Asianovel

"Mr. Fu... Mr. Fu?"

Zhou Heng noticed that Fu Luoyin had fallen silent after receiving a text message, as if he was in a daze.

Zhou Heng watched as the driver assigned to take him to He Muya's place called. He softly urged, "...Mr. Fu? The driver's here."

"Wait a moment. I'll be down in a while. Take my luggage over first. I need to make a call," Fu Luoyin said.

He immediately dialed Lin Shuicheng's number.

Lin Shuicheng was still in the third hospital's cafeteria.

He hadn't really eaten much; after a few bites, he put his food down. After sending the text message, he kept holding onto his phone.

The digits on the caller ID seemed to have imprinted themselves into his memory. After a quick glance, Lin Shuicheng exhaled softly and pressed the green button to answer the call.

His fingers trembled slightly, taking two attempts to press the correct button.

Fu Luoyin's deep voice sounded through the phone.

His voice was highly distinctive, often referred to as a "low-pitched bass," even recognizable to Su Yu across the table. He knew Lin Shuicheng was likely on a call with Fu Luoyin and inwardly criticized Fu's shamelessness for checking up on him as casually as drinking water. Without waiting for Lin Shuicheng to stand up and leave, he got up himself, holding his tray and grinning at Lin Shuicheng. "Sis, I'll get another plate of food. I wasn't quite full just now."

Lin Shuicheng nodded slightly in response.

It was nearing lunch break, so there weren't many people dining in the staff cafeteria. No one else was nearby, and the bright sunlight streaming through the clean windows lent the space a cool, luminous atmosphere.

Lin Shuicheng remained seated, softly saying, "Hello."

Despite the distance created by the phone, it felt as if he could sense the intangible pressure and authority that emanated from Fu Luoyin. It was strange, but Fu Luoyin was gentle with him, even indulgent at times. This indulgence, however, was a controlled and restrained dominance, bordering on casualness.

Because Fu Luoyin had everything under control, his demeanor was always nonchalant.

After a moment of silence, Fu Luoyin lazily asked, "What are you doing, little kitten?"

Lin Shuicheng replied, "… I'm at the hospital with Didi."

"Have you eaten yet?" Fu Luoyin continued. "The food at Third Hospital isn't great, right? Su Yu, that glutton, wouldn't know good food if it hit him, so he took you to the hospital canteen. Should you find something to eat when you get back, or should I order takeout for you?"

His tone was as usual, so normal that Lin Shuicheng began to doubt whether Fu had actually seen the text message.

Lin Shuicheng interrupted him, "There's no need. Did you read the text message?"

"I did," Fu Luoyin replied nonchalantly. "I'm in a meeting. We can discuss it when I get back in a few days. Su Yu's mother's birthday is coming up, and he should have mentioned it to you. We'll go together to celebrate her birthday then. Start thinking about what gift we should give. It doesn't have to be expensive; it's the thought that counts. Auntie isn't picky."

Taking a deep breath, Lin Shuicheng said, "Let's talk about this now. I don't want to continue this relationship anymore, Fu... Fu Luoyin. Let's break up."

"I don't want to discuss this now, Lin Shuicheng," Fu Luoyin's voice turned slightly cold, carrying an air of command. "I don't know why you're thinking this way. Didn't I tell you to stay at home and not overthink things?"

Lin Shuicheng fell silent.

On the other end, Zhou Heng was planning to move Fu Luoyin's belongings down in batches. As the elevator climbed, Zhou Heng's scalp tingled when Fu Luoyin suddenly spoke those words.

It was rare for Fu Luoyin to use such a tone. Usually, when he spoke like that, it meant he was already angry.

Fu Luoyin was typically composed and restrained, rarely experiencing extreme emotions. He believed that emotions were useless and could only interfere with work.

Zhou Heng realized that Lin Shuicheng was on the phone and couldn't help but click his tongue. His assessment of Lin Shuicheng had been correct – he was a stubborn and oblivious person who didn't know how to appreciate kindness. Fu Luoyin was one of the most patient bosses Zhou Heng had worked for, and he treated his lover exceptionally well – always catering to his every need and entertaining him when he was free. What on earth could Lin Shuicheng have done to make Fu Luoyin so furious?

Despite his intimidating expression that warned others to keep their distance, Fu Luoyin's voice remained calm, even attempting to sound gentle. "Is it still because of the photos? The last time, or the time before that?"

Lin Shuicheng had no idea what he was talking about. He merely stated with certainty, "No, I just want to end this relationship. Let's part ways."

He calmly repeated the word "part" over and over again, causing Fu Luoyin's temples to throb. "What about Su Yu? Ask Su Yu to answer the phone."

Lin Shuicheng was taken aback.

Su Yu happened to walk over at that moment, carrying a second plate of food ready to eat.

Hesitantly, Lin Shuicheng passed him the phone. "He... wants to talk to you."

Confused, Su Yu took it. "Hello, minus two?"

Without beating around the bush, Fu Luoyin asked, "What did you say to Lin Shuicheng?"

Su Yu glanced at Lin Shuicheng sitting across from him. Lin Shuicheng lowered his gaze, quietly sipping on his soon-to-be-cold egg drop soup.

Su Yu got up and walked outside. "Minus two, what's gotten into you?"

"Why would Lin Shuicheng suddenly want to break up if you didn't say anything to him?" Fu Luoyin inquired. "You have a loose tongue. Did you mention something about Xia... Xia Ran to him?"

"Damn it! Do you take me for a fool?"

Just as Su Yu was about to swear he had never mentioned Xia Ran to Lin Shuicheng, he couldn't help but shiver as the words left his lips.

Su Yu suddenly recalled that he had indeed mentioned Xia Ran to Lin Shuicheng before. It wasn't an explicit mention, but the first time he'd eaten a meal cooked by Lin Shuicheng, he had warned Lin Shuicheng about Fu Luoyin's ex-boyfriend. Later, while gaming together, he had also explained the situation when he noticed that Lin Shuicheng was being targeted by Bai Yiyi.

After a long pause, Su Yu finally caught on to the crux of Fu Luoyin's message: "You're saying your girlfriend wants to break up with you?"

He was momentarily at a loss on how to react. From Lin Shuicheng's perspective, he believed that it would be better for him and Fu Luoyin to split up – everyone knew about the passionate campus romance between Fu Luoyin and Xia Ran, so he felt that Lin Shuicheng was not suitable to be a substitute. However, did Lin Shuicheng even know he was a substitute?

With this in mind, Su Yu cautiously asked, "Does your girlfriend know that she's just a substitute for...?"

"F*ck off, he doesn't know. If you keep talking nonsense, I'll tell Auntie, and you'll have to eat at home forever," Fu Luoyin warned him, his tone softening slightly. "He saw a picture of Xia Ran in my wallet and is probably feeling jealous right now. I'm busy and can't come back immediately, so you'll have to comfort her for me."

"I said minus two," Su Yu replied. "So, what's the current situation between you and your girlfriend? If you still see her as a substitute and don't plan on taking the relationship seriously, then let her go sooner rather than later. It's better for all of us. Dragging things out won't do anyone any favors. I won't help with this, I don't want to get involved. You dare threaten me with eating at home forever? Let me tell you, if that happens, I'll show up at your girlfriend's place every day asking her to cook for me. You know your girlfriend – she's beautiful and talented, with plenty of suitors. If you don't like her, why should she cling to you like a... well, not exactly a crooked tree, but more like a straight, sturdy poplar. But why should she cling to you alone?"

Contrary to his expectations, Fu Luoyin didn't respond for quite some time.

Su Yu secretly rejoiced – he suddenly felt that he could create more trouble than Dong Shuoye.

Fu Luoyin had seen his way through the parade of lovers, and Lin Shuicheng was his favorite and most respected one. Su Yu didn't hide his favoritism at all.

After a long while, Fu Luoyin whispered, "He's my partner, Su Yu. I'm taking this seriously. What happened in the past stays in the past. It's okay if he throws a tantrum or gets jealous, but we can't break up – he was the one who approached me first, and I wasn't serious about it at first. But when I saw that he genuinely liked me, I didn't let him down. I planned on making things work. You don't know his temperament. He's strong-willed, has a student-like innocence, and sticks to his principles. I don't know how he's feeling now since I can't get back to him right away. Su Yu, Little Fish, please... please help me out. Keep him company for me, and I'll be back in a few days."

Without waiting for Su Yu's response, Fu Luoyin hung up.

Downstairs, the driver had been waiting for quite some time. He Muya wasn't in Star City recently; instead, he was at the Old European Branch Space Station. Fu Luoyin's trip to the Space Defense Bureau would take at least two or three days.

He didn't know why this sudden surge of anxiety came over him, along with a subtle sense of tension.

It wasn't until speaking with Su Yu that he realized this. When talking to Lin Shuicheng, he answered purely out of instinct, not noticing any change in his emotions.

He could tell that Lin Shuicheng's calm, composed, and slightly impatient demeanor was similar to when he was presenting an academic report with ease.

In a blink, Fu Luoyin recalled how Lin Shuicheng had been during the famous painting case – completely independent and relentless in achieving his goal.

In his twenty-five years of life, he had never known the meaning of "anxious." Throughout the years, from struggling in District 8 to climbing the ranks of Department 7, from childhood to adulthood, the most out-of-character moment he'd ever had was that summer after graduating from military school when Xia Ran wanted to break up with him.

Without any explanation, only a vague "I'm not worthy of you," he had been joyfully preparing a Valentine's Day gift for Xia Ran the day before, only to discover the next day that all means of communication had been severed. Xia Ran had flown straight to the old North American branch without so much as a notice.

This was something beyond his comprehension, causing him a mix of anxiety and anger—how dare Lin Shuicheng leave him in such a state?

He repeatedly reminded himself: Don't be angry, don't act impulsively, or I'll scare off this little kitten called Lin Shuicheng.

Cats were creatures that softened with kindness but hardened with force.

In his competition with Lin Shuicheng, he had always held the upper hand. He accepted Lin Shuicheng's quietness, even his solitude, as well as his occasional moodiness and capriciousness. However, Lin Shuicheng abruptly bringing up a breakup without any discussion or asking for his thoughts was a major taboo.

Dark clouds gathered in Fu Luoyin's eyes as the knuckles on his phone turned pale.

Striding out, he instructed Zhou Heng, "Book me a flight for three days from now, the fastest one available. I'll head straight back to the house I share with Lin Shuicheng."

—Lin Shuicheng wants to break up with him?

Impossible.

On the other side, Su Yu, with trembling hands, handed back Lin Shuicheng's phone after seeing the call ended.

Su Yu found even the taste of his chicken leg fading—after much internal debate, he mustered up the courage to look up at Lin Shuicheng and ask, "Uh, Sister-in-law, have you been busy lately? Can I come over to your place for meals these few days?"

Lin Shuicheng was taken aback before responding, "Sure."

Su Yu breathed a sigh of relief—at least Lin Shuicheng's attitude towards him remained unchanged, which probably meant that the conflict with Fu Luoyin wasn't that severe?

Then, Lin Shuicheng added, "Any day except tomorrow would be fine. I'll be moving house then and might not have the time. Let me give you my new address."

Madam Jin sacrificed her own life to save her daughter.

If she knew that her daughter would also meet a tragic end after her death, she would likely die with an unfulfilled heart.

Later, Rong Shu had also asked Gu Changjin if he believed Xue Li'er's death was justified.

At that time, Gu Changjin was sitting on a couch reading a book. Upon hearing her question, he lifted his gaze from the book and replied calmly, "Xue Li'er shouldn't have died."

Her question was clearly not about whether Xue Li'er deserved to die or wanted to die, yet Gu Changjin's answer was irrelevant to the topic.

However, Rong Shu understood Gu Changjin's intention.

Xue Li'er was the one who suffered, and regardless of how others perceived her or what benefits could be gained from her death, she should have lived a good life.

For herself, for Madam Jin.

A jolt of the carriage caused the half-open window to slam shut with a "pat."

Rong Shu snapped back to reality, realizing that the young man across from her had somehow turned his head, now resting it against the chair back, gazing at her with half-lidded eyes.

He possessed an elegant appearance with finely arched brows and captivating eyes; when he gazed downward at someone, it seemed to add a touch of flirtatious charm.

Yet his gaze was indeed too intense, erasing any hint of that flirtatious demeanor.

This wasn't the first time he had looked at her like this. Whenever he did, Rong Shu felt as if she were caught red-handed for some misdeed she didn't commit.

In the study room last time, she had openly asked him why he stared at her like that.

His response was simply, "You've gained weight."

Therefore, she wouldn't dare to inquire again this time. She was well aware that Yingyue had been making steamed custard for her every day, causing her to put on a little more flesh.

With Gu Changjin's sharp eyes, there was no need for her to invite humiliation upon herself. After all, she hadn't done anything wrong. No matter how long he stared, she could hold her head high without regret.

Upon reaching the courtyard of the inn, Rong Shu draped a cloak over herself, ready to alight from the carriage. However, Gu Changjin raised his hand, signaling her not to get out.

Reluctantly, Rong Shu sat back down.

The man stepped down from the carriage and stood motionless outside the coach, maintaining a composed demeanor.

This relay station on the outskirts of the capital was the last stop before entering the city. Both imperial officials returning from missions and regional officers coming to pay their respects to the emperor would freshen up here first.

As a result, the place was usually bustling with noise and excitement. But today, the suburban inn was unusually quiet.

Gu Changjin exchanged a knowing nod with Chang Ji, who then strode away promptly.

After Chang Ji left, Gu Changjin waited a while before approaching the carriage and saying to Rong Shu, "Step down."

Rong Shu alighted from the carriage using the footstool.

No sooner had they entered the inn than an official from the station approached them for inquiries.

Gu Changjin explained their purpose, and the official responded by clasping his hands together, "Empress Dowager Qi originally sent two palace matrons to accompany Miss Xu to the station. However, Miss Xu mentioned that she wished to be alone tonight, so I arranged for her to stay in the East Courtyard. I'm not sure if she's resting yet. Would it be alright for Lord Gu and Lady Gu to allow me to check on her first?"

From granting permission for Jin Shi to rest in Daci'en Temple to sending palace matrons along the journey, Empress Dowager Qi's concern for Xu Li'er was evident.

The station officer dared not take any risks and thus had prepared the station in advance, clearing out the best East Courtyard for her.

Gu Changjin acknowledged his efforts with a bow, saying, "Thank you for your trouble."

The official personally delivered the message to the East Courtyard. Upon hearing this, Xu Li'er startled and rose to her feet. "Lord Gu is Li'er's savior. How dare I not see him?"

As soon as the official left, she rushed to the window, peering outside with a hint of fear in her eyes. When she heard the voices and footsteps of the officials from the relay station echoing in the corridor, she bit her lip, steeled her heart, and closed the window.

Following closely behind Gu Changjin, Rong Shu's heart pounded nervously, an inexplicable tension gripping her. In her previous life, Xu Li'er had died on this very night. She didn't know if her intervention would alter Xu Li'er's fate.

If she couldn't change it, would she also be unable to escape death three years later?

Unconsciously, Rong Shu pinched the brim of her cloak's hood.

Gu Changjin glanced at her sideways. Seeing the young lady's delicate fingers fidgeting again, he slightly furrowed his brow.

Just as he was pondering, the door creaked open.

Xu Li'er, dressed in mourning clothes with a white flower in her hair, bowed gracefully before them. "This humble maiden greets Lord Gu and Lady Gu."

Gu Changjin glanced behind him at Rong Shu and said, "My wife heard about your mother's situation and was deeply saddened. She wanted to come to the relay station to offer some comfort to Miss Xu. Thus, I brought her here. Please forgive us for our sudden visit."

Xu Li'er quickly waved her hand. "How dare I take offense? Sir and Madam, please come in."

