Asianovel

When the Emperor dispatched him, he was explicitly ordered not to provoke further public outrage.

Yet, faced with this gruesome scene, he was momentarily at a loss on how to deal with these citizens.

If there were only three or five of them, it would be simple – he could just arrest them and throw them into jail. But he was confronting tens of thousands of furious civilians; it was impossible to imprison such a massive crowd.

Xie Hushen felt overwhelmed, as if the imposing armor he wore had lost its intimidation.

Catching a glimpse of a figure in blue, an idea suddenly struck him, and he spoke with full authority, "Lord Gu, could you perhaps enlighten this general on what exactly transpired here just now?"

Gu Changjin emerged from the ancient locust tree by his side, bowing deeply and saying, "The Ministry of Punishments received word a quarter-hour ago that countless commoners have gathered at Donghua Gate to petition, demanding severe punishment for the Eastern Depot officers who forced Miss Zhong Xueyan to her death. I was hence dispatched by the High Minister of Justice to investigate. At that time, the Chief Constable Hu Wei, in charge of punishments, utterly disregarded the people's grievances and drew his sword against the petitioning civilians. Left with no choice but to defend themselves, the people were compelled to take action against Hu the Thousand Household Officer."

Zhong Xueyan's father was once a scholar who, in a bout of intoxication, ventured a few unguarded remarks about the state of politics. This landed him in the clutches of the Eastern Depot. Despite Zhong Xueyan's efforts to vindicate her father, his case never saw a retrial - he succumbed to the tortures within the prison walls before justice could be served.

Upon hearing the tragic news, Zhong Xueyan hanged herself in the bustling marketplace that very night, leaving behind a letter stained with her blood, railing against the injustice of heaven for allowing villainy to run rampant.

News of this incident spread like wildfire, reaching every household in the capital in no time. The common folk felt a sense of shared apprehension, fearing that they might be the next to lose their life over a misplaced word.

At some point, someone incited the masses, and suddenly, thousands of commoners stirred up a tremendous commotion in the Eastern Depot.

Xie Hushen had heard about Zhong Xueyan's incident beforehand. Upon hearing Gu Changjin's words, his dark face couldn't help but twitch.

Well, these scholars truly possessed sharp tongues that could sway the world.

Petition? Self-defense?

When had citizens seeking justice needed to bring weapons? Look, they even brought laundry bats, thinking he wouldn't notice them just because they were hidden behind their backs.

And for over ten thousand people to beat twenty-odd soldiers to death with their fists, all in the name of "self-defense" and "forced necessity"?

Xie Hushen was genuinely convinced.

With Gu Changjin paving the way for him, he naturally had to follow through. He nodded solemnly and said, "If that's the case, once the Obeying Heaven Mansion arrives, let Lord Zhu take the involved citizens back for questioning. As for the rest of you... leave peacefully and don't cause any more trouble. The Emperor cares deeply for the well-being of all living beings and has repeatedly instructed this general not to harm our Great Yin's citizens. Now that I'm aware of your petition, I'll report it to the Emperor."

The citizens had initially thought that, with thousands of iron cavalry charging in, they would be spared from imprisonment but not from physical punishment.

To their surprise, after Gu Changjin's few words, the stern commander let them off lightly.

The citizens hurriedly kowtowed and chorused, "Thank you, Your Excellency, for your mercy."

Upon closer inspection, the majority of the commoners were kneeling in the direction of Gu Changjin.

Xie Hushen's lips twitched slightly. When a villager passed by him, he could no longer hold back. Pointing at the hidden kitchen knife the man was slipping into his clothes, Xie Hushen earnestly advised, "His Majesty is merciful and often says that if the people have grievances or complaints, the officials in the court cannot ignore them or turn a deaf ear. You may appeal, but next time, do not come armed."

What was the difference between coming armed to appeal and rebelling?

No matter how merciful His Majesty was, he would never tolerate such disorderly behavior a second time.

The commoners muttered their assent.

The crowd receded like flowing water. Soon after, several hundred bailiffs rushed over, led by a man in a bright red official robe adorned with a peacock badge.

It was Zhu E, the Prefect of Obeying Heaven Mansion.

Zhu E had previously served as Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Yun-Gui. If not for being recalled to the capital by the Emperor, he might have already been promoted to Commander-in-Chief by now.

When Zhu E was leading troops to repel enemies in Yunnan, Xie Hushen was still playing in the mud naked. Now, seeing the great general he had admired since childhood, how dare Xie Hushen posture as an arrogant official on horseback?

Swiftly dismounting his horse, he bowed respectfully and said, "This humble official has come to pay respects to Lord Zhu."

Zhu E nodded slightly but avoided making eye contact with Xie Hushen. Instead, his sharp gaze rested unwaveringly on Gu Changjin.

In the case of Li'er, Yang Rong had turned the tables while in prison, accusing Xu of wrongful judgment. Although the Northern Inspectorate did not dare to apprehend him, the scandal had indeed tainted Xu's reputation.

After Gu Changjin's appearance in the Golden Hall, the Li'er case was reopened. Once the verdict was revised, the Emperor announced the new judgment to the world.

Zhu E had also perused the revised judgment. Upon reading it, he sensed a keen edge to the writing, each word like a sharp blade, leaving a profound impression. It dawned on him why the Emperor held Gu Changjin in such high regard.

Zhu E's stern features softened slightly as he said, "Today's incident requires Lord Gu to accompany this official back to Obeying Heaven Mansion for a record."

"Indeed," Gu Changjin replied with respect, striding forward to follow Zhu E.

Several bailiffs rolled up the corpses on the ground with straw mats, carefully placing them onto stretchers. He cast a glance at one of the bundled mats, then indifferently shifted his gaze away.

The Head of the Punishment Division in the Eastern Depot, who was Yang Xu's right-hand man in the agency, was the same person who had inflicted harsh tortures on the Jins back when they were under the Northern Supervisory Ministry.

……

The fervent "petition" of the masses had thus come to a tranquil end.

But Gu Changjin knew that this was merely the beginning.

Those who wished for Yang Xu's demise still had more tricks up their sleeves.

And he was likely one of the pawns in their scheme.

As Gu Changjin left Obeying Heaven Mansion, twilight had already settled in.

Heng Ping drove the carriage back to the Gu residence. Just as they turned into the Phoenix Tree Lane, they noticed an inconspicuous carriage parked beneath the old, sprawling phoenix trees at the end of the alley.

Heng Ping recognized it as the carriage from Liu Yuan's private residence.

"Master, Eunuch Liu is here," Heng Ping reported.

Gu Changjin was not surprised in the slightest. The moment the carriage stopped at the entrance of the Gu estate, he alighted and headed straight for Liu Yuan's carriage.

At the same time, the carriage curtains were drawn open from inside, revealing a delicate and alluring face that defied gender classification. The crimson mole between the person's brows added a touch of mystique to their appearance.

Liu Yuan greeted the man approaching under the moonlight with a warm smile, saying, "Lord Gu, it's a pleasure to finally meet you. May I ask if I could have the honor of inviting you into the carriage for a conversation?"

Chapter 119: Railway Station 24

The conductor's eyes bulged with rage, his gaze widening in astonishment.

He had seen several "fresh supplies" that were supposed to be hanging from the hooks on the train, now walking right on the railway tracks before him!!

Damn it, they had escaped!

Furious, the conductor lifted a nearby kitchen knife to sever the iron bridge, only to find himself unable to reach it.

In a fit of desperation, he hurled the blade directly at Steve!

The edge of the knife narrowly missed piercing Steve's skull; had he not instinctively ducked just as he decided to run, his head would have been split in two at that very moment!

The kitchen knife embedded itself deeply into the steel-reinforced wall with a loud thud.

Everyone gasped in unison.

No longer caring about attracting attention, Steve pulled his girlfriend along and dashed forward with rapid footsteps.

And the one behind him hastily followed suit!

Upon witnessing the prey attempting to escape their grasp, Ubitos and the coachman swiftly moved toward the door. Rapidly, the sound of banging on the door echoed behind them, as if the massive strength of the two giants would shatter the entrance in the next second!

This only intensified the panic in everyone's hearts.

The knocking ceased momentarily, only to be replaced by a buzzing sound of an electric saw outside, followed by the piercing screech of sparks flying as the saw cut through steel plates!

However, at this moment, the most feared scenario unfolded.

Indeed, the railway track was stuck on the fattest person!

Behind the obese man were two others, desperately pushing him forward to save their lives. However, this man with an immense girth was firmly lodged in the narrowing railway, resembling a stubborn piece of fat stuck in the intestines, refusing to budge.

He remained there with unyielding strength, defying all personal will and determination, steadfastly unwilling to move.

The sound of metal being kicked apart echoed, followed by the fresh whine of a chainsaw.

The young lady trapped by the fatty was none other than Yi Lan. She strained to push the man forward, but his flesh had squeezed the entire track so tightly that there was no room for any maneuvering at all.

Behind Yi Lan was a young boy named Vasina, who also tried pushing the fat man, but to no avail.

Yan Qiling knew that continuing like this would be futile, but if they didn't do something soon, those two killers would barge in!

After a moment of contemplation, he said,

"Jump down."

Yi Lan was incredulous.

"What?"

Looking at the mountain of flesh and blood beneath the railway, Yan Qiling said,

"They're sawing through the door now and can't see us. If we jump now, they won't know we've gone down. We still have a chance to circle around, but staying here will only lead to death."

Yi Lan gritted her teeth, gazed at the pile of messy organs below, then immediately climbed over the low railway fence, closed her eyes, and leaped down.

Vasina, watching from behind, was stunned. However, he quickly saw Yi Lan crawl out from the pile of organs, realizing that he had no other choice. With a thud, he jumped down as well.

At that moment, the two killers finally burst through the torn metal and headed toward the railway!

The fat man was utterly helpless, unable to move as he watched in horror as the chainsaw sliced into him. His screams and mangled flesh rained down on the tracks like a shower of bloody meat.

Neither of the two who had jumped down knew how Yan Qiling managed to remain unscathed, but it was not a priority now. Their lives were at stake.

Yan Qiling pointed to two corners and instructed, "Hide there, don't move, and watch my signal."

In this brutal interlude, the two blood-soaked individuals willingly became pawns in their current situation.

They slipped into the shadows they had previously chosen, their stench masking their presence in the bloody kitchen.

The two giants dragged the dismembered bodies into the kitchen. This was their chance.

Ilan took the initiative, silently slipping out of the kitchen while the giants were distracted, and into the small black room.

Vasina followed closely behind, her small frame allowing her to move almost soundlessly.

Yan Qiling seemed to materialize like a shadow around the two of them.

As they stepped back onto the iron bridge, now littered with blood and shredded flesh, Yi Lan suppressed his nausea, attempting to pass by without making a sound.

The shadows, fragmented by the hanging bulbs, once again swept across the two giants as they attended to the corpses.

This time, their arrival would go uninterrupted.

Yi Lan immediately sprinted forward!

At the end of the railway tracks stood another iron gate. She had assumed that passing through it would lead her to paradise; however, upon crashing into it, she realized it was a sealed divide, an insurmountable barrier!

The people who had fled before her had actually shut the door!

She pounded desperately on the gate, her voice echoing with desperate cries,

"Open up! Open up! They're almost here, let us in! Please, I beg of you! We're still alive, we haven't died yet!!!"

Yet, that door remained as immovable as a tightly closed oyster.

On the verge of collapse from the proximity to death, she nearly tumbled to the ground.

Yan Qiling, who had always been composed, gently pushed her aside. Disregarding the giant who had vanished into the kitchen, he knocked on the iron door with a calm demeanor and said,

"There's no danger outside. Open the door."

As his words faded, the carriage driver, wielding an electric saw, rushed over from the other side of the railway.

Yi Lan tightly embraced Vashina beside him, the youth instinctively closing his eyes as he was held by the woman. Subsequently, they heard a crisp "click," followed by the opening of the door behind them.

Opening the door was Hu Gaoming, who, without a word, promptly seized Yi Lan and Vasina, pulling them swiftly inside. Yan Qiling slipped in like a ghost, and the door slammed shut before everyone's eyes.

None of the onlookers witnessed the horrifying scene of the coachman being bisected by an unknown filament.

The frenzied buzz of the chainsaw plunged into the depths of internal organs, sinking like a waterlogged tool, swiftly losing its menace.

Bathed in the soft glow of a dim bulb, a crimson hue shimmered on the iron bridge.

The fragments of the carriage driver were wriggling, attempting to reassemble themselves.

Ubitos stood before them, gazing down in silence. Then, one by one, he crushed these fragments beneath his feet.

He raised his shackled hands high and smashed the driver's glaring head into a pulp!

Next, Ubitos approached the red thread. Placing his shackles under it, he used its sharp edge to rub back and forth.

No one cared about the world beyond anymore.

For the world behind the door was far from lovely.

Exiting the foyer, they found themselves in a long corridor.

The sky-blue paint on the walls contrasted with the pristine white, exuding an extreme cleanliness. However, this cleanliness had been ruined by peeling paint, cracked walls, and doors that had completely rotted away.

The air was filled with the stench of mold and the overpowering smell of disinfectant. Clearly, this place had once served as a hospital or clinic.

But its atmosphere was entirely distinct from that of the kitchen.

Everyone was hesitant to proceed because the recent death was still vivid in their minds.

Within just three hours of the beginning, two out of fifteen had already perished, both in gruesome, irredeemable ways.

They couldn't tell whether this place was safe or fraught with traps.

Someone needed to step forward and probe the potential dangers, but no one was willing to act.

Yi Lan, still deeply immersed in her fear, was met with Dolly's turbid gaze, who had her face concealed behind a purple scarf. Dolly didn't disdain the blood on Yi Lan but instead helped clean the dirt off her face:

"Poor child, thankfully, God is still watching over you."

