Electrical wiring inside Danli Sai Palace had been destroyed. Many rooms were blacked out. Tables and chairs were overturned. Injured jewelry models cowered under display stands. A one-meter-long cold-blue lizard crawled across the ceiling, its bioluminescent glow flickering.
Wherever Lan Bo crawled, a faint trail of light followed, his tail swaying for balance. Every step caused screams of fear or awe.
After driving Ru Cheng toward the safe exit, Lan Bo clamped a string of gemstones in his mouth, his hair and wrists adorned with an array of jewel bangles. He rushed to the bodyguard near Lu Shangjin, shook the jewelry off, and whispered, “Hood, goon.” (Keep it safe, get out of here.)
These were all exhibits worth seven to eight figures each. For the Flying Eagle Group, losing them wasn’t much, but for Fantasy Wind Company, the organizers, it would be catastrophic.
Lan Bo didn’t care about such trifles normally, but Bai Chunian had explicitly asked for help. It was a small favor, and he didn’t want to see the little white cat’s hurt expression if refused.
Lu Shangjin could vaguely sense Lan Bo’s disdain in those fishlike eyes, feeling criticized again.
Lan Bo, unbothered by the gaze, said, “Given my seniority, criticizing you is more than enough.”
Lu Shangjin was first surprised that he could even speak human words.
He sniffed Yan Yi’s scent drawing near. Lan Bo’s hollow blue eyes narrowed into slits and he said lowly to Lu Shangjin, “Follow me.”
Yan Yi hurried along the stairway corridor of Danli Sai Palace, his bodyguards close behind. Suddenly, a flash of blue streaked across his path, and a blue merfolk climbed swiftly up a nearby column.
Lan Bo’s claws gripped the white stone railing tightly, his tail coiling around the column like a ghostly blue dragon.
“President, please have your guards stand down. I have something to ask you.”
The head of Yan Yi’s security drew his sidearm, but Yan Yi raised a hand slightly, signaling them to assist the bomb squad in evacuating and protecting the guests first.
Leaning against the wall behind a carved statue, Yan Yi turned to face Lan Bo. He wore the Alliance formal uniform for the meeting, shoulder tassels draping elegantly, a thin golden chain linking the Freedom Bird medal on his chest, and held his military cap in his hands, posture perfectly straight.
“You came too,” Yan Yi greeted calmly.
“En,” Lan Bo glanced at his claws. “I came to protect my little one. I must stay close to him at all times to be at ease.”
Yan Yi’s brow furrowed slightly. “What do you mean?”
“He’s special, not suited to mix with humans. Sooner or later, he’ll be exposed. When that time comes, what will you do?” Lan Bo’s voice was low, demanding. “Will you stand against your human subjects for him?”
“I will. In my country, dissenters are suppressed,” Yan Yi said firmly.
“I will take him away. Where I am, he will be safe. You must not stop me,” Lan Bo insisted without yielding.
“To live with dignity is far better than hiding. Your so-called safety is, to me, an escape. I respect his existence, and theirs. A ruler high above cannot understand what it feels like to be treated like an object,” Yan Yi said, unwavering.
“Are you not high above yourself?” Lan Bo’s fangs glinted coldly.
“I was once lowly, so I understand,” Yan Yi shook his head. “Take him if you must. I will not stop you.”
Lan Bo paused, lowering his gaze, momentarily dazed. The earpiece crackled with Bai Chunian’s urging: the bomb squad had regained control, and Lan Bo needed to evacuate and meet up with them.
“Hen,” Lan Bo murmured reluctantly, flicking his tail, and wound along the column to leave.
After Lan Bo departed, Lu Shangjin approached, draping a plush shawl over Yan Yi’s shoulders.
Yan Yi’s eyes remained fixed on the direction Lan Bo had gone.
“Waterborne creatures have a temper,” Lu Shangjin said. “The Red-Throat Birds didn’t get the sunflower catalyst. The blast caused minimal casualties; outside is mostly fine. Rest a while.”
He didn’t press for details on the meeting. Yan Yi’s exhaustion said enough—the outcome had not been smooth. Lu Shangjin wrapped his arms around Yan Yi’s waist, guiding him, slightly dazed, back toward the VIP lounge.
“He’s right,” Yan Yi said, pressing a hand to his throbbing forehead. “The International Prison not only opposed the proposal but demanded that all unregulated test subjects perform hazardous labor instead of humans, and that all mature and deteriorating subjects be executed. I don’t know how to explain this to Xiao Bai. I once told him every life has meaning, but if the International Prison’s proposal passes, a bounty will be issued immediately—essentially telling him he shouldn’t exist. What purpose is there for him to stay with me?”
