Asianovel

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

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

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

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

Luo Le held out his hand. "Keys."

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

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

Luo Le pushed him away.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Huo Lanjing could more or less guess what had happened.

He reached out and stroked Chen Chen's head.

Feeling the touch, Luo Le turned back.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Luo Le went over to retrieve one.

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

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

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

"Excuse me, are you alright?"

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

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

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

"It's fine."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Uncle?"

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

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

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

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

The previous conversation had to be cut short.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Huo Lanjing replied, "It's fine."

Suddenly, a father and son walked past them.

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

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

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

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

The trio made their way to the fresh produce section.

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

There were several varieties available.

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

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

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

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

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

Luo Le responded with a hint of confusion.

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

But Luo Le paid him no mind and continued browsing.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Three days later, early morning.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Luo Le gestured with his eyes for him to continue.

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Are you going out?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

Huo Lanjing hesitated for a moment. "No."

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

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

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

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

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

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

Suddenly, his wrist was grasped by a large hand.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 77: This Venerable One Is Very Awkward

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

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

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

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

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

"Thank Greedy Wolf on my behalf."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Phew."

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

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

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

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

"What are you looking at?"

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

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

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

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

"..."

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

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

Nonetheless, he beckoned for Mo Ran to come over.

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

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

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

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

Occasionally, a frog croaked outside the window.

"Shifu."

"Mm."

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"I have no family," Chu Wanning replied.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Mmm..."

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

Chu Wanning: "..."

Thump. Thump. Thump.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"..."

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

Chu Wanning's expression changed abruptly.

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

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

Author's Note: A Mini-Drama:

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

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

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

Meat Bun: Mo Ran would probably destroy the inn.

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

Meat Bun: As described in the text.

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 163: A Chat

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

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

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

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

It was a rude awakening.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ye Wang: "?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A puzzled look flashed across Ye Wang's face.

"Grandma~"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"You're a Fallen Angel, right?"

Ye Wang hesitantly nodded.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Chapter 209 - Bestowing Land

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

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

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

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

...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Really? How?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A moment of silence ensued.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Indeed, they had quite a number of people.

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

Manager Wang chuckled, "That can be arranged."

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

"Forty acres of land?"

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

He felt like his ears were playing tricks on him.

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

He explained the difference between permanent land and assigned land.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leave!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

But Lin Shuicheng didn't respond.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Upon hearing his voice, Tang Yang immediately felt relieved.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tang Yang then slipped out of the room.

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

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

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

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

Lin Shuicheng nodded. "Yes."

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

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

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

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

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

Lin Shuicheng narrowed his eyes slightly as he observed him.

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

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

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

Lin Shuicheng listened quietly, his expression unwavering.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Sure, no problem."

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

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

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

Yet, surprisingly, he himself remained strangely composed.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Hurry, hurry—"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

He enunciated each word deliberately, recounting the tale,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"Received."

Lin Shuicheng slammed on the brakes.

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

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

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

The caller ID read: Fu Luoyin.

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

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

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

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

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

—Do you know what should be happening now?

—Waiting for my husband to come pick me up.

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

—I can't sleep.

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

A story?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This was not an insurmountable issue.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Pei Yun's hand paused slightly while pouring tea.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For that zither had never belonged to her.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Donghua Gate North Avenue.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The mercenaries had remained silent under torture and threats before.

That was because they felt they had support.

And the fleeing insects had been largely eradicated.

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

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

After a round of selection, they chose Luo Le.

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

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

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

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

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

Eventually, it led to complete loss of rationality.

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

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

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

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

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

Luo Le remained silent.

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

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

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

Huo Lanjing began, "I..."

Luo Le interjected, "Okay."

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

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

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

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

"You... didn't change?"

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

"Mm, no."

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

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

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

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

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

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

After obtaining all the information, Luo Le returned home.

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

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

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

"Which floor?"

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

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

Luo Le: "Floor eighteen."

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

Luo Le followed him into the elevator.

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

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

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

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

Silence ensued within the elevator.

Ding! They had arrived.

Huo Lanjing exited the elevator first.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The medicine they consumed could then aggregate the substances again.

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

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

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

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

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

With that, he buried his head in his food.

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

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

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

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

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

Huo Lanjing asked, "What do you want?"

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

Huo Lanjing scoffed. "Impossible."

Chen Chen inquired, "Why?"

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

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

Huo Lanjing looked at him with some surprise.

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

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

"There's a condition."

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

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

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

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

In unison, they asked, "Why?"

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And just like that, the matter was settled.

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

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

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

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

Suddenly, three individuals appeared before them.

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

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

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

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

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

They found a small private room.

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

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

Qing Er observed his hesitation and asked, "Qing Si, is that child yours?"

Luo Le was momentarily at a loss for words, sipping his coffee. "I... I'll think about it."

Qing Yi responded, "Alright, the Xu family has arranged a spacecraft to send us. In three days, we'll be waiting for you at Xu Family's Riverside Flight Field."

Luo Le paused before nodding. "Okay."

With that, they left, leaving Luo Le alone.

He watched their departing figures through the window until they vanished into the bustling crowd.

Lowering his head, he swirled the coffee, gazing at the churning liquid. His mind was as chaotic as the whirlpool in the cup.

Luo Le stayed there all day, until he noticed an increasing number of people gathering at the school gate.

He slowly rose and went to pick up Chen Chen.

On their way home, Chen Chen shared amusing anecdotes from school, while Luo Le responded intermittently.

"Daddy, we're here."

Luo Le regained her composure and responded before following Chen Chen back home.

Just as she put down the items in Chen Chen's hands, a voice suddenly came from the sofa: "Didn't you go to the hospital today?"

