Asianovel

Chapter 79: Forced Out (3200+)

Three days had passed since that incident. Huo Lanjing hadn't shown up again.

As he predicted, Wind City didn't return either.

During these days, Luo Le took leave for Chen Chen and didn't go to change his medicine.

After all, they had just encountered such an event. What if they ran into that group of people again if they went out?

Though not as secure as the Hao residence, it was still a significant improvement over being out on the streets.

He didn't know if that group of people were sent by Gu Heting. If so, he had truly misjudged him in the past.

With tomorrow marking the parent-child event at Chen Chen's school.

Luo Le gazed at Chen Chen, who was engrossed in building a tower of blocks on the living room carpet. In the end, she couldn't bear to utter the words that would forbid him from going.

As Luo Le was lost in thought, the doorbell rang.

Luo Le felt a sudden tension in her heart. After a moment of hesitation, she got up and walked to the door.

Peering through the peephole, she saw Huo Lanjing standing outside.

Huo Lanjing's hand was still bandaged, and dark circles beneath his eyes suggested he might not have slept well.

With a steady grip on the doorknob, Luo Le opened the door.

Huo Lanjing spoke, "It's been corrected. The account is still the same as before."

Luo Le nodded, "Alright, thank you."

Huo Lanjing remained rooted at the doorstep, showing no intention of leaving.

Luo Le asked, "Is there anything else?"

Huo Lanjing lowered his head, "No."

Luo Le responded with an "Oh," then said, "Well, in that case... I won't see you out."

As he was about to close the door, Huo Lanjing suddenly reached out to brace it against its weight.

Luo Le frowned. "Is there something else?"

After a moment of hesitation, Huo Lanjing asked, "I've had some issues with my ID these past few days. The door doesn't recognize me, so I can't get in."

Luo Le queried, "What about the Huo residence? Don't tell me you can't enter there either."

Huo Lanjing replied, "I've been expelled from the Huo family."

Looking at the man who avoided eye contact, Luo Le felt a sense of suspicion.

"Let me check your AI."

Huo Lanjing demonstrated, and indeed, he couldn't enter, just as he had mentioned – no difference from a few days ago.

Luo Le still found it hard to believe. "Isn't the entire Huo family under your control now? Who has the authority to expel you? And it's just an ID – you're at least a general, can't you go to the palace and seek the emperor's assistance?"

Huo Lanjing explained, "By violating the Huo family's rules, anyone has the right to expel me. With issues with my ID, I can't even enter the palace."

Luo Le had never been to the palace, so he naturally couldn't tell if Huo Lanjing was telling the truth.

However, something felt off, so he pressed him further, asking why he hadn't sought help from Uncle Wang or any other friends.

But Huo Lanjing deftly shot down each of his questions.

After all, Uncle Wang was the butler of the Huo family and could not provide assistance to an expelled member like Huo Lanjing.

As for friends, Huo Lanjing had always been a solitary figure; Luo Le didn't recall hearing about any close friendships he had.

Could it be that he had been turned away by these people, causing his grim expression?

Shaking his head, Luo Le reminded himself that Huo Lanjing's situation was none of his concern.

Why was he telling him all this? Luo Le had a nagging feeling that...

He asked hesitantly, "Are you asking me to take you in?"

Huo Lanjing looked earnest. "I won't force you. Could you, perhaps, lend me your ID to book a room? Once I find work, I'll repay you."

Luo Le was taken aback. "Find a job?"

Huo Lanjing replied, "Mm-hmm."

Luo Le pondered for a moment. "Come in first. I'll tidy up."

Huo Lanjing agreed, "Alright."

Luo Le stepped back, allowing Huo Lanjing to enter and close the door behind him.

"Put on those shoes, they're new." Luo Le pointed to the spare pair of slippers by the door.

"Alright." Huo Lanjing crouched down to pick them up.

As he was tying his shoes, Luo Le ascended the stairs, saying, "Feel free to make yourself comfortable."

Just as Huo Lanjing stood up, he noticed Chen Chen watching him intently with a block in hand.

He walked over, picked up the toy that had fallen out of the blanket, and knelt down, saying, "Here you go."

Chen Chen snatched the blocks, leaving behind only the sight of his nape for the other person.

Huo Lanjing remarked, "You've misspelled it."

Chen Chen turned to look at him and followed his gaze to the LEGO set they had been working on earlier but couldn't complete.

Recalling her father's furious expression last time, Chen Chen turned her back on Huo Lanjing, refusing to acknowledge him.

Huo Lanjing leaned closer to his ear and asked, "Is your father forbidding you from talking to me?"

Chen Chen remained silent.

Huo Lanjing paid no heed and busied himself with a LEGO set lying nearby, engrossed in building it.

Noticing this, Chen Chen thought about how he couldn't communicate with him.

So, he glared at Huo Lanjing with his eyes, hoping that the older boy would notice his gaze and stop playing.

The LEGO set belonged to Zhuang Zhuang; previously, Zhuang Zhuang had mentioned that he couldn't figure out how to assemble a particular LEGO model correctly.

He didn't want to see Zhuangzhuang looking sad, so he offered to give it a try.

To his surprise, he couldn't finish it even after several days.

Tomorrow was the day he had to return it to Zhuangzhuang.

He had spent two days on it and was so close to finishing. If this wicked uncle messed it up...

He would ask Father to kick him out.

Huo Lanjing dismantled the top four layers skillfully, then promptly picked up the LEGO blocks beside him to start assembling them.

Before long, he completed it.

He brought it in front of Chen Chen: "Here you go."

Chen Chen reached out to take it, examining it from left to right. He realized that it was indeed fully assembled.

This uncle was really capable.

He looked down and said, "Thank you."

Huo Lanjing stroked his head.

Chen Chen pushed his hand away. "Let go."

When Luo Le saw this, he felt a sense of disorientation.

Following the previous sequence of events, this might have been how they would have interacted as father and son.

Huo Lanjing lifted his head. "Are you done?"

Luo Le acknowledged him with a sound, then picked up Chen Chen. "Come on."

With Huo Lanjing leading the way, they arrived at a hotel in no time.

It wasn't too far from where Luo Le was staying.

The decor was ordinary and slightly worn.

The clock in the center seemed on the verge of collapse.

Luo Le glanced at the worn-out floor and wondered if Huo Lanjing was accustomed to living in such a place.

Although during missions, he might have dozed off on tree trunks, Luo Le had always seen Huo Lanjing as someone high above, making it hard for him to picture that scene.

Luo Le asked, "You... are sure you want to live here?"

Huo Lanjing replied, "Mm-hm, I haven't found a job yet."

He said this with a cold expression.

Did that imply he couldn't afford anything else?

Seeing Huo Lanjing about to step in, Luo Le grabbed the corner of his shirt.

Huo Lanjing turned back. "What's wrong?"

Luo Le said, "It's alright, there's no rush to pay it back. Besides, if not for you, we might have been in trouble."

Upon hearing his father's words, Chen Chen thought of the completed Lego set and looked up, saying, "Uncle, thank you."

Huo Lanjing felt a sting in his heart as he saw his wife and son express their gratitude.

He patted Chen Chen's shoulder gently and replied, "It was my duty."

Afterward, Luo Le found a relatively clean and newly decorated hotel.

While upstairs, Luo Le had already transferred part of the usable funds from his current account to his previous one.

Then, he secretly slipped a note containing the password into Huo Lanjing's pocket.

Before leaving, Luo Le asked Huo Lanjing for the contact details of the mercenaries.

Huo Lanjing provided them and assured that they would arrive tonight.

After a brief explanation, Luo Le bid farewell and left.

Sure enough, four robust male Alphas arrived that evening, exuding a combat-ready vibe.

Luo Le heaved a sigh of relief, and Chen Chen wouldn't be disappointed anymore.

This was Chen Chen's very first school parent-child event.

The next morning, as Luo Le pulled Chen Chen out of the door, they were greeted by Huo Lanjing, who stood at the entrance like a guardian deity.

He asked, "Where are you two off to?"

After a moment of hesitation, Luo Le chose to reveal the truth.

Huo Lanjing then proposed, "Can I join you?"

Luo Le lowered his gaze, contemplating for a while before ultimately giving in.

They set off for the school as a group, with the three of them in the first car, followed closely by the mercenaries' vehicle.

The event was scheduled to begin at nine in the morning.

At half past eight, Luo Le accompanied Chen Chen to take their seats. With no more available seats, Huo Lanjing stood behind them.

Luo Le asked him to fetch a chair, but Huo Lanjing said it was fine.

He was tall and carried himself with an air of refinement that hinted at his affluent background.

The other four children's parents, still remembering the incident from that day, found it peculiar that after such an unpleasant encounter, they were now participating in a parent-child activity together. Speculations arose among them.

However, due to Huo Lanjing's intimidating presence, they dared not discuss it openly. After that day, they had created a group chat where they continued their conversations.

Upon entering, the teacher immediately noticed Huo Lanjing standing. Unaware of his true identity, she could tell from the principal's attitude on that day that this man was no ordinary individual.

While not going as far as to try to ingratiate themselves, they certainly didn't want to offend him.

The teacher approached and said, "Mr. Huo, I apologize for the oversight. I'll go fetch a chair right away."

Huo Lanjing lifted his eyes lazily. "No need, don't waste time."

Luo Le, standing by, secretly nudged him.

How could one speak like that?

Huo Lanjing looked down at her, slightly perplexed.

Just as he was about to ask what was wrong, the teacher said, "Alright, then please stand for a while."

Although the teacher said this, she promptly informed the principal about the situation when she turned around.

Afterward, she began her safety lecture on stage.

A few minutes later, a security guard arrived with a chair, knocking on the door.

The teacher paused and said, "Put it there."

Then, she continued her speech.

The security guard placed the chair and left.

Huo Lanjing took a seat.

Luo Le leaned in and whispered, "If anyone asks, don't mention anything about the Huo family."

Huo Lanjing completely ignored the tickling sensation on his ear, his gaze fixated on Luo Le's moving Adam's apple.

Unconsciously, he swallowed, watching intently.

After Luo Le finished speaking, Huo Lanjing moved closer to his ear and replied, "Alright, I'll follow your advice."

As he spoke, his breath brushed against Luo Le's ear.

With naturally sensitive ears, Luo Le's face flushed red instantly, resembling a ripe red apple.

Luo Le acknowledged with a soft hum and created some distance.

He seemed like a tiny, bashful kitten.

Huo Lanjing couldn't help but curve his lips as he watched.

Was Luo Le's earlobe always this susceptible to blushing before?

Soon, the teacher finished speaking and led everyone to their class's activity area.

After the other parents had left, Luo Le carried Chen Chen and followed behind.

Huo Lanjing was right on their heels.

The moment they appeared, the bodyguards shadowed them.

The first game was a three-legged race. With Chen Chen's small steps, he was placed in the middle.

During the race, Luo Le suddenly felt Huo Lanjing's hand sneak around his waist.

He pushed away Huo Lanjing's hand, accompanied by a meaningful glance.

Huo Lanjing looked at him innocently.

Both halted in their tracks, releasing their grip. Chen Chen continued to walk forward, unable to be pulled back, and tumbled forward.

Upon hearing Chen Chen's sobs, they rushed to help him up, discovering abrasions on his hands; likely, his legs were injured as well.

From then on, they were unable to participate in any more activities.

After being bandaged, Chen Chen could only watch as others engaged in the competition.

On subsequent days when Luo Le took Chen Chen to school, they would inevitably encounter Huo Lanjing at the entrance.

Huo Lanjing then offered to escort Chen Chen to school alongside Luo Le, who repeatedly refused, to no avail.

Eventually, Huo Lanjing announced that he had found a job. Every evening, he would show up in his uniform, looking dusty and worn out, asking to join them for dinner.

The uniform identified him as a logistics worker. Perhaps due to connections within the Huo family, Huo Lanjing had been reduced to doing manual labor.

Luo Le, witnessing his sorry state, said nothing and allowed him to eat with them.

It wasn't as if they couldn't afford another mouth to feed.

Only Chen Chen was unaware that Father's cooking was not as delicious as McDonald's, yet he insisted on joining them for meals every day.

Chapter 127: Tussling

Ji Min was taken aback.

The two of them exchanged glances and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Big Yellow, not understanding their merriment, yawned and curled up to sleep beside them.

"Are you free tomorrow?" Ji Min asked.

"No," Lu Ran rejected mercilessly.

"No?"

The corners of the man's eyebrows lifted high. "I could understand if you were too busy with your lab work earlier, but you still have no time now?"

Lu Ran teased him, "You're the one who asked if I had time, and I gave an honest answer. Why aren't you happy about it?"

Frustrated, Ji Min rapped his forehead.

Nighttime.

The lights were off in the bedroom.

Lu Ran was sleeping soundly under the air-conditioned blanket, on the verge of snoring gently. Despite the cool temperature in the room, he found it stuffy and kicked the thin blanket into a disarray with his legs.

Still feeling hot, he nestled closer to the man lying beside him, who had a slightly lower body temperature.

His sleeping position wasn't the most graceful, as his legs sprawled across the other person's body.

Ji Min reached out to draw the man into his embrace, though his dark eyes were wide awake, devoid of any sign of sleep.

Lately, he couldn't help but think about the psychological self-portrait that the therapist had shown him.

Of course, matters concerning the Shen family also occupied his thoughts.

The Ji family's background was different from the Shen family's.

Yet, Ji Min was also a businessman, and his household had its fair share of troubles.

At times, he could easily discern Shen Hongyuan's or Shen Xingyu's intentions.

Shen Hongyuan had altered the will, seizing the inheritance that originally belonged to Lu Ran.

Years later, Lu Ran was found.

To the Shen family, he was like a time bomb waiting to explode.

Should he be exploited by their rivals or, if Lu Ran himself discovered something, chose to expose it to the media, it would cause immense turmoil within the Shen Corporation.

Thus, even though Shen Hongyuan didn't favor this son, Lu Ran, he had to keep him within the Shen family, or at least under their control.

By the time Shen Xingyu took over the Shen Corporation, the situation was irreversible, and he leaned more toward safeguarding the corporation's interests.

However, even disregarding familial ties, Shen Xingyu wouldn't resort to extreme measures.

The aftermath of such actions would be too severe, and any unintended revelation could result in a massive scandal.

Shen Xingyu would likely prefer to draw Lu Ran into the Shen family, strengthening the ties between Lu Ran and the Jins, ideally forming an interest-based alliance.

This was the logical approach for a typical family.

Unfortunately, by the time Shen Xingyu returned, the situation at the Shens had already become a mess.

Ji Min could somewhat comprehend Shen Xingyu's actions.

But what about Shen Hongyuan?

Ji Min couldn't help but feel that Shen Hongyuan had an inexplicable deep fear towards his son, Lu Ran.

He seemed to wish for his youngest son to vanish.

This led Ji Min's thoughts to drift back to Lu Ran's car accident.

Gazing down at the slumbering figure nestled in his embrace, he drew the person even closer.

However, the individual seemed to find it too warm and pushed him away unappreciatively.

Arching their body sideways, they created quite a distance between them.

Ji Min chuckled before resuming his thoughts.

It was inevitable that he would entertain certain speculations.

If Lu Ran hadn't crossed paths with him...

If Shen Hongyuan had indeed orchestrated that car accident, resulting in Lu Ran falling completely into the hands of the Shen family.

Who would have come to Lu Ran's aid?

Madam Shen's attention was solely fixed on Shen Xingran.

Shen Xingzhuo was utterly irresponsible.

Even if Shen Xingyu would feel heartache, given that the situation has already reached this point, he would still choose to protect the Shen family.

