Asianovel

Chapter 71: Peculiar Bloodline (3200+)

Gu Heting, after a hurried and strenuous journey, finally arrived at the Empire.

Having just sat down and taken a sip of water, still catching his breath, Luo Le handed over a slip of paper with the ID number of the Intelligent Brain written on it.

He reached out to take it, casting a glance at Luo Le and noticing the dark circles under his eyes. Sensing the situation, he wisely swallowed his words back.

After putting down the cup in his hand, Gu Heting started to contact Huo Lanjing.

It's only five o'clock now, and Gu Heting wasn't really holding out much hope.

To my surprise, the call was answered on the first ring, yet there was silence on the other end.

"Hello, this is Gu Heting. I believe my son, Chen Chen, is with you at the moment. I truly appreciate your assistance yesterday. Could you please let me know when it would be convenient for me to come and pick him up?"

There was a considerable pause before any response came.

Huo Lanjing's tone was calm, utterly devoid of any signs of just waking up. After giving the time and location, he concluded the call.

At eight o'clock in the morning, the Hao Residence was bustling with lively chatter and commotion.

Gu Heting was escorted by the Huo family's servants to the reception room on the second floor.

Luo Le waited for them in the car parked within the garage.

After an extended wait, the door finally creaked open.

It was Huo Lanjing, and Chen Chen was by his feet. Upon opening the door and spotting him, a look of delight spread across her face as she opened her mouth, eager to call out to him.

Gu Heting hurriedly ran over and grabbed him, "My dear Chen Chen, I've missed you so much, my son."

Chen Chen froze for a moment before promptly realizing what was happening. He kissed her on the right cheek.

"Daddy, Chen Chen misses you so much." With these words spoken, she threw herself into his embrace and, from a corner out of Huo Lanjing's sight, playfully fluttered her eyelashes at him.

If the situation allowed, Gu Heting would have extended his thumb in appreciation.

This kid, he's got a good grasp of the situation.

Gu Heting picked up Chen Chen and, looking up at Huo Lanjing with a smile, said, "Thank you for taking care of Chen Chen yesterday. I heard that today is your sister's birthday. This is a specialty from our Second Planet, it's not worth much money."

He walked over and placed a box of tea on the table.

Huo Lanjing also took a seat on the sofa, studying the tea leaves on the table for a moment before asking, "Are you his father?"

In the Empire, on the household register, Alphas are recorded as fathers, while Omegas are noted as caregivers.

Isn't this person an Alpha?

Gu Heting nodded and explained, "Yes, Chen Chen likes to call her that way."

"What brings you to the Empire?"

Huo Lanjing exuded an aura of authority, as if interrogating a suspect.

Gu Heting felt a bit uncomfortable upon hearing this. He changed his previously good attitude, his lips slightly curled, and the smile did not reach the bottom of his eyes, "This is my private matter, I don't need to report it to you, do I?"

The atmosphere became tense in an instant, with undercurrents surging between the two individuals.

Huo Lanjing leaned forward to pour two cups of tea, extending an inviting gesture.

Gu Heting didn't drink, glancing at the door, he said, "Thank you, if there's nothing else, we'll go back first. I have something to attend to later."

"No rush, the child has something left to fetch," he said, sipping his tea gently.

Gu Heting looked at Chen Chen with a puzzled expression.

Chen Chen suddenly recalled the snack from yesterday and briefly explained it.

Gu Heting had no choice but to wait with him.

After a while, the servant arrived with multiple paper bags.

Huo Lanjing cast a glance at the person at the door. "Uncle Wang, send them home."

Gu Heting frowned and said, "No need to trouble yourself, I've driven here."

Huo Lanjing didn't insist; he waved his hand, indicating that the man should do as he pleased.

Gu Heting waved his hand towards the other end of the sofa and said, "Chen Chen, let's go."

Chen Chen let out an "oh," climbed down from the sofa, and threw herself into his arms.

After that, Gu Heting carried Chen Chen away. On the road, he kept an eye on the rear, fearing being followed.

The moment Gu Heting thought of Huo Lanjing's gaze as they left, he couldn't help but feel a tingling sensation on his scalp.

Fortunately, their escape was uneventful, with no pursuers in tow.

Gu Heting first stuffed the items in his hands into the car, then he picked up Chen Chen and placed him inside the vehicle before closing the door.

The moment Chen Chen got into the car, he spotted someone bundled up tightly. With a hint of confusion, he called out, "Dad? Dad?"

Luo Le revealed a pair of eyes, acknowledging with a soft sound, and secured Chen Chen into the child safety seat.

Though the touch was gentle, Chen Chen could sense Father's displeasure. He obediently sat still and dared not utter a word.

Luo Le rummaged through the paper bag, revealing its contents, and his eyes darkened slightly.

The hovercar started smoothly.

Meanwhile, at the Huo residence.

"Master, should we follow?" Uncle Wang asked, glancing from the departing car on the screen to the person beside him.

Huo Lanjing tapped his thumb rhythmically against the rim of his cup. After a few taps, he spoke in a deep voice, "No need."

He had already instructed someone to install a tracker on the car's undercarriage when it entered the garage. They could locate Luo Le's residence simply by following the vehicle.

Given Luo Le's alertness, sending someone to tail her would only risk exposing their plans.

"Understood." Upon receiving an answer, Uncle Wang stepped back into his position behind Huo Lanjing.

Fixing his gaze on the screen, Huo Lanjing's eyes darkened as he pondered over something.

The moment Luo Le left the Huo residence, she heaved a sigh of relief. She removed the messy fabrics draped on her and pointed at something on the ground. "What's this?"

Gu Heting: "Ah, this is..."

"Let him speak for himself," Luo Le said, his face dark as he looked at Chen Chen, who was curled up in the seat.

Seeing her father's reaction, Chen Chen's heart skipped a beat. She quickly explained, "Uncle gave it to me. Please don't be angry, Father. I only had one small jelly."

Luo Le frowned, "Luo Chenyue."

"Here." Chen Chen shot his hand up abruptly.

Father only called him by name when he was extremely upset.

But when he went to Zhu Zhu's house, Father wasn't that angry; he just told him not to go to strangers' homes.

Zhu Zhu was the first friend Chen Chen made on his first day at kindergarten. He had spent the night there without sending a single message.

"Did I ever tell you not to take things from strangers?"

Chen Chen retorted, "Uncle Hao isn't a stranger."

Luo Le was taken aback for a moment. Although Chen Chen was sociable on the surface, it was only a facade. When a colleague of Gu Heting asked him to call him "Uncle," he refused and only agreed to do so after a month.

But addressing him as Uncle after just one night?

Gu Heting stood by, watching without interjecting.

"How could he not be? Have you met him before? What if he's a bad person? Aren't you afraid that he might sell you off? What about the promise you made to me?"

Chen Chen lowered their head, not offering a response.

"Why didn't you wait for Father to come back yesterday? How many times have I told you not to accept food from strangers, and never to follow them?"

Chen Chen remained obstinately with his head lowered, an unwavering look of determination on his face.

Luo Le's frustration grew with each passing moment, and he eventually reached out to undo his seatbelt.

Gu Heting took a look and realized that the situation was getting out of hand. He pressed down on the belt and tried to calm Luo Le down by saying, "Luo Le, calm down, calm down. The empire cannot hit children."

With a loud wail, Chen Chen burst into tears. Wiping away her tears, she accused, "It was Daddy who... didn't want Chen Chen. Waaah! Now, Daddy is blaming Chen Chen. Daddy is mean. Chen Chen doesn't want Daddy anymore. Go away, Daddy."

Feeling a sting in his heart, Luo Le reacted to Huo Lanjing's defiance with a sarcastic laugh. "Fine, I'm the bad guy. Then go ahead and acknowledge your Uncle Huo as your father."

Upon hearing this, Chen Chen's sobs intensified, rendering her unable to speak coherently.

Gu Heting tried to comfort her, but no matter what he did, he couldn't seem to soothe her.

The rest of the journey was made in silence, father and son not exchanging another word.

Upon returning home, Luo Le went upstairs. Seeing that he truly ignored her, Chen Chen hurriedly scampered after him, panic-stricken.

"Father, Father."

Luo Le seemed to have not heard, disappearing around the corner.

Tears welled up in Chen Chen's eyes, a surge of unjustified suffering within her.

Gu Heting walked over and patted, "Don't cry."

"Daddy, really, no, don't abandon Chen Chen, Daddy, oh." With that, she threw herself into his arms.

Gu Heting patted him on the back and said, "Chen Chen, do you still remember the bad person I told you about?"

Chen Chen lifted her head, "Bad... person?"

"Yes, the one who bullies your father, always making him suffer injustices and be bullied by others."

Chen Chen pondered for a moment and suddenly recalled the scars on Father's body. She nodded. "Yes, I remember."

"Weren't you always asking who that villain was? Well, now I can reveal it to you — that villain is the Uncle Hu you mentioned earlier."

Chen Chen paused, "Him?"

"Yes, him. That's why your father is so angry. Yet you're still defending him."

Deeply affected, Chen Chen lowered his head and turned to grab the railing, climbing up the stairs step by step.

That night, as Luo Le finished his evening routine and lay down on the bed, he heard movement at the door.

He had a good idea who was outside and made no move.

For a moment, the sound of knocking echoed.

"Who is it?"

A tiny voice came from outside the door, "Daddy, it's me."

Luo Le slipped on his shoes and got out of bed. Upon opening the door, he found Chen Chen hugging a cushion, looking at him from the doorway.

"Daddy, can Chen Chen come in?"

As soon as he finished speaking, he caught sight of his father's back, causing him to lower his head in disappointment. However, he couldn't bear to leave just yet.

A few minutes later, he suddenly heard his father's voice.

"Why aren't you coming in? Close the door."

Luo Le saw Chen Chen visibly light up with joy. He closed the door and sprang onto the bed with excitement.

After turning off the lights for some time, Luo Le sensed rustling sounds beside him.

"Daddy, are you asleep?"

"What's the matter?"

"Sorry, Daddy, Chen Chen shouldn't have defended that big bad guy."

After saying this, Chen Chen pounced on Luo Le and snuggled up to him, holding on tightly for fear of being thrown out.

"Daddy, are you still angry at Chen Chen?"

Luo Le's strong reaction today was largely due to Huo Lanjing.

Initially, he was indeed angry, but Chen Chen was just over a year old, how much could he understand?

He turned on the bedside lamp and stroked Chen Chen's head.

"Chen Chen, were you scared today? Daddy wants to apologize to you."

Chen Chen shook his head. "It was Chen Chen's fault."

"Why did you defend that uncle today? Just because of those bags of snacks?"

Chen Chen shook his head. "Chen Chen doesn't know."

Luo Le ruffled his hair. "It's alright, go to sleep. But stay away from that uncle in the future, okay?"

"Okay."

After such a tiring day and reassured that his father wasn't angry, Chen Chen fell into a deep sleep.

Gazing at his sleeping face, Luo Le found himself unable to sleep.

Although Chen Chen claimed he didn't know why he spoke up for Huo Lanjing, Luo Le was certain that Chen Chen had felt a inexplicable affinity towards Huo Lanjing upon seeing him. Otherwise, there would be no explanation.

With this thought, Luo Le sighed. Blood ties were truly strange things.

It would be best to minimize their interactions.

This time Luo Le returned, primarily for his mother, and secondarily for Chen Chen.

The Empire offered the finest education, and though he couldn't provide the elite tutelage that the Huos could, it would certainly surpass what he himself had received previously.

His mentor had facilitated his entry into the mecha division under his company as a technician.

The Empire provided ample support policies for technicians.

With this identity, he would be able to offer Chen Chen an even better education.

*

Luo Le had previously investigated and found out that Luo Lu had another partner outside, one who had him utterly enchanted, causing him to be seldom at home.

Wang Yiyi, aware of this, wanted to make a scene but didn't dare. She spent her days drowning her sorrows in alcohol and only returned home at night.

Luo Zhining, still at school, was unaware of this situation.

Chapter 119: Ice Cream

In the study room.

Ji Min returned to his desk, addressing the video conference on his computer despite his growling stomach, "Let's continue."

The assistants in the video conference: "..."

Although the meeting on weekends was rather casual, Ji Min's frequent departures were still quite surprising.

Their boss was physically present now, but it seemed as if his mind was still elsewhere.

He would occasionally glance at the door, shifting uneasily in his seat.

It appeared that he was restless and unable to sit still.

Just as Ji Min couldn't resist the urge to leave for the third time, the door to the study room opened.

Lu Ran walked in.

Peering over Ji Min's shoulder at his computer screen, he noticed only a few familiar assistants in the video conference. Thus, without any hesitation, he announced, "I'm going out to have fun with Fang Chen."

Ji Min: "..."

Seeing Ji Min's reaction, Lu Ran couldn't help but chuckle.

However, remembering that Ji Min was in the middle of a meeting, he suppressed his laughter.

Ji Min made a gesture to pause the meeting on the screen.

He turned off his microphone and swiveled the webcam to the side.

Only then did he reach out to seize the youth's wrist, his tone far from amiable as he said, "Are you doing this on purpose?"

Only then did Lu Ran burst into laughter.

After his laughter subsided, he lifted his chin pretentiously and said in a displeased tone, "It was actually you who did it on purpose. By the time you go out again, Fang Chen won't be able to contain his anger."

Ji Min clicked his tongue, lifting his gaze to meet his eyes.

"Well, Lu Ran, you're worried about him getting angry, but not about me being upset?"

"Didn't you say I should spend more time with peers? Now that I am, why are you getting upset?" Lu Ran argued.

Ji Min was left speechless by his response.

Lu Ran continued, logically, "Besides, when you're not around, you call Fang Chen over to play with me. But as soon as you show up, he's pushed aside. Is that how you treat people?"

In his heart, Ji Min knew that inviting Fang Chen was part of an agreement between him and Fang Chen's father.

Who would have thought that the two of you would actually get along so well.

After a long moment of silence, Ji Min let out a sigh.

The man lifted the youth's hand and gently pressed it against his cheek, meekly asking,

"When will you return?"

"Let's make it tonight, our nightlife as young adults tends to be more vibrant," Lu Ran suggested intentionally.

Frustrated, Ji Min reached out to pat his waist.

"Alright, don't come back too late. Take good care of the people I arranged for you," Ji Min instructed meticulously.

"I know, I know, Uncle Ji," Lu Ran replied, then walked out.

Ji Min was powerless against him.

He could only sigh and turn the webcam on his computer.

Just as he had turned on the microphone in the conference room, the person who had just slipped away came back and planted a loud kiss on his cheek.

"Muah," and then he was gone.

Before Ji Min could react, the moment had passed.

In the conference room, as the few individuals turned around, they witnessed this scene and fell silent one by one.

Then, they saw their previously restless boss, who had suddenly calmed down like a pet cat that had just been stroked.

He pretended to clear his throat elegantly, forcefully suppressing the upward curve of his lips, and said with a stern face, "Carry on."

Everyone: "...Huh."

Lu Ran and Fang Chen left together.

The two went to a virtual reality gaming center, played a shooting game, and then engaged in a game of billiards.

When they found a nearby place to eat, they unexpectedly encountered Shen Xingzhuo.

Shen Xingzhuo looked dispirited, sitting alone at a corner booth and drinking alcohol.

Chen Sheng and a few others were gathered around, trying to console him, "It's alright, it's just a failed investment. We'll figure out a way to make up for it..."

Upon seeing Lu Ran, Chen Sheng waved frantically, saying, "Brother Ran! Come over quickly and talk some sense into him!"

Upon hearing Chen Sheng's voice, Shen Xingzhuo looked up as well.

Spotting Lu Ran, he hastily said, "Don't let him come over!"

In recent times, the Shen family had been on the rise, and so had the number of chaotic individuals surrounding Shen Xingzhuo.

His studio had been doing well recently, so he had boldly made a few investments.

Ironically, all those investments had gone awry.

Not only had he invested a substantial amount of his own money, but he had even pledged some of the Shen Corporation stocks he held.

If this news reached Shen Hongyuan's ears, he would undoubtedly be scolded severely.

What made Shen Xingzhuo even more miserable was that this incident perfectly validated what Shen Xingyu had said that day, leaving him feeling utterly defeated and humiliated.

To add salt to the wound, Shen Xingran had informed him that Lu Ran had been spending a lot of time with Shen Xingyu lately.

Shen Xingzhuo dared not imagine how Lu Ran would perceive him upon learning about this.

Initially, Lu Ran hadn't planned on coming over either.

It was just that he hadn't seen Chen Sheng and the others in a while, so he intended to greet them before leaving.