Looking down, Luo Le saw Huo Lanjing. Why was he back?

Moreover, how did he know she hadn't gone to the hospital?

Chapter 76: This Seat Has Met That Guy Again

Chu Wanning had never been the kind of master who patiently guided his disciple. Mo Ran was no longer a naive child of five or six either. He would not bother responding to such playful questions, and simply lowered his gaze, remaining silent and cold.

The hibiscus flower he had thrown out was imbued with a Gale Spell, quickly sweeping through the entire Peach Blossom Spring. In no time, a golden talisman descended from the sky and landed in his hand.

"The Ancestral Abyss?"

The Ancestral Abyss was where furious vultures emerged every day, prompting cultivators to rush over to pluck their feathers. The Feathered people had previously mentioned that beneath the abyss was an endless inferno of true fire. Apart from the vultures that had lived there since ancient times, anyone who fell in would be melted until not even ashes remained.

Chu Wanning cast a barrier around himself and Mo Ran to conceal their presence from the Feathered people.

Upon arriving at the Ancestral Abyss, they saw that it was bottomless, emitting eerie red light. The cliffs were densely inhabited by thousands upon thousands of strange birds, all of which were now sleeping with their heads buried under their wings, appearing as countless tiny dots from afar.

According to Chu Wanning's thoughts, if the Precious Chess Game was set within the abyss, then everything the Feathered people had said about the raging flames and being burned to nothingness must have been made up.

"But how can we be sure that the fire down there won't burn people to death?" Mo Ran muttered, staring at the lurking glow below. "It looks real no matter how you look at it."

"Throw something down first."

"I'll go catch a rabbit then."

"No need." Chu Wanning rose and soared, his white robes billowing as he vanished into the nearby peach grove. In no time, he drifted back like a celestial being from the ninth heaven, holding a peach blossom in hand.

Mo Ran understood now. A peach blossom was more delicate than a rabbit, so if it could withstand the so-called "flames," there would be no danger for a living person to enter.

Chu Wanning's fingers brushed over the peach branch as he muttered incantations. The vibrant peach blossom was instantly enveloped by a gentle, crystalline blue light. He nodded toward the abyss and whispered, "Go."

The peach blossom fell slowly, one foot, two feet, ten feet, a hundred feet.

Its shadow had long since disappeared, but Chu Wanning's spell allowed him to sense the blossom's condition. He closed his eyes, then after a moment, his eyelashes fluttered open again.

"The peach blossom is unscathed. It's safe to proceed."

With Chu Wanning's assurance, there was nothing more to say. Mo Ran immediately leaped into the air with him, both soaring toward the Ancestral Abyss. Their movements were deft, and they reached the bottom without incident. Despite his mental preparation, Mo Ran still felt a chill when he saw the scene at the bottom of the great abyss.

He knew what the red glow within the abyss truly was.

There were thousands of wooden frames packed tightly inside the great abyss, each one suspending a Feathered person. They were all naked, their beautiful bodies dripping with blood. Each of their mouths was stuffed with a Lingchi fruit that glowed with a blinding red light. The thousands of red lights converged together, and from above, it was easy to believe this was the true flame of the crimson abyss.

Chu Wanning's expression was grim. With his extensive knowledge, he naturally knew that this red fruit was a forbidden fruit feared by all in the cultivation world. Placing it in the mouth of a dying person could prolong their last breath for three hundred and sixty-five days.

In other words, someone who could have been released from their suffering instantly would now endure an excruciatingly slow death. What would have been a sudden heart failure would become an unending torment, a form of death by a thousand cuts.

Mo Ran gazed at the layers upon layers of Feathered immortals turned undead and murmured, "…Soul Shackling Array."

Using living beings as pillars to trap resentment within, not even a wisp of the trapped souls' aura would leak out, no matter how many thousands there were in the precious chessboard game!

No wonder he had been unable to detect any trace of the resentful energy from the precious chessboard game despite his meticulous investigations.

Mo Ran felt increasingly chilled. He wondered if the fake Chen Gou he encountered in Jin Chengchi was the same person pulling the strings behind the scenes in Peach Blossom Spring.

From what he experienced in Jin Chengchi, the fake Chen Gou could only use the precious chessboard game to manipulate the underwater spirits rather simply, suggesting that he had only grasped the basics. However, the fake Feathered immortals that filled the outskirts of Peach Blossom Spring were more than just dim-witted; they were nearly identical to the real ones, capable of even casting Feathered immortal spells. The level of mastery over this forbidden technique was clearly advanced. Could the fake Chen Gou have progressed so rapidly?

Chu Wanning arrived at the center of the Soul Shackling Array, where a stone pillar made of crystal stood tall.

Tied to the pillar was a Feathered immortal, though she was already deceased. The Ling Chi fruit in her mouth had withered, and her body had begun to decay. Nevertheless, the golden silk phoenix robe adorned with golden threads that draped over her and the star-shaped curse seal on her forehead revealed her previous status.

"This is…"

Mo Ran exclaimed, "This is a genuine Feathered Immortal!"

"That's right," Chu Wanning gazed at the endless column of people and said softly, "There must be at least eight hundred Feathered people trapped here for the Soul Shackling Formation. If the Feathered Immortal were still alive, how could they endure such a deep blood vendetta? Moreover, when I fought with that Immortal outside just now, I sensed that their strength was inferior to the Ghost Conductor in Butterfly Town. If my guess is correct... the Feathered people of Peach Blossom Spring might have been wiped out long ago. Those outside are likely reanimated corpses under the control of the Precious Chess Game."

"!" Indeed! Chu Wanning had come to the same conclusion as him! Startled, Mo Ran turned around, ready to rush back. Chu Wanning waved his wide sleeves to stop him.

