guard.

It seemed something serious had indeed occurred.

Over there, Old Lino was consumed with anger and, without hesitation, pushed open the bathroom door and entered.

Spotting the commotion inside, with figures seemingly engaged in a fight, Shen Hongyuan instinctively followed suit and stepped into the bathroom.

A sharp click echoed in the air.

Upon turning his head, he saw Lu Ran, standing behind him, locking the door.

At that moment, the chaotic scene in the bathroom finally came into view.

With his head down, someone was bound to the toilet, desperately struggling. Yang was held down by two bodyguards, with a filthy toilet brush pressed against his face.

In that instant, not only Old Leon was stunned.

Even Shen Hongyuan, who had personally experienced Lu Ran's "special attacks," was taken aback.

What on earth were they doing!

His understanding of Lu Ran was still limited to that dog.

He never imagined that his son's aggression had extended to human restrooms!

So stunned was Shen Hongyuan that he had momentarily forgotten to hide.

After all, Zhang Lin, Gu Ningqi, and the others wouldn't go into explicit detail about their experiences outside.

The current situation far exceeded Shen Hongyuan's comprehension.

He felt an irresistible urge to investigate and took two steps toward the cubicle.

Upon closer inspection, he confirmed that it was indeed a person bound to the toilet.

Not some form of performance art.

Taking two more steps back, he examined the toilet brush propped against Yang's face with scrutiny.

After much contemplation, he concluded:

This was indeed a genuine toilet brush, and one that had been used before.

Upon this realization, Shen Hongyuan was left profoundly stunned.

He paused in his tracks and began to ponder slowly.

Why did they come in here again?

Old Leino was even more bewildered.

Spotting his eldest son with his head in the toilet, he didn't even realize that it was Lu Ran's "innocent bunny" arm holding him down.

In Old Leino's eyes, Lu Ran was too harmless.

There was no need to consider him a threat at all.

Thus, after much deliberation, Old Leino confronted Yang with an angry expression. "I can overlook your brotherly bickering, but how could you stuff your own brother into the toilet!"

Yang, prodded by the toilet brush, was stunned.

Before Old Leino arrived, he had unwavering faith that his own father would come to his rescue.

For this reason, despite the toilet brush poking at his mouth, Yang gritted his teeth and endured it.

Yet, his father arrived and his first reaction was to interrogate him?

If he were truly guilty, would he be threatened with a toilet brush?

Yang nearly jumped in anger!

"Ugh, ugh, ugh, ugh!" He struggled to explain.

But explaining meant opening his mouth.

His jaw relaxed.

The bodyguard holding him, reacting to his struggle, exerted more force.

A horrifying scene unfolded.

The bodyguard holding the toilet brush stared at it in his hand, his expression breaking down for a moment.

He looked even worse than Yang.

Good heavens.

What had he done?

Was this the beginning of his downfall?

But one had to admit, it was quite an effective way to teach someone a lesson...

At this moment, seeing his own son being stabbed, Old Lino finally realized that he had been tricked.

He was just about to speak.

But Lu Ran, from the tool compartment, took out a plunger and threw it at another bodyguard. "Catch!"

This bodyguard had not yet succumbed to corruption.

Seeing the plunger flying towards him, he panicked.

When he successfully caught it, he was on the verge of tears. "Young Master! Is this something you can just throw around?"

"Relax, I threw it headfirst!"

With that, Lu Ran pointed at Old Lino and said, "That cunning old fellow is all yours!"

After saying that, he turned around and grabbed Shen Hongyuan, who was attempting to escape.

Then, he flashed a smile, "Head of the Shen family, aren't we in your own home? Why are you running?"

Looking at Jin still stuck in the toilet bowl, Yang with a toilet brush stuck in his mouth, and Old Lino facing a plunger, Shen Hongyuan's expression shifted multiple times.

His face flickered between fear, kindness, and malevolence several times.

Eventually, realizing that his acting wouldn't convince Lu Ran, his expression darkened completely.

With a quivering voice, he exclaimed, "This is the Shen family! What are you doing, Lu Ran?"

Lu Ran looked at him with a smile and said, "You ask me what I'm doing? Why didn't you question your actions when you conspired with outsiders to sell your own son?"

Afterward, he grabbed Shen Hongyuan's collar and led him to one of the partitions, pushing the door open.

In a casual manner, as if they were having a chat, Lu Ran sighed to Shen Hongyuan, "That Jin fellow attempted to take advantage of me on several occasions, but I never used this on him."

"Do you know why?" Lu Ran inquired.

Shen Hongyuan's face was rigid, not daring to utter a word, fearing that any wrong remark might provoke this madman.

Lu Ran was indifferent to his response.

He simply offered an expression of delight:

"Because your second son just used it! Of course, I'm saving it for you, the father!"

Upon hearing this, Shen Hongyuan's face contorted in shock.

Lu Ran applied more force.

Shen Hongyuan then toppled straight towards the toilet bowl.

He quickly used his hands to brace himself, staring at the terrifying toilet with trembling lips. "Rebellious child! Rebellious child! I am your biological father!"

Hearing this, Lu Ran was taken aback. "So you do remember?"

He showed no mercy as he pushed the man further into the toilet bowl.

Shen Hongyuan had no strength in his arms; he was about to fall in headfirst.

Petrified, he cried out, "Didn't you ask where the Gu family's gift to you is? I'll tell you right now!"

All that answered him was the calm, indifferent voice of the youth behind him:

"But I don't want to know right now. I just want to press you into me."

"No, no, no!"

Shen Hongyuan didn't believe that there was anything in this world that couldn't be resolved by interests.

If there was, it could only be because he wasn't yet truthful enough.

Hastily, he said, "It's in the cabinet against the wall in my study, to the east. The key... the key is on me!"

Yet, Lu Ran didn't lessen his grip by an inch.

Another roar of "Ah" echoed, followed closely by a thud.

Lu Ran watched silently as he pressed Shen Hongyuan, his father in a biological sense, into the toilet bowl.

In the end, he reached out to pluck a set of keys from Shen Hongyuan's belt, disdainfully flicking them aside.

When he straightened up and surveyed the bathroom, the scene was nothing short of horrifying.

Shen Hongyuan howled as he pulled his head out of the toilet bowl.

Lino, whose face had been pushed into the plunger, and Yang, who had a toilet brush in his mouth, were now in a state of detached souls, seemingly questioning if they were still dreaming.

Jin, through persistent struggles, had managed to break free from the ropes and fell onto the ground.

However, this incident seemed to have deeply affected him.

He sat on the floor with a dazed expression, almost in a state of stupor.

Lu Ran shook his head and asked the trio from Lino's family in a puzzled manner, "Why did you react so strongly?"

Why such a huge reaction?

He actually asked why they had such a strong response?!

Upon hearing this, Jin almost jumped off the ground.

He pointed at the toilet and, in a state of utter devastation, asked, "If you had to drink toilet water, wouldn't you be devastated too?"

Lu Ran, the culprit, tilted his head. In his innocent black eyes, genuine confusion shone through:

"But didn't you two already have that drink together?"

Jin was taken aback by his words.

Upon careful recollection, his expression transformed subtly.

Immediately, he roared, "We didn't drink what your brother poured out; we spat it all out!"

He bellowed out his words, yet all that met his gaze was the youth standing before the washbasin, diligently scrubbing his hands, still gazing back at him in bewilderment, saying,

"But you all drank what I poured, and didn't you enjoy it immensely and even yearn for it afterwards?"

Jin was utterly stunned.

Upon fully grasping the implication nestled within the young man's words, his entire being trembled with a palpable intensity.

"Y-YOU mean..."

"No, no, no, it's impossible!"

With visible struggle, Jin glared at Lu Ran and asked resentfully, "Which time was it?"

Having asked the question, he beheld the youth smiling at him bashfully, a familiar flush of shyness spreading across his countenance as he said,

"Each and every time."

Each time...

"I've been endlessly thinking about the wine you poured for me..."

"It's a truly unique richness."

...

Recalling his own past words, a jet of water burst from Jin's throat in an instant.

Chapter 175 - One Step Closer

The aroma of the food drew not only the Chen family and their troupe of children into the valley to move stones, but also the Zhou, Lu, and Shi families, who lived on the other side.

Although it was already dark, the two blazing fires illuminated the area well enough.

The Shen family's dinner eventually turned into a midnight feast for the entire group in the valley. The ones who truly ate their fill were Chen Dashan, Shen Lie, and the younger Shen siblings.

Shen An and Shen Ning had no dietary restrictions, while the three Shen Jin brothers were reminded by Sang Luo not to overindulge in grilled meat. They were allowed only a small taste of chicken, with a focus on lighter dishes. Thus, they contented themselves with stone-grilled tofu and stone-grilled cabbage. Nonetheless, they were ecstatic, mainly due to the lively atmosphere. The children gathered together, with the Shen kids, excluding the food-obsessed Shen Tie, unable to sit still at the table.

Sang Luo had prepared plenty of food, including three whole chickens and a generous amount of wild boar. As Shen Ning grilled, the children from neighboring families fetched chopsticks and eagerly gathered around the stone stove, waiting for a taste. While the Shens ate, the Chens joined in. It was probably the happiest day for the children since moving into Yun Valley. Even Wang Yunzheng, known for his introverted nature, was lured to the stone grill by Xu Wenbo.

Xu Wenying was the quickest to react. In the midst of eating, she seized an opportunity to approach Sang Luo. "Sister A Luo, where did you find this stone slab?"

Sang Luo laughed upon hearing this. "Do you want to grill too? It's not far from the mountain stream outside the valley. Tomorrow, I'll ask Shen Lie to take your father or Uncle Xu to have a look."

Xu Wenqing chimed in excitedly, "I'll go! I'll go!"

Not only Xu Wenying was delighted, but all the children who heard this were thrilled as well. They promptly pulled their fathers along, asking them to search for stone slabs.

How could they refuse such an offer? Not only were the children eager, but the adults were also enticed. Moreover, this indeed created a lively atmosphere, and everyone readily agreed.

The midnight feast lasted for more than an hour before they gradually dispersed. This was mainly because each family needed to deal with the wild boar meat they had acquired that day.

There was no alternative; in just a few days, it would be the sixth lunar month, and the weather was scorching hot. Even though the cave was cooler than the outside, it was best to handle meat as soon as possible.