But as he turned to go,

the same Shen Xingzhuo who had told him not to come over suddenly reached out and, without warning, handed him something.

Lu Ran glanced down and saw a yellow Transformer figure.

The kind that children played with.

Judging from its style, it wasn't a recently produced toy; there was a faint layer of dust in the joints, revealing signs of the passing years.

Unconsciously, Lu Ran reached out and took the Transformer.

Gently twisting again, he contorted the model's two arms into a twisted knot.

He was very proficient in these actions.

It was as if, when he was very young, he had also fiddled with this toy inappropriately.

But these memories were separated by over a decade of time.

Shen Xingzhuo huffed and said,

"When I returned to the old house that day, I suddenly remembered that you seemed to be inseparable from this toy when you were little."

Lu Ran looked at the Transformers figure in his hand.

He still restored the joints to their original positions and placed this familiar toy back on Shen Xingzhuo's side of the table.

Shen Xingzhuo was taken aback and asked, "You don't like it?"

Lu Ran didn't mention whether he liked it or not, only saying, "Big Yellow doesn't like these sorts of things."

Perhaps it was because of this toy.

Lu Ran, who had intended to leave, eventually greeted Fang Chen and sat down in Shen Xingzhuo's booth for a while.

Seeing him approach, Chen Sheng, who had been nagging endlessly, finally heaved a sigh of relief and went off to drink elsewhere.

Lu Ran didn't touch anything on the table; he only asked, "What happened to you?"

Shen Xingzhuo rubbed his nose and explained how he had lost millions and pledged his shares in the Shen Corporation.

Lu Ran, who still saw himself as an ordinary and poor college student, instinctively cursed when he heard the amount, "Damn."

Even he, a veterinary student, could tell that someone was eyeing the Shen family's success and trying to swindle Shen Xingzhuo's shares.

It was truly overconfidence on Shen Xingzhuo's part that he couldn't see through this scheme.

"Even you think I'm no match for Shen Xingyu?" Shen Xingzhuo stared at him.

Lu Ran rolled his eyes heavenward.

He asked Shen Xingzhuo, "How many times have you lost money on your investments?"

Shen Xingzhuo hesitated but, noticing no one else was around and feeling a strong urge to confide, he poured out all his failures from childhood to adulthood.

There was a thorn in Shen Xingzhuo's heart.

That thorn was Shen Xingyu.

Due to Shen Xingyu's excellence, Shen Xingzhuo had always lived in his shadow since they were young. The more this was the case, the more he desired to make a remarkable achievement.

Thus, whenever someone provoked him with words, Shen Xingzhuo would rashly accept the challenge.

Unfortunately, he was simply not cut out for it – the more he invested, the more he lost.

Many of the shares he held had already been mortgaged multiple times.

On several occasions, it was Shen Xingzhuo who bought them back at twice the market price.

After hearing all this, Lu Ran fell completely silent.

Unable to hold back, he asked, "In all those years, didn't you ever consider switching paths?"

Shen Xingzhuo replied, "No, I just want to beat him."

To have his parents and family acknowledge that he had capabilities and merits.

Lu Ran turned to look at Shen Xingzhuo for a moment.

He said, "It doesn't matter. Those who think you're not good enough will never notice you anyway. You might as well focus on what you're good at."

Shen Xingzhuo had heard similar words many times before.

But hearing Lu Ran say this, he was taken aback.

Not because it was Lu Ran speaking, but because Shen Xingzhuo suddenly recalled how, when Lu Ran had first been taken back into the Shen family, the teenager seemed to have been constantly proving his excellence too.

Striving to prove himself, he was no less capable than Shen Xingran.

But...

What had been his reaction back then?

Shen Xingzhuo felt a momentary panic.

He knew that when someone was invisible in another's eyes, no matter how hard they tried, it would only appear as a clownish performance to others.

"I...,"

Shen Xingzhuo instinctively wanted to explain.

Then, he couldn't help but ask hopefully, "So... it's just that they didn't see me, right?"

But Lu Ran had no intention of continuing the conversation.

Fang Chen called out to him from a short distance away, so Lu Ran got up to walk over.

Before leaving, he cast another glance at the Transformer toy placed in front of Shen Xingzhuo.

"Thank you, but please don't give me such things anymore in the future."

With that, Lu Ran turned and left.

Thanks to this Transformer toy, it was probably the most peaceful conversation Lu Ran had ever had with Shen Xingzhuo.

The next day, Lu Ran finished his final exams.

Exiting the academy, he found Shen Xingzhuo waiting outside, looking furious.

All around them were students who had already completed their exams and were heading home early.

Boarders dragged their heavy suitcases past them with a rumbling noise.

Shen Xingzhuo suppressed his anger as he looked at Lu Ran and asked,

"Did you have to do this?"

"How so?" Lu Ran raised an eyebrow.

"I treat you better than Shen Xingyu, don't I? He slapped you, yet I gave you triple your salary and sent you gifts. Why are you closer to him?"

Shen Xingzhuo exclaimed in despair,

"I trusted you enough to confide those matters in you, yet you had to spill everything to Shen Xingyu?"

"Exactly what did I reveal to him?" Lu Ran asked calmly.

"That I mortgaged my shares this time."

Shen Xingzhuo tried to suppress his anger but failed, yelling, "I only told you about this!"

Lu Ran remained silent.

His gaze casually drifted to the Elite Academy's academic building, where he spotted Shen Xingran in the corridor.

Lu Ran turned to look at Shen Xingzhuo.

He said coolly, "Firstly, it's true that you mortgaged the shares. If you wanted to keep it a secret from someone, you shouldn't have done it in the first place."

"Secondly, you're saying that I told Shen Xingyu?"

Lu Ran reached out toward him. "Hand me your phone."

Stunned by his words, Shen Xingzhuo handed over his phone without thinking.

Lu Ran accessed the contacts and dialed Shen Xingyu's number.

There was a moment of delay before the call was answered on the other end.

Shen Xingyu's voice was low and grave. "Why are you calling me? You made this mess, so deal with it yourself. The shares of the Shen Corporation must not fall into external hands!"

Hardly had he finished speaking when Lu Ran called out, "Shen Xingyu."

Upon hearing the youth's voice, Shen Xingyu immediately paused, a hint of surprise in his tone: "Ranran?"

"You're aware of Shen Xingzhuo's decision to mortgage his shares?"

Lu Ran inquired.

Shen Xingyu fell silent for a moment before responding.

Shen Xingzhuo had initially thought that Lu Ran would ask Shen Xingyu to prove he hadn't leaked the information.

Instead, the teenager said, "Oh, then you probably don't know that this isn't the first time. Not only was his stock trapped in this incident, but he also suffered losses amounting to over a million. And previously..."

With a hurried tone, Lu Ran recounted everything Shen Xingzhuo had told him.

Without waiting for Shen Xingyu's explanation, he hung up the call and threw the phone back at Shen Xingzhuo.

He pulled the corners of his mouth into a wry smile and said, "Since you've accused me of being the leak, how could I not spill the beans to make it worth your while?"

Lu Ran glanced at Shen Xingzhuo's phone and asked considerately, "Shall I repeat it all for Shen Hongyuan as well?"

Shen Xingzhuo froze.

He stammered, "I..."

Lu Ran looked at him with a faint smile, asking,

"Why? When you mentioned these things to Shen Xingran before and found out that they were confidential, did you question him like this too?"

Shen Xingzhuo instantly turned stiff, as if he had fallen into an ice cellar.

Lu Ran ignored him and headed straight for the lab building since he still had experiments to conduct during the summer break.

By the time Lu Ran came out of the lab building, it was already evening.

Many students from various majors had already left campus.

The school grounds were significantly quieter.

Lu Ran discarded the trash and, turning around to leave, noticed someone seated on the steps of the laboratory building.

It was Shen Xingzhuo, who had been waiting all along.

Upon seeing him emerge, Shen Xingzhuo promptly stood up.

Lu Ran ignored him and continued walking forward on his own.

Shen Xingzhuo hurriedly followed suit.

"I'm sorry, I…"

He wanted to explain but found himself at a loss for words. All explanations seemed utterly feeble, for he was the one who had doubted Lu Ran and provoked the conflict.

Lu Ran slung his backpack over his shoulder and walked toward the main entrance of the school. He strolled at a leisurely pace, texting Ji Min, who was waiting for him outside the gate, using his phone as he walked.

He ignored Shen Xingzhuo behind him but didn't actively avoid him either.

Silent, Shen Xingzhuo followed closely.

In that moment, he felt as if he had ruined everything.

Upon reaching the school gate, Lu Ran glanced at the ice cream shop and halted his steps.

He strolled over to it.

Lu Ran frequently bought ice cream from this shop, usually purchasing four cones at a time.

The shop owner was quite familiar with him; upon seeing him approach, she warmly greeted, "Still the same, one strawberry, one lemon, and two vanilla, right?"

There were quite a few customers buying ice cream.

However, not many bought four cones for themselves at once.

Moreover, Lu Ran always stuck to the same flavors each time.

After the proprietress finished her question, she added, "We're out of vanilla. It'll take a few minutes to make one fresh."

But Lu Ran smiled and replied, "I'll just have a strawberry one this time."

The proprietress playfully teased him, "Will one be enough for you?"

Lu Ran rubbed his nose without explaining further.

He took a strawberry ice cream cone and walked out of the shop.

Instead of eating it himself, he turned around and offered it to Shen Xingzhuo, who had been following him.

Shen Xingzhuo was both surprised and flattered.

When Lu Ran ignored him earlier, he didn't know how to react.

But now that Lu Ran suddenly handed him an ice cream, he hesitated to accept it.

He turned his head away, awkwardly protesting, "I don't really like these things, especially strawberry flavor. It's so pink and delicate, only girls would enjoy it."

Finishing his statement, Shen Xingzhuo paused for a moment.

He was unsure if Lu Ran had a preference for strawberry-flavored treats.

Would Lu Ran be offended by such an assumption?

But as Shen Xingzhuo looked up, he found the young man before him to be remarkably calm.

There wasn't the slightest hint of anger or displeasure on Lu Ran's face.

He merely nudged the ice cream gently toward Shen Xingzhuo's lips and said softly, "Take a bite."

Shen Xingzhuo paused.

He genuinely didn't like ice cream, nor did he appreciate the pastel hue of this one.

But at that moment, he didn't wish to refuse Lu Ran.

So, he hesitantly took a bite.

The tangy sweetness of strawberries mingled with the rich aroma of cream, bursting onto the tongue.

Shen Xingzhuo's eyes widened in unexpected surprise.

He found this flavor to be more appealing to his taste than most of the desserts he had ever tried.

Shen Xingzhuo lifted his gaze to meet Lu Ran's once more.

There was no trace of surprise in the youth's eyes.

His expression remained as calm as ever, as if he had anticipated being astonished by this strawberry-flavored cone.

For a moment, Shen Xingzhuo felt bewildered.

This confusion was similar to the one he experienced when he saw Big Yellow.

It was like suddenly realizing that there was someone who knew all your preferences and had firmly etched them in memory.

Someone who would still remember, even when you yourself had long forgotten.

Yet he still vividly remembered your favorite things.

This memory transcended the boundaries of time and physiology, turning into an indistinct habit etched into his nerves.

Shen Xingzhuo's fingers trembled slightly.

His throat seemed to be choked by that overly delicious strawberry-flavored ice cream, causing unbearable pain.

He reached out to take the ice cream from Lu Ran's hand.

Yet in the very instant before it was to be received, the youth holding the ice cream suddenly exerted force.

Heaving the entire ice cream cone onto his face.

Shen Xingzhuo's face was smothered in a cold, sweet cream.

"Lu Ran!"

Shen Xingzhuo instinctively called out, but his voice was painfully hoarse.

The one who had thrown the ice cream turned and walked away, getting into the black sedan parked by the roadside.

Surprisingly, the usually hot-tempered Second Young Master Shen didn't explode or chase after him.

He merely reached up to cover his face.

Ji Min had witnessed the entire scene from inside the car.

As Lu Ran approached, he opened the car door and reached out to take the young man's school bag.

Silently, Lu Ran slipped into the backseat, intending to sit down, but was unexpectedly pulled by the man, who wrapped his arms around his waist, drawing him into his embrace.

I nestled into the familiar embrace, feeling the comforting warmth that reassured my soul.

In an instant, Lu Ran relaxed, collapsing wearily into Ji Min's embrace.

"I'm exhausted, but the exam is finally over," he said.

Ji Min chuckled and reached out to caress his hair.

Lu Ran didn't respond further, instead resting his head quietly against the man's neck.

Ji Min gently stroked his back.

Whispering, he asked, "Having a bad day today?"

"No," came the reply.

At first, Lu Ran denied it, but after a while, he mumbled, "I just recalled some unpleasant matters."

"And you call that not having feelings?" Ji Min chuckled at him.

The youth straightened his posture, lifting his chin as he declared with unwavering conviction, "I'm not that spineless to let such a jumbled mess of affairs upset me."

Saying this, he nestled back into Ji Min's embrace.

He expected the man to laugh at him.

Yet, he felt Ji Min pat his head and whisper in his ear, "It's alright to be helpless occasionally."

Lu Ran fell silent for a moment before wrapping his arms around the man's waist and hugging him tightly.

After a while, he lifted his head again.

He stealthily glanced at the front seat.

The car was moving, and at some point, the partition between the back and front seats had been lowered, enclosing the backseat into a small, private space.

This time, he noticed the absence of rearview mirrors.

Only then did Lu Ran lean in, tilting his face up to seek comfort.

"Kiss me," he said softly.

Without waiting for a response, he initiated the kiss, pressing his lips against the man's chin, as if offering payment in advance.

Ji Min chuckled, his single hand lifting the youth's chin before he bestowed upon it a gentle kiss.

The kiss deepened, yet it remained gentle at its core, preserving that tenderness throughout.

With his face uplifted, Lu Ran was being kissed gently and soothingly by the man.

For a moment, the kiss lingered before it finally came to an end.

He leaned against Ji Min's shoulder, gasping for breath.

Having received comfort and gained an advantage, he glanced at the partition, then leaned close to Ji Min's ear, whispering:

"Why did you lower the partition?"

Ji Min raised an eyebrow and mimicked him, speaking in a hushed, breathy tone:

"Well, who was it that sneaked around last time, terrified that the person in front would catch a glimpse?"

"But now that you've lowered it, others can't see us, and they'll only assume we're up to something secretive."

With conviction, Lu Ran argued, "We only kissed, we didn't do anything else."

Ji Min's gaze darkened.

He leaned in close to the youth's ear and whispered, "What else would you like to do?"

Lu Ran narrowed his eyes, deliberately goading him, "Uncle Ji, we're in a car, you know."

Hearing the term "Uncle Ji" again, Ji Min didn't react as strongly as he did the first time.

He merely quirked an eyebrow, then bent his head to deliver a chastising yet tender nip at the youth's lips.

Lu Ran emerged from the laboratory rather late.

He'd taken three exams today, spent hours working in the lab, and even splashed an ice cream on Shen Xingzhuo.

Upon returning home, he brushed his teeth and fell asleep on the bed, even forgetting to feed Big Yellow.

Ji Min held the dog food as he fed Big Yellow, then proceeded to carefully brush the little pup's teeth.

After freshening up, Ji Min didn't immediately rest but went downstairs again.

Butler Chen was waiting downstairs.

Seeing Ji Min come down, he handed him a bag of items that he had sorted out.

Today, Ji Min went to pick up Lu Ran, and he didn't join, instead staying home to organize these things.

They were all prepared by Ji Min before his surgery, in case the worst outcome occurred.

Now that his surgery was successful, none of it was needed anymore.

Ji Min took the thick manila envelope with a smile, shaking his head:

"Fortunately, he didn't see these. Otherwise, who knows how angry he would have been."

Upon hearing this, Butler Chen also shrugged.

The next day was the first day of summer vacation, so naturally, Lu Ran woke up late.

He had never been one to linger in bed before, as he needed to walk Big Yellow every morning.

But after entrusting that task to Ji Min, Lu Ran finally discovered the joy of sleeping in.

When he opened his eyes, the sun was already high in the sky.

Soft golden sunlight poured through the balcony of the bedroom, bathing the light-colored bedding in its glow.

Lu Ran rolled over in bed.

He rubbed his face against the pillow a few more times before reluctantly sitting up, picking up his phone, and checking the messages in their class group.

Although it was technically vacation time, those who stayed on campus for summer research still had some tedious procedures to sort out.

Lu Ran glanced through them for a while, downloading a few documents.