"Where are you going?"

"I need to tell Uncle and the others about this. If it's true, it's too dangerous."

"Don't act rashly," Chu Wanning shook his head. "We're in the open while the enemy remains hidden. There are many cultivators inside Peach Blossom Spring, and we have no idea who's behind all this. Acting impulsively will only make things worse."

"Ha ha. Long time no see, Master Chu is still so cautious."

A light laugh, tinged with mischief, echoed through the air like a sudden clap of thunder in the Ancestral Abyss. The two looked up in alarm to see a bloodied Feathered child swinging its legs on a protruding branch of a cliff. When they turned around, the deceased child tilted its head, its bleeding eyeballs rolling around before a bright smile spread across its mouth.

Mo Ran cried out, "The Precious Chess Game!"

Chu Wanning cursed inwardly and growled grimly, "Yet another white piece."

"hee hee hee, yes, it's just a white chess piece," the Feathered child clapped sinisterly. "Did you really think I'd use my true form to guard this place? I'm not that foolish."

Mo Ran responded, "Sure enough, you're that fake Chongchen from Jin Cheng Lake! You madman, what on earth do you want?"

"Sss, who are you to question me, just a mere Foundation Building cultivator? Have your master come and ask instead."

"You —!"

Chu Wanning casually waved his wide sleeves, extending his slender fingers to press down on the fuming Mo Ran. Lifting his gaze, he asked in a cold voice, "What is it that you are plotting, sir?"

The Feathered being swung his legs nonchalantly, clearly already deceased but manipulated by a forbidden spell like a puppet performing various antics.

"It's actually not a significant matter that I'm after," Chu Wanning's voice was colder than ever. "Then why, sir, have you repeatedly attempted to take my disciple's life?"

"The matter might be insignificant, but coincidentally, your young disciple's spirit core is needed to complete it," the child said with a grin. "All sorts of quirks and oddities, but his spirit core is exceptionally superb. Even better than yours, Grandmaster. I knew at Jin Cheng Lake that he is an exquisite wood spirit essence. Otherwise, I might have preferred you."

His words were slick and coated in grease, yet delivered in an adult tone despite his childish voice. This made Mo Ran feel immense disgust, and he angrily retorted, "If I'm cursed to fall into your hands, I'll immediately self-destruct my spirit core! Don't even dream of touching me!"

"I didn't intend to touch you either," the child replied with that infuriatingly sweet tone. "I had no choice but to chase after you. All men in this world love beauty, and your master is more attractive than you. I'd rather lay a finger on him."

"YOU!!!" Mo Ran's fur stood on end. "You, who dare not even show your face, using white chess pieces as puppets – how dare you even think of touching my master?"

But the child rolled its eyes at him, seemingly not bothering to engage further. It turned back to Chu Wanning.

"Grandmaster Chu, back at Jin Cheng Lake, I advised you not to pursue this matter. But you refused to listen, which made me so sad."

"I am already aware of this situation. Even if you do not lay a hand on Mo Ran again, I will see this through to the end and spare no one."

"Pfft, I knew you'd say that." The child fell silent for a moment before laughing. "Why are all you grandmasters so stubborn? ...Very well, since Grandmaster Chu won't listen to reason, we'll just have to wait and see. I'm curious to find out if your Heaven's Inquiry is mightier or my forbidden techniques are stronger."

Chu Wanning's sword-like brows knitted together as he growled darkly, "Is this really what you aim for – senselessly slaughtering the innocent?"

"All people are like the pomegranates of Huainan."

"What do you mean?"

"Tangy," the child giggled. "So sour, these dead ghosts and rotten people. They're all so sour it makes me hate them. I wish I could crush them all and stomp them into the ground."

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

Chu Wanning's voice was laced with murderous intent. "Are you truly beyond redemption?"

"I may be deemed hopeless by the Master, but I believe the same can be said for you," the child said with a shake of his head. "Master should consider this a game of chess. You won in the match at Golden Lake, but in this current game in Peach Blossom Land, since you've discovered the Ancestral Abyss and encountered my white pawn, I've exhausted all my tricks. I can no longer get to your young disciple, so naturally, you still come out on top."

Pausing, he narrowed his eyes, a smile distorting his face as blood seeped from the corners.

"But you'd better protect him well. I'm curious to see if you can safeguard him for a lifetime, not just a moment."

"......."

"As for the secret beneath the Ancestral Abyss, it would be best if the two of you keep it to yourselves." As the child spoke, a golden-red feather appeared between his fingertips.

Mo Ran was startled. "This is the golden feather used as currency in Peach Blossom Land?"

"Precisely," he replied with a smile. "These golden feathers can be found throughout Peach Blossom Land. If the two of you keep the secret and leave on your own, everyone in the land will remain unharmed. However, if you're disobedient and reveal my whereabouts, the resentment of the Feathered People bound to these feathers might not take their lives, but they will surely strip them of most of their cultivation."

Mo Ran raged. "You planned this from the very beginning?!"

"And what else could there be?" the child wondered. "Do you really think everyone is as foolish and brutal as you?"

Mo Ran: "..."

He was truly, truly furious! He admitted he wasn't one to beat around the bush or understand the intricacies of gaining or losing ground, but having this little beast so openly call him out made him want to summon his ghostly weapon to show the creature what true stupidity and brutality looked like.

"Master Chu, whether or not you speak, your intentions are clear," the child continued. "Even if they learn the truth, with their cultivation greatly diminished, they might not appreciate Master Chu's efforts in ridding the world of evil."

Chu Wanning replied coldly, "You heard me earlier. I never intended to disturb them now."