The pig's skin and head had been taken care of immediately after the hunt at a suitable location. The Lu and Shi families had more members, but their hunting skills were inferior to Shen Lie and Chen Dashan's. Concerned that the winter in the mountains might be colder than outside, they had taken the skin, leaving the Shen family to deal with the pork and offal.

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan were responsible for arranging the tables and chairs, while a few younger ones took charge of washing the dishes and utensils. Even dealing with the wild boar meat became a family affair. The benefits of having many hands were evident; even the youngsters, under the guidance of Shen Ning and Shen An, carried out their tasks competently. Cleaning the offal was primarily the responsibility of these children.

Both Jin and Yin studied diligently, knowing full well that they would need to master these tasks themselves in the future.

Shen Lie skinned and separated the meat, while Sang Luo began preparing the curing mixture for the bacon. It was a simple process: there was no mountain wine available, but fortunately, they had planted plenty of ginger. She prepared a small bowl of minced ginger and borrowed Xu's iron pot to roast salt and Sichuan peppercorns together. With these ingredients, the mixture was complete.

The meat cut by Shen Lie, excluding two large pieces of lean meat set aside, was evenly coated with the ginger and pepper-salt mixture. The pieces were tied up and hung, ready for smoking. There was no need to build a new smoking stove; the stone slab used for grilling had cooled down and was moved back into the kitchen. A bonfire was lit outside the grill, with a rack to hang the meat above it. They constructed a temporary, removable shelter using bamboo poles and wooden planks, allowing smoke to escape while keeping rain out. Periodically adding firewood was all that was needed.

Together, they checked on the children's progress in cleaning the offal, helping them finish the job. They saved the entire pig's stomach and portions of the heart, lungs, small intestine, and liver for a pork organ stew the next day. The remaining parts, along with the two large pieces of lean meat set aside earlier, were placed in a ceramic pot with cold water. They retrieved the spices they had purchased earlier, filling the pot to create a rich, flavorful broth.

The aroma was delectable, but fortunately, the high mountains surrounding the valley and the dense vegetation on their slopes absorbed the scent before it could spread too far. It merely tantalized the appetites of those in the Gou Gou valley, where each household had received their share of meat and was busy smoking their own bacon, each with their unique skills. In the end, the results were fairly similar across the board.

One could say that the only ones feeling down were the members of the Lu family's main branch.

They could only watch helplessly.

There was no other reason; none of them participated in hunting, and naturally, nobody would take them along. As for the meat given by Shen Lie, it was a repayment of gratitude for the rice they had received before, so it wasn't their concern. Thus, they could only watch and yearn with empty eyes.

The elderly couple of the Lu family, Second Brother Lu's family, and Third Brother Lu were still considerate. Whenever there was delicious food, they would invite the children from the main branch to share. However, as for Big Brother Lu and Wang Chunniang, forget it. They were grown-ups, so they should endure it. Could they really expect to be treated like children?

Therefore, on this night, it was Big Brother Lu and Wang Chunniang who suffered the most from the tantalizing aroma.

...

Shen Lie and Sang Luo, accompanied by the younger ones, were busy until late at night before they finally washed up and rested. Exhausted from the day's labor, they slept soundly till dawn.

There was no need to go out hunting today. After breakfast, they only needed to take a stroll around and check if any pheasants were caught in the traps set yesterday. Nevertheless, out of habit, they all woke up early.

Shen Lie and Shen An lit the fire to smoke the meat early in the morning, taking care of household chores and farming matters. Shen An and the children followed their usual routine of morning reading, while Shen Lie called the families he mentioned yesterday to search for slate. He then led them out together.

Sang Luo prepared breakfast with Shen Ning. Today's breakfast was simple. They reserved the rice water from last night's dinner, boiled it for a while longer, cracked two eggs into it, stirred well, and made egg drops in the boiling rice water – an extremely nourishing meal.

Cubed braised meat and wild amaranth are mixed for the filling, while half a bowl of flour is transformed into delicate skins for the pork dumplings.

The only regret was the lack of rice wine, which made it impossible to leaven the dough. The texture resembled that of dumpling wrappers. Sangluo pondered that, given the climate in the valley, producing some rice wine should be feasible. Since Shen Lie often hunted, having rice wine on hand during times when they had more meat or vegetables would be great for making steamed buns or pancakes.

As I kneaded the dough, I pondered the idea of brewing some rice wine when I had some spare time.

At dawn, Chen was indulging in breakfast - a dozen savory meat buns steaming with aroma, and a thick rice soup laced with delicate egg flowers. The simple yet satisfying duo filled the family with contentment.

In the valley, Shen Yin and Shen Tie had been nursing themselves for two days. Though they were still alarmingly thin, their spirits had visibly lifted, and they could now hold their own.

It was Shen Jin that Sang Luo caught a glimpse of, and she noticed the dark circles under his eyes. She found it odd and asked, "Did you not sleep well last night?"

Shen Jin was taken aback but eventually shook his head.

Sang Luo gave him a look but didn't comment further. After breakfast, Shen Lie and the others went out to check if they had any success with the traps they set the day before. When they returned at noon, each of them carried a load of firewood, and all households had caught mountain chickens. Shen Jin had three, plus the one from yesterday, making it a total of four.

He was delighted to rear them.

Shen Lie's mountain chicken was also alive. Since Shen Jin now fetched a large basket full of grass every time he went out, Sang Luo decided to clip the wings of those chickens and raise them until they needed meat.

In the afternoon, when it was time for an afternoon nap, Shen Jin slept exceptionally soundly. While everyone else had already woken up, he remained deeply asleep.

That night, when Shen Lie was about to extinguish the lamp to sleep, Sang Luo stopped him. "Leave the lamp on. Just move it to the lantern stand by the dining table. There are people lying on the platform, and they won't be able to see in the dark if they need to get out of bed. We don't want anyone accidentally stepping on them."

Shen Lie didn't give it much thought. Indeed, there were many people sleeping on the first level – five in total. Thus, he decided not to blow out the lamp and followed Sang Luo's advice, moving the lamp to the lantern stand carved into the stone wall beside the dining table. "If the light bothers you, just pull down the curtain."

Sang Luo smiled and agreed.

Shen Jin let out a sigh of relief, but since he had already lain down, no one noticed.

...

Two days passed in a blink. Chen Youtian and Shen Lie finished constructing the two-tiered bed, door, and a few simple shelves. The remaining furniture like tables, chairs, and cabinets could be made by Shen Lie at a later time.

The three Shen brothers officially moved into their new home. They didn't have much belongings – just a few sets of clothes, a bed, bedding, some pottery pots and utensils, a kitchen knife, and a bow and arrows. The rest were all gifts from Shen Lie and Sang Luo.

Following the agreement they had made, Shen Lie carried several large bags of grain up to the upper cave. Shen Jin, Shen Yin, and Shen Tie stood by and watched as the grains were placed on the upper shelf. All three brothers shed tears together.

When Sang Luo, accompanied by Shen An and Shen Ning, brought up nearly twenty pieces of cured meat, they witnessed this scene.

No one uttered a word. They helped construct a small wooden stand to hang the cured meat, instructing Shen Jin and Shen Yin to air it out on sunny days. Then, she descended again to fetch a jar filled to the brim with pure white salt.

By now, Shen Jin was genuinely weeping, choking out his gratitude to Sang Luo.

Sang Luo smiled gently. "There, there. Take good care of Xiao Yin and Xiao Tie from now on. Time flies, and before you know it, they'll have grown up."

Shen Jin wiped away his tears and nodded repeatedly.

With all the belongings moved, Shen Lie was upstairs installing door frames and doors. Shen Jin led Shen Yin and Shen Tie down to the plot of land designated to the Shen family. There, they had a small chicken coop, which now housed seven fully grown pheasants.

Shen Jin caught one and headed straight for his elder brother and sister-in-law's cave entrance. He didn't need to enter; he could already see Sang Luo moving stone slabs to practice writing. Holding the flapping mountain chicken, Shen Jin said, "Sister-in-law, I'm delivering mountain chickens to everyone. This first one is for you and Brother."

Sang Luo's brows furrowed slightly.

She remembered telling him that they didn't lack such things, and it was true. To someone like Shen Lie, the produce of the mountains was abundant. But seeing Shen Jin waiting for her response with the squirming chicken in hand, she understood his intentions. She smiled and took the bird from him. "Alright, thank you, Little Jin."

Hearing that she would accept it, Shen Jin was delighted. Without letting go, he said, "I'll put it directly in the coop for you."

He turned and dashed to the area enclosed by wooden bars where chickens and ducks roamed. He placed the mountain chicken down, then smiled at Sang Luo and called out to her before leading Shen Yin and Shen Tie to catch more chickens. This time, they were heading to the Xu family's residence.

Sang Luo watched with a smile before turning back into the cave.

...

Shen Lie's promise to take Sang Luo out of the valley didn't come true. As soon as June arrived, the mountain rain increased, making it less convenient to venture out. Occasionally, when the rain stopped, the mountain paths became slippery. At such times, Shen Lie would only go out with Chen Dashan and not bring others along, not even Shen Jin.

When it rained, the valley dwellers had to worry about drainage. Elder Chen, Elder Lu, and Village Chief Zhou gathered to discuss digging more ponds on the inner side of the valley.

The children's playground shrank significantly, but if the water accumulated in the pond, they could divert it to the new ponds. This way, the water wouldn't flood the fields and serve as a water reserve for hot and dry weather. Preparation was always better than regret.

Thus, whenever it wasn't raining, the people in the valley started digging ponds. It wasn't a massive project, and those who usually didn't leave the valley took on the task. Shen Lie, who often ventured out and chopped firewood, enjoyed a rare period of relaxation.

Fortunately, Shen Lie crafted a few cabinets and a comfortable table and chair set for Shen Jin and the others. Shen An, Shen Ning, along with Xu Jia's siblings and Ah Wu and Xiaoyar, found a new hangout spot. They all gathered in Shen Jin's brothers' cave to read and write. The cave was situated higher, providing brighter light, spacious tables, and comfortable chairs.

Shen Jin, having shed his previous laziness, actively joined in their studies. Although his progress couldn't match even the youngest, Ah Wu, he put in genuine effort. He cherished every opportunity to learn, not aiming for perfection but simply to be literate and understand basic arithmetic.