Once again, Ji Min's mind was filled with that self-portrait.

The figure lies trapped on a square bed, his body adorned with an intricate web of black lines that symbolize his pain.

"After being trapped in a hospital for ten years, no one would want to return to such a place…"

The youth's indistinct words echoed faintly within Ji Min's mind.

It stirred his heart for an instant.

Presently, it was naturally impossible for Lu Ran to be confined in a hospital for a decade.

Nor would he be pushed into an icy cold pool.

But what if...

An absurd speculation flashed through Ji Min's mind.

It was so absurd that he immediately dismissed it and couldn't help but laugh.

Yet, this seemingly preposterous speculation continued to linger in his mind.

Suddenly, Ji Min recalled how Lu Ran had woken up in the hospital after the car accident.

The youth raised his head from the sickbed, gazing at him with those pitch-black eyes that were nearly devoid of life.

Question: "Ji Min, are you truly real?"

But how can I be sure you're not just a figment of my imagination?

Ji Min instantly sat up straight in bed.

He reached out his arm, extending it to touch the wrist of the youth beside him.

The warm temperature of the youth, accompanied by the pulsing of veins in his wrist, was transmitted to Ji Min's palm.

Yet, it didn't completely dispel the fear in his heart.

Ji Min reached out to embrace Lu Ran into his arms.

The slumbering person, somewhat vexed by the disturbance, reached out a hand to push him away.

Ji Min, however, had no time to dwell on such matters.

His lips trembled as they pressed upon the pulsating vein at the nape of the youth's neck, relishing in the vibrant throb beneath the delicate skin.

Once again, he reached out to clasp the youth's fingers.

Yet, Lu Ran's entire arm was limp with sleep, devoid of any strength.

Ji Min made an effort to interlace their fingers, leaning in to kiss his lips.

Lu Ran was almost at his wit's end.

"I'm not doing anything. I want to sleep," he mumbled, still half-asleep.

Normally, at such times, the man would mercifully let him be.

But this time, Ji Min held his chin with a slight firmness and called his name, "Lu Ran, don't you dare fall asleep!"

Until he was lifted straight off the bed.

The sensation of weightlessness roused Lu Ran, even if he didn't want to wake up.

"What's going on? Earthquake?" Lu Ran asked, rubbing his eyes.

He lifted his gaze to meet the man's bloodshot eyes.

Lu Ran was taken aback by the sight.

"Painful?" The man bent down to kiss the joints of his fingers.

Lu Ran was still somewhat dazed.

The man then lowered his head to gently bite his wrist and asked again, "...Can you feel it?"

The bedroom was dimly lit and quiet.

With his back against the floor-to-ceiling window, the light from outside illuminated Lu Ran's face, allowing him to clearly see the expression in the man's eyes.

"I..."

Suddenly, Lu Ran grasped something.

He blinked, intending to ask, "Did you go see my psychiatrist?"

But before he could utter a word, Ji Min kissed him.

It was a fierce kiss.

His heart pounded fiercely.

Despite the recent tranquility in his life, the intensity of the moment felt like a fierce regained loss.

Lu Ran understood.

There was no need for him to say anything more.

The next day.

The sun was shining bright, and the chirping of birds in the garden was excessively loud.

In bed, Lu Ran turned over and covered his ears with a pillow.

After a while, he abruptly sat up and was about to get out of bed.

Unfortunately, as soon as his foot touched the ground, Lu Ran stumbled and fell to his knees with a thud.

Ji Min entered with a tray of food, catching sight of this scene.

Ji Min: "…."

He fell silent for a moment before putting down the tray and approaching him.

"It can't be that bad," Ji Min couldn't help but comment. "You did have dinner last night, right?"

Lu Ran leaned on his arm to stand up.

He gritted his teeth and said through clenched jaws, "This time, it's not because of hunger. It's thanks to you. Are you satisfied now?"

Ji Min: "…"

He touched his nose, acknowledging his fault. He helped Lu Ran up and spoke gently, "Well, you still need to eat something to fill your stomach first."

To his surprise, Lu Ran pushed the tray away with a twisted expression on his face. He exclaimed in despair,

"I don't want to eat anything! My bladder is about to burst! Don't block my way to the bathroom!"

Ji Min: "…"

He quickly put the tray down, holding back his laughter as he carried Lu Ran into the bathroom.

After relieving himself, Lu Ran finally emerged, alive and well.

Only then did he feel how desperately hungry he was. Supporting himself against the door frame, he dragged himself out.

The man he had just chased out of the bathroom had already placed the tray on the small table on the balcony.

Upon hearing the sound, he glanced over and asked with a smile, "You're up. Do you need me to help you?"

"Get lost!" Lu Ran snapped.

He sturdily walked over to the small sofa and was about to pick up his chopsticks.

As he lifted his head, he noticed the dried water stains on the window glass, causing his ears to turn crimson.

"I'm not eating here," Lu Ran declared.

Ji Min also caught sight of the marks and coughed softly, looking down.

Lu Ran held back his frustration and added, "You're not hiring a cleaner for this. You'll have to clean it yourself."

Ji Min raised an eyebrow, teasing him,

"It was both of us who made that mess, why should I be the one to deal with it alone?"

Lu Ran replied, "…Have some dignity, will you?"

Last night's activities were too intense, leaving telltale signs throughout the room.

Ji Min didn't plan on calling anyone over. Instead, he descended the stairs to fetch a cleaning cloth himself.

Upon returning, he crouched by the window, rolled up the sleeves of his shirt, and began wiping the surfaces with a forlorn expression.

A supervisor sat beside him, offering guidance:

"You should use a dry cloth to wipe again; otherwise, there'll be water stains, and anyone can tell you're inexperienced in this."

Lu Ran was genuinely exhausted from the previous night.

Ji Min had driven him to the brink of madness.

Starting from the tips of his fingers all the way to his shoulders, Ji Min had virtually touched and even nibbled on every joint of his body.

He even asked, "Does it hurt? Can you feel anything?"

At one point, he'd carried Lu Ran around the entire room, spinning them both in a wild dance.

Practically every corner of the bedroom had been explored, except for the bed itself.

Lu Ran woke up with sore joints all over his body in the morning.

It wasn't an illusion; this time, the ache was real.

Seems like even youth couldn't withstand such exhausting positions.

Seeing how exhausted he truly was, Ji Min suggested, "There's nothing much to do anyway, why don't you go back to sleep?"

Lu Ran pulled a long face. "You're the one with nothing to do, not me."

"Hmm?" Ji Min was surprised. "What's the matter?"

"I have to meet someone."

Yawning, Lu Ran frowned as he mentioned this, slightly annoyed. "I was supposed to meet them outside, but now I'll have to ask them to come over instead."

Ji Min chuckled at him. "Why can't you go out now?"

Lu Ran shot him a subtle glance. "You still have your wheelchair, right? Maybe I could sit on it and you could push me over?"

Ji Min froze upon hearing this, dropping the rag to pinch Lu Ran's cheek.

"Don't talk nonsense. You're not allowed to say things like that."

Ji Min didn't inquire about whom Lu Ran had invited.

He had assumed it was a classmate or someone of the sort.

But when the guest arrived, he realized that Lu Ran had actually invited Shen Cheng.

Ji Min's eyebrows twitched.

He had been investigating Shen Cheng recently.

This man was a gambler with a considerable debt.

Much of Shen Hongyuan's embezzled wealth had ended up in his pockets.

Shen Cheng's father had made significant contributions to the Shen Corporation, and now Shen Cheng has taken his father's place, holding a seat on the company's board of directors.

However, Shen Cheng is an exceedingly cunning individual, completely uninvolved in the company's financial affairs.

He also has a notorious weakness for women, with a multitude of illegitimate children outside of marriage.

His legitimate wife has long since divorced him.

Seeing Shen Cheng, Ji Min understood why Lu Ran was reluctant to invite him over to the house.

Probably because he found it tainted.

Lu Ran took a seat in the courtyard.

"Oh, the layout of this courtyard is quite impressive. Hey... this pine tree is pruned beautifully!"

After a round of flattery, Shen Cheng sat down in front of Lu Ran.

He looked at Lu Ran and sighed, "Oh my, it's been ages since I last saw you, Cousin. I even carried you when you were a child."

He then stood up again to take Ji Min's hand. "President Ji! I've heard so much about you..."

Lu Ran yawned.

He said coolly, "Let's get down to business. Didn't you say you had information regarding my grandfather to share with me?"

"Indeed, indeed."

Shen Cheng exaggerated, "You have no idea how much your grandpa dotes on you. He holds you in the palm of his hand, afraid to drop you, and keeps you close to his heart, afraid to lose you!

"He took you in specifically because of how your father was. In the entire family, he might be the one who loves you the most. Otherwise, why would he leave all his inheritance to you, right?"

Shen Cheng rambled on.

Lu Ran leaned back in his chair, listening to Shen Cheng's words.

Ji Min sat beside him, ignoring Shen Cheng as he held onto Lu Ran's arm, gently kneading his joints.

This display made Shen Cheng's eyes gleam with interest.

Lu Ran glanced at Shen Cheng and asked with a tone full of anticipation,

"Really? Could you tell me more about Grandpa?"

His voice echoed like that of a child yearning for familial affection desperately.

This made Ji Min unable to resist raising an eyebrow at him.

Lu Ran gently pinched the man's fingertips, signaling him not to interrupt.

He then turned back to Shen Cheng and continued, "But I don't even remember what Grandpa looked like. Telling me this doesn't seem to hold much significance."

"How can it be insignificant!" Shen Cheng exclaimed emotionally, "You can ask Uncle me!"

After saying that, he seemed to realize his eagerness and laughed it off. He got up from the table and strolled around the courtyard.

Lu Ran remained seated in his chair.

"Quite the convincing act," Ji Min chuckled.

Lu Ran shot him a withering glance.

In his possession were photos of Elder Shen, and compared to Shen Cheng's words, Lu Ran placed more trust in Elder Gu's descriptions.

The longing for familial affection was an inherent human trait.

If he were any other orphan who had never felt a parent's love, Lu Ran supposed he might have been deeply moved by Shen Cheng's words.

But Lu Ran was not interested.

A few days prior, Shen Cheng had sought him out at school, speaking in vague allusions.

Lu Ran speculated that with Shen Hongyuan's downfall, Shen Cheng, burdened with gambling debts, had turned his eyes toward him.

Frankly, Lu Ran had little interest in the shenanigans between Shen Cheng and Shen Hongyuan.

Yet, considering... the inheritance from Elder Shen, Lu Ran decided to make contact with Shen Cheng after all.

Though he was unsure of the elder's intentions behind the gift, it was still the only present he had ever received from an elder.

For the sake of this "uniqueness," he intended to investigate further.

As he watched Shen Cheng's departing figure, Lu Ran suddenly cast a glance at Ji Min, mischief brewing in his eyes.

Perceiving his gaze, Ji Min asked, "What's up?"

Lu Ran leaned closer to him.

Ji Min chuckled, "Why are you whispering secrets at home?"

Lu Ran shot him a look before saying, "I really detest this person."

Shen Cheng was rather unscrupulous and had even harassed Shen Xingran.

Even though Shen Xingran was adopted, he had been living with the Shens for quite some time.

It was utterly disgusting to lay hands on one's adopted nephew.

"Hmm?" Ji Min leaned in as well.

"But I still want to extract some information from him," Lu Ran said.

"In that case, you go back first. I'll be the one to interact with him," Ji Min offered.

"No way," Lu Ran said, somewhat stubbornly. "I want to ask him myself."

"Then..."

Ji Min tried to gauge what Lu Ran had in mind. "Should I cause him some trouble after you've gotten what you need?"

"No, that would take too long. I want to get to him right now," Lu Ran stated.

Ji Min fell silent for a moment.

Considering Lu Ran's methods, he cautiously asked, "How do you plan on punishing him?"

Lu Ran lifted his finger, pointing at the empty cup on the table, and said, "Fill it with some toilet water for him."

Ji Min: "..."

The esteemed Chairman of the Ji Corporation had never heard such an outrageous yet confidently delivered command in his life.

For a moment, he was at a loss, pointing at himself in confusion, seeking confirmation:

"Ah? Me?"

"Yes," Lu Ran replied with a grin. "After you've put me through all this, do you expect me to do it myself?"

Ji Min: "...."

Who exactly are you trying to tease here?

Chapter 65: The Story This Seat Tells Is Terribly Unpleasant

Mo Ran smiled again as he continued, "A very long time ago, there was a little child."

Chu Wanning kept his eyes closed. "Wasn't it about a cow eating grass? How did it become a child?"

"Listen to me finish first," Mo Ran said with a grin. "Once upon a time, there was a poor little child. He had no parents and worked as a laborer in a landlord's house. He had to wash dishes, clothes, and sweep the floor, as well as take the cows out to graze. The child felt content just to have three buns to fill his stomach every day."

"One day, he took the cows out to graze like usual. On the way, he encountered an evil dog that bit one of the cows' legs. Naturally, the child was beaten severely by the landlord. After the beating, the landlord made him kill the dog to vent his anger. Otherwise, he wouldn't give the child any buns."

"The child was very scared but had no choice but to follow orders and bring the dog back dead. But when he returned home, the landlord discovered that the dog which had bitten their work ox was actually the county magistrate's beloved pet."

Chu Wanning opened his eyes. "What should they do then?"

"What else could they do? That dog was the most cherished possession of the county magistrate, accustomed to bullying others because of its master's power. If the magistrate found out that it had been killed carelessly, he would surely not let them off easily. So, the landlord became angrier and still didn't give the child any buns. He even threatened to send the child away if the magistrate came looking for them."

Chu Wanning: "…What nonsense is this? It doesn't make any sense. I don't want to listen anymore."

"Many things in life simply don't make sense," Mo Ran said with a smile. "It's all about who has more money, who has the strongest fists, or who holds the higher position. The next day, the county magistrate indeed came looking for someone. The child was given up. Because he was too young, the magistrate didn't have the heart to imprison him. He beat the child harshly with ten sticks before letting him go."

Chu Wanning asked, "Did the child run away after that?"

Mo Ran replied, "Haha, no, he didn't escape. The kid still returned to the landlord's house, recovered from his injuries, and continued herding their cows. He still ate three cakes every day."

"Wasn't he angry?"

"As long as he was full, he wasn't angry," Mo Ran said. "He took the beating and let it go. They lived in peace for over a decade. Later, the cowherd grew up. There was also the son of the landlord, who was the same age as him. One day, some distinguished guests came to the landlord's house. The landlord's son saw that one of them had a particularly beautiful agate snuff bottle and liked it so much that he stole it."

"That snuff bottle was an heirloom and very valuable. The guest was panicked and searched the entire house for it. When the landlord's son realized he couldn't hide it any longer, he stuffed the snuff bottle into the cowherd's hands and told him that if he dared to reveal the truth, he would never give him food again and let him starve to death."

"…" Chu Wanning was speechless at this point. He thought that although Mo Ran had been wandering outside since he was young and had lost his parents, he had at least grown up in the Music Bureau with his mother, who was the head nurse there. Although he didn't have a happy life, it wasn't miserable either. Why did he always make up such gloomy stories?

Mo Ran continued with relish, "The snuff bottle was soon found. The cowherd had no choice but to admit it under pressure, and naturally, he was beaten violently once more. This time, he was bedridden for three days. The landlord's son, who had escaped punishment, secretly gave the cowherd a steamed bun stuffed with braised pork. The child devoured it greedily and didn't hate the person who had wronged him anymore. Because he had never tasted such a delicacy before, he held the bun in one hand while continuously thanking the landlord's son with the other, saying 'thank you, thank you.'"

