All the way under a hundred percent turning-back rate, Lian Qiguang wore casual clothes and expressionlessly drifted to the academy gate, casually scanning the empty surroundings before finally locking his gaze onto a not-so-noticeable corner.
A luxurious exterior, an overbearing golden emblem—clearly revealing its origin. Even though it was parked in a discreet corner, it still attracted countless curious, admiring, and envious gazes.
The door of the flying vehicle opened a thin crack, and a fluffy head poked out.
“Xiaoguang, come over quickly.” Guan Ze waved, keeping his voice low.
Lian Qiguang walked over slowly. The door of the flying vehicle opened. Under the stunned, envious, and jealous gazes of the crowd, Lian Qiguang stepped inside expressionlessly. As the door closed again, the flying vehicle made a sharp turn and elegantly disappeared from everyone’s sight.
(On the flying vehicle)
“Xiaoguang! So cute!!”
Seeing Lian Qiguang, Guan Ze’s eyes lit up as he tried to pounce over. Lian Qiguang’s body tilted slightly, and he kicked out, steadily stopping his foot three centimeters from Guan Ze’s face, expressionless as he looked at him.
“Xiaoguang…” Guan Ze slammed the brakes in time, barely saving his face, looking at him aggrieved.
Lian Qiguang withdrew his leg, turned, and sat down on a sofa far away from Guan Ze, tilting his head up and staring blankly at the ceiling, drifting off.
“Xiaoguang…”
“What do you want from me.” He cut him off flatly.
“Of course I came to play with Xiaoguang.” Guan Ze wiped his face, instantly returning to his cheerful self.
“……”
“Fine, fine! I admit it.” Seeing that he was being ignored again, Guan Ze sat properly and propped his chin up, smiling as he looked at Lian Qiguang’s profile. “I came to Zone Three for something. I knew Xiaoguang was also here, so I specifically asked that un-cute brat Shaoxuan for your lightbrain contact. I’ve always wanted to meet Xiaoguang in person. Last time I went to the Xiahou family, you were injured, and Shaoxuan wouldn’t let me see you! So annoying. Right, right! Xiaoguang, how are your injuries? Is there anything still uncomfortable? Ah! It should be fine now anyway—if you were still unwell, that brat Shaoxuan would never let you come back alone.”
Hearing Guan Ze’s nonstop chatter, even Lian Qiguang, who had been drifting off, couldn’t help but glance sideways. Was he… not thirsty?
“Xiaoguang, don’t you want to know why I came to Zone Three?” Guan Ze leaned closer, looking at him expectantly.
“…Don’t want to.” Lian Qiguang turned his head away, expressionless, staring out the window.
“Alright, then I’ll tell you.”
“……”
“This is also related to your brother. Your brother is now cooperating with Yuchi. You probably didn’t know—your brother has a script in his hands called Laughing Proudly in the Jianghu. Well, don’t get mad at me for speaking bluntly, but your brother has no power or influence. He can’t swallow this piece of meat alone. Even if he manages to bite it down, without anyone helping him guard it, it will eventually be taken away. By then, he’ll lose more than just a script. So he approached Yuchi for cooperation. At first, Yuchi only agreed because of you, but later he completely refused to let go of this script. Do you know? That script is simply—”
Listening to Guan Ze’s nonstop talk about Laughing Proudly in the Jianghu, Lian Qiguang’s brows twitched. He turned his head and looked at him expressionlessly.
“What exactly are you here for.”
“Uh…” Guan Ze’s serious expression instantly collapsed. He lowered his head a little awkwardly. “I just… came to audition for a role.”
“Xiaoguang! Do you know who I’m auditioning for?” In one second, he was back to his original form, eyes sparkling as he looked at Lian Qiguang. His little face flushed with excitement. “Dongfang Bubai! I’m auditioning for Dongfang Bubai!!”
Dongfang Bubai?
Recalling what he had once read, then looking at Guan Ze’s foolishly excited expression, Lian Qiguang silently turned his face away again, continuing to stare out the window with a blank expression.
“Xiaoguang, do you think I’ll succeed?” Guan Ze asked expectantly.
“……” Lian Qiguang shifted slightly under the intense stare and changed the topic. “I’m hungry.”
“Huh? Xiaoguang didn’t eat?” Guan Ze was surprised, and as Lian Qiguang hoped, he dropped the topic.
“Mm.”
“How can a child not eat?” Guan Ze frowned, then turned to the autopilot controls and selected a destination.
“Xiaoguang, hold on a bit, we’ll eat soon.”
“Or do you want a nutrient solution first?”
“……”
After a long pause: “I suddenly don’t feel that hungry anymore.”
The flying vehicle stopped at a street. Lian Qiguang followed Guan Ze down and expressionlessly watched him store the vehicle into a spatial device.
“Let’s go, Xiaoguang.” Guan Ze smiled. “I’ve been here before. This place mainly serves people from Zone One and Zone Two. There’s a restaurant here that’s really good. I heard they cook based on ancient Earth recipes.”
Following behind Guan Ze, Lian Qiguang listened to his nonstop chatter, head lowered, mind drifting blankly.
Then suddenly, his steps paused. He turned back sharply, a cold sharpness flashing through his eyes as he looked behind him.
“Xiaoguang, what’s wrong?” Noticing him stopping, Guan Ze came over and followed his gaze.
“Nothing.” Lian Qiguang withdrew his gaze from the crowded street. “Let’s go.”
Just now… it wasn’t an illusion. He had never had illusions.
That was…
Killing intent.
“Go in!” Guan Ze led him into a clean yet elegant restaurant.
“Young Master Guan.” A middle-aged man quickly came forward and bowed respectfully.
“This is my friend. His surname is Lian.” Guan Ze gestured behind him. Without the chatter he had earlier, his expression turned calm.
The man then bowed respectfully to Lian Qiguang.
“Young Master Lian.”
“Young Master Guan, the usual room?”
“No need. We’ll eat here today.”
They sat by the window.
“What do you want to eat, Xiaoguang?” Guan Ze tapped the small sensor screen, and a floating menu appeared between them.
“Whatever.” Lian Qiguang replied without looking up.
The man on the side frowned slightly at his attitude, but Guan Ze didn’t care at all.
“Then serve what I usually order.”
“Understood. Please wait.”
After the man left, Guan Ze leaned on the table. “Xiaoguang… do you have something on your mind? You seem distracted.”
“No.”
But his senses were fully alert.
The killing intent was getting stronger. It was nearby.
In less than five minutes, dishes were served—over a dozen of them.
“Xiaoguang, come on, don’t overthink it. Eat.” Guan Ze smiled and handed him a spoon.
Lian Qiguang looked at the dishes.
Cabbage stir-fry?
Cold shredded carrots?
Smashed cucumber?
……
He recognized them all, but the red, blue, and green colors were completely wrong.
“…Not hungry.”
Expressionless, he poked at the strangely colored cucumber and put it in his mouth anyway.
Guan Ze smiled in satisfaction and began eating as well.
Silence filled the table.
Time passed slowly.
Suddenly, Lian Qiguang’s movements stopped. He lifted his head sharply, eyes cutting toward the window.
“Xiaoguang!?” Guan Ze was startled.
“Do you have enemies?” Lian Qiguang asked flatly.
“Huh?” Guan Ze blinked, confused.
“Think about it later.”
Before he could finish speaking, Lian Qiguang’s expression changed. He grabbed Guan Ze, pulled him into his arms, and rolled toward a dead angle behind stacked tables.
At the same moment—
A dense barrage of bullets shattered the glass where they had been sitting.
The street outside erupted into chaos.