With the Shen family's cave now empty, it suited Shen Lie's intentions perfectly. Most of the time, he practiced calligraphy in the cave using bamboo slips, with one stone tablet each for him and Sang Luo. Initially, they shared half a table, sitting diagonally across from each other. As Shen Lie occasionally asked for explanations of characters and stroke order, within two days, Sang Luo pointed at the bench beside her, "You should sit here."

Unable to suppress his smile, Shen Lie moved his stone tablet and sat down beside Sang Luo.

Sang Luo pretended not to notice the corners of his lips that kept rising and then forcefully held back, focusing on practicing her calligraphy. However, she couldn't help but let a hint of a smile escape her eyes.

...

The rain persisted until mid-June, filling several reservoirs in the valley to nearly three-quarters capacity. Old Man Chen had already consulted Shen Lie about diverting the water if it continued raining, as only the entrance of the valley could handle the drainage.

Fortunately, the heavens seemed to be considerate, and just as the reservoirs and ditches were reaching their limits, the rain stopped and the clouds cleared.

Seeing the sun again, Sang Luo felt an immense sense of relief. Naturally, the valley would now resume its usual routine of drying grains and bedding.

Among all, Xue Shangjia was the most anxious about the prolonged rain. The shelter's door was slanted, supposedly preventing rain from entering, and the grain storage shelves were raised. However, his concern for moisture remained, given that they were underground after all.

As soon as the sky cleared, Xue Shangjia sought Shen Lie and Chen Dashan's assistance, asking them to protect the young and strong from the Xu family as they went out to retrieve grain.

Of course, this help wouldn't come for free. A third of the retrieved grain would be given to the Chen and Shen families.

Shen Lie and Chen Dashan declined the grain, saying, "We'll accompany you on the trip to assess the situation. If it's still safe, we can detour and stealthily transport the grain. If not, we'll have to postpone the operation."

"Of course, safety comes first," Xu Shopkeeper thanked repeatedly.

Shen Lie set the departure date for three days later.

Xu Shopkeeper had no objections. A day or two made little difference in such matters. Honestly, they were still unclear about the situation outside the county, and there was a high possibility of making a fruitless journey.

After Xu Shopkeeper left, Chen Dashan wondered, "Why three days later?"

Looking at Chen Dashan, Shen Lie asked, "Did you forget something that's happening soon?"

Chen Dashan pondered but couldn't recall anything. However, Sang Luo, who was standing aside, concentrated for a moment and uncertainly asked, "Could it be that the medicinal herb that Grandma Chen mentioned is ready to be harvested?"

Shen Lie smiled and nodded. "Yes, it takes time to gather and process the herbs. Before we leave, let's search nearby to see if we can find any. If we do, you can start making medicine in the valley. By the time Dashan and I return, we'll probably have nothing left, so this will ensure continuity. Besides, before we leave, I'll hunt some fresh meat and collect more mushrooms after the rain."

The old lady had taught her family members how to identify the herb, and apart from them, she had only instructed Sang Luo and Shen Lie. Thus, their trip would allow them to accomplish two tasks: finding the herb and gathering mushrooms.

Upon hearing that they could leave today, Sang Luo's eyes lit up.

Heaven knew how long it had been—over fifty days—since she had last ventured out of the valley. The only time she had gone out was when she strolled by the mountain stream and hastily returned.

Assured that they could leave today, Sang Luo reminded Chen Dashan, "Ask Uncle You Tian or Aunt if they want to come along. With all this rain, there must be plenty of mushrooms outside. I bet Aunt would love to go for a stroll."

The old lady might also want to join them, just like her, unable to sit still for long. But in this deep mountain, it was best not to risk it.

Chen Dashan chuckled and replied, "Alright, I'll go ask right away."

As soon as Chen Dashan left, Sang Luo began to prepare her gear— a basket, a pointed hoe, and even her bow and arrows.

Noticing Shen Lie watching her fetch the weapons, she smiled and said, "I'll bring them along, just in case. I've trained hard with them before."

She had used them to provide support while in the forest before, but that was a story she didn't feel like sharing.

Shen Lie laughed. The journey was set for three days later. He had his own motives, too. He had promised Sang Luo an outing, but the rain kept delaying their plans. Seeing how thrilled she was at the prospect of leaving the valley, a smile involuntarily tugged at the corners of his lips. He joined her in packing and preparing.

Before leaving, he informed the younger ones about their departure. Shen Jin put down his brush and sprang up, "Big Brother, take me with you. I haven't hunted in ages!"

Although his brother brought home game every few days, Shen Jin hadn't hunted in nearly twenty days, and it made him uneasy.

Shen Lie couldn't relate. Patting his head, he said, "This time, I'm taking your big sister out. I promised her long ago. Next time, I'll take you hunting. Focus on studying with Xiao An and the others. There's no rush."

He left with a smile on his face.

Chapter 129: A Lead

"The sir, that's Old Hong, my superior," the demon said promptly. "Not really a superior, just a team leader of sorts. He's responsible for collecting the life force we demons gather on the outskirts and delivering it."

The demon rubbed its hands together. "Old Hong isn't much of an exorcist, nor is he particularly tough. A few punches from you should get him to spill what he knows."

Wen Ying: "..."

He flew over. Old Hong appeared blind and deaf, but when Wen Ying approached, his gaze suddenly swept over. His eyes were sharp, not at all foggy.

Upon seeing Wen Ying, Old Hong was clearly taken aback. All he could see was a mass of black mist approaching, and the aura made his hairs stand on end. After a moment of stunned silence, he was about to make a run for it. But as the demon emerged from behind Wen Ying, Old Hong paused in his escape attempt.

"Fox Demon, who's this?" Teacher Hong asked cautiously.

Diao Mei? Hearing this name, Wen Ying glanced curiously at the petite, male-voiced low-level demon. Why was someone like that called 'Mei'?

Diao Mei spoke calmly, "Old Hong, you have a chance to earn some merit right now."

No sooner had Diao Mei finished his opening remarks than Old Hong took off running. The demon's mouth dropped open.

Wen Ying raised his hand, and the black magical fog, formed from his magic, swelled, blocking the path of Old Hong who was attempting to escape. Old Hong hastily hit the brakes, nearly crashing into the eerie mist.

Old Hong suddenly turned around, flashing a ingratiating smile as he walked back enthusiastically. "Diao Mei, why didn't you introduce me to this formidable demon? Your power just blew me away!"

Diao Mei curled its lips. This old man was sly; he had clearly been trying to make a run for it earlier. It pretended to be fierce, flying over and proudly placing its hands on its hips. "Allow me to introduce, this is my new boss..."

Wen Ying slapped Diao Mei aside, landing in front of Old Hong. "Who's your superior?"

Old Hong's eyes darted around. "I'm not too clear about that. I'm just a middleman. What do you, Lord Demon, wish to know? Perhaps an old, useless fellow like me could assist you with something."

Despite being pushed away by Wen Ying, Diao Mei wasn't angry. It happily returned and scolded, "My Lord, he's lying. This Old Hong was still talking to me about his superior's grand birthday celebration not long ago."

For a moment, Old Hong couldn't hide the murderous glint in his eyes. He gritted his back teeth. This traitorous Diao Mei, why did it have to betray him and drag him into this mess? All he wanted was peace and quiet. As for this powerful demon that suddenly appeared, he had no idea where they came from.

Regardless of their origin, it was clear that they weren't here with good intentions.

"Let's not put it that way," Old Hong argued. "I did grumble a bit, but I truly don't know the identity of that fellow. All I know is that he's one of the shareholders of the Demon Mobile Game, and officially, he has nothing to do with exorcists."

"The shareholder of the Demon Mobile Game?" Hearing a familiar term, Wen Ying felt as if a dimensional barrier had shattered.

"Yes," the old man Hong replied earnestly, his confusion genuine. "The person in charge of handing over to me was called Lin Wenpu. Although he made some attempts to conceal his identity when we interacted, they weren't thorough. I discreetly investigated and quickly uncovered his background. The crucial point is that his identity has no apparent connection to an exorcist. I investigated further secretly, but couldn't find any ties between him and the exorcists. To outsiders, he seemed like an ordinary person."

Wen Ying furrowed his brows. The Devil mobile game's depiction of devils felt authentic, not like a fabrication but rather a description. Even before he became a devil, he sensed that the various backgrounds within the game were realistic.

After becoming a devil, he discovered that the devil races in the game matched almost perfectly. The abilities, weaknesses, and attack methods of each race as described in the game aligned entirely with the Devil Realm.

Upon seeing the exorcists at the memorial exhibition, Wen Ying confirmed that the game had involved an exorcist, and it was likely created by one. But now, Old Man Hong said that the shareholder who dealt with him had no apparent connection to the exorcists, and he couldn't find any link either.

"Mr. Devil, I've also found out that the Devil mobile game company initially belonged to Lin Wenpu. All the shares were his, but later, he sold many of them, retaining only a portion. After that, the Devil mobile game started gaining popularity," the old man shared.

Seeing the black fog remain silent for a long time, he nervously asked, "Mr. Devil, since I've told you about the person I dealt with, can I leave now?"

Wen Ying snapped out of his thoughts but didn't answer immediately. Instead, he closed his eyes, recalling Aruda's innate magic. He drew a "Twisted Snake" on the spot.

The card transformed into a mist of light, and a series of serpentine vines burst forth from its position, hurtling straight towards Old Man Hong.

Old Man Hong nearly stopped breathing. The menacing snake vines had rushed over at such a terrifying speed that he barely had time to react. Their overwhelming presence crushed him.

Strangely, the twisted snake vines didn't inflict severe damage. They merely grazed him before dissipating into mist.

They vanished, and Old Hong stumbled and sat down, beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead as he thought he had just narrowly escaped death.

Wen Ying flew in front of him and said, "If you reveal what happened tonight, don't even think about getting the antidote."

Old Hong looked at the spot where he felt the scrape. It was only a scratch, but it burned fiercely. Upon closer inspection, the wound was an abnormal green! His vision darkened, and he cursed inwardly. This devil was also a master of poison.

Old Hong forced a smile. "Don't worry, Mr. Devil. I definitely won't say anything. I just want to live my peaceful life."

Diao Mei, seeing this, suddenly realized that its treatment wasn't too bad. This devil hadn't poisoned it.

Old Hong rolled his eyes and said, "I won't say anything, but there are others who know, like Diao Mei. It has a big mouth. What do you think?"

