Prologue – Chen Shi Yao Ying
“…!”
Having fallen into Leng Bing Realm before she can get her curse across to Xia Ri’er, Yao Ying who is currently free falling through the air—turns her head to the side, and sees a barren landscape beneath her.
The architectural design of these old buildings—that are mostly covered by dense greenery, are foreign to her, for such structures do not exist in the world she hails from.
(Dammit, I can’t rotate my cultivation base at all!)
With less than 20 or so meters to go before she hits the ground, Yao Ying—who isn’t capable of rotating her cultivation base, can only choose to grit her teeth, as she assumes a fetal posture while covering her head with her hands.
Compared to the fall that she would have experienced prior to getting devoured by the dimensional rift, a fall from her current height wouldn’t kill her, but it would nevertheless shatter a few bones.
*Thud!*
“…Ack!”
An expression of pain breaks out on Yao Ying’s face, as she lands on top of damaged asphalt.
And following a short bounce off the hard ground, she comes to a rough stop.
“Ku…!”
Breathing erratically, Yao Ying rolls onto her back.
Having been pampered for her entire life up to this point, the pain that she is currently being subjected to is completely unfamiliar to her.
And due to this pain, she couldn’t even spare any strength to utter a curse at the two who had put her in her current state.
“………”
Gazing at the gear filled skies of this world, Yao Ying’s pace of breathing gradually returns to normal, but upon attempting to fold her right leg—
“Ugh!”
The burning sensation of pain returns to her with a vengeance.
(Right… I landed on my right, so my bones on that side are practically all broken… Dammit.)
Biting the bottom of her lips, Yao Ying holds back her urge to let tears overflow from her moistened eyes.
Crying is something that she can do later, right now—
(According to rumors—the weapon spirits of this realm that are created by the Ling Yuan Ancestor are all merciless towards practitioners. I… Need to find some place to hide. But first…)
Muttering the chant that she would normally use when cultivating, Yao Ying uses that to focus her mind, and attempts to absorb the scarce bit of spirit Qi that is in the air.
Even if she couldn’t hope to rotate her cultivation base, absorbing spirit Qi would still allow her to mend her wounds faster.
(Xia Ri’er, Qing Ming Yang… A Ling Yuan vixen and a Ling Yuan dog… You two… Dare to put this lady in such a miserable state, I’ll keep your names in mind, and when I get back, I’ll definitely rip you both to shreds!)
Chapter 1
Third ward of GC012, contained here is the city’s one and only airport.
The design of this airport can only be described as futuristic, and from a bird’s eye view, its shape is reminiscent of a snowflake.
A metal chassis that is akin to a colossal spider web occupies the roof of this two-floored airport, and embedded into the empty spaces of this chassis are panels of reinforced glass, which allows natural sunlight to seep through.
Aside from the ticket counters that are all located near one of the six entrances on the first floor, the rest of the airport is essentially a mall with numerous brand-named stores, and well-known restaurant franchises lining its halls.
Located in the center of the airport is a swimming pool with a waterslide—that starts from the second floor and ends at the first.
“I don’t like the amount of people staring in our direction.”
Sipping a cup of hot coffee, Long Hua sweeps a look around the area with tired eyes.
Breakfast menu items from a fast-food chain are placed onto the table; and sitting down with him are two others.
“Deal with it. Shouldn’t be long until she arrives.”
The first is Jing Yao, who is dressed in her usual attire that consists of a lab coat over a white dress shirt and a comfortable pair of loose black pants.
“…”
The second is Tian Cheng, who is dressed in a maid uniform with detachable sleeves that are cuffed around her arms.
“It’s easy for you to say that since most of the gazes aimed at you don’t contain anything negative.”
With how odd the two’s choice of attire is, it goes without saying that they tend to draw attention to themselves, and because they are a group, Long Hua is inevitably a target of these gazes as well.
Setting the hot drink down, Long Hua picks up a breadstick, and begins to munch on it.
Currently, they are located on the second floor—seated at a table that gives them a clear view of the airport’s northern entrance.
As it is a planned Sunday, the only person that they could be waiting for to arrive on an aircraft could only be the CEO of NPI, Nian Yao Yao.
“She looks no different from a real human.”
Directing her elegant pair of green eyes at Tian Cheng, Jing Yao remarks on how human the doll’s outward appearance is.