The conditions of the relay station were modest, but it was clear that the room in the eastern courtyard had been specially tidied up.

A vase in the corner still held a few white chrysanthemums, while a tall altar by the window held a incense burner with half-burnt sticks of incense. In front of the burner, there were several plates of fresh fruit.

Rong Shu found it peculiar.

The incense burner faced the window, and with the wind blowing, the ashes would be scattered everywhere. Judging from the ashes on the floor, they must have been blown down by the wind.

Why would anyone place an incense altar by a window?

"Miss Xu, is that incense burner dedicated to your mother?"

Xu Li'er was taken aback. "Yes, it is."

Rong Shu felt even more perplexed.

Li'er had just returned from the funeral home, and Jin's family was set to host a memorial service at Great Mercy Temple the next day. Why would she choose to burn incense and pay respects here and now, at an inn of all places?

One could only assume that she knew she wouldn't be able to attend the ceremony at the temple tomorrow.

Or perhaps, Li'er truly intended to end her life tonight.

But if she were truly bent on suicide, she wouldn't have met with Gu Changjin. The moment they arrived at the inn to see her, she took her own life.

With malicious intent, Gu Changjin might be implicated in this tragedy.

The gratitude Li'er felt towards Gu Changjin was genuine, evident in the way she looked at him.

She had no intention of harming Gu Changjin.

Rong Shu gazed at Li'er. The girl's face was pale, her eyes rimmed with red, indicating she had wept bitterly. Indeed, who could remain unmoved by such a tragic incident?

Chapter 110: Station 23: Fifty

Fifty promptly tilted the gourd, pouring out its contents.

The fluid resembled thin porridge, viscous as it dripped, yet it flowed swiftly. It shimmered with a translucent cherry red hue, closer to blood but lighter, tinged with a subtle pinkness.

Everyone watched in disbelief as the deep throat wound, which had exposed flesh, gradually healed back to its original state.

Fifty put away the gourd and tapped Si Shuhao's forehead playfully with his fingertip, saying,

"Remember to pay extra, all that good medicine was used on you!"

Si Shuhao stretched out her hands in disbelief, interlacing them to cover her slender neck, then began coughing violently.

"It's alright, just cough up the blood that went down the wrong way. It's a normal reaction. But, darling, don't trust others so easily in the future. I did warn you,"

The red-haired man, with Yao Kunrui's face, wore an enigmatic smile,

"That woman deliberately gave me her student number trait. At that time, I had already made two mistakes, and another would've sealed my fate. Besides, I had already accepted that the Wujian Sect Leader intended to take my life."

"So, she knew I was the most desperate to find a scapegoat. Otherwise, why would she come specifically to tell me instead of sharing the news with others? Isn't it for this exact reason?"

Suo Bo shook her head repeatedly, tears welling up in her eyes.

"No, I swear there's nothing like that. It was just a casual remark. How could I guarantee that you would tear someone else's number? Am I some kind of fortune-teller?"

"Oh, but that remark didn't really harm you in any way."

Wu Ling appeared relaxed and composed.

"As long as I take action, the issue with the numbers will be resolved. Whoever dies won't be the one who has already obtained the number, which is you. If I don't act, you can tear my number or someone else's and pin it on me... Who would suspect a girl who looks as innocent as a white flower?"

"However, arguing about these matters with you is pointless."

He retrieved the bloodstained knife from her sleeve and slowly circled around her.

"Your current situation is probably similar to Yu Kui's, wouldn't you say?"

Suo Bo lifted her chin, half-closing her eyes to avoid his gaze.

"I don't understand what you're saying," the girl replied, her voice trembling.

Fifty didn't waste any more words. Gripping the blade firmly, he swiftly stabbed it into the nape of Sù Bó!

The young girl let out a piercing scream, and the others were stunned by this sudden turn of events.

Diao Qingchang never imagined that he would witness another murder scene:

"She was indeed wrong to kill someone, but... Are you planning to avenge that by killing her too? That doesn't seem right."

"I'm not killing her. I just want to confirm something."

Fifty moved the tip of the blade around and indeed felt something hard.

Ignoring the girl's stiff, tearful cries, he focused on his task at hand.

"Aha, there it is."

He exclaimed, then pulled out the knife with a 'pfft'. Replacing the blade with two of his fingers, he reached into the open wound!

Everyone watched his actions in a mix of unease and astonishment.

Zero's icy fingers penetrated the wound slowly but resolutely, accompanied by a shrill, piercing scream that barely sounded human anymore.

Through her tear-blurred vision, she looked at Si Shuhao standing amidst the crowd, but only received a cold and guarded stare in return.

The two fingers digging into the wound were like sharp surgical knives, sinking deeply into her spine and clamping down on something inside, before suddenly exerting force.

"Aaaah!"

Amidst the girl's screams, a thumb-sized centipede larva was forcefully pulled out from the wound in her spine!

As it was exposed to the air, it wriggled desperately, trying to return to the warmth of flesh and blood. Its mouth secreted a honey-colored liquid continuously.

Zero casually flicked the liquid aside and said,

"This is called Honeybrew, a venom containing a paralytic agent. It keeps the host unaware of the infestation until death. The wound will heal, encapsulating the worm within the newly regrown flesh."

"It seems you've consumed that Old Lady Bai's worm eggs."

Sù Bó was enraged and screamed with a hoarse voice, "That's a Blood Pill, not some insect egg!"

Wǔ Líng scoffed, "Face it. It's an egg, a huge cluster of them under that old woman's neck. Disgusting... Hey, do you want to live forever by eating such things?"

Sù Bó quickly turned his head to hide the expression on his face, "I just want to protect myself, to get out of here alive."

"Live? Forget it."

Wǔ Lí crushed the struggling worm and then took out a handkerchief, wiping the suspicious fluid that oozed from the worm onto the moon-white cloth, "As long as you carry it, once you board the train, it'll awaken. Then, within a minute, it'll spread throughout your body, devouring you entirely. Before even reaching the destination, you'll feel bloated, and your belly will burst right there, giving birth to a moth."

"That moth feeds on flesh when it's born. At that time, not only you, but everyone else on the train will be attacked by the moths. There'll be nowhere to escape."

His explanation was clearly chilling in retrospect, and the way people looked at Su Bo changed abruptly.

With a hint of doubt on her face, Wu Ling pointed at her forehead and said,

"But you, it seems like you never had any intention of leaving, right?"

Su Bo's body stiffened.

"What are you talking about? It's so terrifying here, how could I not want to leave?!"

Wu Ling chuckled and leaned in to study her expression.

"After all, if you stay, in the Bai family, you'd be the genuine Miss Bai. Though you'd become a monster, in this world, you'd be second only to Old Madam Bai. You could live as freely as that good-for-nothing Young Master Bai does in this broken world."

Su Bo looked at it with fear.

"...I, I never thought of that..."

"What you think is none of my concern. I'm merely proposing a possibility because otherwise, there's no explanation for why you killed that girl, Yue Pengpeng."

"Oh, it wouldn't be considered killing either, considering your preferred method is to manipulate others into doing the dirty work for you."

Zero Fifty lost interest in taunting her but didn't untie her either.

"Alright, just stand here obediently and don't dwell on the promises made by the Unseen Master – like how many lives you take will earn you corresponding glory. This world has been operating for over a century; surely you don't believe you're the only one who's made such a deal in all that time?"

"In fact, there have likely been many who followed through, and some might have even wiped out their entire groups. Now, can you guess why the Bai family's two ladies can only be outsiders?"

"...Because the betrayal of an outsider was part of the plan," Liao Xinya's cold voice interrupted Zero Fifty's monologue.

Her gaze was calm, and her expression exuded a unique rationality.

"Our task now is not to judge Sù Bó. Haven't you noticed something off about these servants?"

Indeed, since Xi Yi's beheading, the servants had shown no reaction; they seemed oblivious, continuing their tasks with tranquility.

Sima Guang, accompanied by Diao Qingchang, hurried over in a rush.

Ever since Wu Gong started his lengthy discourse after exposing the centipede, Sima Guang had quietly asked Diao Qingchang what he had been doing earlier.

After Diao Qingchang truthfully disclosed his actions, Sima Guang was struck with an idea:

"Do you still remember that woman we encountered at the graves, the one without shoes... Wasn't she searching for her footwear?!"

They exchanged glances, and Diao Qingchang gave Sima Guang a thumbs up, exclaiming,

"Well done, buddy!"

The pair then hastily found an excuse to retrieve the red shoes from outside the courtyard.

However, before they could share this delightful news with everyone, a terrifying shriek echoed from within the Shou An Hall, intertwined with a voice that seemed both masculine and feminine, as if it were the primordial creature splitting heaven and earth:

"Someone! Rip them apart!!"

In that instant, all the servants around them froze in their tracks, akin to automatons with a pause button pressed.

Their animated expressions turned blank in an instant, and they began to rush crazily towards Ming Yiyang and the others with a newfound consciousness!

Ming Yiyang looked at the closed door of Shouan Hall and dashed out with Si Shuhao on his back.

The tail ring still remained icy cold, showing no sign of heating up.

Yet, the servants around them had gone utterly mad.

"Damn it, is this a zombie apocalypse? This is terrifying!"

Diao Qingchang, who had slapped a Swift Wind Talisman onto himself, carried Shi Wenguang along as they sprinted away.

Si Shuhao, on Ming Yiyang's shoulder, exclaimed, "Handsome guy, how do you have all kinds of talismans! Ming Yiyang, why don't you have any?"

As Diao Qingchang ran alongside her, he chuckled and somehow found the leisure to explain, "These are all Yin Talismans that can only be used in the Netherworld. They'd be worthless outside. As for Brother Ming, with his physical prowess, it doesn't matter if he has talismans or not. He's way stronger than me. Here, take one!"

He placed a Light Body Talisman on Si Shuhao's back, and immediately, Ming Yiyang felt a significant reduction in the weight on his shoulders. Si Shuhao was also surprised.

"I'd probably scare everyone to death if I stepped on a scale now..."

She said this with a cheerful expression, showing no trace of the agony she had just endured from the life-threatening crisis and betrayal by her friend.

Perhaps it wasn't that she didn't want to talk about it, but simply felt that there was no need to constantly exhibit her despair, causing others to suffer along with her.

Diao Qingchang distributed two sets of talismans to each person, significantly increasing their escape speed. They were almost about to leave the servants trailing behind them—

Suddenly, the ground shook violently!

Si Shuhao looked back in horror and yelled,

"Help! The houses are growing!"

Her cry made everyone turn their heads! They witnessed a scene that they had only seen in movies before.

The entire backyard of the Bai family resembled a roll of paper lifted up, with the houses lined up closely and intricately, like a delicate, undulating painting.

Just like an impending tsunami that has just been unleashed, it crashes toward them with overwhelming force!!!

Chapter 76: Concern

When Luo Le stepped out, he found the entrance deserted, with no sign of Huo Lanjing.

But in the next second, he received a message from Huo Lanjing, saying he was waiting at the door.

Luo Le asked Qin Runzhi to drop him off at his car, expressed his gratitude, and then headed home.

From afar, Luo Le spotted the familiar license plate.

He parked beside it.

As he got out of the car, he saw Chen Chen push away Huo Lanjing's hand and rush over.

Luo Le bent down to scoop him up.

With his arms around his father's neck, Chen Chen thought about what the uncle had said on the way and lowered his head to apologize, "Daddy, I'm sorry."

How could Luo Le blame Chen Chen? Even if he had resisted, what difference would it have made?

He blamed himself for his failure to discern people's true nature, wishing he had taken precautions earlier.

However, Luo Le did not understand why Gu Heting insisted on involving him in the matter.

He lacked both connections and social standing.

Surely it couldn't be because of loneliness.

Observing Luo Le in deep thought, Huo Lanjing approached her. "Le Le, should I recall the person?"

His voice was hushed.

Luo Le snapped back to reality and glanced at him, then said after some thought, "Thanks for today."

Huo Lanjing sensed the distance and paused, "It's alright."

"You don't have to worry. Those people aren't watching you or reporting your recent activities to me. They're simply there to protect you."

Luo Le replied, "There's no need to bother. I'll handle this matter myself."

That was someone from Huo Lanjing's camp; who knew if he could trust them or not.

"The day is fading, it's best for you to return early."

I was about to forbid him from coming again in the future, but after all, he did resolve today's crisis.

Luo Le cast him a sidelong glance before turning to leave.

Upon arriving home, Luo Le urged Chen Chen to cease all contact with Gu Heting.

Without questioning, Chen Chen simply nodded his head.

On their way back, he had overheard the uncle mentioning that Uncle would hurt Papa.

Now, Papa was telling him not to contact Uncle. Thus, he wouldn't.

He disliked anyone who harmed Papa, even if it was Uncle.

Perhaps it had been an exhausting day. As Luo Le gave Chen Chen a bath, the boy dozed off right in the bathtub.

Having dried Chen Chen and tucked him into bed, Luo Le sat motionless on the sofa in the living room, not bothering to turn on the lights.

He had once believed that he was finally going to have a family.

At this thought, Luo Le smiled bitterly. How could he possibly have a family?

He was not destined for such fortune.

But at least, he still had Chen Chen.

What should I do next?

Gu Heting will certainly not let things rest, the mentor has not yet returned from the no-man's land.

As for Qin Runzhi, he was an enigma to him.

Excluding these individuals, there was not a single person left.

After a moment of hesitation, Luo Le wondered if she should still seek out Huo Lanjing?

He didn't want to, but it seemed there truly was no one else...

Luo Le sat through the entire night, unwavering.

Huo Lanjing, outside the door, also spent the night in his car.

He utilized the power of the Huo family to investigate Gu Heting.

This individual had been dormant on the Second Planet for a considerable time, abruptly deleting their ID three years ago. Any events subsequent to that point have proven untraceable.

The enterprises formerly belonging to the Gu family, now under the Gu Corporation, were operated using various aliases. They had transferred their assets to an ID.

This ID was spotless, without any issues.

However, he couldn't locate the actual identity of the person behind it.

To delve deeper into the investigation, he would need authorization from the palace.

They had stipulated that the permission could be granted, but on one condition: he must return to the First Army.

He feared that once he left, Gu Heting might pose a threat to Luo Le.

Besides, with Luo Le here, he had no intention of leaving.

Huo Lanjing lowered his gaze, lost in thought.

The sky gradually revealed its pale, fishbelly white.

Huo Lanjing rolls down the car window, allowing the cigarette smoke inside to dissipate.

Checking the time, he set off for the designated location.

In the following days, Huo Lanjing accompanied Luo Le. After seeing Chen Chen enter school, he would drive along with Luo Le to the research institute.

Chen Chen's teacher had already been entrusted to keep an eye on him.

Huo Lanjing would wait in the car, following Luo Le until she finished work, picked up Chen Chen, and returned home.

Early on the third day.

Luo Le requested an extra breakfast from the teacher, determined to rouse Chen Chen, who was still sound asleep in bed.

Swiftly, he helped Chen Chen freshen up, dress, and head out with his schoolbag in hand.

The previous night, he had thought about someone for hours on end.

Wind City.

By this time, Wind City should also be on holiday. There truly wasn't anyone else.

After much deliberation, he sent a message to the person across from him.

Before, he had been afraid that Huo Lanjing might trace Wind City to find him, so he hadn't dared to contact him.

Yet, fearing that Wind City would be upset, he had sent festival greetings through a public smart brain ever since Chen Chen's birth.

Within just a few minutes of sending the message, Wind City replied.

The response was concise, merely asking for his address.

The spacecraft from Wind City was scheduled to arrive at eight this morning.

Luo Le still decided to go pick him up.

After not being in touch for so long, he knew that Wind City would be upset. Given that he was already imposing on the man, it was only right for him to go and receive him.