Wen Ying remembered something and looked at Diao Mei.

Diao Mei: "..." Old Hong, you son of a bitch.

Wen Ying had also poisoned Diao Mei with Aruda's venom. At times like these, he missed his spatial magic tools. Aruda had given him all sorts of poisonous potions and antidotes. If he had them with him, he wouldn't have to replicate spells to create toxins on the spot, which would be less conspicuous.

Having temporarily investigated for the night, Wen Ying returned to ponder the information he had gained.

Diao Mei wished to accompany Wen Ying back, but Wen Ying sent it back to Yang Shize, insisting on seeing Yang Rixi fare better than Yang Shize. With teary eyes, Diao Mei vowed to fulfill its mission and subtly reminded Wen Ying not to forget about it and to remember to administer the antidote.

After dismissing Diao Mei, Wen Ying flew back to Yang Rixi's room, where Yang Rixi was already asleep. Wen Ying opened Yang Rixi's laptop and searched for Lin Wenpu.

The information that came up was quite standard.

Lin Wenpu was an entrepreneur who had built his fortune from scratch, founding the Devil Company (the company behind the popular Devil Mobile Game). Just as the company was on the brink of bankruptcy, it received an investment, leading to a rapid and unstoppable growth spurt.

Wen Ying felt that there was a discrepancy between the story of Lin Wenpu that Old Hong had shared tonight and the information he had gathered at the memorial exhibition previously.

Despite the abundance of exorcists present during the memorial exhibition, they didn't seem to be trying to conceal themselves. At that time, Wen Ying had assumed that the exhibition was a trap set by the exorcists. The same went for this mobile game, but today, one of its shareholders, Lin Wenpu, was forcefully distancing themselves from any ties with the exorcists. It all reeked of conspiracy.

As Wen Ying racked his brains, peculiar occurrences began to unfold in certain parts of the city.

A cotton doll with black hair and black eyes was eerily flying on its own, followed closely by several individuals.

Wu Fei was cursing his luck inwardly. What kind of terrible fortune did he have? He hadn't managed to attract any talented ordinary folks but instead caught the attention of an exorcist. Back then, he and the exorcist had locked eyes, and for some reason, his body suddenly gained the ability to fly. He immediately took off running.

Please stop chasing me!!!

"Phew... Damn, that demon up ahead sure can run."

"Is it a Rabbit Demon?"

In a luxurious apartment by the street, a young man in a bathrobe stood by the massive floor-to-ceiling window, with a palm-sized doll perched on his shoulder. They both watched the chase of cat and mouse unfolding below.

In an upscale residential area, a male student sat at his desk, glaring at his homework with a twisted expression before snapping his pen in half.

At a late-night barbecue stall, a composed young girl casually kicked a burly troublemaker away, stunning everyone around her.

In a nightclub with soothing melodies, a young man with chiseled features leaned against the bar, whispering playfully into the ear of a boy beside him. Invisible vitality flowed from the boy to the man, who absorbed it with evident satisfaction, a hint of pink flickering in his contented gaze.

...

When Yang Rixi woke up the next day, he found the demon doll sleeping on top of his laptop, its silver-white hair catching his attention.

Actually, he had always been curious about why demons had silver-white hair. Moreover, this particular demon, despite the eerie feeling it evoked, had a somewhat sanctified appearance. If one overlooked its demonic bat wings, tail, and horn, the creature could almost pass as a benevolent being.

Wen Ying looked up to see Yang Rixi sitting on the bed, staring at him blankly. Wen Ying sat up and said, "I took care of that Succubus around Yang Shize last night. You should be able to live peacefully from now on."

Waking up to such wonderful news, Yang Rixi felt that the sunlight outside was even brighter, and his lingering gloom vanished. He threw off the covers and rushed over in a few strides, eager to embrace Wen Ying. However, upon realizing Wen Ying's petite frame, he hesitated and stopped in front of the desk, eyeing him uncertainly.

Wen Ying noticed his half-open arms and said, "I have a partner."

Yang Rixi: "?" His mouth hung agape in astonishment.

Wen Ying stroked his chin. "You've reminded me. I should look for him when I get the chance." With only a month left, he needed to figure out how to locate Bellerophon aside from what happened last night.

Speaking of which, with Bellerophon's menacing aura, would it be possible to find a human willing to contract with him? Would anyone not be frightened away? Wen Ying fell into deep thought.

Yang Rixi snapped back to reality and asked curiously, "What's your partner like?"

Wen Ying shot him a glance. "A dog." A demon lurking in the trash can sneezed.

Yang Rixi: "???" Even more shocked, he stumbled downstairs.

The previous night, Wen Ying had used his computer to search for information on the demon mobile game. While he had previously focused on updates and characters, last night he turned his attention to the company itself, uncovering many new details.

From a video, Wen Ying traced Lin Wenpu's home. Coincidentally, the background of the neighborhood looked familiar – it was the very one he currently resided in. As for the exact building and unit number, he would need to investigate further.

Yang Rixi descended the stairs to receive some promising news. His father spoke with a conflicted expression, revealing that some witnesses had seen them argue, while others claimed Yang Rixi didn't seem to intentionally push Yang Shize into the water; it appeared to be an accident.

This was more than enough. At that event, they were not the main focus, so people naturally wouldn't pay too much attention. Under the moonlit garden, even with lights, human vision would still be influenced by the darkness. These accounts began to shake his father's conviction.

"Shize is not a bad person at heart. It's better to clear the air if there's any conflict between you two," Yang Zhenxing said. "After all, both of you are my children, and I don't wish for your relationship to become too strained."

Yang Rixi nodded readily. "Alright."

Yang Zhenxing was taken aback. He hadn't expected Yang Rixi to accept this without protest or a cold shoulder. His heart softened toward the child who had been mistakenly taken away. They owed him, after all.

Recalling Yang Rixi's earlier behavior, he now realized it was their fault. Had the switch not occurred, Yang Rixi would likely have received the same praise as Yang Shize does now.

Yang Rixi mused that Feng Luo, the demon around Yang Shize, had been dealt with, but the habits Yang Shize had developed wouldn't disappear overnight. He'd heard rumors that Yang Shize had close relationships with several peers from the same social class. The whispers suggested these connections weren't simply friendly but rather ambiguous, hinting at flirtatious behavior.

Yang Rixi eagerly awaited Yang Shize's downfall without the demon's influence. The sight would undoubtedly bring him immense joy. As he entertained this thought, Yang Rixi's face flushed with anticipation, radiating happiness.

He even found himself wanting to kiss Wen Ying.

Upstairs, Wen Ying didn't share the same sentiment. He felt a heightened sense of hunger within this body. Feng Luo hadn't mentioned that the clone puppet would feel hunger or that it could transform from a stuffed doll into a jointed one.

Yang Rixi opened the door and entered. Wen Ying caught a whiff of a sweet scent emanating from him. Yang Rixi smelled like a cake oozing with sugary aroma, causing Wen Ying's gaze to involuntarily turn cold, like that of a ruthless predator.

Yang Rixi inexplicably felt a chill. "What's wrong?"

Wen Ying snapped back to reality and flew in front of Yang Rixi. After circling around him, he said, "Can I borrow your body for a while now?"

Yang Rixi, who had let his guard down around Wen Ying, suddenly felt a shiver run down his spine, recalling the fear he had felt when they first met. He hesitated for a moment before nodding. "Okay, how long do you need it for?"

"Just a while. I want to conduct a small experiment. Don't worry, it won't have much impact on your body."

As Wen Ying spoke, he flew to Yang Rixi's forehead and pressed his own against it, closing his eyes. His consciousness swirled and shifted, and when he opened his eyes again, "Wen Ying" lifted his hand, swiftly catching the puppet body that was falling.

Sure enough, the nagging hunger he had been experiencing vanished. Now possessing Yang Rixi's body, Wen Ying looked at the puppet shell in his hands and finally understood why the first task of the final exam was to possess a human body.

After forming a contract with Yang Rixi, although the puppet body could move freely and he could use magic without hindrance, the consumption of magic power was accompanied by a sense of hunger. The stronger the hunger, the weaker the puppet body's mobility became. Most troublesome of all, even just maintaining the basic movements of this puppet body without using magic required magic power.

With time passing, this puppet body would soon become immobile.

The amount of magic power within Yang Rixi's body was pitifully small, and even after Wen Ying tried hard for a while, he could only gather a bit of it.

Those capable of forming contracts with them were all endowed with the gift of exorcism. When Wen Ying possessed Yang Rixi's body, this latent talent awoke. Wen Ying recalled setting up a spell to conceal any disturbances in the room before sitting cross-legged to cultivate.

For every bit of Yang Rixi's own cultivation increased, Wen Ying could draw upon a corresponding increment in power when possessing him. The exact ratio was unclear, but the principle remained the same.

When Yang Rixi regained consciousness, he saw Wen Ying hovering before him with a serious expression. "From now on, forget about Yang Shize. Let me teach you magic."

Yang Rixi: "????"

"No, wait," Yang Rixi struggled to wrap his mind around this. "I can learn magic?" He spoke tentatively, afraid that Wen Ying might retract his statement.

It was magic – real magic!

Wen Ying replied, "Of course, your ability to form a contract with me indicates that you possess this gift. From today onwards, focus on your training with me seriously."

Wen Ying's cultivation speed while possessing Yang Rixi was not as fast as when Yang Rixi cultivated on his own.

Now aware that his puppet body couldn't replenish its magical energy, Wen Ying began conserving his magic, refraining from unnecessary actions and simply sitting quietly.

Yang Shize was discharged from the hospital on the third day and returned home. However, his previously smooth-sailing life as a beloved figure suddenly hit a rough patch. His attempts to feign disdain for Yang Rixi and manipulate public opinion against him failed to elicit the same blind obedience he was used to. People no longer echoed his sentiments or reacted strongly to his ambiguous comments.

He noticed that Yang Zhenxing and Cai Yiyi were no longer entirely submissive to him. Free from the influence of the succubus's magic, they had regained their original intelligence and emotional acuity, no longer blindly following Yang Shize's lead or accepting his every word as truth. His attempts to portray himself as weak and vulnerable also fell flat. Even when he declared that "Yang Rixi should have my position back" or "I should move out," neither Yang Zhenxing nor Cai Yiyi would emotionally overreact or lash out at Yang Rixi for supposed private conversations.