“Would be more human—if she can put a bit more warmth into her voice.”
“Personality and behavioral modules may be downloaded if master wishes for it.”
“It’d be one thing if its natural, but if it’s something that’s artificial… I just don’t like it. Also… Ah never mind it.”
Dismissing the topic, Long Hua looks up at the glass roof.
Much like personality and behavioral modules that can be downloaded at a whim, this gear filled sky is just as artificial in nature.
(That guy called this world Leng Bing Realm…)
Recalling this to be the name of this world, Long Hua’s eyes give off a sharp gleam.
(*Sigh* once my cultivation base is high enough, I should be able to smash this fake sky apart, and then… I can finally return home.)
Thinking of home, a sense of excitement wells up in Long Hua’s heart, as the figure of his shizun’s back flashes in his mind.
“Natural and artificial…”
Muttering this, Tian Cheng goes quiet, and observing her behavior—
(She seems to be contemplating the matter. What’s fake and what’s real… Depends on perspective, I guess?)
Sipping her cup of coffee, Jing Yao turns her attention away from Tian Cheng, and back to Long Hua.
“Did something happen during your time out in the wastelands?”
“Hm? Odd of you to ask.”
“You seem… Outwardly you seem younger but… It’s as if you’re an old man that just so happens to have… Aged like fine wine?”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.”
Towards Jing Yao’s words, Long Hua frowns on the inside.
(Those who’ve reached the peak of Qi Condensation tend to possess a lifespan that is well over 250 years—if I recall correctly. Occasionally, a breakthrough can cause the individual to regain a bit of their lost youth. Maybe it’s because of that—that I seem younger to her?)
Recalling this bit of trivia, Long Hua can’t help but think of the possibilities that as his cultivation base and longevity continues to increase, he might begin to give off an air that is reminiscent of a practitioner even with his cultivation sealed.
“Well, outwardly looking younger is never a bad thing, right?”
“True, so would you like to share this secret?”
“I didn’t take you to be someone that cares for appearance…”
Thinking for a bit, Long Hua answers—
“I guess, I just found there to be more to life than just living through it. Maybe the thought being on my mind just makes me give off a younger air?”
“So, it’s a placebo effect? Does this mean that prior to recent events—you’ve always thought it was meaningless to live?”
“…Uh?”
Towards this question, Long Hua is at first surprised, but momentarily, his expression changes to one of solemn contemplation, as he finishes the breadstick and dusts off his hands.
“As depressing as it is… Yes, that might be correct.”
Towards Long Hua’s answer, Jing Yao pauses the movement of her right hand that is bringing her cup near her lips.
(Now that I think about it, it shouldn’t be strange for him to think this way. Especially so when…)
Recalling the circumstance in which they had met, Jing Yao sets her cup down, and clears her throat.
“Apologies, didn’t mean to make it seem so… In any case, I’ve misspoken.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m not exactly someone to care about this sort of stuff most of the time. *Sigh* still… Hmm even if I’ve got a place to stay, I’m still just a nosy wanderer, who just so happens to have stuck their fingers into someone else’s family affairs.”
Despite how depressing that might have sounded, Long Hua still smiles at the thought. There is something about being a wanderer that makes him feel nostalgic.
(Maybe this sort of lifestyle is just what I’m used to? But if that were the case, it means… I was also a wanderer when I was with shizun?)
Thinking of this, Long Hua can’t help but want to recover more of his old memories.
“I guess I’ll have a better answer for Yao Yao next time.”
“Hm?”
“She asked me, if life has been fun the last time we talked.”
“And I assume you didn’t exactly give much of an answer?”
Nodding his head, Long Hua continues—
“Recently, I remembered something that was told to me in the past. There’re two different paths to take while living out your life. Either you live out your life in tranquility, or you die in tranquility ahead of time.”
“………Meaning to never get involved with danger, or to simply die before you can be dragged into danger?”
“Something along those lines, I guess.”
With a frown on her face, Jing Yao says—
“Hmm still doesn’t really answer the original question much.”
“I’m pretty sure it does. You said, it was a placebo effect, so to summarize it all—I’ve got a grand goal in mind, and I’m striving towards it with confidence, and this makes me give off a brighter vibe.”
Being able to say this in one sitting without throwing up—for some reason, Long Hua finds himself impressive.
