Asianovel

Chapter 157: Four Battles

Wen Ying held his ground, justified in his actions, for he had not violated any rules.

For the third match, Scarlet from the Wyvern Clan stepped forward immediately. Wen Ying was taken aback. Was one of the favorites entering so early?

Scarlet flexed his hands, his gaze sharp. "I want to see if you can still conserve your energy against me."

His inner demons chimed in agreement. This was Scarlet they were talking about. They didn't believe that Wen Ying could defeat his opponent without much expenditure.

Wen Ying raised an eyebrow. "Do you still remember our previous promise?"

Scarlet's brows furrowed, a chilling thought lurking at the back of his mind.

Wen Ying grinned. "Back then, I won our bet, and you had to serve as my slave for a period of time. Isn't that timeframe still valid?"

The arena fell silent.

Scarlet: "...F*ck."

Wen Ying didn't say a word but pointed at the arena below. Scarlet's face alternated between pale and flush as he reluctantly jumped down.

Scarlet Crow, Wu Shaluo, gave a glance to the Second Class Fallen Angel, Huiguo, sitting beside him. Huiguo stood up and flew onto the arena, sneering coldly, "I owe you one from before. Today, I'll return the favor."

Huiguo spread his black wings, and electric arcs flickered across the metallic-black feathers. The sizzling sound of electricity filled the air, making the atmosphere tense.

The elderly demon referee, with an indifferent tone, announced, "Begin."

"Whoosh—"

A flurry of metallic black feathers shot at Wen Ying like a rain of arrows. After casting the first spell, while Wen Ying was still dealing with it, Huiguo started preparing his second spell.

A few black feathers detached from the flock and shot around Wen Ying. When they pierced into the ground, purple currents flowed out between them, connecting like threads and forming a square.

Silently and swiftly, Huiguo chanted a spell, then threw out another black feather that flew above Wen Ying's head.

The black feather hovering above Wen Ying seemed to connect with the surrounding square formation of feathers. Once connected, it formed a ground-bound magic prison. As the spell took shape, Huiguo continuously shot metallic black feathers to prevent Wen Ying from leaving the confines of the square.

Wen Ying's tail swished towards one of the feathers on the ground. A magic card flew out from his platinum-tipped white tail, transforming into four metal stakes that pierced through the feather from three corners and the center above.

With only a corner of the black feather remaining before him, Wen Ying wrapped his right hand in his magic, forcefully pulling it out.

Huiguo didn't expect this spell to succeed. He already had a backup plan. He distanced himself from Wen Ying, interlacing his hands. Bolts of lightning, formed from his magic, continuously shot out from his palms, striking down at Wen Ying.

Branches extended from the shadows cast by Wen Ying, precisely deflecting each bolt of lightning. From the spectator stands, the branches seemed to be dancing wildly with astonishing speed, not missing a single bolt of lightning.

Huiguo raised both hands, condensing a ball of lightning in his palms. Arcs of electricity flashing from his black wings converged above his head. The lightning ball, starting the size of a ping-pong ball, rapidly expanded to about one meter in diameter before being hurled towards Wen Ying with tremendous force.

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Wen Ying remained grounded, not taking flight. Now, with the aggressive and dominant lightning magic above his head, he felt a strong resistance to ascending into the air.

Huiguo's strategy was to keep his distance from Wen Ying. As long as he maintained that distance, Wen Ying would have to use magic, inevitably depleting his magic power. Huiguo's lips curved into a cruel yet pleased smile as he watched Wen Ying below employing various spells to counter his own. With an arrogant gaze, he thought, 'He's just a Mirror Demon, albeit a bit special. There's no way he could turn the tables.'

This hateful Mirror Demon, in cahoots with Essence, forced him to agree not to touch any other demon for a year, slowing down his power progression. He remembered that debt well.

The smug High Demon was oblivious to the increasing number of silver-white branches covering almost the entire arena. As Huiguo flew mid-air, his feet were surrounded by those branches.

Indeed, some of the demons watching from the sidelines could see through it, but according to the rules of the ranking matches, they were not allowed to alert the competitors. Their hearts burned with anxiety.

Each effortless victory Wen Ying secured was a slap in the face to these high-ranking demons, causing a stinging pain. Those who had bet on Wen Ying only being able to win three consecutive matches were especially anxious.

Muershi taunted Wu Shaluo with a sneer, "Your cousin is going down this time."

--

Chapter 203: The Wedding Cup

However, Shen Lie was destined not to sleep that night. In truth, the same could be said for Sang Luo.

Both had long harbored feelings for each other. For two hearts that were mutually smitten, attraction, closeness, and touch were instinctive. As they were already husband and wife, even the slightest hint of emotion could stir up a tempestuous wave, how could they resist?

It was unclear how it started, perhaps when Shen Lie leaned towards her with his gaze too intense to bear, or maybe because Sang Luo's short twenty-eight years in her previous life had been mostly bitter, with the last part spent suffering from illness. At this moment, she wanted to indulge herself, so she reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.

From an attempt at learning, the scene transformed into Shen Lie's domain of plunder. The fire crackled as the wood burned, and the temperature beside it grew increasingly scorching. Sang Luo felt weak all over, her head spinning. It was her first time realizing that a kiss could be like this.

In the end, the wolf skin was indeed used solely by Sang Luo, wrapping her entirely, separating them to regain their composure and prevent any further transgressions.

After regaining their calm, Shen Lie embraced Sang Luo, along with the blanket, into his arms. When she tried to move away, he chuckled softly in her ear, "I'm delighted just holding you, truly."

...

It took four days to bring back the four live sheep, two big and two small, to the village. Everyone gathered curiously to have a look. Uncle Xu examined them and confirmed that one was already pregnant, while the other three were two males and one female, with one of the male and female sheep still being adolescents.

Shen Lie had sought out these live sheep with the intention of diversifying the family's diet. They decided to keep the pregnant one, while the male would be quietly taken into the valley at night to mate with the existing herd. The adolescent pair was gifted to Chen Dashan as a wedding present.

Shen An, Shen Ning, and Shen Jin had also been eagerly awaiting the goat's milk. They rallied a group of their friends to cut down trees for constructing the sheep pen.

It was impossible to leave all the work of building the sheep pen to a bunch of young apprentices. Shen Lie tied the goats to a tree, carried the two baskets back, and asked Sang Luo to freshen up and rest. Only then did he go out to help.

During those four days in the mountains, they had grown much closer, but only the two of them knew how deep this bond had become.

At night when it was time to sleep, as Sang Luo looked at Shen Lie, he chuckled and said, "Sure."

He had agreed, and they would continue to share a bed and a cot.

...

In the blink of an eye, it was November 27th. The Chen family's wooden house had been completed a few days earlier. As Chen Dashan was about to get married, Old Man Chen, Qin Fangniang, and Little Ya naturally had to come out. Even if they just stayed in the wooden house without going out, they still wanted to be present. Many families in the valley also took this opportunity to visit their relatives and, of course, prepare a gift for Chen Dashan.

On the morning of the 28th, accompanied by Madam Gan as the matchmaker, Chen Dashan picked up his bride, Xue Wenqing, with a few other boys. It seemed like a normal day, apart from not carrying baskets. It was no different from their usual hunting trips; they didn't attract any attention.

When they returned, besides bringing Zhou Ge's dowry, they also carried various gifts of dried meat and dates from neighbors near the Zhou family, along with a basket full of blessings.

Considering the special circumstances, there were no elaborate feasts or strict observance of etiquette. The wedding party arrived and left promptly after completing their tasks. Chen Dashan and Zhou Ge bowed to Zhou Lazi and his wife at her home, and then again to his own grandparents and parents here. This marked the completion of all necessary rituals.

Many children had gathered to witness the event, and each family in the valley had prepared gifts, whether grains or cloth, selecting their finest possessions to offer.

Sangluo and Shen Lie had already presented their gifts earlier, but on such an auspicious day as a wedding, Sangluo decided to give the Chen family an additional present.

She had brought it along when she visited Shen Yin and Shen Tie in the valley the previous night and now returned home to retrieve it, delivering it straight to the Chen family's cave.

Arriving late, the children who had come for the spectacle had already left. Only Zhou Ge was in the cave. As a newlywed, she was extremely nervous and dared not wander around carelessly. Fortunately, she was somewhat acquainted with Sangluo, and her tension visibly eased upon recognizing her visitor.

Sangluo found the situation amusing. She passed a small jar of wine to Zhou Ge and said, "This is my congratulatory gift. In the mountains, we don't have many formalities or rituals, but I thought that at least one cup of the wedding wine should be shared between you two tonight."

"Wine?"

Sangluo nodded. "Yes, red wine. It has a pleasant taste, I think you'll enjoy it."

Zhou Ge had never tasted wine before, only knowing that it was expensive. Recalling Sangluo's mention of the wedding cup, she had witnessed a few years ago when Zhou Cunzheng's family married off their daughter-in-law, so she understood the meaning behind it. Blushing, she expressed her gratitude.

Seeing Zhou Ge's bashful expression, Sangluo thought about how this girl was roughly the same age as her current body, still a month shy of seventeen. She wanted to offer some advice but found it difficult to articulate. The gap in understanding between ancient and modern times was vast. In this era, it was common for girls to marry at fifteen; being unmarried at seventeen would earn them the label of an old maid. If one waited until eighteen, people would suspect there must be something wrong with them for not finding a spouse...

In short, their perspectives were entirely different, and what Sangluo wanted to say might sound odd to Zhou Ge.

Yet, if one were to overlook this point, the valley could provide shelter for raising children safely. Assuming the child wasn't left wailing at the entrance, the elderly women within the valley, with their years of experience, ought to be capable of assisting in childbirth. However, the ages are indeed young - a girl might conceivably give birth as early as seventeen and a half, or perhaps as late as eighteen.

Even if we wait until she conceives at eighteen and gives birth at nineteen.

Newborns are the most delicate to care for, especially in this remote mountain area where access to medical help and medicine is scarce. Sangluo couldn't dare to ponder the possibilities.

Considering the Chen family had always treated her well, and given the relationship between Chen Dashan and Shen Lie, she decided to intervene once more. Strange as it might seem, she would take that chance.

She glanced around the cave entrance and, seeing no one else, whispered to Zhou Ge, "When you got married, what did your mother instruct you?"

Zhou Ge was taken aback, and her cheeks flushed red.

Of course, her mother had imparted some advice – the day before, she had quietly shared a few words with Zhou Ge when no one else was home. However… was this something that could be openly discussed?

Stuttering, Zhou Ge found it impossible to articulate her thoughts.

Seeing her struggle, Sang Luo understood. In ancient times, a bride would typically receive a talisman for protection from fire as part of her dowry. But that was for wealthy families; the Zhou family, being of modest means, wouldn't possess such an item. Instead, the knowledge would likely have been conveyed verbally, in vague phrases, to prepare the bride for married life, particularly for what to expect on the wedding night.

Sang Luo felt a bit awkward too, but she mustered the courage to whisper, "It's not that. I mean, did your mother advise you about avoiding pregnancy too soon after marriage?"

Zhou Ge was taken aback. Her mother had indeed mentioned this, mainly out of concern that the chaos might spread to the inner circle and endanger her pregnancy. However, after weighing the options, she believed that even if she were pregnant, Chen Dashan would be able to protect her. Compared to staying at home, marrying into the Chen family would be safer. So, she instructed Zhou Ge to persuade Chen Dashan to exercise some restraint after their marriage.

Her face flushed red, and she found it difficult to speak. But Sang Luo's reputation, both in Shili Village before and now in the mountains, was impeccable. There was no reason for her to ask such intimate questions without cause. Thus, Zhou Ge steeled herself and said, "Yes, tell him... tell him... not to be so... frequent."

Her last few words were barely audible.

Seeing Zhou Ge's embarrassment, Sang Luo couldn't help but smile. In truth, she felt somewhat uneasy too. Eventually, she closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and told herself to treat it as a biology lesson. She leaned close to Zhou Ge's ear and whispered a few words softly. After finishing, she added in a low voice, "This should help to prevent conception, though it's not foolproof, but it can work. Just don't say I taught you, it would be too embarrassing."