Yi Lan looked at her tremblingly, demanding an answer:

"Why didn't you open the door back then?!"

No one replied except for Dolly.

In this woman's eyes, there was only a serene stillness, like a pause in a musical score.

"Whether the door opens or closes, it is God's will. You are fortunate, child. Rejoice in your rebirth and do not blame others. Be grateful for the life you have now."

Ilan clearly could not accept this response, but no one else was willing to answer her. Dolley gently wiped away her tears and the clots of blood on her face.

Next, it was Cabius who spoke up for the first time.

He seemed relatively composed, offering a more pragmatic perspective on the unknown than the others:

"We can't stay here indefinitely. Those two monsters know we've entered this door. Though it's unclear why they haven't forced their way in yet, we need to act."

Mobis looked at him, "Act? How? Are you suggesting you go out as a scout?"

Cabius looked at him, his expression showing some dissatisfaction, but he still nodded, "Yes, two more people should come with me."

However, Yan Qiling ignored their conversation and took the lead, walking down the corridor.

Noticing everyone's attention on him, the man spoke gently, "I can sense that there's no immediate danger here. Let's search for as many clues as possible before those two monsters break in."

His words didn't convince everyone, but Hu Gaoming was the first to act, followed by Steve, who grabbed his girlfriend and ventured into the corridor.

Seeing that others were unharmed, Mobis stepped into the hallway, and soon, one by one, everyone entered, starting to scour the area for anything of value.

At the end of the corridor stood an abandoned nurse's station, indicating that this place had once served a medical purpose.

In the drawers of the station, there were a few documents left behind.

Opening them, the names, genders, ages, and photos on the documents were barely recognizable, but remnants of diagnoses could still be discerned.

Dolly, after glancing at the papers, made the sign of the cross over her chest, "Poor children."

Yan Qiling looked at her.

"How do you determine that these cases belong to the 'children'?"

"I used to work as a nurse in a hospital. These are illnesses that only children would typically contract."

Yan Qiling nodded. Just as he left the nurses' station, Hu Gaoming approached him and whispered,

"Brother Yan, I found a map, but most of it is illegible."

"That's alright. Where are we now?"

"The Pediatric Clinic, this entire building is dedicated to it. The place we passed by earlier is collectively referred to as the 'Meat Processing Plant.' The building opposite is called the 'Academic Zone,' the left side is the 'Quarters,' and the right is the 'Temporary stronghold.' All these names are rather enigmatic."

Hu Gaoming narrated the process seamlessly, without missing a beat. Yan Qiling sighed softly.

"You've grown up."

Before him stood the erstwhile tender youth, now stern and aloof, who reluctantly teased out a fleeting smile. Yet that smile was all too swiftly engulfed by the lingering silence.

Mobis approached, clutching an iron rod he had seemingly found somewhere.

"All the chambers here lack doors. Right now, we urgently need a secure haven, somewhere safe to begin with, before we search for anything else. Not everyone is suited for activities outside, and group movements are more likely to draw attention."

He gazed at Yan Qiling and asked,

"Yan, what do you think?"

"Certainly, but as for the situation in the safe house, I'm currently at a loss as well. All I know is that there's no immediate danger here."

Yan Qiling ignored the profound gaze and continued to inspect the remaining rooms.

These rooms were mostly abandoned, with six hospital beds inside. The bedding on the beds had rotten away, but the iron bed rails were still sturdy enough to accommodate someone sitting or lying on them.

Here, one can still find some expired medicines and a small amount of bandages. Though they don't appear very hygienic, they are still valuable resources.

Yan Qiling's gaze fell on the diagnostic records hanging by the bedsides. Most of them were too decayed and tattered to read, but from those that could still be discerned, it was evident that all the patients assigned to these beds were indeed under the age of eighteen.

In the realm of the Unbound Master, such elements don't appear randomly. As a designed component, it could be part of the revelation, or it might serve as a deliberate distraction.

At this moment, Yi Lan is attending to Vasina's wound, skillfully bandaging the leg of the young man who, in the course of his escape, had been grazed by an unknown piece of metal.

The youth, tears brimming in his eyes as he stoically endured the pain, clung tightly to the sapphire necklace that hung around his neck, as though it could imbue him with strength.

Everyone was disheartened by the current situation, for they had just swiftly compared the votes, and the results were discouraging.

Soon, they all received the grim news: This world was a butcher's shop!

No wonder so many people met their demise upon entering...

Amidst the gloomy despair of those around him, Mobis discovered a rusted surgical knife within an abandoned metal box. He stowed it away in his black overcoat, maintaining an unwavering composure throughout.

"It's time for the hunt, everyone."

Some lifted their gazes at him, while others rummaged silently in corners, choosing to remain quiet.

Until they understood the situation better, most preferred to explore from a safe vantage point rather than venture into uncharted territories.

After a brief and uncontroversial discussion, three individuals were chosen to venture out first.

They were Kabius, Mobis, and Yan Qiling.

The remaining men guarded the women and children as they began to inspect the items in this corridor.

Cabyss also grabbed a steel pipe used for hanging water bottles. Seeing that Yan Qiling wasn't taking anything, he couldn't help but ask,

"Yan, don't you need something for self-defense?"

Yan Qiling followed him towards the door, smiling nonchalantly,

"There's no need. I can run fast."

Cabyss couldn't help but chuckle at this sudden display of humor.

Just as they were about to open the door, the usually silent Patland suddenly reached out in Yan Qiling's direction and spoke in fluent Chinese,

"Mr. Yan, take care on your way."

Mobis narrowed his eyes and whistled,

"Yan, you're quite popular, aren't you?"

The man paid no heed to the jesting, his striking heterochromatic eyes of red and blue faintly swirling as he courteously replied to the youth amidst the shadows cast by the doorframe:

"Thank you."

The decayed door, left with only half of its former self, gently creaked shut.

Fu Luoyin encountered a roadblock during his drive, causing a delay in his journey.

The artificial island they were on was initially applied for by the Su family to develop into a quarantine and rehabilitation center. However, due to various reasons, the plan was canceled, and the area was transformed into a gated resort community. It was not accessible to the general public, and its precise entrance wasn't even marked on maps. This isolation made it almost impossible to navigate when roads were closed.

Just as Fu Luoyin drove off the sea bridge and onto the mountain road, he noticed a police cordon in the middle of the road. Several officers were there, flashing warning lights to indicate that he should turn back. He got out of the car to inquire about the situation. A police officer informed him, "It looks like you won't be able to pass tonight. A large truck has just overturned down there, and we're preparing for a rescue operation. We hope you can understand."

As Fu Luoyin held A-level clearance, he usually had the authority to override road closures, but he wouldn't misuse it in such circumstances. He nodded and said, "I understand. Thank you for your hard work." Then, he turned around and drove back towards the island.

His brows furrowed, and his anxiety was visible on his face. Despite recognizing the uncontrollable nature of the situation, an increasingly strong premonition nagged at him, leaving him with an unsettled feeling.

He called Zhou Heng. "Get a helicopter here immediately."

It was half past three in the morning, and Zhou Heng's voice was groggy with sleep. However, it quickly turned alert upon hearing Fu Luoyin's tone. "Do you have a mission?"

"No mission. I'm going to find Lin Shuicheng. Have the helicopter here within thirty minutes," Fu Luoyin instructed.

Zhou Heng was on the verge of losing his mind. "Your helicopter is parked at the Jiangnan branch, and it would take at least a few hours to fly over! And it's still a thunderstorm right now!"

Fu Luoyin replied, "Then use your authority to requisition one randomly."

In the end, Zhou Heng arranged for a helicopter nearby – bought under the name of Fu's Military and Technology Company at double the price, along with a hired pilot who flew over in half an hour.

Fu Luoyin fed Lin Shuicheng's ID card location into the system. "Head there."

He noticed that Lin Shuicheng's ID card signal paused briefly at a nearby hospital before moving on swiftly. The speed indicated that he had likely boarded another vehicle, but not heading back this way; instead, it was drifting further away.

All sorts of ominous speculations emerged at that moment. Fu Luoyin's face turned ashen, his fingers clutching the seat tightly.

The downpour made visibility worsen, yet he continued calling Lin Shuicheng repeatedly.

The last call connected, but Lin Shuicheng remained silent. All that could be heard from the other end was wind and rain.

"Mr. Little Fu, we're almost there, but the slope of the orchard below isn't suitable for landing! Visibility is too low; it's not advisable to stop!"

"Hang a rappelling rope for me. Notify ground personnel to prepare for an emergency rescue."

"Mr. Little Fu, you have no security measures in place!"

"I'm not concerned about this height. I'll go down first; you should return to base."

Fu Luoyin removed his coat and glanced outside—the distance was so great that he could see a police car smashed into an apple tree at the end, its front crumpled, but the people inside were indistinct.

The rappelling rope was lowered, and Fu Luoyin swiftly descended its rungs.

Amidst the heavy rain, visibility was low, and the wind from the helicopter's rotors made the rope sway wildly, almost reaching a parallel angle. Nevertheless, Fu Luoyin held on firmly. His skills honed in District 8 weren't for nothing. In less than twenty seconds, he released his grip and leaped to the ground, dashing towards the car beneath the apple tree in the rain.

As he drew closer, Fu Luoyin's heart nearly stopped— the front of the car was utterly crushed, the frame wobbling. Lin Shuicheng sat in the driver's seat, his eyes closed, head tilted to one side, motionless.

"Lin Shuicheng?" Fu Luoyin flung open the car door, leaned in, and pulled Lin Shuicheng out. Panic tinged his voice, "Lin Shuicheng?"

Rainwater sluiced in through the window, dripping off Lin Shuicheng's cheeks and eyelashes like shimmering pearls, cold to the touch, with almost no detectable warmth.

Sirens echoed in the distance.

For the first time, Fu Luoyin truly understood the meaning of fear. Only his years of experience and composure kept him barely functioning, allowing a semblance of rationality to remain—he could feel Lin Shuicheng's breath, suggesting that he might have been knocked unconscious by the immense impact. The subsequent drop in temperature could have led to hypothermic shock.

He opened the back door of the car and gently laid Lin Shuicheng inside, checking his breathing and assessing his injuries.

Blood stained the back of Lin Shuicheng's head, slick and sticky. The wound wasn't deep; it seemed he had hit his head on a window frame. Fu Luoyin started to remove his own coat and jacket, using the car's tissues to roughly dry Lin Shuicheng's body before wrapping him up and holding him close.

"Don't worry, I'm here. I've come for you," Fu Luoyin whispered, pressing his face against Lin Shuicheng's cheek, trying to convey warmth. "Everything's alright now. I'm with you, you need to be strong."

The wail of police sirens approached.

In his dream, Lin Shuicheng felt an intense cold.

In this dream, there was a hand holding his, a grip he recognized—the kind that didn't come from ordinary people but from someone he knew. This person always held his hand tightly, almost painfully, as if only by doing so could they confirm his presence and assert their ownership.

There was only one person who constantly exceeded his expectations, intruding into his life with dominance, strength, and arrogance, challenging all his previous assumptions, taking unconventional paths or even bending the rules.

He murmured softly, "...Fu Luoyin."

Fu Luoyin's grip on Lin Shuicheng's hand tightened, his voice strained and hoarse. "I'm right here."

Emergency medical staff were placing a hot water bottle beside Lin Shuicheng, who slowly opened his eyes.

His vision was blurred, barely able to discern the silhouette in front of him as Fu Luoyin. In the freezing cold winter, he wore only a single layer, while his coat covered Little Lin's body.

"Shuicheng, how did you get here?" Little Lin whispered softly.

He vaguely recalled having a dream where Fu Luoyin called him, transporting him back to that rainy night after his speech at Star University. Fu Luoyin had crossed deserts and mountains to tell him stories.

But the dream had become reality – Fu Luoyin had actually come.

With a deep exhaustion in his voice, Fu Luoyin said, "I'm here to pick you up."

"Save your strength and rest first. I'm right here with you, understand?" Fu Luoyin held his hand, murmuring repeatedly, "It's alright, don't be scared. I'm here."

Along with the ambulance, the police arrived.

To explain why Lin Shuicheng had been driving a police car when the accident occurred, the officer told Fu Luoyin, "We were planning to take Mr. Little Lin home. But it seems Mr. Little Lin wanted to go back earlier on his own. There was an issue with the route, so he ended up in the outskirts. You arrived before our team, and we're grateful for that. Otherwise, the situation would have been terrifying."

Lin Shuicheng needed three stitches for the wound at the back of his head. Fu Luoyin went to pay and arrange for the medical procedures.

The disinfection room didn't allow visitors, so Fu Luoyin waited outside.

The anesthetic spray wasn't very potent. As the physician sewed Lin Shuicheng's wound, the latter's face turned pale, and he breathed in sharply.

"Try to endure it a bit. You might not be sensitive to the anesthesia. It'll be over soon," the doctor said. "But then again, you probably don't mind since you're not afraid of death, so pain shouldn't be a big deal, right?"

"Fear of death and pain are both human instincts," Lin Shuicheng replied with a faint smile. "Do you have a medical license?"

"I know how to sew up wounds. I used to be a team medic, and my teammates always praised my steady hands," the doctor said. "How about this? Am I a better doctor than a taxi driver?"

He put down his tools, cleaned the blood around Lin Shuicheng's wound with antiseptic cotton, and then moved around to face him.

Lin Shuicheng lifted his gaze and looked at him calmly.

The man before him was none other than the red informant he had encountered outside Star University Hospital last time.

"Let's get down to business. Someone is waiting for me outside," Lin Shuicheng said.

The man seemed intrigued. "So, you do have genuine feelings for Little Fu after all?"

There was a subtle tone in his voice when he mentioned Fu Luoyin, as if he were referring to a familiar or often-heard name, even with a hint of concealed favoritism.