Finding herself unable to accept this answer that was said with a cheesy smile, Jing Yao thought—
(He’s definitely hiding something that he’s not willing to say…)
Out of curiosity, Jing Yao asks—
“And what goal is that?”
“Hmm plainly put, the goal of returning home?”
“How is that a grand goal?”
Unable to think of how to best answer this question, Long Hua shrugs his shoulders.
(It is a rather grand goal when it might involve tearing down the current skies.)
*Ding.* momentarily, a notification sound comes from Jing Yao’s phone, and upon reading the message—
“Let’s go then.”
“Finally.”
Leaving three paper bills on the table, the three left the dining area of the fast-food chain, and made their way down to the first floor using the escalator.
Chapter 2
Upon getting off the escalator—
“Jing, why are you dressed in a lab coat during a day off?”
Standing to the side of the escalator, and greeting Jing Yao with this question is Nian Yao Yao— who is wearing a red qipao. Held in her right hand is a plain white fan.
“I am a doctor, what’s wrong with me wearing a lab coat? Besides, shouldn’t you have a fancy hat over your head?”
“What are you talking about? These are just head ornaments that look like the fine horns of a dragon is all.”
As Jing Yao and Nian Yao Yao greet one another, Long Hua looks to the three behind the latter.
Three females with two of them dressed in black suits. The first two are definitely bodyguards without question, as for the third—
“…Uh?”
Seeing this third person—who is also an acquaintance of his, Long Hua’s expression freezes.
Emerging from behind Nian Yao Yao’s back is a young lady with shoulder length white hair and red eyes.
Growing from the side of her head are black horns that extend upwards at an angle—making it seem almost like a circlet.
Her attire consists of a white jacket over a grey turtleneck sweater, coupled with mini pants and black stockings.
“Hua!”
Despite the young lady’s affectionate tone of voice, and her affectionate way of addressing him, Long Hua is quick to widen his stance, as the former approaches him with a dash.
Just as the young lady is less than two meters away from him—with her next step launching her right foot upwards with a noticeable amount of extra force, Long Hua pushes his right hand out in the same instance.
(A blade?)
Constricting his eyes, Long Hua sees the tip of a blade beginning to protrude from the young lady’s boot causing him to readjust the positioning of his right hand.
*Pah…!* following a popping sound, the blade is released from its socket like a bullet.
At the end of the blade’s traveling trajectory is Long Hua’s head, but before it can come any closer—
“Tch. Wish you’d have dropped dead with that.”
Having caught the blade between his index and middle finger, Long Hua raised a sigh. If the blade were allowed to travel for another six or seven inches, death would be all but inevitable.
“Zhuī Yún (追云), I see that you haven’t changed much.”
Crossing his index and middle fingers together, Long Hua snaps the blade in two.
“Mhmm good to see that you haven’t either.”
The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Lowering her leg while saying these words, Zhui Yun directs an impish grin at Long Hua.
(…A monster as always. …?)
Directing a glance at Tian Cheng, Zhui Yun notices the knife that is being retracted into the former’s detachable sleeve through a paper-thin thread that is just barely visible to trained eyes.
(Closed eyes?)
Just as Zhui Yun thought to ask about this—
“Is that how you greet someone that you haven’t seen in ages?”
“Ow.”
As Nian Yao Yao’s folded fan lands onto the top of her head, Zhui Yun pretends to be hurt before turning around, and hugging onto the former like a spoiled child.
“It’s the greeting reserved exclusively for Hua. Ah Lady Jing, it’s good to see you again after so long.”
Towards Zhui Yun’s greeting that seems more like an afterthought, Jing Yao gives a casual wave.
“I don’t want a greeting like that, change it to something else. In the first place, why did you tag along with Yao Yao?”
With an expression of innocence, Zhui Yun turns to Long Hua while keeping the side of her head pressed against Nian Yao Yao’s chest, and replies—
“To see you?”
“…”
Towards this display of false innocence, Long Hua only felt the urge to drive a fist towards Zhui Yun’s nose.
“Let’s hurry up and leave.”
Noticing the amount of attention that they had drawn with Zhui Yun’s unusual greeting, Jing Yao turned towards the gates.
“Wouldn’t do to stick around for too long.”
Passing through the airport’s automatic gates, a black luxury car that only the wealthy can afford—awaits the group.
One of the female bodyguards stepped forward to open the suicide doors of the car, revealing an interior wrapped in red and white leather.