Heaven have mercy, Sang Luo herself had never gone beyond kissing. Yet, here she was, teaching Zhou Ge about contraception.

Zhou Ge, who was already blushing fiercely, burst out laughing when she heard Sang Luo's last remark. "Alright, thank you for teaching me. I'll just say my mother taught me."

Sang Luo chuckled upon hearing this, then turned serious. "I'm being sincere. It's not just about the chaos in the inner circle. It's unsafe for young women to bear children too early. Too many pregnancies can also harm the body. Besides, with limited medical resources in these deep mountains, raising children is challenging. Wait a couple of years until you're older or until the world outside improves before having children."

Sang Luo genuinely cared for Zhou Ge, and her words resonated. Zhou Ge had never heard that childbirth at a young age could be dangerous. She wasn't exactly young, as many girls became mothers before turning sixteen. Even if she were pregnant now, she would be nearly eighteen by the time the child was born.

However, Zhou Ge knew of Sang Luo's capabilities and took her advice seriously. The mention of the harm excessive childbirth could do to the body reminded her of her mother.

In the past, she thought her mother's illness was a result of giving birth to her younger sister. Now, she realized it might not only be due to that – the continuous births seemed to have weakened her mother's health gradually.

Zhou Ge nodded seriously this time. "I've taken note of everything. Thank you very much."

He almost called her sister-in-law again, but remembering that Chen Dashan was older than Shen Lie, he changed it to Ah Luo halfway through.

San Luo laughed. "Alright then, I won't keep you. I'll head back first."

Zhou Ge personally accompanied San Luo to the entrance of the cave and watched her walk away before returning to his own cave, closing the door behind him. He went to the wooden house to chat with Qin Fangniang and Chen Pozi.

...

That night, Chen Dashan celebrated his wedding night. Not only did he taste the red wine he had never heard of before, but when they were about to get intimate, Zhou Ge, blushing in embarrassment, buried his whole body into his chest, explaining how to avoid pregnancy. Well, the sweetness and ecstasy during that time were self-evident.

On the other hand, Shen Lie had no idea that San Luo knew such contraceptive methods. There was still a low couch by the bed, but since it was his best friend's wedding night, he wasn't completely ignorant. His thoughts wandered, and San Luo had sent a small jar of red wine to Zhou Ge as their wedding wine.

Just thinking about the term 'wedding wine' made his blood rush. Eventually, he insisted on tasting it too. The wine was so sweet and fragrant that his intentions shifted, and the couch almost remained unused.

Fortunately, he remembered his promise. With slightly reddened eyes, he stepped back and sat on the couch, pulling his blanket over himself. Reaching for a small cabinet by the bed, he took out the handwritten copy of 'The Analects of Confucius' that San Luo had given him, starting to read it, which made San Luo laugh until her shoulders trembled.

Shen Lie turned his head to look at her laughter. Setting down the book, he pulled her into his embrace. "Laughing at me?"

San Luo suppressed her laughter and shook her head. "No, Shen Lie, how about we make a deal? If you can read through this entire volume of 'The Analects,' you can put the couch away for one day."

The curve of Shen Lie's throat moved as he spoke. "Are you serious?"

San Luo chuckled again. "What are you thinking? I just meant the couch can be put away for one day."

Shen Lie smiled. "I'm not thinking anything. You're not allowed to go back on your word."

Resisting the urge to draw closer to her, he placed her back down and began reading earnestly, asking San Luo for help with any unfamiliar characters. Gradually, his focus shifted entirely onto the bamboo scrolls, easing the discomfort he had felt.

Lying in bed beside him, San Luo, unused to alcohol, eventually fell asleep.

When Shen Lie noticed, he gazed at her for a while, his lips curving into an unconscious smile. Carefully tucking the blanket around her, he resumed reading, jotting down any unknown characters in silence. He would ask either Wei Qinghe or Wang Yunzheng for help with them tomorrow.

Invitations from the Su family were being dispatched one after another.

Su Yu's mother was hosting an extravagant birthday celebration, which attracted prominent figures from all walks of life. Guests were expected to attend in formal attire, bearing gifts, and the event would span three full days. It was held on an artificial island near Star City, accessible solely via a sea-crossing bridge and a winding mountain highway.

The morning after Su Yu spent the night at Fu Luoyin's place, he was awakened by a phone call.

He first became aware of himself cradling a black-and-white plush slipper on the couch before realizing where he was: the room was empty, and Fu Luoyin was nowhere to be found.

As Su Yu stumbled to his feet while answering the call, his heart leaped with joy upon seeing three breakfast servings laid out on the dining table from a distance.

Among the three breakfast sets, one had been consumed, while the packaging of the other two remained intact. Su Yu approached and noticed Fu Luoyin's hasty scribble on the delivery slip: "I'm going to work."

"Damn, what a workaholic. He drank so much yesterday and still went to work?" Su Yu mused to himself.

He sat down to eat, attentively listening to the voice on the other end of the phone.

The caller was one of the directors from their family's affiliated hospitals, a young woman whom Yan Zi was grooming as her successor. She was updating Su Yu about the arrangements for the upcoming birthday banquet and the distribution of invitations.

As he listened, Su Yu unwrapped his hamburger and chicken wrap, enjoying his meal.

The voice across the line said, "So far, all the invitations have been sent out, and those who confirmed their attendance have been registered. However, we couldn't reach Mr. Lin Shuicheng. He didn't answer our calls, and there might be an error with the address we have for him. His records show that he's from the Quantum Analysis Department at the Alliance Star City University, but that department has closed down. The invitation was stuck in their school warehouse and was returned today."

Su Yu scratched his head. "Ah, yes, sis... I mean, Lin Shuicheng's department is indeed closed. He might be busy lately and couldn't pick up the phone."

As he broke apart his fried dough stick and soaked it in soy milk, he glanced at Fu Luoyin's note. "Just deliver it to Little Fu, President Fu's residence in the second ring of the city. You don't need to worry about it; I've arranged for someone to send it over."

After finishing two breakfast deliveries, Su Yu felt his mood instantly brighten—was there anyone else in the world as considerate and helpful as him?

No!

Su Yu searched around and found a clean piece of white paper. He wrote some bold letters on it: "Dear Brother Minus Two, please help me deliver this invitation to my sister-in-law. I'm very busy, so I'm entrusting this to you. Love always, Su Yu. Someone will deliver the invitation soon, remember to collect it."

After writing, he looked left and right, then stuck the paper on the front door, covering the area for entering passwords and fingerprints. This way, Fu Luoyin would definitely see it when he got home.

Fu Luoyin had meetings the entire morning.

He hadn't slept much the previous night and had also consumed alcohol, so he relied on a large cup of coffee to stay alert in the morning. Later, he didn't need the coffee anymore—his stomachache kept him fully awake, leaving no chance for dozing off.

Xiao Jue noticed Fu Luoyin's poor complexion and straightforwardly suggested, "Little Fu, go back and rest this afternoon. You've been working nonstop for long enough. You're still young, and your body can't take such strain. We've seen your efforts in amending the proposal these past few days. After the meeting concludes this morning, there won't be any urgent matters. Just clock out early."

Fu Luoyin didn't insist and left work early.

He knew he wasn't in good shape. While driving, he activated the autonomous system, tossed his phone aside after getting in the car, and immediately began to rest.

The vehicle drove smoothly, returning to the place he shared with Lin Shuicheng and eventually stopping in the garage. Sensing that he hadn't alighted, the car continued circulating air inside and outside, even playing a lullaby automatically.

In the garage, Fu Luoyin dozed off.

It wasn't a comfortable sleep for Fu Luoyin. He must have dozed for about half an hour, waking up with a sore back and neck, feeling groggy.

Pressing his aching temples, he sneezed upon waking up and had a faint sense of feverishness.

Taking a deep breath, he got out of the car, locked it, and entered the apartment building, heading home as usual.

For some reason, the moment he stepped into the elevator, Fu Luoyin felt a slight resistance. At that instant, he had an impulse: why not turn back to Seventh Bureau and just rest in the assigned room there? What was so bad about that?

Why did he have to come back here?

This home that no one cared for or awaited him.

The elevator door opened, and Fu Luoyin arrived in front of his familiar doorstep.

He immediately noticed a slip of paper attached to the door. At first, he thought it was a notice from the property management, but upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn't. It was a message from Su Yu. There was also a hanging envelope, its contents unknown.

Fu Luoyin stood silently in front of the door, studying the note for a while before lowering his head to call Su Yu.

But Su Yu didn't answer.

After a moment of watching the unanswered call display, Fu Luoyin put down his phone, reached out to remove Su Yu's note, and then opened the envelope. Inside was an elegantly crafted invitation card enclosed in a thin, intricately carved wooden box with cutouts. The name on the card was Lin Shuicheng's.

He stood outside the door for a long time, studying the card intently, before finally pushing it open.

When Su Yu left Fu Luoyin's place in the afternoon, as usual, he invited Dong Shuoye along for lunch.

Dong Shuoye took him to a restaurant for hot and sour fish. The golden broth simmered with tender, boneless white fish meat, exuding a scorching aroma that kept Su Yu's head buried in his food.

"Dong Shuoye," he said between bites, "Xia Ran asked me to ask you something. What would be a good gift for Aunt Yan?"

Almost choking on his fish, Su Yu glared at Dong Shuoye, who merely looked back calmly. "Help me out, little fish. He received the invitation a few days ago and will represent his parents at Aunt Yan's birthday party. He's unsure what kind of gift would be appropriate."

Su Yu glared at him. "Why should I tell him?"

Dong Shuoye smiled warmly. "Just do me a favor. He asked me to inquire on his behalf, and it wouldn't look good if I didn't give an answer, considering he's staying at my place."

Su Yu had intended to keep glaring, but the enticing smell of pickled fish in front of him made him reconsider. He sighed and said, "…My mom doesn't lack anything. She enjoys experimenting with flower teas. Some nice tea leaves or teacups would probably make her happy. Now I know why you've been inviting me out for meals lately; indeed, there's no such thing as a free lunch."

Dong Shuoye retorted, "Did I 'rob' or 'seduce' you? You can eat anything, but don't misuse idioms, Su Xiaoyu."

Su Yu waved it off. "Forget it. I'm texting Minus Two now. Don't play word games with me here."

"What's wrong with Minus Two?" Dong Shuoye asked. "Oh, does he know that Xia Ran will be there?"

"I don't think so, but he might guess. I haven't told him about it yet." Su Yu sent a text, looking down at his phone. "He's busy now; he wouldn't have time to bother with his ex."

"So it's still Lin Shuicheng's doing?" Dong Shuoye inquired.

Su Yu blinked. "If it wouldn't result in my death from Minus Two's rage, I'd really want someone to film it for me. Our dear Minus Two has learned to send flowers to others."

He turned his phone screen around to show Dong Shuoye.

Fu Luoyin: "Why are you sending flowers?"

Fu Luoyin: "I have no idea what kind of flowers to buy."

Su Yu: "You should ask your brother-in-law what kind of flowers he likes. Besides, it wouldn't be proper for you to show up empty-handed when others are giving him flowers, right?"

Su Yu: "Roses then, just roses. They carry a good meaning and are safe choice."

Fu Luoyin: "I won't send him roses."

Su Yu: "Well, suit yourself, Second Brother Fu."

Fu Luoyin had never given flowers to anyone before.

He suffered from severe pollen allergies, except on the day of Chu Shihan's burial when he took antihistamines to place a bouquet of lilies at his grave.

He couldn't recall where he had put the antihistamines, as such seldom-used medications usually ended up in the trash.

He went to a pharmacy on the roadside to purchase some antihistamines, swallowing them down. The medication's effectiveness would last eight hours, precisely from now until midnight.

He texted Lin Shuicheng, "Kitten, I'm coming over to give you something and pick you up for home?"

Seeing no response from Lin Shuicheng, Fu Luoyin continued, "I'll wait for you until twelve, Lin Shuicheng. Shall I wait outside your house?"

Still, there was no reply.