Lin Shuicheng said wearily, "I just don't want to waste time. I need rest."

"The only thing we can offer you," the man said, seeing that Lin Shuicheng truly looked unwell. He sobered up and held out his hand, a USB drive swaying at the end of his fingertips, gleaming with metallic luster. "Don't worry about whether it's empty or if we're tricking you. Someone like you, if you could do something crazy once, you could do it again. We can't afford to take that risk."

Lin Shuicheng took the USB drive and studied him intently.

The man paused for a moment and nodded slightly. "Also, I want to apologize for not predicting today's situation with the truck. It was our fault."

"Your safety has always been on our watchlist, but today's incident caught us off guard. We didn't expect you to directly drive the young employee out, nor did we anticipate the arrival of that truck, so we couldn't prevent it from happening right away. You have yourself to thank for your quick thinking," the man explained.

Lin Shuicheng asked, "Why do they want to kill me? Or let me put it this way, why would they try to drive me mad by harming the people around me? Who are they?"

"You know who they are. In fact, you've crossed paths with them before," the man said.

Lin Shuicheng fell silent for a moment.

"RANDOM," he whispered.

"Yes, I understand your concerns, but I still need to reiterate what I told you last time – there's no deception in my words," the man said in a low voice. "You think we've kept things from you, but that's not the case. Until today, your security level was green, meaning you were in the less critical category. You believe that all these accidents have underlying motives, but in the intelligence analysis of our Ninth Bureau and the National Security Agency, these incidents were indeed free from any deliberate human interference."

"At present, we have no clear understanding of how these incidents are achieved. We analyze tens of thousands of unexpected events daily, searching for human involvement... You're like a small stream swept up in these currents, but today's incident involving you shares a striking similarity with what happened to your family six years ago. Moreover, the unpublicized assault on Luo Song near you and the assassination attempt on Chu Shihan at the harbor exhibit an equally high level of correlation. It's only now that we can confirm your uniqueness to RANDOM, and that the events you've experienced in the past might be connected to them. That's why we're breaking protocol to share this information with you today."

The man looked at him meaningfully. "For your protection and due to certain historical reasons, my superiors would prefer you not to be involved in these matters. However, it seems fate has other plans, and you're not someone we can easily shield from it."

"In the USB drive is a collection of all 'accidents' we've gathered so far, which remain inconclusive as to whether they were caused by human factors or purely natural occurrences, starting from when you were five. As a scientist, perhaps you can find some answers for us," the man continued. "You might wonder what we want from you or what your value is, but unfortunately, even we don't know that."

Lin Shuicheng was taken aback.

"All we know is that you're the only person who has survived multiple attacks by the RANDOM organization, who have shown a uniquely artistic approach to recreating past events without actually taking your life," the man said. "That's your value, Lin Shuicheng – find out what it is. Understand what this so-called deity wants from you, why they keep obstructing you without ending your life; you might become the key to solving crucial issues for both the National Security Bureau and Section Nine."

Lin Shuicheng stood silently, feeling a dull ache in the back of his head.

Opening the door, the man glanced back at him. "Also, it's best you keep your distance from President Little Fu. Otherwise, there may be things in the future that neither of you would wish to witness."

Startled, Lin Shuicheng asked, "Is he one of yours too? Part of Section Nine, the NSA?"

"President Little Fu belongs to Section Seven," the man replied. "Theoretically, he's not part of our faction. Take care and rest well, Teacher Little Lin."

Having paid the fees, Fu Luoyin carried a pile of medications to find Lin Shuicheng.

Upon seeing that Lin Shuicheng was standing on the ground instead of lying in bed, Fu Luoyin immediately attempted to carry him back onto the bed. However, Lin Shuicheng declined, "I want to go home."

Fu Luoyin was taken aback for a moment before softly confirming, "...Dongtong City?"

Lin Shuicheng sighed, "Star University."

Only then did Fu Luoyin recall that Lin Shuicheng had a house at Star University. He reached out to touch his face, "Alright, I'll take you back then. Have you ever been on a helicopter? We can take one back?"

Lin Shuicheng nodded wearily.

Twenty minutes later, the helicopter landed on the hospital's rooftop.

It was noisy up there, so Fu Luoyin gave Lin Shuicheng a sedative and put noise-canceling headphones on him. Then, he earnestly held him in his embrace, allowing Lin Shuicheng to lean against him and sleep.

The air conditioning was on, making the cabin warm and cozy.

Fu Luoyin gently hugged Lin Shuicheng and whispered softly, his voice clearly transmitted through the earphones, "You're still angry with me."

Lin Shuicheng didn't respond, likely striving to fall asleep.

"Fancy not breaking up, then?" Fu Luoyin gently caressed Lin Shuicheng's cheek and mumbled, "Now you owe me another favor... When do you plan on repaying it? I haven't even asked you, nor have you told me..."

Did he not ask if he knew about the substitute thing?

What was he thinking?

As Fu Luoyin pondered these thoughts, he felt a wave of drowsiness and a subtle ache in his heart.

With Lin Shuicheng leaning against him, he struggled to stay awake. Lowering his head, he observed how tranquilly Lin Shuicheng slept in his embrace, without any signs of movement.

After much deliberation, he couldn't resist reaching out to check for his breath.

After feeling the moist warmth for a while, he retracted his hand.

A short while later, Fu Luoyin felt unsure if he could detect Lin Shuicheng's breathing, so he stretched out a fingertip to place it under his nose.

This person breathed so softly, as if they didn't need air to live.

As Fu Luoyin was grappling with the dilemma of whether the airflow caressing his fingertips came from the warm air conditioner above or Lin Shuicheng's breath, he suddenly felt a sharp sting followed by a brief moist and cool sensation as his finger was enveloped in someone's mouth.

Lin Shuicheng had gently bitten him.

Chapter 91: "Come Back Early" (3000+)

Luo Le furrowed his brows. "How did you know?"

Huo Lanjing avoided his gaze. "Uncle Wang told me."

Upon entering the room, Chen Chen noticed Luo Le wasn't following and asked, "Dad... Uncle, aren't you coming in?"

Luo Le held out his hand. "Keys."

Huo Lanjing understood what he meant. "Stay with him for a few more days."

Chen Chen rushed over upon hearing this and clung to Luo Le's legs. "Uncle, where are you going? Chen Chen wants to go too!"

Luo Le pushed him away.

Chen Chen panicked and clung even tighter. "Daddy, Chen Chen doesn't want to be alone here. Take Chen Chen with you."

Seeing this, Huo Lanjing approached. "Actually, I'll only be staying for a few days. You don't have to leave."

Luo Le shook her head. "We're already divorced."

The implication was clear: with Huo Lanjing around, there was no place for Luo Le in this house.

Huo Lanjing looked slightly hurt. "Chen Chen will be taking his grading exam in a few days. He might not be used to a new environment. How about you stay here for now? After that, I'll move Chen Chen's things to your place, and Mr. can visit you there."

With his arms wrapped around his legs, Chen Chen looked pitiful. As Luo Le gazed down at his wide, earnest eyes, she fell into contemplation.

She was certain that she didn't want to share the same roof as Huo Lanjing.

However, he had said he would leave in a few days.

Hearing the commotion, the auntie descended the stairs while asking what had happened. Just a few steps away from the ground floor, she missed a step and tumbled down.

The three of them rushed over, concerned. The auntie held her foot and cried out in pain.

Huo Lanjing and Luo Le exchanged glances and decided to take her to the hospital.

After a check-up, she was sent straight to the treatment pod. When she came out, she seemed to be fine.

Still, they allowed Auntie to take a few days off.

By the time they returned from the hospital, it was already dark.

Luo Le gazed at the few stars shimmering in the sky, his expression somber.

Huo Lanjing followed his gaze, then shifted his eyes to Luo Le's face.

That morning, Uncle Wang had mentioned that Luo Le had encountered three peculiar individuals, after which Luo Le spent the entire day at the café.

Huo Lanjing could more or less guess what had happened.

He reached out and stroked Chen Chen's head.

Feeling the touch, Luo Le turned back.

Holding Chen Chen for too long would inevitably tire his arms, and Chen Chen kept clinging to Luo Le, refusing to let anyone else hold him.

Huo Lanjing extended his hand to take Chen Chen: "He hasn't had dinner yet; he might get hungry when he wakes up. There doesn't seem to be much food at home. Should we make a trip to the supermarket?"

Luo Le glanced at Chen Chen, who was sleeping soundly, and nodded in approval.

They were in the city center, and there was a supermarket about one kilometer away.

In five minutes, the car pulled up in front of the supermarket. Huo Lanjing alighted first, holding Chen Chen with one hand, then reached out to open the car door for Luo Le.

Noticing his gesture, Luo Le's expression froze momentarily before he calmly got out of the car.

The weather had turned cooler over the past week. As the wind blew, Luo Le couldn't help but tuck his neck in.

Huo Lanjing's eyes flickered slightly as he allowed Luo Le to lead the way.

The entire building was a supermarket, with shopping carts available at the entrance.

Luo Le went over to retrieve one.

Huo Lanjing's tall figure was accentuated by his black coat, while a child hung on his right shoulder, his casual demeanor exuding a sense of composure.

Someone like him would attract many admirers even if he were to stroll into a school right now.

Perhaps back then, he was indeed captivated by that face.

"Excuse me, are you alright?"

Luo Le was bumped into by another person who had suddenly rushed out, nearly causing him to fall.

The man wore a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, his face filled with concern as he asked Luo Le.

Luo Le pulled his bike back slightly. In truth, he wasn't looking where he was going either, so he shared some blame.

"It's fine."

The man gave him a glance. Perhaps seeing his expressionless face, he assumed Luo Le was angry and continued apologizing.

Luo Le sighed, "Really, it's no big deal."

The man then said, "You might not see it now, but just in case, why don't we exchange contact information? If there's anything, you can find me."

Luo Le furrowed his brow. Seeing the man's determined look, he raised his hand.

In the next moment, Luo Le's wrist was restrained by Huo Lanjing with one hand.

Initially, Huo Lanjing had thought it was an accidental touch when he was over there. It wasn't until he saw Luo Le reaching out that he suddenly realized something was amiss.

With a stern expression, he asked the man, "What do you want?"

Huo Lanjing, being in a high position for a long time and already in a bad mood, exuded a low-pressure aura around him.

The man felt intimidated and quickly claimed that there was nothing, before scurrying away.

Then, Huo Lanjing turned to Luo Le, "He clearly had ulterior motives. Why did you engage with him so much?"

Upon hearing the sarcastic remark, Luo Le couldn't help but retort, "I think you're the one with ulterior motives."

After saying that, she pushed her cart forward without waiting for a response.

Huo Lanjing knew he was being inexplicably irrational, but he just couldn't control himself.

He pinched the palm of his hand and hurriedly followed, "Sorry, I shouldn't have..."

"Uncle?"

In his arms, Chen Chen rubbed his eyes and suddenly realized that the person holding him wasn't his father. He hurriedly turned his head to search, "Where's my daddy?"

Luo Le was right there and, upon hearing this, patted Chen Chen on the back. "He hasn't left."

Chen Chen heaved a sigh of relief and looked around, realizing where he was.

With a face full of delight, he asked, "Are we going grocery shopping?"

The previous conversation had to be cut short.

Luo Le responded with a nod and inquired if there was anything Chen Chen wanted to eat.

Chen Chen nodded. "Yes, I want grapes, melon, noodles, and little cookies..."

Huo Lanjing pinched his cheek, causing Chen Chen to pout. "What are you doing?"

"You can't have snacks," Huo Lanjing said.

Chen Chen pouted, a look of grievance on his face. "Then, I want to be up high."

Huo Lanjing pressed his lips together before lifting Chen Chen above his head in the next moment, placing him on his neck.

Chen Chen held onto Huo Lanjing's hair. "Up high, up high."

Luo Le, standing by the side, couldn't help but remind them, "Be careful."

Huo Lanjing replied, "It's fine."

Suddenly, a father and son walked past them.

The son said, "Daddy, I want to fly up high too."

The father responded, "Fly what? If we don't go back soon, your papa will get angry."

Upon hearing this, Luo Le paused, his gaze fixed ahead.

Chen Chen directed the way from atop Huo Lanjing's neck, while Huo Lanjing walked at a moderate distance in front of him, pushing the stroller behind.

The trio made their way to the fresh produce section.

Luo Le gazed at the pork ribs and, after some thought, approached to weigh out some for himself.

There were several varieties available.

Not knowing which was the best, Luo Le opted for the most expensive one.

At the weighing station stood a young lady. As the queue reached Luo Le, she couldn't help but admire his handsome face.

She could sense the subtle glances coming his way, yet she sensed that he was already taken - a pity.

Nevertheless, those who could afford to shop in such a place were either wealthy or of high status; it was unlikely there was any chance for her.

"Sir, have a good day," she said politely as he left.

Luo Le responded with a hint of confusion.

Huo Lanjing, naturally, had heard it, his face darkening.

But Luo Le paid him no mind and continued browsing.

Eventually, Chen Chen's command center shifted to the toddler seat of a supermarket shopping cart.

By the end, they had filled two carts: one with Chen Chen's snacks and fruits, and the other with meat, dairy, and vegetables.

At checkout, Huo Lanjing paid while Luo Le lifted Chen Chen down from the cart.

The cashier, a young man, commented with a smile, "You two make such a lovely couple."

Luo Le corrected him, "We're not a couple."

The young man apologized awkwardly. However, judging from the adoration in the eyes of the payer looking over at them, how could they not be a couple?

But since the customer insisted that they weren't, then they weren't.

Luo Le recalled how eagerly he once wanted to accompany Huo Lanjing on a supermarket trip, simply to hear the observant cashier utter those words.

If it were the old him, he might have been delighted by the clerk's remark. But not anymore.