"Now? Haha, it seems the Master planned to reveal it later. But it won't matter then." The child smiled cheekily. "Once these cultivators leave, Peach Blossom Spring will meet the same fate as Jin Cheng Lake. By then, there'll be no proof left, and who would believe you?"

Chu Wanning's gaze turned icy. "With such actions, how can you still have the face to call Mo Ran ignorant and crude?"

Unfazed by Chu Wanning's sarcasm, the child stood up and twirled on the spot. Suddenly, a flame appeared beneath its feet, slowly burning away flesh, muscle, and bone.

"Wait until you catch me before saying that again. Master Chu, I respect you as a gentleman, so let me give you one last piece of advice. Don't intervene any further. If you don't listen, we... will meet again someday..."

With a loud boom, the flames burst into the air.

The Feathered child puppet was consumed in flames, and a translucent white chess piece fell from the sky, rolling twice on the ground before coming to a stop.

A long silence ensued.

"…" Mo Ran knew that the mysterious figure's words were true, but he still couldn't accept it. He asked, "Shifu, are we really just leaving like this? Are there any other options?"

"Caution is key. We should leave Peach Blossom Paradise first," Chu Wanning said with a grim expression. "Since that person went through such trouble to set up a Soul Shackling Array just to prevent others from discovering his manipulation of the JInglong Chess Game, it shows that he doesn't want this matter to become public knowledge for now. I'll send a message to the Venerated One, asking him to find a way to get Xue Meng and Shi Mo out of here as soon as possible without alerting the enemy. As for you..."

Chu Wanning paused before continuing, "In both incidents at Jin Cheng Lake and Peach Blossom Paradise, he targeted you. By framing you this time, he hopes to isolate you. You don't need to worry about this matter for now. The Venerated One is the head of a sect, so it's best for him to handle the negotiations."

"What can I do then?" Mo Ran asked. "I can't just push everything onto others and do nothing myself."

"What use is your bravado now? The mysterious person's goal is clear. After the divine tree fell at Jin Cheng Lake, he's been searching for a substitute spirit essence. As a Wood Spirit essence, you're the most suitable candidate, but if he can't get you, he'll settle for the next best option, seeking other high-quality spirit essences." Chu Wanning paused and said, "If he finds one, there will likely be another bloodbath. We have to stop him."

"That's true, but Shifu, finding a spirit essence isn't that easy. Even if he wants to look for a substitute, he'd have to..."

Mo Ran suddenly stopped talking and lifted his head, his soft black eyes staring intently at Chu Wanning. After a moment, he said, "That beast would have to investigate every sect to find out who the spirit essence is. Cultivators don't just reveal their spirit roots for no reason. They only use them to sense weapons or refine stones. So, the easiest way to test for spirit essences is by selling weapons and spiritual stones. If we observe the weapon markets in front of major mountains recently, we might catch a trace of that beast."

Upon finishing his explanation, Mo Ran saw Chu Wanning looking at him thoughtfully, and he couldn't help feeling guilty.

"Well... I suppose that's my guess."

"You're not far off," Chu Wanning said leisurely. After a moment, he suddenly felt that there was more to the story than he knew, and his eyes narrowed as he asked, "Mo Ran, are you hiding something from me?"

"I couldn't possibly be keeping anything from Master Chu," Mo Ran said, though every hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He felt as if Chu Wanning's limpid, faintly luminous eyes, like those of a rare glass bead, were piercing through his reincarnated flesh to ensnare the quivering essence of his true soul within.

Fortunately, Chu Wanning fell silent for a moment and didn't say anything further.

He lowered his gaze gently and said in a deep voice, "Starting from today, you will accompany me to secretly investigate the major sects. We will not return to the Peak of Life and Death for now."

Author's Note: The Peach Blossom Spring Boss says, "I'm a man who judges by appearance. Your Master is more attractive than you, so I treat him better."

Mo Ran: Damn it, didn't the author say I'm the most good-looking?

Meat Bun: Yeah, but here's the thing. First, you're still in your youthful form, not fully developed. Second, even though the Boss is a straight man, if he were gay, his preferences would align with yours. Do you think he'd find you more appealing or your Master?

Mo Ran: Aren't there any Bosses who are more submissive?

Meat Bun: There are indeed.

Meat Bun (turning its head): Xue Mengmeng, your cousin invited you to be the big boss!

Today's Weibo features a lovely depiction of the blame-taking Shi Mo by a talented artist! You can find it on my Weibo account, Fluffy Overlord Meat Bun, or on the artist's Weibo, Pouring Wine to Conceal Beauty.

Now, let the main storyline of Master Dog begin!

For now, there are no immediate heartbreaks, but be cautious when encountering flashbacks – they usually come with two possibilities:

First, flying daggers.

Second, high-speed emotional rides.

No warning will be given for the past life scenes; just brace yourself for these two scenarios when they appear, lol 23333.

In the middle of the night, Fu Luoyin felt the emptiness in his arms, followed by an unsettling hollowness in his heart. Still groggy from being drunk, he opened his eyes and woke up.

Rain was pouring heavily outside the window.

Lin Shuicheng was no longer in his embrace. Fu Luoyin looked around the room but found no trace of him.

The only change was the flowers.

Startled, Fu Luoyin turned on the light and saw that the flowers had been neatly arranged. He approached and touched them. The roses were separated into three portions and carefully placed in file bags. His coat was folded and put on the bedside table, while the medicine box had its crushed cardboard restored to its original shape, with the opening neatly refastened, spotlessly clean.

Fu Luoyin's heart was suddenly filled with both sweetness and bitterness.

Even in such circumstances, Lin Shuicheng was so considerate. Did this mean there was still some hope for him, at least for now?