Huo Lanjing followed Luo Le from a distance. Seeing him drop off Chen Chen at school, Luo Le then headed in the opposite direction of the research institute.

Curiosity piqued, Huo Lanjing followed.

Upon discovering Luo Le's destination, Huo Lanjing's heart raced with panic. But then he reminded himself that Chen Chen was still here; there was no way Luo Le would leave.

Luo Le stood at the entrance with a sign in hand, raised high from his car.

As soon as the towering figure of Wind City emerged, Luo Le spotted him and waved the sign around.

Wind City caught sight of him too, waving back as he dragged his luggage towards Luo Le.

"Brother Le! Long time no see, I've missed you so much!"

He bent down to embrace Luo Le.

Luo Le still wasn't accustomed to such warmth and gently pushed him away without leaving a trace.

"Let's go."

Wind City nodded and followed him into the car.

What was meant to come could not be avoided.

Throughout the journey, Wind City continued to scold Luo Le.

Feeling guilty, Luo Le took it all in stride.

"Oh right, how's my godson?" Wind City took the water bottle from Luo Le and drank eagerly.

Luo Le gave him a quick once-over. "He's still at school. You seem a bit more muscular and tanned."

Wind City used to be very fair, tall, and slender, with thin arms and legs. Calling him a pretty boy wouldn't have been an exaggeration.

Wind City sighed, "Sheesh, following that damn idiot leader through the jungles of Wormstar every day, it's no wonder I'm getting dark. But this time, I don't plan on going back. My application has already been submitted."

Luo Le asked, "Why?"

Didn't Wind City always want to advance in the military and serve until retirement?

"I just find it uninteresting now, rather dull. Freedom is better," Wind City said with a wistful expression.

"That's fine too. You can stay at my place for now, the room is ready."

Suddenly, Wind City leaped to the front passenger seat and disabled the autonomous driving mode.

"What's going on?" Luo Le asked, puzzled.

With a serious look, Wind City replied, "Someone has been tailing us, Brother Le. Buckle up and hold tight, I'm going to shake them off."

Luo Le grabbed the nearby handle. "Alright."

Wind City leaned back, and the hovercar shot forward with a whoosh.

With great speed, the car navigated through several turns, soaring high and diving low in quick succession.

Huo Lanjing followed for a while. Upon realizing that he had been noticed, he decelerated and pulled over to the roadside.

His mood was gloomy, and his hands gripped the steering wheel tightly.

He retrieved a cigarette from the compartment, held it between his fingers, lit it, and leaned back against the seat, inhaling deeply.

The turmoil within him seemed to have no outlet.

Luo Le preferred to trouble Wind City to come all the way instead of accepting his help.

Huo Lanjing roughly ran his fingers through his hair, pulling out a dozen strands in the process.

It was as if he was punishing himself.

"Sir, you can't park here. Violation fine: 1000 yuan."

A traffic officer in uniform approached and tapped on the car window.

Huo Lanjing was already annoyed and, without a word, reached into the compartment to retrieve a card and handed it over.

The traffic officer's lips twitched when he saw the card.

It was an idea thought up by someone in their team. For a normal parking violation that would normally cost one thousand, this card entitled the holder to four thousand for each instance.

As long as it didn't cause significant disruption, one could park for an additional four hours.

It was equivalent to having a VIP pass.

When the officer swiped the card, he noticed several records from the past few days.

In recent days, Huo Lanjing, following Luo Le around, often found himself parking illegally. There was one instance where he was stopped, nearly causing him to lose track of Luo Le.

After that incident, he had obtained this card.

The traffic officer sighed; this person was truly something else. He didn't know what to say.

"You must move your car within two hours."

In two hours, the road would become congested; before leaving, Huo Lanjing issued a warning.

After smoking another two cigarettes and somewhat alleviating his vexation, he drove away.

That evening, Luo Le and Wind City went to pick up Chen Chen.

Wind City didn't have much belongings; he had finished packing in the afternoon.

Luo Le found a private kitchen to host a welcome dinner for him.

Originally, they should have eaten at home, but Luo Le was well aware of her cooking skills.

Eventually, she decided on a safer option – the private kitchen.

At first, Chen Chen was very shy, hiding in Luo Le's embrace and refusing to come out despite Wind City's teasing.

On their way back home after dinner, Wind City couldn't help but chuckle at the matured little adult.

Playfully, he lifted Chen Chen onto his shoulder with one hand.

Chen Chen initially struggled, but the moment he experienced a different perspective, he gave up resistance.

Ever since Luo Le's injury, his back had been sensitive, and for safety reasons, he had never allowed Chen Chen to do this before.

Chen Chen had only seen other children doing this before. Now that it was his turn, he was ecstatic.

He held Wind City's head, "Left!"

Wind City chuckled, "Turning left, then."

"Right!"

With a solemn expression, Wind City replied, "Acknowledged, sir. Executing right turn command."

Chen Chen nodded seriously, "Accelerate forward."

Without looking, Wind City knew Chen Chen's expression must be hilarious. "As you wish, sir."

He picked up the pace slightly.

In an instant, they left Luo Le behind.

Luo Le, carrying Chen Chen's backpack and jacket, hurried after them, "Take it easy."

They looked like the perfect family of three.

This scene fell into Huo Lanjing's eyes in the car, causing his gaze to darken.

The position of Wind City should have been his.

Yet, he had no right to intervene.

All of this was a consequence of his own doing...

Wind City ran ahead with Chen Chen on his back, maintaining a swift yet steady pace.

Just as they were about to arrive, he noticed a figure standing in a dark corner.

Instantly, he became vigilant.

"Who?" Wind City gently set Chen Chen down, adopting a defensive stance.

Luo Le stepped forward, watching as the figure in the shadows emerged into view.

"Huo Lanjing, why are you here?"

Huo Lanjing replied, "And why is he here?"

Luo Le chuckled. Was this his way of accusing her?

"It has nothing to do with you, Huo Lanjing. You used to accuse me of being irrational, but it seems you're the one being unreasonable now."

Huo Lanjing paused, "I was worried about you."

Luo Le scoffed, "Really? What right do you have to say that?"

"He's all alone. No matter how skilled he is, there will be times when he slips up. If you don't want to use my people, there are still mercenary groups available," Huo Lanjing offered another option.

Luo Le had no intention of engaging in conversation and simply walked to the door to open it, saying to Wind City, "Let's go."

Under normal circumstances, Wind City would have eagerly grabbed the microphone and started chatting.

But with Chen Chen around, he didn't want to corrupt the child's mind.

He quietly carried Chen Chen into the kitchen to wash their hands.

Chapter 124 - Inheritance

Madam Shen was stunned by Shen Xingran's words.

Shen Xingran didn't linger and left the villa with his suitcase in a grand manner.

He got into Jin Linuo's car.

With Shen Xingran's outburst, the already oppressive atmosphere in the Shen family became even more gloomy.

Madam Shen seemed to have lost her soul that day. She locked herself in her bedroom without eating anything.

Shen Xingzhuo stood in the vast living room for a long time.

Finally, he snapped back to reality. Without daring to look at anyone or caring about the media waiting outside, he left the Shen family villa.

Shen Xingyu sat quietly on the sofa for a while before getting up to continue making calls for help from his connections in the study.

The most energetic one might be Shen Hongyuan, who was lying on a hospital bed.

Ever since learning that the news was leaked to the media by Shen Xingran, Shen Hongyuan had been consumed by an extreme rage.

He couldn't fathom why Shen Xingran would betray the Shen family.

Shen Hongyuan had considered the possibility that it was Lu Ran's retaliation.

He also suspected that it might be Shen Xingzhuo, the prodigal son, harboring resentment from his previous scolding and intentionally causing trouble for him.

He even entertained the idea that it could be Shen Xingyu.

As sons grew older, dangerous thoughts tended to multiply.

Shen Hongyuan had suspected all three of his biological sons, except for Shen Xingran.

In his eyes, blood ties were the strongest support.

Shen Xingyu and Shen Xingzhuo, bound to him by unbreakable blood, felt invincible and dared to act recklessly. But what right did Shen Xingran have?

He was merely an orphan with no one to rely on, growing up solely due to the affection he showered upon him.

It was Shen Hongyuan who had personally propelled Shen Xingran to his current position. In Shen Hongyuan's eyes, without him, Shen Xingran was nothing.

That was why he would only cling tightly to the Shen family; how could he possibly betray them?

It was precisely because he trusted Shen Xingran the most that Shen Hongyuan had placed him in a significant role by his side.

Yet, Shen Hongyuan never imagined that the one who would ultimately betray him would be this helpless orphan.

In the afternoon, Shen Xingyu arrived at the hospital room accompanied by the investigation team.

Shen Hongyuan's anger had caused his blood pressure to soar, and the machines beside his bed beeped incessantly.

The investigators asked some questions, but Shen Hongyuan refused to cooperate, keeping silent.

However, the evidence had already been gathered, so Shen Hongyuan's confession was no longer crucial.

Upon completion of the interview, the investigation team stood up and said,

"Mr. Shen Hongyuan, upon our investigation, we have reason to believe that you are involved in the illegal appropriation of personal assets, amounting to over a hundred million..."

However, upon hearing this, Shen Hongyuan, who had been relatively composed, blinked, his pupils constricting as he lifted his gaze towards the investigators.

Shen Xingyu's expression darkened slightly.

Shen Hongyuan started to speak, his words slurring, "A-Appropriation of personal assets? That's my company!"

The investigators glanced at him and explained in an official tone,

"Someone has reported that you illegally altered your father's will fourteen years ago. The situation has now been largely verified, and the involved lawyer has turned himself in."

"The ownership of the Shen Corporation is still under further investigation."

"Currently, all assets under your name will be frozen, pending the court's decision."

Lying on the hospital bed, Shen Hongyuan's complexion was ashen.

The investigation team soon departed.

Upon hearing about Shen Hongyuan's illegal tampering with the will, Shen Xingyu wasn't surprised nor did he press for more information.

For when he took on the role of CEO at the Shen Corporation, he already knew that Grandfather Shen had bequeathed almost all his assets to his youngest grandson, Shen Xingran.

Secrets, eventually, find their way to the surface.

The Chairman of the Shen Corporation, after illegally appropriating company assets, was now embroiled in a scandal involving the manipulation of his own father's will.

Altering a will is pure catnip for the media.

The news about the Shen family was at the height of its popularity.

This story quickly made it to the front page, thoroughly satiating the public's gossip cravings for the so-called elite families.

Ji Min received the information even earlier.

Before the media broke the story, he disclosed this bombshell while driving Lu Ran back home:

"Mr. Shen left all his inheritance to Shen Xingran."

Lu Ran encountered some issues with his experiment.

Bent over a tedious statistical table, he rolled his eyes upon hearing Ji Min's remark.

"Irksome," he said with a sigh. "There's no need to share such gloomy news with me."

It was one thing that his own parents and brother were smitten with Shen Xingran, but even the stern old man in the photograph had bequeathed his entire fortune to him, which was quite astounding.

Yet, just as Lu Ran finished speaking, Ji Min playfully tapped his head.

"Ow," Lu Ran winced, putting his hands to his head.

Ji Min took the experiment booklet from his grasp and set it aside.

Frustrated, he said, "Do you have any backbone at all? It's uncertain if Shen Xingran was even adopted when your grandfather passed away."

"You're the one your grandpa left all his inheritance to."

Lu Ran was genuinely taken aback.

He had always kept a clear distinction between himself and the name "Shen Xingran," so hearing this didn't evoke any personal feelings.

When Lu Ran heard about the failure of the Shen family's contract, he wasn't shocked.

Upon learning that it was Shen Xingran who betrayed them, his reaction was also rather calm.

But now, he was genuinely surprised.

After news of Shen Hongyuan altering the will broke out, the Shen family company plunged into chaos.

What was initially just a financial mess now caused instability throughout the entire board of directors.

Among the board members were elders who had worked alongside Shen Hongyuan's father.

And there were the Gu family members.

All of them were equally astounded upon hearing this news.

No one knew better than they did what kind of person Elder Shen was.

Elder Shen had single-handedly built the Shen Corporation.

Even in his old age, when his eyesight was nearly gone, he remained actively involved in his work.

He was a tyrant with an immense appetite for power.

Yet, it was well-known that Elder Shen valued the Shen Corporation more than his own biological son.

No one could have imagined that he would leave all his assets to a four- or five-year-old child.

The shift in share ownership would inevitably cause tremendous upheaval within the company.

If this genuine will had been made public back then, everyone would have assumed that the will had been tampered with.

Soon, the mastermind behind this message was exposed.

After all, the one currently occupying "Shen Xingran's" identity was not Lu Ran.

The Lino and Shen families truly were sworn enemies.

Old Lino, somehow, found the lawyer who had assisted Shen Hongyuan in forging the will, thus discovering the true testament left by Elder Shen.

Old Lino had been holding onto this information for a while but had kept a low profile.

Now that he saw the Shen family declining, he struck ruthlessly.

Upon learning this, Lu Ran recalled Old Lino's previous attitude toward him and understood a little more.

Old Lino must have been well aware that no matter how confused Elder Shen was, he would never leave the entire Shen family to a newly adopted grandson.

That was why he had initially extended an olive branch to Lu Ran.

But Lu Ran had promptly kicked him into the toilet.

Perhaps sensing that Lu Ran was not easily controlled, he settled for the alternative, Shen Xingran.

The timing of the lawyer's presentation of this "authentic will" was impeccable.

It occurred right after Shen Hongyuan legally adopted Shen Xingran and registered him in the household records.

Furthermore, the wording of the will referred to "the youngest grandson."

Coincidentally, Shen Xingran was a few months younger than Lu Ran.

Over a decade had passed since the old Master Shen's demise.

For any department, verifying the identity of "Shen Xingran" mentioned in the will was a formidable task.

Soon, Ji Min's assistant handed him Shen Xingyu's call, informing Ji Min, "Mr. Shen has requested to meet Young Master Lu Ran."

Ji Min didn't immediately decline nor answer the call.

On the night Lu Ran learned about the disposition of the old Master Shen's estate, he stood by the window in a daze throughout the night.

Yet, the next day, he continued to delve into his research data as if nothing had happened.

It seemed that the inheritance didn't sway his determination in certain matters.

But he had no intention of giving everything away to Shen Xingran without a fight.

Taking some time off, he visited the orphanage and printed out some documents to hand over to his lawyer.

Ji Min didn't interfere with Lu Ran's decision.

Instead, he found an opportunity to meet with Lu Ran's therapist and inquire about Lu Ran's progress in therapy.

Despite the sessions, Lu Ran's phantom pain hadn't vanished.

The psychiatrist was also frustrated.

She said, "The patient has a strong mental barrier. Most of his cooperation is only on a behavioral level; he hasn't truly embraced the therapeutic process mentally."

Regarding the persistent hallucinatory pain in Lu Ran's mind, the doctor pondered before suggesting a perspective:

"He mentioned once that being pushed into an icy pool during winter might be a residual trauma from that incident."

"What?"

Upon hearing this, Ji Min furrowed his brows. He inquired carefully, "How did he put it? When did it happen, and who pushed him?"

In principle, a therapist should maintain confidentiality about their patient's information.

However, when signing the agreement, Lu Ran had no objections to Ji Min's right to know.

As such, the doctor saw no reason to hide anything.

Lu Ran wouldn't bring up these matters on his own initiative.

The doctor only mentioned it because she recalled the story Lu Ran had shared before.

A child who went missing, only to find upon reunion that his family favored the adoptive son who had taken his name and identity. He was constantly plagued by this impostor, even being shoved into an icy pool one winter day.

Despite witnessing everything, the family members remained steadfastly on the side of their adopted son.

The first time Lu Ran recounted this story, he didn't mention that it was his own.

But his background is no longer a secret and can be easily guessed.