Relieved, Luo Le saw Chen Chen, who had already rushed to the door, eagerly awaiting their departure. He was grateful he hadn't heard the comment; he wouldn't have known how to respond if he had.

That night, Luo Le and Chen Chen slept in the master bedroom, while Huo Lanjing took the guest room.

Three days later, early morning.

Dark circles adorned Luo Le's eyes as he picked at his breakfast with little appetite. Yesterday, Chen Chen had just completed an exam and was resting for the day, still asleep.

Lost in thought, Luo Le gazed at the porridge in his bowl when a stack of papers suddenly appeared before him.

He looked up, puzzled. "What's this?"

Huo Lanjing offered him a pen with a golden flower inlaid on its chest. "A property and share transfer agreement."

Luo Le furrowed his brows. "I don't want to."

Huo Lanjing asked, "Do you still remember Gu Heting?"

Luo Le gestured with his eyes for him to continue.

Huo Lanjing came straight to the point: "He succeeded. Every family connected to that incident from years ago has either gone bankrupt or had their members exiled or imprisoned. As for him, he was also incarcerated. This is what he asked me to give you; he hopes you'll sign it."

Having said this, he fell silent, simply watching Luo Le, who was studying the contract with his head lowered, granting him time to ponder over it.

After a moment, Luo Le pushed the items on the table back.

Huo Lanjing looked at what was in front of him. "The agreement is still valid for another year. If you change your mind during that time, you can come to me."

He paused before continuing, "He's in a prison just outside the city."

With that said, he retrieved the agreement from the table.

"Are you going out?"

Huo Lanjing observed Luo Le, dressed and ready to go, and eventually couldn't resist asking.

Luo Le nodded, acknowledging that he was indeed planning to leave.

Huo Lanjing had long since learned from Chen Wuxing that the trio would be departing today.

If Luo Le were to leave, what reason could he possibly give to make him stay?

Mercenaries treaded on the edge of peril. Given Luo Le's still-recovering health, Huo Lanjing couldn't bring himself to let him go.

"Certainly something is on your mind?" Luo Le asked, his face cold as he gazed at Huo Lanjing.

Huo Lanjing hesitated for a moment. "No."

After finishing their meal, Luo Le put on his shoes, preparing to head out.

Seeing Luo Le's hand reach for the door handle, Huo Lanjing shot up from the table. "Wait."

Luo Le turned around, looking at him with a puzzled expression.

Huo Lanjing said "wait" again before walking over to the sofa, picking up a neatly folded gray plaid scarf, and standing in front of Luo Le.

He draped the scarf around Luo Le's neck, looping it a few times before securing it with a knot. "It's cold out, wear this."

Luo Le glanced at the man still holding onto the scarf, brushed his hand away, and let out an "oh," before turning to leave.

Suddenly, his wrist was grasped by a large hand.

Luo Le turned his head, frowning. "What do you really want?"

A flicker of emotion passed through Huo Lanjing's eyes. "Come back early."

His tone was somewhat heavy, not sounding like a casual reminder.

This time, Luo Le didn't respond. He pushed away Huo Lanjing's hand and opened the door to leave.

As he walked away, his figure gradually disappeared, until the door closed, leaving him completely out of sight.

Yet, Huo Lanjing remained in his original position, lost in thought for a long while.

Chapter 77: This Venerable One Is Very Awkward

After Chu Wanning and Mo Ran left Peach Blossom Spring, they inquired about the dates of various sect fairs and traveled for several days. On this night, they stopped at an inn in a small town.

Having finally found a chance to rest after leaving the peach blossom paradise, Mo Ran had long since retreated to his own room. Chu Wanning sat at the table, lighting the candle wick and examining a porcelain vase in the warm, yellow glow that illuminated the room.

In that white jade vase were over thirty golden pills shimmering with light.

Fortunately, Xuan Ji had brought this bottle of medicine when he came, or else Chu Wanning would have been at a loss as to how to interact with Mo Ran.

"This is a new medicine refined by Greedy Wolf. There should be around thirty pills," Xuan Ji had told Chu Wanning in the cave at Peach Blossom Spring. "He consulted ancient texts and adjusted some of the ingredients. One pill can sustain you for seven days in your normal form. This bottle will last you a long time, so take it."

"Thank Greedy Wolf on my behalf."

"There's no need to thank him," Xuan Ji waved his hand, smiling. "I suspect Greedy Wolf himself is secretly curious about your condition despite his serious demeanor. By the way, he asked me to remind you that the medicine's effects are still unstable. Avoid extreme joy or sorrow, or it might lose its efficacy. Remember that."

Lost in thought about Xuan Ji's words, Chu Wanning suddenly heard a knocking on the inn door. He quickly put away the porcelain vase and extinguished the incense burning in the celadon censer before slowly saying, "Come in."

Mo Ran, freshly bathed and wearing a thin linen robe, entered Chu Wanning's room, towel in hand, drying off his long, obsidian-black hair.

"{Chu Wanning} coughed softly, his expression still composed. "What's the matter?"

"I don't like that room. Master, can I sleep on the floor here tonight?"

Noticing {Mo Ran}'s vague response, {Chu Wanning}, not being foolish, sensed something was amiss. "What's wrong with it?"

"It's... just not good," {Mo Ran} said, stealing a glance at {Chu Wanning} and muttering, "The soundproofing is terrible."

{Chu Wanning}, always accustomed to his high-mindedness, frowned, not understanding what {Mo Ran} meant. He put on his robe and stepped into {Mo Ran}'s room barefoot, leaving {Mo Ran} no choice but to follow.

"The room might be simple, but it's not so unbearable that you couldn't sleep," {Chu Wanning} criticized after surveying the space. "Why have you become so delicate?"

Before he could finish speaking, a loud thud came from the wall separating their rooms, as if something heavy had fallen to the ground.

{Mo Ran}, too embarrassed to bear listening further, grabbed the corner of {Chu Wanning}'s sleeve and pleaded, "Master, let's leave quickly."

{Chu Wanning} furrowed his brow. "What's gotten into you? Is there a problem?"

{Mo Ran} opened his mouth to speak, but before he could find the right words, another giggle drifted through the wall. "Young Master Chang is so wicked, always teasing me... Mmm, please... don't... Ah!"

"Hehe, darling, that peony on your chest is lovely. Let me sniff and see if it has any fragrance."

Indeed, the partition wall was thin, allowing the rustling of clothing and a mix of the man's rough breathing and the woman's sweet moans to be clearly audible. It was an unpleasant sound to the ears.

Chu Wanning initially didn't understand what was happening, but after a moment, he realized the situation. His beautiful eyes widened abruptly, then his face flushed from white to red, then to a deep green before he cursed, "Shameless!" He angrily flung his sleeves and left.

"Phew."

Mo Ran couldn't help but chuckle softly behind him. Fortunately, Chu Wanning was too embarrassed, walking with both hands and feet in unison, so he didn't hear Mo Ran's mockery.

When they returned to their room, Chu Wanning drank a cup of tea in silence before he could finally pretend to be calm. He nodded at Mo Ran and said, "Such vulgar language is indeed detrimental to cultivation. You can stay here with me tonight."

"Oh." When Chu Wanning had suddenly appeared in Peach Blossom Spring without suspecting him and had even protected him, Mo Ran had been pleasantly surprised. Now that everything had settled down, he couldn't help feeling happy. Under the candlelight, his Master's usually cold face seemed much more endearing.

Mo Ran curved his eyes, sat cross-legged on the floor, and propped his chin up as he looked up at Chu Wanning.

"What are you looking at?"

"It's been a while since I've seen you, Master. I just want to look more." The young man's voice was filled with a gentle smile, and his gaze was warm and bright.

Upon closer inspection, Chu Wanning... really resembled Junior Apprentice Brother Xia.

Chu Wanning glared at him. "Instead of staring at me, why not go wipe your hair? How can you sleep with it all wet?"

"I left the towel in the next room," Mo Ran said with a smile. "Can Master help me?"

"..."

Xue Meng had once been injured and couldn't lift his arm for quite some time. During that period, it was Master who helped him dry his hair after washing it. Master always did it quickly, as he could skillfully control his spiritual energy to heat up and dry the towel in his hands.

Chu Wanning glanced down at Mo Ran's fully functioning limbs and harrumphed. "If you're not injured or sick, why should I help you?"

Nonetheless, he beckoned for Mo Ran to come over.

The warm candlelight illuminated Mo Ran's incomparably handsome young face.

Mo Ran sat on the bed. It had nearly been a year since his rebirth, and he was in the midst of a growth spurt. In the past few months, he had unknowingly grown much taller, now almost as tall as Chu Wanning.

At this height, it was inconvenient for Chu Wanning to dry Mo Ran's hair, so Mo Ran propped himself up with both hands behind his back, lowering his body slightly. Chu Wanning stood by the bedside, rubbing impatiently at Mo Ran's long tresses.

Mo Ran yawned contentedly, squinting his eyes to savor the rare tranquility.

Occasionally, a frog croaked outside the window.

"Shifu."

"Mm."

"Do you know that while I was inside the Feathered people's illusion, I went back two hundred years to Linan and met someone named Chu Xun."

The motion of wiping his sword did not pause for a moment. "How would I know?"

Mo Ran chuckled, rubbing his nose. "He looks so much like you."

"...There are plenty of people in this world who resemble each other. What's so strange about that?"

"No," Mo Ran said seriously. "He's almost your spitting image, Shifu. Do you think he could be one of your ancestors?"

Chu Wanning replied coolly, "It's possible. But that was two hundred years ago. Who can say for sure?"

"He also has a son," Mo Ran mused aloud. "He looks so much like Junior Apprentice Brother Xia, I think it's too coincidental. Master, do you think Junior Apprentice Brother Xia could be a long-lost relative of yours?"

"I have no family," Chu Wanning replied.

"Well, he's long-lost, isn't he…" Mo Ran muttered, leaning very close to Chu Wanning. He could smell the subtle, soothing fragrance of the flowering crabapple on the other man.

It smelled so good. In both his past and present lives, Chu Wanning's scent seemed to have a calming effect on him. In his previous life, amidst the blood and chaos, he would bury his face in his Master's neck to catch a moment of respite in this world.

Whether he was willing to admit it or not, he was addicted to Chu Wanning's scent and couldn't shake it off.

Closing his eyes, he allowed himself to drift in this familiar tranquility, losing track of time.

In his past life, in the deserted Wu Mountain Temple, he had returned after committing murder, drenched from the rain. Despite his heinous crimes, he felt like a stray dog with nowhere to go.

Back then, he would sit down and hug Chu Wanning's waist, burying his face in his abdomen, repeatedly asking for Chu Wanning to stroke his hair – only then could he barely restrain his escalating madness.

Those old memories seemed like distant echoes from a sea of past events.

But with his eyes closed, they felt as if they happened just yesterday.

Chu Wanning observed the incessant chatterbox's silence and lowered his gaze, only to find a tranquil face illuminated by the dim candlelight.

Despite a hint of youthful innocence still lingering in his brows, the young man's features had matured, revealing a chiseled handsomeness. He resembled a blossoming flower bone emerging from the mist, exuding the vitality and freshness of youth.

Chu Wanning's hand stilled slightly, and his heartbeat seemed to quicken.

Inexplicably, he softly called out, "Mo Ran."

"Mmm..."

Lost in thought, Mo Ran vaguely responded, sounding a bit weary. As before, he nestled his face against Chu Wanning's waist, just like in their previous life.

Chu Wanning: "..."

Thump. Thump. Thump.

His rapid heartbeat echoed like war drums on a battlefield, causing a momentary dizziness and disorientation.

Chu Wanning pressed his lips together, unsure of what to do. Resuming his task, he continued to pat Mo Ran's hair dry, eliminating the last traces of moisture.

For a long while, he dropped the towel and gently brushed aside the stray hairs on Mo Ran's forehead. He spoke in a deep voice, "That's it. Go to bed."

Mo Ran opened his eyes. His dark purple irises were momentarily dazed before clarity returned.

He finally snapped back to reality, remembering that he had leaned against Chu Wanning's waist out of habit, and Chu Wanning hadn't pushed him away. Startled, he stared wide-eyed like an idiotic puppy.

Chu Wanning had been slightly uncomfortable, but seeing this, he couldn't help but smile.

Seeing that he was actually smiling, albeit faintly, Mo Ran's eyes widened even more. He sat up straight with his messy hair and said earnestly, "Shifu, you have a nice scent."

"..."

Pausing, he suddenly furrowed his brows as if trying hard to recall something. Then, realization dawned upon him, and he muttered in bewilderment, "How strange. Xia Sini also has this scent?"

Chu Wanning's expression changed abruptly.

Before Mo Ran could react, Chu Wanning threw the towel at him, lifted him up, and tossed him off the bed. In a cold voice, he said, "I'm tired. Scram and sleep downstairs."

Mo Ran was caught off guard and landed on the floor with a thud. Lying there for a while, he sat up, rubbing his nose. Not angry, he got up obediently and started making his bed on the floor.

Author's Note: A Mini-Drama:

Heavenly Inquiry: What would happen if Xue Meng shared a room with the Master?

Meat Bun: Xue Meng wouldn't be able to sleep at all; he'd spend the whole night on edge, waiting to pay his respects to the Master in the morning, lol.

Heavenly Inquiry: What if Shi Mo shared a room with the Master?

Meat Bun: Mo Ran would probably destroy the inn.

Heavenly Inquiry: If Mo Ran 1.0 shared a room with the Master, what would happen?

Meat Bun: As described in the text.

Heavenly Inquiry: And if Mo Ran 0.5 were in the same room as the Master?

Meat Bun: Do you even need to ask? The Master would sleep in the bed, and Mo Ran would sleep on top of the Master.

Heavenly Inquiry: What about Mo Ran 2.0 sharing a room with the Master?