His phone vibrated. Su Yu was sending him information about depression. Fu Luoyin quickly checked the message and then asked, "You're still awake? Have you seen Lin Shuicheng? Did he find another room to stay in?"

Su Yu replied, "I'm pulling an all-nighter to sort out the guest gift lists and prepare for tomorrow's decorations. I haven't slept yet. Isn't your wife with you?"

After a moment, he added, "Ask the front desk, but if you have time, come down to Level Minus Two first. I'll fill you in on your wife's recent situation. It might be more serious than you think."

Fu Luoyin quickly brushed his teeth and washed his face. "Okay, I'll head over. Lin Shuicheng dropped me off and disappeared. He must've found another room to sleep in."

Su Yu was sprawled in his room, going through accounts with a few assistants from the Su family. When he saw Fu Luoyin arrive, he got up from the bed and pulled him into the living room of the suite.

Fu Luoyin furrowed his brow. "What's so serious? What's wrong with Lin Shuicheng?"

Su Yu rubbed his red, sleep-deprived eyes and took a deep breath. "Don't panic. I'll explain it to you slowly."

Ever since that afternoon when Fu Luoyin described the situation to Su Yu, the two of them had gone over every detail about Lin Shuicheng. Su Yu had also read the information Zhou Heng had sent to Fu Luoyin.

With his simple-minded nature, Su Yu hadn't thought much of it at first. But after Fu Luoyin explained things to him, he started to see some issues as well.

"I've looked over your wife's file. First of all, it's completely normal for anyone in her situation to become depressed. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, Shuicheng," Su Yu warned Fu Luoyin, eyeing him intently.

As a former forensic pathologist and now an intern at Yan Zi's clinic, Su Yu had a certain air of authority when discussing serious matters.

Fu Luoyin choked. "I know, but... he didn't really like me that much to begin with."

"It's good that you understand. I mean – it's a positive thing, so you won't dwell on negative thoughts." Su Yu cleared his throat. "Let me continue. I'm not a psychologist, but I've done some research to analyze your situation. Your sister-in-law has had a series of tragedies since childhood: her grandfather passed away in junior high, her father died in a car accident on a rainy mountain road during her senior year of high school, and her younger brother became comatose. These events likely planted the seeds of depression within him. But when did it fully manifest?"

Pointing to a screenshot on his phone, Su Yu explained, "I believe it started when your sister-in-law decided to switch majors and pursue quantum analysis, which was the same year he was with you – no, don't look at me like that, it's not related to you. Psychologically speaking, that year must have been significant for him. He might have faced a similar trauma to losing his loved ones or simply felt the pressure of life. Regardless, something significant must have happened – that's when he chose to change his major to quantum analysis. Did you notice? In his second year, he changed his chemistry focus from medical organic to analytical chemistry and atomic assembly. That year, he joined Yang Zhiwei's laboratory, indicating progress and a forward-moving direction for him."

"But just two years later, he suddenly jumped from chemistry to the relatively unrelated field of quantum analysis, a field that's lucrative and practical. For someone like your sister-in-law, it could be seen as a transition from dreams to reality. I think this particular point in time is worth paying attention to, but the information doesn't mention what happened to him then."

Fu Luoyin whispered, "Was it difficult in the field of chemistry?"

Su Yu shrugged. "I don't know, but I think given your sister-in-law's excellence, it's more likely that the challenge came from reality rather than academic difficulties. None of that matters now. What's important is that his depressive symptoms are gradually surfacing. All the blows he experienced in the past have contributed to his current state."

Fu Luoyin furrowed his brow.

Su Yu inquired, "Minus Two, do you recall the first time you asked me to pick up your wife? Yi Shui's matter was being handled by Department Seven then, so I went to fetch your wife home."

Fu Luoyin nodded. "I remember."

"I only realized it now, but it seems your wife was already showing some symptoms back then. He had a stress response in my car. Let me play the in-car recording for you."

Su Yu's in-car camera captured half of the front seat. In that short video, Fu Luoyin saw Lin Shuicheng sitting in the passenger seat.

He gazed out the window, his fingers gripping the car door handle tightly, his eyes deep and serious, his spine taut, and his lips pressed together, clearly on edge.

"Surveillance footage from that stretch of road was also retrieved. At that time, we passed by Star City's small pier, where construction was ongoing. There were more than one large truck on the road. I suspect that Brother-in-law had a stress response to the trucks—because such vehicles took away his father's life and left Eddi in a coma. That was when his true trials in life began."

Fu Luoyin commented, "But he wasn't at the accident scene back then. As I recall, he didn't have access to the investigation details, right?"

The file mentioned how the case was handled at the time. Since Lin Wang was part of the Alliance's bureaucratic system, the incident was suspected not to be an accident but a matter involving confidential matters. As a recent high school graduate, Lin Shuicheng couldn't access much information.

"There's a psychological phenomenon called cognitive consistency, like the common 'reincarnation scams.' Some people claim they were once someone living in a certain country during a specific century. This often occurs after brain damage or significant trauma. They believe their beliefs fervently and continually add details to their imagination... After experiencing a traumatic event, this kind of behavior is quite normal."

Su Yu continued, "Brother-in-law's situation might very well fall under this category. And there's an important piece of information I need to share with you. This video was originally meant for you, but since you never received it, Zhou Heng sent it to me."

"Let me see it," Fu Luoyin said.

The video showed the airport terminal.

After only a few seconds, Fu Luoyin found it unbearable and looked away, feeling a sharp pain in his heart.

In the footage, the check-in counter was deserted, with Lin Shuicheng standing in a daze before a posted notice about flight cancellations.