"I don't want to hear any more," Chu Wanning said genuinely angry this time. "Why wouldn't he hate? A steamed bun made him forgive? And thank him? What is there to thank for?!"

"No, you didn't listen carefully," Mo Ran blinked innocently.

"How didn't I listen carefully?"

Mo Ran said solemnly, "That was a steamed bun with a slice of pork belly inside."

Chu Wanning: "…"

"Haha, look at your expression. You don't get it, do you? That child could only have a couple of pieces of fat meat on New Year's Eve. He never thought he'd know the taste of a pork belly sandwich in his lifetime, so of course, he had to thank the person who gave it to him."

Seeing his junior apprentice brother speechless, Mo Ran smiled brightly and continued, "Anyway, that matter was settled. He still had his three buns and carried on with his daily life. One day…"

Chu Wanning now understood Mo Ran's storytelling style. Whenever "one day" appeared, something terrible was bound to happen.

Sure enough, Mo Ran said, "One day, the landlord's son got into trouble again."

"This time, he molested a girl from the neighboring house in the mill, and it just so happened that the unfortunate cowherd boy saw it."

Chu Wanning: "…Did they make the kid take the blame again?"

"Ah," Mo Ran chuckled. "That's right. Congratulations, you've learned how to tell stories too."

"I'm going to sleep."

"Don't, it'll be over soon," Mo Ran said. "This is my first time telling a story to someone else, so please do me the favor of listening."

Chu Wanning: "..."

"This time, the cowherd had no choice but to take the blame. The girl, unable to bear the humiliation, had killed herself by crashing into a wall. But the cowherd wasn't foolish; he knew that taking someone's life required his own as retribution, and he couldn't possibly substitute for the landlord's son," Mo Ran continued. "Refusing to do so, the landlord's son locked him and the dead girl inside the mill, then went to report the incident to the authorities."

"The cowherd had a notorious record. He had once beaten the county magistrate's dog to death for no reason, later stole a guest's snuff bottle, and now had committed the heinous act of raping a civilian woman. Naturally, he was deemed irredeemably guilty. No one cared to hear his defense; with evidence against him, he was arrested."

Chu Wanning's eyes widened. "And then what happened?"

"And then, he spent several months in prison before being sentenced to death in the autumn. He was sent to the outskirts of Xingtai City to be hanged. As he walked with the execution squad through the fields, he suddenly saw someone slaughtering a cow not far away. He recognized at once that it was the very cow he had tended since he was young, now old and too weak for labor. But even an old cow needs to eat grass. How could the landowner be willing to feed it if it couldn't work? It had plowed their fields all its life, yet in the end, they decided to kill it for its meat."

Despite recounting such a cruel tale, Mo Ran didn't seem saddened. Instead, he smiled and said, "But the cowherd had grown up riding on its back. He'd whispered countless secrets to it, fed it grass, and cried into its neck when he felt wronged. He considered it his only kin in this world."

"So, he knelt before the prison chief, begging to say goodbye to the old cow. But the prison chief, naturally, didn't believe that a human could have any real feelings for an animal. He thought the cowherd was trying to play a trick, so he denied the request."

"And then?"

"Well, then the cowherd was hanged. And the cow was killed. Blood stained the ground, and the onlookers dispersed coldly. That night, the landowner's family had a meal of beef, but the meat was too tough, getting stuck in their teeth. They ate a little, didn't like it, and threw the rest away."

Chu Wanning: "..."

Mo Ran rolled over, gazing at him with a grin. "That's the end. Did you like it?"

Chu Wanning replied, "Get lost."

"I cried the first time I told it to myself. You have a heart of stone not to shed a tear."

"It's because you told it so poorly..."

Mo Ran chuckled, looping an arm around his junior's shoulders and ruffling his hair. "What can I do? That's all my senior apprentice brother's got. Alright, the story's done. Let's sleep."

Chu Wanning remained silent. After a long while, he suddenly asked, "Mo Ran."

"Call me Senior Apprentice Brother."

"Why did you mention cows eating grass?"

"Because humans are like cows, we both need to eat. And to eat, we must do many things. When one day you can't do those things anymore, no one will care if you're alive or not."

Chu Wanning fell silent once more.

The rustling in the courtyard was the soft sound of refugees seeking shelter, occasionally interrupted by the eerie wails of ghosts beyond the barrier.

"Mo Ran."

"Oh dear, how naive. Call me Senior Brother."

Chu Wanning ignored him and asked, "Was there really such a child?"

"There wasn't." Mo Ran fell quiet for a moment before suddenly smiling, his dimples deep and charming. He nestled the little one into his embrace and said warmly, "Of course I made it up to tease you. Be good and go to sleep."

But before long, a sudden commotion erupted in the courtyard.

Someone shouted furiously, "Looking for Young Master! Young Master is busy, how could he have time to deal with your problems? Clear that corpse out of here! Do you know that anyone with blue spots will rise from the dead?! Are you trying to get us all killed?!"

This voice was like a bolt of lightning in the dark night. At the mention of "rising from the dead," everyone was startled awake, sitting up and staring in the direction of the disturbance.

Mo Ran shielded his junior brother behind him, taking a look and frowning as he whispered, "Huh? Was it that person from noon?"

Kneeling on the ground, being scolded, was the young man called Xiaoman from noon. He still wore his daytime attire, but his spirit had changed entirely.

He seemed drained of all life, clutched tightly onto his foster father's corpse. The nails on the corpse had grown significantly, a precursor to reanimation. Upon seeing this, others retreated in fear. The chief administrator of the governor's mansion sternly reprimanded him.

"You father was my colleague; I grieve for his loss too. But what can we do? It was you who cried for food last night, forcing him to go out and find sustenance for you. You've caused your father's death, and now you want to burden us further?

Xiaoman knelt there, his hair disheveled, eyes reddened with tears. "No, it wasn't me... I didn't... Father, oh Father. Please, let me see the nobleman. He has a way to prevent my father from rising as undead. I want to give my father a proper burial. I beg of you... don't... don't dismember him... Wuu..."

The word "dismember" caught in his throat, and he buried his face in his palms, wiping away tears haphazardly. His lips quivered as he pleaded, "I beg of you... let me wait for the nobleman's return..."

"Midnight is almost upon us, how could the young master possibly attend to your matters when he's outside? You know ordinary corpses can still be purified, but with your father's blue spots and deformed nails, how could he possibly hold on until the young master returns?"

"Please... It's possible, Uncle Liu... I beg of you, I'll work for you like an ox or a horse, I'll... I'll find a way to repay you in the future. Please, don't touch my father... I beg of you... I'm begging you..."

Seeing his desperate plea, the middle-aged steward let out a long sigh, his eyes reddening. However, he still said, "Ah, do you realize that you're putting all our lives at risk? —Someone, come here!"

"No! No!!"

But it was too late. Nobody would come to his aid. Everyone knew that if the corpse remained, it would undoubtedly become a malevolent spirit at midnight.

Xiaoman's foster father's corpse was forcibly dragged away to be brutally dismembered outside. Surrounded by several people, Xiaoman wept blood and dirtied his face as he let out continuous, beast-like howls. Eventually, he too was half-carried, half-dragged away.

After this upheaval, the courtyard buzzed with whispered discussions before gradually returning to calm.

Chu Wanning, however, didn't fall asleep. He lowered his head in deep thought.

Mo Ran glanced at his junior apprentice brother and asked, "What are you thinking about?"

"I'm pondering over how this person, in his grief and confusion, committed such an act. With his foster father's body taken from him, it's understandable that he might harbor resentment towards others. I have a tentative theory that the failure of Lin'an's city-wide evacuation might be connected to him."

Mo Ran nodded, tapping his fingers in agreement. "I had the same thought."

Chu Wanning shook his head. "But it's still too early to jump to conclusions. We should keep an eye on him for now."

Chapter 154 - Taking the Stage

Wen Ying listened calmly to their accusations, her brow raising slightly. "I've dealt with many extremists before, and just by looking at you, I can tell you're one of them."

The four demons: "? ? ?" Us? How so?

A curious demon from the crowd asked, "How do you make that judgment?"

She spoke for all the demons present, who were listening attentively, afraid they might miss Wen Ying's response.

Wen Ying answered confidently, "By intuition."

All the demons: "......."

"I've already called the Enforcement Squad of the Capital's Judgment Bureau," Wen Ying told the four protesting demons, "They'll be here soon, and they will be the ones to decide for sure."

In the academy's arena, almost all the demon students in the school had gathered. The stands were overflowing with demons, creating a chaotic scene. In the center of the arena, Yan Kuo, a giant troll, impatiently stepped off the stage to check his phone for the time. After checking, he returned to the stage, only to go down again later to check once more. This repeated several times.

Finally, he grew frustrated and asked the referee with a frown and a gruff voice, "If he doesn't come, isn't that considered stalling?"

The referee sat at a small table off to the side of the stage, still that same old demon who had gifted Wen Ying the enchanted weapon before. Amidst the commotion, he calmly read his book as if he were sitting beneath a large tree in a park.

Upon hearing Yan Kuo's words, the old demon didn't even raise an eyebrow. "Young demon, don't be hasty. He might be waiting for you to become anxious and reveal your weaknesses."

Yan Kuo: "..." The advice sounded reasonable but also seemed like nonsense.

The more he waited, the more agitated he became. Finally, a demon shouted, "Wen Ying is here!"

The demons near the entrance echoed the announcement, and everyone turned to look. Amongst the crowd of demons, there was one with silver-white hair that stood out significantly - thin in build, small in stature for a male, and lacking an aggressive aura, he exuded a gentle demeanor.

Though he looked gentle, the fact that he could calmly walk forward amidst the gazes of so many outstanding young demons suggested that he was not as weak as he appeared on the surface.

The way demons perceived each other was different from how humans did. Their eyes carried various emotions accompanied by demonic energy, almost as if they had a tangible presence. The sense of pressure and weight they exerted was immense.

When Wen Ying reached the edge of the arena, Muershi waved at him and asked cheerfully, "Why are you so late?"

"Definitely trying to buy time," Yan Kuo, the muscular giant demon on the stage, looked down at Wen Ying with certainty.

He was not overconfident. After spending a semester together, he knew he might not be able to defeat this Mirror Demon, but he was certain that this Mirror Demon would not be able to hold onto first place. Even if he lost, he would make sure to drain the other demon's magic power to the brink of exhaustion.

It would be even better if he could win.

Looking up, Wen Ying saw the towering troll demon with an unhappy downturn of his lips. So what if native demons were built more impressively?

"I was at the academy gate at nine thirty," Wen Ying said casually. "I caught four Extremists outside and had to wait for the Enforcers to arrive."

Wen Ying mentioned the word "Extremist" with a mundane tone, as if he was talking about a common occurrence like traffic jams causing a delay. Yan Kuo's lips twitched. "Are you serious?" Although the Extremists had a notorious reputation in the Demon Realm, and their influence spread far and wide, they weren't exactly a common sight in everyday life. Many demons had never even seen one before.

It was similar to how everyone in the human world knew about pyramid schemes, but not many had actually encountered such individuals.

"There were plenty of demons gathered at the academy gate. I wouldn't risk telling an easily-discovered lie," Wen Ying flew up to the stage. "Speaking of which, I feel like I've been having a lot of run-ins with Extremists lately."

Lan Jiaying, seated in the front row of the audience, concealed his clenched fists behind his back, struggling to maintain the elegant facade he wore. He stared at Wen Ying, his black eyes filled with restraint, his cheeks slightly flushed. Frustrated, angry, and depressed, he wanted to rush up and scold and beat Wen Ying.

He wasn't inferior in skills to any demon, yet why did Wen Ying always seem to effortlessly push him down?

Because of Wen Ying, he had lost so much hair!

Koroy chuckled. "Looks like fate has brought you into contact with the Extremists."

Wen Ying spoke earnestly, "Later, use the crystal ball to check if I'm incompatible with the Radical Party in terms of astrology."

"I don't know about human astrology," Koroy shook his head, "I can only read destiny's trajectory."

"That works too."

Yan Kuo's face darkened, "Seems like you don't take me seriously at all. You're just overconfident because you won against His Highness and his team without using your full strength."

Wen Ying replied, "It hasn't started yet, what am I supposed to be wary of? Can you ambush me?"

With a dark expression, Yan Kuo asked the referee, the old demon, word by word, "Can we start now?"

The old demon nodded, "Let's begin."

The moment the old demon finished his last word, Yan Kuo's demonic aura surged. The demon dashed swiftly towards Wen Ying, swinging a massive fist shrouded in black mist towards his face.

The trolls were indeed known for their huge fists; the clenched fist was almost the size of Wen Ying's entire face.

Breaking through the air, Wen Ying nimbly dodged the first blow. Yan Kuo immediately followed up with the second and third... His punches were so swift that they left afterimages, each one vicious and brutal.

Chapter 200 - Arranging a Marriage

The inner area had truly changed.

Chen Granny, who had never left the valley since entering, felt this transformation the most. In the past, apart from their group, who else would there be? Now, without mentioning the small wooden houses and vegetable patches built outside the outer village's caves, one could see that people were living in the mountains just by walking a short distance beyond the outer village. It wasn't just one family either; there was someone living every short stretch, likely in caves, as no houses were visible, but distinct paths trampled by humans and cultivated land could be observed.

Zhou Lazi's home used to be a half-hour journey from the outer village. Nowadays, when Sang Luo and the others headed in Zhou's direction, they could see large enclosures of land within two quarters of an hour. As they ventured further into the residential area, they could faintly hear the cries of those practicing staffs, but no one was in sight. They must have been deeper inside.

On the outskirts, several idle women were weaving straw mats. Upon spotting Shen Lie and his group from afar, they grew excited.

"It's Shen Xiaolang and Madam Sang!"

"Madam Sang is here!"

They all paused their work. Some went out to greet them, while others went inside to call for others. The group that came out was well-organized. The men greeted Shen Lie, while the women and young ladies addressed Madam Sang.

In reality, Sang Luo didn't recognize most of them. However, every villager, young and old, was exceptionally familiar with Sang Luo. Even if they had never seen her before, upon hearing that she was Madam Sang, they instinctively felt warmth and gratitude, expressing their enthusiasm and joy on their faces.

Sang Luo responded to their greetings. A group of boys, each carrying a staff like Sang Luo, had already dashed out of the village. Leading the pack was Feng Erlang, who called out "Master" from afar. As they approached, he greeted Sang Luo and the others. Hearing that Shen Lie had merely come for a visit, they all earnestly requested him to watch their practice and offer guidance.

Sang Luo found the situation amusing and replied, "Go ahead, I'll accompany Grandma and Aunt to the Zhou residence."

Indeed, there was no real danger within the village, and they were not too far away from their own home. The houses were arranged in a large circle, with a shared path leading inward.

At first, Old Lady Chen didn't notice anything unusual. But as they walked deeper into the village, more unfamiliar women greeted Sang Luo, causing her to ask in surprise, "You know so many people now?"

Mother Gan chuckled upon hearing this and explained, "It's not that A Luo recognizes them all, but everyone in this vicinity knows about A Luo."

She mentioned how Sang Luo had shared her profitable business, formulas, and knowledge of yam with others.

Old Lady Chen was initially taken aback but then laughed, patting Sang Luo's hand and saying, "This is a good thing. It's accumulating merit. Heaven keeps a record of every good deed. Remember, the divine is always watching from above."

Merit, huh?

Upon hearing this, Sang Luo couldn't help but ponder. If merit truly existed, she wished it could be accumulated for the original inhabitant of this body, so that she might have a better life in her next reincarnation. After all, she had already been given a second chance at life through transmigration; Sang Luo believed in the cycle of life and rebirth.