Thus, the doctor inquired about the young man's experience of being pushed into the pool.

As Lu Ran answered the question, he was basking in the warm embrace of the sun's rays.

The youth turned his head to gaze out at the street scene, remaining silent for a long while before uttering just two words:

"It hurts a lot."

The pool water was icy cold, piercing to the bone.

Struggling to ascend time and again, only to be pushed down repeatedly.

One would gradually lose strength in the water, fostering an overwhelming sense of despair as if one could never climb out.

In the end, he even forgot to struggle.

Ji Min looked down at the medical records in his hand.

His mind, however, was pondering the timeline of the incident.

Lu Ran was only acknowledged by the Shen family after he started university.

But by the time winter vacation came around, he already knew Ji Min.

Seemingly... there wasn't any time left for this event to occur.

Soaking in cold water during winter was no trifling matter.

Back then, Big Yellow was already being fostered by Ji Min, and Lu Ran would come over every day. If there had been anything amiss, Ji Min would definitely have noticed.

Yet, Ji Min also recalled that Lu Ran often found himself lost in thought by the swimming pool.

The Ji family had a pool in their backyard.

Yet Lu Ran would never draw near.

Before Ji Min could ponder further, the doctor retrieved another sheet from the medical record in his hand.

On the paper was a sketch drawn hastily with simple strokes.

Ji Min looked at the physician, who then said,

"This is the patient's self-portrait in a psychological context."

Ji Min lowered his gaze to examine the sketch.

In the drawing, a tiny figure was trapped within a rectangular frame.

After a moment of careful observation, Ji Min realized that the rectangle was intended to represent a bed.

What evoked a sense of oppression, however, was that the figure on the bed wasn't depicted in a state of rest.

Below the neck of the miniature person, numerous dense black lines crisscrossed, filling the space.

These lines resembled brutal slashes, cutting through flesh, yet also acted as invisible chains that bound.

Exiting the psychotherapy room.

Perhaps due to the self-portrait, Ji Min felt an overwhelming sense of oppression.

This painting might be difficult for the average person to comprehend.

But Ji Min had been wheelchair-bound before.

In an instant upon seeing the artwork, he grasped Lu Ran's intention.

The figure in the painting was trapped in a hospital bed, possibly due to illness... or... disability.

As the car hit the road, the driver inquired about Ji Min's next destination.

Ji Min informed his assistant, who directed the driver to the location prearranged by Shen Xingyu.

En route, Ji Min couldn't help but reminisce about his interactions with Lu Ran prior to his surgery.

Back then, Ji Min's temperament was indeed peculiar.

Especially when it came to how others treated his injured leg.

Yet, Lu Ran was the exception.

Whether it was the young man racing him through the parking lot in a wheelchair or occasionally poking at his leg to gauge his reaction, Lu Ran stood out.

Or perhaps it was that initial encounter with Lu Ran, when he had blurted out:

"It's better to be dead than completely paralyzed and unable to move."

Surprisingly, Ji Min didn't harbor any aversion to these sentiments.

One cannot fully empathize with experiences they've never had themselves.

A healthy, athletic teenager could never truly comprehend the suffering of someone confined to a wheelchair.

Even if sympathy arises, it is mostly grounded in imagination.

Yet, the impression Lu Ran gave Ji Min was entirely distinct.

Ji Min recalled the time before his surgery.

The youth grinned, teasingly comforting him, "Why, I'm quite the expert at taking care of someone who's completely paralyzed, you know..."

The car pulled up in front of a discreet restaurant, hidden from plain sight.

Ji Min's thoughts paused.

He got out of the car, and the attendant waiting outside immediately approached him proactively.

The attendant led him to the private room where Shen Xingyu was.

"Click."

Upon hearing the sound of the private room door opening, Shen Xingyu instantly looked up.

Upon seeing Ji Min, his gaze didn't linger and continued to drift towards the compartment outside. However, after Ji Min entered, he closed the door behind him and said, "I'm the only one who came." Shen Xingyu retracted his gaze without any trace of disappointment on his face. He had been looking forward to Lu Ran's arrival, but he was also well aware that Lu Ran wouldn't come. "Senior, it's been a while," Shen Xingyu said. If they were to count carefully, this was their first formal meeting since Ji Min had fully recovered from his leg injury. Ji Min nodded and picked up the menu beside him. "How is he doing?" Shen Xingyu asked. "Not too well," Ji Min replied.

Shen Xingyu paused, ultimately suppressing the desire to ask further questions.

For he knew that there was no point in doing so.

After hearing Shen Xingran's words, Shen Xingzhuo was deeply affected and did not return to the Shen family for several days.

Madam Shen secluded herself in her room the whole time.

Yet, Shen Xingyu remained unaffected.

He was self-aware and didn't need to be harshly criticized by Shen Xingran to recognize his own shortcomings.

But Shen Xingyu realized that he was even more hopeless.

Unlike Shen Hongyuan, Madam Shen, and Shen Xingzhuo, who mostly followed their instincts and emotions, they lacked a clear understanding of their actions.

Thus, when confronted with Shen Xingran's relentless revelation, they were devastated and unable to accept the truth.

He could have tried to argue, shifting the blame onto someone else.

But Shen Xingyu was different.

He had always been acutely aware of his actions.

He had chosen his family over himself.

And even when faced with the choice between his family and that child who would secretly peek at him in the study, he still chose his family.

Thus, on the day Shen Hongyuan hosted a banquet for Fang Chen, despite knowing full well that Lu Ran wasn't the one who pushed, he still slapped Lu Ran to quickly quell the situation.

Shen Xingyu was well aware of what he had chosen and what it would cost him.

He wasn't surprised by Lu Ran's subsequent distance.

Lu Ran had smashed cake into his face and forced him to eat all sorts of nonsense, but Shen Xingyu wasn't angry.

This was simply the price he had to pay for his choices.

He was well aware of this.

Thus, for Shen Xingyu, there was no room for regret.

Just like now, knowing full well that Lu Ran wouldn't come, Shen Xingyu still persisted with effort.

Only occasionally would emotions suppressed by reason resurface.

Prompting him to ask meaningless questions.

Shen Xingran's criticism that he was both a hypocrite and a coward was not unfounded.

Shen Xingyu sighed subtly, suppressing his emotions, and rationally weighed the pros and cons:

"The Shen Corporation is a decades-old establishment. Though it has encountered issues recently, it still holds value."

"Lu Ran taking over the Shen Corporation is the best choice. However, it wouldn't be beneficial for either the Shen family or Lu Ran if he were to do so impulsively. If Lu Ran chooses to collaborate with his family and issues a letter of forgiveness..."

Ji Min didn't respond to that.

The man looked intently at the electronic menu in his hand, then casually lifted his head to glance at Shen Xingyu, saying,

"I'm genuinely surprised that you're still putting in so much effort even up to this point."

Shen Xingyu paused.

He replied, "Someone has to do what needs to be done."

He was about to elaborate on the pros and cons, laying out the conditions.

Ji Min finished ordering and looked up, stating firmly, "You've known about the inheritance issue all along, haven't you?"

"Yes," Shen Xingyu admitted.

There was no point in hiding it.

At that moment, a knock came from the door of the private room.

The waiter entered and served the items Ji Min had ordered.

The first to arrive was a lemon sundae.

The waiter held the cup, ready to place it in front of Ji Min.

But Ji Min lifted his chin across the table, saying, "He's the one who ordered it."

Shen Xingyu was slightly surprised.

However, that wasn't the main point he was focusing on.

He was preoccupied with how to efficiently persuade Ji Min.

Once the waiter left, tranquility returned to the private room.

"Are you in strong support of your father's action to alter the will?" Ji Min continued to inquire.

Shen Xingyu fell silent for a moment.

He didn't express his own opinion, but said, "Under the circumstances back then, it was the best choice for both the company and the family."

Ji Min smiled. "But you lost your brother."

The words were like an invisible sword piercing through the air.

Shen Xingyu froze for an instant before quickly regaining his composure. He continued,

"How much turmoil would it cause to a company if all the shares were left to a missing child? You're well aware of that."

Ji Min responded, "He really liked you."

Shen Xingyu's lips quivered ever so slightly, and he pressed his mouth into a firm line.

"I can sense that he treated you differently from everyone else in the Shen family," Ji Min said.

Shen Xingyu lowered his gaze to study the dishes on the table.

Yet, he didn't order anything else.

Aside from the drinks, the only thing on the table was Ji Min's lemon sundae.

"He remembered that you liked rabbits," Ji Min said.

Shen Xingyu maintained his composure. "That was a long time ago."

He lowered his head and took a bite of the dessert in front of him.

The delicate scent of lemon wafted around, the only sweet flavor he could tolerate.

At that moment, Ji Min spoke again, "He also remembers that you like lemon-flavored ice cream."

Shen Xingyu's actions froze.

His brows knitted deeply.

On his usually calm and rational face, resembling that of a robot, a faint trace of suppressed pain could barely be discerned.

Chapter 152: Power

Yang Shiming was so ecstatic that he was practically dancing with joy, resembling a blissful two-hundred-pound dog. It was too much for Wen Ying to bear, so she flew away to look for Boreas.

Not knowing how long they would stay in the human realm, Boreas conserved his puppet's magic power and was waiting patiently. The moment Wen Ying pulled him away, he had an unremarkable "as expected" thought without any ripples.

"Where are we going?"

Wen Ying turned her head. "You're not angry?"

Boreas was already numb and replied coldly, "Enjoy this month while it lasts."

Curious, Wen Ying looked at him. Weren't all Cerberus from the hellhound clan supposed to have short tempers? Well, it seemed like his temper had been worn down by Wen Ying, and it wasn't too difficult of a task.

"I feel like the academy will send out the return notice within the next day or two," said Wen Ying. "Anyway, there's nothing to do now, so let's just stroll around."

The two puppets flew high up in the sky, their bodies concealed by black fog, blending seamlessly with the dark clouds above at night.

From this height, Wen Ying overlooked the city where she grew up. From this perspective, the city below looked like a toy.

Wen Ying gazed down at the city illuminated by countless lights, a bold idea suddenly popping into his mind. If the Demon Realm and Human Realm were to truly connect in the future, he could expand his magic card business into the Human Realm.

Boros, standing beside him, watched as Wen Ying suddenly broke into an idiotic grin, a quirky smile that stirred an unexplained sense of alarm within him.

This guy probably wasn't thinking about anything good, considering Wen Ying had never been a decent person... except for when they first met, when Aruda's upbringing had confused Boros.

"Y-You like humans, don't you?" Boros blurted out.

Lost in envisioning his grand commercial empire, Wen Ying was startled by Boros' ambiguous question, responding with a mix of confusion and bewilderment, "Why would you ask that all of a sudden?"

Boros' voice was cold and detached, "I don't meddle in others' affairs, but I'm not stupid. Don't think I haven't noticed your recent actions."

Wen Ying blinked. To be honest, Boros sometimes reminded him of a Husky in his mind, a tireless creature that demolished everything in its path.

Boros was indifferent to most things that didn't concern him directly, but when it came to battles, his cold aura would be engulfed by a fiery passion, intense and fierce.

"This plan might seem detrimental to exorcists, but in reality, it equips more humans with the basic means to protect themselves," Boros paused, "You're preparing humans for a future where demons roam the Human Realm, accelerating their internal transformation."

Wen Ying was surprised that Boros delivered this statement without any trace of sarcasm. Boros' tone was one that simply stated the facts.

"Not of our kind, their hearts must differ," Beros said. "If you favor humans, I'll probably be the one to collect your remains in the future."

Wen Ying muttered softly, "You're exaggerating." Besides, he was a hybrid, not a pureblood.

Suddenly, Wen Ying's pupils constricted as his power within the Realm of Devils surged explosively. Countless demonic energies rushed into his main body, brutally pushing its strength to an absurd level.

However, the power surged too quickly, and his physical constitution couldn't keep up. Veins popped out, blood seeped from his seven orifices, and his originally fair skin now had visible red veins and cracks. Blood oozed out, making him appear as if he were soaked in blood.

Although only his consciousness resided in the puppet, it was still affected. Wen Ying curled up in discomfort. The sensation was like overeating and continuing to eat until his stomach felt like bursting. Even moving made him feel nauseous.

Beros noticed something was amiss with Wen Ying and flew over to grab his arm, preventing him from falling mid-air. "What did you consume? Why is your power increasing rapidly?"

This commotion was rather loud, and there was no guarantee that exorcists wouldn't detect it. Beros flew Wen Ying to the rooftop of a skyscraper and opened a barrier nearby.

Wen Ying curled up tightly, inwardly cursing. This power came from the Blood Tree. That guy must have consumed something he shouldn't have.

Wen Ying grumbled mentally but lacked the strength to speak. His mind was in chaos when a thought flashed through his head. The Blood Tree was a dark art, feeding solely on blood and flesh. For his power to surge so drastically, the Blood Tree must have consumed an astonishing amount of blood and flesh.

It couldn't hunt on its own, so the blood and flesh were likely provided by Aluda. However, even Aluda wouldn't recklessly kill a large number of devils. The source of this blood and flesh was most probably from the extremist faction that was eradicated in the Realm of Devils recently.

There is a kind of hunger called "Grandmama thinks you're hungry."

Wen Ying clutched himself in agony. Aluda was still feeding him, yet he was already overly full. Grandmama, can't you take a look at my true form before force-feeding me?

Silent, Wen Ying gave no clue as to why his power had surged and was still increasing rapidly.

In his daze of pain, Wen Ying caught sight of Poros's envious gaze. He couldn't hold his breath and fainted.

Poros: "?" Wen Ying's expression just now was peculiar.

As Wen Ying passed out, the uncontrolled magic within him gradually calmed down, slowing its growth. Within minutes, it settled.

Wen Ying woke up to find Poros staring intently at his face with a solemn expression, as if studying some secret martial arts manual.

Never had Wen Ying seen such a "passionate" gaze from Poros, which left him stunned into silence.

It was Poros who noticed his awakening and asked eagerly, "What did you do to make your power surge so quickly? I initially thought it was temporary, but this power has merged with you and hasn't vanished."

Wen Ying pushed away Poros's face, which was too close for comfort. He pressed his hand on the back of his neck, twisting his neck as he spoke, "I thought you were falling in love with me, judging by the way you looked like you wanted to merge with me just now."

Boros shuddered at the cheesiness and took a swift step back, creating distance between himself and Wen Ying.

Wen Ying raised an eyebrow. "Is it really that bad?"

In the end, the allure of power triumphed over the disgust of sentimentality. Boros drifted closer, albeit cautiously, ready to retreat at any moment. "How did you do it?"

"Not even a little concerned," Wen Ying sighed wistfully. "I suppose Aruda must have done something to my original form."

"Aruda?" Boros was momentarily taken aback. Had she created another new potion?

Wen Ying stood up and stretched, still haunted by the sensation of his body about to burst before he blacked out. Even the slightest touch now caused him phantom pain.

"I'm not entirely sure," Wen Ying said. "How long was I unconscious?"

Boros decided he would pay Aruda a visit after they returned. As he thought this, he casually replied, "Almost a day."

It was night outside, and he had been out for nearly a full day since last evening. Wen Ying hadn't expected to be out for so long.

"Has there been any news from the academy?"

"Not yet."

Yang Rixi pushed the door open and approached with an "Ah" sound. "You're awake?"

Wen Ying nodded and looked at his clothes. "Did you attend a party?"

Yang Rixi nodded. Behind him, Yang Shiming squeezed in, closed the door, and immediately began to chatter away. "We went to a gathering within our circle tonight. Man, those guys didn't even go to the Magic Academy; they went straight to the Exorcist School. A few of my arch-enemies were there, rubbing it in that once they graduate, they'll be on a whole different level than me. They warned me to watch out and not provoke them, otherwise they could squash me with just one finger."