Spacious, would be the first word that comes to mind to describe the car’s rear interior—that consists of two bench seats facing each other, with a mound holding five tall glasses positioned in the center.
To provide a better sense of privacy for the backseat passengers, a wall divides the rear away from the driver’s compartment of the vehicle.
“Is this brought or rented?”
“Brought, why would I rent?”
(So, she brought it here on her private jet?)
A person with more money than sense, that could be a good way to describe Nian Yao Yao, but if she were lacking in common sense, then her wealth couldn’t possibly be anywhere near where it is today.
Entering the vehicle, the front seats are taken up by Long Hua, Tian Cheng, and Jing Yao—while the seats opposite of them are occupied by Nian Yao Yao and Zhui Yun.
With the group settled in, the female bodyguard shuts the suicide doors, and enters the front compartment’s passenger seat.
As the car begins to move, Jing Yao looks at the passing scenery, and asks—
“It’s still daylight out. We’re not eating dinner that soon, are we?”
Towards this question, Nian Yao Yao answers—
“Of course not. I say, we visit that client of mine first. After that… We need to get Jing out of that lab coat, and into something that’s more appropriate for the occasion.”
“I don’t see the point.”
“It’s a day off for you. At least try to look the part. Besides, I’m the one spending the money, so be sure to pick something suitable.”
Turning her head slightly to the left, Nian Yao Yao looks to Tian Cheng—who has kept her eyes shut this entire time, and asks—
“Shouldn’t you introduce us to this maid that you’ve brought along?”
“She’s the doll that I took from the military transport. I named her Tian Cheng.”
Being informed of this, Nian Yao Yao widens her eyes, and remarks—
“She’s the doll? Appearance wise, she’s far too human. Something of this quality is worth way more than this car.”
“Modifications were done to get to this level.”
“Oh? Always so deft with your hands.”
Till this day, Long Hua has not told a single soul about the existence of the Divine Weapon of Tai Xuan. However, those who have come to know him tend to make wild guesses about where he acquires his equipment from.
“Quite large.”
Narrowing her golden eyes, Nian Yao Yao looks intently at the doll’s artificial chest.
“Guess you’re no exception to the idea that bigger is always better.”
“Think what you will.”
Attempting to make up excuses and the likes to deny the claim would only make him an easy target to tease, hence why bother to do so?
“Tch humor me at least.”
“Don’t feel like it. In any case, why did you bring this imp along? Surely, it’s not just to serve as a bodyguard, right?”
“I don’t like how you phrased that, Hua.”
Ignoring Zhui Yun’s displeasure, Long Hua goes on to say—
“If it’s just bodyguard duty, I can think of several alternatives.”
Despite how Zhui Yun may look on the outside, she is the tenth serpent of the snake faction.
“If you two begin to argue we won’t ever get anywhere. In any case, the reason for her coming along is because you’ll be working with her to find New Moon Village.”
“New Moon Village?”
Giving a nod, Nian Yao Yao explains—
“Accessible through this city’s sewer network is a black market. Those in the know—call it New Moon Village.”
“…Is that the main reason for why you sent Jing and I here?”
As there are only 12 serpents within NPI’s snake faction, these individuals are always placed in areas of value. That means to say, GC012 is one such location.
“No, the main reason has always been the hospital and lab. I don’t think I can even consider it a reason for sending you two here—since it took me five years to find a way in, which is a lot longer than what I had originally anticipated.”
Feeling like Nian Yao Yao is about to ramble, Long Hua says—
“Do me a favor and skip the process you went through.”
“…Fine. Where do I start? Hmm you know how the sewer of this city is built like a labyrinth? To navigate through it and to find this placed called New Moon Village, you’d need to have a detailed map to do so.”
“And do you have this map?”
“Let’s put it this way, I want you two to steal the map, then find this mysterious village for me.”
Chapter 3
“Let’s put this way, I want you two to steal the map, then find this mysterious village for me.”
“I’m not allowed to refuse, correct?”
“Our contract states otherwise.”
“I see.”
Prior to joining NPI, Long Hua had signed a detailed contract with Nian Yao Yao.
The process of signing that contract can only be described as unique and unusual, so Nian Yao Yao remembers it quite clearly.
“Jobs that are tied directly to the reason for NPI’s existence must not be refused. So, this is one of those jobs, correct?”
“Correct.”