As for herself, she felt immensely grateful for this extra lifetime that heaven had bestowed upon her.

Beasts were actually fearful of humans too. Now that this place had become a village, most households didn't need to keep their courtyard gates tightly shut during the day. The mother and daughter heard someone mention Mother Sang, so they came out to inquire. Upon learning that Sang Luo, Shen Lie, and company had arrived, both of them hurriedly went out to welcome them.

From afar, Zhou Ge couldn't help but glance behind Sang Luo. She hadn't seen that person for almost two months, but she did spot Mother Chen. Disregarding her disappointment, she quickly composed herself and followed her mother to greet them.

Mother Chen had been discreetly observing Zhou Ge ever since she appeared. It had been almost a year since they last met, and the young lady had clearly blossomed. Recalling how her grandson had begged her last night to inquire about the Zhou family's attitude, a smile formed at the corners of Mother Chen's eyes. She held onto Zhou Ge and showered her with compliments.

The Zhou family's survival and their current prosperous life were all thanks to Shen Lie and Chen Dashan's assistance. Therefore, Zhou Laizi's wife warmly welcomed Mother Chen and Sang Luo, immediately inviting them into their home.

Mother Chen wouldn't refuse such an offer. Smiling, she glanced in the direction the Zhou mother and daughter had come from, then at the high courtyard wall behind them. "You live there?"

Zhou Laizi's wife chuckled. "Yes, it's all thanks to Dashan, Shen Lie, and Manager Xu's help."

As she spoke, she led the three of them towards her home. Entering the first courtyard, there was a small table in the inner courtyard. She guided them to take a seat while Zhou Ge went to boil water.

Since it was winter, they already had a fire burning for warmth. The small pot boiled water quickly, and on such a chilly day, a pot of hot jujube tea was perfect. Zhou Ge filled clean bamboo cups with the tea and served them to the guests.

Mother Chen held the warm cup, inhaling the unique sweet aroma of the jujubes. She looked at Zhou Ge even more favorably and praised Zhou Laizi's wife. "Your Ah Ge's agility is just like yours."

Zhou Laizi's wife adored her eldest daughter and, hearing Mother Chen's compliment, she demurred with a smile on her face.

Gan peered into the cave but didn't spot Zhou family's two youngest children. She asked, "I don't see your Third Brother or Ah Kui. Are they also practicing with the long staff outside?"

Zhou Laizi's wife nodded and smiled. "Ah Ge's father and First Brother went into the mountains with others today. Second and Third Brothers are practicing. Ah Kui is just there to watch the excitement."

Curious about the long staff that Sang Luo had casually leaned against the courtyard wall, Zhou Ge glanced at her a few times before asking, "Sister, have you learned this staff technique too?"

Upon hearing her address her as 'sister', Sang Luo's eyebrows lifted slightly. She thought that soon enough, Zhou Ge would be calling her 'Sister Zhou Ge'. With a cheerful smile, she replied, "Yes, I've been learning. It's quite interesting. We're around the same age, so you can call me Ah Luo if you like."

In ancient times, marriage proposals were not done in front of the young lady. Assuming that Old Lady Chen and Gan were about to discuss the matter, Sang Luo smiled and said, "Where do you all practice here? Ah Ge, could you show me?"

"Sure," Zhou Ge agreed, wondering if Old Man Chen had arrived. Heading towards the village's training area, she nodded when Sang Luo suggested visiting the training ground, then bid farewell to her mother, Old Lady Chen, and Gan before leading Sang Luo out.

Sang Luo picked up the long staff and followed Zhou Ge out. As the two moved further away, the courtyard naturally became Old Lady Chen and the other two women's domain.

...

Unaware of Old Lady Chen's intentions, Zhou Ge engaged Sang Luo in casual conversation along the way. Upon reaching the training ground, she scanned the crowd several times.

Observing from the side, Sang Luo understood the situation. Smiling inwardly, she didn't reveal her thoughts and simply asked, "There are no women who practice martial arts here?"

Zhou Ge regained her composure and replied, "No, my father taught me archery, and I'm quite accurate. However, I don't have much strength. As for the staff, Third Brother taught me, but I don't seem to have a natural talent and can't seem to master it."

Upon hearing that she wasn't skilled, Sang Luo thought it might be due to lack of coordination or hesitation. Considering Zhou Ge's gentle nature, she suggested, "If you have the chance, you can practice with me. You don't have to become an expert; regular exercise is beneficial for your health."

In ancient times, childbirth conditions were poor, and many young women married at fifteen, still in the process of maturing. Without a strong constitution, giving birth could be challenging. This was one reason Sang Luo wanted to include Shen Ning in these exercises.

Zhou Ge wondered how they would practice together given the distance between their villages, but Sang Luo didn't elaborate on the matter. When several village women approached to chat with Sang Luo, Zhou Ge took her comment as a polite gesture and didn't inquire further.

When Shen Lie finished his instructions, he joined Sang Luo to head to the Zhou residence. Mother Chen and Madam Gan also bid farewell and left. After sending them off, Zhou Lazi's wife looked at Zhou Ge with a smile, studying her for a while before bursting into laughter.

Back in their room, Zhou Lazi's wife looked at her daughter with a grin and shared about the Chen family's visit to gauge her interest in marriage. Zhou Ge was both delighted and bashful, her heart filled with mixed emotions. It took her some time to understand the meaning behind Sang Luo's words.

If they agreed to the marriage proposal, wouldn't she have the opportunity to train with Sang Luo?

Realizing this, her cheeks flushed red.

Seeing her daughter's reaction, Zhou Lazi's wife knew she was secretly pleased. Her eyes brimmed with joy as she said, "I never expected such a good match for you. The Chen family has an excellent reputation, and Daxian is an exceptional young man that you couldn't find even with a lantern."

She playfully asked Zhou Ge, "Mother hasn't agreed to the marriage yet. I'll discuss it with your father and give an answer in a few days. Tell me, dear, do you want this marriage?"

Zhou Ge's cheeks were hot enough to fry an egg; she buried her head in shame, but recalling Chen Dashan, she steeled herself against her embarrassment and whispered, "I'll listen to Mother."

That was as good as saying yes.

Zhou Lazi's wife chuckled. "Alright, I'll talk to your father tonight. I'm sure he'll be more than willing."

Recalling the day she was rescued, she added with a smile, "It's fate, too."

Thinking about how Chen Dashan had taught the men and boys in their family archery, crafted them bows and arrows, and even sent them furs and meat, she guessed that Chen Dashan had taken a liking to Ge-ge himself.

This made Zhou Lazi's wife even happier.

In just a month, her daughter would turn seventeen—how time flew!

Her children's marriage prospects had been delayed by her frail health. For sons, it wasn't such a big deal; they could wait. But for a daughter, time was of the essence, especially in these times. Lately, she had occasionally thought about this matter and hadn't expected such a fine match to present itself so suddenly.

Zhou Ge, being sensitive, couldn't bear her mother's beaming gaze. She quickly invented an excuse about sewing and darted into the cave.

Speaking of sewing, some of the rabbit pelts she held, with their attractive fur colors, were gifts from Chen Dashan. The unspoken joy within her threatened to overflow.

...

On their way back, Sang Luo and the others passed through a vast reed field. They had all brought sickles, intending to cut some reeds to weave into curtains. Both the wooden door of the cave and the entrance to Shen An and Shen Jin's wooden house needed additional thick curtains to shield against the wind.

While cutting the reeds, Sang Luo softly asked Old Lady Chen, "Granny, how was it? What did Aunty Zhou say?"

Old Lady Chen beamed with joy as she leaned closer to Sang Luo and whispered in a low voice, "Such matters aren't settled on the same day. We'll have to make another visit in two days. But from what I see, it's likely to work out."

Her eyes crinkled into a delighted smile.

San Luo smiled and offered her congratulations, saying, "It seems I'll have to put some thought into a fine gift for Brother Da Shan."

This amused Mother Chen to no end.

Dong Shuoye woke up at five in the morning to go for a jog. Upon his return, he opened the fridge in search of water and immediately spotted Su Yu's phone frozen inside.

Dong Shuoye: "?"

He picked it up and found that Su Yu's phone had automatically shut down due to the cold. Wiping his sweat, he turned back towards the room and saw Su Yu still sound asleep. With a mischievous grin, he stuffed the icy phone into Su Yu's neck.

Su Yu let out a startled cry, jumped on the bed, and frantically burrowed under the covers, thus waking up. Dong Shuoye, sensing he'd had enough fun, placed Su Yu's phone by the pillow and looked at him with a half-smile. "Were you planning to have a frozen phone for breakfast after putting it in the fridge?"

Since childhood, Su Yu seemed to lack a certain sense of logic, and Dong Shuoye knew all too well that his actions couldn't be explained by conventional reasoning—especially when he was drunk.

Recalling the incident, Su Yu shuddered once more. He had been completely drunk last night, acting purely on instinct. Vaguely, he remembered... placing Fu Luoyin's phone in the fridge.

He hurriedly got up to turn on the phone and asked Dong Shuoye for a charger.

Dong Shuoye shrugged. "I don't have a compatible cable for your phone, but Xia Ran's phone model is the same as yours..."

"Scram, scram, scram! Hand me your phone, I need to call Negative Two," Su Yu took a deep breath. "I'm ready for the storm to come!"

Seizing Dong Shuoye's phone, Su Yu dialed Fu Luoyin's number.

Upon connecting, Su Yu sprang up like a rabbit, hastily putting on his jacket and dragging Dong Shuoye out. "I-I-I came to tell you, I'm nervous. Negative Two, wait for me, don't scold me later. I drove over with Dong Shuoye—no, I absolutely didn't intentionally ignore your calls! I was drunk yesterday, for heaven's sake!"

As they passed by downstairs, Xia Ran was pouring hot water for himself.

Hearing that familiar nickname, Xia Ran paused in his action for a moment before lowering his head. The steaming hot water splashed into the paper cup, making a rustling sound.

Su Yu, holding onto Dong Shuoye, rushed to Fu Luoyin's residence at breakneck speed.

Knocking on the door, Fu Luoyin's voice echoed from inside, "The password is my birthday."

His voice was raspy, sounding exhausted.

Su Yu muttered, "I know which day your birthday is, but what year were you born again?" As he spoke, Dong Shuoye leaned over his shoulder, typed in a sequence of numbers, and the front door clicked open with a snap.

Upon entering, Su Yu was startled by the overwhelming smell of smoke filling the room.

Mint-flavored cigarettes—neither pungent nor did they leave an indelible scent on the body like regular tobacco. Yet, inhaling one left an icy chill from the nostrils straight to the lungs, an intensely cold sensation.

Fu Luoyin sat on the sofa with his damp clothes half-dried, still creased and moist. He lay with half-closed eyes, and as someone drew closer, his voice sounded even more hoarse. "Where's Lin Shuicheng?"

He had checked, and Lin Shuicheng had disabled their location tracking feature.

If he wanted to know where Lin Shuicheng was, there were countless ways to find out immediately, but Fu Luoyin didn't want to take that route.

First, Lin Shuicheng abruptly suggested a breakup without any explanation, then moved out without so much as a word. Even if it was due to jealousy over Xia Ran, this incident had crossed a line for him—one he hadn't even realized existed. His mind was consumed by a single thought: Lin Shuicheng dared to abandon him!

Who gave him the audacity?

Anyone could sense the pent-up anger radiating off him. Su Yu sat obediently on the sofa, trembling in fear.

Swallowing hard, he cautiously handed Fu Luoyin an envelope. "Minus Two, Sister-in-law, your... sister-in-law sent this to you..."

Dong Shuoye took a seat on the adjacent sofa. Su Yu looked at him desperately, hoping Dong Shuoye would be the kind of brother who'd risk it all for another, perhaps serving as a human punching bag. However, Dong Shuoye remained still, acting as a mere spectator, crossing his arms and leaning back with one leg propped up.

Struggling to contain his emotions, Fu Luoyin took the envelope and opened it, revealing a black card and another ordinary bank card inside.

He only felt his stomach ache again.

He hadn't eaten since he returned, and the fridge was spotlessly clean, save for the untouched fresh produce.

Lin Shuicheng hadn't even left him a note!

"What's this?" Fu Luoyin looked at Su Yu.

Su Yu was on the verge of tears. "Sister-in-law returned your money and, d, breakup fee..."

Fu Luoyin's expression couldn't be described with just the word "ghastly." He was so furious that he couldn't speak for a while.

In Star City, every bank card could be directly linked to an ID card. This card had originally been empty, but Lin Shuicheng had transferred its ownership to Fu Luoyin, then added over a hundred and twenty transactions in batches. Each one had a detailed note explaining which part of Fu Luoyin's expenses it was for, down to the date, month, and time, as well as the order number of the recipient.

For instance, "10.17 Beef Hot Pot at Star City University Food Court" or "11.03 Supreme Leader's Cat Climbing Frame"… Every single expense, no matter how trivial, was meticulously accounted for by Lin Shuicheng. The Supreme Leader toy Fu Luoyin had bought had barely been used, and Lin Shuicheng didn't take it with him, yet he still recorded it and returned the money.

The final transaction had a simple note, simply stating "breakup compensation."

A kept man who played the role of a lover had broken up unilaterally and refunded all expenses from the period of being kept. He even gave a breakup fee...

Fu Luoyin had never experienced such an immense humiliation in his twenty-five years of life!

His voice trembled with rage as he spoke, "Lin Shuicheng... You're ruthless, you're good at this."

He knew what kind of tantrums someone like Lin Shuicheng would throw, but he never imagined the consequences would be this: he was nearly driven mad with anger.

Lin Shuicheng spent the entire day sleeping in his new rental house.

He had prepared canned food and filled up the cat feeder for Chief beforehand.

Chief, being a self-controlled little cat, didn't overeat like an orange tabby. It always knew when to stop, so there was no need to worry about it gorging itself.

After eating, it didn't do anything else. In this new environment, Chief couldn't bear to be away from Lin Shuicheng. It jumped onto the bed and nestled beside him, curling up quietly into a small ball. It didn't sleep but simply stared at him, obediently using one paw to gently pull on his arm like a fluffy guardian angel.

Rain started pouring outside in the early hours of the morning, bringing a chilly breeze with it. The air conditioner in the room hadn't been repaired yet, so despite running for a while, warm air mixed with dripping water created a rustling sound, making the room both warm and humid.

Several times, Lin Shuicheng woke up to see the window in his bedroom. There were no curtains in the bedroom, and outside was a deserted tree-lined path, only separated by a patch of grass. Star University had never been this quiet before; it felt like a scene from an old apocalyptic movie, where the sky was darkened, and all signs of human life had vanished, leaving only the sounds of his own breathing and that of a cat.

Reaching out, the warmth dissipated.

Lin Shuicheng felt a headache coming on, so after dozing off for a while, he got up and turned off the air conditioning, thinking it might be too warm. As the coolness gradually seeped in, he fell into a deep slumber filled with bizarre dreams, waking up every few hours or even minutes, mostly startled by vague nightmares. He couldn't recall anything from these dreams, but the palpitations that spread throughout his body lingered vividly.

Lately, he had started experiencing sleep disturbances, much like before. His body was excessively weary, yet his mind remained highly strung. Upon waking, he felt more drained than when he had gone to bed, as if his flesh and bones were hollowed out and buoyantly attached to his frame like foam.

He wasn't sure when this condition had begun – perhaps after meeting the red-coded informant, or maybe after dining with Han Huang. Unaware of it previously, this state only became apparent to him after moving out from Fu Luoyin's place.

After countless awakenings, Lin Shuicheng opened his eyes and glanced at his phone.