Before arriving at Star University, Fu Luoyin went to a flower shop. With an expressionless face and a stern demeanor, he wandered around the store for a long time without revealing his purpose. Ordinary staff dared not approach him; they could only watch from a distance, awed by his tall, imposing figure that seemed to suggest a military background, exuding an aura that warned others to keep their distance.

Finally, the owner of the shop stepped in, braving Fu Luoyin's chilly presence, and asked, "Sir, are you here to buy flowers? We have various flower arrangements suitable for lovers, parents, patients, and teachers. May I know which one you need?"

Fu Luoyin's answer was slightly stiff, "For... my partner."

The shop manager understood and promptly retrieved a large bouquet of crimson roses from the back. "If you're unsure about their preferences, how about roses? You can't go wrong with roses! From the looks of it, sir, you must be newly dating, huh? Most men are like this when they buy flowers for their partners for the first time."

Fu Luoyin shook his head. "No, not roses. Not roses, but... something suitable for a partner."

The manager scratched his head and pondered, "Well... what about sunflowers? Sunflowers symbolize silent love. Sir, perhaps—"

Fu Luoyin's voice rose slightly, interrupting her urgently, "No, not sunflowers. Neither sunflowers nor roses."

Fu Luoyin glanced around and continued to ask stiffly, "Is there… a flower that signifies a wish for him to return soon after being given?"

The manager clapped his hands, beaming with joy. "Cherry blossoms! However, their petals are small. We have cherry blossom everlasting flowers in our store. Would you like to take a look?"

Fu Luoyin nodded.

The manager presented the finished everlasting flower to him.

In the exquisite gift box, the flower resembled more of a pink lavender than cherry blossoms, forming a fluffy, soft mass akin to a cotton candy strawberry cloud.

Fu Luoyin nodded again. "This one will do."

The manager pulled up the payment page, ready to show the QR code for scanning. However, Fu Luoyin casually plucked a red rose from a nearby rack. "Also… add this one as well. I won't give it to him; I'll keep it and nurture it myself."

The manager responded with a professional, polite smile. "Of course, the total comes to 472. Thank you for your patronage."

Exiting the flower shop, Fu Luoyin reached for the gift box and inspected the pink, cloud-like flowers inside.

He unwrapped the outer packaging of the rose, casually snapping off the excess stem and leaves, then struggled to fit it into the cherry blossom box. The vibrant red rose was instantly concealed by the pink cherry blossoms. Unless one looked closely, it would go unnoticed.

Fu Luoyin strolled gradually towards the place where Lin Shuicheng now resided. He glanced at his phone, but there was still no response to his text message from Lin Shuicheng.

The most practical solution was to have Rong Shu send Li'er out.

After all, the girl loved her morning naps the most.

Back when he rose early for his duties, she would always half-open her eyes to help him dress. Once he left, she wouldn't even bother with breakfast. She would simply lean back, hugging her crescent moon pillow, and fall asleep again.

Gu Changjin suddenly paused in his steps.

Back then?

Whose past was he referring to?

Seeing that he had stopped, Mama Zhang assumed Gu Changjin had something to instruct her. "Is there anything you need, Second Master?"

Gu Changjin regained his composure, pressing his lips together before responding, "Nothing, Mama. Go about your business."

Mama Zhang acknowledged his words hastily and left the corridor.

Inside, Rong Shu was combing her hair. Hearing the commotion outside, she told Yingyue, "You're no longer needed here for my hair. Check on Miss Xu in the eastern chamber to see if she's awake yet."

Rong Shu woke up early, or rather, she hadn't slept the entire night.

After rescuing Xu Li'er, her mind was in a state of extreme excitement, tossing and turning on the bed without any intention of dozing off.

Deciding to get up, she hesitated for fear of disturbing Yingyue in the neighboring room, thus not bothering to have a lamp lit.

When Yingyue left the chamber, Rong Shu rose from her rosewood chair and greeted Gu Changjin with a smile, "Did you see Mother Zhang just now? She's gone to the small kitchen for breakfast and will be back soon. It's still early, so please have some tea in the meantime."

This young lady's words were truly like a gentle spring breeze, spoken with a mild tone, at a leisurely pace, and always well-organized, capable of warming one's heart.

Yesterday, when she spoke to Xu Li'er, it was in precisely such a manner.

She seemed like an entirely different person from the girl who, in his dream, had blindly tugged at her undergarment.

But they weren't that different after all.

Perhaps it was the influence of those absurd dreams that made him lose his usual clarity and rigor when he saw Rong Shu, and this confusion was something he typically avoided at all costs.

Gu Changjin shifted his gaze slightly and softly acknowledged with an "mm," deliberately averting his eyes from her right shoulder.

For fear that the vividly seductive scenes he had struggled to recall might inadvertently resurface.

The room fell silent for a moment. Recalling his injury, Rong Shu asked politely, "Has your injury improved, Sir?"

Gu Changjin lifted his gaze and nodded, his voice calm and distant. "Just a minor wound."

Indeed, it was a small injury compared to the one he had sustained on Changan Avenue previously.

After her polite inquiry, Rong Shu did not prolong the conversation. When Mother Zhang returned, she said, "Sir, please have your meal first. I'll go and visit Miss Xu in the eastern annex."

With that, she hurried away, showing no intention of sharing the meal with Gu Changjin.

Xu Li'er had spent half the night chatting with Rong Shu the previous evening, allowing her a rare, peaceful sleep. With her spirits restored, much of the lingering sorrow and distress in her heart dissipated.

Upon seeing Rong Shu enter, Xu Li'er's face lit up as she greeted her warmly with "Madam Gu."

Time was short. Rong Shu could only spend about a quarter of an hour with Xu Li'er in the eastern annex before Yingyue came to remind them that the carriage was ready.

When Xu Li'er left Songsi Courtyard, she was exceptionally reluctant to part.

For she alone knows, her future lies elsewhere.

Miss Xu was meant to live with unassailable dignity all along. In this world, there are many young women who, like you, have stumbled through confusion and despaired at times. The better you thrive, the more strength you will impart unto them. I firmly believe that Miss Xu will inevitably become a beacon of hope for those very ladies.

Xu Li'er once believed that her existence was a disgrace.

But Madam Gu's words seemed to unlock a door for her, revealing the subtle understanding that the path available to a woman might be broader and longer than she had ever imagined.

Realizing this, her heart was struck fiercely by an invisible force.

In this world, women lead a more challenging life than men.

For those women who, like her, have lost their innocence and reputation, if they are fortunate enough to be born into wealthy families, they might spend the remainder of their days in seclusion, tending to the lanterns and ancient Buddha statues in the family temple.

But for those, like her, born into poverty with no close kin to rely on, their lives resemble winter's floating duckweed—bereft of vitality and utterly devoid of hope for the future.

Madam Gu said that if she could thrive, she could become a beacon of hope for those lonely and distressed women.

And so, she wishes to give it a try.

Before stepping into the carriage, Li'er bowed solemnly to Rong Shu and sincerely said, "Li'er thanks you, madam."

Rong Shu had been up all night and was beginning to feel weary. However, Li'er's respectful bow invigorated her once more.

After a moment of stunned silence, she smiled warmly and gracefully accepted Li'er's gesture. Then, she bowed in return, "I also thank Miss Xu."

How could she not be grateful?

Li'er's survival instilled in Rong Shu the belief that she too could survive for another three years and even accomplish more.

The sky had already turned a pale blue, with golden sunlight pouring down upon her head like molten gold. Amidst the autumn glow, the young maiden smiled radiantly.

Gu Changjin leaned against the carriage wall with one hand, gazing down at her.

Li'er wore a simple linen robe, and Rong Shu donned a plain dress, just as they did the day before. Neither adorned with golden hairpins nor tinkling jewelry, their appearances were unembellished.

Yet, in the soft morning light, Li'er's face, bare and unadorned, appeared as beautiful as a painting come to life from a masterpiece.

Her heart pounded like a drum, thump, thump.

Gu Changjin knew now that his heart palpitations were no longer without cause.

"Master, it's time to go," Chang Ji prompted.

Gu Changjin acknowledged with an "Mm," then looked at Rong Shu. "My lady, you should return home."

Her skin was too fair, and the dark shadows beneath her eyes could not be concealed. After a sleepless night and her delicate nature, she needed to rest and catch up on her sleep.

The carriage swiftly vanished down Wutong Lane, and by the time they reached the Ministry of Justice, the sky had brightened.

Gu Changjin led Xu Li'er into the ministry's offices, while Chang Ji parked the carriage and hurried out of Xuanwu Gate's main street, turning into a bustling alleyway.

In this alley was a centuries-old donkey meat bun shop, whose owner's skills were exceptional. The donkey meat was tender, the buns crisp, and when dipped in the aged broth, each bite was heavenly. Whenever Chang Ji had free time, he would come here to savor three or five of these delicious treats.

Chapter 130: Will

The driver informed the others up front via walkie-talkie.

In that instant, Shen Hongyuan felt a mix of fear and anticipation.

He thought someone would call out to stop.

Then say, "Hold on, Young Master hasn't returned yet. Where is he?"

Surprisingly, that didn't happen.

Everything went so smoothly it left him feeling empty inside.

Shen Hongyuan sat in his stable seat.

He watched as the motorhomes in front began moving one by one.

He felt his own car gradually start up and hit the road.

The dense foliage on either side of the car windows retreated gradually into the distance.

As the speed increased, the trees eventually blended into a blur.

At this moment, Shen Hongyuan experienced a strange sensation.

It was as if a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders; after all these travels, he finally felt an unprecedented lightness.

Yet, simultaneously, he sensed an indescribable stagnation throughout his body.

It was as though his thoughts and consciousness had detached, leaving only an empty shell functioning like a machine.

However, as they journeyed on, Shen Hongyuan found the experience unbearable.

He swore he could hear the wails of a child.

Unable to resist, he turned his head to look back, almost convinced he saw a weeping child running after the car.

But rationally, Shen Hongyuan knew that it was impossible.

How could a four-year-old child possibly keep up with such a fast car?

Not until they arrived at the mountain villa did they realize that the young master was missing.

The nanny, who had been hired for the trip, immediately realized the situation and said, "I saw Young Master enter Madam's RV with my own eyes! Didn't you know, Madam? How could you let such a little child get out of the car by himself?"

Mrs. Shen was momentarily stunned, unable to react.

"Lost? How is that possible?" she muttered. "Maybe he's playing hide-and-seek. Quickly, check the RV."

At this moment, for some reason, Shen Hongyuan felt an inexplicable sense of calm.

He calmly heard himself yelling in anger at Mrs. Shen and the nanny, "How did you watch over the child? How could you let Ranran run off on his own? If something happens to him, how will I face the old man?"

Only when Shen Xingyu and Shen Xingzhuo, who had just gotten out of the car, saw the adults' reactions, did they understand the gravity of the situation.

Shen Xingzhuo wept all the way, his voice hoarse and his eyes swollen.

He didn't quite comprehend what it meant for his younger brother to be lost; he was still in a daze.

Shen Xingyu's face turned pale on the spot. He turned around and started running back the way they came.

Shen Hongyuan quickly instructed someone to stop him, saying, "How old are you? Don't make things worse. Leave it to Dad."

By then, a light rain had begun to fall.

The sky had already darkened.

For an extremely fleeting moment, Shen Hongyuan did consider going back to look for the child.

After all, young children couldn't run far. If they returned now, they'd likely find him still waiting in the same spot.

But as the rain intensified and he saw the severe weather warning on his phone, Shen Hongyuan abandoned that idea.

Clutching his phone with a worried expression, he stepped into the rain and said, "I'll arrange for people to search. You stay here and keep an eye on the other children."

Yet, after standing in the rain for a while, Shen Hongyuan eventually put down his phone.

He didn't make a single call nor ask for help from anyone.

The torrential rain at night fell in fits and starts.

In the vast villa, the atmosphere was stifling.

Madam Shen was weeping in her room.

Shen Xingzhuo ran a high fever that very night.

The light in Shen Xingyu's room remained on as he would occasionally step out into the yard to check.

Shen Hongyuan hid outside, allowing the rain to drench him.

Even in the sweltering summer, the rain was still chilly when it hit the skin.