After a quick wash and slipping on his slippers, he left the bedroom.

First, he cuddled with Big Yellow, who had come over for attention, then grabbed his phone and entered Ji Min's study.

It was the weekend, and Ji Min was holding a meeting in the study once again.

This time, the atmosphere seemed quite solemn.

Lu Ran yawned discreetly, not disturbing him, and proceeded to print some documents on his own.

After he finished printing, he approached Ji Min softly and inquired, "The school is requesting updates on day students who live off-campus. Where's the parental commitment form you filled out for me?"

Bathed in the heat, the young man wore only a lightweight T-shirt, paired with loose athletic shorts.

Revealing slender and attractively muscled calves.

The T-shirt he wore was haphazardly draped, one side of the hem rolled up, revealing a glimpse of his slender waist with every movement.

He sauntered over, distracting Ji Min for a rare moment.

The man reached out to smooth the hem of his T-shirt neatly, then pointed at a cabinet nearby. "It's in the second drawer from the top."

Lu Ran rolled his eyes.

If he had hands to tidy up his clothes, couldn't he spare one to hold onto the documents?

Moving slowly, Lu Ran approached the drawer and opened it.

After Ji Min pointed out the location, he immediately immersed himself in the upcoming meeting.

Unaware, he missed the moment when the young man's expression froze upon seeing the contents of the drawer.

Glancing at the few documents marked "void" in his hand, Lu Ran looked up at Ji Min again.

He pressed his lips together, discreetly removing the papers with his name on them, along with the parental consent form.

Carrying the items, he returned to the bedroom.

Lu Ran tossed the parental consent form aside and carefully examined the other documents.

Skimming over the printed papers, he pulled out a handwritten sheet among them.

This is Ji Min's personal handwritten will.

Chapter 56: This Master Is Making Dumplings!

Mo Ran's expression seemed to falter at this question.

Has he thought about me?

Despite the deep-seated enmity from their previous lives that could not be reconciled, Chu Wanning had yet to do anything to betray him in this lifetime. Instead, he had protected Mo Ran time and again, even at the expense of his own health.

After a long pause, Mo Ran slowly replied, "Mm... He was injured several times all because of me..."

Hearing this, Chu Wanning felt a slight warmth in his heart. Just as he was about to say something to Mo Ran, the latter continued with the second half of his sentence.

"The debt of gratitude is too great. I only hope to help him recover quickly so that I don't owe him too much."

That warm feeling in his heart seemed to have died, frozen motionless like ice.

Chu Wanning stood there stiffly for a moment before realizing how ridiculous he had been.

Mo Ran had long said that it was merely a master-disciple relationship between them. It was he himself who had allowed a glimmer of hope to cloud his judgment, throwing himself into the fire blindly. In the end, it was no one's fault but his own if he ended up burnt to ashes.

Chu Wanning smiled, but it was likely an unattractive one, as if he had just been rebuffed.

"You shouldn't overthink it either. Since you're his disciple, there's no question of owing him anything. It's all his own choice."

Mo Ran rolled his eyes at him. "You, at such a young age, always put on a serious face and talk like an adult." With that, he chuckled and playfully tousled Chu Wanning's hair.

As Chu Wanning was being petted, he started off laughing, but gradually, tears welled up in his eyes. Gazing at the bright, youthful face before him, he whispered, "Mo Ran, I'm not playing with you anymore. Let go."

Mo Ran's brain was too simple to notice the change in Chu Wanning's expression. Moreover, he was so used to joking around with "Xia Sini" like this. Thus, he continued to pinch Chu Wanning's smooth cheeks and gently pull up the corners of his mouth, making a comical face.

"Pfft, why is Little Junior Brother angry again?"

Looking into the other's eyes, Chu Wanning saw the childish reflection of himself. The forced smile was grotesque, like that of a pitiful and amusing monster.

"Let go."

Unaware of the shift in mood, Mo Ran continued to tease him as usual. "Alright, alright, don't be mad anymore. I won't say you act like an adult from now on, okay? Come on, let's make up. Call me Big Brother~"

"Let... go..."

"Be good, call me Senior Brother, and I'll buy you some osmanthus cakes later," Chu Wanning said, his eyelashes fluttering slightly as he closed his eyes, his voice finally sounding hoarse.

"Mo Ran, I'm not joking. I really don't want to play with you anymore. Let go of me, please let go," he frowned, his slender brows knitting together. Though he didn't shed tears with his eyes closed, his throat was already choked with emotion. "Mo Ran, it hurts..."

It hurt so much. With someone occupying his heart, he had carefully concealed them in the deepest corner of his soul. It didn't matter if they disliked him, as long as he could secretly cherish and protect that person from afar, even if he couldn't have them—anything was better than this.

But all the tenderness belonged to others; all that was left for him were thorns. He kept them close in his heart, and every time that person moved, it felt like his chest was being pierced with blood gushing out, day after day. Old scars had yet to heal before new wounds appeared.

He realized that no matter how much he didn't seek to possess, as long as this person remained in his heart, the pain would persist each day.

Noticing something amiss, Mo Ran finally released his grip, his hands fumbling as he touched Chu Wanning's slightly flushed face, unsure of what to do. At that moment, Chu Wanning thought that perhaps it was good to be smaller, after all.

At least he could openly cry out in pain, show a hint of vulnerability.

At least he could make Mo Ran look at him with concern.

That was something he had never dared to dream of.

In the blink of an eye, New Year's Eve arrived. It was the liveliest and most relaxed time of the year on the Peak of Life and Death. The disciples pasted peach blossom charms and swept away snow while the head chef at the Mother of Forgetfulness Hall worked tirelessly from dawn till dusk, preparing a lavish feast for the end of the year. Each elder used their own specialized spells to add to the festive atmosphere. For instance, Elder Greedy Wolf transformed a pond of spring water into fine wine. Elder Xuan Ji released over three thousand firelight mice she had trained, assigning them to guard various parts of the sect, providing warmth and comfort to everyone. Elder Luchen enchanted the snowmen he built, causing them to run wildly across the mountain, shouting "Happy New Year" to anyone they encountered.

No one expected Elder Yu Heng to do anything. In fact, he was still in seclusion, having not appeared before the others for a long time.

Only Xue Meng stood by the window, gazing at the falling hibiscus petals in the sky, deep in thought. "After today, we'll be leaving. It seems we won't have the chance to see him before we go... I wonder what Master is doing right now?"

"Definitely cultivating," Mo Ran mumbled with an apple in his mouth. "Speaking of which, all the elders will be putting on performances tonight. Too bad, if Master were here, he'd have to participate as well. I wonder what he could perform."

Finished speaking, he chuckled to himself. "Probably how to 'get angry'?"

Xue Meng glared at him. "Why not 'how to beat up Mo Weiyu'?"

Despite Xue Meng's biting joke during the New Year, Mo Ran wasn't upset. Suddenly, he remembered something and asked, "By the way, did you see Little Junior Brother today?"

"You mean Xia Sini?" Xue Meng replied. "No, I didn't. After all, he's a disciple of Xuan Ji. If he hangs out with us every day, Xuan Ji wouldn't mind, but if he spends the New Year with us too, his master would probably be furious."

Mo Ran laughed heartily. "You're right."

At the Red Lotus Water Pavilion, the setting sun cast its warm glow upon the scene.

Chu Wanning held a medicinal pill in his hand, examining it meticulously. Xue Zhengyong sat across from him. Without being invited to tea by Chu Wanning, he had poured himself a full pot and unceremoniously taken a pastry from someone else's plate.

Chu Wanning gave him a sharp glance, but Xue Zhengyong was oblivious, chewing on the pastry as he spoke, "Yu Heng, stop looking. Although Greedy Wolf's tongue is venomous, his heart is not wicked. He wouldn't harm you."

"…Lord, where did that thought come from?" Chu Wanning replied coolly, "I was merely pondering why, since Elder Greedy Wolf has gone through the effort of creating a pill that can restore me to my human form for a day, he didn't simply refine more? They could be consumed when needed."

"Oh, it's not that simple," Xue Zhengyong said with a sigh. "The herbs required for this medicine are extremely rare. He has already exhausted his supply after refining just three pills. It's not a sustainable solution."

"So be it," Chu Wanning murmured. "I see. Thank him for me."

"Haha," Xue Zhengyong waved it off. "The two of you are quite alike, actually. You both have sharp tongues, but kind hearts."

Chu Wanning shot him a glance but didn't respond. He poured himself a cup of tea and took the pill that would restore his former appearance for a day.

Xue Zhengyong was about to take another flower cake when Chu Wanning stopped him by holding his hand.

"What's the matter?" the Lord asked, displeased.

Chu Wanning said, "Mine."

Xue Zhengyong: "…"

As night fell, the disciples of Mount Life and Death arrived at Meng Po Hall one after another. Each elder sat with their apprentices, making dumplings together. Snowmen and Firelight Mice weaved through the crowd, passing salt shakers, chili powder, scallion dishes, or other miscellaneous items.

Every table was bustling with laughter and joy, except for Elder Yu Heng's table, where all the apprentices were present, but their master was absent.

Xue Meng glanced beside him and sighed, "I miss Master."

Shi Mo spoke in a gentle tone, "Didn't our Master write a letter a few days ago, telling us to celebrate the festival well and practice diligently in Peach Blossom Land? He promised he would come to see us when he exits seclusion, didn't he?"

"That's true, but when will he ever come out of seclusion..."

As he sighed in despair, his gaze wandered listlessly across the entrance hall. Suddenly, he froze, then sat up straight like a startled cat, his eyes widening as he stared at the entrance of the Hall of Mother Nai.

The color drained from his face only to rush back, giving Xue Meng a rosy glow. His eyes sparkled with excitement as he stammered, unable to form coherent words, "I-I-I... it's..."

Mo Ran assumed it was one of Elder Xuan Ji's exotic beasts that had escaped to liven things up, and found Xue Meng's reaction amusing due to his limited experience. He couldn't help but laugh, saying, "What is it? You look like you've seen a deity. What could be so surprising—"

He turned with a cheerful smile, lifting his gaze nonchalantly.

The word "strange" simply refused to pass his lips.

Beyond the wide-open entrance of the Hall of the Lady of Forgetfulness, in the twilight snowfall, Chu Wanning stood, clad in white robes and draped in a bright red cloak. He elegantly tilted his body to one side, closing his oil-paper umbrella and shaking off the fine layer of snow. Then, as his eyelashes curled upward, a pair of sharp and elongated phoenix eyes emerged, giving them all a casual yet piercing glance.

In that one glance, when Mo Ran became aware, he realized his heart was racing, his palms were sweaty, and his breathing had involuntarily softened.

The Hall of the Lady of Forgetfulness gradually fell silent. Whenever Chu Wanning appeared, the disciples dared not make a sound; moreover, after being in seclusion for so long, his appearance on this New Year's Eve amidst the snowy night added an extra touch of frosty elegance to his already fair and handsome face, making his brows appear even darker and more profound.

Mo Ran rose to his feet, muttering, "Master..."

Xue Meng sprang up like a kitten, dashing towards Chu Wanning while shouting "Master!" before burying himself in Chu Wanning's embrace.

Chu Wanning's clothes were icy cold from the snow, but Xue Meng seemed to have embraced a March peach blossom or an October charcoal fire, exclaiming, "Master, you're finally out! I thought I wouldn't see you before I left. You do still care about us, Master, Master..."

Shi Mo also approached, kneeling respectfully with a joyful expression. "Greetings, Master, on your emergence from seclusion."

Chu Wanning patted Xue Meng's head and nodded at Shi Mo. "I'm late, but let's go. I'll spend the New Year's Eve with you all."

He took his seat among them, positioning himself beside Xue Meng and directly across from Mo Ran.

Upon Chu Wanning's arrival, the initial excitement and joy subsided, and everyone returned to their usual disciplined demeanor, sitting straight as their Master did. An eerie silence fell upon the table.

In the center of the table were various ingredients like flour, minced meat, eggs, along with a brand new copper coin.

Mo Ran was the most skilled cook among them, so it was decided that he should take charge.

"Well then, I suppose I'll have to accept this honor," Mo Ran said with a smile. "Do any of you know how to roll out dough?"

No one responded.

"Alright then, I'll handle the dough," Mo Ran continued. "Shi Mo, your wontons are the best. The filling for dumplings is similar, so could you prepare the filling?"

Shi Mo hesitated before saying, "There are still some differences... I'm afraid I might not do it justice."

Chu Wanning spoke calmly, "As long as it's edible, there's no need to worry too much."

Shi Mo smiled. "Alright, then."

"Xue Meng, just assist with handing over water or rolling up sleeves. Just make sure you don't end up causing more trouble than you solve."

Xue Meng: "..............."

"As for Shifu," Mo Ran said with a smile, "Shifu, would you like to sit by the side and enjoy some tea?"

Chu Wanning replied coldly, "I'll be making dumplings."

"Huh?" Mo Ran was startled, thinking he had gone deaf. "What are you going to do?"

"I said, I'm going to make dumplings," Chu Wanning repeated.

Mo Ran: "..............."

Suddenly, he wished he really was deaf.

Author's Note:

Some little darlings have asked about the background setting of the story. Although it has been mentioned here and there and will be discussed further later on, there hasn't been a comprehensive introduction since the world-building is rather dull. I'm afraid it might put you to sleep if I dump it all at once, 2333~ So today, in this 'Author's Note,' I'll introduce part of it for those who are interested.

Firstly, regarding the Upper and Lower cultivation realms: The "Upper" in the Upper Realm refers to the ascent of pure energy, situated along coastal areas on maps, particularly near the Kunlun Heavenly Pool. These regions compose the Upper Realm. The "Lower" in the Lower Realm signifies the descent of impure energy, where spirits and ghosts thrive, with the ghost city of Fengdu as its core, predominantly located in Sichuan and Guizhou provinces. The Upper Realm is abundant in spiritual energy, making it ideal for cultivation, thus attracting the Nine Great Immortal Sects. Conversely, the Lower Realm is home to only the Edge of Life and Death.

Regarding cultivation: The text does not differentiate clearly into stages like Golden Core, Foundation Establishment, Tribulation Transcendence, or Ancient Ancestor. When one begins their path of cultivation, it is called Foundation Establishment, followed by continuous refinement of their abilities after awakening their spirit nucleus. There are no complicated hierarchical classifications to memorize. Practitioners mainly cultivate to possess formidable magical powers, to distinguish themselves, though there are also those, like Master, who aspire to use their spells for benevolent acts within their means. Those with robust cultivation can live up to a hundred years with an ageless appearance, and upon death, they may ascend to immortality through corporeal dissolution. However, few ascend while still alive. For most cultivators, the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death, followed by reincarnation, is the ultimate outcome.

Chapter 148: University

Although the other demons didn't say anything, their expressions conveyed the same sentiment as Muershi's.

Wen Ying's expression remained unchanged. "Are you fools? Of course, we should start by destroying the enemy's next generation."

Ithys blinked and changed his lying direction.

"Hasn't there always been a division in exorcist schools? Between those from families and ordinary people. Let's add fuel to the fire and escalate the infighting among the next generation of exorcists."

"The students in exorcist schools now are mostly talented, because they only admit the gifted. The balance between student numbers and teacher numbers can be maintained. But if we send a large number of average-talent students in, that balance will be disrupted."

Muershi's eyes lit up again, spinning with a flurry of ideas.

Causing chaos within the school was just a small matter; those trivial squabbles could only be watched for entertainment. However, if there were insufficient teachers with limited energy, the quality of the students would plummet.

Why were prestigious schools called so? It was due to the atmosphere within and the renowned educators.

Even if those students were reassigned to new schools without affecting the original elite students, a considerable number of exorcists would still have to be appointed as teachers, thus tying them down.

Ordinary folks with no exceptional talents, even if they became exorcists, wouldn't pose much of a threat.

In any case, it seemed to have nothing but benefits.

The demons found the idea intriguing and were keen to participate.

Wu Fei felt a bit overwhelmed, but compared to Lan Jiaying's proposal of destroying a skyscraper... It didn't seem like much of a difference. Wu Fei was in a dilemma.

Lan Jiaying caught sight of Wu Fei, who looked worried and conflicted in the corner, and asked, "Wu Fei, are you worried about us or the exorcists?"

Caught off guard, Wu Fei replied guiltily, "Both."

Koroy couldn't help but chuckle. Wu Fei fidgeted uneasily.

"Let's not worry about other matters," Muershi said cheerfully. "Let's discuss how we're going to do this."