“I saw Xiao Bai wearing a piece of jewelry—fishbone and a heart-shaped gemstone that sparkles. At least Lan Bo values him. He won’t be too lonely after leaving,” Lu Shangjin said, stroking Yan Yi’s back, releasing soothing pheromones to calm him. “You’ve done your best. Take a rest; there’s still room for recovery. Leave the rest to me.”
“Perhaps there’s no room left. I sent Xiao Bai to intercept that shipment,” Yan Yi sighed. “When he sees those things, he’ll only be disappointed in humans. I hope he leaves decisively, not risking himself for what should be abandoned.”
“You worry too much,” Lu Shangjin said, gently massaging his hand. “You chose him and brought him here because you could see he isn’t that kind of child.”
The bomb squad descended from armed helicopters, surrounding Danli Sai Palace. The Red-Throat Bird members were trapped inside. The massive explosion they had planned did not occur as expected, marking the attack a failure.
The team regrouped beneath the signal tower. Han Xingqian arrived first, with Lu Yan and Bi Lanxing close behind.
Lu Yan squatted, clutching his chest, clearly unwell. One hand steadied the steel beam at the base of the tower. A wave of nausea overcame him, and he vomited.
Bi Lanxing crouched beside him, draping an arm over his back to soothe him with calming pheromones, and gently wiped the dried blood from his face.
Han Xingqian leaned over to check Lu Yan, confirming it was only the shock of the bloody scene that had unsettled him. Countless people had been injured in the main hall by exploding glass, the white marble floors stained with blood. Some were pierced entirely by shards. The sight was harrowing, and Lu Yan had witnessed it all.
Bai Chunian, waiting under the tower for Lan Bo, handed Lu Yan a piece of gum. “Honeydew flavor.”
Trembling, Lu Yan accepted it, stubbornly claiming, “I just felt motion sickness. I’m not scared at all.”
Bai Chunian smiled. “Good.”
Lan Bo arrived late, climbing down from the suspended high-voltage line. His landing was cushioned by electromagnetic buffers, and the cables hummed as he touched down steadily.
“Where were you? So long.” Bai Chunian checked Lan Bo’s shoulders for injuries, noting his mood was low, his tail tied in a bow swaying idly.
“What’s wrong with you?”
“Nothing.” Lan Bo tucked the golden strands behind his ear.
“You don’t seem happy,” Bai Chunian said, carrying the heavy ammo pack, retrieving a small paper box from it containing a piece of fondant cake cut from the banquet table.
“Here, you carry something too,” Bai Chunian handed the box to Lan Bo. “Makes you look more competent.”
Lan Bo stared at the cake box, pouting slightly, then leapt onto Bai Chunian, hugging his neck tightly.
“Ah, feeling wronged?” Bai Chunian gently patted Lan Bo’s back, soothing him with a warm voice.
Xiao Xun vaulted down from the signal tower, carrying his sniper rifle. Seeing Lan Bo return, he quietly activated his J1 ability to scan Lan Bo’s data.
Overall Life Data Analysis: 90%
Stamina Remaining: 94%
Gland Energy Remaining: 93%
Emotional Ratio: Hesitation 50%, Jealousy 46%, Guilt 4%
Food Intake: 99.34%
The food intake value had increased again. Xiao Xun compared Lan Bo to the Red-Throat Bird member he had observed on the signal tower earlier. There seemed to be no other similarities, yet both had this unfamiliar metric.
He shifted his scan to Lu Yan.
Overall Life Data Analysis: 76%
Stamina Remaining: 68%
Gland Energy Remaining: 75%
Emotional Ratio: Fear 80%, Persistence 20%
No food intake value appeared. He checked Han Yisheng and Bi Lanxing, also with no such value.
Hesitant, Xiao Xun finally aimed his scan at Bai Chunian. He had never scanned him before; Bai Chunian carried a sharpness hidden behind his calm smile, and Xiao Xun always felt that probing him would be immediately noticed.
Seizing the moment while Bai Chunian’s attention was on Lan Bo, Xiao Xun boldly scanned all of Bai Chunian’s data.
No food intake value appeared—but then, the final line of data that appeared in his mind was even stranger:
Level: 9
What did it mean?
Xiao Xun knew he couldn’t scan someone’s differentiation rank, which maxed out at S4. This “level” could not correspond to a differentiation rank.
His Adam’s apple moved lightly. As he refocused, he realized Bai Chunian’s gaze had landed on him, and when he lifted his eyes, they met those calm, keen eyes.