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After returning to the villa, Qi Chao carried Lan Luo into the basement.
A few puppets closely followed behind Qi Chao, but he soon sent them back to their rooms to sleep. It was eight o'clock in the evening, and they had already had dinner while at the mine.
Rather than letting the children stay up late with them, it was better to let them go back to their rooms and sleep.
“Li Bai, take your brothers to sleep. Lan Luo and I will go upstairs later,” Qi Chao instructed.
Lan Luo was Li Bai's best friend.
Looking at the long cracks on Lan Luo's face, Li Bai felt a bit helpless. He wanted to stay by Lan Luo's side, but he also knew that he couldn't help anything in the basement; he would only distract his father.
“Okay, I understand, Dad,” Li Bai replied, biting his lip. He shifted his gaze from Lan Luo on the bed to his father, his golden eyes appearing somewhat dim.
Xiang Yue glanced at Li Bai, and after they exited the basement, he called out to him, “Brother Li Bai, with Dad here, Lan Luo's injuries will heal soon.”
“I know.”
Li Bai was certainly aware of how capable his dad was; he just felt a bit guilty. “I should have grabbed Lan Luo and protected him.”
Li Bai's personality was quite similar to Qi Chao's. He always tried to protect those around him, viewing them as his responsibility.
Xiang Yue had this trait as well, but on a much smaller scale; there were very few people he cared about deeply.
Xiang Yue understood that Lan Luo's injuries were not as simple as they seemed. Seeing Li Bai with his head down, he pondered for a moment before squatting down in front of him, his dog ears twitching slightly. “Brother Li Bai, why don’t you touch my ears?”
Li Bai was a bit puzzled, but when he saw Xiang Yue’s calm red eyes, he hesitantly reached out his hand.
They were soft and had a wonderful texture.
“Mm, that’s enough.”
Xiang Yue spoke calmly, and after Li Bai withdrew his hand, his tail behind him wagged slightly. He tilted his head and asked, “Brother Li Bai, are you feeling a bit better?”
He knew that Li Bai liked his tail and ears very much.
Xiang Yue usually didn’t like letting others touch these parts, but seeing Li Bai so downcast, he thought it might help lift his spirits.
Xiang Yue was comforting himself?
Li Bai paused for a moment, feeling somewhat moved by the golden eyes behind his mask. A few seconds later, he walked up to Xiang Yue and gave his little brother a hug. “Thank you, Xiang Yue. I’m very happy.”
Xiang Yue felt satisfied. His father had taught him to respect his older brother, and he thought he was doing well in that regard.
Xuan Jian and Shuang Jian watched this scene from behind the two puppets.
After exchanging glances, Xuan Jian spoke up, “What should we do now? Should we go to Cheng Qi, or listen to Dad and go back to our rooms?”
“I want to wait here for Lan Luo.”
Li Bai raised his head to look at them, biting his lip. “Dad wants us to sleep, but thinking about Lan Luo being treated inside makes it hard for me to sleep.”
“We’ll stay here with you.”
Xuan Jian and Shuang Jian spoke calmly. Though they weren’t particularly close to Lan Luo, having spent so much time together meant they couldn’t be indifferent.
Besides, Lan Luo often taught them things, making their bond deeper.
The three puppets in front of him were all convinced that the poor Lan Luo had suffered an unjust calamity.
Xiang Yue looked at them, choosing not to mention Lan Luo's peculiarities. Instead, he silently followed them as they left the basement, waiting together on the stairs.
Qi Chao was unaware that the children hadn’t listened to him and returned to their rooms. He was focused on treating the cracks on Lan Luo’s face in the basement, even as his communicator vibrated continuously in his pocket, it received no attention from him.
“Don’t be afraid; Lan Luo is the bravest child,” Qi Chao said, gently ruffling Lan Luo’s hair. His voice was soothing. “When you wake up from your nap, your injuries will heal.”
Lan Luo gazed into Qi Chao's eyes, which sparkled with kindness, and after a moment's hesitation, he nodded slowly.