Meat Bun: Pah, don't even think about getting me to spoil it.

Heavenly Inquiry: ??? Where's the promised truth I can extract from anyone???

Chapter 163: A Chat

The current Chief Justice, Ye Wang, was a demon from the Fallen Angels, dispatched to the human realm because they needed an upper-level demon to maintain order here. Initially, he tried every means possible to return to the Realm of Demons, but as time passed, he found that life in the human world wasn't too bad after all. He was above all other demons, and with the increasing technological advancements, entertainment options were abundant.

Aside from the scarcity of demonic energy, the lack of nutritional food, and the discomfort of compressed power, he had grown quite accustomed to his life here.

He inherited the Fallen Angel's trait of "laziness," and with the Human Realm's Judiciary having little workload, he could slack off and indulge in leisure activities at will.

Assuming this lifestyle would continue, he was caught off guard when, just as the demonic energy in the human realm increased, making his stay more comfortable, a new Chief Justice was sent from the Realm of Demons.

It was a rude awakening.

Having spent so long in the human world, Ye Wang was reluctant to move, and besides, the newcomer was a Mirror Demon. The thought of being replaced by one and becoming the laughingstock back home was unbearable.

Coincidentally, he received an order from his clan's patriarch, Lai Yehua, to hinder the Mirror Demon's tenure and prolong his work hours if possible.

Ye Wang inferred that the patriarch's intention was to prevent the Mirror Demon from gaining permanent status smoothly. With the patriarch's support, his resistance to relocating only grew stronger.

And that was how Wen Ying encountered that initial scene, receiving several intimidating warnings right from the start.

Since Ye Wang preferred to enjoy his outings without being disturbed by work-related messages, he left his phone in the room and consequently missed the call from his subordinate informing him that the intimidation tactic had failed.

A serene existence is often disrupted by pesky devils, such as Deputy Judge Kirishino, who incessantly schemes to dethrone him and take his place. Despite being merely a mid-ranking demon, his untamed nature is astonishingly audacious.

Standing beside Kirishino was a young man wearing a mask, presumably the Demon of the Enchanted Mirror, exuding an aura as unthreatening as his kin.

With too many people around, it wasn't convenient to speak openly. Wen Ying observed that the young man with golden curly hair had no intention of joining them. He glanced sideways at the Deputy Judge beside him.

The Vice-Judge shook their head, indicating their inability to intervene.

Wen Ying withdrew their gaze and refocused on the relaxed, golden-haired demon soaking in the hot springs. After some thought, they inwardly muttered that this was forced upon them.

Taking a deep breath, Wen Ying gathered their strength, "Hey, golden-haired guy over there, your fiancée and girlfriend are fighting!!"

Their voice echoed loudly across the open-air hot springs.

There was only one golden-haired male in the pool, and all eyes turned to Ye Wang as whispers broke out among the others.

"That man looks decent on the surface, but he's actually cheating. How disgusting."

"I bet he's got even more mistresses, considering his flirtatious demeanor."

Ye Wang's relaxed expression cracked, and he shot a dark glare at Wen Ying, exerting an oppressive aura towards him.

"Tsk, he's even glaring at others. He doesn't have a clue about himself."

Ye Wang: "..." The magical mirror demon was unfazed, while the sharp remarks from the surrounding people grew louder.

Veins throbbed on Ye Wang's forehead as he walked out of the hot spring with a grim expression, heading straight for Wen Ying.

Wen Ying smiled and said, "Shall we talk?"

Unable to act freely here, Ye Wang snorted coldly, walked past Wen Ying, and said, "Follow me."

Kirishino watched in astonishment, muttering to herself, "I've learned something..."

From behind, Wen Ying observed the judge, feeling relieved that the judge wasn't much taller than him and didn't seem to have an overly muscular build.

Ye Wang led them straight to the room he had here, entered, and slammed the door shut. With a grim expression, he unleashed his magical aura to confront Wen Ying with an air of reproach.

Kirishino's expression shifted slightly, while Wen Ying seemed completely oblivious.

Ye Wang: "?"

Determined to prove himself, he continued, intensifying his output.

The magic mirror demon still showed no reaction, calmly settling onto the soft white bed and striking up a casual conversation. "Is the workload for the Law Enforcement Squad heavy?"

Ye Wang's eyes widened in disbelief as he scrutinized Wen Ying from head to toe. Suddenly, he glanced at Kirishino, who was clearly starting to sweat, seemingly confirming that the issue wasn't with him but with this magic mirror demon.

He had recently heard some complaints from his demonic friends about a cheat-like magic mirror demon in the Demon Realm. At the time, he hadn't taken it seriously, figuring that even with such enhancements, a magic mirror demon, a species on the verge of descending from low-ranking demons, couldn't be that impressive.

As Ye Wang's anger and humiliation subsided, he regained his composure. He observed Wen Ying coldly, walked over, and sat on a sofa nearby, propping his legs up with the demeanor of a superior being.

"The workload isn't overly heavy, but it's not negligible either. Since you've gone out of your way to find me for work, I'll share some tasks with you."

Ye Wang swiftly listed several assignments, which Wen Ying diligently noted down. Seeing his earnestness, Ye Wang spoke more fluently, his furrowed brows easing and a hint of lightness creeping into his expression.

Instead, Wen Ying's brows furrowed deeper as he listened. He hesitantly asked, "Does the Grand Inquisitor have so much work?" His gaze subtly shifted towards Kirishino, who shook his head in response.

Wen Ying interrupted the blonde demon who was getting more and more excited as he spoke. He called Aruda right in front of him.

A puzzled look flashed across Ye Wang's face.

"Grandma~"

Both Ye Wang and Kirishino's phones buzzed with goosebumps. How could he say such a cloying greeting?

"I've arrived in the human world, and I have some work-related questions for you... Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, the demons here are all doing well..."

As Ye Wang listened to Wen Ying briefly summarize the work he had just mentioned to his great-grandmother, he couldn't help but grumble inwardly. What would the great-grandmother of a Mirror Demon know about this?

Here's a side note: Because it was common knowledge among demons that Wen Ying was being taken care of by Aruda, when Ye Wang's friends talked about Wen Ying, they didn't mention this fact.

The same was true for Kirishino's friends. Everyone subconsciously assumed that everyone knew, resulting in them being unaware that Wen Ying was currently communicating with the very Aruda who could calm crying babies.

"Most of those matters are handled by the Enforcers," Aruda said. "Little Ying, don't be deceived. And when you're in the human world, don't eat randomly all the time. Cook the magic beast meat I gave you, and I'll fertilize the Blood Tree every day over here..."

Wen Ying felt a warm current flow through him as he listened to Aruda's gentle and caring words.

After the call, Wen Ying turned to Ye Wang, who inexplicably felt a sense of inferiority. He raised an eyebrow. "What's up?"

"You're a Fallen Angel, right?"

Ye Wang hesitantly nodded.

Wen Ying asked earnestly, "Did Lai Yehua instruct you to give me so much work, or was it your own idea?"

Ye Wang was slightly taken aback, and Wen Ying understood that it was likely Lai Yehua's doing. He hadn't expected the reputable Lai Yehua to be so petty.

In addition to being surprised that Wen Ying had mentioned Lai Yehua's name, Ye Wang was astonished by the tone in which he said it. It was not the respect that a lesser demon should have for a greater demon, but rather a disdainful tone of someone on equal footing.

Where did this arrogance come from?! Ye Wang's anger flared, his eyes filled with killing intent. The dignity of the Fallen Angel clan was not something a mere Mirror Demon could insult casually.

Fist clenched, Ye Wang appeared before Wen Ying as if by teleportation, ready to teach this impudent lesser demon a lesson.

Kirishino, sensing an opportunity to suppress the Mirror Demon's inexplicable confidence, stood aside without intervening.

In the following moment, both demons were stunned. Ye Wang gazed in surprise at his wrist, now held by Wen Ying, as his fist hung suspended before the other's face, unable to proceed any further.

He struggled with all his might, but his fist wouldn't budge either forward or backward.

Such immense strength... Ye Wang's heart skipped a beat, and in a fit of anger and embarrassment, he lifted his knee to strike the other's abdomen. However, before his knee could make contact, a powerful grip on his wrist pulled him off balance, and in the next instant, the world spun around him as he was thrown onto the large bed, his captured hand now twisted behind his back.

Ye Wang wore a dazed expression, still trying to comprehend what had just transpired.

Kirishino's mouth hung open in an O shape, his eyes nearly popping out.

Unable to ignore the forceful pressure from behind, his heart palpitations intensified. Despite using all his strength to struggle, Ye Wang remained pinned to the bed, his face pressed against the white sheets.

From behind came the demon's deepened voice, "Tell Lai Yehua that as a token of gratitude, I'll provide him with some more exciting magic cards – something even more thrilling than the ones from Devil's Birthday."

If you don't treat me fairly, don't blame me for not being noble, Wen Ying's hidden smile held a hint of cunning that Ye Wang couldn't see.

What did that mean? Confused, Ye Wang still picked up on the disrespectful tone the Magic Mirror Demon used when referring to the fallen angel.

Chapter 209 - Bestowing Land

Specific details needed to be discussed and deliberated upon. In the grassy hall where villagers usually gathered for reading sessions and where Shopkeeper Xu would impart business wisdom to the children, not only were the elders and young men from Outskirts Village present, but also the heads of the Feng, Zheng, Zhou, and Gan households, who had hastily rushed over upon hearing the news.

Outskirts Village no longer needed to be overly cautious. Ever since the villagers, young and old, had moved out of the valley, Lu Widow, Madam Xu, and others, who rarely ventured out, had gradually begun to interact with their neighbors from nearby villages. When Feng Liu's wife discovered she was pregnant in the summer, Lu Widow had invited her mother-in-law to visit. After Feng's mother came once and found that her previous assumptions were wrong, it seemed there was no reason for them not to frequently visit each other. Later on, Gan's mother and Zhou Lazi's wife occasionally dropped by as well, and the interactions between the two sides became more frequent.

As such, when the families from the neighboring villages arrived, Shen Jin and Shi Erniu, who were practicing staff and saber techniques outside, led them into the grassy hall. They remained there until dusk.

The following morning, Shen Lie and Manager Xu set off with some dry rations and water, bearing the hopes and anxieties of both villages as they left the inner perimeter.

...

Not far from Xizhou City, nearly a year and a half later, Manager Xu once again encountered an old acquaintance, a manager from the Wang family who had a good relationship with both him and the Wei family.

The manager was in his forties, accompanied by a young man in his twenties. Upon recognizing Manager Xu, he smiled and hurried over. "I recognized your handwriting and guessed it was you."

Manager Xu hurried to greet him, addressing him as Manager Wang, and also called out the name of the young man standing behind the manager, who turned out to be his son.

Manager Wang sized up Manager Xu from head to toe, noting his healthy appearance, seemingly better than the last time they met. He felt relieved and inquired, "How are Seventh Young Master, Qinghe, and your young ones?"

Wang Yunzheng was the seventh child in the Wang family, thus 'Seventh Young Master' referred to him.

Manager Xu smiled and nodded. "Thanks to your blessings, all is well."

After exchanging a few pleasantries and introducing Shen Lie, they delved into business. Manager Xu retrieved the flyers he had copied and handed them to Manager Wang. "Manager Wang, I ventured out specifically because of this. I wish to inquire about the current situation outside. Is it safe for me to be here now?"

Manager Wang flipped through the papers, his face lighting up with a smile. "You're well-informed."

Folding the papers neatly, he returned them to Manager Xu. "Our current ruler is competent and has a broad-mindedness. Do you know how the previous Chu King was captured?"

"Really? How?"

"King Qi's reputation was too formidable, and he had the people's support. Several key generals of the former Chu King surrendered to King Qi on the battlefield. When leaders surrender, the troops lose morale. The capture of the Chu King required minimal effort. So, how long do you think Chen Kingdom can hold out? The war in the north has been raging for almost five years. Aren't the soldiers exhausted?"

J Shen Lie raised an eyebrow. "If King Qi treats the surrendering generals kindly, the soldiers of the Chen Kingdom might lose heart even before engaging in battle, given King Qi's current momentum."

Manager Wang laughed. "Exactly my point. Our King Qi doesn't discriminate when it comes to using talents. Moreover, after two years, the situation is nearly settled. What's the point of stubborn resistance? It's a meaningless death if they're wiped out. Surrendering could secure their future. It wouldn't be in vain to have risked their lives these past few years. Therefore, I believe peaceful days are approaching. Given the current state, even if another figure like King Qi emerged, I doubt they could stir up significant turmoil."

Times create heroes, but that opportunity has passed. Besides, Prince Qi was no ordinary citizen; he was an influential nobleman with power, military authority, courage, wisdom, and ambition. How could it be easy to produce another such figure?

Shen Lie and Manager Xu exchanged glances, both understanding the situation.

If Chen Kingdom were also annexed, the warfare would cease. At this point, conscription was out of the question. The existing soldiers were already vying for credit; there was no need to involve more people.

Unless, like the emperor of Great Kan, one ignored the welfare of the people and ignited wars. But after all these years of turmoil in Great Kan, followed by over four years of conflict, how could the kingdom still afford to launch campaigns east and west? Assuming the emperor had a sound mind, they could enjoy a decade or more of peace. Could there be a time decades later when the entire nation would be mobilized for war? Who could tell? Why worry about uncertainties beforehand?

Manager Xu asked, "Manager Wang, I wonder how the returned refugees are being settled. The proclamation doesn't provide details."

Manager Wang chuckled. "The edict was issued recently, and it hasn't been long since it was posted in our area. You must have copied it back a few days ago, right? The specific regulations were only released a few days prior. Come with me to see them."