Realizing that the succubus's spell had worn off, Yang Shize angrily smashed things in his own house, furious that the demon had disappeared without a trace or any prior notice.

With Yang Zhenxing and Cai Yiyi no longer in his pocket, and their loyalty fading, he needed to maintain his image among the other elite youngsters. Huo Jue became his prime target for manipulation!

Just then, Yang Rixi's younger brother, Yang Shiming, who had been traveling, returned home. Although he too had been freed from the magic, his habits formed under its influence hadn't immediately changed, given his lack of recent interaction with Yang Shize.

Upon his return, he had somehow learned about Yang Shize's mishap and the fact that his recently found elder brother had slandered Yang Shize. Fueled with rage, he stormed straight into Yang Rixi's room.

Lately, Yang Rixi had been engrossed in magic studies, rarely stepping out of his room except for meals. The sudden slam of the door interrupted his concentration, causing him to turn his head in annoyance. Ah, it was his younger brother.

Didn't he already dispel the succubus spell? Yang Rixi hadn't encountered anyone under the spell's influence recently, so he felt unfamiliar with Yang Shiming's current state, being used as a pawn by Yang Shize.

Yang Shiming burst in, grabbing Yang Rixi's collar. Before he could utter a word, he felt an immense pain in his wrist holding onto Yang Rixi's shirt, only to find himself thrown to the ground the next second, utterly bewildered.

"Wen Ying" sent a telepathic message to Yang Rixi's mind, "The succubus spell on your brother has been lifted. If he's still rushing to Yang Shize's defense, there might be some cognitive issues."

"You dare hit me?" Yang Shiming couldn't believe it. "Not once in my life have my parents even laid a finger on me!"

Wen Ying seized the opportunity to egg him on. "A brother with a dimwit brain just needs a good beating."

Recently, Yang Rixi had been practicing based on Wen Ying's teachings, so he instinctively followed Wen Ying's advice and gave Yang Shiming a sound beating.

Only after throwing a punch did he realize maybe he shouldn't be doing this. But with Yang Shiming's loud protests and the anger he'd been bottling up towards him lately, Yang Rixi didn't hold back.

Having awakened his magical talent, his strength had greatly increased, so pummeling the pampered Yang Shiming was no problem at all.

Yang Shiming, a tall and wealthy young noble, found himself completely unable to retaliate against Yang Rixi's blows. It was no longer an issue of pride but one of disbelief.

— Yang Rixi was actually such a formidable fighter?

The commotion in the room drew the attention of Uncle Lin, the butler. Upon seeing the scene, he was shocked. "Young Masters Shiming and Rixi, how could you...?"

He had meant to ask how they could be fighting, but upon closer inspection, Yang Shiming was bruised and swollen while Yang Rixi was unscathed. He hesitated, even entertaining the absurd thought: Could it be that Yang Shiming had done something to provoke Yang Rixi, who then felt guilty and allowed himself to be beaten as compensation?

With the butler's arrival, Yang Rixi reluctantly stopped. His body, invigorated from his practice, still had plenty of energy left even after beating up Yang Shiming.

Uncle Lin hurriedly helped Yang Shiming to his feet. Yang Shiming wanted to complain, but after considering the situation, he felt it would be embarrassing to do so. Facing Uncle Lin's concerned gaze, he endured the pain and said, "We didn't fight. I let him hit me. I was rude to him earlier, so I let him hit me back."

Uncle Lin was somewhat relieved that Yang Shiming had not succumbed to Diao Mei's enchantment. His thoughts had returned to normal, and he hoped that the young masters in the house could live in harmony. However, he looked at Yang Shiming disapprovingly and said, "But you shouldn't hurt yourself like that either."

As he spoke, he helped the limping Yang Shiming down for treatment, also reporting the incident to Yang Zhenxing and Cai Yiyi. They were both surprised, well aware of Yang Shiming's arrogant and domineering personality. It was unbelievable that he would willingly let Yang Rixi hit him. Still, with Yang Shiming himself confirming the story, they had no choice but to believe it.

Frustrated, Yang Shize once again smashed things in his room. Even Yang Shiming hadn't managed to strike a blow against Yang Rixi.

"Ya-ang, R-ix-i, Xi-e-e!"

He refused to accept this. Yang Shize composed himself, regained his composure, and sought out Huo Jue.

Huo Jue opened the door to welcome him in. Yang Shize, eager to achieve his goal, failed to notice that something was off with Huo Jue's expression. Although he was smiling, it didn't reach his eyes, revealing an icy demeanor.

Just a few days ago, he thought he liked Yang Shize. Then, he encountered a demon and made a wish that Yang Shize would fall in love with him.

The demon assured him that it was no problem at all. After signing the contract, however, the deceitful demon informed him that he was under the influence of a low-level demon's enchantment spell. The demon had conveniently removed it for free.

Once the enchantment was lifted, Huo Jue suddenly realized that he did not like Yang Shize! But the wish he had made could not be undone.

Huo Jue was furious, and now he had utterly no affection left for Yang Shize.

If he couldn't take revenge on that wicked demon, couldn't he at least retaliate against Yang Shize?

Chapter 94: Making a Move

Shen Xingzhuo was thrilled to receive a rare smile, feeling utterly flattered.

However, he couldn't understand why his mere trip to the restroom earned him praise.

So, he could only return a silly grin.

Seeing this, Lu Ran muttered "idiot" under his breath and turned to leave.

Shen Xingzhuo attempted to follow, but was stopped by two bodyguards.

Not far from where he stood, he encountered a familiar face.

It was Jin.

Upon seeing Lu Ran, he bowed his head, wearing a smile.

He deliberately displayed a hint of confusion in his eyes as he approached, asking, "Your house is so big, I seem to have gotten lost. Could you show me around?"

The two bodyguards instinctively tried to intercept.

But Lu Ran said, "I know him. Let him come over."

The two bodyguards exchanged glances and withdrew their hands.

Ji Min had only instructed them to keep an eye on the Shen family members, not to completely isolate Lu Ran from his social life.

On campus, when Lu Ran encountered teachers and classmates, they also did not intervene, maintaining a respectful distance while keeping close watch.

Upon hearing Lu Ran's words, Jin's lips curled into a knowing smile.

Indeed, it seems that Lu Ran has feelings for him.

Jin leaned closer to the young man before him.

Initially, he was displeased when his father suggested an arranged marriage.

But upon meeting the youth's pair of eyes, he suddenly found it just barely tolerable.

In a low, suggestive tone, Jin whispered, "I've always wanted to see you, but never had the chance."

Lu Ran gave him a quizzical glance.

Aware of the faintly unfamiliar gaze in the youth's eyes, Jin was suddenly reminded that their last encounter could hardly be considered pleasant.

Thus, with graceful magnanimity, he comforted the young man before him, saying, "Pay it no mind. I am well aware that the fault of the previous incident lies entirely with your younger brother. Rest assured, I harbor no intention of taking my anger out on you."

Saying this, he reached out to support himself with his hand on the wall beside Lu Ran's ear, whispering, "I can tell the difference. The wine you pour is entirely distinct from what your younger brother serves."

Upon hearing this, Lu Ran's expression grew even more peculiar.

Unable to contain himself, he asked, "Do you really think that way?"

"Of course!" Jin declared solemnly.

As he spoke, he let out a slight sigh, as if genuinely sympathetic. "It must have been tough for you, always being by Ji Min's side."

"He's the kind of person..." Jin shook his head disdainfully, "with an odd temper and ruthless methods. It serves him right to end up disabled and without any family or friends."

Lu Ran's gaze gradually turned cold as he looked at him.

Suddenly, he narrowed his eyes at Jin and said with a smile, "There are too many people around here. Shall we change the location to have a more private conversation?"

Jin's heart stirred.

He thought that this was indeed a good opportunity.

He could just take care of the matter right now.

Moreover, it was happening at the Shen family's residence. Even if Ji Min wanted to cause trouble, he wouldn't be able to pin it on the Linos.

Whether or not he would eventually marry this Lu Ran was irrelevant.

After all, he only wanted to have some fun.

"Sure," Jin agreed.

Jin immediately followed closely behind Lu Ran.

Falling in step behind Lu Ran, his thoughts wandering, his gaze couldn't help but linger with an undue scrutiny.

Now that the weather has turned warmer, our clothing has become more lightweight.

The youth was dressed in loose-fitting attire, yet beneath the hem of his garment, one could still discern the slender suppleness of his waistline.

As his gaze landed on Lu Ran, he noticed that the man had stopped in his tracks.

He paused in front of the restroom entrance.

Jin was taken aback.

He had assumed Lu Ran would lead him to his own room.

"This…" Jin appeared slightly bewildered.

But considering the two bodyguards trailing behind, he suddenly understood, "It's indeed less noticeable to be in the restroom."

"Yes."

Lu Ran continued to beckon him.

Jin followed, making sure to close the bathroom door behind him.

He accompanied Lu Ran to a stall and entered it first.

Turning around, he was just about to start his exploration.

Only to find Lu Ran standing outside, simply watching him.

The very next moment, the youth who had been wearing an expression of utmost docility mere seconds ago launched a swift, forceful punch directly at him.

This punch landed with staggering force, jolting his golden nose bridge with excruciating pain. Instantaneously, tears and a gush of blood from his nostrils erupted simultaneously.

At this moment, Jin was utterly bewildered. "Y-Y-You..."

Still in a daze, he wondered how those "little playful punches" could carry such weight in flirtation.

In the next moment, Lu Ran reached out and grabbed Jin's hair, looking down at him and asking, "Who did you say deserved it?"

"What?" Jin was stunned.

After a brief moment of confusion, he realized that Lu Ran was taking offense on Ji Min's behalf due to his earlier words.

Jin wasn't stupid. His expression changed, and he quickly caught on, "Are you playing with me? You and Ji Min...?"

But it was too late. The pressure on his head increased.

Jin's pupils constricted as he stared fixedly at the toilet bowl closing in on him.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Jin hurriedly cried out.

He flailed his arms to grasp the toilet seat, struggling to support his body as he immediately slid into a kneeling position.

"I-I was wrong, I shouldn't have said that about President Ji!" he admitted.

"Oh, so were you just now trying to seduce me?" Lu Ran inquired.

Jin immediately tried to shake his head.

But his hair was gripped tightly, preventing any movement.

He then attempted to wave his hand.