Lan Jiaying realized something belatedly. "But this plan has nothing to do with eliminating the extremist faction."

Ithys chuckled. "Does it really matter? Think of it as playing an interesting real-life game."

Looking at the demon, who was masquerading as a human with a ruddy glow and contented eyes, Lan Jiaying said, "You've been absorbing life force excessively. Be careful not to be discovered."

Ithys shrugged nonchalantly. "Don't worry, they won't dare to let me go."

Wen Ying: "..." True to her nature as a succubus.

To prevent Muershi from divulging details of a more devastating plan, Wen Ying anticipated his revelation by outlining the personnel arrangements for the scheme.

He himself would take the divine stone to interact with ordinary people in Mu City. If someone truly had an average talent and couldn't awaken, he would use the magic power stored within the divine stone to rouse them, until all the magic power within the stone was exhausted.

Other demons were in charge of disseminating provocative messages online and encouraging those with awakened talents to bravely fight for their right to learn magic offline.

In tonight's official announcement, the government mentioned the Demon Mobile Game, openly revealing that the characters within the game are inspired by real-life individuals.

The government has released news of the Demon Realm, informing the public that if they wish to gain insight into it, all they need do is play the mobile game "Demon Hunter". This game, jointly developed by exorcists and the government, serves as a precautionary measure, allowing people to acclimate themselves beforehand should the need arise.

Upon the announcement of this news, the shares of Devilish Company skyrocketed to their daily limit within a short span, and the game downloads reached an astonishing peak. Even those who typically didn't engage in mobile games flocked to download it.

"Mu City Black Hole" and "Demon from the Magic Realm" frequently soar to the top of trending searches, consistently accompanied by either "new" or "explosive" tags.

After the discussion, Essence and the other demons left, leaving four of them in the house. Lan Jiaying's human identity had been exposed, so she temporarily resided in Yang Shiming's home.

Wen Ying held the divine stone and, accompanied by Beros, went to conduct experiments. Muershi also joined them.

Although the teleportation portal was closed, the demonic aura it brought did not dissipate. The dense demonic aura in Mu City increased the chances of ordinary people with low innate abilities to awaken.

Wen Ying specifically sought out houses with retractable balcony railings. After unlocking the door with the vines, they entered the residence brazenly.

The house was occupied by a young girl who appeared to live alone. Her home was decorated warmly, and when Wen Ying and the others entered, the girl was engrossed in playing a demon-themed mobile game.

Silently, Muershi floated over. The moment the girl lifted her head to grab a glass of water, she saw a pitch-black head, causing her face to freeze in shock. An involuntarily high-pitched scream escaped her throat.

Wen Ying had anticipated Muershi's intention to scare the girl and had cast a soundproof magic barrier as they entered. Otherwise, the entire neighborhood would have heard the girl's scream.

Any human would be afraid. This creature resembled the mysterious black figure from the "Detective Conan" series, pitch-black from head to toe. However, this one emitted a faint black mist and had more distinct features, such as hair and clothing, along with the outline of black wings on its back.

"Y-You're demons, aren't you?" the girl stammered, looking at the sharp horns on the black head and the wings on its back. She cautiously glanced aside and saw two more such figures, causing her heart to plummet. She was already contemplating how to write a farewell letter.

"We're not evil demons," Wen Ying approached the girl, his tone gentle. "Young lady, do you wish to learn magic?"

Wen Ying didn't give the bewildered girl a chance to refuse. He placed the divine stone he had been holding onto the table beside her and seized her hand, pressing it against the stone without further ado.

When Gao Yuemeng's hand was grabbed by the demon, a chill ran up her wrist and spread throughout her body, leaving her stiff. The demon guided her hand to touch the strange statue, and suddenly, something exploded in her mind, filling her vision with intricate patterns of light.

It felt like an eternity had passed, but it could also have been just a fleeting moment. When she regained her senses and looked around, the room was empty; there was no sign of the demon.

The sensation of freefalling still lingered within Gao Yuemeng, and as she gazed at the empty space, her expression wavered between fear and uncertainty. A cold breeze blew in, making her skin prickle with goosebumps.

Something about this world seemed different now.

After following the same process and awakening the talents of several ordinary people, Wen Ying and Muershi returned home, content with their work. Beros remained indifferent, and if not for Wen Ying dragging him along, he would have preferred to stay at the Yang residence to practice.

Once Wen Ying left Yang Rixi's body, Beros planned to "assist" Yang Shiming in his cultivation, but Wen Ying pulled him away.

"It's late, time for bed," Wen Ying said, guiding the icy-faced Beros to the pillow and covering them both with a small blanket. Happiness engulfed him.

Beros loathed himself for his commitment to keeping promises, allowing a demonic mirror to take control over him.

The next day, Wen Ying possessed Yang Rixi and, accompanied by Beros who unwillingly possessed Yang Shiming once more, they headed to Mu City's local university with the divine stone in tow.

Magic is too childish for primary schoolers, but just right for university students.

Chen Senshui was a first-year student at Mu City University. The day before yesterday's black hole incident, he and his roommate happened to be playing nearby and were evacuated by the police. Upon returning, they regaled their classmates with tales of what they had witnessed.

Experiencing it firsthand was vastly different from watching it on a smartphone video. Chen Senshui could never forget the awe-inspiring sight of a massive black hole opening up in the sky, making him realize how insignificant ordinary people could be.

He had brushed past some exorcists that day, individuals who stood out from the anxious crowd with their ability to protect themselves and even combat demons – a stark contrast to those who could only pray silently.

Despite his envy then, Chen Senshui never imagined he would learn magic himself in just two days.

In Classroom 1 of the Computer Science Department at Mu City University's 22nd cohort, the students were dozing off during their 8 AM Marxism lecture. Even Chen Senshui, seated in the front row, couldn't resist the drowsiness.

Suddenly, he saw two figures, enveloped in black outlines, enter through the front door. His groggy mind took a moment to register what was happening.

The lecturer, noticing the sudden focus of his students on the entrance, curiously followed their gaze.

A piercing scream shattered the eerie silence in the classroom.

Some screamed, others fled, while some froze in terror. The class erupted into chaos, resembling a pot boiling over.

Hearing the hurried and disorderly footsteps behind him, Chen Senshui also wanted to run. However, as the first in line, the two unknown creatures entering the room immediately stepped in front of him.

Chen Senshui felt that death was imminent.

To his surprise, one of them placed a statue on his desk and said, "Touch this."

Involuntarily, Chen Senshui followed the creature's instructions. Upon contact, his vision flickered with spots of light, his consciousness began to blur, and he felt as if he were in another dimension.

"Wen Ying, go retrieve those who have fled," instructed Wen Ying to Beros, who was seizing the moment to practice nearby.

Beros did not respond verbally but reluctantly and leisurely made his way out.

Chapter 194 - Roots

"If Elder Brother doesn't come back, it won't be Sweetie who will go first. It'll definitely be Second Brother and Sister. Father wouldn't… How could Father spare them?"

His words were veiled, but Shen Yin understood their meaning while Shen Tie remained in the dark. Shen Yin's breathing grew heavier, and his body trembled involuntarily.

Shen Jin didn't intend to scare him, but he knew that if he didn't make him understand the situation now, those foolish thoughts would take root in his mind and become fatal.

Seeing that Shen Yin had taken his words to heart, Shen Jin continued, "Actually, Sister might not even make it to the city. Or perhaps even earlier, when we were still in the village. Due to lack of food, she might have been sold for grain, just like Sister Mei Niang."

His voice became strained as he spoke. He had lost control of his emotions when he spoke so much to Wang Chunniang earlier, but now that he was calmer and with Shen Tie around, he dared not elaborate on how Sweetie was returned by Wang Meiniang or the pitiful state Wang Meiniang was in.

In fact, even their mother, who protected them, would she protect Shen An and Shen Ning? Not only would she not protect them, but it was also uncertain whether she would join their father in finding buyers. This was a question that Shen Jin, as a son, dared not entertain.

"Second Brother is a boy, so he wouldn't have been sold easily back then, but once he enters the city, he wouldn't escape the same fate as Sweetie. Only after Second Brother and Sister are gone will it be our turn, the four siblings."

"So do you understand now?"

"Our family has long split apart. The two branches have essentially severed ties. Given what our parents have done, it's normal for Elder Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law to ignore our survival. We're alive because Elder Brother and Eldest Sister-in-law don't hold grudges against us, because they still see us as their younger siblings. And because Eldest Sister-in-law is kind-hearted, she is willing to bear the burden of three extra mouths to feed in a world where even children can be sold for mere grains."

"So stay vigilant and don't let anyone with ill intentions sway you with mere words. Don't emulate her way of thinking."

"Should you follow her lead, your thoughts will become distorted, and you'll grow into someone just as detestable. Moreover, where do you place the love and care from your eldest brother and sister-in-law, your second brother, and your elder sister, given the thoughts that just crossed your mind?"

He nudged his empty medicine bowl towards Shen Yin and released his other hand, which had been clenched, placing the hawthorn and banana slices he'd been holding next to the empty bowl. He asked, "Can you really still stomach the medicine we drink, the food, meat, vegetables, and these dried fruits we consume every day?"

"To be able to hide safely in this valley each day, free from hunger and cold, without resorting to eating soil or starving to death, without fear of being targeted by those driven mad by hunger..."

"On that day in the county, both you and Little Tie weren't feeling well. You're unaware, but on the day our parents were gone, many of those gathered outside our shack were there for amusement, while others had ulterior motives against us. You had no idea."

"I've always been afraid of frightening you, so I didn't dare speak up. Even now, I still don't dare, but with Sweet Girl gone, you must understand what those people were after when they surrounded our hovel, right? Mr. Xu saved us and was followed by those same folks. You're unaware, clueless about it all."

He wiped away tears and spoke incoherently: "Why did shopkeeper Xu help us save us? Uncle Xu is not a real shopkeeper. Why does he come to our village at risk every day? Why can we exchange pheasants for food and money to treat my mother's illness?It is the eldest brother who has always entrusted the family to take care of us. Without eldest brother, we would not know where we died. He may have died before entering the city, or he may have died in the county seat. He could not have died in the same way as Tianya or even worse.Days like these.”

Speaking to the point where she broke down into tears.

Yin also wept. "Big Brother, I understand. I won’t have such wild thoughts anymore."

Shen Tie was unsure why his elder brother was so distraught. The torrent of words fell upon him like a downpour, confusing him. He could only understand bits and pieces, so he tugged on Shen Jin's sleeve and said, "Big Brother, don't cry. I remember how well Elder Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law, Second Brother, and Sister treated me."

Perhaps these words were the greatest comfort to Shen Jin at this moment. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as he nodded. "Yes, remember it, remember it for a lifetime."

"We all nearly died in the county. We can't forget those days just because we've had a few good ones. Only by not forgetting the hardships will we not forget the kindness."

As Shen Jin spoke, tears streamed down his face. These myriad thoughts, which had previously resided only in his subconscious, now flowed like a river, unblocked and coursing freely as he counseled his two younger brothers.

It was only at this moment that Shen Jin truly recognized the root of his inner turmoil.

It wasn't solely the nightmare in the county or the hidden thoughts he dared not speak of, which Wang Chunniang had exposed. Deeper still lay his inability to confront his former self.

Only when one has tasted the brink of starvation can they understand the cruelty of their parents. But were his parents the only cruel ones? Hadn't he been just as merciless? In the months following the family split, had Big Sister, Xiao An, and Ah Ning truly fared better than he had?

Xiao Yin and Xiao Tie could be excused for their youth, but what about him?

Back then, he had never imagined that his parents would let Jiaan and Jinning starve. They provided grain, and every few days, there was more food. Everyone in the village seemed to manage, so he had no comprehension of people starving to death. He had laughed and given sparingly, never truly regarding Jiaan and Jinning as his siblings.

He had always known but never dared to confront his past self. The more his older brother, sister-in-law, Xiao An, and Ah Ning treated him kindly, the more he feared facing the person he once was.

Recalling how he had lashed out at Wang Chunniang for deserving to live such a good life, Shen Jin buried his face in his damp palm. Did he truly deserve it?

He was unworthy of it.

This realization, deeply ingrained yet suppressed by him from ever taking root, finally broke through its constraints at this moment, sprouting instantly and thundering into Shen Jin's heart and ears with a resounding impact.

I'm sorry, but you haven't provided any text for me to translate. Please provide the Chinese text you would like me to render into English in a more elegant and contextually appropriate manner. I'll be happy to assist you as a professional novel translator.

Pus pockets are excruciating to drain, but the Lu family's abscess didn't even have the chance to be lanced.

The moment Shen An left, Lu Dalang took a few steps forward, hoping to plead for mercy. But before he could, Mother Lu cut him off and merely asked Lu Dadao, who had been weeping softly all this while, to repeat word for word the nonsense her mother had spouted.

Lu Daniu couldn't bring herself to speak, burying her head and hesitating to open her mouth for a long time.

Lu Po looked at her for a while before nodding. " filial, huh? You don't want to say it, or is it just too hard to say?"

Seeing that she still refused to speak, Lu Po grew tired. "Alright then."

She nodded and got up. "You can't afford to waste time in farming. Go harvest the rice. That's about all you can do in this valley."

With that, she really did leave. If not for her faltering steps and hunched back, one might have thought she didn't care at all.

The more Lu Pozi behaved this way, the more terrified Lu Dalang became. His mind wandered as he followed his parents, watching them mechanically cut rice. Several times, his sickle nearly slipped and harmed himself. As the sun sank lower, his fear grew.

When the farm work was done, they returned to the cave. Without even having their evening meal, Lu Dalang knelt before Lu Pozi. "Mother, please forgive Chunniang one more time. I promise I'll keep her mouth shut from now on."

Upon hearing this, Wang Chunniang, in the small cave, turned to look at him.

Was Wang Chunniang afraid?

At first, she had been, but now, seeing Lu Dalang's desperation and his plans for controlling and punishing her, a strange sense of satisfaction welled up inside her.

This was her man. If last time she could still believe he was trying to save her, believing that again now would be foolish.

Lu Dalang wasn't saving her; he was merely using her to save himself from being expelled. She should have seen through him long ago.

Wang Chunniang regained her composure. Leaning against the cave wall on the narrow bed, she observed Lu Dalang kneeling before the old woman, a twisted sense of comfort rising in her heart.

Let him cry, let him plead. Neither of them were good people; why should she suffer alone?

...

Liu Dalang had already turned to plead with his father, repeating the same old arguments.

"How can we be pardoned?" Liu Pozi had been working tirelessly all day and hadn't even had a sip of water. Her voice was hoarse as she asked him.

But she didn't expect an answer from him; instead, she sighed, "Eldest son, each of us must take responsibility for our actions, or even for our inactions. We can't always rely on others to accommodate, forgive, or pardon us. It might work once or twice, but there's an old saying: one can do something twice, but never a third time."

As she spoke, she glanced at the five children standing behind Liu Dalang. Shuzhu and the others were older, but Huizi was ten, and the youngest, Shi, was only seven.

Seven years old.

Last year, Shen Jin was only eight, and even now, Shen Yin was seven, Shen Tie six, and Tianya was even younger.

Liu Pozi closed her eyes and murmured, "I'm also paying the price for not disciplining you properly."

The decision had long been made. Scanning her grandchildren one by one, her gaze finally settled on the eldest, Shuzhu and Tiezhu. She asked, "What do you have to say? Will you plead like your father, asking me to let this slide?"

Neither of the brothers spoke.

Liu Pozi's lips quivered, unsure if she could consider it a relief.

She fetched a stool and sat down, saying, "As long as you're not begging me like your father did. You've heard Shen Jin's words this afternoon, right? Back then, their parents didn't act properly, and even his own cousins weren't brought into this valley. How could you be an exception? If you're let off the hook once or twice, do you dare to rely on a third time?"

"Start packing. When your second uncle and third uncle return, I'll beg Mountain Lord again to send all of you away."

Upon hearing this, Lu Dalang slumped, his twisted smile of amusement freezing on his face. Wang Chunniang also shot up, her hands gripping the wooden fence. "What did you say?"

Only then did Old Lady Lu look at her. "I said that I'll send your whole family away. Didn't you ever imagine this day when you were causing such a ruckus?"

Wang Chunniang's breathing grew heavy. "How dare you? Aren't you afraid that I might reveal the valley's location?"

Old Lady Lu chuckled. "So you have some leverage, which is why you dared to stir things up? Don't worry. If I'm willing to let you out, I won't give you the chance to harm others."

She looked at Lu Dalang. "Do you feel the same?"