Then, he changed his direction as if engaged in a serious conversation with someone, even though there was no one in front of him!

"Zhou Heng sent a lip-reading translation. At that time, Su was discussing meteorology and the butterfly effect, talking to himself and eventually convincing himself to leave. This kind of self-dialogue usually doesn't fall under schizophrenia but is rather a hallucination caused by another part of his consciousness. It seems that the cancellation of the direct flight to Dongtong City had a tremendous impact on Su," Su Yu said. "Su has already experienced hallucinations, but I think he's not yet aware of it."

Fu Luoyin's voice trembled slightly. "...How could it be so severe! It was just a flight cancellation, why would he react like this..."

He couldn't find the right words to describe it.

Su Yu sighed. "In the conversation, Su repeatedly mentioned 'accidents' and 'unpredictability.' I guess that after accidents continuously took away his loved ones, he must despise the word 'accident' deeply."

"I have a suspicion that the academic difficulty he's facing might be related to the butterfly effect. I don't understand these things, but Su mentioned himself that the butterfly effect is inexplicable," Su Yu continued. "Coupled with the closure of the quantum analysis department..."

He sighed again, a hint of sadness in his eyes.

Upon hearing this, Fu Luoyin was almost out of control. "Which room is Lin Shuicheng in? I need to go over, I'll stay with him."

"Don't panic, I'll call the front desk right away," Su Yu hurriedly held him back.

Five minutes later.

"What do you mean he's not at the hotel?" Fu Luoyin stood pale-faced at the reception desk.

The staff member seemed a bit frightened. "There was no Mr. Lin Shuicheng who came to adjust his room, but there was indeed a gentleman who resembled him very much. A handsome man with a red mole beside his eye left with someone else just an hour ago."

Fu Luoyin was on the verge of losing his mind. "With whom? Who could he have gone out with?"

Lin Shuicheng was unfamiliar with the place; who would he go with?

Su Yu promptly requested the surveillance footage.

On the screen, a boy who bore a striking resemblance to Xia Ran entered. Lin Shuicheng engaged in conversation with him while seated, then they both walked out together.

Su Yu was bewildered. "This person... Minus Two..."

He had a strong impression of this individual. Tang Yang was one of the substitutes Fu Luoyin had sought, and Tang Yang resembled Xia Ran the most. He was also the one who spent the shortest time with Fu Luoyin—kissing him first before being kicked out by Fu Luoyin.

Despite it happening a long time ago, given Tang Yang's appearance and the resemblance to Xia Ran, coupled with Lin Shuicheng's intelligence, it wouldn't be difficult for him to deduce something.

Fu Luoyin was unable to speak for a long while.

Half a day later, his voice carried an intense sharpness and coldness: "Investigate, find out who allowed this person to contact Lin Shuicheng!"

"If Lin Shuicheng's condition worsens or anything goes wrong because of this, I'll make sure they…" Fu Luoyin didn't finish his sentence, but the chill in his tone sent shivers down everyone present.

"Fishing, stay put and don't alarm Aunt Yan. Don't cause any trouble at her birthday banquet." In the pouring rain, Fu Luoyin got into his car and turned to Su Yu. "I'll go look for Lin Shuicheng first. Don't worry."

Su Yu instructed, "Be careful in this weather! Watch out for corners on the mountain road. Chasing after your sister-in-law is important, but don't let anything happen to yourself!"

"I know," Fu Luoyin replied as he unlocked his phone.

Activating his A-level clearance, he directly located Lin Shuicheng's ID card.

At that moment, Lin Shuicheng was eight kilometers away from him.

Fu Luoyin stepped on the gas pedal, speeding off like a bolt of lightning.

For some reason, a sense of unease rose within him.

"Brother, you're still riding with President Fu in this car?"

After becoming more comfortable talking to Lin Shuicheng, Tang Yang grew bolder.

He struck up a casual conversation with Lin Shuicheng, openly expressing his thoughts—why would someone who's with someone wealthy buy their own car? Isn't that just inviting trouble?

Upon learning that the car was indeed purchased by Lin Shuicheng himself, Tang Yang was clearly puzzled but didn't press the matter further.

He continued talking on his own, "But this car is good too, it's one of the most cost-effective old models around. I'm planning to buy one for myself when I go back home. That way, I can save some money on delivery costs for my convenience store."

Listening to Tang Yang's plans, Lin Shuicheng inquired about his family, "What about your family? Are they all doing well?"

"My father had a stroke, and my mother has been paralyzed for years due to some viral inflammation – I can't remember the specifics. Anyway, they're on a pile of medications." Tang Yang spoke cheerfully. "But both of them are still capable of handling things. When I go back, I can help them. With so many siblings in my family, I'm the most pampered one. None of them made me change my dad's diapers or clean up after him. They wouldn't let me do those tasks. All I need to do is cook and keep them company to alleviate their boredom. If I had three thousand dollars, I'd even buy a mahjong table."

Lin Shuicheng listened quietly.

Tang Yang also came from a poor background, but he seemed to have always maintained this optimistic disposition, finding joy even in adversity. Although he was shortsighted, he found contentment in his limited view.

He asked softly, "Have you ever thought... if your parents were to recover, if you could attend school normally, would your life be much better than it is now?"

"Brother, I know what you mean, but I'm not cut out for that. Daydreaming about 'ifs' won't change anything," Tang Yang scratched his head. "With the aid we receive from our hometown, we manage alright. I don't want to go to school; it's too tiring."

Lin Shuicheng glanced at him again. "Ordinary people would wonder why these things happen to them specifically. But you're different."

Then, he spoke softly, "That's a good thing."