One couldn't help but wonder if a four-year-old child would feel even colder after being caught in the rain.

In Shen Hongyuan's mind, an unexpected image emerged: a child hugging his leg and calling him "daddy."

Suddenly, he felt overwhelmed with sorrow and covered his face, weeping bitterly.

That was his youngest son, after all.

How could he not feel heartache?

Shen Hongyuan then rationalized that it didn't matter. With their family's resources, finding another child wouldn't be difficult, right?

It was just a temporary separation.

Once the old patriarch couldn't hold on any longer and passed away, he would immediately bring the child back!

Shen Hongyuan made this silent promise to himself over and over again.

The next morning, upon waking up, Shen Hongyuan switched on the news.

It was then that he learned a small landslide had occurred at the foot of the mountain in the early hours of the day.

Upon seeing this message, Shen Hongyuan sat in silence for a long while.

What was supposed to be a leisurely journey had ended in such a manner.

As the one who set the ball rolling, Shen Hongyuan initially felt a twinge of guilt.

Gradually, he reached a state of self-justification—there was nothing he could do about it. Who told the child to run off on his own without listening?

Nonetheless, changes occurred within the household.

After their second son fell ill with a fever, he became disoriented and couldn't recall past events clearly.

The mere mention of his younger brother would prompt him to burst into tears.

Mysteriously, Madam Shen had become less sociable, constantly hiding in her room and declining even her usual gatherings.

Their once hot-headed eldest son, who was in the midst of his rebellious phase, unexpectedly took an interest in the family's trivial matters, wanting to be involved in everything.

It was as if he was afraid of having any idle moments.

Unaware of the situation, the elder had someone come to fetch his youngest son back home.

Shen Hongyuan had managed to dodge the issue with various excuses several times.

However, all secrets eventually come to light.

Shen Hongyuan was summoned by the elder.

The elder's health had significantly improved over the past few days. Lying on his sickbed, he gazed at Shen Hongyuan.

He spoke in a stern voice, "You've really made it big, haven't you? As your grandfather, I'm not even allowed to see my grandson?"

Shen Hongyuan hesitated for a moment before replying, "If you want to see him, let Xin Zhuo come and accompany you. He's been nagging about missing you."

The elder didn't respond, only fixing Shen Hongyuan with a piercing gaze.

Under the elder's intense stare, Shen Hongyuan finally mustered the courage to speak up:

"Ranran... He went missing during their trip. Auntie and his mother didn't keep a close eye on him. I've been searching, but the circumstances back then were too complicated..."

Shen Hongyuan tried to explain himself, subconsciously wanting to distance himself from the situation.

But he lifted his gaze.

There, on the hospital bed, lay his father – a man driven by profit, firm in his dealings, and the one who had built the entire Shen Empire from scratch. In that instant, an unusually blank and bewildered expression appeared on the old man's face.

Amidst his habitual fear, Shen Hongyuan felt a strange novelty.

He never expected to see such an expression on his father's face one day.

Silence flooded the room like a tidal wave.

After a long while, the old man's withered, purplish lips quivered as he asked, "What did you say?"

Shen Hongyuan had no choice but to repeat himself, "Ranran is missing. I didn't expect..."

However, before he could finish his excuses, the elder suddenly stirred.

The elderly man reached out and snatched his cane from the bedside, swinging it fiercely at Shen Hongyuan.

The heavy mahogany cane flew through the air, its silver dragon head striking Hongyuan's face with a thud, causing him to clutch his nose and bend over in pain.

Shen Hongyuan heard his father's strained voice yelling, "Go! Go find my Rran and bring him back!"

A sour ache, tinged with the metallic scent of blood, filled Shen Hongyuan's nostrils.

But in that instant, for some inexplicable reason, he felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction.

What was the point of rushing? The child was already lost.

It was too late for the old man to groom another grandson as his successor now.

Illness can descend like a sudden mountain collapse.

Grandfather Shen had been battling diabetes for decades, with frequent complications.

Upon hearing about the disappearance of his youngest grandson, his heart troubles worsened, and he was soon bedridden once more.

He could only instruct his assistant to have someone investigate.

In the past, Shen Hongyuan had always been meek and submissive around the old man.

When the old man expressed dissatisfaction with him and wanted to revoke his status as heir, he could only nod in agreement, suppressing his frustration.

He would then devise various methods to win the old man's favor.

But after this incident, Shen Hongyuan found a hint of pleasure in competing against his father.

When the old man was searching for his grandson, Hongyuan secretly obstructed his efforts and spread ambiguous false information.

Taking advantage of the old man's illness, he attended more events as the successor of the Shen family, spreading the news that his father's health was deteriorating rapidly.

Through this, he even gained a reputation as a filial son.

One day, the old man summoned him to the hospital room.

The old man lay on the bed, his expression cold and composed.

It seemed to have returned to its former strict and severe demeanor.

Absolutely no trace of the breakdown that occurred when he wielded the cane could be detected.

Shen Hongyuan was not surprised by his father's state.

He understood his father best.

So what if there were occasional emotional fluctuations? In the end, his father would always prioritize the bigger picture.

Because whether it was him as a son or his grandson, all family members combined were less significant in the old man's eyes than the Shen Corporation he had built from scratch.

The company was the most cherished asset for Elder Shen.

In comparison to the company's interests, everyone and everything else had to take a back seat.

Shen Hongyuan even speculated that the elder probably already guessed that he was responsible for losing the child.

Yet, even so, for the sake of the Shen family's reputation and to ensure the company's continuous operation, the old man would still protect his son.

After all, he was already old, and this son was his only child.

Shen Hongyuan entered with a lowered head, calling out, "Father."

There were still caregivers and nurses in the ward; in front of outsiders, he remained the obedient and submissive son.

The elder Shen glanced at him and said, "You're here."

"Yes, Father," Shen Hongyuan replied.

The elder Shen didn't say anything else. He lay quietly in bed, his gaze seemingly fixed on some indistinct point.

Shen Hongyuan noticed that there were two other people in the room, the old man's lawyers.

Soon, the elder Shen raised his hand and waved it gently.

All non-essential personnel were dismissed from the ward, leaving only the lawyer and Shen Hongyuan behind.

Once the door to the hospital room closed, Shen Hongyuan noticed the lawyer setting up a video camera.

Observing Shen Hongyuan's confusion, the lawyer explained, "The old man wishes to disclose his will."

Shen Hongyuan froze for a moment, then felt a surge of excitement and a hint of pride.

He mused that, in the end, he had emerged victorious this time.

Never would he have imagined that there would come a day when he'd witness his father conceding to him.

Shen Hongyuan promptly responded, "Father, what are you saying? You're still in good health. I consulted a doctor, and they said that you're...]

The elderly Mr. Shen closed his eyes briefly and raised his hand to interrupt him.

But not a single word escaped his lips.

This formidable man, who had been dominant for most of his life, was unusually quiet at this moment.

Until the lawyer turned on the recorder and began conducting a few simple tests to verify that the elder still possessed sound judgment.

The elder cooperated fully.

Shen Hongyuan waited patiently by the side.

Finally, he heard the elder speak:

"I am Shen Hanshan, and I hold sixty percent of the shares in the Shen Corporation. Five percent of these I bequeath to my eldest grandson, Shen Xingyu, and another five percent to my second grandson, Shen Xingzhuo..."

In between, there were also mentions of other real estate assets being divided.

Shen Hongyuan wasn't particularly surprised by the elder's distribution.

He had provoked the elder, so it was only fitting that the elder would express his displeasure.

Besides, the two sons combined held only ten percent, which was insignificant.

Suddenly, Shen Hongyuan sensed the old man's gaze upon him.

The elderly man lay in bed, turning his gaze sideways to look at him.

Due to his illness, his eyes had a slight yellow tinge, obscuring the emotions in his pupils.

Soon, Shen Hongyuan heard the old man's subsequent words:

"I'll be leaving the remaining fifty percent of the shares and all my other assets under my name to my youngest grandson, Shen Xingran."

The old man's voice was raspy and low, reflecting the weakness that came with a long-term illness.

Yet, his tone was unusually resolute.

Shen Hongyuan could sense an earnest malevolence beneath those words.

It took him several seconds to process this before he abruptly stood up from his chair.

Both lawyers, who had known the elder Shen for a long time, were also taken aback by the old man's pronouncement.

None of them expected Shen Hanshan to leave such a will.

A lawyer promptly stepped forward to reevaluate the elder's mental clarity.

The old man calmly completed the test.

He repeated his will and added, "Should my youngest grandson pass away, all shares and assets belonging to him shall be donated."

At that very moment, Shen Hongyuan was struck with utmost astonishment and resentment.

He had always assumed that the elder took in his grandson merely to groom a puppet to his liking, someone who would conform to his wishes.

Observing how the elder treated his grandson with a lack of affection and strictness, Shen Hongyuan saw echoes of his own suffering childhood in the young boy's life.

This made him harbor a tinge of sympathy for his younger son.

But now...

Why?

Why was he so strict with him, constantly guarding against and obstructing him as if he were terrified that his son would ruin the Shen Corporation he had built from scratch?

Yet, he had given such a valuable asset to an unknown four-year-old whose whereabouts and fate were a mystery?

He'd rather donate it all for nothing than leave it to him?

Was the old man planning to have the entire Shen Corporation accompany his grandson to the grave?

Then, what did he, as the son, mean to his father?

After verifying and signing the will, the old man lay there in silence.

Shen Hongyuan dashed out of the ward like a madman.

He smoked an entire pack of cigarettes on the way.

Driving to the foot of the hill where the child had gone missing, Shen Hongyuan found the area devastated by the landslide.

Amidst the ruins, he searched tirelessly but only discovered a small yellow duck-shaped backpack buried in the mud.

Staring at the backpack for a long while, Shen Hongyuan felt the irony of fate mocking him.

Motivated by the desire for gain, he finally arranged for people to search for his youngest son's whereabouts.

Ironically, finding the child was like searching for a needle in a haystack after such an easy disappearance.

After a month of relentless searching, Shen Hongyuan arrived at his elderly father's bedside with a boy in tow.

The old man's health remained frail, yet he clung to life stubbornly.

Catching a glimpse of a child's figure out of the corner of his eye, he struggled to prop himself up for a better look.

What he saw was an unfamiliar child.

Bearded Shen Hongyuan supported the child's shoulder and asked gently,

"Tell Grandpa, what's your name now?"

The child hesitated before replying, "I... My name is Shen Xingran."

"You brute!"

Old Master Shen picked up an object from the table and threw it, but he then passed out.

Shen Hongyuan immediately scooped up his "Shen Xingran" tenderly and carried him outside.

The next day, Old Master Shen passed away from low blood sugar.

Shen Hongyuan bribed the lawyer to delete the footage and alter the date on the will,

pushing it back to after he had adopted Shen Xingran.

However, altering an established will would inevitably appear unsightly.

Shen Hongyuan grew bolder and simply forged a new one.

Fifty percent of the elder Shen's shares were now assigned to him.

Upon the announcement of this will, consistent with the elder Shen's style, none of the board members harbored any suspicions.

In fact, they were even touched by the elder Shen's decision to allocate ten percent of his shares to his two grandsons, believing that he had softened with age.

Thus, Shen Hongyuan smoothly ascended to the position of chairman of the Shen Corporation.

He meticulously concealed all evidence of his deception.

As he observed his eldest son's increasing excellence, Shen Hongyuan sometimes couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy.

Nonetheless, he took comfort in the fact that he had molded his eldest son into a slave to the Shen family.

At times, when looking at his good-for-nothing second son, Shen Hongyuan wondered if the elder Shen had viewed him similarly back then, as he now viewed Shen Xingzhuo.

As Shen Hongyuan scolded his second son, he couldn't help but feel that he was a much better father than his own.

As for Shen Xingran...

Shen Hongyuan personally indulged him, introducing him to various social circles.

He watched the orphan, under his nurturing, shine brightly in the crowd.

He observed as the boy became the center of attention, with the name "Shen Xingran" firmly placed on his forehead and imprinted in others' hearts.

He was "Shen Xingran."