Lu Dalang shook his head like a rattle drum. "Mother, no, I don't mean that. It's Chunniang's fault. Can't we just send her away? The children are still so young. How can you bear to do this?"

Upon hearing these words, Old Lady Lu glanced at Lu Dalang. "Then will you leave with her?"

Lu Dalang fell silent immediately.

Widow Lu had no desire to look at him anymore and turned her attention to Zhan Zhu. "What about you, Zhan Zhu?"

Zhan Zhu's gaze flickered between his parents' faces several times. Observing them and listening to their words, he seemed to have forgotten who they were. It was only when his grandmother looked at him that he came back to his senses. "Grandma, I don't want to."

Widow Lu nodded. "That's good. It's easy to cower in this valley, but your spines will never straighten again for the rest of your lives. This is my final question: Do you want to hide here to preserve your lives or step out and give yourself and your younger siblings a chance to straighten the bent bones?"

The younger ones didn't understand, but Zhan Zhu grasped his grandmother's meaning. He glanced at his younger siblings by his side and nodded. "I'll listen to you, Grandma."

Tears welled up in Widow Lu's eyes, and her lips twitched, revealing the only smile-like expression she had shown since that afternoon.

"Good. If you're listening to me, then let's go."

Wang Chunniang was on the verge of madness. "Old hag, how can you be so wicked? They're your grandchildren, five of them! The roots of the Lu family!"

Widow Lu ignored her and focused on her eldest grandson. "Good child, your parents have no choice, but we can still be upright individuals. Grandma won't harm you; I'll ask your Uncle Er to find a relatively safe place for you. The road ahead may be more challenging, but it will be a broader one. You and Tie Zhu must take good care of your parents and teach your younger siblings well."

Tears rolled down Zhan Zhu's cheeks as he nodded repeatedly.

He didn't know what path his grandmother wanted him to take, but he trusted her.

The oppressive weight that had suffocated him ever since he entered the valley seemed to finally loosen its grip slightly in this moment.

Chapter 69: Father and Son Reunite

Qin Chen raised an eyebrow, his smile inviting a punch. "I have a suggestion for you. How about it?"

Huo Lanjing didn't even lift his head, not holding much hope. He casually responded, "Go on."

Qin Chen continued, "If I were you, I wouldn't push so hard. Have you heard the saying 'too much of a good thing can be bad'? With your constant searching everywhere, they'll surely be too scared to come out. If you pretended to give up, there might be a chance you'd find some traces."

Huo Lanjing looked up at him upon hearing this, tapping his index finger lightly on the table, seemingly lost in thought.

"Of course, it's ultimately your decision. It's none of my business. If you can't find them later, don't blame me," Qin Chen waved his hand, adopting an indifferent attitude.

After a long silence and no response, Qin Chen felt awkward. The atmosphere had suddenly turned cold.

He couldn't help but secretly marvel, Lord Luo is quite impressive, able to handle this icy demeanor for four years.

"Right, the old man asked me to give you a reminder. How about it, when are you coming back?"

Huo Lanjing lifted his gaze slightly. "About the insectoids, you—"

"Stop, I won't ask anymore, okay?" Qin Chen surrendered with his hands up, wondering if this person was a devil.

The mere mention of the incident made Qin Chen's head throb. With the insectoid king's permission, he had led a team to ambush them, but not only did they fail to capture any, they were also ambushed and had to spend two days in a healing chamber.

After that, the insectoids vanished without a trace. His people had been staking out the area for a month, yet there was no news at all.

It was a disgrace that he had botched such a simple task.

On the second planet, the spring sunshine was slightly cool.

Luo Le carried a little baby on her back and held a bag of fruit in her hand, strolling leisurely along the school path.

Some students were in class, so there weren't many people on the road.

"Hmm, where have you been?"

Luo Le looked up and saw Gu Heting jogging towards him from a distance of about ten meters away.

He paused and asked, "Any news?"

Last time, I asked Gu Heting to help keep an eye out for a house, but there's been no news so far.

"There's news, but..." Gu Heting stood in front and took a breath before continuing, "However, I think it's unnecessary now, as the person has already been withdrawn."

Luo Le's brows knitted slightly. Would Huo Lanjing give up so easily?

Seeing the expression on his face, Gu Heting knew he didn't believe him, so he explained, "Really, I've been observing for two days, and to be honest, I've been followed before, but because of my work, they stopped following me at the school gate. However, in the past few days, this group of people has also been withdrawn."

With everyone withdrawn, could it be that Huo Lanjing had truly given up?

At this thought, Luo Le paused, feeling somewhat weighed down, not as light-hearted as he had anticipated.

Luo Le was in a quandary. On one hand, she wished for Huo Lanjing to give up promptly, while on the other, she was curious to see how long he could persist.

It took Huo Lanjing seven years of perseverance to disrupt the insectoid's practical training base.

What a remarkable level of determination.

But from the time he left until Chen Chen's birth, it wasn't even a year...

"There are daily announcements at school, and with people constantly coming and going. The soundproofing of the house isn't great, so you probably didn't get much rest. Plus, if we move closer, I can lend you a hand more easily. I'm free tomorrow, so I can help you with the move. How about that?"

Luo Le felt a warm sensation in her heart upon hearing this. A slight smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "Alright, thank you for your help."

"No problem, let me carry it for you. You still have one on your back."

As soon as the words left his mouth, the item in his hand was snatched away by Gu Heting.

Gazing at his retreating figure, Luo Le smiled but didn't speak, following after him.

Due to his childhood experiences, he found it difficult to trust others. Initially, he suspected that Gu Heting had ulterior motives.

Later, he realized that Gu Heting's concern and care for him were sincere. However, he did not understand why Gu Heting could be so kind to him, a stranger at that time.

After much contemplation, he found no answer. Eventually, he decided to stop ruminating; the genuine emotions he felt were enough.

The house purchase must proceed.

Gu Heting seems to be planning to settle down here.

The house he currently resides in, situated on the outskirts, is inadequately equipped and does not offer particularly favorable conditions.

Gu Heting's experiments have been stagnant for three years, resulting in the school cutting the budget. He has been crying every day due to the lack of funds for pharmaceutical development.

When he mentioned this matter, Luo Le said with a sincere face that he could provide it, but Gu Heting flatly refused.

There was little else Luo Le could assist with; this seemed the most reliable option after much consideration.

There wasn't much here to begin with, apart from Chen Chen's familiar little bed, his blanket, and the hard-to-find milk formula. He planned on purchasing the rest when he returned home.

Chen Chen appears to have a sort of attachment; she can't fall asleep unless in her own little bed with her personal small blanket.

She's also quite particular about her food. This brand of milk formula can only be sourced from the Empire.

The annual production is limited, and the allocation to the Second Planet is even scarcer, consistently failing to meet the demand. Hence, the price is exceptionally high, with purchases restricted to once a month at designated counters.

Luo Le had also tried other formulas, but Chen Chen would vomit immediately upon consumption, leaving him with no choice but to give up.

One could only wonder whose delicate sensibilities Chen Chen inherited.

After tidying up, Luo Le sat on the sofa and waited.

The remaining items could be cleared out later by hiring a cleaning service.

Within days of returning home, Luo Le brought up the topic of purchasing a house again.

Gu Heting thought for a moment and realized that the current conditions were not ideal to begin with. Now, with the addition of a small golden nugget, it indeed made sense to consider moving to a new place. Consequently, he did not say anything further.

After viewing three properties, Luo Le settled on one that was fairly well-rounded.

He used the excuse of being too busy to handle everything as a reason to invite Gu Heting to move in.

The house had three stories, and they could each have one to themselves.

Gu Heting thought about it and agreed without hesitation.

Gu Heting's research seems to have made progress. He spends all his time at school and doesn't have time to move.

Luo Le engaged a moving company to transfer all their belongings to the new place.

And so, Luo Le settled into the new residence.

Seasons shifted, time marched on, and in the blink of an eye, a year had passed.

In the afternoon, on Empire Avenue.

"Chen Chen, take it slow, don't fall."

Pushing the stroller, Luo Le followed closely behind Chen Chen, ever vigilant of their surroundings.

"Daddy, I want, I want."

Seemingly captivated by something, Chen Chen pointed to his right without turning his head back.

Luo Le glanced in the direction indicated and saw a jewelry store.

He approached and held Chen Chen's hand, saying, "You can't eat that. You're still little, you don't need it yet."

Understanding, Chen Chen pouted, tears welling up in his eyes as he whined pitifully, "I want it, Chen Chen wants it."

Luo Le sighed. "Alright, let's take a look, but Daddy doesn't have any money."

Chen Chen didn't care. Grinning, he grabbed Luo Le's hand and rushed inside with permission.

The sales clerk was staring blankly at the entrance when suddenly, he saw a cool kid dressed in black and white with a cap worn backward pull in a youth pushing a stroller and wearing a sweater.

He immediately put on a smile and greeted them warmly, "Welcome! May I ask what you need?"

Luo Le waved his hand, indicating the tiny figure just reaching his knees.

Chen Chen released his hand, afraid of being chased out. He took out a card from the small bag hanging on his chest, trying to prove himself. "Look, I have money."

Luo Le watched from the side, the corners of his mouth twitching.

The sales clerk was amused and propped his hands on the counter. "Little brother, then what do you want? Do you need Uncle to introduce anything?"

Chen Chen shook his head and approached the glass cabinet, placing both hands on its surface. Gazing at the glittering jewels inside, he opened his mouth wide, his eyes shining like stars: "Wow."

"Luo Le crouched down and took out a handkerchief to wipe the drool from the corners of his son's mouth. "I told you, you can't eat those."

How could his son be so unambitious, getting so tempted by mere jewelry?

Chen Chen pointed at the largest ruby necklace: "Uncle, this one."

Then, his finger shifted to another necklace adorned with a sky-blue gemstone: "And this one too."

Though the little boy was adorable, these necklaces were expensive. If they got damaged, Luo Le wouldn't be able to afford to pay for them.

The salesperson looked at Luo Le, clearly hesitant. "Sir, about these..."

"How much are they?" Luo Le ignored Chen Chen's hopeful gaze and asked the salesperson straightforwardly.

"The ruby necklace is 1.8 million, and... the aquamarine gland chain is 38 million," the salesperson replied.

Chen Chen's eyes seemed glued to the two necklaces, unable to divert his attention.

Luo Le sighed. "I'll take them all."

"How would you like to pay?"

Chen Chen understood and, on tiptoe, offered his card. "I have money, I have money."

Luo Le rubbed her forehead and pushed his hand back down. "There's only ten yuan in your card, not enough to even buy a toy car. Put it away."

Chen Chen let out an "oh" and, looking a bit dejected, tucked the card back into his pocket.

Suddenly, he trembled and clutched at his lower body. "Daddy, I need to pee."

Luo Chenyue was only one year and one month old, an age when he couldn't control his bladder yet.

Looking at his flushed little face, Luo Le chuckled. "Go ahead, there's a diaper."

Chen Chen shook his head. "No, Chen Chen is a big boy. Diaper, no."

A month ago, Chen Chen had started insisting on using the toilet instead of diapers.

Luo Le lifted his gaze to the sales associate. "Excuse me, where's your restroom?"

The salesperson pointed to the left. "Over there."

"Wrap it up for me first. I'll take him..."

Before Luo Le could finish, he saw Chen Chen dash out, his steps unsteady. "Daddy, I can manage, Chen Chen."

With so many attendants in the store, Luo Le wasn't too worried.

He stood up to access his account, and the salesperson smiled at him before pulling up his own smart brain to deduct the payment.

Chen Chen wobbled along, moving at a decent pace, but due to his short legs, he hadn't reached the destination after a while.

Muttering to himself, "Cake, cake," he ran while speaking.

Suddenly, he collided head-on with a pair of legs, stumbling backward with a hand instinctively guarding his lower body.

Huo Lanjing observed the tiny figure trembling on the ground, drenched in sweat but not crying.

Concerned, he quickly squatted down, awkwardly attempting to embrace the child yet hesitating. "Where does it hurt?"

However, receiving no response, Huo Lanjing gritted his teeth and scooped the child up, preparing to leave.

Just a few steps out, the child in his arms lifted his head to look at him. "Uncle, are you... a kidnapper?"

Staring into those wide, rolling eyes, Huo Lanjing was speechless.

Whose child was this?

He maintained a stern expression. "No, I'm not."

Chen Chen had reached his limit but was forcefully holding back. "Uncle, Chen Chen needs... to pee."

Upon seeing where the child was pointing, Huo Lanjing understood and nodded, carrying him back inside.

He felt the bulge beneath the child's bottom and, observing the boy's distressed face, said, "If you can't hold it, just go ahead and pee."

Chen Chen shook his head wildly. "Chen Chen, a little man doesn't cry, Boo-boo, it's shameful."

Huo Lanjing couldn't help but chuckle. "Then hurry up, Uncle."

Normally, with his stern expression, children would burst into tears at the sight of him. He had never been fond of kids either.

But for some reason, he didn't dislike this child.

Chen Chen forcefully pushed away his hand. "It hurts, bad uncle."

"I want to get down." He struggled to descend.

Huo Lanjing, noticing this, bent down to gently place him on the ground.

The moment Chen Chen touched the ground, he turned to leave but found himself facing an empty space.

His father was nowhere to be seen.

Huo Lanjing observed the child halt after only a few steps, his face as pale as a withered eggplant.

He crouched down. "What's wrong?"

Tears swirled in Chen Chen's eyes before dripping down. "Daddy's gone. Uncle, find Daddy."

Seeing the falling tears, Huo Lanjing was taken aback for a moment. Then, he reached for the handkerchief in his chest and wiped Chen Chen's face. "I'll help you look. Don't cry anymore."

That was how kids were. Once they started crying, they couldn't stop. Despite being told to stop, Chen Chen still sobbed uncontrollably.

Uncle Wang went to make an announcement, but after waiting for an hour, no one came forward.

Coincidentally, the surveillance camera at the entrance had malfunctioned and had yet to be repaired. Thus, there was no way to check the footage.

"Daddy... Did he abandon Chen Chen?" The more Chen Chen thought about it, the sadder he became, and more tears rolled down his cheeks.

Huo Lanjing tapped his ring-adorned finger on his thigh. An jewelry store was not a suitable place for abandonment. Besides, no one would be foolish enough to do that.

"Do you know your father's smart brain ID?"

"Hmm?" Chen Chen wore a puzzled expression.

Huo Lanjing sighed. "Did he give you a card or something like a small note?"

Chen Chen took off her small purse and pulled out the card. "An ID?"

Huo Lanjing nodded and took it to scan with his smart device.

Soon, the owner's identification information popped up on screen.

Gu Heting, male, from the Second Planet...

Huo Lanjing cast a glance outside; the sky had already turned dark.

Fixing his gaze on the child with his head bowed, he asked, "Child, do you wish to stay here or come back with me?"

"Looking for Father," Chen Chen said with his head down, pouting.

"I'll get in touch with your father tomorrow."

With the information in hand, tracing an AI identity would be no trouble.

"Hao Lanjing asked again, "So, what do you prefer? Staying here or coming with me?"

Actually, he was uneasy about leaving the child behind, but he knew the boy had a strong will.

If he insisted on taking him back, the child would likely resist.

"Uncle Wang's house."

Upon receiving the answer, Huo Lanjing scooped up Chen Chen and strode out nonchalantly.

Seeing this, Uncle Wang followed suit.

Only after the three of them had entered the car did Luo Le cautiously emerge from around the corner. Watching the departing vehicle, his eyes darkened slightly.

He hadn't expected to encounter Huo Lanjing as the first person upon returning to the Empire. Moreover, Chen Chen had been taken away by him.

It was truly perplexing. Wouldn't the logical course of action be to take the child to the police station?

Who would simply take a lost child home?

This must be a child trafficker, right?

Luo Le held onto the stroller tightly, hesitated for a moment, then sighed and left.

Inside the stroller, Chen Chen had long forgotten about his father.

Huo Lanjing was carrying him in his arms, with Chen Chen's feet resting on his legs as he leaned against the car window, watching the scenery rush by outside.

Huo Lanjing supported him with one hand while retrieving a bottle of milk from the compartment with the other. He inserted a straw and offered it to the child.

"Drink."

Wait, could a child around one year old drink milk?

Chen Chen shook his head, pushing away the bottle before unzipping his little bag and pulling out a pacifier with teeth marks on it – clearly a well-used item.

"Bottle-feeding time."

There were no children in the household, let alone any baby formula available.

Huo Lanjing pondered for a moment and summoned a holographic screen. "Which one do you want?"