Upon hearing his praise, Tang Yang felt a little embarrassed. "I guess I'm just foolish with no real aspirations. Everyone is unique, Brother. You look very intelligent; you're definitely suited for studying."

They crossed the sea bridge and began descending along the winding mountain road.

It was a rainy night, making it difficult to see clearly due to the slippery road conditions.

Reaching out to touch the control panel, Lin Shuicheng felt his heartbeat quicken. He suppressed his restless emotions and gradually reduced the car's speed.

Time seemed to revert to that stormy night when he graduated from high school.

"Brother, are you feeling unwell?" Tang Yang, sitting beside him, noticed a change in Lin Shuicheng's expression and grew worried.

Just as they approached a sharp bend, the automated system sounded two warning beeps, and the headlights were turned up to their maximum brightness.

Tang Yang sat up straight, ready to offer Lin Shuicheng some popcorn candy, only to see Lin Shuicheng's face suddenly alter.

In an instant, he saw Lin Shuicheng grab the magnetic decoration from the dashboard and shatter the car window on one side!

At the same time, Lin Shuicheng desperately turned the steering wheel to the right.

The moment the car window shattered, the autonomous driving system was deactivated. Unless in such an unexpected situation, the system wouldn't allow a vehicle in motion to suddenly cancel its autonomous journey. Simultaneously, airbags deployed, pushing the car towards the inner side of the mountain road.

Tang Yang was terrified and started screaming, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

As the airbags continued to deploy, they gradually squeezed the space inside the car. Amidst the chaos, Lin Shuicheng's eyes were fixated straight ahead.

His left car window was broken, allowing rainwater to pour in and the wind to howl. Through the seemingly calm road ahead, a massive shadow began to emerge—

At the bend, a giant truck appeared like a ghostly beast, roaring at an uncontrollable and reckless speed.

That was all Lin Shuicheng had time for – just that one glimpse.

Years of nightmares resurfaced as the butterfly behind Death fluttered past once more.

Their car flipped over to the inner side, getting stuck in a ditch along the mountainous side of the road.

On the other side, the out-of-control truck narrowly missed them, skidding off the winding mountain road due to centrifugal force and plummeting over the cliff, its explosion echoing in their ears like a grim death knell.

Chapter 118: Station 24: Disparity

Just as those rough and dirty hands were about to touch Yan Qiling, the seemingly normal giant suddenly turned and grabbed at the air beside him, as if he had actually grasped something. Following the previous routine, he began to hang the person upside down.

All those suspended saw this scene.

No one spoke. They only stared at the slender figure in the wheelchair, still wearing the hood, with various thoughts swirling in their minds.

Hou Gaoqing didn't initially recognize that person as Yan Qiling, but he knew that the one sitting on the wheelchair might be a crucial point for their escape.

Satisfied with his handiwork after hoisting them all up, the driver paused to admire his creations before lifting the bloodied tattered cloth curtain and entering the compartment.

Inside was a mountain of organs and blood, yet curiously, it resembled a crude "kitchen" by its arrangement.

The driver picked up a fresh liver and stuffed it into his mouth, mumbling indistinctly,

"Ubitos, you're too slow."

The sound of sharpening knives quickened.

The play of light and shadow from the flimsy curtains cast upon the bloodstained walls illuminated not only the lifeless bodies hanging by their chests but also revealed the massive shape of the knife in its entirety.

As the knife's silhouette flickered, everyone became acutely aware of their grim fate awaiting them.

In that moment, the man who had been abandoned on the trolley managed to break free from his ropes and remove his black hood.

This man's striking appearance was utterly captivating; his East Asian features stirred a sense of disappointment, for such a delicate-looking individual seemed unrelated to any hope of survival.

Someone attempted to call out to him, trying to guide him into doing something meaningful. The man's beautiful, contrasting eyes, resembling those of a cat, turned towards them, and he placed a finger to his lips, making a "shush" gesture.

His irises glowed with a faint, lifelike radiance in the dim light, yet they also concealed a lurking danger more perilous than a python's strike.

The person who had intended to speak suddenly fell silent, not quite realizing what was amiss until the man had already gracefully descended from the trolley.

As he passed by the unfortunate souls suspended upside down, the man spoke in perfect British English:

"Wait a moment."

He didn't immediately set about freeing them from their bonds but instead used the interplay of light and shadow to blend into the dark corners, searching for a new path to escape.

The door that had been slammed shut by the coachman had now transformed into an immovable iron barrier.

Yan Qiling recalled the man who had escaped earlier, pounding desperately on the metal. Following the same path, he reached the other end of the room, where he found an operational meat grinder in action.

From the chute of the grinder hung the body of a slaughtered, gutted corpse, its headless form being fed into the buzzing machine. Fresh, crimson blood mixed with the reek of ground flesh as it flowed into the drain.

Large chunks of meat were ground and transported like waste onto a second conveyor belt, destined for an unknown location.

To Yan Qiling, this scene wasn't terrifying, but he couldn't help but wonder about the fate of the meat.

As expected, opposite the meat grinder was a tightly sealed iron door, locked and requiring a key.

Upon seeing the lock, Yan Qiling almost instinctively thought of another person.

If Ming Yiyang were here, perhaps he could have opened it right away.

This dangerous thought was quickly extinguished as he began to recall details about Ubitos and the coachman, remembering how the unshackled driver would occasionally emit strange metallic sounds.

Perhaps those were the keys.

He decided to give it a shot.

Yan Qiling returned to the cart, intentionally making noise, but the sound of sharpening was so loud that he had to slap the cart's railing to get attention.

The group hanging upside down watched his reckless act anxiously, wanting to stop him or say something, but fearing repercussions, they could only glare at him helplessly.