The "Shen Xingran" under Shen Hongyuan's control, his trump card.

Until not long after Shen Xingran entered university.

Shen Hongyuan received a call from Madam Shen, summoning him to a paternity testing center.

There, he saw a timid and inexperienced youth, lacking in sophistication and upbringing, deeply scarred by poverty and the absence of love, someone who was utterly unbecoming.

Within Shen Hongyuan's heart, fear battled with an abrupt surge of pleasure.

He thought to himself, Father, look, is this the heir you fancy?

Chapter 82: Meeting (3000+)

They followed the direction Chen Chen pointed, walking for a long while without seeing anything except scattered footprints.

After a while, Captain Lin suddenly said, "General, look."

Huo Lanjing looked in the direction he indicated and saw a small house to the right front.

The two of them led the way, proceeding along the path through the dense forest until they reached the entrance, where they noticed a trail of bloodstained footprints stretching out from inside.

Huo Lanjing's heart leapt suddenly, his gaze fixed on the entrance not far away, but he didn't dare to push the door open.

Captain Lin stepped forward and pushed the door ajar.

Inside was pitch black, but as Huo Lanjing caught sight of the dismembered bodies lying haphazardly by the doorway, his anxiety escalated.

Captain Lin glanced back before stepping inside again.

He pulled out a Daybreak Sphere, and soon, the room was illuminated by its glow.

Lieutenant Lin was startled by the scene before him: "This...?"

The area was littered with corpses, blood pooling like a burst pipe had sprayed everywhere. At the center hung a grisly figure suspended in the air.

Looking back, Lieutenant Lin speculated, "Could it be that room...?"

Huo Lanjing strode past him towards the innermost part.

Silent, Lieutenant Lin followed closely behind.

Huo Lanjing had come over due to a handkerchief on the ground – one he had previously given to Chen Chen – now placed over someone's face.

Pausing, he crouched down, his outstretched hand trembling slightly.

Lieutenant Lin watched him pick up the handkerchief and clench it tightly.

"General, what is this?"

Huo Lanjing, unusually forthcoming, explained, "I gave it to Chen Chen."

He had already scanned the area and found no sign of Luo Le, but the handkerchief's presence indicated they had been here before.

The fact that Luo Le was left behind in such a place suggested his life or death was of no concern to them.

Captain Lin glanced around and said, "Madam, he..."

Huo Lanjing was certain. "He isn't here. Keep searching."

As soon as he finished speaking, Huo Lanjing's figure disappeared through the door.

Captain Lin took in the chaos behind him, retrieved the Solaris Ball, and followed suit.

At the entrance, Captain Lin heard Huo Lanjing say, "Your team stays behind. Account for everyone inside."

In unison, the team members replied, "Yes, sir."

Just as Captain Lin was about to move on, a flash of red light caught his eye.

Looking up, he noticed a well-concealed camera on the lake to his right. The red light had originated from the opposite side.

Upon seeing this, Captain Lin shouted, "Be careful!"

Huo Lanjing, upon hearing this, rolled onto his back and used his hand to propel himself behind a tree.

The soldiers also sought cover swiftly.

One of them, while attempting to escape, was hit. His body exploded in the next instant, leaving only a pile of debris.

Captain Lin ran to Huo Lanjing's side. "General, there's a surveillance system over there. They must have detected us."

Huo Lanjing's face darkened as he glanced at the people behind him. He stood up and declared, "Everyone, raise your alert level to maximum. Permission to deploy mecha is granted."

After saying this, he turned his head slightly and looked at Captain Lin. "Take them and clear out everyone here. We want them alive."

Captain Lin's eyes flickered. "Where are you going, General? Such a move is too risky."

Huo Lanjing replied, "That's an order."

With that, he summoned his mecha, tapped his foot, and soared into the air, leaving behind a trail of afterimages.

Captain Lin sighed and began assigning tasks: "First and second squad, follow me. Third, fourth, and fifth squad, this way, this way, over there."

**

The mechs' speed was indeed remarkable; before long, Huo Lanjing arrived at the villa.

In his left hand, he held a laser dagger, while his right grasped a gun. He sidled in as he pushed the door open.

There was no ambush as he had anticipated.

A young man sat at the main table inside, surrounded by an abundance of food.

The youth smiled and waved. "General Huo, nice to meet you. I'm Qing Song. Are you tired? Please, have a seat and eat something."

Recalling what Chen Chen had said, Huo Lanjing's gaze swept across the feast.

He went straight to the point. "Where's Luo Le?"

Qing Song maintained his smile, about to take a bite of meat with his chopsticks, when a thrown knife flew past, sending the utensils flying. The sharp blade grazed his cheek.

He lifted his head, his facial muscles twitching. "General, quite the temper, huh."

Huo Lanjing ignored him, releasing his pheromones with lightning speed as he clutched Qing Song's throat. "Where is Luo Le?"

His tone left no room for argument.

Qing Song's veins bulged under the pressure, making it difficult for him to speak. "I don't know, Admiral. Who... are you talking about?"

Huo Lanjing released him, kicking him to the ground and planting his boot harshly on his chest, exerting pressure through his gleaming military boots.

"Bai Song."

Upon hearing these two words, Qing Song's composure shattered. His pupils constricted, and his face turned grave. "So, you already knew."

It was as casual as admitting to drinking water.

"Then let me witness just how formidable the youngest Admiral of this Empire truly is."

Huo Lanjing's gaze darkened, and he took a step back.

Another, gentler yet menacing pheromone wafted into the air.

Huo Lanjing retracted his gun, gripping the knife hilt in his right hand across his chest, assuming a combat stance.

Qing Song snatched a fork from the table and rushed over with a crazed expression on his face.

Inside a small stone chamber, there was an advanced treatment pod, where Luo Le lay, her heavy eyelids closed.

"Sir, she's right here."

The door swung open.

A few individuals entered.

The tallest one caught sight of Luo Le inside the treatment pod and slapped his subordinate hard across the face, "Didn't I tell you to bring them alive?"

The subordinate clutched his mouth, glaring fiercely at the guide, "I did."

Looking back at the tall figure, the guide's smile was half-hearted, "Then what's going on here?"

How could the man not see the hidden jab? His smile twisted into an unpleasant grimace, "My subordinate is ignorant. No worries, this is the best treatment pod we have."

"Enough, hurry up. That lunatic Huo Lanjing is on his way. Keep an eye on him at all times. We can't afford anything to happen to this man; our experiments rely on him. Oh, and inject him with this first."

With that, they left. The last person hurried over, administered the serum into Luo Le's body, and then departed.

Before closing the door, he spat in disdain.

Lying in the healing chamber, Luo Le heard every word clearly.

As Du Wei had mentioned, the drug kept him conscious but paralyzed.

The knives that Du Wei had stabbed into him were excruciatingly painful, yet he couldn't even cry out.

While the healing chamber glowed yellow, Luo Le finally opened his eyes.

He reached out to silence the voice function of the chamber, then pulled off the wires attached to his body and sat up.

The moment his feet touched the ground, his legs wobbled, and he grabbed the edge of the chamber to prevent himself from falling.

Suddenly, the sound of the door opening echoed.

Luo Le lifted his gaze to see Du Wei. His eyes darkened. "You...?"

What was he doing here?

Du Wei had already arrived at Luo Le's side in an instant, seizing his right shoulder and gripping it firmly. "Don't speak. Come with me."

With Du Wei's pull, Luo Le took only one step before collapsing.

Du Wei cursed and pointed at the gurney nearby. "Get on that."

Luo Le froze, not moving.

Du Wei produced the same knife from before. "Get on."

Luo Le glanced at the blade, stumbled to his feet, and lay down.

Du Wei covered Luo Le's face with a white cloth and leaned in to whisper, "No matter what happens, do not move."

Of course, Luo Le knew that Du Wei wasn't being kind. But how could he escape from this body now?

That was why he didn't resist. Moreover, his spatial ring was in Du Wei's possession.

If things took a turn for the worse, he'd snatch it back. The ring contained weapons; at the very least, he had a mecha to fall back on.

"Stop! Who's this?"

They hadn't traveled far before being hailed.

Following Luo Le's prior advice, he stood still and instinctively held his breath.

He heard Du Wei chuckle, "There's no saving those. Don't look, his face is shattered. If you don't believe me, just sniff."

Just moments ago, Du Wei had splashed something on him, and even through the blanket, Luo Le could detect the pungent odor mingled with decay.

The other person disdainfully commented, "Ew, get him out of here."

The bed started moving again. Before they left, Luo Le overheard the man laughing, "Look at him, a failed transformation into this half-human, half-beast state. So ugly! Our boss took pity on him and gave him the job of collecting corpses, and he's so thrilled about it."

The other person agreed, "That's right. But he seems to hate the person our boss captured. He used the boss's authority to throw that person into that room. Later, the boss had someone bring him back. And that person's injuries are because of him."

"Indeed, quite vengeful. But then again, Young Master Du has always been one to hold grudges."

"He's no longer Young Master Du. Don't speak nonsense."

Mockery laced the speaker's tone, and Luo Le sensed the car pause before resuming its journey.

The rest of the ride was uneventful.

At a crossroads, Luo Le was shoved out with Du Wei issuing a menacing warning.

As soon as he stepped down, the bed was pushed off and disappeared into the dense undergrowth.

Luo Le felt his strength had significantly returned.

Du Wei held a knife to his back. "Move."

Silent, Luo Le walked in the direction indicated.

"Du Wei, you..."

Du Wei seemed to have read his mind: "You have no right to pity me."

Luo Le shook his head: "No, I know someone from a biological research institute who should be able to restore you."

The Huo family had merely suppressed the Du family, but the main reason for the Du family's downfall was their internal strife.

Du Wei's parents lost, and then the Du family was dismantled and sold off by his uncles and elders.

In one fell swoop, Du Wei went from being the eldest son of the Du family to the commoner he despised the most.

After selling off the assets, his uncles and elders mysteriously died in the old family home, along with Elder Grandfather Du.

Du Wei didn't know whom to hate, so he directed his anger towards the Huo family, then onto Huo Lanjing, and finally Luo Le.

There was nothing he could do about the Huo family, but Luo Le had to die.

Besides, she was no longer Mrs. Huo now.

Inside the villa, the two were still locked in a battle, with Huo Lanjing having a slight advantage.

The door suddenly swung open, and a figure entered, announcing, "Boss, there's trouble."

As Qing Song dodged, he said, "Speak."

"The person we captured has been taken by Du Wei."

Huo Lanjing paused his assault, his eyes darkening with intensity.

Du Wei.

This was the man who had shot at Luo Le's men before.

Could it be that he'd taken Luo Le away?

In an instant, Huo Lanjing brushed past them, summoning his mech to depart.

Chapter 68: This Seat Cannot Bear It

Young Chu Lan had perished. Yet the illusionary realm continued.

Dawn was still distant, and the nightmare of the long night had yet to pass. The fortunate survivors returned to their homes, preparing to depart for Mount Putuo once the sun rose.

It was hard to believe that anyone could persevere and continue with their previous plans after such suffering. Indeed, it seemed as if Chu Xun's body was merely walking about, his soul already departed.

Mo Ran walked around the city and heard many people expressing their concerns. After all, Chu Xun had endured such torment. Not to mention whether he would bear resentment, even if he were willing to lead them out of this predicament, his current state of mind likely spelled danger for all.

However, not everyone was solely focused on themselves. There were those who genuinely grieved for Chu Xun, though few in number, they did exist.

The anxious crowd waited for daybreak in silence.

But before the sunrise, the familiar cold voice boomed through the heavy darkness, echoing loudly at the boundary of the barrier.

This time, the Demon King was not addressing Chu Xun but the citizens within the city.

"The sun will rise soon, and This Seat knows you plan to escape under its light. But have you truly considered your decision? Mount Putuo is far from here, and there's no way you can reach it within a single day. When night falls again, you'll rely on Chu Xun's power for protection. But can Chu Xun truly shield you all?"

"Mother!"

A child, hearing this terrifying sound, broke into tears and nestled into their mother's embrace. All heads turned upward to gaze at the sky.