His hand, resting on the bed, clenched slightly.
His father’s attitude remained the same as before.
He couldn’t tell if it was because Qiao Sheng had not spoken those words or if his father had never believed Qiao Sheng from the start.
It was probably the latter.
As Lan Luo looked at Qi Chao , the weight that had been pressing on his heart lifted, and he felt significantly more at ease. The smile on his face also became much brighter.
“I’m not afraid.”
Lan Luo’s voice was soft, filled with admiration, and his slightly curled golden hair seemed to shine under the light, making the crack that spanned across his face all the more glaring.
“That’s good to hear.”
Qi Chao smiled and instructed Lan Luo to close his eyes. Then he put on the mental power gloves and began to gently apply the ointment to Lan Luo’s face, using his fingertips to slowly massage it in while channeling his mental energy.
The white ointment gradually seeped into the black cracks on Lan Luo’s face with his movements.
This step was something Brother Shen had taught him a long time ago.
Once his control over mental energy had strengthened, such tasks became quite easy to execute.
Qi Chao knew that Brother Shen had been very busy lately.
From the beginning, he hadn’t planned on having Brother Shen come over to repair Lan Luo; the most challenging aspect of repairing cracks was the application of mental energy.
Qi Chao's mental energy was special, and he was already skilled at using it. He was fully capable of completing the repair of this crack on his own.
In fact, this time, repairing the crack was a bit simpler than the last time Brother Shen had repaired it.
The crack caused by the original owner was even more severe than the current one.
Additionally, the prolonged delay in treatment meant that Brother Shen had encountered quite a bit of trouble during the repair.
Qi Chao estimated that if he applied the ointment for a little longer, Lan Luo's skin would likely return to its original state in about four hours.
Lan Luo lay on the bed with his eyes closed, finely attuned to Qi Chao's gentle yet powerful mental energy. It felt like a soft breeze brushing against his face, which was very comfortable.
At first, Lan Luo didn’t feel sleepy, but as time passed, he gradually sank into a deep slumber.
Qi Chao noticed that Lan Luo's body relaxed, his facial expression remained unchanged, but his eyes softened considerably. The mental energy in his hands showed no signs of weakening.
The ointment needed to be applied for four hours, during which Qi Chao had to continuously use his mental energy to massage it in.
His communicator vibrated a few times in his pocket.
Qi Chao still didn’t respond, worrying that if he let his mind wander, the interruption of his mental energy could affect Lan Luo’s injuries.
Meanwhile, Shen Yuxi looked down at the chat screen with Qi Chao, his fingertips gently scrolling over the interface, his blue eyes growing much colder.
He had naturally seen the message Qi Chao posted on the social platform. It was precisely because he had seen that message that Shen Yuxi had sent so many messages to Qi Chao.
As Qi Chao continued to delay in replying, and even the video call automatically ended after a long wait, Shen Yuxi felt his heart sink.
He had warned Qiao Sheng before.
It was unbelievable that the other party had gone to find Qi Chao again.
Truly reckless.
Shen Yuxi's fingers tapped irritably on the armrest.
What had Qiao Sheng said to Qi Chao?
He knew he should go find Qi Chao to clarify things; Qiao Sheng must have approached Qi Chao with some information that would not sit well with him.
Thinking that Qi Chao might show signs of dislike or fear towards him because of Qiao Sheng’s words made Shen Yuxi’s heart ache, and for the first time, he felt the urge to escape.
“Father?”
Noticing something was off with his father, Moss, who was holding a stuffed doll, took a few steps forward, his voice hoarse with confusion.
“It’s nothing.”
Shen Yuxi’s eyelashes fluttered slightly as he continued, “You, Agu, and Chi Yao bring Qiao Sheng to the villa. If he and the puppets resist, don’t hold back.”
“Even if you have to break their legs, that’s fine.”
His voice was low, quickly dissipating into the air, while the coldness in his eyes sent chills down one's spine.