As he led the two men towards the notice board outside the city, he continued, "Actually, if you had waited two more days, there would have been designated officials for settling the people at the city gates. There's currently a shortage of manpower, especially farmers. I've read the notice – all returning refugees will be settled in villages near their respective counties, provided with grain relief, and allocated land. They'll also be exempt from labor services and taxes for three years."

By the time they arrived at the notice board, the outskirts of the city were deserted. There was nobody around the board, so the four of them didn't need to push through the crowd. Shen Lie glanced over and immediately focused on the newest notice, reading several lines at once. As Manager Wang had said, when he reached the part about the land allocation, his pace slowed down significantly.

"Forty mu of land for able-bodied men?" Shen Lie wondered if he was seeing things. He turned to Manager Wang and asked, "May I ask how many households are currently in Xizhou City?"

The smile on Manager Wang's face faded as he lowered his gaze before answering, "Less than one thousand five hundred."

Shopkeeper Xu looked at him in astonishment. Manager Wang sighed. "This is already excellent. The Qiyang County you used to be in is now in ruins. The nearby smaller counties probably don't have more than eight or nine hundred households left. In these few years, there have been several batches of rebel armies passing through, killing and capturing people. Even though Prince Chu has done something about it, the fields within the city are barren, and those outside have been abandoned without anyone cultivating them. After a few years, how could there still be any stored grain? Countless people have starved to death. Our family only managed to survive safely thanks to the grace of our lord."

A moment of silence ensued.

Shen Lie turned his gaze back to the notice and asked, "It says here that there are ten mu of permanent fields and thirty mu of allocation fields. Can Manager Wang enlighten me as to what constitutes a permanent field and what an allocation field?"

Official Wang stated, "Previously, I heard it from the bailiff who posted the notices that once the hereditary land is allocated to you, it becomes yours, to be passed down to your descendants or sold at your discretion. You may cultivate whatever you see fit on it. As for the allotted land, however, it remains under imperial ownership, stipulating that only grain crops may be grown and it cannot be traded. Upon your demise, this land must be returned to the court."

Shen Lie took note, finishing reading the notice, only to hear Manager Wang say, "Your return now is most opportune. As it happens, not all residents within Shezhou City are indigenous inhabitants. Among them are those from neighboring villages who were brought in by government orders, as well as vagrants. But you're aware that some of these houses have become ownerless. These people have occupied them for years and now stubbornly refuse to vacate. The authorities have offered them land outside the city, but they would rather starve than give up the dwellings they've claimed within Shezhou."

"Foolishness, indeed. The new administration is still occupied. Once they have the leisure to sort through the previous dynasty's records and reclaim unaccounted-for lands, these territories won't be up for grabs by just anyone. Hence, it's wise to venture out of the mountains now, while the good land outside the city remains unclaimed. This way, one can seize the opportunity first."

Glancing at Shen Lie, he continued. He had learned from Merchant Xu last year that their family had relied on the protection of two young men who had returned from the northern battlefield to seek refuge in the mountains. Thus, he advised, "The grand estates outside Shezhou City are now in the hands of the court."

Shopkeeper Xu immediately lifted his gaze to look at Manager Wang. "You're saying that…" He was aware that the Wang family alone had no less than thirty large estates outside the city.

Wang the Shopkeeper nodded and said, "Or do you suppose that the affluent families in the city have managed to safeguard their kin all these years by some other means?"

At first, it was a matter of providing grain and money. But when it came to Prince Qi, how could those grandees who had previously pledged allegiance to King Chu expect to escape unscathed without showing genuine remorse? To safeguard their families, as well as their urban properties, they must have surrendered countless manors outside the city walls.

Master Xu understood and replied, "I assume the authorities wouldn't release such a settlement easily, right?"

These were prime resources that any administration would strive to retain.

Manager Wang glanced at Master Xu and Shen Lie and asked, "May I ask how many people reside in your mountain village?"

Before they could answer, he continued, "It's not out of curiosity. You might not be aware, but currently, the top priority for the government is resettling displaced people. It's related to officials' performance evaluations. If you have a large population, it might be possible for our master to negotiate on your behalf."

This would also provide an opportunity for their master to build connections with the new administration. Manager Wang assumed he would be willing to do so, but as a servant, it was somewhat inappropriate for him to suggest it directly.

Despite their different social statuses, Master Xu, being a shopkeeper, was no fool. He caught on with just a glance. Both his and Shen Lie's eyes lit up.

Indeed, they had quite a number of people.

Master Xu expressed gratitude, "Thank you for informing us. We'll need to discuss this with everyone before deciding. We'll return immediately. If we do decide to come out, I hope you can pass on my request to your master and arrange a meeting. I'll rely on my old face to ask him to speak on our behalf."

Manager Wang chuckled, "That can be arranged."

After bidding farewell, Shen Lie and Master Xu hurried back.

"Forty acres of land?"

The group of farmers shot up, and Old Man Chen's lips quivered. "How many acres?"

He felt like his ears were playing tricks on him.

Shen Lie repeated himself, "Forty acres, ten as permanent land, and thirty as assigned land."

He explained the difference between permanent land and assigned land.

Old Man Lu's hands trembled. "That can't be right, can it? Forty acres for every able-bodied man?"

He calculated his own family: himself, his second son, his third son, and if nothing happened to the eldest, he could count as one too. Wouldn't that mean 160 acres just for their family?

Shen Lie said, "Don't get too ahead of yourselves. There are many mountains around here, so most of this so-called land might be mountainous. Plus, there's a three-year exemption from labor service and taxes, but after that, you'll still have to pay what's due. You'll need to pay taxes on however much land you have then."

Sangluo believed it because in her original timeline, such situations did exist. In Tang Dynasty, the allocation was even more unbelievable, a hundred acres per person.

In reality, those who genuinely received a hundred mu were only those during the initial turmoil when the population sharply declined and vast fields were abandoned. As time progressed and the Tang dynasty's population rapidly increased, it became increasingly difficult for later generations to obtain that much land. Yet, the land taxes were still collected based on the original hundred mu. It was no surprise...

But that was a matter for the future. At present, for families like the Chens, Lus, and Shis, who possessed only a few meager acres of land and had to lease more from wealthy landlords each year, the prospect of a male head of household receiving forty mu was nothing short of ecstatic.

They were so overjoyed that they couldn't believe their luck.

It wasn't until Shen Lie announced the remaining number of people outside that the crowd finally fell silent, now convinced of the truth.

Having listened for a while, Shen Jin asked, "Big Brother, what about families like ours with three who haven't reached adulthood? Will we receive any land?"

Shen Lie smiled and replied, "Yes, if you're the head of the household, you'll also receive land according to the male population."

Upon hearing that their family would also receive land, Shen Jin, Shen Yin, and Shen Tie couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Having gathered all the information from outside, the decision to leave or not became crystal clear.

Leave!

The battle outside was almost over. With forty mu of land allocated per able-bodied man, there was still a chance to acquire better quality land and more favorable locations. It would be foolish not to leave now.

Madam Feng stroked her belly and exchanged a knowing glance with Second Master Lu. The couple couldn't help but laugh together.

They had already been quite restrained, but after such a long time, how could they truly endure it? Especially now that the whole family was living together. Although a few village elders were capable of assisting in childbirth, living in this mountainous area with limited access to medicine, Madam Feng couldn't help but worry since she became pregnant. Now, with the chance to leave, she felt reassured.

Almost simultaneously, Mother Chen and Mother Lu called out to their sons, "Go, send a message to the neighboring village!"

Big Son Shi smiled and said, "I'll go with you."

Tang Yang had already been frightened to the core. He screamed desperately and wriggled his body to get out.

Lin Shuicheng's car had flipped over, with the driver's side still suspended in midair. Tang Yang screamed for a while before he felt Lin Shuicheng's hand reach over and grab his shoulder.

Through several airbags, Lin Shuicheng's voice sounded muffled: "Tang Yang."

At the sound of Lin Shuicheng calling his name, Tang Yang immediately stopped screaming and started crying instead. "Brother, I really didn't mean any harm. I just came because someone said you should know you're a substitute, but before I could even say anything, you figured it out yourself... You've been so kind to me, buying me food and drinks, and even offering to pay my medical bills. Oh, sorry, Brother, but I really didn't mean any harm. I don't want to die either..."

He felt Lin Shuicheng's hand on his shoulder move slightly, applying pressure that caused a bit of pain. Tang Yang dared not cry anymore. "Brother?"

Lin Shuicheng's voice was filled with a slight, bewildered gasp. "Tell me what just happened."

"Can't you see, Brother?" Tears and snot flowed down Tang Yang's face as he clung to Lin Shuicheng like a lifeline. "Please, Brother, don't be hurt! Neither of us knows how to drive... Waaah..."

For the first time, there was a hint of agitation in Lin Shuicheng's calm and cool voice. He interrupted Tang Yang, his tone slightly strained. "Tell me what happened."

Tang Yang didn't dare dawdle anymore. Through his sobs, he recounted, "Just now, a big truck almost hit us. I didn't understand how you knew, but I didn't see how it approached. Anyway, it rushed past, and now we're flipped over in a ditch... Brother, do you think there's signal here? Will our car explode like in the movies?"

With all his strength, Lin Shuicheng held onto consciousness, striving to distinguish reality from the dense hallucinations before him: the pouring rain outside, the rumble of thunder, and the truck that had vanished from sight after narrowly missing them.

He caught his breath, turned sideways, and pushed the phone through the crack to Tang Yang, his voice hoarse. "Call the police. The unlock password for the screen is the nine-key input sequence of the word 'wait.' I'm not sure if anyone will answer the call now."

Tang Yang screamed in panic, "Bro, I use the 26-key layout! Bro, how do you type that in nine keys?"

But Lin Shuicheng didn't respond.

Tang Yang sensed something warm and sticky dripping slowly, intermingled with the sound of water seeping into the car, making it difficult to notice.

He realized what had happened – Lin Shuicheng had smashed the window on his side. When the car tilted, half of the windscreen shattered, and all the glass shards were on Lin Shuicheng's side. He didn't know if there would be any severe consequences.

Tang Yang was terrified. Trembling, he pressed the buttons repeatedly until he finally typed the correct password and dialed the police hotline.

As soon as he connected, the responder on the other end said, "We are aware of your situation. Our team is on its way. Please keep your line open."

After Tang Yang hung up, he cried out to Lin Shuicheng, "Bro, Bro, say something. You can't die, Bro...

After a long while, Lin Shuicheng softly grunted in response.

Upon hearing his voice, Tang Yang immediately felt relieved.

He listened keenly to the sounds outside, and within no more than five minutes, a faint siren grew louder as it approached.

Through his tears, he smiled with excitement, informing Lin Shuicheng, "Brother! Look, we're saved! It hasn't even been three minutes, and the police are already here!"

When Lin Shuicheng woke up, he saw Tang Yang lying on the edge of his hospital bed, his eyes wide with concern.

Upon making eye contact, Tang Yang's round eyes crinkled in relief. "Brother, you're finally awake!"

Lin Shuicheng surveyed his surroundings. They seemed to be in a private room in a hospital. The window was slightly ajar, letting in moist air and a sprinkle of rain, which filled the space with a damp freshness.

In that instant, he felt as if he had been transported through time.

It seemed like just moments ago, he had woken up in Star University's affiliated hospital, only two hours after Luo Song's accident.

Tang Yang chattered away, "The police rescued us and brought us here for emergency treatment. Hehe, when they were checking my hand, I told them I got hurt in the car, so they took care of me too, and paid for everything! Then they wanted me to give a statement, but I thought I couldn't leave you alone here, so I came back."

Lin Shuicheng had several bandages on his body, all from cuts caused by glass. His hand was the most severely injured, with a shard of glass piercing through the palm near his left wrist. Fortunately, it hadn't damaged any nerves or blood vessels, resulting in minimal bleeding. However, he might have difficulty performing certain actions smoothly for a while.

He tried moving around and found no other discomfort. Thus, he got out of bed.

The door creaked open, and a doctor entered alongside a police officer. Upon seeing Lin Shuicheng, the doctor raised an eyebrow. "Ah, you're awake. Feeling any discomfort?"

Lin Shuicheng asked, "How did I pass out?"

"The cause was neurogenic shock," the doctor explained. "Your body has been in a suboptimal health condition for quite some time, with several indices lower than the normal range. Young people should take better care of themselves." He continued, "My advice is to stay in the hospital for observation for a day. Since you were unconscious and your companion didn't provide information about your medical history or allergies, we didn't dare prescribe anything."

"No need, thank you," Lin Shuicheng said. Then, he turned to the police officer and smiled calmly. "Do we need to give our statements?"

"Yes, but there's no rush, Mr. Lin. You can wait until you've rested more…" The police officer's words were cut short by Lin Shuicheng. "Let's start now."

Startled, the officer seemed to have never encountered someone so eager to give a statement. He then smiled as well. "Sure, if that's what you prefer. Let's proceed."

Seeing the nurse leave, Tang Yang momentarily hesitated, unsure if he should exit too. Gently patting his arm, Lin Shuicheng signaled for him to go first.

Tang Yang then slipped out of the room.

Raindrops persisted outside, accompanied occasionally by flashes of lightning that illuminated the ward with a blinding glow.

"Before we begin, I'd like to get a general understanding of the situation," Lin Shuicheng spoke softly, pointing at his head. "I... was quite startled, so there might be some details I'm..."

He lifted his gaze, revealing beautiful eyes that held the depths of the ocean. His red teardrop mole was like a gem, enhancing his allure to the point where even his frail appearance had an enchanting charm.

The police officer said, "That's fine. It's about you and your friend driving on a mountain road when you nearly collided with a freight truck. Your last-minute steering saved both of you. Oh, and you were driving without a license, right?"

Lin Shuicheng nodded. "Yes."

The officer looked at him helplessly. "Despite the advancement in autonomous driving, we still require everyone to obtain a driver's license for this reason. There are some unexpected situations that the system might not be able to fully anticipate. You're a graduate student at Star University, aren't you? A high-achiever with a high IQ, but that doesn't mean you should take risks with your life."