“…”
Paying keen attention to their conversation, Zhui Yun narrows her eyes.
“…”
Closing his eyes, Long Hua exhales a deep breath before continuing—
“Though the Heavens may fall, our contract must be fulfilled.”
Muttering these words, Long Hua reopens his eyes, and as if those words contained magic, a chill runs down Nian Yao Yao’s spine.
(It’s this exact feeling that I always get from those words that makes me hesitant to bring up the details of our contract. I wonder if I should ask him about it…?)
Rubbing her arms, Nian Yao Yao tries to rid herself of this ominous chill.
(Hmm. I don’t know where I learned that ritual from, but…)
Being in possession of a cultivation base now, Long Hua can say for certain that—the person who had created the contract ritual that he had used with Nian Yao Yao can only be a practitioner, and a powerful one at that.
(Doesn’t seem to be shizun. Still, that hardly matters. With this contract in place, I can be certain of her not betraying me outright.)
“You mind if I ask you something?”
Knowing what Nian Yao Yao is about to ask beforehand, Long Hua answers—
“If it’s about the contract ritual that we went through, then I’d have to decline—since I don’t know the full details of it myself. However, you should keep in mind that it ensures we are both incapable of betraying the other.”
“So, it really is magic?”
“Can’t say for certain. Still if Sinners and Immortals can exist… What’s there to say that magic can’t?”
“Then the question becomes—if it’s related to a Sinner or… Is it related to an Immortal?”
(Sharp.)
Narrowing his eyes slightly, Long Hua answers—
“There’s a line in the contract that states—should both sides be willing, the contract may be voided immediately. Or… You can choose to pay a heavy termination fee.”
Understanding the hidden meaning behind these words, which contain a hint of gunpowder, Nian Yao Yao smiles, and answers—
“I’m not foolish enough to just let a good pair of helping hands leave me. Even if that pair of hands is a devil’s—depending on the circumstances.”
Her feud with her mother, Nian Tao Tao is far from over, so before she can officially claim, and redirect the Long Yue family’s development in her desired course, Nian Yao Yao cannot afford to let a reliable ally go.
“So be it then.”
“Out of curiosity, what exactly happens if one of us goes against the contract?”
“…I think, we’re better off not knowing. Still, if I get a chance, I might set someone up just to see how it goes.”
“Well, do let me know if you did. Also-”
“Move on already.”
With a hint of irritation in her voice, Zhui Yun tells the two to redirect their focus on the given task.
Shrugging his shoulders, Long Hua asks—
“So, who are we stealing the map from?”
“The client we’re visiting right now.”
“…You’re not only just doing business, but you’re also going in to scout the area?”
“It’s not me stealing the item, it’s the people accompanying me during the visit. Individually speaking, I’m strictly there for business. What the people who are accompanying me does—is none of my concern, and if the object those people stole just so happens to bring me some benefits along the way, then who am I to refuse it?”
(Bullshit.)
Shaking his head, Long Hua is clearly not convinced by Nian Yao Yao’s odd logic.
“Who is this person exactly?”
“A Sinner who served in the frontlines more than five decades ago. His name is Zhōu Chén (周陈). After getting his required hours of community service done, he went into the entertainment industry, and made it big there. Currently, on his fifth year of retirement from the industry.”
“Huh? A Sinner who went into the entertainment industry?”
To Long Hua that just sounds incredibly odd.
But since the individual was serving on the frontlines, it makes sense for them to possess the blood of a practitioner in their hand.
“Amongst the injuries that he had sustained during that time, one of them cannot be healed with standard medical knowledge. And by entertainment industry, she means the underground fighting ring.”
The person who clears up the confusion is Jing Yao, who goes on to explain about Zhou Chen’s condition in detail.
“That last injury of his is quite bizarre. He describes it by saying that there seems to be an odd flow of air expanding and contracting in his chest. He says—he’s felt this way ever since a fight against an Immortal. Tests done through machinery shows nothing unusual, which is why we deem it to be an unusual case.”
(An injury given to him by a practitioner? Something of that nature can only be cured by another practitioner, or by swallowing a product of alchemy—such as a pill or elixir. Seems like he’s come to the right place for a cure.)
The odd flow of air that is constantly expanding and contracting, to Long Hua that sounds like there is a bit of spirit Qi trapped within the body.
“Frequent visitor of the hospital, I’d assume?”