However, the slightest gesture brought him closer to the toilet bowl!

Staring at the toilet bowl's interior just inches away, Jin could only strain to sound sincere:

"No, no, no! I just admire you very much! Pure admiration!"

"Oh, is that so?" Lu Ran raised an eyebrow.

Jin was quite strong, propping himself up on the toilet with both hands, creating a deadlock.

Lu Ran wasn't in a hurry though.

He simply held Jin's head and asked, "What is that old thing of yours scheming? Why is he so insistent on forming an alliance with the Shen family?"

Upon hearing Lu Ran's words, Jin felt a chill run down his spine. However, when he glanced downward at the toilet bowl, he found the situation utterly absurd. In this toilet stall, with his face almost touching the porcelain, this guy was actually discussing such serious matters? Was he insane?! Yet, in just two seconds of stunned silence, Jin sensed his nose drawing closer to the toilet by another few centimeters. In a hurry, Jin replied, "I'm not sure either! Yes, it was my father who forced me to come. I even reminded him just now that you and President Ji have a great relationship, and we shouldn't be doing such immoral things!" As he spoke, Jin's voice trembled with anxiety.

He even used the formal 'you' address.

Yet, Lu Ran rolled his eyes and kicked him in the butt. "Speak the truth."

Jin slumped down, sweat dripping from his forehead into the toilet bowl.

But he had no idea what his biological father was planning.

He only vaguely sensed that Old Lino paid close attention to Lu Ran.

After racking his brains, Jin finally caught a glimpse of inspiration and shouted, "Ah! Right! He said you were raised by Elder Shen, that Elder Shen always kept you by his side. Maybe that's the reason!"

"Hmm?" Lu Ran was rather surprised.

Elder Shen had long passed away. After he returned to the Shen family, no one had mentioned him.

No one had talked about his relationship with his grandfather when he was young either.

But from the way Madam Shen and Shen Xingyu spoke, that Elder Shen didn't seem like an easy person to get along with.

"Thank you for sharing this with me," Lu Ran expressed.

Perceiving the slight easing of pressure on the back of his head.

Jin finally sighed in relief.

He also relaxed his grip on the toilet bowl slightly.

Yet, a hint of disdain surged within him.

Such a small gesture could melt his heart like this; he must have grown up in an orphanage.

Yet at this moment, the youth's voice behind him grew petulant:

"But the thought of the way you look at me still fills me with disgust. What should I do about it?"

"Hmm??" Jin was taken aback.

"So, you'd better soak in there, after all!"

Lu Ran swiftly kicked Jin's leg.

Jin lost his footing and stumbled, ultimately plunging into the nearby toilet with a "splash."

"Ahh!"

He only managed to let out a cry before the flush button was pressed.

As the water level rose, Jin was instantly silenced.

In the corridor,

Shen Hongyuan walked with a darkened gaze.

He had just witnessed Jin entering the restroom with Lu Ran.

This was a scene he had been hoping for.

It wasn't that he genuinely expected a union between the Linos and the Shens through marriage.

The Lino family was not sincere.

Shen Hongyuan had no good intentions either.

He narrowed his eyes at the bathroom door that had remained still for quite some time.

Ji Min was indeed very tolerant of Xiao Ran.

He could even endure all of Lu Ran's quirky habits.

But as a man, could he tolerate Lu Ran messing around with another man?

Shen Hongyuan gave a smile to the two bodyguards waiting in the corridor.

He took the initiative to approach them, looking concerned. "Where's Xiao Ran?"

The two bodyguards exchanged glances.

One of them coughed softly and said, "Young Master Lu Ran and Young Master Jin are having a conversation in the restroom."

Speaking, both of them wore solemn expressions.

Hadn't this conversation dragged on for too long?

"Something has come up with Xiao Ran, so could one of you help me call him over?" Shen Hongyuan suggested.

The two bodyguards nodded and headed toward the restroom.

The corner of Shen Hongyuan's mouth twitched faintly.

If it were him telling Ji Min that Lu Ran had cheated on him, Ji Min would surely not believe it.

But what if it was Ji Min's own bodyguard delivering the news?

Moreover...

Even if Lu Ran had no ulterior motives, what difference would it make?

The eldest son of the Lino family was quite the playboy, known for engaging in all sorts of debauchery.

Shen Hongyuan hung back at a discreet distance, eagerly anticipating the expressions of the two bodyguards in the upcoming scene.

Soon, one of the bodyguards rapped on the bathroom door.

There was no response from within.

Considering the presence of individual stalls, the bodyguard pushed the door open for a quick glance.

In that instant, the bodyguard's pupils dilated in shock.

One of the bathroom stalls stood wide open.

Inside the stall, a person was stuffed into the toilet bowl!

Judging by their attire, it was none other than the eldest son of the Lino family.

This same young master, who had just spoken disrespectfully to their boss, was now bent over with his upper body crammed into the toilet, while his legs kicked helplessly.

His arms were bound to the toilet tank, rendering him unable to free his head from its predicament despite his struggles.

Outside the cubicle, the very same Master Lu Ran, whom their boss had described as vulnerable, pitiful, and in need of protection, was holding a mop, repeatedly plunging Young Master Jin into the toilet bowl.

The scene was explosively shocking.

As bodyguards with years of experience, they had never witnessed such a horrifying spectacle.

Oh no, oh no! Is... is this toilet, no... this face still salvageable?

Amidst their astonishment, Shen Hongyuan approached them.

He attempted to peek, only to see the two bodyguards shut the door with a resounding "bang," as if they were escaping from a terrifying flood or a fierce beast.

"Well... What's going on? Isn't Xiao Ran inside?"

Shen Hongyuan pretended to be oblivious.

Inside, he thought to himself, judging from the expressions of these two bodyguards, the situation inside must be intensely dramatic.

What else could they do?

Lu Ran hadn't brought that dog along, so he couldn't pull any tricks.

The two bodyguards exchanged a glance, unable to recover from their shock for a long while.

"Um... Young Master Lu Ran is, uh, occupied. We should... not disturb him," one of them finally managed to say.

At this, the corner of Shen Hongyuan's mouth quirked up in a small smile.

Wasn't he indeed taking care of business?

He didn't believe that after witnessing such a scene, these two bodyguards wouldn't tell Ji Min.

Dazed, the bodyguards had no idea how to react. All they could do was stand guard on either side of the bathroom door like door gods.

Seeing this, Shen Hongyuan couldn't help but feel a sense of irony.

These bodyguards were indeed loyal, standing guard outside to prevent others from witnessing the scene inside and tarnishing Ji Min's reputation.

Satisfied, Shen Hongyuan left.

Whether Ji Min despised Lu Ran or vented his anger on the Lino family, it was a win-win situation for the Shen household.

After Shen Hongyuan had departed, the two bodyguards exchanged glances, and one of them finally couldn't help but speak up:

"Well... if the boss finds out that we allowed Young Master Lu Ran to do this personally, will he be angry?"

"Yes," the other bodyguard nodded in agreement.

This seemed to imply that they were rather incompetent.

"Should you go in and lend a hand, then?"

"No, no, no..."

"Give me a moment to mentally prepare."

Such a task isn't something just anyone can undertake!

Chapter 91: Station 23: The Eight Characters

The two guards moved with incredible speed and showed no intention of reasoning with her.

They roughly dragged Yue Pengpeng out and pinned her down on the rough stone pavement, their demeanor cold and merciless.

One guard held her firmly as she screamed and struggled, while the other stepped out to retrieve the instrument of torture.

In no time, a third guard returned with a thick, red rod as thick as a wrist.

Pinned to the ground and unable to move, Yue Pengpeng's vision swam at the sight of the rod, finally realizing the foolish mistake she had made!

How could she have forgotten that emotions were non-existent in this Realm of Endless Torment?

Blame it on how realistic this world appeared; she had foolishly applied human logic to these monstrous guards, thinking she could sway them with her looks...

She pleaded for mercy, her voice filled with desperate hope that they might spare her.

But the two guards paid no heed, dragging her away relentlessly.

Sù Bó, despite her tough exterior, couldn't help but soften upon hearing the cries. She rushed to the door to investigate.

Seeing Yue Pengpeng struggling on the ground, she involuntarily clenched her lower lip.

Suddenly, a maid emerged from the moon gate outside.

Struck by an idea, she promptly warned,

"Yue Peng... Little Idol! A woman has entered. Ask her for help quickly!"

At first, Yue Pengpeng was momentarily confused by the sudden call. However, she quickly regained her composure and recalled the rules they had exchanged the previous day.

If she remembered correctly, the rule stated... Yes, that was it.

—If you wish a woman "early birth of noble children," she will come to your aid!

She was already pinned onto the bench for punishment and couldn't see where the woman was. But with no time to hesitate, she steeled herself, closed her eyes, and shouted desperately,

"May you bear noble children soon! Save me! Early birth of noble children!"

The maid who had just passed through the moon gate was clearly there to assist with an errand. Upon hearing the cry, she immediately turned around and stared directly at Yue Pengpeng as if controlled by an invisible force.

Then, with agility, she hurried over and stopped the guards, "Hold on, what wrong has she committed? Why do you two need to discipline her like this?"

The guards maintained their stern expressions and calmly pulled on the struggling Yue Pengpeng, saying, "She attempted to make us defy Madam's order and show favoritism. According to the family rules, she deserves ten strokes of the cane."

The maid paused for a moment, then put on a gentle smile, "What if ten strokes cost her life? The young ladies are about to be married soon; such a joyous occasion shouldn't be tainted with blood..."

By now, Yue Pengpeng could finally see the maid standing before her clearly.

The maid was slender and had an attractive face. She wore a finely tailored silk robe, indicating that she was no ordinary servant.

The maid gave her a thorough once-over and spoke sensibly,

"Perhaps it would be better if the two of you handed her over to me. I happen to have some tasks at hand that are in dire need of assistance. If she were to join me, she would fulfill her duty and receive an appropriate punishment. What do you think?"

The guards exchanged another glance, their expressions enigmatic.

"Well then, we shall entrust her to you. Just make sure you don't show favoritism."

The maid nodded with a smile.

"Of course."

As soon as Yue Pengpeng was released by the two individuals, he promptly scrambled forward, clutching at the hem of the maid's skirt in sheer desperation, terrified that she might change her mind.

The maid smiled gently, not commenting on her disheveled state nor showing any disdain for her dirt-covered body. She simply said:

"Quickly tidy yourself up and come with me to work."