Moss, whose body was wrapped in bandages, nodded solemnly, his deep black eyes gripping the stuffed doll a bit tighter.
Qiao Sheng must have angered his father; otherwise, Shen Yuxi wouldn’t have instructed him to bring along Chi Yao and Agu.
After Moss left, Shen Yuxi sat on the sofa, his eyelashes lowered as his fingers pressed against the screen, remaining still for a long time.
It was very quiet in the room, so silent that all he could hear was the sound of his own breathing.
Shen Yuxi slowed his breath, feeling as if some inexplicable emotions were settling in this tranquil environment. Suddenly, a buzzing sound broke the surface calm.
Shen Yuxi’s back stiffened, his movements pausing as he looked down at the screen.
[Has Brother Shen fallen asleep? I was busy just now. Is it convenient for a video call?]
Seeing this ordinary message, Shen Yuxi's previously tense expression suddenly relaxed, and a pleased smile curved his lips.
It seemed things were not as he had imagined.
[Convenient.]
After Shen Yuxi sent those two words, a video invitation popped up on his communicator the next moment.
The black-haired man on the other end looked slightly weary. Upon seeing Shen Yuxi, he smiled, and the dim light behind him seemed to brighten a little because of that smile.
“Brother Shen?”
Qi Chao deliberately lowered his voice.
“Where are you?”
Shen Yuxi looked behind him, his expression somewhat puzzled.
Qi Chao turned the screen around to show the surroundings, then returned to a whisper, “I’m outside the basement door. Lan Luo is sleeping in the basement. After we finish chatting, I’ll take him back to his room.”
Shen Yuxi noticed something strange in Qi Chao’s expression, and his movements paused. “Did something happen to Lan Luo?”
“Yeah.”
Qi Chao's voice was a bit hoarse as he ran a hand through his hair, organizing his thoughts. He recounted everything—from finding the mother stone in the mine, to personally teaching Qiao Sheng a lesson, and then returning to fix the crack on Lan Luo’s face.
“I just finished repairing Lan Luo’s crack. If there are no complications, his skin should be restored after a wash tomorrow.”
When Shen Yuxi heard that Lan Luo had run over to Qiao Sheng but was attacked by Chao Yang, his blue eyes darkened. He opened his mouth, concern evident in his tone, “So, Lan Luo is asleep now, right?”
“Yeah.” Qi Chao nodded.
Seeing the troubled expression on Shen Yuxi’s face, he quickly reassured him, “Brother Shen, don’t worry. Lan Luo is sleeping very soundly. If he really felt unwell, he wouldn’t be able to sleep. Once he’s restored tomorrow, I’ll send you some photos.”
Shen Yuxi nodded, still looking worried.
“What about you? I saw the message you posted on the social platform. How did things end up with Qiao Sheng?”
He understood that since Lan Luo had taken that action, it meant Qiao Sheng must have said something inappropriate.
While Lan Luo’s reaction was impulsive, it was undeniable that, in that situation, it was the most effective response.
“It's nothing. I just told him to see me less often.”
Qi Chao said this in a casual tone, seemingly reluctant to dwell on the topic.
“Did you get into a fight with him?”
Shen Yuxi noticed the red marks on Qi Chao’s hand and spoke softly. From a perspective where Qi Chao couldn’t see, his slender fingers dug into the armrest of the chair.
How could Qiao Sheng lay a hand on Qi Chao?
He lowered his eyelashes, hiding the coldness in his eyes.
Qi Chao glanced at the red marks on his hand, shaking it lightly. It didn’t hurt; if Shen Yuxi hadn’t brought it up, he wouldn’t have even noticed the small injury.
“I just had a brief scuffle, nothing serious.” Seeing the worried look in Shen Yuxi’s eyes, he added, “He got hurt worse than I did.”
That couldn’t be true.
Shen Yuxi knew that Qi Chao was a soft-hearted and upright person, while someone like Qiao Sheng was cunning and deceitful. Qi Chao must have suffered some injustice in that encounter.