“I was the one to recommend the elixir to him when he mentioned that money isn’t an issue.”
“Makes sense as to why you know so much about his condition then. And…”
Chapter 4
“Makes sense as to why you know so much about his condition then. And…”
“What?”
“You got something to say, just say it.”
Looking between Jing Yao and Nian Yao Yao, Long Hua can’t help but think these two to be similar to a con-artist and their partner in crime.
“A man comes into the hospital asking for a cure to an odd injury. Jing, recommends the man a special med by praising it to be all-curing. Unfortunately, that med needs to be special ordered due to the rarity of its ingredient. Surprise, surprise, the man just so happens to conveniently have that ingredient back home. In comes the CEO of a shady company, who offers the man a shady trade deal.”
“…”
“Screw you.”
A sharp glare comes from Jing Yao, while a plain insult comes from Nian Yao Yao, to which Long Hua shrugs his shoulders.
No matter what, everything sounds far too shady from a bystander’s point of view, and given enough time, the other side should also see this to be the case.
“Master.”
“Hm?”
“Might I wait in the car when you’re there?”
Towards Tian Cheng’s odd request, Long Hua frowns, and perhaps misunderstanding that to mean that he isn’t happy with her decision, she explains—
“I used to be employed in Zhou Chen’s mansion. All the workers there are dolls like myself. They’ll be able to recognize me with ease should they scan me.”
“Fine. You can sit this one out.”
Granting his permission, Long Hua’s frown widens on the inside.
(An obvious lie. Even if it wasn’t, with Tian Cheng’s abilities, she should be able to hide her own identity with ease against those dolls. The fact that she isn’t willing to go… Is it because of a more personal reason?)
Thinking this to perhaps be the case, Long Hua feels like Tian Cheng’s behavior is reminiscent of a flesh and blood human.
(Well, it’s not a bad thing, I guess?)
“Wait, if she’s worked there in the past, does she have a map of the mansion?”
“I do.”
“Oh?”
A teasing smile appears on Nian Yao Yao’s face, as she turns to Long Hua.
“How did your thing go again? Next comes a grandmaster thief, who offers the shady CEO his services to steal that poor, poor gentleman’s valuables.”
“…”
Towards what Nian Yao Yao had just tacked onto his story from before, Long Hua didn’t have much else to say other than to show his clear annoyance.
“…”
“…”
Meeting his eyes with Zhui Yun’s, Long Hua could tell that he wasn’t the only one that was annoyed.
(Meet. Me. Out. Side. After. Dinner.)
Is what is being said by Zhui Yun, who moves her lips without voicing her words aloud.
(Great, the hell does this imp want now?)
“So, he only employs dolls?”
In response to Jing Yao’s question, Long Hua and Nian Yao Yao attempt to imagine—what it would be like living within a home, where one’s sole company are dolls.
“This sounds like something right out of a cliché horror film. Actually, depending on interpretation, I could also see it as something sad…”
Saying this, Nian Yao Yao looks to Tian Cheng before redirecting her gaze at Long Hua in a hinting manner, to which—
“Buzz off. What exactly do you take me for? Besides, what sort of human would want to work under a Sinner?”
“It’s rare, but not unseen.”
Shrugging his shoulders, Long Hua replies—
“What others want or need to make themselves comfortable in their already miserable life in this sad, sad world isn’t my concern. In any case, talk to me a bit more about this New Moon Village. How does it benefit NPI exactly?”
“Ingredients for IB-09, along with a powerful network of information. The Long Yue family might be extremely influential in the east, but not even they have a direct contact with New Moon Village.”
Upon Nian Yao Yao’s answer, Zhui Yun’s expression becomes noticeably sour, to which Long Hua thought—
(She looks like she’s been wronged or something… Heck it’s as if her entire existence has just been insulted…)
Ignoring whatever it is that Zhui Yun is feeling from the conversation, Long Hua clears his throat, and says—
“I assume this is basically your get rich quick plan for the eventual takeover of your family?”
“Would take far more than just materialistic resources to drag that old hag down from her throne. There’s plenty more to come. I’ll tell you more about it after dinner since we’ve arrived at our destination.”
As the car enters through an open gate that is a part of a black steel fence, Nian Yao Yao decides to postpone this discussion.
“Hm? An old western styled mansion…?”