A few scattered messages, a group chat notification, some friend requests, and confessions from both girls and boys.

The review system hadn't assigned him any new manuscripts. At the moment, he only had Professor Du Qingwu's paper left to review, and there were still two months until the feedback deadline.

Aside from Fu Luoyin's previous mention of wanting to have a face-to-face talk, he hasn't provided any new information.

Lin Shuicheng gazed upon Fu Luoyin's profile picture within the messaging screen, his sharp brows and star-like eyes exuding an undeniable handsomeness. This time, he extended a finger to drag the message timeline, erasing the conversation thread with a swipe.

The screen of the phone was glaringly bright. Lin Shuicheng scrolled down, deleting promotional messages from telecom operators and solicitation requests from previous clients he had collaborated with.

There was also a message from Yang Zhiwei: "I've heard about the incident in Star City's Quantum Analysis Department. How are you? The door to chemistry will always be open for you here."

Lin Shuicheng gathered his spirits to reply, "Thank you, Professor. I think I need some time off first. I'll finish my master's degree ahead of schedule and graduate early. I might need some time to adjust my current state."

Even if he were to drop out and retake chemistry exams, it would still take nearly a year. It was better to spend an extra half year obtaining his quantum analysis master's degree earlier. Chemistry, particularly the biochemistry and physical chemistry that Yang Zhiwei had led in recent years, overlapped with quantum analysis, including mass spectrometry and rule calculations.

The shutdown of quantum computers would cause significant losses for the Alliance, which would undoubtedly rush to repair the instruments. Classes would resume sooner or later.

This period would be a smooth transition phase between his past and future life.

It was just that Lin Shuicheng couldn't see where this transition would lead him.

"Then, what have you been up to lately? When you're well-rested, you can come back as a lab assistant, just like before," Yang Zhiwei replied.

Lin Shuicheng responded, "Thank you, Professor. Please give me a bit more time."

He didn't know what he was doing either.

His life seemed to have suddenly become empty, now that he had finally stopped in front of that transparent wall.

After a moment of being lost in thought, Lin Shuicheng finally moved, struggling to sit up from the bed.

The leader shifted from lying down to crouching, his green eyes gazing at him intently, swishing his tail.

Lin Shuicheng stroked the leader's head.

He got out of bed, took yesterday's leftovers, and cooked them with cold rice in a pot. It smelled delicious, and Lin Shuicheng could feel the emptiness in his stomach, but he had lost his appetite. After a few bites, he put down his bowl.

Once again, he fell into a daze, watching the steam from his rice bowl dissipate until it was completely cold. Only then did he come back to reality, heading to the kitchen to dispose of the uneaten meal.

He switched on his phone and mindlessly scrolled through news articles. There was nothing interesting, and he couldn't recall a single keyword. He flicked through text messages and other platforms, but there were no urgent messages to attend to. While other students reveled in their vacation, he always found himself without plans, especially during the festive season.

Ultimately, Lin Shuicheng opened an app and booked a flight to the small town where he was born, scheduled for that very afternoon, just one hour away.

He wanted to go back and visit Lin Wang, pay his respects at his grave.

Years ago, standing there before the departed, he had vowed to reclaim everything that he and those he had lost were entitled to from life. At that time, he had just graduated from high school, having lost almost everything, yet still filled with youthful determination.

Now, perhaps he could finally find reconciliation with life. He would buy a small bottle of wine, raise a glass at the graveside like a weary adult, and have a conversation with his aging father.

Lin Shuicheng packed a backpack with daily essentials and a change of clothes, heading to the airport terminal.

Their small town had become somewhat dilapidated. The bustling branches of Star City lacked talented individuals, and students eagerly flocked elsewhere. With no influx of outsiders or fresh labor, the town's development had stagnated, even regressing.

The Lin family's original residence was rented. After the old landlord passed away, his son, seeing the house and small courtyard in an unpopular area, decided to sell it at a bargain price rather than attempt to fetch a decent sum.

Since Lin Deng's accident and Lin Wang's passing, Lin Shuicheng hadn't returned there. It was an indescribable feeling; during the holidays, he preferred wandering the deserted streets of the Jiangnan branch over returning to the home where he had spent over a decade.

With his backpack in hand, Lin Shuicheng waited for the boarding announcement.

The rain continued to pour down. He folded his umbrella, though despite his efforts to shake off the water, droplets still dripped incessantly. The terminal reeked of dampness as people shuffled about, their footsteps squeaking on the polished floor.

A graceful female voice echoed over the public address system: "Dear passengers, due to precipitation in some southern regions, certain flights may be canceled. Please refer to the flight status display boards. In case of exceptional circumstances, refunds can be processed at the check-in counter or via the flight app. We apologize for any inconvenience caused."

Everyone in the hall looked up at the boards, and so did Lin Shuicheng.

In that instant, as his gaze fell upon the electronic screen, the sequence of flight statuses shifted. Out of more than sixty flights bound for various southern towns of Star City within an hour, only one displayed a change.

"Notice: The flight from Star City North to Winter Cypress City is canceled. Kindly take note, repeating, the flight from Star City North to Winter Cypress City is canceled..."

Lin Shuicheng rose to his feet, observing amidst a sea of green 'operating' statuses, the solitary yellow 'canceled' indicator. His brow furrowed.

Lin Shuicheng approached the front desk.

"May I ask when the next flight to Dongtong City will be available?" he inquired.

The attendant politely replied, "That information is currently unknown."

Lin Shuicheng continued, "I understand the probability of weather-related disruptions. Flights from Star City with the prefix 'U' can fly directly to Dongtong City, as that route is within the most stable weather forecast zone. There haven't been any significant thunderstorms or heavy snowfalls predicted for the past year, and today's rainfall in Star City shouldn't justify a flight cancellation. I need a convincing explanation."

The attendant seemed taken aback by his line of questioning. However, a well-dressed young woman, who was nearby to check-in, overheard their conversation and chuckled. "This student... Are you studying meteorology? Or perhaps involved in risk assessment?"

Lin Shuicheng shifted his gaze.

This one cold and composed glance was so captivating that the beautiful girl before him found herself momentarily enthralled.

After regaining her composure, she continued with a smile, "I'm from Star City Media University, and I work as a weather presenter."

Lin Shuicheng nodded, "I study quantum analysis and work on risk assessment indices."

The girl suddenly understood, "No wonder."

These data were part of their hazard index screening when they started school. Lin Shuicheng was responsible for Star City's weather data for an entire year – he had single-handedly taken on the tasks of almost three teams, and could now recite those figures by heart.

In the past, the accuracy of weather forecasts had always been criticized. Even though later on, they could achieve an 80% prediction success rate for three days ahead or over 95% for a few hours, the 5-10% margin of error and short time frame remained a technical challenge for meteorologists to overcome.

In recent years, with the upgrade and reinforcement of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) extrapolation radars, improvements in the feedback and operation of weather prediction systems, and the development of assimilation techniques and parameterization schemes, progress had been made. However, the only obstacle was that the computational power of machines couldn't keep up.

The advent of quantum computers extended weather forecasting periods by a year or even two. Of course, due to errors, computational predictions usually resulted in exponentially different outcomes. Therefore, the Alliance's long-term weather forecasts were chain-based – if the current situation didn't match a particular calculation, the entire prediction would be discarded, and the answer would be sought among the remaining possibilities.

If any of these exponential predictions indicated extreme conditions, like wildfires, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, and so on, they would continue monitoring them closely. Once real observations began aligning with the forecast chain, the Alliance would prepare contingency plans.

This was the significance of hazard screening operations: to search for that elusive lifeline amidst countless unpredictable events.

When Lin Shuicheng and his team conducted their hazard screenings, they referenced factors such as model resolution, initial value checks in parallel models, parameterization schemes, and high-order discarding. The task was undoubtedly challenging.

Lin Shuicheng vividly recalled that among the multitude of final prediction chains, not a single scenario showed unfavorable weather conditions in the flight path from Star City to Winter Walnut City that would warrant flight cancellations.

"But, classmate, you forgot something," the girl smiled at him, narrowing her eyes – Lin Shuicheng noticed that she, like him, had a red mole at the corner of her eye, as if it were a mystical connection between them.

He watched as she extended her hand, making a gesture with one hand: her middle finger lightly touched the base of her thumb while the rest of her fingers danced nimbly, resembling a butterfly.

The girl replied, "The butterfly effect. A butterfly flapping its wings might ultimately provoke a great storm – that's the concept initially proposed by meteorologists. The practical significance of this effect is that while the patterns and trajectories of events can be traced, there are also unpredictable variables at play. The phenomenon described by the butterfly effect has been proven to be chaotic, and chaos is inherently unpredictable – irregular motion that appears random within a deterministic system, displaying behavior that cannot be repeated or foreseen (source), something that was verified centuries ago."

The girl nodded gently at him. "Brother, don't take it too hard. There's nothing we can do about the flight being canceled. With such heavy rain, let's go back. The butterfly effect is unpredictable, so we can't find that butterfly. Let's head back."

When Lin Shuicheng returned, he almost got mistaken for some odd character by the patrolling security guards and was nearly escorted out.

Drenched from head to toe, he had even lost his umbrella somewhere along the way.

He strolled slowly along the tree-lined paths of Star University, feeling the youthful winter rain roll down his skin, drip into his eyes, and when he lowered his gaze, his eyelashes seemed to be dusted with a layer of frost.

Occasionally, when he lifted his gaze, he would momentarily mistake the drifting withered leaves for butterflies.

The security guard approached and asked, "Are you a student? Which department?"

The guard looked at him suspiciously.

The person in front of him was good-looking and had a pristine aura, resembling a student. However, there was something peculiar about his state – it was almost evening, not the usual time for undergraduate classes, and this young man seemed to be in a daze.

Drenched by the rain, Lin Shuicheng stared blankly at the security guard, not saying a word. He simply lowered his head and smiled softly, as if sighing, "The butterfly effect is unfathomable. The chaos of dissipative systems... is also unfathomable."

That is something every student with a basic university education in science would learn: chaos, quantum mechanics, and relativity are the three pillars of modern scientific theory.

If quantum mechanics' principle of "uncertainty in both velocity and position" reveals the unpredictability of the microcosm, then the emergence of chaos theory symbolizes the third great revolution in physics following relativity and quantum mechanics – it marked a decisive break from Newtonian classical mechanics. (Quotation)

Unpredictable, unpredictable, unpredictable...

For a full two years.

He had been battling "unpredictability" and "surprises." In contrast to the well-trodden path paved by countless great predecessors, he chose a contrary, erroneous route, repeatedly seeking solutions within his mistakes.

He believed that the fifth-generation quantum computer could be his guiding light and shield, but in the face of experiments and theory, he was still an innocent child, only to realize in the end that his perceived solid support was nothing but a flimsy piece of paper that crumbled at a touch.

He wanted to find that butterfly.

How ironic.

"…Another one lost in studies. Forget it, forget it. You'd better hurry and leave; it's pouring out there." The security guard shook his head repeatedly.

Lin Shuicheng felt a growing heat in his body, and his mind grew increasingly hazy. He vaguely sensed that he might have a fever or was experiencing low blood sugar—the butterfly from his dream was once again attempting to break free from his consciousness, swooping before his eyes, dividing the world into two.

"Lin Shuicheng."

The moment he pushed the door open, he saw the light was on inside, and Fu Luoyin stood there with a dark expression.

His deep voice seemed to carry a chill.

Fu Luoyin reached out, intending to pull him in fiercely, fueled by anger, restraint, and a myriad of indescribable emotions—yet the action was aborted before it even began.

"… Lin Shuicheng?"

Lin Shuicheng took a step forward, swaying slightly. He reached out to grab Fu Luoyin's arm, leaning his head gently against his chest, catching his breath.

Fu Luoyin initially interpreted this as a sign of coyness and reconciliation, but he quickly realized it wasn't. Lin Shuicheng then slid downward, almost collapsing to his knees.

He caught him just in time, noticing that Lin Shuicheng's face was alarmingly pale, with teardrops or raindrops glistening on his long, dark eyelashes.

Author's Note:

A clarification: All concepts mentioned in the text adhere to standard definitions.

The Butterfly Effect and the mysterious concept of xxxx (spoiler alert withheld) are pivotal to the narrative thread in this story. The author has taken liberties with certain hypotheses for creative license, so I feel compelled to clarify, especially for my student readers, that this should not be misconstrued as scientific fact or used as a reference for education... It's a work of speculative fiction on a small scale.

Chaos comes in various forms, and in this text, we deal specifically with chaos in dissipative systems, assuming that the transformations of elements fall under this category.

Furthermore, stable, interference-resistant quantum computers are not yet a reality.

Please bear in mind, all these settings are purely fictional and must be treated as such!

"It's a letter written in blood," she said, biting her lip.

Gu Changjin's expression remained unchanged as he asked, "Who wrote it?"

"It was written by me, or rather, it was written in my name," Xu Li'er lowered her gaze. "I don't know who that person is. Whenever they came, they would speak in a muffled voice behind me. I... didn't dare to turn and look at them. They told me that if I died and left that letter behind, Eunuch Yang from the Eastern Depot would pay for my mother's death. Furthermore, it could save Lord Gu's life. That person said that Lord Gu's assassination on Changan Avenue was orchestrated by Eunuch Yang. As long as Eunuch Yang lives, you, Lord Gu, will never find peace. They also said that an official as righteous as Lord Gu shouldn't die at the hands of those barbarians."

Xu Li'er paused here and lifted her eyes, looking earnestly at Gu Changjin.

"I originally agreed to it. I planned to hang myself obediently once the incense burned out. My worthless life, if it can avenge my mother and save your life, then it would be a worthwhile trade. Except—"

As the incense burned down little by little, she suddenly found herself unwilling to let go.

She didn't want to die before mourning for her mother, before hugging the little kitten she had raised herself, or before seeing the locust trees in front of her house bloom one last time.

When Yang Rong had taken her away, her cat was pregnant and lazy all day. She didn't know how many kittens it had given birth to. The locust tree in the courtyard was planted together with her father when she was young. In a few days, it would be covered in blooms, and her father used to love picking those flowers to give to her mother and her.

All these memories suddenly became vivid and beautiful amidst the fragrant smoke of sandalwood in the inn.

It was strange, but when her mother closed her eyes, she had truly lost the will to live. She thought it would be better to join her mother and father in the afterlife sooner rather than later.

When the time truly came to die, she found herself reluctant to let go.

Perhaps it was because she was a timid person by nature.

Tears welled up in Xu Li'er's eyes as she asked, "Would Lord and Lady think that Li'er is cowardly and afraid of death?"

"How could we?" Rong Shu said with a serious expression. "If you were truly afraid of death, you would have confessed your crimes when you were first interrogated at the Northern Supervisory Office." She continued earnestly, "This isn't cowardice; you're simply taking responsibility for your own life. Miss Xu must understand that no one can force you to die if you don't wish to. It's not shameful to cherish life. You have the right to live well without any guilt. Don't think that closing your eyes and tightening a noose will make death easy—it's a painful experience. Besides—"

She softened her tone and spoke with absolute certainty, "Lord Gu won't die so easily. Don't worry, that eunuch Yang from the Eastern Depot won't be able to kill Lord Gu."

After all, he was the future prince, and the only one who could die at the hands of Yang Xu was Gu Changjin, not the other way around.

Rong Shu had never doubted Gu Changjin's capabilities. Otherwise, she wouldn't have sought his help to save Xu Li'er.

Upon hearing this, the Lord Gu she mentioned slightly turned his gaze and glanced at her.

It was peculiar, but the irritation in Gu Changjin's heart suddenly dissipated.

A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he gazed out the window.