“Really?” Shen Yuxi shifted the topic, pressing his lips together as he said softly, “You should go rest. Using your mental energy for four hours must be exhausting.”
“I’m okay.”
Qi Chao smiled. The amount of mental energy he had expended was far less than what he usually used to wake up a puppet, but seeing Shen Yuxi's expression, he didn’t argue further.
Instead, he said, “I’ll take Lan Luo back to his room now. I’ll find you tomorrow.”
Shen Yuxi responded with a hum, and after hanging up the communicator, he glanced at the dark screen, his expression thoughtful.
When he noticed a slight movement behind him, he turned his head, the smile in his eyes not quite reaching them.
“Hello, Qiao Sheng.”
…
After finishing his chat with Shen Yuxi, Qi Chao let out a breath of relief and turned to head back into the basement.
To avoid making Shen Yuxi worry too much, he hadn’t gone into detail about Lan Luo’s situation, even downplaying the injuries.
However, judging by Shen Yuxi’s demeanor earlier, he would undoubtedly worry himself sleepless tonight. Qi Chao considered checking in later to see if Shen Yuxi had managed to fall asleep.
Meanwhile, Lan Luo lay on the bed, eyes tightly shut and sleeping deeply.
At first, Qi Chao intended to take Lan Luo directly upstairs. However, as he passed the fish tank, he remembered the mother stone he had found today and decided to soak it in the nutrient solution first.
Compared to the previous mother stone, this one was pitifully small. Qi Chao infused some of his mental energy into it, but perhaps due to the overexertion from earlier, he was starting to feel a bit tired.
The gray stone lay quietly in the water, and seeing this scene warmed Qi Chao’s heart a little.
He then picked up the sleeping Lan Luo.
As he ascended the stairs from the basement, Qi Chao noticed the four children sitting at the top of the staircase, dozing off. They had their backs to the moonlight, heads leaning against each other, clearly having waited outside since they left the basement.
Qi Chao paused in surprise.
The previously sound asleep Lan Luo sensed something, his eyelashes fluttered, and he slowly opened his eyes.
Upon seeing the scene before him, he felt a wave of emotions, his expression growing increasingly complex.
Qi Chao gently set Lan Luo down and nudged each of the children’s shoulders. “Wake up, you guys. It’s time to go back and sleep.”
The puppets were not in a deep sleep; they became aware as soon as they heard the sound of footsteps on the stairs.
However, due to their exhaustion, they struggled to wake up when Qi Chao called them.
Qi Chao didn’t question them about why they hadn’t listened and gone back to sleep. Instead, he smiled and affectionately ruffled the hair of each of the four children. “Lan Luo’s face has already been treated with the ointment, so you can all rest easy and go back to sleep now.”
The puppets nodded vaguely, and even the usually sharp-witted Xiang Yue had his tail drooping listlessly.
Initially, they had confidence in staying up late, but the truth was that even when they went to Cheng Qi’s place before, they had never stayed up this late.
Now, all the puppets were struggling to keep their eyes open.
Li Bai was forcing his eyelids to stay up; he mustered his willpower to crawl over to Lan Luo's side, grabbing his hand and stammering out some concerned words like “Does it hurt?”
Xuan Jian and Shuang Jian were silent, leaning sleepily against each other, still not fully awake.
“Were they waiting for me?” Lan Luo asked in confusion, a hint of disbelief in his voice.
“Yeah,” Qi Chao said, ruffling Lan Luo's hair. “They all care a lot about you, so you need to get better soon.”
They truly cared. Even when Qi Chao told them to go back to sleep, these children still wanted to stay by his side.
Lan Luo glanced at Qi Chao, then at the four puppets in front of him, biting his lip, unsure of how to react.
“Lan Luo should thank them tomorrow,” Qi Chao said gently, patting Lan Luo’s head and patiently instructing him.
“Okay,” Lan Luo replied softly.
Upon hearing those words, the initially anxious Lan Luo seemed to have found his anchor, a solution to his turmoil. He nodded firmly, feeling a significant relief from his heavy and complex emotions.