Lin Shuicheng smiled again. "Yes, I understand."

"Driving without a license will result in a fine, and your license plate will be revoked. You won't be allowed on the road for three months. Fortunately, nothing serious happened, or else you'd have to visit our station," the officer scribbled away.

Lin Shuicheng asked, "But I have a question—I really don't remember much. Why did a freight truck suddenly appear there? Was it autonomous or driven by a person? And why would such a hazardous freight operation be conducted during the early hours of the morning?"

The officer became slightly flustered by his questions. "Just a moment..."

Lin Shuicheng narrowed his eyes slightly as he observed him.

This police officer was very young. Despite wearing the uniform of the Alliance, he appeared quite inexperienced, probably freshly graduated from the academy.

The police officer flipped through the files and read aloud, "According to our investigation report and system tracking, this was an accidental incident."

A loud thunderclap echoed outside the hospital room, followed by a downpour of rain.

Lin Shuicheng listened quietly, his expression unwavering.

"It was an unmanned cargo truck carrying chicken feed. Its intended destination should have been a breeding farm to the west for nighttime replenishment, and it was the only vehicle on that route. However, due to road repairs, the route was diverted, but the system failed to update the map in time. The autonomous driving system of the truck, upon interception, automatically planned an alternative route, which unfortunately led to your collision. We're currently in contact with the carrier, and they should be responsible for your medical expenses."

After explaining the situation, the police officer sighed in relief, "Thankfully, you survived. They say that surviving a great calamity brings future blessings, so things will surely get better for you."

Subsequently, the officer asked a few more questions about the departure time, destination, and the circumstances at the time.

The statement was straightforward. Lin Shuicheng apologized, "I'm sorry for the trouble."

The officer replied with a smile, "It's all part of our job."

Lin Shuicheng then asked, "Could you please take me back home? I doubt my car is usable anymore."

The officer responded, "Of course, sir. If you feel well enough to travel, we can leave right away."

Lin Shuicheng said, "I might have to trouble you to wait a bit longer. The person I brought in needs medical attention and an operation on his hand. I need to check on his condition."

"Sure, no problem."

Before Lin Shuicheng left the ward, the officer hesitantly called out to him, "...Are you alright?"

Lin Shuicheng turned around, looking at the officer with a puzzled expression.

"You seem... rather unwell. Did I scare you? Should I get you some hot water?" the officer asked, noticing how pale Lin Shuicheng's complexion was and how his eyes seemed devoid of life, as if he were in a state of extreme suppression and numbness.

Yet, surprisingly, he himself remained strangely composed.

Lin Shuicheng replied, "No, thank you. That won't be necessary."

Tang Yang's situation required surgical debridement due to slight signs of inflammation, and he would need to stay in the hospital for observation, along with a series of medications that would incur costs.

The previously cheerful Tang Yang suddenly became listless, "Brother, what should we do? The police surely won't be willing to pay for the subsequent expenses..."

"Rest assured and focus on your recovery. Don't worry about the expenses." Lin Shuicheng smiled for the first time, patting Tang Yang's head gently. "Wait here for me. I'll go back to fetch something."

Tang Yang scratched his head, confused but obedient. "Alright, Brother, be careful when you return with them. You're so brave. If it were me, I wouldn't dare to leave the house today after what just happened..."

The police officer waited for him downstairs, the patrol car's lights flashing. Upon seeing Lin Shuicheng approach, he rolled down the window and waved him over.

As Lin Shuicheng walked closer, his steps faltered, nearly losing his balance. He grabbed onto the car frame to steady himself.

The officer was startled and quickly opened the door to support him. "What's wrong? Are you alright?"

"I might have low blood sugar," Lin Shuicheng said, his face pale but forcing a smile. His eyes seemed to be filled with a deep, inky darkness. "Could you help me buy some candies from the convenience store?"

The officer hurriedly replied, "Of course, just wait in the car. It's raining outside, so get in quickly."

After taking a few steps out, the officer heard the car door close and didn't give it another thought.

He entered the convenience store and picked out a box of candies, preparing to pay. Suddenly, he heard an announcement over his police radio—this channel was used by the entire police department for significant notifications.

To his horror, it was Lin Shuicheng's voice coming through the radio!

The police officer rushed to the roadside, only to find his patrol car had vanished.

Lin Shuicheng closed the car door, started the vehicle, and adjusted the communication frequency: "Can you hear me? Hello?"

He shut off all incoming communication channels, yet notifications on the police car's screen were multiplying rapidly as more and more people tuned in to listen to his voice.

"I have no idea what your intentions are, nor do I care," Lin Shuicheng said slowly, altering the destination of the autonomous driving route every half minute. "Last time, it was to prevent me from making an emergency call. This time, you arrived within three minutes. Out of respect for law enforcement, I'll temporarily assume that there's a reasonable explanation behind your actions so far."

Meanwhile, chaos erupted in the police station across the city.

Someone bellowed, "Central system, revoke his control over that vehicle immediately!"

"His connection module has already been disconnected. We can't remotely operate the car he's in right now!"

"He's insane! He doesn't know how to drive!"

"Hurry, hurry—"

Amidst the static, the pitter-patter of rain, and the pounding of hearts, a cacophony emerged.

Lin Shuicheng gazed calmly at the dusky road as he drove into an empty suburb, where pedestrians and vehicles had become scarce.

"Two years ago, Chu Shihan passed away unexpectedly. Six years ago, my father died accidentally. My brother remains in a coma to this day."

"And you, or those behind you, have hindered my investigation, forbidding me from uncovering the truth. You veil my eyes with the word 'accident'," Lin Shuicheng continued methodically. He drove past a barrier and turned onto an open plain.

Tangled weeds sprawled across the muddy ground, and at the end stood an apple orchard.

"Hurry! Estimate his intended route! Predict his next move!"

"Report, he's changing routes randomly. Impossible to predict, impossible to predict!! Requesting Level A clearance to track his ID card!"

"Someone among you once told me to have faith in a higher power, because there are so many coincidences and accidents in this world, and because I'm not significant."

Lin Shuicheng said, "I did look into it. I saw a story where a deity, swayed by a devil's cunning argument, tested the loyalty of its followers by taking everything from them. Their wealth, family, freedom, and life. And it said, 'This far, and no further.'"

He enunciated each word deliberately, recounting the tale,

"Afterward, that person went mad. He began to question the deity."

"He said, may the night that conceived me and the day that bore me be consumed, may that day become darkness, may God not seek it out, may light not illuminate it. May dark clouds veil him, may an eclipse terrify him, may that night never enter the cycle of years, never mark the passing of time. May that night lack the joy of song, the bliss of childbirth. May the stars of dawn at its end turn to darkness, forever awaiting no glow of sunrise." [Quotation]

Each word was spoken calmly and detachedly, as if these furious curses originated not from the story but from his very being.

"Why does what I fear come upon me, why does what I dread meet me head-on? There is no peace, no tranquility, no happiness, only calamity." [Quotation]

Lin Shuicheng said, "In the end, this rebel submitted back to the divine. But I won't."

"If I were this person, I would sever the deity's head, drink its blood, devour its flesh, shatter its altar, even if it meant sharing the same fate. For I know, I am not without worth, isn't it so, for God needs to prove the loyalty of His followers to the devil? What is my worth that God would strip me of everything?"

"Care to make a bet? With my life, on my worth?"

The rain poured heavily, and the apple tree before him swayed, its leaves lush and vibrant, exuding vitality.

As the giant tree in the distance drew closer, Lin Shuicheng tightened his seatbelt and looked ahead calmly. "I hope you can give me an answer. By the way, my mental state hasn't been too good lately. For our mutual convenience, I hope you can provide something that allows me to verify the authenticity of this situation at any time."

"The police officer whose car I commandeered was innocent, please don't hold him accountable."

"A collision test at 50 km/h with a 1.5-ton A-shaped vehicle against an apple tree standing still, I have a 50% chance of instant death and a 50% chance of severe injury, leading to death within two to three weeks. I'm now opening the communication system, you have ten seconds left for me to consider braking." Lin Shuicheng's gaze was cold. "You and me."

The system intervened, with a voice on the verge of collapse shouting, "Stop! Lin Shuicheng! Stop! This is the directive from Department Nine personnel and the Alliance's National Security Agency! Stop! We've all told you!"

"Received."

Lin Shuicheng slammed on the brakes.

Due to Newton's First Law, he had only five seconds to decelerate. The still-sliding car collided fiercely into an apple tree!

The seatbelt dug tightly into Lin Shuicheng's body, causing him to convulse. The intense impact left him dizzy.

Just before he lost consciousness, his phone, placed on the passenger seat, rang.

The caller ID read: Fu Luoyin.

With great effort, Lin Shuicheng stretched out his hand and pressed the answer button with his last bit of strength.

He gasped for air, his vision flickering between light and darkness.

Fu Luoyin's panicked voice came through, "Lin Shuicheng? Where are you? How did I locate you in the outskirts of an orchard? Are you alright?"

Such a deep voice resonated, as if consciousness traveled through time and space, returning to a night that once existed.

The sound of rain, the buzz of electricity, and the low voice on the phone.

—Do you know what should be happening now?

—Waiting for my husband to come pick me up.

—You should be sleeping obediently. Your husband picking you up comes after that.

—I can't sleep.

—Then keep the phone on. I'll talk to you. Just listen, no need to respond. If you can't sleep, I'll tell you a story.

A story?

Lin Shuicheng thought to himself, he was no longer a three-year-old child.

Yet, he still quietly closed his eyes, waiting—waiting for someone to come and get him.

Rong Shu mentioned that particular zither, and Rong Xun recalled it was crafted by Master Wu, a renowned lute maker from the previous dynasty, an extremely rare instrument. In the first year of their marriage, upon learning of his affection for playing the zither, Madam Shen had placed it in his study.

Later, he had given it to A Yun, and currently, it resides in Qiuyun Hall.

After a moment's contemplation, Rong Xun replied, "That zither is now in Qiuyun Hall. I'll have it delivered to you tomorrow."

He was about to lift the curtain and enter the inner chamber when Rong Shu called out to stop him, "Father, there's one more matter."

Eager to attend to Madam Shen, impatience flickered across Rong Xun's face as he hurriedly asked, "What else? Speak quickly."

"In the past two decades since Mother married into the Marquis household, she has depleted most of her dowry to maintain the family's dignity. Now, with Mother needing to recuperate, a great deal of precious herbs will be required, yet her private treasury is empty. Father, it falls upon you to find a solution; I truly have no means to help."

This was not an insurmountable issue.

Rong Xun knew that Ho'an Hall was well-stocked with fine medicinal herbs. Ever since Lady Rong broke her leg, she had been spending a considerable amount of silver each year to store rare medicines.

"I'll need a list of the herbs required. In two days, I'll have them prepared and sent over," he paused before adding, "Is there anything else?"

Rong Shu smiled. "Nothing significant, but I do have a question for Father's enlightenment. My second sister will be married in a few months. As Mother is the legal wife and has contributed additional dowry for her, I wonder if second sister will depart from our Qingheng Courtyard on her wedding day?"

Rong Xun was taken aback; he had never considered this matter before.

Previously, Zhen Niang hadn't cared in the slightest where Wan'er would marry from. Just the other day, Wan'er had asked if she could leave from Qiuyun Hall, and Rong Xun hadn't yet given an answer. Now, hearing Rong Shu's suggestion, he suddenly realized that marrying out from Qiuyun Hall was highly inappropriate.

Since Zhen Niang was his first wife, Wan'er should naturally marry from Qingheng Courtyard.

"Of course, your mother is Wan'er's birth mother, so Wan'er should marry from Qingheng Courtyard."

In her previous life, Rong Wan didn't marry from Qingheng Courtyard. Her mother disliked taking credit for others' children, and, admiring the character of Minister Pei, showed great empathy for Aunt Pei's predicament. Thus, it was Aunt Pei who received Rong Wan's respect and tea during the marriage ceremony.

Rong Shu wouldn't have it. Mother had provided Rong Wan with a generous dowry to ensure a grand wedding at the Jiang family. Why shouldn't Rong Wan show respect and offer tea?

Satisfied with the response she had sought, Rong Shu bowed and left the room, followed by Yingyue and Ying Que.

Ying Que was indignant. "Miss, overseeing the Cold Clothing Festival is the right of the head wife. How can we give it to Qiuyun Hall?"

Yingyue tugged on Ying Que's sleeve. "Lower your voice. Do you think organizing such a grand festival is easy? It's a thankless task that costs money. What use is the title of head wife? Miss wants that woman in Qiuyun Hall to find the funds herself. If she doesn't have the money, she'll surely go to Ho'an Hall to ask Grandmama. Doesn't Grandmama dote on Aunt Pei? Let her use her silver to show her affection!"

With the preparations for the Cold Clothes Festival at hand, Rong Xun returned to Qiuyun Hall and mentioned it to Pei Yun.

Pei Yun nodded in agreement and asked, "Third Master, how is Lady... now?"

She knew that the people from Qingheng Courtyard wouldn't be pleased to see anyone from Qiuyun Hall since Madam Shen was gravely ill. Thus, she hadn't sent anyone over and only asked about her when Rong Xun came back each day.

Rong Xun remained as he had been in the past few days, simply saying, "She'll be fine."

Pei Yun's hand paused slightly while pouring tea.

On the day of Madam Shen's accident, Rong Xun had returned to Qiuyun Hall in a daze. When she had asked about his wife, he had sat there blankly, repeating, "She'll be fine. How could anything happen to Shen Yizhen?"

Pei Yun had seen such an expression on his face for the first time.

As the clear tea began to overflow from the teacup, Pei Yun snapped back to reality and quickly put down the teapot, reaching for a cloth to wipe up the spill.