Luo Le had previously allowed Chen Chen to choose as well. Thus, he sat down and effortlessly started selecting items.

He first picked the formula he usually drank and then picked out numerous small snacks - jelly, infant nutrient drinks, and tiny pumpkin porridge...

After a moment, he stopped and turned to see that Uncle was silently observing him.

Just like Father when he was upset, he wouldn't say much.

Could it be that he chose too much?

Chen Chen crossed out the newly picked snacks and asked, "Uncle, I want the jelly, but not the others, right?"

Was he trying not to anger him?

Huo Lanjing cleared his throat softly, reinstating the item he had previously crossed out. "You can keep them all."

Did this child's family usually restrict such purchases?

Chen Chen planted a kiss on his lips, landing on his arm. "Thank you, Uncle."

A warm sensation stirred within Huo Lanjing's heart. However, this child was indeed too skilled at endearing himself.

One could only wonder who he had learned it from.

The Huo family's ancestral home is dimly lit, with servants bustling about to arrange the venue.

Huo Lanjing carried Chen Chen as they walked inside, and upon just stepping through the doorway, they were met with a pile of garments on the sofa. At that moment, Huo Fei was clad in a strapless mermaid gown, yet her expression betrayed a distinct lack of joy.

"Master, Manager Wang."

The servants, catching sight of the figure at the door, bowed respectfully.

Huo Fei turned at the sound, only to see his younger brother standing at the door, cradling a tiny infant in one arm. The face was eerily familiar.

She hesitated for a moment, her face filled with suspicion as she asked, "Your son?"

Huo Lanjing glanced at her and then walked over to the sofa, placing the child down.

"No."

The more Huo Fei looked at the boy, the more he resembled a younger version of Huo Lanjing. She reached out and playfully smacked him, asking, "Spill the beans, what's going on here?"

Assuming that the stern aunt in front of him disliked him, Chen Chen wrapped his arms around Huo Lanjing's neck and buried his face into it.

With one arm around the child, Huo Lanjing shot her a glance, aware that the kid was scared. "Found him on the road."

"And you just happened to find him? You didn't, by any chance, abduct him, did you?"

Uncle Wang, sensing that the situation was escalating, hurriedly intervened to clarify.

After digesting the information, Huo Fei realized she had overreacted and frightened the child.

Forcing a smile, she said, "Don't be afraid, I don't eat children."

Her words only made the situation more terrifying.

Chen Chen shook her head frantically.

Huo Lanjing: ...

He glanced at Uncle Wang, who promptly understood and held out his hand to Chen Chen, saying, "Come on, let's go up and play."

Chen Chen shot a glance at Huo Fei before tumbling into Uncle Wang's arms and being carried away.

Huo Fei withdrew his gaze. "Don't you think this child resembles you when you were young?"

Huo Lanjing's eyes flickered slightly, "His father is named Gu Heting, not Luo Le or Gu Zhiwei."

Though he spoke thus, inwardly, his heart was already stirred with a quiet turbulence.

Judging by the timeline, Yueyue should be around this age.

"Don't forget how Gu Zhiwei got that identity of his. Once there's one, there could be a second." Huo Fei raised two fingers.

If Luo Le could forge one identity, why couldn't he forge a second?

Could it really be him...

Huo Lanjing lowered his gaze in deep thought.

She then asked, "What's his name?"

Upon hearing this, Huo Lanjing suddenly had an idea.

Huo Fei looked up at the person who abruptly stood up, "What are you doing?"

"I'm going upstairs," Huo Lanjing said before leaving.

Seeing his dismissive attitude, Huo Fei shrugged her shoulders.

Having said that much, the rest was up to him.

Uncle Wang was watching TV in the living room with Chen Chen in his arms. When Huo Lanjing entered, he saw Chen Chen holding his bottle, absorbed in the show.

His hand paused, then he closed the door and walked over to switch off the television.

Chen Chen looked utterly perplexed.

Huo Lanjing returned and said, "Does your father usually let you watch TV while drinking milk?"

This single sentence effectively silenced Chen Chen's impending protest. He turned his head away in indignation, refusing to look at Huo Lanjing.

Huo Lanjing came over and sat down, gesturing to Uncle Wang.

Uncle Wang understood and gently placed the child on the sofa before standing up to bid farewell.

After a moment of deliberation, Huo Lanjing asked, "What's your father's name?"

Although still upset, he couldn't be an impolite child.

Chen Chen swallowed a mouthful of milk and replied, "Daddy is just Daddy."

His daddy had told him before that if anyone asked about who his daddy was or what his name was, he mustn't say anything. Otherwise, the insectoids would come and take him away, as they loved eating children the most.

Huo Lanjing observed that when the child felt guilty, they would avert their gaze from him.

Is it possible that Luo Le has created a false identity, calling himself Gu Heting?

Huo Lanjing's heart was filled with renewed hope.

After the child finished his milk, Huo Lanjing gently wiped his mouth, then picked up a piece of jelly.

"Desire a taste?"

It was his favorite flavor.

Chen Chen looked up for a while and nodded honestly.

"Huo Lanjing pointed at the large bag of snacks on the table. "Answer my question. Are all these yours?"

Chen Chen gazed at the bag of snacks, then rubbed his belly. He really wanted to eat them.

Yet he couldn't betray his father.

"I won't ask about your father," Huo Lanjing assured.

Upon hearing this, Chen Chen's eyes lit up. If he didn't have to speak of his father, then he wouldn't be betraying him.

He nodded in agreement.

Huo Lanjing continued, "How old are you?"

"One year and one month." He held up two fingers on each hand.

Next, he asked, "How old is your father?"

Chen Chen shook his head.

After asking a few more questions, Huo Lanjing learned that the child had just arrived in the empire with his father.

From the boy's description, his father should be in his twenties.

The details seemed to align.

Huo Lanjing supported the child's face with both hands, examining him from top to bottom.

He couldn't recall what he looked like as a child, but the shape of this child's lips and the outline of his eyes bore a resemblance to Luo Le's.

Could it be that this was really his child?

"Daddy, it hurts."

Huo Lanjing released his grip on the child's face.

That night, Chen Chen was supposed to sleep on another bed, but he couldn't fall asleep. Staring at the dark ceiling, he felt as if there was a ghost with a monstrous face lurking above him.

Just as Uncle Gu had described.

Chen Chen pulled back the covers and hid his face, missing his father dearly.

The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became. Clutching his small pillow, he scurried up to Huo Lanjing's bed.

Huo Lanjing, witnessing it all, faintly curved his lips in the darkness.

Chapter 118 - Shen Cheng

Exploded?

What exploded?

President Yang was flailing his arms about, unable to form coherent sentences.

Both Shen Hongyuan and Shen Xingran also subconsciously froze in confusion.

Shen Hongyuan even reflexively glanced at his phone, thinking that President Yang might have been browsing some significant business news while using the restroom.

It wasn't until an awkward anger appeared on President Yang's face when he repeated, "The toilet exploded!" that Shen Hongyuan and Shen Xingyu, father and son, finally realized what had happened. They rushed into the restroom with furrowed brows.

Shen Hongyuan muttered, "That can't be right, I clearly checked it?"

Upon seeing the state of the stall, Shen Hongyuan's words came to an abrupt halt.

Amidst the initially tranquil and utterly normal toilet bowl, a bizarre array of pearls erupted forth.

These pearls were translucent and colorful, exuding a somewhat fantastical aura at first glance.

That was, of course, if one could overlook the peculiar objects mixed within them.

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, these pearls seemed to possess a life of their own, continuously gurgling out of the bowl.

Perhaps it was due to the pearls being beneath, while the, well, waste resided above.

With this surge of pearls...

Whatever had been flushed down was forcefully pushed back up.

Overflowing from the toilet, they spilled across the floor.

"Your... Your restroom!" President Yang's complexion cycled from pale to flush to ashen.

When he had rushed out just now, he still felt a hint of embarrassment.

To come to someone else's house and end up causing an explosion in the toilet—what kind of situation was this?

But!

Now that he saw it clearly, it was clearly the fault of the toilet itself!

President Yang's anger flared instantly.

He shot a glance at Shen Hongyuan and sneered, "President Shen has quite a sense of humor. If you're not satisfied with my conditions, you could have said so directly. There was no need to pretend to agree and then secretly pull such a stunt to disgust me."

Upon hearing this, Shen Hongyuan panicked.

He quickly said, "President Yang! This was an accident! It must have been a prank by one of the children at the banquet. Look, there's nothing wrong with this cubicle over here..."

As he spoke, he immediately opened the door to another cubicle.

To prove his point, he even reached out to press the flush button.

Water rushed eagerly from the tank into the toilet bowl.

At first glance, it seemed entirely normal.

But soon, due to the immense water pressure, the hidden, luridly-developing water droplets beneath surged upward in a tumultuous wave.

With a "whoosh," they pushed against the debris above, sending it splashing high.

Translucent water droplets, mixed with various peculiar substances, danced in mid-air.

A few even sprinkled onto Shen Hongyuan's head.

In that instant, the entire restroom fell eerily silent.

moments later, the unfortunate Yang President stormed out, sleeves flapping.

The other CEOs who had witnessed the scene were all left with their eyes wide in shock.

For a while, it was unlikely anyone would dare set foot on the Shen family's territory.

The once bustling Shen family villa finally quieted down after a long evening of revelry.

Moments later, Shen Hongyuan's furious roar echoed from the bathroom:

"Lu Ran!"

The explosion in the Shen family toilet had undoubtedly posed significant obstacles to Shen Hongyuan's plan for securing investments.

However, the profits from the HZ project were enormous, making the Shens the apple of Beijing's eye for the time being.

Even Shen Xingzhuo's half-dead studio managed to secure a few investments at this crucial moment and was back in operation.

This was the first time Shen Xingzhuo had seen any progress in his career, prompting him to pay a visit to the Shen family home.

Unfortunately, his timing was poor, as Shen Cheng had also made an appearance.

Shen Xingyu and Shen Hongyuan were currently engaged in a heated argument over the matter.

As Shen Xingzhuo entered the house, he overheard Shen Xingyu declare, "I won't approve any allocation of funds this time."

A sharp sound of shattering glass followed.

It must have been Shen Hongyuan losing his temper and smashing the cup.

Shen Xingzhuo paused but still entered the room.

He had moved out to live on his own before reaching adulthood, so he didn't have much of an impression of his cousin Shen Cheng.

Vaguely, he recalled that when he was young, this cousin used to visit quite often.

Before his father took power, it was said that this cousin, upon hearing his grandfather's dissatisfaction with his father, went out of his way to show concern for his grandfather and attend to him tirelessly.

It was obvious he was trying to curry favor.

After Shen Hongyuan ascended to power, Shen Xingzhuo expected his father to have a hard time accepting this younger cousin.

But to his surprise, while his father might not be great in many aspects, he did have a sense of brotherhood toward this cousin. Over the past decade, he had helped settle numerous troubles for him.

Even when Shen Cheng got someone pregnant outside last time, it was Shen Hongyuan who settled the matter with money.

That incident had initially aroused Madam Shen's suspicions.

Shen Xingzhuo walked into the living room.

He happened to witness Shen Hongyuan pointing at his own chest and telling Shen Xingyu, "He is my younger brother! Don't you, as an elder brother, understand this?"

Something in those words seemed to strike a chord with Shen Xingyu.

He froze on the spot for a moment.

Seemingly unsure of what to say, he pursed his lips and stood there in a daze for a while before lifting his gaze back to Shen Hongyuan.

Shen Xingzhuo caught sight of Shen Xingyu's expression at that precise moment.

He vaguely sensed that, for an instant, the look Shen Xingyu cast at Shen Hongyuan held a hint of envy.

Shen Xingzhuo even thought that Shen Xingyu would agree.

Yet, Shen Xingyu took a deep breath.

He opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing.

Instead, he bent down to pick up the suit that had fallen to the ground, draped it over his arm, and turned to leave the living room.

Shen Xingzhuo and Shen Xingyu came face to face.

The two brothers had never quite gotten along.

Even on Shen Xingyu's birthday, Shen Xingzhuo hadn't shown up, let alone given him any gifts.

They stared at each other for a few seconds in a deadlock.

In the end, Shen Xingyu spoke up, habitually warning, "Be cautious with the investments in your studio recently."

Shen Xingzhuo had always found this tone of his the most irritating since childhood.

It was as if Shen Xingyu believed he was the only capable one in the entire Shen family, while everyone else was just troublemakers.

Shen Xingzhuo pulled the corners of his mouth, sarcastically remarking, "That has nothing to do with you. Mind your own business."

Shen Xingyu didn't say anything else and left with a grim expression.

Watching Shen Xingyu depart, Shen Hongyuan caught his breath, sitting on the sofa.

However, his face wasn't filled with rage but rather a hint of concern.

Upon seeing Shen Xingzhuo, he instinctively spoke in an irritable tone, "You finally decided to come back? Is the studio short on cash again? What great prospects do you have!"

Shen Xingzhuo's temper flared up instantly.

"You either take your anger to Shen Xingyu or Shen Cheng, but don't vent it at me!"

With that, he stormed upstairs and returned to his own room.

Upstairs, Mrs. Shen was still in her dressing room, video chatting with her girlfriends, proudly showcasing the limited edition jewelry she had recently received.

Hearing the dispute downstairs, she instinctively went to close the door and returned to continue chatting with her girlfriends.

Shen Xingran stood in the corner of the third floor corridor, silently watching the scene below.

After a while, he descended to the second floor and knocked on Shen Xingzhuo's door.

Inside the room, Shen Xingzhuo had lost his initial enthusiasm upon returning home.

Lying in bed, he was momentarily unsure of what to do.

After lying there for a moment, Shen Hongyuan's words echoed in his mind: "He's my brother!"

Shen Xingzhuo sat up from the bed, bending down to pull out a cardboard box from under it.

This box had been a gift he prepared for Lu Ran on the day Lu Ran officially rejoined the Shen family.

But that day, he hadn't been able to give it to Lu Ran. Later, when Lu Ran moved in with the Ji family, there was even less of an opportunity to present it.

In truth... if Shen Xingzhuo was willing, there would always be opportunities.

But he always wanted Lu Ran to take the initiative to come closer, to call him 'brother,' before he offered these things to him.

There was a gentle knock on the door.

"Come in," Shen Xingzhuo said.

The door opened, and Shen Xingran poked his head in, addressing him with a smile, "Brother."

For an instant, Shen Xingzhuo felt a sense of joy. It was as if this simple "Brother" gave him a sense of belonging and worth within the family.

However, their relationship had been somewhat strained recently, making the situation a bit awkward now.

"Why are you knocking when entering my room? Just come in," Shen Xingzhuo remarked.

Shen Xingran chuckled and stepped inside, comforting him, "Brother, I saw Father getting angry again just now. Are you alright?"

As he spoke, he noticed the cardboard box in Shen Xingzhuo's hands, recognizing it as something Shen Xingzhuo had brought back the other day.

With feigned curiosity, Shen Xingran approached and asked, "Wow, Brother, what's in there?"

The box was filled with old items.

Shen Xingran spotted a deflated, colorful rubber ball and instinctively reached for it.

However, his hand was stopped by Shen Xingzhuo.

The atmosphere turned tense once more.

After a brief hesitation, Shen Xingzhuo closed the box and said, "They're just some toys from our childhood."

With that said, he pushed the box back under the bed.

Shen Xingran slowly retracted his hand.

But soon, a smile returned to his eyes as he continued the previous conversation:

"Brother, don't take it too hard. Dad has been in a bad mood lately because Big Brother keeps suggesting that Lu Ran join the Shen Corporation."

Shen Xingzhuo was taken aback. He asked, "Did Shen Xingyu suggest it?"

"Mm…" Shen Xingran nodded, as if it was nothing. "Big Brother really wants Lu Ran to come back."

Shen Xingzhuo fell silent for a moment.

"Oh," he replied. "That's good. He should have come back anyway."

Shen Xingran smiled but didn't say anything more.

Ever since Ji Min was discharged from the hospital, Fang Chen had been rather unhappy.

Lu Ran was already incredibly busy to begin with.

When Ji Min wasn't around, he wasn't much of a party-goer. Now that Ji Min was back, Lu Ran spent even less time hanging out with him.

Although Fang Chen had many friends, most were only interested in him due to his family background.

He didn't want to give up on Lu Ran, such an entertaining companion, so easily.

Thus, Fang Chen took the opportunity of a weekend to visit Ji Min's place once more.

Upon arrival, he scooped up Big Yellow and grumbled, "Lately, I feel like Big Yellow doesn't even recognize me anymore."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Ji Min emerged from the study.

