September 7th, 1524.

Tianchuan City was situated in the heart of the Eastern Hong Kingdom, serving as the capital of Tianchuan Province. The city boasted the kingdom's vastest plains—damp, hot, and humid—yet these conditions nurtured fertile lands.

Inside an old residential building, mosquitoes and ants crawled, and even in the autumn air, a sticky warmth lingered.

"Dad, I'm heading out!" A teenage girl, about fifteen or sixteen, struggled to stuff items into a large bag. A refined-looking middle-aged man with glasses smiled and reminded her, "Tuantuan, be sure to stay safe while hiking with your classmates, alright?"

"Got it, got it!" Wei Tuantuan waved her hand excitedly and casually asked, "Where's the amulet that Sister Xiaoqi gave me? I can't find it."

"Here it is." Wei Shu handed her a crystal-clear amulet, and after taking it, Tuantuan seemed to remember something and asked, "By the way, Dad, why hasn't Sister Xiaoqi visited in so long? It's been five or six years since she last came!"

"Your cousin is working in the capital city. She doesn't have the time to visit Tianchuan," Wei Shu replied.

Tuantuan pouted, "The capital isn't that far from Tianchuan. It's only a few hours by plane, Dad. And why have I never met my eldest uncle or my other cousins? I remember Sister Xiaoqi once said I have seven cousins!"

"Adult matters aren't for kids to ask about," Wei Shu replied firmly.

"Fine, I won't ask then. But when I go to college, I'm going to the capital!" Tuantuan declared defiantly.

Wei Shu's face turned serious, his voice stern, "Wei Tuantuan, as long as I'm alive, as long as I'm not lying in a coffin, you will not step foot in the capital!"

The girl was clearly startled, seeing her father so serious for the first time in her sixteen years.

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A gentle woman walked out from the inner room, laughing as she spoke, "Alright, Tuantuan, don't ask anymore. Just listen to your dad. Have you packed everything?"

She approached and casually flipped through the luggage, curiously picking up a bronze statue, "Tuantuan, what's this?"

The statue looked eerie—its left side sculpted as a cloud of mist, while its right side depicted a winged figure carrying a cross, seemingly crying or sighing.

"Oh, that?" Tuantuan replied nonchalantly, "I picked it up from the antique shop down the street. Uncle Li said it's related to legendary mysteries and the supernatural!"

Wei Shu snorted, "Enough with the mysteries and the supernatural. I'm adding a rule: as long as I'm not dead or in a coffin, you won't be studying ancient mysteries in college either!"

"Why not?" Tuantuan protested.

"Because I'm your father!" Wei Shu retorted, tapping her on the head. He picked up the bronze statue, examining it with a slight frown. Something about its appearance seemed familiar, but he couldn't quite place it. However, remembering it came from Uncle Li, a known con artist, he didn't think much of it and casually tossed it back into the bag. "Stop messing around with those mysterious rituals. If any spirits come looking for trouble, you'll regret it."

"See! You admit it! There are spirits!" Tuantuan excitedly exclaimed.

Wei Shu rolled his eyes, too exasperated to argue, and pushed her out the door. "Go on your hike! And don't forget to use some mosquito repellent when you camp tonight. Be nice to your classmates!"

"I know, I know!" Tuantuan shouted as she dashed down the stairs.

Standing by the window, watching his daughter leave, Wei Shu sighed deeply, worry creasing his brow. "Why is she so obsessed with the occult? I should've never let Xiaoqi visit her back then."

"How can you blame Xiaoqi?" Wei's wife chuckled. "Speaking of Xiaoqi, how's she doing these days? Out of all your nieces and nephews, she was always the closest. It's been years since we last saw her."

Wei Shu's expression darkened slightly, "From what I hear, things aren't going well. My older brother is pushing this whole 'Seven Children Contest'—it's almost at the final stage now. There's word that, aside from Xiaoqi, the other children have begun using any means necessary."

"How could it come to this?" Wei's wife looked worried. "I remember your brother was somewhat compassionate back then. When I was pregnant with Tuantuan, he let us leave the capital without any trouble."

Wei Shu shook his head. "I don't understand it either, and I don't want to. I'm just an ordinary man now, and I only want to live as one—a simple, ordinary man."

Then, shifting the topic abruptly, he rolled up his sleeves, eyes blazing, "But as an ordinary man, I can't let my daughter get scammed. I'm going to the antique shop to give that bastard Li Rong'en a piece of my mind!"