Only Hu Gao Ming looked calmly at the man, not revealing any sign of panic, remaining silent throughout.

The driver, hearing noises aside from the blade sharpening, rushed out from the veil almost instantaneously.

With bloody teeth bared, he stretched out his broad palm, reaching towards the source of the sound like a giant fan—

But he grabbed thin air!

This seemed to enrage him further.

The room was too dark, and all he could see was the tiny creature darting about in the shadows. Frustrated, he flailed his arms blindly in the air, unaware that the person had already circled behind him and taken the key chain from his waist.

Then, they vanished into the darkness, hiding away without a trace.

The coachman angrily searched the shadows for his target, and suddenly, as if he had caught a glimpse of something, he dove into the darkness! However, what he actually dragged out was a broken scarecrow!

Yet, the coachman seemed convinced that he had seized the real culprit. He treated the scarecrow as he would the nameless man, ruthlessly hanging it on the iron hook before storming back to his original position with a veil of fury.

The flickering crimson in Yan Qiling's right eye gradually subsided, and he emerged from the darkness, gently unlocking the iron door next to the meat grinder with a key.

The rusty door creaked softly.

However, due to Yan Qiling's cautious movements and the kitchen ventilator's roaring noise, the creak was insignificant and completely drowned out.

At this point, Yan Qiling pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve and extracted a long, rusted blade from a corner.

He first untied the ropes around Hu Gaoming's wrists, then handed him the blade, instructing him to curl up and cut the ropes around his own legs.

Afterward, Yan Qiling proceeded to free the others' wrists.

Throughout the process, they didn't exchange a single word, yet their cooperation was seamless.

Hu Gaoming moved swiftly, suppressing any sound even when he fell to the ground.

Assured that the two giants hadn't noticed anything amiss outside, he grasped the blade and began to free the others' bound wrists and ankles.

Everyone tried their best not to make a sound as they successively entered the dark space beyond the entrance, refraining from any sudden movements for fear of attracting new danger.

Yan Qiling made a three-finger gesture to everyone, then pointed at three individuals to accompany him in scouting ahead.

The group quickly understood his intention, and without a word, the three chosen didn't object but obediently followed him.

Beyond the door lay pitch darkness; fortunately, a faint light flickered ahead.

As the light grew brighter in their eyes, they discovered that this path led to a railway that ran right through the upper part of the kitchen!

This railway clearly connected to another room, but the issue was that it was situated inside the kitchen itself. To pass through, they would have to traverse directly over the heads of the two mountainous monsters.

It seemed almost impossible to do so undetected.

Aside from passing through the kitchen, there was another problem with the railway—it was too narrow.

This railway could only accommodate one adult man at a time; anyone slightly overweight might get stuck.

Mobis was among the first to follow Yan Qiling out.

At that moment, he hadn't yet donned his helmet. With the low hum of the whirring fans as cover, he spoke in a hushed tone with a distinct Sacramento accent:

"Let slender women and children go first. Men and the obese should stay back, or we'll all die."

Aside from him, Yan Qiling had selected two others: Hu Gaoming and Steven.

Both had inspected the railway and raised no objections.

Physically, they were by no means heavy, more than capable of passing through the narrow passage. Besides, what Mobis said made sense – it was indeed a way to save more lives.

To survive, choices had to be made.

But Yan Qiling stopped them from going back to announce this plan:

"We can't do it that way."

Mobis lifted his gray eyes, his prominent aquiline nose casting deep shadows in his eye sockets, giving his angular eyes a keen, falcon-like sharpness.

"Why?"

Yan Qiling was not intimidated by the gloomy gaze; human expressions held no sway over him.

"People who have lost all hope are likely to resort to extreme measures. We're all on the same rope now, our fates intertwined: one falls, all fall. You might want to rid yourself of the 'unfit,' but they only need to cry out for everyone to be doomed."

"Our priority now is to prevent such possibilities. It's a difference between 0% and 100%, with no middle ground."

Mobis didn't argue, maintaining his intense stare at the handsome East Asian man.

"What do you propose?"

Yan Qiling was straightforward.

"Order according to the sequence we were initially bound."

Mobis raised an eyebrow.

What about the person squeezed on the bridge by the fatty? And don't forget, according to the order, you're the last one."

The man with an Eastern face uttered icy words:

"No need to do anything. Submit to fate."

The trio, upon returning, tacitly omitted any mention of the situation on the iron bridge.

They only said that they had to hurry across, or else they would be discovered by the monsters.

No one objected to escaping in the order they were captured, as Yan Qiling was at the bottom of the list. Since he proposed the plan, no one could say anything against it.

However, Hu Gao Ming was well aware of the reason for the previous concerns.

The fourth-to-last person to be hung was a significantly overweight man; his girth would directly contribute to his demise.

Silently, Yan Qiling removed the key from the door and closed the rusted iron gate.

Steve headed for the exit. As the leader, he would be the first to confront danger but also the most likely to secure a chance of survival.

As for Yan Qiling, he stood in line in the darkness, the queue stretching as long as a typical line for shopping, with fourteen individuals in it.

Steve held his girlfriend Isabella's hand, endeavoring to tread cautiously across the tracks without making a sound.

Despite their disgust at the scene below.

An endless pile of organs lay below them, a revolting mix of fresh and decaying matter. The driver sat on his chair, indulging in the freshest parts, while Ubitos was sharpening an enormous blade that no ordinary person could wield.

The blade seemed only half-polished, yet its razor-sharp edge sent shivers down their spines.

Despite Steve's utmost caution, he couldn't prevent their shadows from falling upon the feast before the two monsters –

when an additional shadow cast itself directly above the organs they held.

The driver slowly lifted his head.