"Tch, so what if it's the Exorcist School? What's so great about it?" Yang Shiming said sourly. "Not everyone who graduates from a prestigious school is elite. There are those who earn only three or four thousand too."

Wen Ying opened his mouth, wanting to say that Yang Shiming's envy was practically overflowing.

"Was that girl there that day?"

Yang Shiming was puzzled. "Which day, which girl?" It was the first time the silver-haired demon had shown interest in a human girl for some reason.

"The one who broke up with her cheating boyfriend on her own initiative."

Yang Shiming suddenly understood. "You mean Wen Xinxin? She also attends the Exorcist School. I've heard that she has a high aptitude for magic."

A demon hybrid attending an exorcist academy — Wen Ying's mood suddenly turned peculiar. His mother should have informed Wen Xinxin about their family's hybrid status, so why would Wen Xinxin choose to go to an exorcist academy?

The image of Wen Dingjue learning the truth and immediately fleeing to an uninhabited island in the dead of night flashed through Wen Ying's mind, making him chuckle.

"Mr. Demon, what are you laughing about?" Yang Shiming replayed his previous words in his head but found nothing amusing.

Wen Ying shook his head. "Nothing, just remembered something."

Wen Xinxin had always been strong-willed and brave, so it wasn't entirely unacceptable for her to still attend the exorcist academy despite knowing the truth.

His aunt had given birth to twins. The elder sister took her mother's surname, becoming Wen Xinxin, while the younger brother took his father's surname, Yan Jieming. The sister studied at Mu City University, while the brother attended a university elsewhere.

Wen Xinxin was daring, whereas Yan Jieming was timid, the complete opposite. When they visited haunted houses together in the past, Yan Jieming had cried from fear multiple times. Wen Ying hadn't entered because his body couldn't handle the stimulation; he had watched them play instead.

Recalling this, Wen Ying belatedly realized that he could now enjoy thrilling rides at amusement parks. However, he then remembered that he was now a puppet and still unable to participate. His spirits, which had just been lifted, sank again, and his expression became listless.

A mass of black fog flew in through the balcony, instantly putting Yang Shiming and Yang Rixi on high alert. Their magical energy stirred within them, ready to cast a defensive spell at any moment.

"Don't worry," Wen Ying raised his hand, and the black fog drifted into his upward-facing palm. "There's no danger."

Within the dark mist was an envelope, and there was one for Beros as well. He simply reached out and grabbed it.

Wen Ying opened the envelope to reveal a letter bearing the academy's seal.

It was impossible to forge a magical realm's seal, for it carried the aura of its owner's magic.

"We should leave now," Wen Ying said after reading it. Fire ignited in his palm, burning the letter to ashes.

Yang Rixi and Yang Shiming were surprised. Yang Rixi sounded reluctant as he asked, "So soon?"

He rather liked this silver-haired demon. Compared to calling him a demon, he felt that angel was a more fitting name. An angel who had saved his life.

Yang Shiming couldn't quite describe his feelings. He had been longing for the departure of that cold and terrifying black-haired demon, but now that he was about to leave, he felt a sense of loss.

If he were to be honest, it was probably the thrill. It was something that others didn't have, but he did – a little secret that made his heart race.

"Can I contact you in the future?"

Wen Ying was taken aback. "Huo Jue would love nothing more than to send my companion away forever, yet you want to keep in touch with me."

Yang Rixi smiled and said, "I think you're a good demon."

Wen Ying touched his nose. "I think so too, even though you're the first person to call me that."

Beros: "..." Go tell that to Lan Jiaying and the others.

After bidding them farewell, Wen Ying returned home once more to inform his parents about his journey back to the Demon Realm. As his consciousness gradually withdrew from the avatar puppet, he felt as if he had been on a long journey, disoriented and nauseous upon waking up.

Wen Ying sat up slowly, only to realize that something was amiss with his body. He felt unwell, but in an unusually robust way. Wen Ying sensed an abundance of strength within him, and his body felt incredibly light.

Looking at his clenched fist, he inexplicably felt that one punch could shatter the ground. He picked up a decorative item from the bedside table and effortlessly broke it in half with a gentle twist, his eyes widening in shock.

Exiting his room, he hurriedly sought out Aluda. After searching for him inside the castle without success, Wen Ying ran outside to the garden, where he found Aruda. Little Bai rushed towards him, and upon contact, Wen Ying noticed that the pup had grown significantly, yet the impact felt less intense than before.

"Not that Little Bai's impact has decreased, but his strength has increased," Wen Ying said as he carried Little Bai over to the matriarch. "Grandmatriarch, what did you feed the Blood Tree? I almost felt like I was going to burst."

Aluda held a watering can and turned around, examining Wen Ying before chuckling. "Not bad, your strength has grown significantly."

Wen Ying ventured a question. "Grandmatriarch, did you feed the Blood Tree with the corpses of those extremist party members?"

Aluda nodded. "Lennach led the operation this time and eradicated many of the extremists. I asked for some magic potions and requested him to bring back the corpses without mentioning the Blood Tree. To the public, I said it was for research purposes."

Wen Ying cautiously inquired, "How many did you feed?"

Aluda chuckled. "Not many, just around a hundred corpses."

Wen Ying almost leaned back tactically. He wiped the imaginary sweat from his forehead and forced a smile. "A hundred seems like quite a lot."

"There were actually quite a number more, but I only asked Lennach to bring back the stronger ones. The weaker ones weren't needed."

No wonder his power had surged to the point of near-overload.

Wen Ying recalled the events from a few days ago and said solemnly, "Grandmother, is the barrier between the Human Realm and the Demon Realm really that fragile now? The Extremists were actually able to transport so many low-ranking demons into the Human Realm the other day."

"Before, it was still manageable, but after they opened the teleportation portal, it's weakened," Aruda replied. "Although the portal is closed now, it's affected the entire barrier. There are small cracks everywhere, and demonic energy from the Demon Realm keeps pouring into the Human Realm. Over time, these cracks will expand, and the current barrier won't last much longer."

"The more demonic energy there is in the Human Realm, the stronger exorcists as a whole become, and the rules won't mend the barrier's breaches."

Wen Ying was startled. He had initially thought it was just a one-time teleportation, but he hadn't expected there to be a subsequent plot with irreversible consequences.

"Grandmother, how are the Demon Lords dealing with this matter?"

Aruda continued watering the flowers. "For now, they're stepping up their efforts to capture the Extremists in the Demon Realm."

"Nothing else?" Wen Ying was perplexed. "Nothing to deal with the imminent openness of the Human Realm?"

The term "openness" was indeed fitting for the demons. To them, the Human Realm was like a playground.

"We'll see when the time comes. Anyway, we still have some time," Aruda said nonchalantly. "Humans would never dare to come to the Demon Realm anyway."

"Go take a look at the Blood Tree. It's looking very beautiful now," Aruda changed the subject to something more personal.

Wen Ying approached the location of the Blood Tree, and before his very eyes, he never imagined it would be so enchanting.

The Blood Tree had already grown into a towering giant, reaching about six or seven stories high. Its branches were silver-white, emitting a faint glow, and within them, one could discern tiny, silver-white fruits that seemed to blend seamlessly with the tree itself.

Wen Ying flew up and gently cupped one of the fruits in his hand for a closer inspection. The fruit resembled a tiny, humanoid ginseng, bearing the outline of a human form, brimming with magical energy.

The branches of the Blood Tree swayed softly, brushing against Wen Ying as if caressing him.

Following an intuitive sense, Wen Ying flew to a hidden fruit nestled deep within the tree. Perched on a thick trunk, he studied it intently.

Others might not perceive it, but Wen Ying knew this was another "him." It was the crucial link to his spirit's transference and resurrection after death.

He gently stroked the small fruit and whispered tenderly, "Grow well, my dear."

After spending some time observing the tree, Wen Ying went to the academy to retrieve his clone puppet replica.

On his way, he encountered several classmates, some who had just finished collecting theirs and others who were about to. Wen Ying greeted them warmly.

The distribution point was in their classroom. When Wen Ying entered, Feng Luo was surrounded by a few devils.

"Where were you teleported for your final exam, Wen Ying?" Scarlet turned to ask as he caught sight of him.

Wen Ying replied, "Mu City."

Scarlet's eyes widened instantly. "Mu City?!"

Confused, Wen Ying asked, "What's the matter? Why such a big reaction?"

With an envious gaze, Scarlet said, "You're so lucky. You could stumble upon several Extremists just wandering around Mu City, let alone after the teleportation magic activated. Finding Extremists in Mu City is as easy as picking vegetables in a market."

Wen Ying's eyebrows curved up, and he spoke with a hint of smugness, "Luck is also a part of one's strength."

"Are the two of you still interested in the puppet copies or not?" Feng Luo's deep, impatient voice came from ahead.

Upon seeing that all the other demons had taken theirs, Wen Ying hurried forward, extending his hands obediently.

Feng Luo placed a puppet identical to the avatar Wen Ying used in the Human Realm into his palms.

The academy provided them with a pair of puppets – one for use, and the other functioning like a USB drive, storing the experiences and sights of the other puppet.

The final exam had no proctors; instead, the students' grades were determined by the recorded memories within this replica doll. Upon returning, they needed to extract the memory fragments related to their scores and submit them as answers. The Academy's demonic classroom would then assess their grades.

Wen Ying took the doll back and spent three days extracting all the relevant memory fragments. With the memory beads in hand, she went to the academy to submit them to Feng Luo.

The moment the memory beads were handed in, the final exam was considered over.

Since the doll couldn't eat, Wen Ying hadn't truly eaten for several days. After submitting the beads, she rushed to a famous restaurant in the capital city for a hearty meal, coincidentally running into Wu Fei and Lilith, two demons.

In the restaurant, Lilith, with her finger resting on her fork and chin on her hand, watched the two male demons devour their food at lightning speed. Her eyes shimmered with allure, as if she could grace the cover of any fashion magazine, seemingly in a different world from the focused and ravenous Wen Ying and Wu Fei.

Lilith picked up a glass of red wine beside her and sipped it gently, curiosity flickering in her eyes. "Are you very hungry?"

"We're not exactly starving, but after not eating for a few days in the human realm, everything looks appetizing now."

"Haven't you eaten since coming back to the demon realm?"

Wu Fei explained bashfully, "We were afraid we wouldn't make it in time to submit the memory beads, so we didn't eat much."

Ordinary humans might collapse after three days without food, but demons wouldn't.

Wen Ying adhered to the habit of three meals a day, even after becoming a demon, he never skipped them – if not three, then at least two.

Wu Fei was no different.

"So that's how it is," Lilith leaned slightly, her body turned sideways, exuding an alluring aura of leisure. "Wen Ying, did you know that several gambling games have opened up in the capital lately, all about you?"

Wen Ying paused in his eating, lifting his gaze in surprise. "What could they possibly be betting on? When I'll be killed by Berossus or when I'll catch up to him?"

With a teasing tone, Wen Ying spoke. But his smile vanished the next second as Lilith chuckled and teased him. "They're betting on whether you can maintain your first place in the ranking matches. If not, how many more rounds can you endure?"

Wu Fei suddenly recalled, voicing his concern. "Wen Ying, there are still four days left until the end of this semester's ranking matches."

Four days – the smile disappeared from Wen Ying's face, only to appear on Lilith's instead.

Lilith suggested, "Lord Wu Fei, I advise you to give it a try as well."

Wu Fei hastily shook his head. "I'm definitely not up for it. With no limit on one demon challenge per day during these last few days, I dread the thought of a marathon battle."

Lilith narrowed her eyes slightly. "Lord Wu Fei, as a prince of the Demon Realm, you shouldn't easily utter the word 'fear.'"

Wu Fei shrunk back. "I forgot again."

"Wen Ying patted his shoulder. "You've been through a lot too."

Lilith observed him. "How can you be smiling now?"

Wen Ying continued to eat while speaking. "I just remembered something I had forgotten, and that's why I'm smiling."

"What was it?" Wu Fei was full of curiosity.

Wen Ying held up his index finger to his lips. "A secret."

Lilith propped her chin on her hand. "Boys do love their secrets, don't they?"

The deadline for the memory beads was within three days. The next morning, on the second day after Wen Ying submitted his, the scores were released, and Wen Ying ranked first.

Along with the announcement of the scores, the Lucifer Demon Academy disclosed the final exam content for Class One. Unlike other classes, which would have their exams in the Demon Realm, Class One's would take place in the Human Realm.

The students of the Lucifer Demon Academy were surprised by this result. Wen Ying had come in second during midterms, yet he took first in finals? Rumor had it that Muershi, Beros, and the others were also in Mu City—how did Wen Ying manage to secure the top spot?

It was truly astonishing, no matter how one thought about it.

Each devil's memory bead was stored in the archive room. Many devil students flocked to the archive to examine Wen Ying's memory bead. Upon watching it, they fell silent.

If Wen Ying had ranked second in the mid-term exam due to his and Muershi's provocative actions that stirred up the devils' excitement, then this final exam could only be attributed to... pure luck?

From beginning to end, Wen Ying's journey had been smooth sailing. Whenever he felt tired, someone would bring him a pillow for support. Disregarding everything else, just the fact that he closed the teleportation portal by simply breaking an object had greatly boosted his score.

For Wen Ying, luck could be said to be a part of his fortune, but it could also be considered as a display of his ability. Among the two, luck seemed to have played a more significant role.

"I refuse to believe that this guy, Wen Ying, can still rank first in the ranking match!" a student declared firmly.

"If he ranks first again, I... I'll... Anyone who calls the Mirror Devil trash, I'll beat them up!"

Chapter 198 - Teach?

Some feelings had already taken root, but one knew the chaos of the world and the young age of this body, unwilling to nurture them. The other remembered the promise made and found Sang Luo impeccable, not daring to pursue her without her consent. Simply being together every day was like lying in a honeyed cloud, providing immense satisfaction.

Despite sharing meals, journeys, and a bed at night, with their faces close, it was always Sang Luo who held the reins on the boundaries between them.

Sang Luo was usually clear-headed. In this chaotic world and at her current age, she didn't dwell much. Deep down, she wasn't truly sixteen, and there were moments when she was captivated by men's allure. However, she would merely feast her eyes and quickly regain composure, leaving Jincheng blushing and his heart pounding.

Unexpectedly, today's accidental touch caused her heartbeat to falter for a moment. But soon, she felt at ease. It was natural to like Jinliang, and she didn't reject the vague affection. Instead, she welcomed it.

So... as long as she didn't provoke flames, following her heart was enough.

...

That night, Shen An and Shen Jin visited Chen Youtian's cave, while Shen Ning slept with Sang Luo.

Sang Luo and Jinliang were used to their daily routine, so the additional presence of Shen Ning didn't affect their comfort zone. With Shen Ning sleeping on the inner side of the bed, Sang Luo naturally took the outer side, closer to the couch.

In her perspective, it was a completely natural arrangement. Before Shen Ning's arrival, even if she started sleeping in the middle of the bed, nine times out of ten, she'd wake up on the outer side, with Jinliang on the couch within her line of sight.

In Sang Luo's world, this was a safe distance she had come to accept, though unbeknownst to her, it held a vastly different meaning for Shen Lie. If there were a flower in his heart, it would now be blossoming with joy.

The night was filled with pleasant dreams, but as they unfolded, they became too beautiful to be true. The plump and tender lips in his dream no longer fleetingly touched the back of his hand or wrist.

His fingertips brushed against them.

Shen Lie struggled to find words to describe the sensation. In the dream, it seemed real, but upon waking, he realized it was just a dream. Nevertheless, the tension, palpitations, longing, and delight in that dream were vividly clear.