Chu Xun stood before the mansion gates, seemingly oblivious to it all. Leaning against the peach blossom tree, his eyes were closed in contemplation.

"The death of his wife and child was your doing. Do you truly believe he'll still protect you with all his heart? More likely, he has another plan, one that will make your lives a living hell as retribution for his loved ones. That is human nature... I've lived before, and I was once human too. Though there are benevolent souls in this world, they seek only a good reputation. Human nature is inherently evil, and so-called virtuous people have hidden motives. When pushed to the brink, who cares about the lives of others?"

The Ghost King's eerie voice echoed continuously.

"I mentioned earlier that I had no intention of taking the lives of your entire city. You should know that even as living beings, you can serve my ghost clan. If you don't believe me, look at him—"

As the words faded, a billowing black cloud swirled outside the barrier. Perched atop it was Xiaoman. Beside him stood a man, around forty or fifty, with an amiable and trustworthy appearance.

Someone cried out, "It's Xiaoman's father!"

"It's Xiaoman's father! Didn't he die?!"

"He was dismembered right in front of us. How can this be?!"

The Ghost King declared, "As one of the Nine Ghost Kings, I may not wield the power to control life and death like the King of Yama, but I can restore the appearance of the deceased. If you serve me, you can be reunited with your loved ones who have passed. However, if you defy me, you'll suffer the same fate as Young Master Chu, watching helplessly as your wife kills your child, with grief that pierces to the core."

Silence fell within the barrier.

"Are you truly willing to trust him? To believe he won't harm you and avenge your spouses and children?"

"Are you truly willing to trust that he can lead you to safety, far away from Putuo?"

Some turned their eyes to Chu Xun, a sinister gleam emerging in their gazes.

Finally, Chu Xun lifted his head. Standing alone beneath the blossoming trees, he looked at them quietly. He genuinely didn't know what to say; after a long moment, he spoke, "At this point, what good would it do for me to harm you?"

Peals of the Ghost King's bone-chilling laughter echoed through the barrier, "Excellent, excellent! He won't harm you. If you believe in him, follow him then. But if you believe in me—"

His voice rose to a crescendo, almost shattering eardrums as it pierced deep into hearts.

"If you put your faith in me, you will be rewarded immediately. I can bring back your departed loved ones, as long as you hand over Chu Xun, as long as you surrender him— to me! My enmity runs deep with him, but has nothing to do with you. Give up Chu Xun, and you won't have to leave your homeland. Surrender Chu Xun, and your families can be reunited. Call him out, and everything will come to an end," the Ghost King whispered ominously.

"I'll be waiting for you at the City God Pavilion before dawn."

The voice faded away.

The crowd, emerging from their stunned silence, gradually produced a peculiar buzz. All eyes turned to Chu Xun, who looked back at them with an uncanny calmness, one could even say serenity.

Some began to murmur helplessly, "What should we do...?"

"What can we do, my husband? I'm so scared..."

"Mother, I'm scared too! I don't want to be eaten!"

There were those who whispered in hushed tones, "The Ghost King does have a point... Those who are kind usually have hidden motives. We've seen our fair share of despicable officials before. Chu... Young Master Chu hasn't done anything yet, but look at his demeanor, he seems distracted. Who knows what crazy things he might do in the future!"

Upon hearing this, no one contradicted him. Instead, someone whispered in agreement, "You're right. If he decides to seek revenge, he might endanger all of us! There have been instances of betrayal at the last moment in previous dynasties..."

Suddenly, a man rushed forward, shouting, "Capture him! If we catch him, we'll survive!"

No one responded immediately. After a long while, a young woman stepped forward and stood in front of the man, her voice soft yet resolute, "How can a true gentleman repay kindness with enmity?"

"Scram!" The man kicked the girl to the ground and spat a mouthful of phlegm at her face. "A worthless harlot like you, who sleeps with men, has no right to speak up! I have my parents and children to think about. I won't let my family suffer injustice! Young Master Chu, forgive me!"

He then made a move to seize Chu Xun.

However, before he could take a step, his leg was tightly grasped by someone. The man looked down and flew into a rage. "You dare to stop me? Do you want everyone to die with you?"

The girl replied indignantly, "Though I'm a courtesan, I can still distinguish right from wrong. Even cats and dogs know how to repay kindness. How much more should humans?"

"F*ck your mother!"

The man kicked her face again, leaving it bruised and swollen. At this point, others started closing in on Chu Xun. Although a few, like the courtesan, attempted to intervene, their efforts were futile. They were like a single leaf in a raging current, quickly swept away.

"Milord—Milord, hurry and leave!"

An old woman trembled as she called out to Chu Xun. "Young Master Chu, go! Go! Don't waste any more time on these beasts! Leave!"

A child's voice chimed in, "Stop fighting, Mama, Papa, don't hurt the lord, don't hurt him—"

Amidst the bustling crowd and cacophony of voices, chaos reigned.

Chu Xun stood alone in the rain, as if he could see countless malevolent spirits crawling out from the depths of hell. For a moment, he was tempted to leave.

But his gaze fell upon those weeping and wailing living souls. He saw the child desperately pleading with their parents, the girl who had been the first to stand up, now bruised and swollen, the old woman trembling in the storm with her white hair, and the dozen or so citizens, backs turned to him, striving to hold back the chaos.

His feet, which had intended to depart, hesitated.

They were not at fault. If the barrier were removed, these people would also die.

It turned out that the most repulsive creatures in the world were not demons, but cowardly beasts in human disguise. Powerless and seeking only to survive, they hid among the masses, ready to do anything and say anything for their own survival.

In the end, they would rationalize, "I only wanted to save my life. I'm pitiful, helpless. What crime have I committed?"

He had once believed he was protecting innocent and defenseless souls, but he had been mistaken.

Only now did those beasts strip away their human facade, revealing one grotesque, red-grinning face after another...

They had concealed themselves so deeply... So very deeply.

He no longer wished to shed blood and tears for those disguised monsters, yet they were cunning, hiding among the virtuous, their faces laughing wildly and triumphantly at Chu Xun's inability to protect them all.

"You must save us. If you dismantle the barrier, we'll drag the ones you want to save, the ones who owe you gratitude, down to hell with us."

There's nothing you can do about it.

It was your choice to be a gentleman, to be a good person.

Having made that choice, sacrificing yourself to save everyone is what you should do. If you don't, you're a hypocrite, a fraud, falsely noble, and no better than swine.

He seemed to hear their shrill cries, their laughter echoing:

You have no other option. You have no other choice!

Amidst the tumultuous cacophony, Chu Xun slowly raised his head, gazing at the sky amidst the howling winds and torrential rain.

Daylight was finally breaking.

A night of heavy rain had washed away the blood on the City God Pavilion's stone steps. Chu Xun and those who had protected him were now bound and being led towards the temple.

What a tragic and comical sight. They had tied Chu Xun up so tightly, gloating over capturing such a formidable opponent. Yet they were oblivious to the fact that Chu Xun could have reduced these ropes to ashes with a mere spell.

Yet, he didn't do so. He didn't withdraw the Upper Clearness Barrier in the end.

Ling'an had already shed too much blood. He didn't wish to take the lives of more innocent people just to avenge his own grudge.

Thus, that thin veil protected both those who repaid kindness with enmity and those who treated him sincerely. When he arrived in front of the temple, the Ghost King didn't appear. There was only a candle flame emitting rolling black smoke, coiling into an ethereal human shape.

"Why—don't you withdraw the barrier!" The voice was furious when it saw Chu Xun. "Withdraw the barrier!!"

Calmly, Chu Xun replied, "Unless I die."

The mass of black gas let out a shrill scream. It croaked, "Chu Xun, you're insane! You… kill him—kill him for me—or else, by nightfall, I'll claim all your lives!"

Dawn arrived.

Layer upon layer of daylight weakly illuminated the endless night.

The Ghost King couldn't withstand the light and retreated into the darkness. The candle flame burning with black smoke trembled abruptly before going out.

Chu Xun regained his senses. The City God Pavilion was quite tall. From afar, the landscape was veiled in mist and rain, its wounds indiscernible. It seemed like time had stood still, with spring in the south as beautiful as ever.

"Young Master Chu, I apologize."

"It's not that we're heartless or cruel, but you blinded the Demon King's eye. He holds a deep grudge against you... We had no choice..."

"What more do you have to say? Delay brings uncertainty, and my entire family is waiting to live. Is one person's life more important than everyone else's? As an enlightened being, one puts others first and oneself last—those were his own words!"

Chu Wanning stood at a distance, watching the man whose relationship with him was shrouded in mystery, overwhelmed by a bittersweet mix of emotions.

Suddenly, a pair of hands covered his eyes.

Chu Wanning whispered, "What are you doing?"

"I'm not letting you see."

"...Why?"

"It'll be painful for you."

Chu Wanning fell silent for a moment, his eyelashes fluttering gently against Mo Ran's palm. "It won't. I've told you, it happened two hundred years ago."

Mo Ran's voice sounded from behind, a gentle sigh escaping his lips, "…Little fool, why is my palm damp?"

Time passed, be it a stick of incense, two hours, or just a fleeting moment – it was all blurred amidst the chaos and madness.

When Chu Wanning opened his eyes, the Celestial Barrier had dissipated. Chu Xun lay sprawled in a pool of blood, surrounded by both humans and spirits, disguised as demons lurking beneath human skin, savoring the scent of fresh blood.

Amidst the joy, guilt, and relief of survival, there was also pain and the beastly nature of humanity.

Death lingered in the air.

Was it still the world of the living, or had it transformed into hell? The distinction had become hazy.

The crowd gradually dispersed. Ghosts would not linger in daylight; they hurried to satisfy their hunger, rest, and await the return of the Ghost King at night, to examine the dead man in the temple and bestow rewards for their loved ones' supposed return.

In the end, only those dozen mournful survivors remained within the temple.

There was the courtesan, the elderly woman with her shimmering white hair, a couple who were stopped by their child, an orphan, a scholar, a storyteller, a former wealthy young master, a widow holding her infant, a schoolmaster, and a farmer.

No one else.

Yet, as they wept over the corpses, the man who had bled out in the pool of blood fluttered his eyelashes and slowly opened his eyes.

"Young Master!"

"Young Master Chu!"

Mo Ran's heart trembled as he said with compassion, "It's no use... This is..."

This spell had long been lost in the mortal world, but to his surprise, it appeared again in this illusory realm.

"This is the Echoing Voice Curse. He's already dead, but he cast this spell on himself before he passed," Chu Wanning paused and continued, "He must have had something unfinished, something that still weighed heavily on his heart."

Sure enough, Chu Xun's gaze was hollow and unfocused. He spoke calmly, "The Ghost Clan is treacherous, and their words cannot be trusted. After nightfall, when the Upper Clearness Barrier is lost, demons will run rampant and kill indiscriminately. I beg of you all, leave this place and head for Putuo Island."

"Young Master..."

"I am already deceased, unable to accompany you all anymore. Yet, I have condensed my entire life's spiritual energy, sealing it within a spell in my spirit core. If you carry my spirit core, malevolent spirits shall not dare approach."

The sobs intensified, bordering on tears of blood.

Mo Ran and Chu Wanning's faces paled with horror.

Spirit core...

That was a crystal born alongside the heart...

The deceased Chu Xun slowly raised his still-flexible hand, following the incantation he had prepared before his death, and grasped the blade buried in his chest, pulling it out.

Then—

"Milord!!!" The people around them wailed in agony, their voices distorted and hoarse, filled with blood and tears, "What are you doing, Milord—!!!"

The dead man's fingers tore open the wound in his chest, pierced into his flesh, and seized his no-longer-beating heart, slowly, bit by bit, dragging it out.

That heart was bleeding, pulsating with golden-red flames.

It was the essence of Chu Xun's spiritual core, the last flicker of light from a candle burning to its end.

"Take... it..."

He lifted the blazing heart and held it out straight, repeating persistently, "Hold it... take... it..."

Blood droplets rolled down, transforming into red hibiscus blossoms. Those flowers burned, their brilliance captivating.