The man seemed perfectly fine.

He merely carried a cup to refill it with water.

As he passed by the sofa, he greeted them casually, "Fang Chen is here. Have fun, you two."

Fang Chen forced a laugh. "Haha, hello, Mr. Ji."

Ji Min nodded in response.

After Ji Min left, Fang Chen let out a sigh of relief and resumed his complaint, "You haven't been hanging out with me lately."

For a fleeting second, Lu Ran felt guilty, but he still defended himself, "Well, I'm there when we're gaming."

Fang Chen rolled his eyes but leaned in closer, saying, "Do you remember the person you helped me deal with last time? Well, he's in deep trouble now!"

The two of them leaned in close to chat, simultaneously pouring themselves glasses of juice.

Lu Ran had just picked up his glass of juice.

There was Ji Min stepping out of the study again. Upon seeing the fruit juice in Lu Ran's hand, he frowned.

The man drew closer, his finger lightly grazing the rim of the youth's cup. With a hint of resignation, he said,

"Who was it that complained about an upset stomach last night? And now you're drinking something icy?"

With that said, he took the juice from Lu Ran's hand and replaced it with a cup of warm water.

After attending to this matter on his own, Ji Min politely turned to Fang Chen and said, "Please forgive me, Lu Ran isn't very mindful when it comes to eating, so I need to be more attentive."

Fang Chen: "..."

When Ji Min left, Fang Chen picked up his phone, turned off the screen, and held it up to examine his reflection for a while.

"What are you looking at?" Lu Ran inquired.

Fang Chen replied with a poker face, "Checking if I'm glowing."

Chapter 61: Is This Seat Taken?

The brothers ceased their playful scuffle and both stood up.

The man before them exuded an air of great solemnity. Xue Meng was momentarily stunned before he nodded, saying, "Mm. You have a point. Who are you?"

He had been spoiled since childhood, and despite Madame Wang's repeated teachings on etiquette, he had never taken them to heart. Hence, his asking for someone's name without using a respectful title or introducing himself first was extremely impolite.

However, Mo Ran knew that this person would not hold it against Xue Meng. After all, he was...

"I am Ye Wangxi, a disciple of the Confucian Wind Sect," the youth replied calmly, unperturbed. Under his dark, sword-like brows, his eyes shimmered like stardust, sharp and brilliant. "May I ask for your esteemed surname?"

"Ye Wangxi?" Xue Meng frowned, muttering, "Never heard of him. No reputation."

Although his mutterings were soft, if the other party had good hearing, they would definitely hear them. Thus, Mo Ran tugged at Xue Meng's sleeve discreetly, signaling for him to behave, before hiding his emotions behind a slight smile. "I am Mo Ran from the Summit of Life and Death, and this is my younger brother, Xue Meng."

Xue Meng shrugged off his hand and glared at him.

"Don't touch me. Who are you to call me your brother?"

"Ai, Xue Meng, you…" Mo Ran sighed, then his eyes curved into a smile as he turned to Ye Wangxi. "My younger brother is mischievous; I'm sure Brother Ye has had a good laugh."

It wasn't that Mo Ran had suddenly become polite towards Xue Meng. It was just that Ye Wangxi was an exceptional figure among people. Although he was unknown at this point, in his previous life, he was the second strongest cultivator after Chu Wanning.

Heaven only knew how much trouble Mo Ran had gone through at Ye Wangxi's hands in his past life. Reborn, Mo Ran didn't want to make an enemy out of this sharp and noble hero again. He already had enough on his plate with Chu Wanning; adding Ye Wangxi to the mix would mean no more peaceful days.

Ye Wangxi was a man of few words. After exchanging a few polite remarks, he returned to his room.

As soon as Ye Wangxi left, Mo Ran's grin returned, and he nudged Xue Meng with his elbow, asking with a chuckle, "So, what do you think?"

"What do I think about what?"

"About him," Mo Ran said. "Do you like him? Isn't he handsome?"

"..." Xue Meng gave him a confused look before cursing, "Crazy."

Mo Ran laughed heartily. "The four of us will be living under the same roof now, constantly running into each other. You should be grateful it's him living with us."

Xue Meng asked curiously, "From the sound of your voice, do you know him?"

Mo Ran, of course, couldn't tell the truth, so he jokingly replied, "I don't, but I judge people solely by their looks. I found him attractive and felt quite pleased."

Xue Meng cursed, "Disgusting!"

Mo Ran chuckled and turned away, waving his hand before making a cursing gesture behind his back. Then, he lazily returned to his small stone house, locking the door with a thud, leaving Xue Meng's insults outside.

The next morning, Mo Ran woke up early.

To help them acclimate to life in the Peach Blossom Paradise, the Feathered people had delayed their cultivation for three days. After finishing his grooming, Mo Ran noticed that Ye Wangxi had already left, while the other two were still asleep. Thus, he strolled around the streets on his own.

In the early morning mist, many Immortal Sect swordsmen moved gracefully, floating past as they hurried to their individual practice spots.

Passing by a breakfast stall, Mo Ran saw freshly cooked steamed buns and remembered that his junior disciple was still ill. He walked over and said, "Madam, I'll take eight steamed buns and a bowl of sweet porridge to go, please."

The Feathered vendor didn't even look up and replied, "Give me six feathers."

Mo Ran was taken aback. "Six what?"

"Six feathers, huh."

"...So do I need to go find a chicken and pluck some now?"

The Feathered being rolled their eyes at him. "Want food without feathers? Scram."

Mo Ran was both annoyed and amused. Just as he was about to ask more questions, a familiar voice sounded from behind, followed by a hand wrapped in bandages reaching out, holding six shimmering golden feathers between its fingers.

"Lady Boss, give us the porridge. I'll pay for it."

Taking the feathers, the Feathered being didn't bother with further chatter and turned to pack the breakfast. Mo Ran turned his head and saw Ye Wangxi standing beside him, looking handsome and refined.

"Thanks a lot." Holding the steaming fried buns and sweet porridge, Mo Ran walked alongside Ye Wangxi. "If we hadn't run into you today, we'd probably be starving."

"It's no big deal," Ye Wangxi said. "Miss Eighteen has a bad memory and often forgets to give new arrivals feathers. I just happened to pass by and it was a simple gesture. You don't have to be so polite."

Mo Ran asked, "In Peach Blossom Land, do all transactions require feathers as currency?"

"Indeed."

"Where did those feathers come from?"

Ye Wangxi replied, "They were plucked."

"Plucked... plucked..." Mo Ran was taken aback. Were they really taken from birds? Wouldn't the birds here be completely plucked bald?

Seeing his astonishment, Ye Wangxi glanced at him with a hint of amusement. "What are you thinking? This Peach Blossom Land has an Ancestral Abyss. It's said to be where the Divine Phoenix ascended to the heavens. At the bottom of the abyss lies a sea of scarlet flames, so scorching that no grass can grow and no beasts can survive."

Upon hearing this description, Mo Ran immediately recalled the blood-red sky he had seen on the outskirts of the city the previous day. "Is that abyss located near the northern part of the city?"

"You're correct."

"But what does that have to do with the feathers?"

Ye Wangxi explained, "Well, although no other living creatures can survive near the Ancestral Abyss, it is home to a flock of enraged owls. They build their nests with true fire and are active only at night. Their feathers can aid in the cultivation of Feathered beings."

"I see," Mo Ran chuckled. "No wonder they use feathers as currency."

"Mm-hmm. But you should take note that their feathers become indistinguishable from ordinary owl feathers during the night. Even if you manage to catch one, it would be useless. Only when the sun rises each day do the enraged owls return to the Ancestral Abyss in flocks. Right before they enter the abyss, their wings regain their golden hue. That's the time to pluck them."

"Haha, wouldn't that be like practicing light body techniques? If your skills aren't up to par, you'd end up as roasted meat if you fell. But if you don't go and pick them, you'll starve to death." Mo Ran couldn't help but click his tongue. "That's truly vexing."

Ye Wangxi asked, "Are you not proficient in light body techniques?"

Mo Ran chuckled. "Just average."

"That won't do," Ye Wangxi said. "Furious Owls are swift and agile, not inferior to hawks or falcons. If you don't practice diligently, you'll be starving within a few days."

"Like this, huh..."

Seeing Mo Ran lost in thought, Ye Wangxi sighed. "I have quite a number of feathers, so I'm not lacking for now. If the three of you need any, just ask me first."

Mo Ran waved his hands repeatedly and smiled. "How can I accept that? Consider these six feathers borrowed from you. I'll go back and eat first. If I manage to pluck any feathers tomorrow, I'll return them to you. Thank you very much."

After bidding farewell to Ye Wangxi, Mo Ran returned to the annex with his porridge and steamed buns.

Xue Meng's room was empty; he had probably woken up and wandered off aimlessly. So Mo Ran headed to Chu Wanning's bamboo house.

Chu Wanning was still asleep. Mo Ran placed the porridge and fried buns on the table and went to his bedside, looking down at him.

Suddenly, a familiar sensation stirred in his heart.

This junior apprentice brother... Why did he look so much like someone else when he slept?

But he couldn't quite place who it was. There was just a vague memory of someone who would curl up into a ball whenever they lay in bed, their hand pillowed beside their face. Who was it?

Just as he was lost in thought, Chu Wanning stirred awake.

"Mm..." Rolling over, Chu Wanning caught sight of the person by his bedside and his eyes widened in surprise. "Mo Ran?"

"For the last time, call me senior apprentice brother," Mo Ran said, ruffling his hair before feeling his forehead. "Your fever's gone down. Come on, get up and eat something."

"Eat something..." The child on the bed echoed blankly, his disheveled hair accentuating the tenderness of his face.

"See how much your senior apprentice brother cares for you. I bought breakfast early this morning. Eat while it's still hot."

Chu Wanning, dressed in a pristine inner robe, got out of bed and walked to the dining table. Laid out on it was a fresh lotus leaf wrapping a crisp, pan-fried bun with a flaky bottom, sprinkled with green scallions and black sesame seeds. Beside it was a small bowl of longan and osmanthus porridge, cooked to a soft, glutinous consistency and steaming with warmth.

The usually dominant Elder Yu Heng felt a hint of uncertainty. "For me?"

"Huh?"

"Are… all of these for me?"

Mo Ran was taken aback for a moment before answering, "Yes."

Looking at Chu Wanning's hesitant expression, he pondered for a moment and said with a smile, "Hurry up and eat before it gets cold."

During his years atop the Summit of Life and Death, although people respected Chu Wanning, his stubborn and aloof personality made few willing to share meals with him, let alone prepare breakfast for him. Sometimes, when he saw his disciples looking out for one another, he wouldn't admit it aloud, but secretly envied their camaraderie. Thus, he gazed silently at the bowl of porridge and steamed buns for a long time, reluctant to partake.

Seeing Chu Wanning sitting on the small stool, staring at the food without touching his chopsticks, Mo Ran assumed it didn't suit his taste and asked, "What's wrong? Is it too greasy?"

"..."

Chu Wanning turned to look at him, shook his head, then picked up the spoon to scoop a spoonful of porridge. He blew on it to cool it down and cautiously took a sip.

If he were still the elegant and distant Master Chu of old, this manner of sipping porridge would only accentuate his refined grace.

But on a child, it appeared somewhat clumsy and pitiful.

Misunderstanding, Mo Ran said to him, "Do you not like longan? You can pick them out and discard them; it's no big deal."

"No," the junior disciple replied, his face not showing much emotion, but when he looked back at Mo Ran, his dark eyes were gentle. "I like them."

"Oh... Haha, that's good then. I thought you didn't care for them."

Lowering his thick eyelashes, Chu Wanning repeated softly, "I like them. No one has ever treated me like this before."

As he spoke, he lifted his gaze to look at Mo Ran earnestly.

"Thank you, Senior Apprentice Brother."

Mo Ran was taken aback that he would say such a thing and froze.

He wasn't an inherently kind person, nor did he particularly like children. The reason he was nice to Xia Sini was that he found it impressive that someone so young had such exceptional skills, making him a promising young man worth befriending.

But despite his selfish intentions, the junior disciple had responded with sincerity. Mo Ran felt a little embarrassed, but also found it odd, so after waving his hand to dismiss Chu Wanning's thanks, he asked, "Has no one ever bought breakfast for you before?"

Chu Wanning nodded, his expression unchanged.

"Surely the disciples under Elder Xuan Ji take care of one another?"

Chu Wanning replied, "I don't often spend time with them."

"What about before you entered the sect? When you were still living in the secular world, your parents..." But halfway through his sentence, Mo Ran paused.

His junior apprentice brother was so delicate and pure, like fine jade. Which parent could bear to leave him on a mountain to cultivate, without even a single visit to the sect? Presumably, his story was similar to Shi Mo's and his own.

Indeed, Chu Wanning answered calmly, "My parents abandoned me, and I had no other relatives to look after me."

Silent for a long moment, Mo Ran let out a deep sigh. He thought to himself: I befriended this child because of his exceptional cultivation and his calm demeanor, unlike other noisy children. Now it turns out that we share the same background.

As he looked at his junior apprentice brother, he couldn't help but recall his own bitter childhood. A surge of empathy and affection welled up within him. Suddenly, he said, "No one took care of you before, but there will be someone from now on. Since you call me Senior Apprentice Brother, I'll look after you from now on."

Chu Wanning seemed surprised by these words, but after a while, he slowly formed a smile. "You want to take care of me?"

"Mm. Follow me from now on, and I'll teach you cultivation techniques and swordplay."

Chu Wanning's smile grew wider. "You want to teach me cultivation techniques and swordplay?"

Misinterpreting the expression, Mo Ran scratched his head and said, "Don't laugh at me. I know your cultivation is quite good, but you're still young, and there's much more to learn. Elder Xuan Ji has many disciples; he won't be able to take care of you. What's wrong with learning from me? At least I still possess divine weapons."

Chu Wanning fell silent for a long while before responding, "I wasn't laughing at you. I... think you're great."

In the past, he would never have said such a thing, but after shrinking in size, it seemed that his temperament had softened as well. It was like hiding in the shadows, allowing him to finally remove his stiff facade.

For Mo Ran, who had lived two lifetimes, this was the first time someone had praised him as "great," even if it was just a child. He was so flustered and pleasantly surprised that his usually thick skin flushed red as he stuttered, repeating, "I... I, I'm great... Am I really?"

Suddenly, he vaguely recalled a time when he genuinely wanted to be a good person.

But that humble yet gentle aspiration, like wanting to marry Aunty Li from the cosmetics shop when he grew up, earning enough money to buy steamed buns every day, or hoping for two servings of braised pork in every meal instead of being a god, had all become distant memories, scattered by the winds and snow.

Chapter 106 - Station 23: Three Rounds

A change in players meant a fundamental shift in the rules.

Initially, Ming Yiyang was supposed to face Bai Changfeng. No matter how much Ming Yiyang won, it wouldn't have mattered to spectators, as he would be taking those stakes from the Bai family.

But now that Lin Yongjian had replaced him, it meant that whatever Ming Yiyang gained, Lin Yongjian would lose an equal amount.

This was a life-and-death match where one teammate was sacrificed for the other's gain. Madam Old Bai intended to witness such a scenario unfold.

Her objective was to indulge in pleasure and pain, witnessing the distortion and cheapness of human nature. Such a life-or-death setup clearly thrilled her.

Moreover, she needed to retaliate against being ensnared by Yan Qiling's quick-witted trap during the second round.

Once an agreement was sealed between two Unbounded, it could not be altered.

From the moment Yan Qiling proposed the dice game and she counter-proposed becoming his guest behind the scenes, their pact had begun to take shape. The subsequent details were merely additional conditions both parties would attach to the agreement.

Yan Qiling deliberately bargained, giving the impression that he was in a difficult position and uncertain about the outcome of the wager.

In reality, she had secretly maneuvered, using the concealed seventh dice to create a triple six, thus winning the game!

Indeed, there had been no prior stipulation that victory had to be achieved with only six dice, allowing Yan Qiling to exploit this loophole... Clever tactics.

She wouldn't allow others to exploit the same trick she had used. It was impossible for Yan Qiling to form a new contract with her.

So, she decided to summon one of the flesh beings to battle against them.

Though it was puzzling why Yan Qiling, as the Master of the Unseen Realm, would associate with these inexpensive flesh beings and constantly aid them, it mattered little now.

Let them fight amongst themselves.

The woman's beautiful and venomous smile bloomed behind her exquisite fan.

Despite his hesitation, Lin Yongjian had no choice but to steel himself and proceed.