After sending each of the children back to their rooms, Qi Chao lay down on his bed. It was now 2 AM. Worried that Shen Yuxi might be unable to sleep because of Lan Luo’s situation, Qi Chao tentatively sent a message.
No one replied.
Instantly, Qi Chao felt a wave of relief wash over him; as long as Shen Yuxi was asleep, that was good. With that thought in mind, he could no longer keep his eyes open and slipped into a deep slumber.
Meanwhile, Shen Yuxi was indeed awake, but the reason for his wakefulness was far from what Qi Chao assumed.
Qiao Sheng’s arms had been broken.
Beside him, his daughter, Chao Yang, was unharmed.
Yet, seeing her father in such a state caused her to tremble all over, tears streaming down her face.
When she looked at Shen Yuxi, her eyes were filled with intense hatred and murderous intent.
This punishment was more painful for a puppet than if she herself had lost her arms.
“What did you say to Qi Chao?”
Shen Yuxi smiled as he tugged at Qiao Sheng's hair, his blue eyes gentle, as if looking at a longtime friend. "Senior brother, you should know that I can't be as endlessly forgiving as my teacher."
"For Lu Chen's achievements, you revealed my location, I locked him in the trial ground, and you tried to threaten me with Qi Chao to release him."
"Don't you think that’s a bit excessive?"
Shen Yuxi chuckled, pointing at Qiao Sheng's fractured hand. "This hand that has fought against Qi Chao will stay like this for now. Once Qi Chao is better, I won’t touch your hand again."
Qiao Sheng still wore that despondent expression, as if losing two arms meant nothing to him.
He looked at Shen Yuxi and scoffed, "You really care about Qi Chao. As soon as I returned, you hurriedly sent three puppets. Where has your usual calm gone?"
Shen Yuxi's expression remained unchanged, while Agu, standing beside him, smiled brightly. "Oh, why is Agu just hearing about this now! Did you injure Qi Chao?"
Upon hearing this, Qiao Sheng turned to Agu and sighed like a dejected middle-aged man. "He hit me harder. My ribs are injured, and he’s perfectly fine. You guys come to find me because of this; it’s so unfair."
“My daughter did disfigure Lan Luo; I can accept that, but I will never accept what happened to Qi Chao!”
Agu smiled as he walked up to Qiao Sheng, using his fingertips to channel his abilities and poking Qiao Sheng's hand.
The pain from the corrosive flesh made sweat bead on Qiao Sheng's forehead.
“Agu doesn’t care whether you accept it or not. You hurt Qi Chao, and that makes Agu very angry.”
He turned to look at the hate-filled Chao Yang, a bigger smile on his face. “And, although Lan Luo is quite foolish and disobedient, he’s also Agu’s little brother.”
Shen Yuxi quietly observed Agu teaching Qiao Sheng a lesson. After a few seconds, he spoke up, “Since you want to see your friend so much, then go accompany him in the trial ground.”
Qiao Sheng’s back stiffened, his eyes widening slightly behind his glasses as he suddenly realized he had truly angered Shen Yuxi this time.
He glanced at his daughter, knowing he couldn’t escape, and negotiated, “Fine, but you must take good care of my Chao Yang.”
“Dad!”
Chao Yang wanted to rush to her father’s side but was forcefully pinned down by Chi Yao. No matter how she struggled, it was futile.
Shen Yuxi coldly watched him, not answering the question, and simply instructed Moss and Chi Yao to take them away from the villa.
No one knew that when Qiao Sheng was forced to step into the trial ground, the timeline had completely distorted.
According to the original development, at this moment, Qiao Sheng should have been discussing with the association how to create trouble for Shen Yuxi, rather than meeting his friend in this hellish place in such a disheveled state.
At the same time, the three ability users in the trial ground simultaneously opened their eyes.
Their expressions shifted from confusion and shock to fear and then to a calm, dead silence. In just a few seconds, the three of them seemed to accept some monumental news, appearing especially tragic in the quiet of the night.
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