"On this long and treacherous journey, Chu Xun's fate is fleeting, unable to offer any further assistance. I implore you all... I implore you to take great... care of yourselves..."

Mo Ran watched in shock as this unfolded before him, suddenly feeling a prickle on his back, beads of cold sweat trickling down.

The scar... That scar!

He abruptly recalled that on Chu Wanning's chest, right above his heart—

There was also a scar!

It was an area of extreme sensitivity for Chu Wanning. How could he have forgotten? Whenever they were intimate, when he licked at that faint mark, Chu Wanning's usually aloof expression would reveal a restrained longing. Mo Ran found this look provocative, so he always took pleasure in tormenting the man beneath him.

Back then, he had never concerned himself with Chu Wanning's past, and he never inquired about the origin of that scar. He took the secret to his grave without ever asking.

And in this lifetime, even if he wanted to ask, he no longer had the right to do so.

Lin Shuicheng lied to him.

Those gentle whispers, the longing gazes, the shimmering stars in his eyes, and the blushing cheeks when he was moved – none of it was for him. It was all fake. He never knew that Lin Shuicheng could act so well.

As if possessed, Fu Luoyin repeated those words in a daze. On the other end, Su Yu grew anxious. "What did he lie about? Who is it? Negative Two, what's wrong with you? Where are you?"

"He lied to me," Fu Luoyin said. "When he broke up with me, he already planned to be with someone else. Lin Shuicheng deceived me. Another man sent him flowers, and he even smiled at that man."

Su Yu panicked as well. Hearing the gravity in his tone, he shouted, "Negative Two, calm down! Are you possessed or something? It's just a bunch of flowers! Besides, if someone sends gifts to... I mean, to Lin Shuicheng, how does that concern you?"

"...It does," Fu Luoyin replied in a frighteningly hoarse voice, his eyes reddening. "If he dares... If he dares to be with someone else..."

"If he dares to be with someone else..."

—What could he do then?

Suddenly, Fu Luoyin froze. He felt as if all his strength had drained away, leaving him in a boundless state of confusion and emptiness.

He hung up the phone, and Su Yu's voice on the other end faded into the distance. He didn't catch the rest before the call disconnected on its own.

He couldn't even comprehend why he had spent so much time on Lin Shuicheng. What kind of person could he not find? Someone handsome, talented, from a compatible background, lively or quiet... what couldn't he have?

Yet, the three characters "Lin Shuicheng" had become a thorn in his heart, provoking an urge within him to pull it out and examine it closely.

Since he was the one who always dismissed others, he had sincerely written in his diary during those countless nights away from home that he would not pursue anything that wasn't offered to him.

If someone didn't want him to see them, then he wouldn't bother looking.

This should have been how it was all these years.

In the dead of night, new information was promptly delivered.

Su Yu came along with it—dressed in pajamas, he rushed over carrying two bottles of Erguotou liquor.

He first asked, "Minus Two, do you have work tomorrow?"

Fu Luoyin nodded with bloodshot eyes.

Su Yu understood: "Working, huh? Good, work is good. Live for the moment, brother. I'm here to accompany you in drinking."

Fu Luoyin gazed at him and murmured, "Why should I drink?"

Su Yu poured two glasses of wine and transferred them into two water cups with a glug-glug sound. "Stop looking at me like that. I know my alcohol tolerance is low. I'll drink mine, and you can drink yours. I know you're not sad at all. It's just that I feel like having a drink. Can't our dear Brother Negative Two accompany me a little, please?"

Fu Luoyin didn't refuse.

After a few glasses, Su Yu, who was three sheets to the wind, leaned back on the sofa, trying to maintain consciousness and thus began to babble.

Fu Luoyin glanced at him and found a black-and-white plush slipper by the door. He placed it in Su Yu's arms.

Then, he sipped his drink slowly while studying some documents.

Han Huang, a third-year student at Star City University, had changed majors once and departments twice during his undergraduate studies. He initially studied robotics in the Jiangnan branch, then switched to chemistry before dropping out and reapplying to pursue finance, eventually entering the main campus of Star City University.

Other information was easier to obtain, especially about Lin Shuicheng. This Han Huang had never hidden his affection for Lin Shuicheng, but due to their one-year age gap, they barely spoke until Lin Shuicheng followed him to the main campus.

The Hans were the wealthiest family in the former Middle East branch, and Han Huang was their only son. The Han family's business was a typical family enterprise, implying that Han Huang would inevitably inherit the business.

Fu Luoyin turned on his computer and searched for Han Huang's personal profile on a social platform.

There was something inexplicably odd about this action, as if he was invading someone's privacy. Fu Luoyin sensed it vaguely.

He glanced at Su Yu, explaining, "This is the person who took Lin Shuicheng away. I want to see how terrible Lin Shuicheng's taste is to be attracted to him."

In his half-asleep state, Su Yu hugged the slippers in his arms tightly. He only caught Fu Luoyin's chatter and nodded at him kindly, expressing his support.

The page refreshed, and the first post at the top of Han Huang's feed nearly gave Fu Luoyin a heart attack.

It was a photo with two words as the caption: "Rainy days and you." It had a somewhat artistic vibe.

In the picture, there was a back view of a young man in a simple white tank top, reaching for a jacket on a closet by the door. The slender figure had fair skin that appeared even paler against his jet-black hair. His proportions were elegant without being overly thin, with smooth lines. Beautiful butterfly bones could be glimpsed, and Fu Luoyin could easily wrap his arms around that waist and toss the person onto a bed effortlessly. Despite the clean, abstemious style, the image stirred a sense of excitement.

Even if he were reduced to ashes, Fu Luoyin would still recognize it as Lin Shuicheng!

The camera was positioned outside the door, capturing the scene through the rain. Inside, the warmth was palpable, with a few cats perched on a shoe rack, tilting their heads to look at the person in the photo. A vibrant bouquet of sunflowers adorned the entrance, creating a cozy and delightful atmosphere.

When Lin Shuicheng was with him, their home was as clean as a hotel. Yet, barely a week after their breakup, Han Huang already had new flowers and new cats in his new home.

Fu Luoyin felt his temples pulsating with anger. He trembled slightly and took a deep swig of alcohol. The burning sensation in his throat helped him regain some composure, but he couldn't help but let out a sarcastic laugh.

Su Yu was on the verge of dozing off when he was startled awake by Fu's laughter. "?"

Fu pointed at the computer screen. "Look at him. He's been prepared all along. Lin Shuicheng is cunning. How could he break up with me without finding someone else?"

The redness in his eyes became more apparent. When he smiled, his gaze appeared even colder and gloomier, making him seem somewhat menacing. Fu's fingers, gripping the glass, turned white from the pressure, causing his knuckles to crack. Su Yu almost believed he was about to shatter the cup.

Curious, Su Yu leaned in for a look and tugged at Fu Luoyin. "Snap out of it. Look at the comments below. They're not together yet. This guy is just chasing after my brother-in-law, I mean, Lin Shuicheng, hiccup."

There were numerous comments under Han Huang's post, with the top one asking, "Is this the chairman's boyfriend?"

Han Huang himself replied, "Hahaha, unfortunately not as of now."

Fu checked the date and saw that it was from yesterday.

He started to refute Su Yu, but his relief was obvious on his face, and his tone softened significantly. "He says 'not as of now,' which means it's going to happen soon. We're both men; do you think I don't know what's on his mind? Huh? There's definitely something going on between this person and Lin Shuicheng!"

He took another sip of wine.

Su Yu pondered for a while but failed to figure anything out. He then leaned over and continued browsing with Fu Luoyin. "Let's keep looking, scroll down."

Fu Luoyin scrolled down the page.

Han Huang posted a picture of himself receiving a gold medal in a debate competition. Su Yu commented, "Huh, he's quite handsome."

Next was a group photo of the school football team, to which Su Yu remarked, "Ah, he's athletic and looks sunny. Perfect match since your sister-in-law is into research. Hic, their interests complement each other. He should be well-liked."

Han Huang shared a love song about waiting and unrequited love, with the caption: "It's been nearly four years. I didn't have the chance to introduce the freshman me to you, but you met the junior me. Thankfully, I might be even more outstanding now than before."

Su Yu chuckled. "Seems like he's been pursuing your sister-in-law for quite some time... hic."

Fu Luoyin's temples throbbed with frustration. "Can't you just shut up for a bit?"

Su Yu held his slippers and fell silent after a brief moment.

After finishing all the content on Han Huang's profile, Fu Luoyin, under Su Yu's guidance, decided to explore the university forum.

Su Yu suggested, "Student forums usually have the juiciest gossip. With how outstanding your sister-in-law is, she must be quite popular. You should check out who your rivals are. Knowing yourself and your enemy will lead to victory in a hundred battles!"

Fu Luoyin retorted, "Rival in love?"

Su Yu suddenly understood, "Oh, right. I know you. You don't have any feelings for Elder Sister-in-law, so there's no such thing as a rival in love. In that case, let's not look at it."

As he spoke, he tried to get up and take Fu Luoyin's laptop, but Fu Luoyin pulled him apart, warning, "Don't touch anything."

Su Yu maintained his amiable smile.

Before they started, Fu Luoyin encountered a problem – the student forum of Star University was not open to the public. He simply patted Su Yu on the shoulder and said, "Go get my wallet from the sofa. It has my access card inside."

Su Yu replied, "…Seriously? Minus two?"

Fu Luoyin didn't bother with his reaction. Calmly, he inserted the access card into the computer and logged into the student forum of Star University using the seven-factor authentication system.

He searched for "Lin Shuicheng" directly and found numerous posts.

Most of them were requests for contact information, confessing their admiration. A few threads were about gossip related to the Quantum Analysis Department and the lecture incident. More prevalent were the ongoing posts seeking help: "Does anyone know this guy? I met him at the math department entrance/canteen/laboratory. He's so good-looking." The replies in these threads gradually shifted from patient friendliness to sheer annoyance, "Process or LSC?"

Some odd posts also made their way in, "Has anyone seen our missing cat around the dormitory…"?

"LSC!"

"Is the food street outside the school open today?"

"LSC!"

...

Aside from that, the mathematics department's internal forum had practically turned into a small fan club for Lin Shuicheng, who was worshiped as a deity of exams. His flawless academic record from childhood to adulthood was well-known, and his fame within the department was sealed by his perfect score in the department-wide quantitative reasoning exam during the summer session.

The mathematics department was already notorious as the most daunting faculty in the entire university, with many students avoiding it like the plague. The summer session's quantitative reasoning exam, recognized as an excruciatingly difficult assessment, was designed collaboratively by several math professors. Its purpose was to entertain students, stimulate their curiosity, deflate their overinflated confidence, and acquaint them with recent developments in mathematical research.

Quantum analysis and quantum computing departments were more pragmatic, with few naturally gifted mathematicians among their students. Most could only scrape by with a passing grade, which used to be 60 points but was reduced to 20 after Xu Kong joined, causing numerous postgraduates to fail. The quantum computing department suffered a total wipeout, except for three survivors.

This year, the failure rate for the exam was 43%, and the average score was a mere 67.74. Amidst this scenario, Lin Shuicheng achieved a perfect score, outscoring the second-place candidate by an astonishing 18 points, thereby solidifying his status as the exam deity. Previously, there had been heated debates on the forum between supporters of Lin Shuicheng and a fellow student from the applied mathematics department.

If Fu Luoyin had always known that Lin Shuicheng was an exceptional student, it was only at this moment that he truly comprehended just how dazzling his bedmate was.

When the moon shines alone in the night sky, its presence might not draw much attention. But when accompanied by a myriad of stars, the moon's prominence amidst the celestial spectacle highlights its rarity and value.

It turns out that so many people have a fondness for Lin Shuicheng.

A wave of inexplicable emotions surged in Fu Luoyin's heart, making him restless. He even had an urge to rush out and bring Lin Shuicheng back home right away.

He needed to capture this person, confine him, prevent him from going out, and keep him hidden from everyone else.

Otherwise, wouldn't this person really leave?

Su Yu looked up at Fu Luoyin, aware that he was completely drunk. He had fallen silent again, withdrawn as if he were a sword sheathed in its scabbard, cold and silent, lost in his thoughts.