Smoothly the car comes to a stop, and one of the female bodyguards walks out of it to open the rear doors.
(Doesn’t the owner of this place find it odd to be living by himself in a place this large?)
Stepping out of the car, Long Hua finds himself standing in front of a three-floored mansion.
The front yard of this mansion is round in form—with trees that are cut into a uniformed shape surrounding it.
Other than these bits of greenery, the grounds of this mansion are surprisingly barren—giving off the impression that the owner hadn’t spent much effort to enliven the place.
“Welcome, laoye expects you on the second floor.”
Standing on the short staircase that leads up to the mansion’s front entrance is a young girl dressed in a black and white maid uniform with a skirt that reaches her ankles.
Due to the odd appearance of the maid’s eyes, one can easily tell that she is a doll.
“Lead us to him then.”
Opening the doors, the maid steps to the side, and makes a welcoming gesture towards the group.
Stepping into the mansion, the group of four immediately sees a large staircase that leads up to the second floor.
“This way.”
A second maid dressed in the same uniform guides the group onwards, while the maid from before shuts the doors.
Chapter 5
(Everything in this hall looks good in terms of quality, but other than the paintings, they don’t really stand out that much.)
With how simplistic their decorations outside of their art collections are, the owner of this mansion seems to be a man with a very particular taste, who furnishes his home based off the idea of practicality.
However, this could also just be them making a statement saying—that they don’t have any intentions to show off their wealth to the uneducated.
(These paintings of nature…)
So far, all the paintings that are mounted onto the walls are depictions of mystical landscapes ranging from mountains, forests, and the seas.
As feelings of odd nostalgia welled up in his heart, the thought of imagining himself appearing, or visiting any of these mystical landscapes didn’t seem very farfetched to Long Hua. If anything, it feels far too realistic, most likely something to do with his past life’s circumstances.
(This mansion is in the third ward… The bits of greenery that grow on the walls aren’t very dense, so the building itself can’t be that old. Did he build this place up from scratch?)
As soon as this thought crossed Long Hua’s mind, the possibility of it being true seemed rather high.
The third ward of this city is focused on providing entertainment, so traditional housing here is practically nonexistent.
If one wishes to live in this ward, then the first option would be to permanently rent out a hotel room, which isn’t very practical—unless the person is extremely wealthy.
The second option is to purchase a condo unit. However, due to how rare these units are, hardly anyone would ever sell them, and even if they were up for sale, the price isn’t reachable for the common man.
(A traditional home aside, an old western styled mansion such as this—is even more of a rarity. Just how much would its construction even cost? Actually, getting the permit to build this in the first place…)
Thinking of the difficulties one would face in even obtaining the building permit, Long Hua felt a sense of curiosity towards the owner of this mansion’s identity.
(I can’t imagine the city’s government making it any easier to obtain that permit for a Sinner— even if that Sinner had served on the frontlines.)
“Here.”
Having arrived at their destination, the maid opens the door, and gestures for the group to enter.
The front and back walls of this spacious room are fully covered by bookshelves.
Positioned in the center of the room is a large rectangular table with short legs; surrounding this table are two leather sofas and armchairs.
Sitting on one of the two armchairs is a white-haired old man dressed in a short-sleeved shirt with black sweatpants.
(Over five decades ago is when he last served in the military… He should be in his seventies by now, and yet his physique still looks to be in prime shape.)
“…”
(Uh?)
Meeting the old man’s yellow eyes, Long Hua can’t help but press his brows together.
(Odd, meeting his eyes makes me feel as if I’m looking at a blade that can be drawn at any moment…)
Standing behind the old man’s back are two maids.
(Dolls everywhere like Hua’s doll had said… Doesn’t this old man get bored of them wearing the same uniform?)
Having seen four different dolls all dressed in the same uniform thus far, Zhui Yun thought of this out of boredom.
“Welcome. Do excuse my attire. I prefer to dress comfortable while at home.”
“Understandable.”
Walking over, Nian Yao Yao sits on the opposite armchair—facing Zhou Chen, while Zhui Yun stands behind her.
Jing Yao sits on the left side of Nian Yao Yao, taking up the center section of the sofa that she is occupying.
Thinking for a brief instance, Long Hua decides to sit beside Jing Yao—positioning himself closer to Zhou Chen.
“Let us get introductions out of the way first. This is the CEO of NPI, Nian Yao Yao. Lady Nian, this is our client this time, Zhou-laoye.”