As his eyes adjusted to the darkness, he turned to look at Sang Luo. On many previous mornings, he would awaken early, gazing at her sleeping face before she stirred. Back then, his focus was entirely on her, but today was different; his gaze involuntarily fell upon her rosy lips.

After a few breaths, or perhaps several dozen, the sensation beneath his fingertips still felt tangible. Shen Lie's throat rumbled, and he hastily closed his eyes, feeling disheveled.

...

Training had become an everyday routine outside the village. Running with weights around the forest's edge, which had been frequently cleared, took only three days for him to progress from gasping for air to reciting texts while running.

A little further away from the village, refugees who had escaped to the inner circle dwelled. Since autumn began, at least six families were known to have settled there.

Within the inner circle, there were two villages. One was the Outskirts Village where Shen Lie and his companions lived, and the other was the village centered around the Zhou family, which Shen Lie had helped establish. The newly arrived citizens, unable to form close-knit groups, would, driven by their instinct to survive, quietly observe for a while before choosing to settle near these established settlements.

Due to the large number of people, there were fewer beasts. Some seemingly upright neighbors started farming, raising chickens and rabbits – a stark contrast to those who relied on violence outside. Being closer to them brought a sense of relative security.

It was a paradoxical and challenging decision to make, wanting to rely on them yet not daring to let down one's guard. Thus, they settled at a distance they deemed safe, refraining from interfering with each other's territories. Whenever they crossed paths, a silent understanding emerged, as they would quietly detour around each other, forming an unusual bond.

This unspoken agreement persisted for some time until the neighbors noticed new developments in the settlement where young men often went hunting. At least the two closest households were aware of the changes.

They couldn't witness the training with sticks, blades, and arrows, but in the early mornings, before Shi DaLang led the young men out of the village, the commotion of Shen Lie and his disciples running with weights on their backs near the denuded hills close to the village was audible from afar.

Some were curious and listened from a distance, occasionally catching a glimpse when they shifted from one hill to another. No one dared to approach closely, perhaps out of respect for privacy. The side of those hills nearest to the village had been cleared of trees, making it difficult to hide. Any attempt to get too close would likely be detected.

...

On the fifth day of training, visitors arrived from outside the village – none other than Zhou LaZhi and his son, Feng DaLang and Feng ErLang, along with Gan ErLang.

It turned out that they hadn't seen anyone from Shili Village for over ten days. Although they knew that Shen Lie and his group usually went in another direction to avoid resource conflicts, it had been far too long since they last encountered them.

Gan ErLang and the Feng brothers had actual family ties there, so how could they not worry? Even Zhou LaZhi couldn't help but think about the kindness they had received. They were concerned that Shili Village might have encountered trouble. Shen Lie's group had previously informed Zhou LaZhi, Gan's brother, and the Feng sisters about their approximate location. Hence, their concern led them to search for the village.

The mountains were deep and the forest dense, but knowing the general direction and distance, it wasn't too hard to find a place frequented by people. As they approached, they couldn't see the villagers or the cave, but from a distance, they heard a chorus of shouted greetings.

Zhou Lazi and his companions paused in their steps, straining their ears to listen. It didn't sound like a fierce battle; it was too orderly. They quickened their pace, following the path that had been trodden, and when they reached the open area ahead, they were both stunned.

In a row, from shortest to tallest, they were all performing their stunts with staffs!

Goodness, forgive them for their lack of words; only their faces, filled with awe and admiration, could convey their emotions.

No wonder they hadn't seen Shen Lie and Sang Luo. One was now a coach, and the other was learning alongside – how could they have spare time to visit them?

Today, Zhou Lazi had brought out his second son. The father-son duo, witnessing this scene, swallowed their saliva in unison.

Back when they were still in the Ten Mile Village, they knew that Shen Lie would lead a group of familiar young lads to practice before dawn, running and teaching them hunting skills. Now, they found out that he also taught such a staff technique, and that young men, adolescents, and even young women were all learning martial arts?

Not to mention the Zhou father and son, even Feng's brothers and Gan Erlang were stunned.

These were all people who had endured hardships to get here. They couldn't help but admit that a fleeting thought had crossed their minds — how impressive, how envious, how it should be so!

Shen Lie had already seen them. He had just finished more than half of his practice session, so he asked Xu Wenqing to lead the final few moves while he went to greet them.

"Auntie Zhou, why are you here?"

Zhou Lazi was still staring in astonishment, but most of the children recognized them. However, seeing them perform their staff techniques with such vigor and spirit was a completely different sight from what they were used to in the village.

Upon seeing Shen Lie approach, they turned their attention back to him upon hearing his question. "We haven't seen you all for over ten days, and we were genuinely worried. So, we came to check on the situation."

Shen Lie smiled and replied, "Da Shan took a group out for hunting and gathering, while I've been keeping the others occupied with training. That's why we didn't manage to venture out."

"Oh, I see."

With this explanation, Zhou Lazi and the others understood. When they went out for gathering, the village needed capable hands left behind.

While Zhou Lazi conversed with Shen Lie, Feng Da Lang, Feng Er Lang, and Gan Er Lang couldn't take their eyes off the group practicing staff techniques, especially Xu Wenqing, who led the practice. His movements were so swift that the staff seemed to leave afterimages, and the power he exerted could surely bring instant pain to anyone with ill intentions.

Envy was almost tangible.

Before anyone could say more, Xu Wenqing finished the final move and called out, "Master, now that we've completed this set of staff techniques, should we continue?"

Shen Lie glanced back and said, "Take a break first."

The group of children cheered in delight.

Sang Luo found the situation amusing and, holding her long staff, she walked over to greet Zhou Lazi.

Zhou Lazi observed her efficiency and noted that despite the chill in the mountains, Sang Luo's cheeks were flushed, and a fine sheen of sweat glistened on her nose. He praised, "Impressive skills, Ah Lie's wife. You're skilled with both the bow and arrow, and this staff as well."

Sang Luo chuckled, acknowledging that innate talent mattered. Her proficient moves were the result of half an hour of private training with Shen Lie by the cave entrance each night for both her and Shen Ning. She replied, "Your compliments are too much. I still have a long way to go; my skills are mere superficial. I need more practice before I can truly defend myself."

Addressing Feng DaLang and the others, she continued, "Those of you who stayed in the village should also start training when you have time. Peace won't last forever within the inner circle. Once outsiders start flooding in, some unwanted elements will follow."

Feng DaLang responded, "Indeed, every household is practicing archery, but mostly young men and boys around fourteen or fifteen."

Women and children were not part of these trainings. Unconsciously, they were considered the ones to be protected. Now, looking at Shen Lie's group, the youngest one training was...ten years old?

Zhou Lazi knew about Shen Jin, who was nine.

Observing Sang Luo and the others, Zhou Lazi vividly recalled their first hunting trip with Shen Lie. Sang Luo had climbed trees with ease, and she was the one who had killed a wolf. Now, she was not only practicing archery but also staff techniques. Zhou Lazi decided not to dwell on the staff training for now, unsure who could teach it. However, he made a mental note to at least teach his two daughters how to shoot arrows.

Hearing Feng DaLang's words, Sang Luo commented, "Archery is useful at a distance, but it becomes ineffective when someone gets too close."

She glanced at Shen Lie, who understood her concerns. The villagers from the outer village had deep ties with their community, and he naturally wished for their well-being. Thus, he asked Feng DaLang and the others, "Are you interested in learning this staff technique?"

A blade requires a weapon, but a long staff can be readily sourced from the surrounding mountains.

Feng Da Lang's eyes gleamed with excitement. "You're willing to teach us?"

Jin Lie chuckled. "Sure, but..."

With the valley in existence, it wouldn't be advisable to have too many people coming over frequently. He pondered for a moment, then his gaze fell on Gan Er Lang and the others. "I've taught the three of you before, so let it still be the three of you. Learn from me first, and then teach the others when you're proficient."

There was no way they would refuse such an offer. The trio was overjoyed and eagerly agreed.

Da Niu and Er Niu had already seen their uncle earlier. Upon overhearing the conversation, Da Niu chuckled and joined in. "Uncle, if that's the case, you'll need to become a disciple as well. We've all formally taken on a master."

Er Niu, mischievous as he was, wriggled his way to Gan Er Lang's side, still grinning. "Uncle, does that mean I should call you Senior Apprentice Brother?"

Smiling, Gan Er Lang playfully rapped his nephew on the head. "You think you can take advantage of your uncle's words?"

Though he playfully scolded his nephew, Gan Er Lang turned to Jin Lie seriously. "Da Niu is right. A formal apprenticeship should be conducted. I'll prepare the necessary gifts for the ceremony tomorrow."

The Feng brothers nodded in agreement. "We'll also formally become your disciples. Now that we think about it, we've learned a lot from you, yet we've been disrespectful by not following proper etiquette."

Shen Lie had grown accustomed to the playful antics of the young men, even Wei Qinghe now affectionately addressed him as Master with a smile. He took it in stride, chuckling as he replied, "Prepare your own staffs; I'll be teaching you some military academy techniques which aren't too difficult to grasp. The key lies in practice - agility, speed, strength, and some skills. I'll explain more when we meet tomorrow. For the first few days, one hour of training here should suffice, then you can practice on your own for the rest of the time."

The Feng brothers and Gan Erlang eagerly agreed. Gan Erlang examined the staffs held by his nephews, assessing the quality of the wood before returning them.

They had initially come to check if anything untoward had occurred, but unexpectedly ended up finding a teacher – a delightful surprise.

With the main discussion concluded, Feng Da took down the basket he had been carrying on his back and pulled out two bags, handing them to Shen Lie and Sang Luo. "We picked some walnuts and jujubes. Try them. And take this other bag to my sister; let her, the children, and your parents-in-law have a taste."

He made no inquiries about not seeing Feng Liu or Lu Po.

This item wasn't exclusive to the Feng family; both Gan Erlang and Zhou Lazi had brought some along as well. Like Feng Dalang, Gan Erlang gave one portion to his nephew to take back home and another to his master, Shen Lie.

Zhou Lazi also had two bags, and he chuckled as he said that one was for Shen Lie and Sangluo, while the other was for the Chen family.

Sangluo felt the skillfully woven rush bags. "Is this Auntie's work or Gege's?"

Zhou Lazi scratched his head and laughed. "Gege wove these."

Sangluo broke into a smile, praising his craftsmanship. "Alright, Auntie Tian and the others went to gather them too. I'll give it to her later."

Taking the items, she turned to Shen An and asked him to put them back in the cave.

Zhou Lazi, however, didn't leave. After hesitating for a moment, he said, "A-Lie's wife, can you and A-Lie come with me for a private conversation?"

Sang Luo was slightly surprised but still nodded. Naturally, Shen Lei followed as well. When they were a safe distance away, Shen Lei spoke up, "Uncle Zhou, what's the matter?"

Zhou Lazi felt a bit awkward. He turned to Sang Luo and said, "It's about that tuber you mentioned before. It should be ready to harvest now, right?"

Sang Luo was taken aback for a moment before nodding. "Yes, it should have been ready to dig up more than ten days ago. Uncle Zhou, haven't you harvested it yet?"

The use of 'you' in her question had already given away the answer Zhou Lazi wanted. Scratching his head, he replied, "No one else knows if this thing is edible. You're the one who taught us. I just wanted to ask if we need to avoid others while digging it. We haven't seen you come over, so we haven't dug any yet."

It wouldn't be easy to hide the digging process from others. Without Sang Luo's approval, Zhou Lazi hadn't dared to dig them on his own.

He was truly sincere.

Sang Luo had assumed that after teaching them, the Zhou family would harvest the tubers themselves when the time came. The Zhou family digging the tubers wouldn't escape the notice of the other hundred villagers, and soon everyone would know. Therefore, she didn't bother going there again to teach them. Before the Wang Chunniang incident, she and Shen Lei had already dug nearly a hundred catties.

Then came the conflict within the Lu family, Shen Yin's illness, and the training sessions. They couldn't go out, and Sang Luo had completely forgotten about it. In her mind, there was no need to deliberately remember something that had already been taught.

"Uncle Zhou, you can dig them up. Also, teach the others in your village how to dig and plant them. This way, you won't be lacking next year."

Joy wrinkles formed on Zhou Lazi's weathered face, and he eagerly replied, "Yes, yes, of course. I'll go back and teach them right away."

Sang Luo had an idea and said to Zhou Lazi, "Actually, apart from our two villages, there are quite a few people scattered in the mountains around the inner perimeter. Whether it's you, Uncle Zhou, or anyone else in your village, if you come across someone who seems honest, you can teach them about the fairy tofu, konjac, and this yam—how to eat and cultivate them all."

"We don't have much here except for abundant mountains and forests. How many people from Qiyang County, who narrowly escaped death, sought refuge in these mountains? Sometimes, not lacking food can prevent a lot of evil. As a result, everyone will be safer, don't you think?"

Inherently wicked people were actually in the minority. If one could rely on the mountain's resources to fill their stomachs and cultivate crops on the hillsides, how many ordinary people would choose to plunder and burn?

Zhou Lazi paused in his listening, then nodded in agreement. "That makes sense. Alright, I'll let everyone know when I get back."

Given the chance to survive, most people would prefer to be human rather than malevolent spirits. How many people were left in Qiyang County? Subtracting those taken captive and those who had hidden in the mountains early on to preserve their lives, plus the few who managed to escape from the county, could there possibly be two thousand survivors?

Even Shen Lie found it hard to believe such a number.

Chapter 62: This Seat Arrives at Ancient Linan

Mo Ran and the others soon began their cultivation. Of course, collecting feathers was his most enthusiastic task. After all, he didn't expect to learn much from these former defeated foes. Living a good life was the main priority.

Every day before dawn, they would rush to the Ancestral Abyss to snatch golden feathers. Then they would go to Zhurong Cave for meditation, using their inner spirit energy to resist the scorching sun of Zhurong Cave and improve their cultivation. After two hours, they would study with the Feathered people on how to control ghosts.

Another two hours were spent in the Arena of Asura, sparring against each other.

Before nightfall, they would go to the Star Gazing Cliff in Peach Blossom Spring to listen to Miss Eighteen explain the "Hundred Ghost Catalog" and "Exorcism Formula."

Of course, Mo Ran's favorite time was listening to scriptures at the Star Gazing Cliff at night, as it was the only lesson that gathered cultivators from three different specialties.

He knew Shi Mo wasn't good at lightness kung fu and worried about him not having enough to eat, so he divided half of the feathers he collected every day for Shi Mo's use. However, aside from this, there was little chance for him to interact more with Shi Mo. Instead, he spent most of his time with Chu Wanning, gradually becoming inseparable.

During this period, Chu Wanning often sat on the bridge railing blowing leaves while Mo Ran sat beside him, propping his chin up and listening to the sunrise and sunset, the clouds rising and falling.

Or Chu Wanning would stand by the river feeding the fish, while Mo Ran stood next to him holding an umbrella, watching the colorful carp leap and the green waves sparkle with golden scales.

When it rained in Peach Blossom Spring, Mo Ran held Chu Wanning's hand, and they strolled together along the old, cracked bluestone path, a paper umbrella held straight above their heads.

When the water accumulated too deeply, Mo Ran would carry his junior brother on his back. The raindrops pattered, and the little guy would lie quietly on his shoulder, seldom speaking.

Occasionally, when Mo Ran's back grew warm with exertion, beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Then, his taciturn junior brother would silently wipe them away with a handkerchief. The cloth was clean and simple, with a delicate peony embroidered in one corner. Mo Ran always felt a sense of familiarity, as if he had seen it somewhere before, but the fleeting thought was like a light rain falling into a deep pond, impossible to retrieve.

On this day, Chu Wanning rested in the courtyard, and Mo Ran, struck by a whim, untangled his hair and tied it into a high ponytail. As he combed through the hair, Ye Wangxi entered the yard, clutching his left shoulder with a slightly troubled expression.