Yue Pengpeng hastily tidied her hair and brushed off the dust on her attire before closely trailing behind the maid, on high alert against any sudden attack from the guards.

It wasn't until she stepped through the Moon Gate that she let out a long, thorough sigh of relief.

The maid led her to a courtyard filled with bamboo groves and gently smiled, extending her arm towards the house.

"Go in and change your clothes. I'll wait for you here."

Yue Pengpeng nodded and hurriedly entered the room, only to find it completely empty.

Before her stood a round moon window. Beyond it, the bamboo forest whispered, and leaves drifted in, creating a picturesque scene.

Confused about where the clothes might be, she took two steps forward and noticed, to her surprise, a well right in the center of the room.

How could there be a well indoors?

She cautiously avoided the well, wanting to leave, but soon discovered that the door behind her had also transformed into a round moon window.

Attempting to exit through the window, she approached it closely, only to realize that it wasn't a view of a bamboo sea, but rather a wall painted with a bamboo landscape.

The only clue to escape was now that very well.

She approached the well cautiously and peered down into its depths.

Calm ripples spread across the icy, soft water.

Her vision suddenly inverted, and the ripples appeared right above her head.

Yue Pengpeng's eyes widened in astonishment.

No, it wasn't just the ripples appearing above her head.

Gentle bubbles brushed against the tranquil surface, creating silvery concentric circles.

A bamboo leaf drifted into the well, landing precisely at the center of those ripples.

Extending a pulsating lifeline.

-

With Yue Pengpeng's experience as a warning, the remaining three abandoned their thoughts of forcing their way through.

Liao Xinya and Su Bo closed the doors and windows, acknowledging the sense of helplessness that now prevailed—neither heaven nor earth seemed to hear their cries.

Si Shuhao propped her chin on her wrist, observing the scene unfold.

"This can't continue; we simply can't sew the sachets. But if we don't, it seems like Madam Old Bai is pushing us towards starvation as part of her plan."

"You're absolutely right."

Si Shuhao's perspective resonated with Liao Xinya, though their interpretations diverged slightly:

"In this world of ceaseless strife, the societal structure is a typical feudal one, and its governing principles reflect that."

"For instance, the phrase 'early birth of an honored child' embodies the feudal society's longing for women's reproductive roles, encapsulating traditional feudal notions of women's status. It appears to be a blessing, but in reality, it's a systemic exploitation of women's reproductive resources."

"…You're quite the professional."

Si Shuhao couldn't help but express her admiration with a fist bump.

Liao Xinya didn't expect such an adorable gesture from her; a hint of a smile graced her cold expression.

"No, although I've gathered some information on the subject, my understanding is quite superficial. I can only offer a humble perspective."

"Uh-huh, your analysis is already impressive to us."

Si Shuhao's eyes sparkled as she looked at her:

"You continue."

Liao Xinya nodded slightly:

"In feudal society, not only did it exploit and oppress women, but it also exploited and oppressed men themselves. This exploitation presented itself in a pyramid structure. The strong preyed on the weak, making the underprivileged sacrifice their inadequacies to serve the privileged."

"One of the ways this was exemplified in the old times were the so-called 'Three Great Joys.'"

"Meeting an old friend in a foreign land, achieving fame by ranking high on the golden list, and the night of the wedding candlelight in the bridal chamber."

Su Bo felt somewhat perplexed:

"How does analyzing these help our current situation?"

Liao Xinya opened the hastily written rules from yesterday and pointed to the "early birth of an offspring" clause:

"In the current rules, there's essentially a command that can make women do anything for you. Just like what Yue Pengpeng mentioned earlier, 'early birth of an offspring.' Given the situation where there's a command to manipulate women, there must naturally be one to manipulate men as well."

Her slender eyes shimmered with determination:

"I speculate that the counterpart to 'early birth of an honored son' could be 'promotion and wealth.'"

"Brilliant!"

Si Shuhao was almost applauding her deductive reasoning.

But Su Bo still wore a worried expression:

"But... how do we test this? Yue Pengpeng was merely taken away, not returned."

Liao Xinya picked up the water pitcher on the table without hesitation:

"This is my theory, so let me be the one to verify it."

Si Shuhao was taken aback, instinctively reaching out to stop her, only to feel a sharp pain in her hand from the sudden exertion.

Liao Xinya gently patted her hand.

"Nothing's wrong."

Without hesitation, she carried the empty water jug to the door and addressed the two guards, "Greetings, may you advance in rank and prosperity. We need ample water and snacks; I hope you can assist us."

The guards exchanged another glance, this time with evident struggle in their expressions. After much deliberation, they surprisingly took the water jug from her hands and turned away, leaving!

Liao Xinya covered her pounding heart, maintaining a calm facade.

The two guards returned hastily. Like thieves, they stuffed food and water into her arms before slamming the door shut. No amount of knocking would open it again!

"Food..."

Si Shuhao was dumbfounded, joyous enough to jump for joy, "You're amazing, Yaya!! We've secured our provisions for today!"

The three of them were ecstatic.

Liao Xinya consumed the food and tea first to ensure they were safe, then passed them on to the others.

However, the joy of having their basic needs met gradually faded with the passage of time.

Unease crept back into their hearts.

This was because Yue Pengpeng, who had wished for an early birth of an esteemed child, had yet to return.

After finally making his way back from the storage room to the accounting office, Shi Wenguang kept a cautious eye on Yan Qiling, who was diligently examining the ledgers, hoping to find an opportunity to apologize.

-

But before he could seize that chance, the door was rapped loudly with a "knock, knock."

This time, before he could approach to open it, the wooden door creaked open by itself.

The scene seemed eerily familiar.

Sven Guang's heart leapt to his throat. Without any prompting, he hurriedly walked over to Yan Qiling and gestured for him to look at the entrance.

A long shadow stretched across the doorway, indicating someone was stepping in.

First, a pair of red shoes embroidered with mandarin ducks came into view.

Then, a dusty gray horse riding jacket.

The man who entered was unremarkable in appearance, so ordinary that one would struggle to remember his face in a crowd.

His walking posture was incredibly peculiar.

Objects hanging from his waist jingled with each step.

With his sunken eyes rolling about, he directly headed towards Yan Qiling.

Sven Guang retreated in fear, immediately hiding behind the shelf, as far away from this ominous figure in red shoes as possible.

Yan Qiling didn't speak but instead took out a handful of copper coins and scattered them towards the man.

The man paused for a split second before a chilling gust of air burst from his mouth!

His head suddenly split into two from the center, revealing a set of interlocking fangs as he lunged towards Yan Qiling!

Yan Qiling nonchalantly tossed out a dried fish.

Sure enough, the man crouched down like a ravenous beast to devour the treat.

After consuming it, he let out a deep growl and, just as before, transformed into a vibrant red foam that vanished into thin air.

While Shi Wenming was still reeling from the shock, Yan Qiling had already composed himself and started picking up the clothes scattered on the ground.

Just like before.

Beneath the clothes, bloody characters appeared.

Two words:

Eight characters.

Chapter 174: Everything Can Be Grilled on a Stone Plate

The meal was hastily consumed by Shen Lie and his companions. After some preparation, they were ready to leave the valley. It was still the same group, minus Shen Jin.

As they were about to depart, Sang Luo came to see them off. Shen Lie whispered, "This morning, we spent two hours hunting, setting traps, and picking wild vegetables. This time, we'll head straight for our target, so it should be faster. However, since we're ambushing the boar, we can't predict its activity time. If we're delayed, it might expose our valley if we return with torches at night. Don't wait up or worry. We've all spent nights in deep forests before; we can handle ourselves."

His words were accompanied by a smile, which touched Sang Luo's heart. "If that happens, we'll enjoy your stone-grilled meat another day."

Sang Luo looked into his smiling eyes, and her heart was unexpectedly brushed by an indescribable sensation.

It was gentle but lingered, remaining even after Shen Lie and his companions had climbed up to the cave, left the valley, and disappeared from sight. Sang Luo pressed her chest, feeling a strange tenderness there.

This feeling was unfamiliar, but Sang Luo understood its meaning.

She realized that she had been touched by the gentleness and affection in Shen Lie's demeanor.

Was it affection?

She belatedly noticed that every time Shen Lie went out, he would meticulously inform her of his itinerary and return date. Had he looked at her this way before?

At first, it was a pure and exhilarating joy because of the food and water she had provided. But later, when some other emotions began to seep in, she hadn't noticed at all.

Recalling that he was supposed to leave and might even spend the night outside, she mentioned going to find a stone slab. Despite this, Shen Lie didn't mention preparing any food or water; instead, he accompanied her to search for the slab, catch fish, and test the stone.

Now, thinking about Shen Lie's constant smile throughout the journey, Sang Luo finally sensed something different.

She could almost hear the faint thumping of her own heartbeat.

Lost in thought, she returned to her cave. Shen Ning heard her footsteps and poked his head out from the kitchen, holding a freshly washed piece of ginger.

"Brother-in-law, is this piece of ginger enough?"

"Enough. Wash some garlic and grind some Sichuan peppercorns as backup." Gathering her wits, Sang Luo started preparing dinner with Shen Ning.

The stone slab she found was intended for grilling meat or frying various cuts. Clearly, today's chicken was more suitable for frying chicken cutlets.

She didn't hide anything from him and taught Shen Ning how to debone, tenderize, and marinate the meat.

Living in the valley, all ingredients were precious. So, while removing the bones, they left some meat attached, not wanting to waste anything.

"To make the chicken cutlets taste delectable, the meat needs to be marinated for one or two hours. Moreover, Xiao Jin and the others can't digest too much greasy food, so we can fry the chicken later. For now, let's simmer a pot of chicken soup while waiting for your brother and Big Mountain to return. The bones with some meat on them, along with the heads, wings, and feet, make excellent soup ingredients."

As per usual, the Shen family had their evening meal at around four o'clock. The three chickens' meaty bones and scraps were combined with the fresh mushrooms that Shen Jinhua and Shen Lie had picked in the morning, resulting in a half-clay pot of aromatic chicken soup. Dried jujubes from the Xu family and two mulberries from Sangluo added an extra depth of flavor. The scent wafted over to the Xu family next door, making them salivate as they ate wild vegetables and tofu stew.