Rong Xun held her hand and said, "There's no need to rush these things. Go rest, I'll visit Ho'an Hall. By the way, I'll send someone to deliver that zither with the charred tail to Qingheng Courtyard tomorrow. Zhaozhao wants to play the Purification Spell for her mother as a sign of filial piety, and that zither's tone is most suitable. In a little while, I'll bring you another one."

Pei Yun loved playing the zither, and she had used that particular charred-tail zither for many years.

A musical instrument, much like a beloved pet, can foster deep emotions with prolonged use. Rong Xun was well aware of her affection for this particular lute; it had never crossed his mind that he would one day part with it.

At this very moment, she was unable to say no.

For that zither had never belonged to her.

Pei Yun slowly lowered her eyelashes, unaware of when the tea on the table had grown cold.

Two days hence marks the Cold Food Festival, and Rong Shu rises early to fashion paper garments from five-hued paper.

At Ho'an Hall, the clanging and banging started before dawn. Ying Que went to investigate and found that mourners hired from outside had arrived.

Of course, they were there to honor the ancestors of the Rong family. Rong Shu had no intention of attending such a ceremony. Instead, she closed the gate of Qingheng Courtyard and continued making paper clothes for her maternal grandfather.

Rong Shu had never met her grandfather; he had passed away before her birth.

Still, it was her grandfather who had given her this name, Rong Shu. He believed in the balance between giving and letting go - one must understand both the act of contribution and the art of surrender to live a contented life.

Sometimes, Rong Shu mused, these words might have been intended for her mother.

By the time the paper clothes were meticulously prepared, it was almost noon.

Ying Que returned home and, upon coming back from the rear annex, her face was filled with astonishment as she exclaimed, "Miss, a major incident has occurred at the Donghua Gate!"

As an accomplished translator of Chinese and English novels, I am currently working on a translation of an ancient Chinese romance novel, rich in imperial court elements. However, you haven't provided any text for me to translate. Could you please provide the passage you would like me to translate?

Donghua Gate North Avenue.

Thousands of iron-clad cavalry charged forth, their armor shimmering and hoofbeats echoing thunderously through the heavens.

The leader, wearing a phoenix-winged helmet and armed with a long halberd, reined in his horse at the entrance of the Eastern Depot and sternly shouted, "I am Xie Hushen, the commander of the Imperial Guards. By the Emperor's order, I have come to quell this chaos!"

The arrival of thousands of armored Imperial Guards, with their imposing presence, startled the frenzied citizens back to their senses. Upon hearing Xie Hushen's declaration, they promptly dropped their makeshift weapons and fell to their knees in unison.

As tens of thousands of people knelt, the gruesome sight of the two dozen or so mangled corpses at the foot of the long staircase was laid bare before everyone.

Even Xie Hushen, accustomed to seeing dead bodies, couldn't help but feel a jolt in his heart when he saw the disfigured corpses.

Chapter 90: "Let Me Think" (3100+)

Their capture of Luo Le wasn't primarily due to Du Wei; the main reason was the insects.

The mercenaries had remained silent under torture and threats before.

That was because they felt they had support.

And the fleeing insects had been largely eradicated.

After dangling the carrot of freedom, they did manage to extract some information.

The insects wanted to resume research from decades ago, but most of the subjects had died, while the survivors were either crippled or on death's door. There were barely any left suitable for experimentation.

After a round of selection, they chose Luo Le.

As for why the mercenaries would aid the insects, it was because their leader – that refined man – held a grudge against the Empire's second prince.

If the experiment were successful, it would enable them to devastate the Empire's troops on the battlefield.

Even if they couldn't breach the Empire's defenses, it could plunge the Empire into crisis.

It was just that no one expected Luo Le to vanish for three years, and the First Army to start rigorously combating the insectoids under Huo Lanjing's leadership.

Before his disappearance, Luo Le had been injected with a serum by the Empire. From the insectoids' accounts, it was a drug that caused numbness, facial stiffness, and even intensified the Omega's heat cycle if there was no Alpha's pheromones present.

Eventually, it led to complete loss of rationality.

Raising his gaze, Huo Lanjing recited the symptoms from the files.

Luo Le's expression remained unchanged, but his body stilled momentarily.

Huo Lanjing continued, "That's why back at the Huo residence, you..."

With a forceful toss, Luo Le slammed the bottle in his hand, creating a loud crash. "Shut up."

Huo Lanjing cast a glance at the bottle that had leaped out of the empty trash bin, pursing his lips. "I don't mean anything by it. I just hope you'll take a look. You haven't seen it in the past three years, have you?"

Luo Le remained silent.

Huo Lanjing continued, "Chen Chen has always been waiting for you, not me. Of course, I have the responsibility to raise him, but it's unfair to him with you in your current state."

To avoid any misinterpretation, he added, "I don't intend to use Chen Chen to bind you. But with you under the influence of medication, I can't be sure if this is truly what you desire. I hope you make your choice when you're in a clear state of mind."

Luo Le's eyes flickered slightly, seemingly pondering over Huo Lanjing's words as she lowered her head.

Huo Lanjing began, "I..."

Luo Le interjected, "Okay."

Seeing that he didn't need to persuade further, Huo Lanjing promptly agreed and recommended a physician – one who also worked in this hospital.

Noticing the pale hue of Huo Lanjing's lips, Luo Le carried the porridge over to him.

Huo Lanjing promptly moved the documents on the table onto the bedside cabinet, his actions hindered by his injuries.

As Luo Le placed the food boxes section by section on the table, the corner of his eye caught sight of the slightly reddened bloodstains on Huo Lanjing's chest.

"You... didn't change?"

Upon hearing this, Huo Lanjing glanced down at his chest, a barely perceptible smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

"Mm, no."

After finishing a bowl of congee, Luo Le waited for Chen Chen to return and see him finish his meal before going to bed.

Walking down the hospital corridor, Luo Le recalled the clearly changed bandages on Huo Lanjing's body and altered his course.

He headed for the doctor in charge of Huo Lanjing's care, and fortunately, the physician was in his office.

He went straight to the point, inquiring about the nature of Huo Lanjing's injuries and why they weren't healing despite being treated in a healing chamber.

The doctor gave a concise explanation. It turned out that the dagger that pierced Huo Lanjing had been coated with a substance that caused human flesh to necrotize and decay.

The treatment chamber had repaired the necrotic medication within, but it hadn't fully recovered. Therefore, Chen Chen still needed to stay in the hospital for observation until the drug was completely metabolized and new skin grew.

After obtaining all the information, Luo Le returned home.

The next day, Luo Le went to see the doctor recommended by Huo Lanjing.

Huo Lanjing was right. It wouldn't be fair to Chen Chen or himself if he made a decision in his current state. Besides, he had intended to get a checkup anyway. He couldn't avoid seeking medical help just because of his apprehension.

Luo Le held the checklist given by the doctor, listing the items he needed to examine. Glancing at the directory, he headed towards the elevator.

"Which floor?"

Lost in thought, Luo Le suddenly recognized a familiar voice.

Looking up, he confirmed that it was indeed Huo Lanjing, who was holding a similar checklist as him.

Luo Le: "Floor eighteen."

The elevator arrived just in time, and Huo Lanjing stepped in first. "Me too, let's go together."

Luo Le followed him into the elevator.

However, no one else joined them, and the doors closed gently.

This elevator was for patients and their families, while this particular one seemed to be exclusively for the Huo family, provided by the hospital.

Huo Lanjing casually inquired, "What did the doctor say?"

Luo Le waved the sheet of paper in his hand, and Huo Lanjing instantly understood that a diagnosis could only be made after the tests were completed.

Silence ensued within the elevator.

Ding! They had arrived.

Huo Lanjing exited the elevator first.

Luo Le emerged as well, looking at the person who had turned around to wait for him. He suddenly asked, "Porridge or nutrient solution?"

Huo Lanjing reacted, understanding the hidden meaning in those words. A spark of joy flickered in his dark red eyes. "Porridge."

This implied that Luo Le would come and visit him again.

Luo Le remembered why Huo Lanjing had taken that blade for him, so he couldn't just stand idly by.

After seeing the medical report, the doctor instructed Luo Le to spend three hours daily in an A-class treatment chamber in the hospital, along with oral medication and special nutrients for his recovery.

Thus, Luo Le would bring some food to spend time with Huo Lanjing and Chen Chen in their ward in the morning. After the treatment, he would take Chen Chen downstairs for a stroll.

Upon learning about Huo Lanjing's hospitalization, Huo Fei came to tease him before hiring an auntie to cook for the two patients.

After that, Luo Le no longer needed to bring meals.

The drug injected into Luo Le's body had long since spread throughout his entire system.

Only the remnants of the drug that couldn't be metabolized were causing Luo Le's body to become increasingly abnormal.

An A-class healing pod can eliminate abnormal medications through the bloodstream.

The medicine they consumed could then aggregate the substances again.

Within a week, a significant amount had been expelled, and Luo Le was no longer in pain.

"Master Xiao and Mr. Luo have returned. Come, dinner is just about ready."

Huo Lanjing, who was seated at the table reading a book, put down his book upon hearing this and watched as Luo Le led Chen Chen over.

As they took their seats, Huo Lanjing looked at Chen Chen and spoke in a commanding tone, "It's time for you to go back to school."

Chen Chen's hand holding the small spoon froze. He turned to glance at Luo Le and shook his head. "No, Chen Chen isn't well yet."

With that, he buried his head in his food.

Luo Le also picked up a chopstick and took a bite of the dish.

Huo Lanjing had Chen Chen's best interests at heart. No matter how pitiful the situation was, Luo Le couldn't intervene.

Luo Le seemed to recall that although the Huo family's training was rigorous, it might actually be more suitable for Chen Chen.

Huo Lanjing warned with a hint of threat, "Luo Chenyue."

Chen Chen lowered her head even further but still insisted, "No."

Huo Lanjing asked, "What do you want?"

Chen Chen turned to look at Luo Le. "I want Papa to send me to school every day."

Huo Lanjing scoffed. "Impossible."

Chen Chen inquired, "Why?"

Huo Lanjing replied flatly, "There's no reason."

Seeing Chen Chen's distressed expression, wanting to speak up but too afraid to, Luo Le's heart twinged. Almost instinctively, he said, "It can be arranged."

Huo Lanjing looked at him with some surprise.

Chen Chen clung to his hand with delight. "Daddy, really?"

Luo Le had told him countless times not to call him that, but he never listened.

"There's a condition."

With eager eyes, Chen Chen asked, "What is it?"

Trying to ignore those big, sparkling eyes, Luo Le replied, "Don't call me Daddy."

Chen Chen lowered his head, looking hurt. "Okay."

Just as they had agreed, a voice interrupted, "That won't do."

In unison, they asked, "Why?"

Huo Lanjing calmly took the plate offered by the auntie and replaced the one in front of Luo Le.

"Hopping between the hospital and school will be tiring," Huo Lanjing said, looking up at him.

Luo Le couldn't bear to turn Chen Chen away and acquiesced, "It's alright, it's not too far."

Chen Chen then recalled what Uncle Wang had mentioned earlier and looked at Luo Le, "Dad... um... Uncle, Chen Chen wants to see you get better. Grandpa Wang can pick me up and drop me off."

Luo Le shook his head. "It won't be a bother."

Seeing Luo Le's determination, Huo Lanjing offered a suggestion.

The two exchanged glances, and Chen Chen agreed first, followed by Luo Le.

And just like that, the matter was settled.

Luo Le and Chen Chen would live together, with Uncle Wang taking Chen Chen to and from school while Luo Le took care of hospital visits during the day.

After Chen Chen left, the number of times Huo Lanjing saw Luo Le could be counted on one hand.

Another week passed, and Huo Lanjing's wounds had healed, no longer requiring medication.

On this particular day, Luo Le sent Chen Chen to school as usual. After bidding farewell to the teacher, he headed towards the car.

Suddenly, three individuals appeared before them.

Uncle Wang, noticing this from behind, hastily rushed over from the car. "What are you all doing?"

Luo Le looked at Qing Yi, Qing Er, and Qing San in front of him and addressed Uncle Wang. "Uncle Wang, these are my friends."

Qing Er couldn't help but genuinely smile upon seeing Luo Le, who had started to consider others.

Qing Yi surveyed the noisy surroundings and said, "Qing Si, let's find a place to sit down and talk."

Luo Le, eyeing the nearby café, waved at Uncle Wang and then walked with them.

They found a small private room.

After settling down, Qing Yi cut straight to the point. "Qing Si, we've taken on a new mission. Are you... still coming with us?"

Luo Le paused in his attempt to grab the coffee. "I..."

Qing Er observed his hesitation and asked, "Qing Si, is that child yours?"

Luo Le was momentarily at a loss for words, sipping his coffee. "I... I'll think about it."

Qing Yi responded, "Alright, the Xu family has arranged a spacecraft to send us. In three days, we'll be waiting for you at Xu Family's Riverside Flight Field."

Luo Le paused before nodding. "Okay."

With that, they left, leaving Luo Le alone.

He watched their departing figures through the window until they vanished into the bustling crowd.

Lowering his head, he swirled the coffee, gazing at the churning liquid. His mind was as chaotic as the whirlpool in the cup.

Luo Le stayed there all day, until he noticed an increasing number of people gathering at the school gate.

He slowly rose and went to pick up Chen Chen.

On their way home, Chen Chen shared amusing anecdotes from school, while Luo Le responded intermittently.

"Daddy, we're here."

Luo Le regained her composure and responded before following Chen Chen back home.

Just as she put down the items in Chen Chen's hands, a voice suddenly came from the sofa: "Didn't you go to the hospital today?"

Looking down, Luo Le saw Huo Lanjing. Why was he back?

Moreover, how did he know she hadn't gone to the hospital?