Mo Ran, sharp-eyed, raised his eyebrows slightly. "Brother Ye is injured?"

"Mm," Ye Wangxi paused, frowning. "Just a minor injury from sparring. It's nothing. But that person was truly lecherous and despicable, deserving of contempt!"

"..."

Mo Ran stammered, hardly believing it. "Someone assaulted you?"

Ye Wangxi glared at him, his gaze sharp and cold. "What are you thinking?"

"Hahaha, just joking." Mo Ran laughed awkwardly, unable to resist his curiosity. "Who are you talking about?"

Ye Wangxi replied, "Who else? It's still that flirtatious fellow from Kunlun's Treading Snow Palace."

At the sound of this description, Mo Ran let out an "Ah," and thought to himself: Could it be him?

Lately, he had often heard the female disciples in Peach Blossom Spring whispering among themselves, constantly mentioning "Eldest Senior Brother" this and "Eldest Senior Brother" that. He could forgive the younger ones, but just the day before, he had seen a middle-aged female cultivator standing by a flower bed, lost in a trance with a dazed look on her face as she murmured, "There isn't a single man in this world who can match Eldest Senior Brother. If he could only truly look at me and speak to me, I would have no regrets even if I fell into hell."

Her infatuated and resentful demeanor had made Mo Ran burst out laughing on the spot. He suspected that the "Eldest Senior Brother" she spoke of was the same person he had in mind, but there were so many cultivators in Peach Blossom Spring, and they didn't interact much. He had only ever heard their names but never seen them in person. Besides, he felt too embarrassed to ask the female disciples for gossip, so he couldn't be sure.

"I was drinking at Spirit Lake Tower in the Western Market today," Ye Wangxi said, "and that bastard happened to be there as well. I saw him with two women in his arms, already quite debauched. But since they seemed to be willing participants, it wasn't any of my business, so I didn't say anything."

Mo Ran agreed, "Indeed."

"Yet later, a female disciple from Solitary Moon Night's sect rushed in, her expression fraught with anxiety as she looked around, clearly searching for someone."

Mo Ran smiled and said, "She's looking for that 'Eldest Senior Brother,' isn't she?"

"You've heard about Eldest Senior Brother too?"

"Haha, if even an upright gentleman like you is aware of his amorous escapades, how could someone like me, who's well-versed in other people's affairs, not know?"

Ye Wangxi glanced at him silently and said, "That Eldest Senior Brother truly is no good. The female cultivator from Solitary Moon Night is searching for him because he had exchanged tokens of affection with her some days ago, promising to become dao companions and never part ways."

Mo Ran chuckled again. "That's something one shouldn't ever hear. I bet Senior Brother has at least seventeen or eighteen such tokens of affection, all the same. He gives one every time he pursues a girl; I doubt even his vows of eternal love vary much."

Chu Wanning, who had been listening quietly, finally spoke up. He shot a glance at Mo Ran, seemingly displeased. "How would you know?"

Unexpectedly, Ye Wangxi took Mo Ran's side. "Brother Mo is right; it's true. That female cultivator had a secret crush on Senior Brother already. After hearing him say that, she believed him and lost her virginity to him that very night."

Mo Ran winced. "Ouch." He hurried to cover Chu Wanning's ears.

Chu Wanning remained composed. "What are you doing?"

"Kids shouldn't hear this sort of thing; too much exposure isn't good for their cultivation."

Chu Wanning: "…"

After Mo Ran had covered Chu Wanning's ears, his eyes gleamed with anticipation as he asked eagerly, "And then what happened?"

Ye Wangxi was an upright man, so he couldn't have imagined that the despicable Mo Ran was interpreting his indignation as a lurid romance novel. He replied with righteousness, "What else could happen? Of course, Senior Brother didn't want to acknowledge it or get entangled with that female cultivator. When she produced the sword tassel token, he was hugging two other girls, each with a similar tassel. He said he gave them to friends, not just to his dao partners."

"Tsk tsk, that's truly shameless."

"Yes," Ye Wangxi replied. "I couldn't stand it, so I engaged him in debate."

His expression shifted slightly as he spoke. After a moment, he continued, "The debate didn't go well, and it turned into a fight."

Mo Ran smiled. "I see."

But inwardly, he thought: It probably wasn't that simple. If 'Eldest Senior Brother' truly was the person he suspected, then based on that individual's character, they wouldn't resort to violence over such a matter. Perhaps Ye Wangxi was feeling embarrassed and had left out some details.

Since Ye Wangxi didn't wish to elaborate, Mo Ran naturally wouldn't press the issue. He changed the subject. "Then Eldest Senior Brother must be skilled. An ordinary person wouldn't have been able to injure Brother Ye."

This only seemed to frustrate Ye Wangxi more. His dark eyes blazed with anger, like flames spreading across the night sky.

"Good? What's so good about it?" Ye Wangxi snapped indignantly. "With mediocre magic, relying solely on women to fight – what a disgrace!"

"Ah? Hahahaha." Upon hearing this, Mo Ran looked closer and noticed several intermittent bloodstains on Ye Wangxi's cheek in addition to the sword wound on his shoulder. Clearly, they were scratches from a woman's nails. He couldn't help but laugh so hard he stumbled. "Eldest Senior Brother truly lives up to their reputation, hahaha."

Chu Wanning remained silent. Ever since Ye Wangxi mentioned "the debate didn't go well, and it turned into a fight," he seemed lost in deep thought.

Once Ye Wangxi retreated to tend to his wounds, Chu Wanning spoke. "Mo Ran."

Mo Ran playfully smacked his head. "Call me Senior Brother."

"…" Chu Wanning said, "He was referring to Senior Brother Mei Hanxue, right?"

Mo Ran chuckled. "I think so."

Chu Wanning fell silent again, deep in thought.

Suddenly, as if he had figured something out, his eyes widened. "This Ye Wangxi, could it be that he was—"

"Shh! Be quiet!" Mo Ran placed a finger to Chu Wanning's lips to hush him, then crouched down to be on the same level as Chu Wanning and smiled. "What are you thinking at such a young age?"

"…I've heard before that Mei Hanxue is incredibly unreliable, having done all sorts of absurd things. I didn't expect he'd dare to do this to a Confucian Wind Sect disciple…"

Mo Ran laughed casually. "Hahaha, he's quite unreliable, indeed. But we shouldn't meddle in others' affairs. Come, let Senior Brother continue tying your hair. I saw a pretty hairpin on West Street earlier—it wasn't expensive, so I bought it. Let me put it on you and see how it looks."

Just as Mo Ran didn't appreciate Chu Wanning's taste, Chu Wanning also couldn't commend Mo Ran's preferences.

Staring at the flamboyant golden orchid butterfly hairpin shimmering with iridescent hues, Chu Wanning fell silent. "…Are you sure this is for me?"

"Yes, exactly. Children should have golden and red ones. Look, how lively it is."

Chu Wanning: "............"

Reluctant as he was, upon deeper reflection, this seemed to be the first time Mo Ran had ever given him something. Thus, Chu Wanning held his tongue, allowing Mo Ran to fasten the hairpin at the top of his ponytail. The golden orchid and butterfly shimmered vibrantly against Mo Ran's black tresses.

Chu Wanning lowered his eyelashes.

Suddenly, he found it rather nice.

This color, this Mo Ran, and this version of himself—none of it would exist once he regained his original body.

This butterfly seemed to have flown straight out of a dream.

Like fleeting white clouds and swiftly passing days, half a year had passed in the Peach Blossom Paradise.

According to Miss Eighteen, after this period, everyone would have to undergo tests set by the Feathered People to assess their progress in cultivation.

"This is the first trial that all of you will be undertaking since arriving here," said Eighteen during the gathering. "The trials are divided into three perilous realms, tailored to each individual's unique cultivation method. Guardians enter the 'Blood River Realm,' Healers enter the 'Great Compassion Realm,' and Aggressors enter the 'Asura Realm.'"

"These three realms are virtual landscapes reconstructed from memories dating back hundreds of years when the Ghost Realm invaded the human world. You will face no real danger within them. Once you resolve the crises within, you will return to Peach Blossom Haven."

"Each trial allows only two participants at a time, meaning that you may choose to challenge it alone or invite one companion. The order of the trials will be announced by the Celestial Envoys."

After the meeting dispersed, the trials began in earnest. Mo Ran had no idea how the Guardians and Healers were faring, but for the Aggressors, they had already tested six or seven people, all of whom had performed admirably. It seemed this trial wasn't overly difficult.

A few days later, it was Mo Ran's turn.

Eighteen oversaw the Aggressor cultivators, and she smiled slightly as she asked, "Does Lord Mo require a companion for this journey?"

Mo Ran pondered for a moment. "If I choose someone to accompany me, will they be exempt from the trial?"

"Certainly."

"In that case, I'll take my junior disciple with me." Mo Ran pointed at Chu Wanning. "He's young, and I won't be at ease leaving him on his own."

Under the bright moon, they followed Eighteen to the entrance of a dark cave, its mouth shrouded in a thin veil of golden-red mist.

Eighteen said, "Please listen carefully, Immortals. The Realm of Asura recreates the disastrous first breach of the Ghost Realm two hundred years ago. Back then, due to the delayed repair of the barrier, a large number of vengeful spirits and ghosts escaped to the mortal world, causing countless atrocities. This illusory realm is modeled after the memories of a survivor from Lin'an at that time. The moment you step into the cave, you will be transported to war-torn Lin'an two hundred years ago. If you slay the ghost king leading the troops, the illusion will break on its own."

Mo Ran glanced at Chu Wanning and then smiled at Eighteen. "Sister Fairy, I don't mind since I have thick skin, but my junior disciple is only six years old. If these weapons are ruthless and accidentally hurt him..."

"You don't need to worry," Eighteen replied. "No weapon in the illusory realm can truly harm either of you. If you sustain injuries, spiritual energy will automatically mark them. If it hits a vital spot, it means you've been severely injured or killed, resulting in failure of the challenge."

Mo Ran was relieved and clapped his hands, laughing. "I see. Sister Fairy, you've thought of everything. Thank you very much."

With his concerns alleviated, Mo Ran entered the cave alongside Chu Wanning for the trial. The cave was pitch black, and as soon as they stepped inside, they felt a sudden sense of weightlessness. Blurred images of colorful lights flashed before their eyes, followed by an endless stream of distorted human faces flowing beneath them like a river.

When the two landed on solid ground, they found themselves teleported to ancient Lin'an, standing at the entrance of an old road outside the city. It was midday, with the blazing sun casting a pungent stench of blood into the air.

The ancient city of Lin'an, where a hundred ghosts roamed the night two hundred years ago, unfolded before Mo Ran and Chu Wanning like a scorched scroll amidst the thick stench, slowly and tragically revealing its tale.

Author's Note:

Scene: "Different Choices in the Feathered Illusion Realm"

What outcome will the duo dungeon with Mo Ran and Chu Wanning bring?

No milk, failed attempt.

What is the outcome when Mo Ran and Shi Mo go on a two-player dungeon together?

No chance, the author forbids it.

What is the outcome when Mo Ran and Xue Meng go on a two-player dungeon together?

They argue until they end up competing in front of the boss to see who can sever their meridians faster.

What is the outcome when Xue Meng and Shi Mo go on a two-player dungeon together?

Standard setup, they can win.

What is the outcome when Xue Meng and their Master go on a two-player dungeon together?

Failed attempt, one DPS is constantly cheering the other DPS on from the sidelines.

What is the outcome when the Master and Shi Mo go on a two-player dungeon together?

The boss met its end at the hands of the unleashed Mo Ran, thus eliminating the existence of this particular dungeon.

Lin Shuicheng went through all the belongings in the house.

He hadn't brought much with him personally, as most of his items were in the workspace—around seven to eight boxes filled with documents, along with countless external hard drives, neatly organized in storage containers.

The rest consisted of storm glass and cat supplies that Chief was accustomed to using.

Chief was a small native cat with no particular talents. No matter how many cat toys or scratching posts were purchased for it, its favorites remained corrugated cardboard and a small steel basin, as well as a pillowcase it had punctured—during winter, Chief liked to curl up inside, pretending to be dead.

The clothes still on hangers, mostly untouched in their original packaging, were also sorted and placed aside by Lin Shuicheng. Although this house had been shared with Fu Luoyin, there weren't many items that truly reflected their cohabitation; Fu Luoyin was busy with work, and everything else was already in place. Even the framed painting on the living room wall was an undisturbed sample left over from when the property was first handed over, covered with a thin layer of dust protection film.

After organizing everything, Lin Shuicheng lay on the sofa, searching for rental properties near Star University.

Housing prices in Star City were generally high, and the area surrounding Star University was particularly expensive. He could have stayed in a graduate dormitory, but those usually accommodated two to three roommates.

Lin Shuicheng disliked living with others. During his four years as an undergraduate, his schedule never aligned with his roommates', and he never quite fit in. He would leave early and return late, spending his time in the library and laboratory, while his peers played games, dated, and socialized. They had few common interests, leading to inevitable conflicts.

After some searching, he found a professor from Star University selling an old campus staff allocation house. It was well-equipped and reasonably priced, but the location wasn't ideal—it was on the ground floor, situated in an older staff residential area where most units had already been rented out. The advertisement openly acknowledged the drawbacks: noise, dampness, poor lighting, and ventilation. The owner clearly wasn't skilled at photography, as the forty or fifty uploaded photos, though detailed down to every corner, presented a dull, outdated appearance, resembling a refugee camp. As a result, the property had gone unnoticed.

Please note: In Chinese culture, "Chief" is often used as a nickname for a cat, reflecting a close relationship between the owner and the pet. The term "storm glass" refers to a type of antique weather forecasting device.

Lin Shuicheng studied the listing for a while before arranging to view the apartment, planned for that very afternoon.

Once he called, someone answered promptly, "Looking to view the place? Are you a student from this university?"

"Yes, I'm a first-year graduate student," Lin Shuicheng replied.

"Oh, in that case, just swing by where I teach to pick up the keys. I have a class at 303 in Building One this afternoon. You can come straight in. If you have any questions after looking around, feel free to ask me anytime. You can leave the key under the pot by the door. The area is old and small, but it's quite secure. There's an AI system monitoring the entrance for any anomalies and it will alert the authorities if necessary."

The person left their department and name. After reading them, Lin Shuicheng was momentarily taken aback.

The landlord who was renting out the apartment turned out to be the author of the third article he had reviewed previously. His surname was Du, and his given name was Qingwu. He was a nearly sixty-year-old full professor in the Chemistry Department, specializing in metabolomics and proteomics research with his students, which dovetailed with the Medical School. Given its connection to analytical chemistry and mass spectrometry analysis, the paper had been assigned to Lin Shuicheng for review by Sinemora. The logic, experimental evidence, and innovative chain in the paper were impeccable. In many places, Lin Shuicheng had to spend a whole day researching to fully understand the content. This article truly sparked his keen interest in the work of reviewing manuscripts.

In a sense, this professor was also his mentor.

In the afternoon, Lin Shuicheng went to the academic building. As he passed by the quantum laboratory, he noticed that the research building remained sealed off.

He paused for a moment at the entrance, then proceeded to find Du Qingwu in the teaching building.

Du Qingwu embodied the classic scholarly demeanor often seen among older professors – refined and distinguished. He had produced countless achievements and nurtured generations of students. With years of experience, he no longer needed to hustle for funding and projects like many younger or middle-aged professors. He didn't take on undergraduate or master's students; instead, he only supervised doctoral candidates. His entire being exuded a calm, affable, and relaxed demeanor.

Lin Shuicheng retrieved the key during the break and happened to meet Du Qingwu. Afterward, he went to inspect the apartment.