She wasn't entirely wrong. Yang Xu didn't have the capability to take his life, and Xue Lier shouldn't have died either. There was no path that needed to be paved with the blood of the innocent.

If there were, it wouldn't be the one Gu Changjin would tread.

The carriage jolted along the road until they reached Wutong Lane, where Mama Zhang had already led Yingyue and Yingque to wait in the Songsi Courtyard.

Upon entering the yard, Rong Shu instructed, "Prepare the eastern chamber for Miss Xue to spend the night. Tonight, all of you rest in the main house. That's it, take Miss Xue to settle in first. I still have some words to speak with Second Master."

Gu Changjin stood by the Moon Cave Gate, not entering the courtyard. Hearing Rong Shu's words, his foot, about to step forward, paused.

Rong Shu approached him and carefully said, "The black-clad assassin who attempted to kill Miss Xue at the inn today carried a distinct scent. If this concubine didn't smell wrongly, it should be agarwood."

Authentic agarwood was incredibly rare, mostly offered as tribute from foreign regions, making it extremely hard to purchase on the market.

Many aristocratic families enjoyed using agarwood to display their noble status, but the agarwood they used wasn't genuine; instead, it was a compounded fragrance made from agarwood, dragon's brain, and osmanthus juice.

In the capital, the number of households that could afford genuine agarwood could be counted on one hand.

Gu Changjin immediately understood Rong Shu's meaning.

"Are you sure it was agarwood?"

Rong Shu pondered for a moment before nodding. "This concubine is quite sensitive to scents. My mother once had a piece of agarwood the size of a fist. When I was learning how to make incense, I often played with it. Although the scent on that person was very faint, this concubine believes she didn't smell incorrectly."

Worried that she might have been too boastful, she added, "My lord should only take it as a reference, not rely on my words as evidence."

Gu Changjin neither agreed nor disagreed, simply nodding and saying, "Madam has had a busy night. You should return and rest early."

After Rong Shu left, he narrowed his eyes slightly.

Agarwood?

Chang Ji asked from behind him, "Master, shall I investigate which families in the capital use agarwood?"

Gu Changjin shook his head. "No need to investigate. In this capital city, there are some people who don't use agarwood, yet still carry its scent on them."

Chang Ji pondered Gu Changjin's words for a long while before finally understanding. "Master means that the person is—"

"Well, tell Heng Ping to return tomorrow and stop keeping an eye on that person," Gu Changjin said, glancing at the sky. "I'll make a trip to Liu Mo Hall. You go back to the study first."

Chang Ji's heart sank as he watched Gu Changjin's figure disappear towards Liu Mo Hall, a worried look on his face.

Madam disliked it when the master showed mercy and weakness. Now that the master had saved Xu Li'er today, would Madam blame him? One could never predict Madam's methods...

In truth, the master had already instructed him earlier, when he finished his duties for the day, to secretly guard the posthouse once the people in Liu Mo Hall had retired for the night.

Chapter 78: "I've Got This" (3200+)

With two diverging paths ahead, he couldn't bear to part ways.

Huo Lanjing instructed, "Sit to the left."

The moment his voice faded, Uncle Wang and another person promptly moved to the left side.

Just as Huo Lanjing was about to drive forward, a car suddenly rushed ahead of them, cutting them off.

The car swerved to block the other path in a desperate maneuver.

It was a nerve-wracking scene that made Huo Lanjing's heart skip a beat.

The trapped vehicle came to a halt.

Three men then emerged from the car, with one holding Chen Chen in his arms. They pressed a laser dagger against the child's neck.

Luo Le and Huo Lanjing alighted from their cars almost simultaneously, their eyes inevitably meeting.

They both turned their gazes toward the three individuals in unison.

Huo Lanjing stood slightly ahead.

Luo Le said, "Let the child go. What do you want?"

The first kidnapper exchanged a glance and replied, "You come with us to a place."

Huo Lanjing said, "No way."

Luo Le responded, "Alright."

Both spoke almost simultaneously.

Huo Lanjing looked at Luo Le disapprovingly.

The first kidnapper's dagger inched closer to its target.

Luo Le quickly interjected, "Stop, I agree. Let him go."

Chen Chen glanced at his father, his tiny face as pale as a sheet.

The first bandit sized them up and suddenly chuckled. "I've changed my mind. Both of you are coming with us."

Luo Le frowned. They were nothing but a bunch of thugs.

But he had no choice.

He summoned a dagger from his spatial ring and concealed it in his sleeve.

"Alright, I agree," Luo Le said.

The first bandit replied, "Then come here, and you two, step back."

Pointing to Huo Lanjing's group not far away, the bandit continued his instructions.

Luo Le walked forward step by step. Huo Lanjing's heart hung in the balance, unable to divert his gaze from them.

Luo Le's pace was unhurried, yet it didn't take long for him to stand before the knife-wielding bandit.

The dagger suddenly shifted its trajectory toward him.

Luo Le took a step back, "What do you want?"

The bandit waved the dagger, "What's in your hand?"

It seemed they were more alert than he expected.

Luo Le gritted his teeth, retracting the dagger back into the space.

Then, he extended his empty hand.

The bandit glared at him fiercely, "Don't try anything funny. My dagger isn't just for show."

Luo Le nodded without responding.

He reached out to embrace Chen Chen.

But his hand was suddenly swatted away by the bandit.

Before the culprit could utter a word, a searing pain shot through his hand, causing him to loosen his grip involuntarily.

"Brat, dare to bite me?" he growled, advancing menacingly toward Chen Chen with bulging veins on his arm, ready to strike.

The moment Chen Chen fell, Luo Le swiftly caught him and darted to the side.

Despite this, Luo Le's hand was still slashed, revealing a dark wound from which a crimson streak oozed out.

"What are you waiting for? Go catch him!" someone shouted.

The two men, now realizing the situation, rushed forward only to be repelled by Huo Lanjing, who had already arrived at the scene.

Another assailant joined the fray, engaging the knife-wielding criminal in a fierce battle.

Luo Le hastily retreated with Chen Chen towards Uncle Wang.

Still uneasy, he pulled open the car door and nestled Chen Chen inside.

He then caressed his head and said, "You were really great, darling. Stay here quietly, don't come out."

By the time Luo Le began to focus on the commotion, the three individuals were already crouching with their hands over their heads.

Huo Lanjing turned to look in that direction, about to say something.

But suddenly, he saw Luo Le shout anxiously, "Be careful!"

In the next instant, a tearing pain surged from his side, causing the other person to abandon the crouching suspect and rush over.

However, the attacker was like a madman, plunging a dagger into Huo Lanjing's arm.

The other man quickly pulled the attacker away and caught the one clutching his stomach.

"Master! I'll take you to the hospital right now."

Huo Lanjing pushed him aside. "Don't worry about me, catch them."

A young master's command is not to be disobeyed.

The man hesitated for a while before turning back, only to find that nobody was behind him anymore.

"I'm sorry, Young Master, they... have fled."

Before Huo Lanjing could unleash his anger, he was supported by another pair of hands.

Luo Le said, "Let's go to the hospital first."

Due to excessive blood loss, Huo Lanjing's face appeared rather pale.

Huo Lanjing slightly turned his head and saw Luo Le, whose expression was filled with concern. A small smile involuntarily tugged at the corners of his lips.

Luo Le still cared about him.

"What are you smiling about?"

Huo Lanjing paused, his eyes growing hazy as if he were about to faint at any moment.

Luo Le sighed. "Never mind, don't talk anymore. Uncle Wang, take him to the hospital."

Huo Lanjing leaned heavily against him. "It's fine, don't worry about me..."

How could they ignore that? After all, Huo Lanjing was injured because of them.

Luo Le pondered and decided to send him to the hospital first.

Both of them helped Ho Lanjing into the car.

To prevent Chen Chen from being frightened by Huo Lanjing's blood-covered state, Luo Le asked Uncle Wang and the other person to sit in the other vehicle.

In the car, Luo Le saw Huo Lanjing with his eyes closed, his lips pale.

A sense of urgency flickered in Luo Le's heart, and she promptly retrieved a tourniquet from her space.

She then moved sideways, tightening the tourniquet around Huo Lanjing's arm. Just as she did, he suddenly opened his eyes and leaned forward, their noses almost touching due to their already close proximity.

Their breaths intertwined, the scent of cold pine mixed with the fragrance of pomelo, raising the temperature inside the car.

Luo Le pressed her hand against his chest, gently pushing him back onto the cushion.

The air of intimacy vanished instantly.

Continuing her task, Luo Le said, "I'm stopping your bleeding. Don't move."

Huo Lanjing acknowledged her and lifted his gaze to meet her focused expression as she tied the bandage around his wound.

The bandage wrapped around the injury in concentric circles before being securely knotted.

Luo Le glanced at the crimson seeping through, a flicker of emotion in her eyes.

Unexpectedly, Huo Lanjing suddenly grabbed Luo Le's hand and asked, "Do you have another bandage?"

Luo Le assumed he needed one for his hand.

She reached into her spatial pocket and retrieved another bundle, saying, "Here."

Can't he bandage his own hand?

Huo Lanjing reached out to take it, then firmly held onto Luo Le's hand.

Luo Le struggled, "What are you doing?"

Huo Lanjing replied, "Don't move."

Then, with one hand, he took the bandage to wrap around Luo Le's hand.

Luo Le saw this and said, "I'll do it myself."

Huo Lanjing ignored him, grasping one end of the bandage and offering it, "Hold this."

After a moment of hesitation, Luo Le reached out to take it.

Once the bandaging was done, Huo Lanjing lay back down.

Luo Le glanced sideways at Huo Lanjing, whose head was resting against the car window. Perhaps due to blood loss and weakness, he now appeared somewhat docile.

The compartment fell silent all of a sudden.

After a moment, Huo Lanjing suddenly spoke up, "Qin Chen from Wind City..."

Luo Le replied, "What about him?"

"Oh..."

Huo Lanjing drew out his vowels and continued, "Qin Chen is back."

Luo Le asked, "Who's Qin Chen?"

Huo Lanjing explained, "The Second Prince. Qin Chen is his assistant in Wind City."

Luo Le paused, suddenly recalling the four suitcases in the trunk of Wind City's car.

"And what about it?"

"The Emperor has intentions to abdicate. Qin Chen is back for that reason."

Luo Le understood now. As Qin Chen was Wind City's assistant, if there was a struggle for power, they would need his assistance.

With Wind City on the horizon, work would ensue once more.

"Hoping for my agreement, perhaps?"

Huo Lanjing replied, "Mm-hmm."

Luo Le lowered his gaze. Their mentor's return was unpredictable. If Wind City didn't come back, those individuals would surely return. Moreover, he was still at risk of exile.

After this incident, Huo Lanjing was determined to assign someone to follow Luo Le. It was better to be disliked than to risk anything happening to him.

Receiving no response, Huo Lanjing remained silent. The group arrived at the hospital in a grand procession, proceeding to the exclusive floor designated for the Huo family.

The doctor had been waiting and Luo Le helped Huo Lanjing into the examination room to sit down.

After the doctor took his seat, he looked at the three people standing in the room and pointed outside. "You can step out for now."

All three of them left, with Uncle Wang even kindly closing the door behind them.

The hospital had been constructed with top-notch materials. The sound insulation in the rooms was excellent; even standing by the door, Luo Le couldn't hear anything from inside.

He decided to take a seat on one of the waiting chairs.

Uncle Wang approached and said, "Madam, please don't worry."

Luo Le lifted her head. "Please stop calling me that. I'm no longer Mrs. Huo of your family."

Uncle Wang shook his head, unsure if he would ever get the chance to address her with that title again in front of her.

Chen Chen looked at Luo Le with confusion from the side.

Luo Le gently rubbed his head and asked softly, "Are you tired? Do you want to sleep?"

Chen Chen shook his head, but Luo Le still picked him up.

After a while, the door opened.

Huo Lanjing followed the doctor in, with his arm suspended in a sling and his abdomen wrapped in thick bandages.

Luo Le stood up and glanced at him, asking, "Didn't you use a healing chamber?"

His question was directed at Huo Lanjing.

But the doctor stepped forward to explain, "The laser dagger that injured the Admiral contained a special substance. Not only was it poisonous, but it also interfered with the healing chamber. Therefore, the Admiral's wounds can only be treated with medication. The ointment has already been applied, and we'll change it in two days."

Poisonous?

Luo Le inquired, "Will his hand recover to its previous condition?"

Huo Lanjing would still need to operate mechas in the future. If his hand's dexterity was compromised, it would significantly decrease his compatibility with the machine.

A nation's supreme general would bear tremendous guilt if he were incapable of operating a mecha.

The doctor replied, "As long as the recovery goes well, there shouldn't be any major issues."

Luo Le heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Doctor."

"It's my duty."

Huo Lanjing pointed at Luo Le. "Help him with the medication."

After that, Luo Le went in and the doctor applied the medicine for him.

After bidding farewell to the doctor, Luo Le carried Chen Chen and walked alongside Huo Lanjing.

When they reached the parking lot and were about to part ways, Luo Le called out to Huo Lanjing.

Huo Lanjing turned back. "Hmm?"

Luo Le placed Chen Chen in the car and said to him, "Sweetheart, Daddy needs to have a talk with Uncle. Can you wait for Daddy in the car for a bit, okay?"

Chen Chen nods in agreement. "Okay."

Gazing at the obedient Chen Chen, Luo Le feels a sense of guilt toward him.

After entrusting the two to look after Chen Chen, Luo Le slides into Huo Lanjing's car.

Huo Lanjing follows suit, shutting the car door behind him.

Now, they are alone in the vehicle.

With a serious expression, Luo Le deliberated on his words, not rushing to speak.

Huo Lanjing inquired, "What's the matter?"

Luo Le said, "My ID has been canceled by Gu Heting."

Huo Lanjing's brows faintly knitted. An ID was unique to an individual; it shouldn't be falsifiable.

The previous sovereign was quite warlike, promptly dispatching troops to aid any planet that sought assistance.

Over the years, the national coffers had been depleted.

Upon this sovereign's ascension, troops would still be dispatched for support.

The demand for IDs was substantial, and the profits they generated were considerable.

To replenish the treasury, His Majesty had turned a blind eye to this matter.

But now, it seemed intervention was necessary.

Huo Lanjing asked, "Are you willing to be Luo Le again?"

Luo Le hesitated. Of course he wanted to, but...

He said, "But Chen Chen...he..."

Huo Lanjing knew what he was going to say and interrupted, "I'll find a way, as long as you're willing."

Luo Le replied, "Then...thank you."

Huo Lanjing disliked Luo Le's formal demeanor towards him.

"There's no need for such formalities between us. Take Chen Chen back and make sure he gets some rest. Don't worry about anything else; I've got it covered."

Chapter 126: "Happiness"

Shen Xingyu and Mrs. Shen hurried to the hospital, where they found Shen Xingzhuo lying on a bed in the emergency room with a cast on one leg.

The driver who had brought him there wore an expression of overwhelming disaster, unable to hold back his tears.

Upon seeing Shen Xingyu and Mrs. Shen, he rushed to explain, "The light was green at the time. I didn't expect him to suddenly dash out like that, and I wasn't speeding either..."

Shen Xingyu's expression was far from pleasant.

With too many incidents happening at home lately, Shen Xingzhuo's car accident was like pouring oil on the fire.

However, looking at the driver, he still sighed and said, "We'll deal directly with the insurance company."

To their surprise, Shen Xingzhuo spoke up at this moment,

"It's alright, you can go. I'll cover the medical expenses myself."

The driver was even more confused. "This...?"

"I crashed the car myself. It has nothing to do with you. You can go," Shen Xingzhuo said.