Speaking in a formal manner, Jing Yao gets introductions out of the way first prior to taking out her phone, and opening a notebook app, she asks Zhou Chen—
“There’re a few matters that we need to confirm. First, any changes to your condition since you’ve left our hospital two weeks ago?”
“None. I still feel that odd air in my chest.”
“I see.”
(There’s definitely spirit Qi in his body.)
Glancing at Zhou Chen, Long Hua constricts his eyes, as he contemplates his personal matters.
Spirit Qi is something that he could never have enough of—if he wishes to advance his cultivation base, but the amount contained in Zhou Chen’s body is far too meager. At the same time, there seems to be something else mixed into it.
(*Sigh* for whatever reason, this world is severely lacking in spirit Qi… Attempting to manually gather the amount that I need to make my next breakthrough could take a couple of weeks. As for advancing to the Foundation Establishment realm… That could take years…)
With these rough estimations in his head, Long Hua suddenly didn’t mind being sent off to the frontlines—if it meant he could raise his cultivation base faster, while unraveling his own past sooner.
(Ai the sooner I can return home, the better, but…)
For having lived in this world for so long, Long Hua is inevitably shackled with a few responsibilities; one of these responsibilities—is his contract with Nian Yao Yao, which is to aid her in taking over the Long Yue family. So long as this contract goes unfulfilled, leaving might cause complications in the long run.
“No changes to my diet either.”
Upon Zhou Chen answering the final question, Jing Yao turns to Nian Yao Yao, to which Nian Yao Yao remarks—
“We both know what it is that we want from the other. Shall we get right to it? Zhui Yun.”
Reaching into the pocket of her jacket, Zhui Yun pulls out a glass vial and walks over to Zhou Chen. Upon setting the vial down on the table, she returns to her original position.
“So, this is it?”
Picking up the medicinal vial containing a dark red liquid, Zhou Chen takes out a vial of his own, and passes both items to one of the dolls behind him.
As the doll examines the two vials closely, its eyes give off a lukewarm glow, and upon the conclusion of its examination, it whispers to Zhou Chen’s ear before taking a step back.
“My doll isn’t capable of fully analyzing the contents.”
“Special agents are added to prevent dolls such as yours from figuring out all the ingredients that goes into it. This elixir is one of my company’s lifelines after all. So, does that mean you don’t wish to buy?”
Knowing full well that the other side doesn’t have any grounds to refuse the purchasing of this item, Nian Yao Yao displays an air of confidence.
Towards the question, Zhou Chen shakes his head; the value of one’s own life isn’t something that can be measured with materialistic wealth.
“It did manage to find out that it does contain the same blood that I am in the possession of.”
“Mind if I examine that blood?”
The moment Nian Yao Yao asks this, the door of the room opens lightly, as a doll carrying a metal case walks in.
Placing the case onto the table closer to Nian Yao Yao, the doll opens it to reveal a total of six glass vials with an empty slot meant to store a seventh.
“Can I open them?”
“Go ahead.”
Examining each of the vials carefully, and taking a sniff of their content, Nian Yao Yao eventually nods.
“Genuine articles. Still…”
“Is something the matter?”
“Seven vials—counting the one your doll is holding. This quantity is only enough to make one vial of medication. I’m willing to give you a 50 percent discount on the original price.”
“So, the other 50 percent is labor cost?”
“Correct.”
Raising his hand and receiving the vial containing the medicine from the doll, Zhou Chen looks at it with his brows pressed together.
Turning to Zhou Chen, Jing Yao says—
“Doctors are not able to force our patients to take their medication. The most we can do—is to offer advice, whether or not that advice is followed, is up to the patient.”
Medication fraud is a common crime in the current world. There’s simply no way to tell if what is being sold to an individual is an all-curing elixir, or a glass of poison.
“Doctor Jing, should I continue to let this condition haunt me, how much longer may I live?”
“I wouldn’t have a way of knowing. You’d have to ask an Immortal.”
Taking that to be a joke, Zhou Chen laughs while subtly directing a glance at Long Hua.
(Hm?)
“I consider myself to be a man of great caution. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have survived my five years of service on the frontlines.”
As the doll to his left takes out a rolled-up piece of parchment from its pocket, Zhou Chen receives it, and places it onto the table.
“A map to New Moon Village.”