The two sat facing each other.

This time, the atmosphere between them was notably quiet, carrying an awkward silence as they stared at each other.

However, this might be a one-sided feeling on Lin Yongjian's part.

Ming Yiyang showed no intention of holding back. Without even glancing at them, he pushed all his chips forward.

"All in."

Lin Yongjian hadn't expected such a high stakes game from the start, but now, he found himself in a dilemma.

He gazed at the scattered multitude of oddly-shaped teeth before him, which seemed to come from people of various ages. The grooves still evident on these teeth hinted at the lifestyles of their former owners.

Would he end up becoming one of these people?

Taking a deep breath, Lin Yongjian looked across the table and spoke,

"Ming Yiyang, I don't advise betting so much. If you're willing, let's go with ten teeth per round."

"Are you calculating how many times you can afford to lose? Planning to use your remaining thirty teeth as incremental stakes, right?"

A leisurely smile tugged at the corner of Ming Yiyang's mouth. With his right elbow resting on the armrest of his chair, he propped up his cheek.

"Too inefficient, and pointless."

Lin Yongjian had no idea what this person was thinking:

"But... this would give us both an escape route... Professor Yan, don't you want to persuade him?"

"There's no turning back for those who sit at the gambling table."

Ming Yiyang, reexamining the dice, picked up six of them to toy with, not allowing the embraced Yan Qiling to speak.

His amethyst eyes held an unreadable emotion:

"Don't you understand yet? You don't have three chances at all. These teeth you borrowed, whether ten or thirty, they're all leverage. Lose just once, and it's game over; there's no chance of redemption. Since it's all or nothing, you must bet big and pray for a single, victorious roll."

One by one, he tossed the dice into his own cup, each one landing with a resounding clatter:

"I don't need to win, but that doesn't stop me from going all in. Though you borrowed the teeth, whether you or I triumph, with 150 teeth, a single roll of triplets will generate enough profit to save anyone besides you and me."

Everyone held their breath.

Ming Yiyang was right.

Lin Yongjian's bet was borrowed, but interest-free. The leopard could multiply the stakes by three, resulting in four hundred and fifty teeth. After repaying the initial hundred and fifty, there would still be three hundred left. That amount was more than sufficient to save ten people.

The only unfortunate one would be the loser of this round, who would end up with nothing and potentially in debt.

As the last dice landed in the gambling cup, the silver-haired young man flipped it onto the table with a snap:

"However, you don't have to think too highly of me. This is the outcome Teacher Yan wants to see, and compared to you, he'd probably prefer if I lost."

Lin Yongjian immediately turned his gaze to the silent man sitting at the table.

The man's neatly combed black hair partially obscured his downcast expression as Yan Qiling turned his head to look at Ming Yiyang beside him.

The handsome young man turned back to meet his gaze, then leaned in close to whisper softly into his ear.

"Rest assured, I won't let anyone bear a grudge against you."

Yan Qiling was momentarily stunned.

Ming Yiyang gently pushed the betting bowl forward and said,

"Place your equivalent stake, Lin Yongjian."

Lin Yongjian knew there was no escaping this round, and indeed, the strategy was as Ming Yiyang had stated - it was the best possible solution.

His thick brows furrowed slightly, and he lowered his gaze before saying,

"Just like him."

The white teeth piled up in the center of the gambling table, forming two small, snow-white peaks with a compelling, cruel beauty.

Ming Yiyang made a polite gesture, identical to before:

"Please, go first."

Lin Yongjian, however, didn't take the cup but instead gazed intently at the other person and said earnestly,

"Let's do it together, Mr. Ming."

Ming Yiyang was indifferent.

Just like the first round, he made no flashy moves. Hooking the base of the cup with his finger, he lifted it gently, causing it to spin mid-air before landing with a "pat" on the table, concealing its contents completely.

Beside him, Bai Changfeng watched with restless agitation. He found that as soon as Ming Yiyang's fingers touched the cup, he could see nothing!

Up above, seated, the elderly Mrs. Bai shook her fan gently. Her calculating gaze revealed a cold, icy smile.

Lin Yongjian hadn't expected this person's "shake" to be so swift.

He had learned some dice-shaking techniques when he made films in the past. At this life-or-death juncture, he had no choice but to give it a try.

He began shaking the dice with a "rattle," and Bai Changfeng, observing him, rubbed his chin, looking somewhat anxious, wishing he could just shake it for him. Only when his mother shot him a warning glance did he restrain himself, watching the situation unfold with a blank expression.

Pat.

Lin Yongjian slammed the betting cup onto the table.

Assuming he wasn't mistaken, there should be six twos in his cup, but he wasn't entirely sure, leaving him somewhat anxious.

However, Ming Yiyang, sitting across from him, suddenly declared an impossible number while gazing at Lin Yongjian's cup:

"I'll guess a 'leopard', two points."

Lin Yongjian was taken aback and asked,

"Are you saying... six twos?"

"No, just two points."

Ming Yiyang barely paused before lifting his own betting cup.

His dice were revealed, aligned in a row, with the topmost one showing – unbelievably – two points!

Lin Yongjian suppressed the quivering in his heart.

Of course, he didn't believe that his dice could only roll a two. However, Ming Yiyang's previous miraculous gambling skills were so exceptional that, despite constantly reminding himself that it was impossible, he now found himself mostly convinced.

He hesitantly and cautiously opened his own cup.

Amidst the white powder, only one of the six dice remained.

And the single surviving die revealed a two on its face!

Lin Yongjian's face turned ashen.

Ming Yiyang, on the other hand, collected his chips with leisurely composure. The number of teeth in his possession had already doubled to three hundred!

He casually grabbed a handful of the pristine white teeth while propping his chin up and said,

"Let him down. I'll have another round with Young Master Bai."

Bai Changfeng was quite eager for another round, but the beautiful maid who had been assisting Madam Bai in moving the screen silently held his shoulder back.

Madam Bai's aged voice echoed softly:

"That won't do. The rules were established beforehand — each person only gets three chances. You've gained enough this time to redeem the teeth of everyone except Lin Yongjian. Greed is unbecoming. You should all return home."

"Many thanks for your kindness, Madam."

The young man's tone was languid, drawn out:

"But, Madam White, didn't you also say that as long as one still wishes to gamble, they need only give up a tooth to continue, isn't that right?"

A disheartened Lin Yongjian stared at him in disbelief, unable to fathom such a request.

The woman's face twisted into a bloodthirsty smile:

"Certainly, if Mr. Ming wishes to proceed, I'd be more than happy to accommodate that small request, provided you're willing to pull out your own tooth."

Ming Yiyang picked up the heavy golden forceps and tossed them to Yan Qiling.

"You do it."

Yan Qiling held the golden instrument without hesitation, approaching his opponent and gripping Ming Yiyang's chin with his icy fingers. His voice, like the clashing of gold and jade, carried no extraneous emotions:

"Open your mouth."

Ming Yiyang smiled, his eyes narrowing as he opened his own mouth, revealing a set of sharp and pointed teeth.

The young man's front teeth were solid and attractive, but the ones inside seemed somewhat crooked, possibly the result of not having them extracted in time.

Yan Qiling didn't blink as he inserted the dental pliers, gently gripping the tooth that displeased him on the inner side. Then, with a flex of his fingers, he tightened his grip, gradually securing the unfortunate tooth.

The smile on Ming Yiyang's face faded, and he looked up at Yan Qiling expressionlessly. After a moment, the man suddenly exerted force!

A muffled groan almost escaped the youth's lips as the bloodied tooth was pulled out by its roots and carelessly tossed onto the table.

Madam Bai nearly sat up entirely, clearly delighted by the entire scene. She watched with avid interest.

The handsome young man turned his head to spit out some blood, his gaze now predatory and intense as he gazed at her. With crimson-stained lips, he spoke softly:

"Well, can I continue with Mister Bai Changfeng now?"

The woman lightly shook her small fan and wickedly chuckled.

"Certainly, but there's a condition."

"The one who can sit at this gambling table shouldn't be you."

Ming Yiyang's eyes sparkled with fierce diamond-like glints.

The woman partially shielded her gaze with her fan and spoke calmly,

"Mr. Yan, since Mr. Ming has gone through great lengths to secure this opportunity for you, please proceed."

Chapter 147: Transition

Wen Ying met Xiao Le's gaze, only to see the shock on the other's face. For a moment, he was baffled. Did he look that terrifying? Enough to make the other tremble?

Suppressing his inner confusion, Wen Ying surveyed the area. After eliminating Xiao Long, he was unsure which of the exorcists nearby were truly radical. Thus, he concealed himself within the black fog.

In today's battle, he had already had his hands full with just Xiao Long as the "boss". Adding to that, his destruction of the anchor point could be rounded off to him closing the teleportation array. Wen Ying pondered that he would certainly be the first this time.

Lan Jiaying would likely be furious again, and the corners of Wen Ying's lips curled up. His original body retreated from the battlefield.

Lu Qingyuan's magical power had reached its limits. It was time for him to return to the Realm of Magic.

The battle that had stunned the world's ordinary people quickly drew to a close, leaving behind many questions.

Muse City's demons had flooded the internet, and everyone eagerly sought the truth.

Many brave souls, seeing that humanity had triumphed, drove to Muse City to investigate further, among them were numerous new media representatives, all hoping to obtain firsthand information.

The government, however, did not release the details people were eager to know. They merely reassured the public that the incident was still under investigation.

Indeed, the government was still "investigating." Some individuals within the administration were aware of the existence of demons and exorcists. In the past, exorcists had solemnly declared that the gateway between the Demon Realm and the Human Realm was severed, leaving them to deal only with the minor demons in their world.

Who could have predicted that just a few years later, the Church would send envoys, reporting unusual spatial disturbances, followed by the sudden appearance of demons from the Demon Realm!

Many of the government officials in charge of this situation had lost significant amounts of hair due to stress. Dealing with it improperly would lead to severe consequences.

Public morale was already unstable, and they couldn't make any guarantees that the black hole in Mu City wouldn't appear elsewhere or that demons from the Demon Realm wouldn't reemerge. They couldn't publicly declare such promises.

It was likely that many ordinary citizens were also aware of the truth, but they needed the people's trust, hoping that the government would provide a satisfactory answer.

In short, they were in a desperate situation, with inquiries pouring in from abroad. The attention of the entire world was focused on Mu City, in the country of Huaxia.

They couldn't afford to delay any longer; they needed to reassure society. Thus, the day after the incident with the black hole demon, the Huaxia government issued a public announcement.

As the government made its announcement, Wen Ying was staring wide-eyed with his classmates at Yang Shiming's luxurious "golden house."

Surveying his surroundings, he saw Bellerophon, Muershi, Koroy, Ishtar, Lan Jiaying, and Wu Fei—quite a number of demons from his class were present in Mu City alone. His gaze then shifted to the luminous white statue enveloped in translucent black mist.

This is the divine stone, named a stone but resembling a fine jade with an intrinsic luminescence. Wen Ying assumes that humans would probably feel an instant sense of exhilaration upon seeing it, because as a demon, he instinctively feels disgust towards it, much like how one would want to get rid of a rat.

The divine stone resembles a natural carving of an angel, with its arms crossed protectively over its body and wings folded in front, its face partially obscured by the arms, revealing only a portion of its forehead.

Lan Jiaying had seized this opportunity amidst the chaos yesterday to retrieve it from Mu City's church. He is well aware of his current predicament.

His human body, still recovering from the invasion of toxins, has also caused him some harm. Rather than risking the frontlines where other demons might gain more, he chose to loot the church for its treasures.

Not only did he take the divine stone, but he also plundered numerous other items.

Although there is a wealth of loot, the value of the divine stone in terms of final assessment remains uncertain. Thus, Lan Jiaying's brow is slightly furrowed, his lips tightly pressed together, emanating a low-pressure aura around him.

Compared to when he was alone with Wen Ying, he appears significantly more composed now.

Several demons, inhabiting human bodies, are engaged in conversation here.

To Wen Ying's surprise, Wu Fei was not dragged back to the demon realm by Muershi. When he saw Muershi again after encountering Wu Fei, he shot him a look of astonishment—had this guy undergone a change of heart?

"I wonder what everyone thinks about this?" Essence broke the silence as the demons were scrolling through their phones.

Wen Ying propped his chin up and said, "Shouldn't our final exams be over by now?"

Beros replied, "There's no set time frame. We haven't received any notification to return to the demon realm yet."

What he meant was that it would be disadvantageous to go back now. What if the others managed to score more points by lingering and surpassed them?

Aside from the scores, Beros was actually more concerned about another issue—the "one-month boyfriend" that Wen Ying had proposed. There were still quite a few days until the end of the month, and the thought of returning to the demon realm so soon filled Beros with dread.

After the final exams, the academy went straight into vacation mode, allowing them to extract the memory segments from their avatar puppets that counted towards their grades as their "exam answers." They had up to three days for the extraction, leaving plenty of days unused.

On the surface, Beros seemed to express his desire for a high ranking, but in reality, he wanted to stall for another month.

For once, Wen Ying didn't see through Beros's true intentions. After hearing his words, he fell silent for a moment before saying, "Suddenly, I feel like they're very unreliable." He dared not openly criticize the Demon King, so he lumped him together with "they" in his complaint.

What kind of final exam had no specific time limit and only gave a general direction for effort?

Wu Fei spoke softly from the corner, "Will the other students come over when they see Mu City's message?"

Koroy raised her eyebrows playfully. "If they do, they'll only be picking up scraps." There was no trace of anxiety or concern in her tone. After responding to Wu Fei, she directed her gaze at Lan Jiaying.

"Your Highness, did your father give you any specific time or requirements?"

Lan Jiaying shook his head. "I know no more than you do."

Muershi chuckled. "I think it's great as it is. I want to stay here and see how the human world changes. It's a critical turning point, and there seems to be plenty of room for intervention. It's fascinating!"

The wicked tendencies in Muershi's nature stirred. Wen Ying feared that he might really cause unrest in the human world, so he quickly said nonchalantly, "The human body isn't as comfortable as my own. I'd like to return to the demon realm sooner."

Essence leaned back, adopting a relaxed posture with a casual tone. "It may be uncomfortable, but compared to the excitement of being able to intervene, it's bearable."

To avoid arousing suspicion from Wen Ying, Poros echoed "indeed" right after Essence finished speaking. He had no interest in the commotion, but he was highly interested in stalling for time.

Koroy swung her feet and gazed out the window. "The demon realm should be too preoccupied to bother with us now. The extremist demons who activated the teleportation magic need to be dealt with. I think they won't tell us to return until they've taken care of that matter."

A sudden gleam lit up in Lan Jiaying's eyes, his spirits lifting and dispelling the gloom. He exuded an energetic and ambitious spirit as he spoke with elegant poise and rhythm, as if reciting words from a terrorist: "Wen Ying, you said the anchor is hidden in that building, and the demonic mobile game was created by exorcists. Then, destroying that building would be beneficial without any drawbacks."

Wen Ying's eyelids twitched violently. Muershi's words had stirred Lan Jiaying's desire for praise from the devil king, igniting his enthusiasm.

"That makes sense," Muershi slapped the armrest of the sofa, his expression excited. "I like this plan."

Various terrifying scenarios of destroying the building flashed through his mind, and he even began to ponder the details.

Seeing that all the demons present, except Wu Fei, were tempted by the idea, Wen Ying not only felt his eyelids twitching, but also a pulsating vein on his forehead.

He raised his hand to press on the throbbing vein without being noticed, pretending to be interested as well, but throwing out another idea that his brain had hastily cooked up: "I think watching the scene that the divine stone over there could create would be more interesting than destroying that building."

Beros asked casually, "What do you want to do with the divine stone?"

The other demons looked at Wen Ying with interest, it seemed that everyone was in the mood for some trouble. Wu Fei shot Wen Ying a pitiful and pleading look.

In his heart, Wen Ying was someone who could cause trouble, even scarier than an extremely wicked bird.

Wen Ying held up his index finger and lowered his voice. "Awaken and intensify various human reactions."

Muershi's eyes shone brightly. He even leaned closer, almost sticking to Wen Ying, while Beros gave him a cold glance.

"When ordinary people come into contact with the Divine Stones, those with innate talents awaken. For those with average abilities, the magic stored within the stones helps to unlock their potential. In Mu City, we exhaust the magic within the Divine Stones," Wen Ying said with a cunning smile, "and then secretly encourage them to study magic, applying public pressure on the Church and the Association."

The excitement in Muershi's eyes faded as he asked, puzzled, "What benefit does it bring us to increase the number of exorcists?"