The faculty residence was conveniently close to the third cafeteria. A few campus streets behind it led to the departments of mathematics, chemistry, and physics, while to the east were the art school and swimming pool. Lin Shuicheng observed that the room indeed had poor lighting, mainly due to the shading from the school's tree-lined path behind the building. Although other areas were worn out, as expected, they were significantly better than what the photos had depicted. The water and electricity were functional, and the air conditioning wiring showed some signs of aging. Lin Shuicheng took a glance and determined that he could fix it himself.

After examining the place for a while, he closed the door and locked it securely for Du Qingwu.

Instead of leaving the key under the flower pot, he returned to the academic building to personally hand back the key. He explicitly expressed his interest in renting the apartment and even printed out the initial lease contract from the rental platform, indicating his intention to rent for a year and a half.

Du Qingwu, evidently fond of simplifying procedures, seeing that Lin Shuicheng was a student of the university, waived the deposit and allowed him to take the key, saying he could move in at any time. "If you want to renew the lease after a year and a half, just let me know. If you're financially tight, there's no rush to pay the rent monthly."

Lin Shuicheng replied, "Thank you, Teacher."

A year and a half – the minimum academic years required for an early graduation in a master's program.

Quantum analysis wasn't difficult, nor was obtaining a degree. Previously, he hadn't planned on graduating early because he had other matters to attend to here.

From his backpack, Lin Shuicheng pulled out a set of keys – the ones he borrowed from Xu Mengmeng for the quantum laboratory. He had made a 3D replica of them.

Now that quantum computers were unusable across the entire alliance, these keys were rendered useless.

He tossed it into the trash bin.

In the evening, Fu Luoyin sent a message saying he had a mission to attend to and asked Lin Shuicheng not to wait for him to come home. After reading the message, Lin Shuicheng didn't reply but instead went to Lin Deng's hospital again.

Lin Deng's condition was as usual.

A nurse came over to record his data. After waiting for a while, Lin Shuicheng called her over. "Excuse me, is Doctor Yan Zi, the chief physician, available?"

The nurse replied, "Oh... I think Doctor Yan is on duty at the outpatient department today. Let me check for you..."

Just as the nurse finished speaking, Lin Shuicheng suddenly heard a familiar, clear voice. "Hey, Sister-in-law, you're here?"

Su Yu approached in a white lab coat, holding a small notebook in his hand.

Seeing him there, Lin Shuicheng was slightly surprised.

Scratching his head in embarrassment, Su Yu said, "My mom asked me to come intern here. I have a double major in medicine, specializing in neurology. Since I haven't found a suitable job recently, Mom dragged me here. For now, I'm just observing patients and learning from their data. What brings you here, Sister-in-law?"

Lin Shuicheng replied, "I want to inquire about transferring hospitals. Is it appropriate for Shuicheng to be transferred again given his current condition?"

Su Yu was taken aback. "Isn't it fine here? Why did Sister-in-law suddenly think of transferring him to another hospital?"

Lin Shuicheng replied, "It's still quite far from where I live. I want to transfer Etcetera to the affiliated hospital of Star University, so it'll be more convenient for me to visit and take care of him."

"Ahh... The affiliated hospital of Star University has good facilities and is indeed closer." Su Yu understood. He scratched his head. "But we might not be able to transfer him quickly for now. The machine we have here is the only one that can provide daily targeted neurological stimulation therapy for Etcetera. It would be a pity if the treatment were interrupted halfway through the course."

Lin Shuicheng said, "Etcetera..."

Su Yu guessed what he wanted to ask and informed him, "I asked my mom about Etcetera's condition before. Her opinion was that it might not necessarily be effective, but it also wouldn't worsen much. Etcetera is young, and the car accident didn't cause severe damage to any vital areas. His cellular activity and brain neural functions are better than most patients. Trying the treatment might not yield results, but not trying it at all will definitely yield none. If we transfer him to another hospital, they would only be able to maintain his basic life signs, which means buying time."

Lin Shuicheng took a deep breath. "I understand now. Thank you."

Lin Deng's medical expenses amounted to two million Alliance Credits annually. Previously, Lin Shuicheng had relied on the meager inheritance and pension left by Lin Wang, as well as loans, to make ends meet. After his second year, he joined a project team and also took on freelance work, such as consulting for the chemical industry, advising on clothing fabric and corporate procurement of raw materials. Synthesizing pharmaceutical intermediates and analyzing data for sequencing companies were also lucrative sources of income.

Back then, with each day consisting of twenty-four hours, his sleep schedule was perpetually inverted. He would seize any available moment to catch some rest, while every remaining second was devoted to earning money.

Occasionally, Lin Shuicheng feels that life is constrained by some invisible force.

Heaven had erected one transparent wall after another within his line of sight, placing him on the far side, gazing longingly at an entirely different world. Initially, that wall separated their dilapidated home in a southern town from the bright prospects that a clever child like him should have had since childhood. Due to lack of connections and direction, Lin Shuicheng was not permitted to skip grades; Lin Wang's promotions were repeatedly thwarted; in the examination for a research visit to the Old European branch, he scored a full fifty points above the second-place candidate, yet ultimately gave up due to being unable to afford the round-trip expenses. Later, that wall stood between the realms of life and death; here on this side, he beheld—through it—the glaring lights of the funeral parlor, the pouring rain and black cars at the cemetery entrance, and the pier that appeared night after night in his dreams, though he had never actually seen it in reality.

As if he was destined for this, worthy of nothing more.

Yet, he was acutely aware of another figure in his mind – a young boy walking with his father under the cold, starry sky, trudging through the snow.

He had grown up from that day, exposing the lies of adults. From that day, he had wanted to rebel.

Time and again, he collided against that transparent wall, bleeding and battered. If he stopped, the wall would remain intact, leaving no trace of his bloody efforts.

Lin Shuicheng calculated his finances.

In his senior year, he had paid off his bank loan and saved over six million for Lin Deng's treatment. He still had some savings left. His actual time with Fu Luoyin had been brief. Based on the rent of the apartment complex where Fu Luoyin lived, he estimated that their two months together had cost around forty-eight thousand.

After accounting for the clothes he had worn with tags removed and other miscellaneous daily expenses, he would still have enough to live comfortably. With the Quantum Analysis department temporarily suspended, he could take on more private projects during this period. Settling down at Star University, he could also start preparing his master's thesis ahead of time.

He could lead the normal, mundane life he could have had.

Lost in thought, Su Yu noticed his distraction and waved a hand in front of his eyes. "Shuicheng, how about I treat you to lunch later? The food at the hospital cafeteria is pretty good. Also, it's my mom's birthday next week. Would you like to come celebrate? Don't worry, there won't be too many people – mostly just those we know. I'm not sure if Negative Two mentioned it to you, but the invitations are still being made. I'll make sure Negative Two gives you one."

Lin Shuicheng was taken aback and asked softly, "When is it?"

Su Yu said, "Next Tuesday."

Lin Shuicheng whispered, "I might not make it, but I'll try my best to come."

Su Yu beamed. "Alright then! Come on, sis, let me take you to try the coconut chicken at the canteen first!"

Su Yu enjoyed his meal at the canteen, and after finishing half of the coconut chicken, he remembered to take a photo to send it to Fu Luoyin.

"Image 1: Coconut chicken from the Third Courtyard's canteen."

Fu Luoyin promptly replied, "Only you can savor the awful food at that trashy cafeteria in the third division."

Su Yu utterly disagreed, "It's actually delicious! Sister-in-law enjoys it so much!"

He sneakily glanced at Lin Shuicheng, who was attentively eating, and snapped a blurry photo to send to Fu Luoyin.

"Image 2: Sister-in-law eating coconut chicken"

Fu Luoyin responded with confusion, "Why is he with you?"

Su Yu explained, "Sis came to the hospital to visit Nainai, and I happened to be here for an internship under my mom's supervision, so we crossed paths."

"He's reserved and polite; perhaps he didn't want to hurt your feelings by saying it tasted bad," Fu Luoyin said. "Don't expose him to the culinary horrors of the third canteen. Remember to buy him some baozi when you go out." "You're abusing my partner, Su Yu. I'll remember that."

"Blimey! You're such a jealous dog, minus two! Just say it straightforwardly if you're feeling envious!" Su Yu vented his frustration with a multitude of exclamation marks to voice his protest. However, Fu Luoyin chose to ignore him.

Today, he had gathered information to rescue someone and planned to have a face-to-face discussion with He Muya to temporarily halt or revise the decree for the ongoing academic rectification. Despite encountering obstacle B4, he was determined to revive this plan with unwavering resolve.

Zhou Heng came over to deliver clothes and documents to Fu Luoyin. Upon seeing the spare uniform he was handed, Fu Luoyin suddenly seemed to recall something: "I haven't seen this outfit in ages. Where did I put it before?"

Zhou Heng replied, "It was the time Mr. Little Lin wore it out previously."

Fu Luoyin said, "Oh, you mean that time with Yi Shui?"

Zhou Heng pondered for a moment, "I don't think so. It was another occasion when you left your wallet with Mr. Little Lin as well. I had it dry cleaned and kept it in Section Seven for you."

Fu Luoyin couldn't recall the incident at first but reached into his clothes and discovered a wallet inside.

That jogged his memory.

Last time, Lin Shuicheng had grumbled to him, "I'm not you, I don't have as many phones as wallets."

Now it dawned on Fu Luoyin that this was the reason behind Lin Shuicheng's comment. He had stumbled upon different wallets in Fu Luoyin's clothes on two separate occasions.

Fu Luoyin took out the wallet and examined it, his expression subtly tensing.

His gaze fell upon a photograph nestled within the wallet.

It was a picture of Xia Ran.

Meanwhile, his phone rang. It was a message from Lin Shuicheng.

Fu Luoyin tapped to open it and found it was a concise message.

"When are you free? I'd like to talk to you about our separation."

Yet, why was she feeling so nervous?

Gu Changjin's subtle and unhurried gaze swept across her face before settling on her clear, dark eyes.

They were spotless, carrying a gentle and demure smile.

Gu Changjin tapped his long fingers against his leg, deep in thought.

Rationally, he shouldn't have agreed.

Madam Jin's body was currently resting in an inn at the outskirts of the city. Empress Qi had shown mercy by granting her a cypress coffin for a proper burial and allowed Li'er to escort the coffin to Daci'en Temple for a 49-day mourning period.

Daci'en Temple was a place where only royalty could hold funerals. Empress Qi had made an exception out of sympathy for Madam Jin's maternal love.

Li'er was staying in an inn not far from the inn tonight. Tomorrow morning, the inn staff would send her to the inn to personally accompany the coffin to Daci'en Temple.

Rong Shu had expected the man's silence.

In her previous life, when Li'er and Madam Jin were still in prison, Rong Shu had once asked if she could send them some food and clothes.

Back then, Gu Changjin had coldly refused.

This request today was far more unconventional than sending food or clothes; he would surely decline.

In truth, Rong Shu had no intention of meeting Xu Li'er.

She only wanted to use Gu Changjin's hand to save Xu Li'er.

Xu Li'er's death wasn't as straightforward as it seemed.

Everyone claimed she had hanged herself, but Rong Shu knew there was something suspicious about her demise.

If not for her intervention in the previous life, Xu Li'er might not have died.

Long ago, she had planned to make a request that Gu Changjin would reject. After he turned it down, she would propose a less outrageous one, and he would likely agree then.

That was how it always worked. Once he denied her one thing, he tended to acquiesce to the next.

Loosening her grip on the lamp handle slightly, Rong Shu sensed that the moment was ripe. The words she had mulled over for so long were almost on the tip of her tongue when the man in the green robe, with his stern expression, suddenly relaxed his brows and spoke softly:

"Chang Ji, prepare the carriage. I'm taking Lady out for a ride."

Chapter 23

The setting sun retreated, leaving behind the last vestiges of twilight.

The carriage rolled through the night, heading towards the inn outside the city gates.

Rong Shu held a wooden box in her arms, still somewhat in disbelief.

Gu Changjin had actually agreed?

He was... unexpectedly accommodating?

This was truly like a maiden sitting on a sedan chair for the first time.

She had intended to ask Gu Changjin to deliver the Ginseng Essence Pills to the inn on her behalf. Based on her understanding of him, once he refused her request to see Li'er, he would certainly agree to send the medicine for her.

To her surprise, he not only didn't refuse but also accompanied her personally.

Rong Shu lifted her gaze to glance across at him.

The man was still clad in his emerald green official robe, his head tilted as he gazed out the window. His cold jade-like face revealed no emotion.

Ever since they had boarded the carriage, he had maintained this position.

This aloof and reticent Gu Changjin was the one Rong Shu knew well.

Though they were silent, Rong Shu found contentment in their silence.

The corners of her lips curved slightly, her peach blossom eyes transforming into crescents, like the moon reflected on spring tides.

In her previous life, she had grieved for Xu Li'er's death for quite some time, feeling a profound guilt that she had indirectly caused Boren's demise.

On the night Xu Li'er took her own life, Gu Changjin had initially intended for Heng Ping to guard the inn on the outskirts of the capital.

Coincidentally, it was on that very night that she brought up Yang Xu's adopted son. Gu Changjin promptly went to his study, and half an hour later, Chang Ji and Heng Ping hastily left the Gu residence. Neither of them headed straight to the inn, and by the time they finished their errands, Xu Li'er had already passed away.

Rong Shu had often wondered, if she hadn't spoken up that night and postponed the conversation, Heng Ping might have reached the inn in time, and perhaps, he could have saved Xu Li'er.

She had carried this guilt for a long time. Nurse Zhang had consoled her, saying that it was precisely because of Xu Li'er's suicide and the blood-stained letter she left behind that the people of Obeying Heaven Mansion had grown to despise the Imperial Guards.

That had all happened after Xu Li'er had hung herself.

On the first day of the tenth lunar month, the Cold Food Festival, thousands upon thousands of citizens gathered beneath the "Eternal Fame" plaque at the entrance of the Eastern Depot, vociferously cursing the door and demanding that Yang Xu avenge Xu Li'er and her daughter.

Ever since Emperor Jiande established the Eastern Depot and the Imperial Guards, these two institutions had functioned as the emperor's eyes and ears, stirring countless storms of blood and violence throughout Great Yin.

For many years, the guards had wielded an intimidating power in Great Yin; how could they tolerate such brazen defiance from the common folk?

The head of the Eastern Depot's torture unit then led a dozen or so enforcers to violently beat the most vocal citizens into submission. However, this attempt at intimidation only fueled the people's anger instead of silencing them.

Tens of thousands of civilians swarmed forward, mercilessly killing the head of the torture unit and several enforcers. The incident escalated dramatically, eventually drawing in the Imperial Guards.

It was precisely due to this massive uproar that Gu Changjin later managed to so effortlessly overthrow Yang Xu's faction.

That was why Mama Zhang told Rong Shu that Li'er's death served a purpose.

"This poor girl had been ravaged by Yang Rong, her reputation ruined. After her mother passed away, she found herself alone in the world with no one to turn to. She had little hope left in life, so it was perhaps better for her to die swiftly. By sparking such a turmoil, her death could be said to have had some meaning."

In Mama Zhang's words, there was both sighing and contemplation, but no sense of regret.

Perhaps this was how most people in the world thought: Once a woman lost her innocence and reputation, her life was ruined, and it would be better to end it with a white silk rope.

Rong Shu wasn't oblivious to the meaning behind Mama Zhang's words, but she always felt that it shouldn't be like this.

For someone who didn't deserve to die, there was no such thing as a "rightful death."

Death meant the loss of everything.

Rong Shu had tasted death once before. What was so good about it?

Even ants cling to life.

In her previous life, if she hadn't known that there was no escape from her fate, she would never have drunk that cup of poison. How she wished to have acted coquettishly with her mother more times, enjoyed more delicious delicacies, and seen more of the world's magnificent landscapes.