As he spoke, Shen Xingzhuo looked radiant.

The accident seemed to have suddenly freed him from his previous state of despair.

Mrs. Shen was somewhat distracted, standing by the bedside.

She didn't look at Shen Xingzhuo nor did she speak to the driver.

Shen Xingyu glanced at the driver but didn't say anything.

The driver hesitated for a long time, unable to figure out the situation, but still left his phone number. "Y-You call me if you need anything."

After the driver left the ward, Shen Xingzhuo didn't even glance at the string of digits before crumpling it and tossing it into the trash bin.

Closing the main door to the ward, Shen Xingyu turned to Shen Xingzhuo with a grim expression. "You crashed the car on purpose? What's going on?"

"Nothing much," Shen Xingzhuo replied, lying on the bed and playing with his phone without looking at the other two. "Alright, you can leave now. If I need help, I'll call a nurse myself."

Watching Shen Xingzhuo's demeanor, Shen Xingyu closed his eyes briefly.

"Shen Xingzhuo, can't you be more mature? Do you still think you're that second young master of the Shen family from before?"

"I'm quite mature now, don't try to manipulate me with your tactics," Shen Xingzhuo countered.

Shen Xingyu's gaze shifted to the leg in a cast belonging to Shen Xingzhuo.

"What do you call this then?" he sneered. "Atoning for your sins?"

Neither brother explicitly stated it, but both were aware of what "atonement" referred to.

Shen Xingzhuo's expression soured instantly. The earlier sense of ease deflated like a punctured balloon.

Shen Xingyu spoke sternly, "That's only because you're still alive. If you were dead, would that driver deserve to be implicated?"

"Stop talking!" Shen Xingzhuo abruptly waved his hand.

The needle on the back of his hand was dislodged, sending translucent medicine and scarlet blood splattering everywhere.

Shen Xingyu's headache returned momentarily.

He sighed but didn't say anything more.

However, Shen Xingzhuo pointed at him and Madam Shen, "That's still better than both of you!"

"I've never hit him! I've never helped the old man deceive and guard against him, knowing full well about the inheritance he has!"

Shen Xingyu lowered his gaze, his fingers clenching the railing of the hospital bed until they turned white before he gently released them.

He didn't say anything in retort.

"And you too! I didn't lose him either!"

Mrs. Shen, who had been in a daze, suddenly snapped back to reality.

Hearing words reminiscent of her memory, she looked up sharply at Shen Xingzhuo.

Once again, she saw the familiar reproach in her son's face.

"Is it all my fault?!"

Mrs. Shen stumbled backward, trembling. "None of you are without fault!"

She pointed at Shen Xingyu, then at Shen Xingzhuo, panting as she spoke:

"How could your brother have gone missing if not for you?"

"Mom, that's enough." Shen Xingyu reached out to pull Mrs. Shen back.

But she waved his hand away.

On the way to the mountains, the argument between her and Shen Hongyuan had erupted because of Shen Xingzhuo.

The last small cake in the car refrigerator was devoured by his younger brother.

Shen Xingzhuo was displeased because he had one less slice than his sibling.

He approached Madam Shen, pestering her to buy more.

Madam Shen, engrossed in her phone, casually appeased him, "You're the older brother, it's alright to let your younger brother have his way sometimes."

Beside them, a four-year-old with chocolate crumbs on the corner of his mouth listened attentively.

He awkwardly fiddled with his fingers, then tugged at Shen Xingzhuo's sleeve, saying, "The cake was so delicious, I couldn't resist. I'm sorry, big brother."

Six-year-old Shen Xingzhuo glanced at him but didn't comment. He merely stated, "I'll go back and buy more."

"Enough, your brother has apologized to you. Look how well-behaved he is? Now look at yourself!"

Madam Shen was getting slightly annoyed by the commotion.

Yet, Shen Xingzhuo burst into tears because of his words:

"Why does Elder Brother have things that I don't, and Younger Brother has things that I don't as well! Only I have nothing!"

Shen Hongyuan happened to step out of the car at this moment and heard the commotion, so he walked over.

He looked terrible, as if he hadn't had a good night's sleep in a long time.

Upon seeing Shen Xingzhuo bawling, he immediately scolded, "What are you crying for?!"

Mrs. Shen was also rather troubled. In her opinion, a small cake wasn't a big deal at all.

In a family like theirs, could they not afford a cake?

So she said to Shen Hongyuan, "He wants to eat the cake from the dessert shop we just passed. Husband, why don't you drive back and get some more? That cake was quite delicious."

Unexpectedly, upon finishing her sentence, Shen Hongyuan grabbed Shen Xingzhuo by the neck and threw him back into the RV. "All you know is how to eat!"

Mrs. Shen was startled by his actions and quickly stood up. "Hey, what are you doing? It'll only take half an hour to drive back. If you don't want to go, just let the driver do it. Why are you getting so angry?"

"How did he turn out like this if not because of you? Look at Ranran, she doesn't throw tantrums like this!" Shen Hongyuan scolded.

But when he lowered his gaze to see his youngest son standing by, he paused and shifted his eyes away as if nothing had happened.

Madam Shen was also provoked by his words. "What do you mean by that? Are you crazy, Shen Hongyuan? You were the one who suggested this vacation, yet you're acting all sulky now?"

"Can't you just give me a break? I've already taken you on vacation, what else do you want?"

The couple started bickering again.

Shen Xingyu drew the curtains of the RV shut with his hand.

In his own RV, Shen Xingzhuo was being held and comforted by the nanny. Seemingly hearing the voices of their parents arguing, he cried even louder.

The youngest stood still, looking up alternately at Madam Shen and Shen Hongyuan, at a loss for what to do.

After the argument, Madam Shen stormed back into the RV in a huff to cry.

Shen Hongyuan got into his SUV.

The child was left standing there. After a moment, he slowly returned to the motorhome he shared with his brother.

Inside the motorhome, Shen Xingzhuo was still crying.

The nanny offered him other snacks, but they were snatched away by Shen Xingzhuo and flung aside.

Spotting his younger brother's return, he pointed at the child and yelled, "It's all your fault that I got scolded by Dad!"

"Big brother, don't cry."

The child approached, his own voice quivering as he tried to hold back his sobs. "Next time, I'll let you have the small cake, okay?"

Shen Xingzhuo held back for a moment but eventually couldn't resist. Rubbing his eyes, he burst into tears again.

"I don't want cake! I-I want to go to the amusement park, I want... ice cream!"

Upon hearing the word 'ice cream', the child's reddened eyes lit up.

For they both recalled that just a few days ago, they had visited an amusement park, each holding their own ice cream cone.

There were no arguments, no anger.

Mom and Dad hadn't fought or scolded anyone.

Everyone was happy.

That was the happiest time they'd ever had.

Children didn't understand much else; they believed that replicating that scene would bring back the joy of that day.

Without an amusement park, ice cream would suffice!

And they remembered passing by an ice cream shop just a moment ago.

"Big brother, I'll go find Mom and ask her to buy us ice cream."

The child eagerly hopped out of the car.

He rushed towards the RV where Mrs. Shen was.

The auntie peeped out and, upon seeing him enter, felt reassured and focused on calming down the one inside the vehicle.

"Mom, Mom!"

The child stood in front of the RV, knocking on the door.

However, there was no response from within.

Only sobs could be heard.

The child knocked twice more on the door.

Spotting that the door wasn't properly closed, he lifted his foot to pull the door handle.

But he was too short and couldn't reach it after struggling for a while. He could only use his fingers to pry open a gap in the door and slowly squeeze himself inside.

Inside the RV, a woman was weeping.

The child cuddled up to the woman, hugging her legs and comforting her, "Mommy, don't cry. Let's go get some ice cream. Once we eat it, we'll be happy!"

He even knew the distance and elaborated, "The ice cream shop is really close!"

With his fingers counting, he said, "It's just a one, two, three... five-minute walk! Let's go back and buy some..."

But this remark infuriated Mrs. Shen. "Go back? You want to go back? Can't you both behave more maturely?"

The child was taken aback by the sudden outburst and called out, confused, "Mommy?"

Mrs. Shen broke down. "Can't you just leave me alone for a while? If you want ice cream, go ask your father!"

With a slam, the RV door shut.

Dark clouds blanketed the sky, casting an oppressive gloom.

Shen Xingyu had turned on the lights in his RV, still troubled by a finance case on his computer.

Soon, knocks sounded on the door of his RV.

The weather was so stuffy that he hadn't bothered to close the door.

Shen Xingyu assumed it was the driver, reminding them that it was time to leave.

But when he looked up, he saw only a child's head peering in.

Despite the open door, the child didn't climb in immediately.

He seemed to recall the "order" not to step into Shen Xingyu's study.

From outside, he softly called, "Big Brother."

Upon seeing that Shen Xingyu remained silent, the child slowly climbed the steps inside.

The steps were high, and the child had short legs, so they had to lean on the car door sideways and climb up step by step.

After climbing up, he stood by the doorway, gazing at the youth seated before the computer within, softly uttering:

"Big brother, would you take me to buy some ice cream?"

Shen Xingyu furrowed his brow subconsciously.

Agitation seems contagious, for just now Shen Hongyuan had engaged in a heated argument with Madam Shen.

Currently, Shen Xingzhuo was still weeping.

Shen Xingyu's mood was equally grim.

He couldn't help but say, "Can you stop bothering me?"

The child immediately took a step back.

Shen Xingyu pressed his lips together and added, "Go find Mommy first. I'll accompany you to buy it after I'm done with my work."

"But..."

The child didn't say anything and obediently climbed down the steps to leave.

He wandered for a while on the way.

Then, he still jogged over to the last SUV in the line of vehicles.

Dad's angry appearance was terrifying, even more so than Big Brother's.

The child hesitated for a moment before reaching out to pat the car door.

He patted it ever so gently, as if afraid of waking the monster inside.

He called softly twice, "Daddy? Daddy?"

Yet, the dark SUV remained silently parked in place.

The tinted windows reflected a dark sheen, obscuring the view of what was happening inside.

Looking up for a moment, the child withdrew his hand.

He paced around for a while before heading back towards the RV he shared with his brother.

Shen Xingzhuo was still wailing inside.

A cold and restless atmosphere permeated the convoy.

After walking a short distance, the child paused again.

He lowered his head to search through his small yellow duck backpack, checking the pocket money within.

Gathering courage by clenching his fists, he muttered to himself, "I can buy it myself!"

He lifted his foot and started walking in the direction he remembered the ice cream shop to be.

However, fear eventually caught up with him, making him stop once more.

"Ice cream will make Mommy, Daddy, and Brother not be angry anymore."

The child muttered to himself.

As if those words had given him courage, he counted silently again, "Just five more minutes!"

Eventually, the child lifted his short legs and ran in the opposite direction from the convoy.

Holding onto his small yellow duck backpack, he ran alone on the road for quite a while.

It was a short distance, but it seemed exceptionally long due to his slow pace.

Dark clouds were gathering, and there were few people on the street as rain was about to fall.

Every passerby appeared particularly menacing to the child.

He grew scared, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead.

It wasn't until he saw the colorful sign of an ice cream shop and the large waffle cone models standing on either side of it that he felt a sense of relief.

"It's ice cream!"

The child's eyes lit up, as if sharing this delightful discovery with an imaginary companion along this brief yet perilous path.

He started running again, reaching the shop and placing both tiny hands on the counter.

Addressing the owner inside, he said, "I want ice cream."

The proprietor, surprised to see such a young child alone, leaned forward and asked, "Little one, are you by yourself? Where are your mom and dad?"

"Mommy and Daddy are just over there," the child pointed in a direction and then nodded, "They're really close!"

Assuming the child was referring to tourists outside the shop, the owner inquired, "How many ice creams do you want, and what flavors?"

The child counted silently:

"One for Mommy, one for Daddy, one for Big Brother, and one for Second Brother."

"Mommy and Daddy like vanilla, Big Brother wants lemon, and Second Brother likes strawberry."

At last, it was done.

Unaware that he had omitted himself, the boy proudly held up four fingers to the vendor, as if he had solved a complex problem: "I'll take four!"

"Four of them... I'll have to pack them nicely then..."

In no time, the child emerged from the shop, carrying four ice creams.

The return journey became a delightful and anticipated one.

The boy ran along the way, yet handled the box with great care, as if cradling a bundle of joy for his family.

The familiar path no longer instilled fear in him.

The child eagerly anticipated the joy on his parents' faces when they received the ice creams.

He even felt a sense of proud accomplishment.

He silently praised himself inwardly: "I'm so amazing!"

Until he returned to the location where the convoy was stationed.

The child stared blankly ahead.

The sky was dark and gloomy.

There were no vehicles in sight, only an empty, unfamiliar stretch of land.

With courage mustered, he embarked on an unfamiliar and perilous journey, painstakingly carrying the most exquisite happiness from his memories with utmost care and effort.

Yet, nobody was waiting for him.

Madam Shen ultimately voiced the words she had been holding back:

"had you not insisted on eating, how would your brother have gone missing?"

"Mother, please don't say anymore!"

The one speaking was Shen Xingyu.

His voice was deep, urgent, with a subtle rasp to it.

His complexion was unnaturally pale.

But Shen Xingzhuo had already heard him.

That very night, Shen Xingzhuo left the hospital despite still having his cast on.

At the airport.

Shen Xingran, wearing a cap and a mask, gazed at the international flight ticket on his phone.

He was strikingly handsome, exuding an air of poise that came from being well taken care of.

Some people at the airport mistook him for a celebrity, stealthily taking pictures of him with their phones.

In the past, Shen Xingran had relished such attention.

Yet now, he was secretly avoiding it all.

Shen Xingran sat in a corner of the departure lounge, lost in thought for a while.

Too many things had happened recently, and they'd unfolded in rapid succession.

The once prosperous Shen family had suddenly stumbled, on the brink of bankruptcy.

They were even entangled in a legal dispute.

Their once harmonious family was now in disarray.

Shen Hongyuan's fake inheritance scandal still made headlines in the media.

Up until now, Shen Xingran couldn't quite grasp the reality of it all.

Even though he had orchestrated these events himself.

Sitting in his chair, Shen Xingran gazed at the airstrip outside.

In his mind, he relived the scene where he fiercely reprimanded Madam Shen, Shen Xingyu, and Shen Xingzhuo at the Shen residence.

In truth, Shen Xingran was somewhat fearful when he returned to the Shen family back then.

He was only nineteen, and despite his extensive experiences, it was his first time doing something like this.

The incredulous expressions of Madam Shen and Shen Xingzhuo were still vivid in Shen Xingran's memory, leaving him somewhat bewildered.

How had things escalated to this point?

Just a year ago, he was still the beloved young master of the Shen family, with Shen Hongyuan indulging and protecting him.

Madam Shen doted on him unconditionally, as did Shen Xingzhuo. Clearly... he had also been attached to Madam Shen.

He truly regarded Shen Xingzhuo as his older brother in every sense of the word.

Yet now, everything seemed utterly ridiculous.

Shen Xingran delved into his memories.

It probably started when Madam Shen learned about the rumors of an "illegitimate child" outside.

Back then, Shen Xingran realized for the first time that Madam Shen's affection for him wasn't unconditional.

Similarly, Shen Xingzhuo had, for some inexplicable reason, begun treating Lu Ran as his younger brother.

The rift between them emerged abruptly and spread.

Then came the day when he overheard Shen Xingyu stating his intention to bring Lu Ran into the Shen Corporation.

And at Shen Xingyu's birthday party, he witnessed the conversation between Lu Ran and Shen Xingyu, overhearing Shen Xingyu's promise to Lu Ran.

