As Elder Yuan entered the reception chamber, Lian Qiguang sat casually on the sofa, expressionless, watching Elder Yuan open layer after layer of protection. Finally, he carefully took out a palm-sized wooden box from a specially-made spatial container.
“Ku Mu, come take a look.” Elder Yuan sat down across from Lian Qiguang and placed the wooden box on the table. With a solemn expression, he slowly opened it, and about a dozen gray-brown seeds appeared inside.
‘This is…………’ Lian Qiguang’s motion of drinking tea paused slightly. Looking at the seeds in the box, a flicker of emotion quickly passed through his calm eyes.
“Ku Mu, you recognize it.” Elder Yuan, who had been observing Lian Qiguang, naturally did not miss that flicker.
“Mm.” He nodded expressionlessly. He had once seen it by chance in a book. Later, that book was seen by the Little Crown Prince, who used nearly more than ten Wood-type ability users above Level 20 to cultivate it for him in this apocalypse where both animals and plants had already mutated—a completely harmless luxury gift given to him.
“Then this is…………” Elder Yuan’s face carried excitement.
Lian Qiguang put down his cup and picked up a seed. Elder Yuan was startled and did not have time to stop him, only able to watch with a heart full of pain and nervousness at Lian Qiguang’s…… seed.
Lian Qiguang held the seed in his hand. After sensing the life force within it, he slowly activated his Longevity Technique, channeling it into the seed.
As the Longevity Technique entered, the seed in Lian Qiguang’s hand split open at a slow pace. A tender sprout slowly emerged.
The sprout expanded visibly—then came the stem, branches, green leaves, and finally a flower bud.
Lian Qiguang stopped his ability. A scarlet, bewitchingly beautiful rose bloomed in his hand. A captivating fragrance spread throughout the reception chamber, confusing the mind.
Lian Qiguang looked at the rose in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed. This smell……
“Be careful.” Elder Yuan reacted first, his eyes sharpening. He quickly snatched the rose from Lian Qiguang’s hand, placed it on a side platform, activated a barrier to cover it, and then turned on the chamber’s air purification system.
“This scent is strange,” Elder Yuan said in a low voice. “It can confuse the mind.”
“Ku Mu, what exactly is this plant?”
“A rose.” Lian Qiguang said expressionlessly.
“Three thousand years ago, before the apocalypse, this was a flower symbolizing love. Legend says it was infused with the blood of the god of love, the embodiment of love and beauty. At that time, it was very delicate and had no offensive power. But with the arrival of the apocalypse, those plants and animals all mutated, and roses were no exception.”
“What a beautiful legend.” Elder Yuan stared at the isolated rose, his eyes shining, his face carrying an eerie excitement.
However……………
As if thinking of something, Elder Yuan suppressed his wildly beating heart and turned to look at the calm Lian Qiguang, his expression stern.
“Ku Mu, are you really a Wood-type ability user at the Soldier Stage?”
“………………”
“Among all ability users, Wood-type abilities have the weakest attack power. At the Soldier Stage, Wood-type abilities can only be used to cultivate plants. Only upon reaching the Human Stage do they gain offensive capability—and even then, it is extremely weak,” Elder Yuan said in a deep voice, staring at him closely. “Moreover, Wood-type ability power has no effect on ancient seeds.”
“What do you mean.” Lian Qiguang looked at Elder Yuan expressionlessly, while the hand in his pocket slowly began gathering ability power, ready to act if there was even a hint of malice.
He was not good at interacting with people, but aside from interpersonal dealings, he was always vigilant toward other matters. Although Elder Yuan’s words were not explicit, he immediately thought of those disgusting laboratories from the past.
“My meaning is—your Wood-type ability, has it mutated?”
“………………”
“It seems I was right,” Elder Yuan murmured.
Cold light flashed in Lian Qiguang’s eyes as his ability began to rapidly gather.
“Ku Mu!” Elder Yuan suddenly looked up, staring at Lian Qiguang seriously. “Your ability mutation must be kept secret. Do you understand?”
“………………”
“Don’t be unwilling! If those perverted old monsters in the laboratories find out about your mutation, do you know what will happen?” Elder Yuan’s face darkened.
Lian Qiguang pressed his lips together and nodded expressionlessly.
“Good that you understand. So, do not tell anyone. If someone asks, say your ability has reached the Void Stage. After all, so far no one’s Wood-type ability has reached the Void Stage, and no one will know what kind of power it has at that level. If you disguise yourself as Void Stage, it won’t be easily discovered.”
“Mm.” He nodded expressionlessly, dispersing the gathered ability power in his hand.
“Hmph! Those lab freaks, always doing disgusting things. They’re not afraid of retribution one day, dying without a complete corpse,” Elder Yuan muttered angrily, slowly walking toward the rose, hatred clearly in his eyes.
Lian Qiguang tilted his head slightly, watching Elder Yuan’s back, a trace of thought passing through his eyes.
‘Seems like I learned something.’
“Ku Mu, thank you for today’s matter.” Elder Yuan said cheerfully again, looking at the blooming rose.
“No need.” He picked up his cup expressionlessly. “Just give me a few rose seeds.”
“………………”
One becomes ten, ten becomes a hundred. Using his Longevity Technique to cultivate roses, then obtaining seeds, then cultivating them again. In this way, he could obtain many, many seeds.
Able to confuse the mind—that was a good weapon.
Scene transition line
“Ku Mu!”
After returning to the academy, just as Lian Qiguang stepped into his dorm, Mi Xiaobao rushed over with a “whoosh,” grabbing his arm tightly.
Lian Qiguang looked expressionlessly at the hand on his arm, beginning to consider whether to take out Qianming.
“Ku Mu! Let’s go!” Not caring about what Lian Qiguang was thinking, Mi Xiaobao tried to drag him away.
“What is it.” Lian Qiguang steadied himself and looked expressionlessly at Mi Xiaobao, who was desperately pulling him.
“We’re going to find the dean and tell him your agreement with Qiying is void.”
“Why void it.”
“You’re stupid!!” Mi Xiaobao looked at him angrily. “Qiying, Combat Department second year, Soldier Stage Level Six. And you? Rescue Department, and you don’t even have an ability! Don’t you understand? She’s clearly targeting you. Accidents are allowed in matches—she wants to ruin you! Don’t you get it!!”
“…………”
Lian Qiguang looked at him expressionlessly. After a long moment, he silently pulled his hand back and turned toward his room.
“I know.”
So he would properly “guide” her.
“Ku Mu!” Mi Xiaobao roared in anger. “Qingyi and the others say you’re cold-blooded, selfish, arrogant—a person without a heart. I never believed it. I always thought you weren’t like that. You were just too lonely for too long. Your eyes haven’t seen light for a long time—you’re afraid of being burned, so you keep avoiding it.”
“………………”
Lian Qiguang’s steps paused slightly. Strands of messy hair covered half his face. The shadow cast by his wide hat obscured everything, leaving only his slightly pressed lips visible.
“But now I realize they were right. You are a cold-blooded, selfish, arrogant person! People like you will never accept anyone’s care. Your world only has yourself!!”
As if releasing all the grievances accumulated during this time, Mi Xiaobao shouted those words and then turned and ran out of the room.
The fading sunlight poured through the window, scattering fragmented light on the ground—without warmth, carrying a coldness that pierced into the bones.
Lian Qiguang stood silently in the room, his wide hat hiding his expression. His thin body was stretched long by the fragmented sunset.
At this moment, this world once again had only him left.