He watched as Fu Luoyin took out his phone, removed someone's name from the blacklist, and then dialed the number with great care.

Su Yu mumbled, "It's already late at night, you'll definitely disturb them."

Fu Luoyin hastily hung up and repeated softly, "Yes, he should be asleep by now. Asleep, I won't bother him."

To his surprise, just as he put down the phone, Lin Shuicheng called him back.

Fu Luoyin froze. His heartsick heart suddenly pounded with excitement.

For the first time, he became aware of his own heartbeat, realizing that he was actually nervous.

Su Yu looked at the caller ID and shouted, "Answer it! Are you stupid?"

He pressed the answer button for Fu Luoyin, cheekily putting the call on speaker, hugging his furry slippers tightly as he perked up, ready to eavesdrop on gossip.

Lin Shuicheng's voice sounded calm, revealing no particular emotion, but there was a hint of fatigue. "Hello?"

The moment Fu Luoyin heard Lin Shuicheng's voice, his throat tightened, and the pounding heart that had just been racing seemed to dissolve in a sourness, leaving nothing behind that could be salvaged.

Lin Shuicheng continued, "Is there something you need?"

"...You're still not sleeping, Lin Shuicheng," Fu Luoyin whispered. "You're going to ruin your health like this, little kitten."

"Thank you," Lin Shuicheng replied politely, his voice pausing briefly. "Is there anything else? If not, I'll hang up now. I'll find a way to repay your kindness, or have you decided how much money you want?"

Fu Luoyin disliked Lin Shuicheng's tone and words; they were more likely to push him over the edge than anything else.

Lin Shuicheng always knew exactly how to test his limits.

His carefully cultivated image of tenderness shattered in an instant. He couldn't endure it any longer and interrupted fiercely, "Lin Shuicheng!"

Silence fell on the other end of the line.

Taking a deep breath, Fu Luoyin spoke softly, "Come back. I won't hold anything against you for what you've done or who you've been with. I won't question your thoughts. I... I'll come to pick you up if you return. Would that be okay?"

"I... I'm not working tomorrow. I'll come and get you." Fu Luoyin struggled to control his fluctuating breath, his voice raspy, "Stop playing games with me. I won't hold it against you. You're out there alone, mixing with unsavory people. Is it necessary to act this way? I—"

"Beep—"

"..." After a brief silence, Lin Shuicheng disconnected the call on the other end.

Author's Note:

Today, Su Yu experienced:

Little Fu's demonic whisper: He lied to me

The demon's mocking laugh: Huh

Demonic Roar: Lin Shuicheng!!!

Little Lin: Hang Up.jpg

Indeed?

The Buddhist bed was covered with only a thin mat, making it stiff and uncomfortable to lie on. There were no curtains around it, offering no protection from the draft.

Her elaborate canopy bed was fitted with a thick carpet, a bedspread, cushions, a backrest, and a bolster, resembling half of a small room in its entirety.

This simple Buddhist bed couldn't hold a candle to her exquisite canopy bed.

A lady who insisted on adding bamboo salt and floral essences to her mouthwash—could she truly find such a bed comfortable?

With an indifferent expression, Gu Changjin said, "It's good if Lady likes it."

He was curious to see how long this delicate flower of a girl could endure staying here.

On the second night, Rong Shu arrived at the study at the same time as the previous evening, just as he extinguished the lamps. This time, she had someone bring in seven or eight pots of silver-veined charcoal, warming the entire study like a spring day.

She slept quietly that night, holding her crescent pillow without moving, her profile facing him.

The next morning, when she helped him dress, there was a faint mark on her face, its outline resembling the rabbit on her moon-shaped pillow, carved on the image of a cassia tree.

For about ten days, on the night of the Lantern Festival, an icy blizzard swept across the entire northern region, piercing through to the bone.

That night, the temperature in the capital plummeted. The seven or eight pots of silver silk charcoal were insufficient. Halfway through her sleep, she crawled back into his bed.

This time, it was not just her feet slipping into his pants; her hands also reached under his inner clothing, rubbing against his abdomen.

Gu Changjin was awakened in the middle of the night.

If he had not been certain that the young lady was seeking warmth in her sleep due to the cold, he might have suspected there was a rogue lurking within her bones.

He tugged at her sleeve with clenched teeth, almost growling as he pulled her hand away. Then, a ripping sound echoed—her thin inner garment, made of silkworm cocoon silk, was torn by him.

The young lady woke up, dazedly sitting up. She touched the long tear on the right shoulder of her inner garment and looked at him, "Why did you tear my clothes?"

Her tone was filled with confusion, and upon closer listening, a hint of reproach could be detected.

Moonlight from the snow illuminated the floor with a layer of frost in the dark room.

The young lady's thick, lustrous hair cascaded loosely down her shoulders. Her inner garment hung loosely, exposing half of the indigo blue undergarment hidden beneath.

The snowfall seemed to envelop her entirely, casting an enchanting glow on her alabaster shoulders and the tiny vermilion mole by her collarbone, exuding a subtle seductive charm amidst the vivid greenery.

Gu Changjin abruptly opened his eyes.

Chapter 25

In the study, half of the windows were ajar, allowing the wutong tree branches to brush against the lattice, accompanied by the rustling autumn wind.

There was no snow, no brazier, and no young maiden lying beside him.

It was a dream.

Upon realizing this, Gu Changjin became aware of his unusual state.

He had trained in martial arts since childhood, appearing refined and scholarly but possessing a robust physique. However, he had always been detached and uninterested in amorous pursuits.

Yet, today was different. It was as if he had transformed into an inexperienced young man with a fluttering heart, all because of an inexplicable dream that left him with a racing pulse and an intense thirst.

His mind was filled with the image of that maiden, innocently tugging at her clothing as she asked him questions.

It was utterly absurd and laughable.

Gu Changjin knitted his brows and got off the bed, draining half a cup of cold tea in one go. He glanced at the dark sky outside before returning to the bed, calming his mind and cultivating his breath for a good while.

When he had recovered his composure, he called for Chang Ji to attend to him.

Seeing that his master's expression was colder than usual, Chang Ji pondered and suggested, "Master stayed up late last night. Should I ask for a sick leave from the Ministry of Punishments? Since Li'er is no longer in immediate danger, I can escort her there alone."

Gu Changjin replied, "We must inform Lord Justice and Minister Tan about the assassination attempt on Xu Li'er as soon as possible. Even though Xu Li'er survived, it doesn't mean that we can just sweep this matter under the rug. Those people and the officials from the Ministry of Punishments will undoubtedly pin the blame on Yang Xu's faction."

The Eastern Depot had caused countless injustices over the years; it was time for Yang Xu's group to experience the taste of being unjustly accused.

After explaining his plan, Gu Changjin rubbed his temples and said, "Bring me a basin of cold water."

Pausing for a moment, he added, "Also, brew two cups of iced tea."

Chang Ji acknowledged with a "Yes," but as he left, he couldn't help but wonder: Although Master never cared whether the tea was hot or cold, why would he request iced tea if he was already brewing tea? It was still chilly early in the morning—why would anyone prefer cold tea?

Gu Changjin's request for cold tea and water was promptly delivered to his study.

As the two, master and servant, left the study, the lights in the Songsi Courtyard were still extinguished.

Chang Ji said, "I heard that Lady Heng spent the whole night talking with Miss Xu yesterday. She's probably only been asleep for an hour or so. Should I not go around the main house and directly call out to her in the eastern secondary chamber?"

Back when Lord Gu Changjin resided in the Songsi Courtyard, Chang Ji and Heng Ping could enter freely. But now that there was a female mistress living there, they couldn't just barge in as they pleased.

Recently, their master had established a rule that they were not to deliver messages in the corridor and were not allowed to approach Lady Heng directly. They were only permitted to convey messages through Ying Que, Yingyue, or Mother Zhang.

Chang Ji didn't dwell on it much, assuming that their master disliked Lady Heng, hence why he prohibited them from having too much contact with her.

With this thought, Chang Ji sighed inwardly, wishing that his master would have a maid or servant by his side. That way, entering the inner courtyard would be much more convenient.

Unlike now, where he had to be cautious even when entering to deliver a message.

Gu Changjin pondered for a moment before saying, "Stay here and I'll go in."

After speaking, he stepped through the Moon Cave Gate and halfway through his journey, he noticed someone pushing open the door of the main house.

It was Mother Zhang.

Nanny Zhang, upon seeing him, hurriedly greeted with a smile, "Madam Rong has already woken up and is currently instructing this servant to serve breakfast to Second Master and Miss Xu. Would Second Master like to wait inside the room?"

Gu Changjin nodded slightly. Yesterday, he had mentioned to Rong Shu that he would be taking Xu Li'er back to the Ministry of Justice early in the morning. Just now, noticing that the lights were still off in the room, he assumed that Rong Shu was still asleep.

He had come in with the intention of waking her.

After all, Xu Li'er was an unmarried lady. In the haste of events yesterday, she was allowed to rest in the Songsi Courtyard. However, both he and Chang Ji should avoid any appearance of impropriety.

Chapter 156: Economy

Enchanted weapons were not allowed in the ranking matches, so Weiyun's dual curved blades, versatile for both long-range and close combat, had to be set aside.

Wen Ying crouched in a corner of the arena, selecting the interconnected set of equipment he would use later. He had replicated so many magic cards that he had even forgotten some of them.

Half an hour passed quickly. Dragon-Serpent Weiyun leaped onto the arena. Her stance was solid, and her actions more cautious compared to Yan Kuo's.

Wen Ying stood up. The old devil referee glanced at both competitors and announced, "Begin."

Wen Ying deftly released a "Flexibility" card from between her fingers, aimed at the Succubus.

Weiyun dashed forward with lightning speed, and Wen Ying noticed the tip of her scaly tail tense up, evading Weiyun's attack by swiftly stepping aside, avoiding the whip-like tail.

"Smack!" Weiyun's tail missed its target, leaving a dent in the ground.

In an instant, Weiyun flipped her body and swept her long legs, while Wen Ying raised her right hand to her chest, sending two magic cards flying outwards. The third card adhered to her body, dissolving into light.

These were the basic spell "Slow," Beros' "Flaming Blaze," and finally, the protective "Water Shield."

So close?! Weiyun never expected Wen Ying to release Belos's Incinerating Flame at such a close range. His pupils constricted, and although his mind urgently wanted to retreat, his body couldn't keep up. The scorching black flames engulfed towards Weiyun.

As Wen Ying cast a Water Escape spell on himself, he also cast a "Boost" on himself, enhancing his speed to quickly leave the center of the flames.

Before the Incinerating Flame dissipated, Wen Ying sent a "Puppet Master" card to Weiyun, who was using his magic to resist the flames. It was an early copy of his, only at the N-card level, but it could control Weiyun for a few seconds without any issues.

The many demons in the spectator seats watched in astonishment as Weiyun jumped off the stage in a stiff manner.

(There's still additional content in the author's note)

Author's Note:

"One who controls magic? Wen Ying copied it from the Masked Puppet, right?"

"How come I didn't realize how cheat-like the Magic Mirror Demon's innate magic is? It's like having an unfair advantage."

"The Magic Mirror Demon's innate magic is only used effectively by Wen Ying. Other Magic Mirror Demons can hardly replicate other demons' innate magic, let alone intermediate spells."

"I feel like Yan Kuo and Weiyun haven't really drained Wen Ying's stamina or magic power at all. They're crazy; I actually think Wen Ying can keep winning like this."

"A hallucination, Phileas could already teach him a lesson with full strength."

"Lilith can do it too!"

"The first place belongs to His Highness!"

The conversation shifted to fans vying for their favorite's top position.

Weiyun's expression froze, then she looked intently at the demonic mirror on stage, realizing what had just transpired. Despite her caution, she had still fallen prey...

Weiyun's face darkened as she shot venomous glances at Wen Ying.

This feeling was driving the demon mad! It was too frustrating – she hadn't even unleashed a fraction of her skills!

That was the rule of the ranking match – if one competitor stepped out of the arena, they lost. Wen Ying had exploited this rule to conserve her energy.