Suddenly, Shen Xingran felt a surge of panic.

He always remembered that he was just an orphan with nothing to his name.

Even within the Shen family, there was no one he could truly rely on.

That was why he had to take matters into his own hands.

Capitalizing on Shen Hongyuan's trust, Shen Xingran entered the company during summer vacation, becoming Hongyuan's assistant.

Under Shen Hongyuan's name, he accessed and copied the Shen Corporation's technical data.

Initially, Shen Xingran had no intention of using this information for any purpose.

But as he began interacting with Jin Linuo and heard the terms offered, Shen Xingran's interest gradually grew.

At first, Shen Xingran cautiously negotiated and maneuvered, hoping to reap benefits from the situation.

It wasn't until Jin revealed to him Shen Hongyuan's forgery of the will that things changed.

Fifty percent of the shares under the late Mr. Shen's name, along with the majority of the remaining assets, were rightfully Shen Xingran's.

Upon hearing this news, Shen Xingran didn't react with overwhelming joy.

It was more like a rude awakening for him.

He suddenly realized that perhaps his adoption and the name Shen Xingran were part of a deceit from the very beginning.

Perhaps...

Initially, Shen Hongyuan had adopted him to secure a "Shen Xingran" to inherit Grandpa Shen's estate. Later, due to mistrust in this unrelated orphan, he altered the will.

And he, this "Shen Xingran," was merely Shen Hongyuan's fallback option.

Kept close by, in case the tampering of the will was exposed, there would still be him, this "Shen Xingran," to fall back on.

It turned out that from the start, he was nothing but a complete laughingstock.

Shen Xingran had previously felt a twinge of guilt for his plan to betray the Shen family.

Upon hearing this, his guilt vanished, and he promptly agreed to Jin's conditions.

Regarding this "inheritance," Shen Xingran had thought it through thoroughly.

If luck was on his side, and Lu Ran couldn't prove that he was the "Shen Xingran" mentioned in the will, then of course, he would fight for the inheritance.

By then, the entire Shen Corporation would be his, and with the collaboration with the Lino family, he would firmly establish himself in the industry.

If things didn't go as planned, and the inheritance fell into Lu Ran's hands, Shen Xingran wouldn't suffer any losses either. He could simply take the money and shares offered by the Lino family and escape abroad.

With the Shen family entangled in the inheritance dispute, they wouldn't have the time or energy to pursue him.

By the time the Shen family realized what had happened, he would already be hiding overseas.

Shen Xingran had long prepared for this scenario.

But now, as he stood at the airport, he felt unusually downcast.

Yet, Shen Xingran quickly regained his spirits.

He realized that he was different from Lu Ran.

Lu Ran shared an unbreakable blood tie with the Shen family, but he didn't.

They weren't his real family, so why should he be upset?

Shen Xingran even began to harbor some hope.

He had a substantial amount of money in his possession now, and unlike when he was with the Shens, this money was entirely under his control.

With this money, he could live quite comfortably.

Once the turmoil passed, he might even be able to return home and find his biological parents, experiencing the genuine love of a family.

With such prospects in mind, Shen Xingran felt exceptionally relieved.

He was about to board the plane with his suitcase in hand when a shadow fell across his path.

Two officials stood before him, flashing their IDs.

One of them spoke:

"Good day, you've been summoned to court for the crime of corporate espionage. Due to the severity of the case, it's now a public prosecution, and as of now, your exit from the country has been restricted..."

In the end, Shen Xingran had underestimated Shen Xingyu.

Amidst all the chaos, he had remained cool and collected, gathering evidence to sue both him and the Lino family.

Throughout the entire summer, troubles within the Shen family had unfolded one after another.

Aside from some complications with identity verification, Lu Ran's life had been relatively calm.

With his experiments temporarily concluded, he could finally indulge in some leisure time at home.

Returning from an evening walk with the dog, Lu Ran knelt on the ground, sorting through Big Yellow's leashes and chest harnesses.

Big Yellow sat by, watching him.

Lu Ran rummaged through them and picked out the beige leash adorned with a rabbit toy.

After a moment of contemplation, he tossed it into the trash can beside him.

Addressing Big Yellow, he said, "This one is dirty, so we'll discard it. Daddy will get you a new one."

Big Yellow didn't object, sitting quietly with his round eyes fixed on Lu Ran, seemingly puzzled as to why a seemingly clean leash was deemed dirty.

Lu Ran neatly put away the remaining leashes. As he stood up, he stumbled, nearly falling to the ground.

Ji Min walked in through the door just in time to witness this scene.

Promptly reaching out, he pulled the person into his embrace.

"What's wrong? Is your knee hurting? Or is it somewhere else?"

Ji Min appeared slightly nervous, his brows tightly knitted together.

Recently, even though Lu Ran hadn't mentioned anything, Ji Min could sense the intermittent tension in Lu Ran's demeanor.

For a good while, Lu Ran was wordlessly held and caressed in his arms.

Eventually, unable to bear it any longer, he explained with a touch of exasperation, "Thank you, I just squatted for too long and my legs went numb."

Chapter 111: Station 23: Cataclysm

Amidst the crumbling mountains and splitting earth, countless crimson threads surged forth, intercepting the horrifying barrage of debris for everyone!

Fifty carried the bound Sibu forward, and the others immediately followed suit.

Fortunately, the collapse wasn't continuous. Although the fissures kept spreading, the tsunami-like madness eventually subsided.

However, when they all turned back, they discovered that the once-majestic White Manor had transformed into countless fragments piercing out from the ground, floating towards the skyward-split starry expanse.

Tiles, white walls, ornate beams, and painted rafters had all become a staircase of fragments ascending to the heavens, spiraling up and down in the air.

Ming Yiyang and Si Shuhao had both witnessed this scene before.

Si Shuhao was worried for Yan Qiling's safety.

On the other hand, Ming Yiyang knew that this signaled the beginning of Yan Qiling's consumption of space.

A sudden, ominous premonition welled up within him.

This foreboding wasn't about his personal safety but rather an unsettling distrust in the inexplicable bond between humans and spirits.

He reached for his ring finger.

The band, as pristine as new, snugly encircled the contours of his bone.

That peculiar sense of distance still fragmented into multiple directions, but to Ming Yiyang, who now understood the situation, it offered some relief to his currently strained nerves.

Ever since he entered this world, the tail ring had been reflecting the presence of several "Yan Qiling"s moving about in different locations.

That was why on the first day, he suspected Yan Qiling of concealing something from him.

But now he knew that Yan Qiling must have set up some sort of array for this world's Wujian Master.

Though he was unsure of its exact function, it seemed unlikely that this Wujian Master could escape.

Fifty placed sorghum cakes before the grave.

Due to the absence of paper money, the wind at the gravesite had turned ominous.

As if sensing something, Shiweng Guang fumbled in his bosom and presented the red cloth shoe tremblingly.

The red shoe slapped onto the ground, and moments later, a woman dressed entirely in red appeared before everyone's eyes.

Her face was covered by a damp piece of gauze, and her melodious voice, tinged with sorrow, echoed like a lament carried by the wind:

"The golden hairpin is a willow branch, the small box contains willow seeds... I, Chun Yufen, have finally awoken."

"In this mortal world, relationships between rulers and subjects, and ants, are no different. All joys, sorrows, and vicissitudes are but fleeting dreams in the Southern Apricot Kingdom. Where then can one ascend to heaven? I, a mere mortal, have always been captivated—"

With that, she transformed into a trail of fading red and flew away. Countless beams of golden light shot out, dispersing the malevolent spirits hovering around the gravesite. Instantly, the sky brightened, the gloomy atmosphere dissipated, and a sense of clarity washed over everyone.

The source of the golden radiance was a tiny, floating silk box.

Ming Yiyang gently set Si Shuhao down and retrieved the enigmatic golden hairpin from his chest. Inserting it into the lock of the silk box, he opened it.

A vivid red gemstone emitted a blinding glare that made it difficult for those nearby to look directly at it.

Ming Yiyang's eyes shimmered with the fragmented brilliance of diamonds.

The gem seemed to pulsate with a life of its own.

In this moment, Ming Yiyang witnessed the cycle of human emotions—joy, sorrow, anger, and pleasure—tangled and swirling around him like a carousel of memories.

This was the first time since unlocking the restrictions on his Qingdu Ziwu Yin-Yang Pupils that Ming Yiyang found himself trapped in an illusion!

He quickly realized that this must be the core of the Mystic Rank Wujian Lord, though he never imagined it would be hidden here!

But the Qingdu Ziwu Yin-Yang Pupils could penetrate all illusions in the world. How could he be ensnared by something like this?

"You think it's an illusion?" Fifty's voice rang out clearly from outside. Then, the gem was suddenly gripped by an outstretched hand and crushed fiercely.

The surrounding illusion dissipated, and Fifty looked at him with a smile. "It's true that the Qingdu Ziwu Yin-Yang Pupils can see through illusions. But what if it isn't an illusion?"

Without any warning, Zero swallowed the precious pearl whole!

Yao Kunrui's facade vanished instantly, and Yan Qiling's face reappeared. The lake-blue hue in his eyes slowly flowed, and even his voice returned to its crisp, jade-like tone:

"This object is called the Manifestation Pearl. A hundred years ago, that centipede ghost secretly consumed it and hid it away. Father was magnanimous enough to confine it within the Nineteenth-Level Lotus Pagoda without further restraint, but this is precisely what I need."

Ming Yiyang displayed an expression of disbelief for the first time:

"Yan... Qiling?"

"Ahh, no need to worry, you can certainly call me that. I was previously concerned about whether this Manifestation Pearl possessed the legendary power, but the fact that your Pure Capital Violets Yin-Yang Pupils couldn't penetrate it indicates that it indeed has remarkable effects."

The man with Yan Qiling's face gazed at the full moon hanging above, as his traditional Chinese attire danced suddenly with an unseen breeze:

"Well then, the sacrificial array has been activated. I must leave..."

A silver Spirit Binding Rope latched onto the man's wrist, with the other end held tightly by the youth with purple eyes.

Ming Yiyang stared directly at this figure and asked:

"How could you have opened my Yin-Yang Pupils just for today?"

"Why would you think that?"

Ming Yiyang had just let out a sigh of relief when the man with blue eyes chuckled softly.

"Whether it was guiding you to unlock your Yin-Yang Pupils or agreeing to accompany She Lingshuang into the Profound Realm, all of this was for today. I've laid so many groundwork, why do you only mention the Yin-Yang Pupils?"

A tremor flickered across Ming Yiyang's expression before it faded entirely.

He still held the man's wrist tightly, refusing to release the Spirit Shackles.

"You couldn't possibly have predicted everything so precisely. Although there are few Voids of the Profound Realm, how could the Prison Train coincidentally deliver you right to your target?"

"The Prison Train couldn't, but I could."

The man revealed a wry smile, as if mocking Ming Yiyang's naive innocence.

"Do you truly believe that the night sky beyond the Prison Train is the work of a Void of the Profound Realm? If they possessed such abilities, none of you would have survived until now."

"That veil of darkness is what I use to direct the Prison Train's trajectory. Since it's taking us to a Dark Rank Infinite Lord, why can't it be the one in the space I desire?"

"Oh, you must be wondering why I didn't use this method before."

The man gave a standardized smile as he answered his own question:

"Because the time was not ripe."

"Didn't I mention that I hope our next encounter with certain individuals will be more pleasant? For that, I've prepared various tactics and means. However, these techniques need to be tested, and besides, there are treasures I need to acquire. Like this Manifestation Treasure Pearl, for instance."

"There's no need to reveal myself before I'm fully prepared," the man said with a soft chuckle. "But now, everything is perfectly timed."

The Spirit Binding Rope suddenly loosened without any warning. In an instant, the man transformed into a vortex of swirling red threads and vanished without a trace, leaving only an echoing residue of sound behind.

"Sesame is at your mercy, and furthermore, take note, the sky is falling!"

Suzhuo's face was deathly pale. The wound on the back of her neck, which had been left untreated, had started bleeding profusely during the frantic escape, soaking through her collar and the shirt on her back.

As the recent victim of an attempted assault, Si Shuhao merely cast her a glance, paying no attention to the other's emotions. Instead, she looked towards Ming Yiyang.

What did Wuliao just mean by those words?

Ming Yiyang was also unable to respond.

For that ring, which was famously claimed to be obtainable only by venturing to Mount Sanqing.

When Fifty departed.

Shattered.

It fell like stardust and silver flakes, showering the tiny world with a ruthless meteorite rain.

Within Ming Yiyang's heart, there was a contrasting dichotomy of ice and fire.

In his memory, the unique Yan Qiling who had always treated him differently overlapped with the one who just smiled ruthlessly, creating a conflicting image that tore at him.

This left him experiencing an unprecedented sensation, akin to acute pain.

The agony came swiftly and fiercely, leaving no means of respite.

If possible, he wished he could handle this situation like a throat-slashing emergency, pressing down on the bleeding point on the major artery to at least slow down the pace of his own demise.

But now, he was inexperienced and had no reference materials to consult.

No one had ever taught him what to do in a situation like this.

Yet, reality didn't afford him much time for contemplation.

The heavens and earth suddenly trembled violently!

As the full moon above their heads tilted, they all abruptly realized that the sky was genuinely collapsing upon them!

All thoughts of trivial details were abandoned as everyone frantically dashed forward in a desperate bid for survival.

In this tilted world, no one could remain untouched.

Yet, as they ran further down the slope, the path ahead gradually turned into a steep decline. With time passing, the incline grew steeper, and the crescent moon hanging upside down drew closer with each step they took.

Liao Xinya swiftly grasped the key to their escape:

"The moon! The moon is the exit!!!"

Hope flickered back into everyone's eyes—except for Ming Yiyang, who remained silent.

Struggling through the rolling gravel, they managed to reach the moon's edge before the slope became a perpendicular ninety-degree drop.

A train roared into view, stirring excitement within them all.

Ming Yiyang reached into his inner pocket, only to find it empty, mirroring the emptiness he felt inside.

He sensed that something had pierced him somewhere, causing a dull ache.

It wasn't until Si Shuhao let out a startled cry that...

"Ming Yiyang, your leg!!"

He looked down and saw blood oozing from the calf of his left leg. The warm liquid had already soaked through his pants and into his shoes, yet he hadn't felt anything before.

"Hurry, get in the car!"

The girl reached for him, concern etched on her face as she gazed at his wound:

"Oh no, what do we do now? If only Yan Qiling were here... Why hasn't he returned? Is 50 really part of Yan Qiling's team? If so, why have I never seen them both appear together?"

Ming Yiyang merely stared at his injured leg.

Of course, he knew the right thing to do was to get in the car immediately, then disembark in five minutes and return to reality. He should promptly open his first-aid kit, tend to his injury, and seek medical treatment.

There was no need to worry about Yan Qiling; this man was an unparalleled master at the Heavenly Rank, capable of holding his own against an opponent at the Mystic Rank within their shared space.

Moreover, everything that had happened was part of the other person's plan. As the pawn in this game, did he have the right to be concerned about the strategist?

Ming Yiyang took two steps towards the train, each stride tugging at his calf and sending jolts of pain through his nerves.

In a sudden impulse, he reached out to touch the bandage covering his face.

For a moment, he was startled, then he regained his expressionless demeanor and turned to push Si Shuhao into the car:

"Get in first, don't get out."

Before Si Shuhao could respond, she witnessed Ming Yiyang rip off the bandage from his face and run backward without any hesitation!

Her eyes widened! It was as if she was witnessing madness reminiscent of Yao Kunrui in another world all over again.

But this time, the one who had lost his mind was Ming Yiyang.

Ming Yiyang had gone mad!!!