The Chen, Lu, and Shi families also had mountain chickens. Sangluo took two bowls and instructed Shen An and Shen Ning to deliver generous servings to both the Xu and Zhou families. Once the siblings returned, their own meal would commence.

For dinner, they would enjoy the nourishing chicken soup, its taste sweet and savory, a balanced mix of meat and vegetables, and light yet restorative.

"Let's eat this for now. Later, when your big brother comes back, we'll prepare some grilled meat."

None of the younger ones declined, let alone with the prospect of roasted meat. Just the thought of having chicken soup for dinner, served in clay pots, with two bowls per person, was enough to satisfy even Shen Tie, who always felt he didn't get his fill.

What more could they ask for?

...

After the evening meal, the sun was no longer shining directly into the valley. Each family stored away their provisions, and the children, now idle, waited for the sun to set and the sky to darken. Then, the younger ones all rushed over to the Shen household, for they had heard that tonight, they would be cooking with stones, just like playing house, and preparing meat!

They were no strangers to using stones to ignite leaves for fire, but witnessing meat being cooked this way was a first. They arrived early, crouching nearby in anticipation.

Widow Chen and Qin Fangniang were delighted by the commotion and joined Sanluo to watch the spectacle. They examined the makeshift stove and stone slab. Widow Chen found it curious and asked Sanluo, "Is cooking on this better than using a clay pot? Wouldn't all the soup and water leak out?"

Sanluo chuckled. "It can be. Auntie and Grandma, come over tonight and try it out. If you like it, look there, I've chosen that stone slab for your family. Just take it away."

Widow Chen was amused. "Well, my kids are always craving your food. I'll definitely come tonight to see for myself. If it works, I'll carry it away right away."

As they chatted, Shen Lie's group returned to the valley.

Everyone was waiting for them, frequently glancing towards the entrance cave. The children were the first to spot them but refrained from cheering, instead rushing back to their homes to alert their families.

The six baskets were lowered one after another, stunning Village Chief Zhou and the others. "So much?"

Liu Sanlang, who had descended first, smiled. "Three wild boars, one large and two small. But they were all shot by Lie and Dashan."

Initially, they had spotted five wild boars, but their hiding spots were too far away. Their arrows lacked the strength and accuracy needed for such a distance, even for Liu Sanlang's brother. Their missed shots startled the boars, causing them to flee. Thus, they had only done the physical labor today.

When Sanluo came over, Shen Lie had just descended. Seeing her, he couldn't help but smile. However, feeling the strong scent of blood on him, he didn't approach. Instead, he said, "I'll distribute the meat and return."

The distribution of meat followed established precedents, allocated according to effort. Thus, Shen Lie and Chen Dashan received the lion's share, as they had hunted two of the three wild boars together, while each took down one of the smaller ones. They also distributed some portions to the brothers who had joined them and offered a few pounds to the Zhou and Xu families for their meals. The remainder was split evenly between the Chen and Shen households.

As they were all acquaintances, there was no need for precise weighing; they simply took what they deemed appropriate.

Shen Lie carried home two large baskets brimming with meat. After consulting with Sang Luo, they decided to distribute over twenty pounds to each family, and more than forty pounds to the Xu family as a token of gratitude for the food they had provided to Shen Jin and his siblings previously.

This distribution left them with a manageable amount at home.

Sang Luo found this satisfactory. With one basket of meat still remaining, she knew they would have their hands full preparing it for dinner. Considering the prospect of roasting meat and the excitement it would generate among the children, she asked Shen Lie to select a piece with a good balance of fat and lean meat. Only then did she send him off to bathe and change clothes so they could enjoy a relaxed meal later.

Upon seeing Sangluo specially cut off a piece of meat just for them, all the children swallowed their saliva.

"Sister-in-law, are you still making pork for dinner tonight?"

To the eyes of the young ones present, Sister-in-Law had prepared an exceedingly abundant spread of food. There were chicken legs, chicken breasts, giblets, tofu, leeks, mushrooms, and Chinese cabbage, alongside several bowls filled with minced ginger, garlic, leek greens, scallions, crushed Sichuan pepper, and dried zanthoxylum berries reduced to fine powder. And yet, there was still talk of adding meat to this already lavish array.

Despite not having a clue what this stone-grilled meat would taste like, and despite having eaten only in the afternoon, the younger ones couldn't help but salivate uncontrollably. This was especially true for the Shen brothers; after all, they had endured unbearable hunger for those preceding months.

Sang Luo smiled. "Prepare some extra, I suspect we won't be the only ones enjoying it later."

As predicted by Sangluo, just as she had sliced and marinated the pork belly, a group of children who had accompanied their elders to fetch meat earlier returned to the Shen residence.

Especially when Shen An and Shen Ning lit the fire; with the tall trees above, the flames were invisible from the top of the valley, but those living within the valley could see them clearly. They all flocked over to join in the excitement.

Sangluo was amiable, warmly inviting the older children to help carry the tables and chairs out of her house. They brought out several more stools as well.

There weren't enough chairs for everyone, so Chen Ershan, Xu Wenbo, and their friends led a group back to their own homes to retrieve additional chairs. As the sky darkened, the lively atmosphere at the bottom of the valley seemed to be just beginning.

With plenty of stools available, Sangluo placed a few near the stone slab specifically for her ingredients, and she found herself a chair to sit on. Even before the barbecuing started, the spectacle was already set up, drawing the curiosity of the adults from the Chen and Xu families.

When Shen Lie and Chen Dashan emerged, freshly cleaned, they found not only tables and chairs arranged, but also the tempting aroma of meat wafting through the air. A circle of children surrounded Sangluo, slurping in anticipation.

Spotting her brother, Xiaoya's face lit up. "Big Brother, hurry, come here, you can sit here."

She had known since the afternoon that her big brother would have dinner at Sister An's tonight. With the tables and chairs set, there was a spot reserved especially for him. Xiaoya was both envious and thrilled. This was far more exciting than their pretend play.

Chen Dashan exclaimed, impressed by not just the aroma but also the grand scene that promised a lively gathering.

"Ah Lie, it has to be your wife!"

Shen Lie was also taken aback by the sight, but he soon broke into a smile. He didn't sit down and instead moved closer to Sang Luo. He noticed that a stone slab was piled high with chicken meat and offal, garnished with a colorful array of white, green, and red seasonings. The dish had been brushed with sauce and sprinkled with scallions, making it look incredibly appetizing.

"Can I lend a hand?"

Sang Luo waved him off. "You'll have to learn first. Eat for now; you've been busy all day. Enjoy your meal with Big Mountain. This is meant to be eaten as it's being grilled."

While they spoke, the chicken skewers were ready. Since there were no knives, the skewers had already been cut into bite-sized pieces. Sang Luo called for Shen Ning to bring a plate, then started piling the chicken onto it. She first filled a plate with a dozen small pieces for Shen Ning to take to the children before serving the second helping.

The crowd was overwhelming, so she had marinated the meat from three chickens all at once. Shen Lie stood by, assisting her by taking and passing plates. In no time, a platter of fried chicken cutlets and another of fried offal were served on the table.

Chen Dashan devoured his food with gusto, praising it profusely as he ate. As for Shen Lie, while Sangluo was still busy, his mind was not on the food at all. He frequently glanced over to where she was working.

Jin Ning rushed back and joined Sangluo in frying pork belly slices and vegetables.

Madame Chen, Qin Fangniang, Madam Xu, and Wei Lingzhen watched in awe, exclaiming, "What an innovative way to cook! It smells so delicious!"

Madame Chen could hardly contain her excitement. Seeing that the stone slab Sangluo had mentioned was already clean, she promptly called out to Old Man Chen and Chen Youtian, "Go gather some stones. Let's set up one beside them. Fangniang, learn from Ah Luo and prepare some meat and vegetables."

The vegetables are grown right outside our doorstep, always readily available.

At the old Lady Chen's directive, the entire Chen family sprang into action. Even Chen Ershan and Little Ya, who were still indulging in their chicken drumsticks, eagerly joined the search for stones, followed by a swarm of children lending their help.

In the blink of an eye, one barbecue stall turned into two. After Sang Luo had grilled a few servings, Shen Ning was able to take over. With the task in his capable hands, she finally allowed herself to taste a few bites.

Well, not bad at all. The heat is substituted by prickly ash, though there's still a subtle distinction in texture. More importantly, the absence of pepper and cumin means it's lacking that essential spark of flavor, its very soul.

It stands to reason that "pepper" refers to spices imported from foreign lands. It's unlikely that the Great Qian Dynasty would have had access to it. Even if they did, it would be incredibly expensive, perhaps valued at a thousand copper coins. Only the elite families and wealthy aristocrats could afford such a luxury.

As for chili peppers, just like cotton, they didn't exist at all, at least not in the original owner's memory.

Yet, in the eyes of everyone in the valley, the soulless chicken cutlets and various skewers were incredible delicacies. A long table was gradually filled with an array of stone plate dishes. The Xu family members shamelessly came over to sample a few bites. Manager Xu, who ran a restaurant himself, had his eyes shining: "Madam Sang, this is remarkable! This way of eating is innovative. If you add more variety to the ingredients, you could even open a food stall on its own."

Sang Luo chuckled. "Master Xu, you truly live up to your reputation as a merchant."

Should there be chili peppers, peppercorns, or cumin in the mix, she would indeed give it serious thought. Barbecue, hotpot, Western cuisine – she could experiment with various styles. But without these essential spices, it would merely be a lively feast. Moreover, such indulgences would only be possible in a peaceful world where she had the means to safeguard the recipes.

Shen Lie watched as Sang Luo finally found a moment to eat amidst her busy schedule. Hastily, he began exchanging dishes he had personally tasted and found delicious with those on her side. Just as he lifted the plate, however, Sang Luo stayed his hand, saying, "I've already had my evening meal at the hour of Shen. I'm not accustomed to consuming too much after nightfall; tonight is merely for merriment and sampling a few bites. Please, all of you enjoy the food. I'll go assist Aunt You Tian for a while."

Shen Lie was aware that she didn't usually eat much at night, so he reluctantly withdrew his offer. However, Chen Dashan was quite delighted and called out in a loud voice, "Sister-in-law, apart from the family's money-making culinary skills, could you teach my mother some common techniques? I genuinely enjoy this dish."

Chen Po scolded her with a smile, "Is there anything from Ah Lie's household that you don't like?"

Everyone chuckled.