“Where did you buy your steak?”
Lin Juan’s sudden question stumped the male host.
“Where did we buy it?” A flicker of blankness crossed the male host’s face. “From the market, of course. Yes, all the ingredients are from the market.”
“Which market?” Lin Juan pressed. “Your ingredients look good. I’ll go there next time too.”
“Which one?” The blankness on the male host’s face deepened. “The one in the east of the city, Huaiji Farmers’ Market.”
Sheng Tianzong’s heart skipped a beat. The Landlord Family had lived in the east of the city, and their usual market was Huaiji Farmers’ Market. Even after mutation, did they retain their original memories?
All of them, or just fragments?
Questions raced through Sheng Tianzong’s mind, but he kept his composure and followed up with a few more questions.
He discovered that the mutated Landlord Family only retained scattered memories from before—things they did often, like buying groceries and cooking.
“Eat up,” having been questioned repeatedly, the Landlord grew impatient. “If you don’t eat soon, the food will get cold again.”
What now?
The Vanguard Squad members stared at the dishes on the table, caught in a dilemma.
Should they grit their teeth and eat a bit?
No.
But if they didn’t, judging by the Landlord Family’s expressions, things could go south.
They had asked what needed asking and tested what needed testing. Lin Juan picked up his fork and brought a piece of meat to his mouth.
Under everyone’s gaze, he chewed it bit by bit and swallowed.
After finishing, he wiped his mouth with a napkin and gave his verdict. “Tastes good.”
“As long as the guest likes it.” Seeing him eat, the Landlord dropped all pretense. His mouth cracked to his ears in a huge grin. “Since you like it, have a bit more.”
Vanguard Squad members watched wide-eyed as Lin Juan chewed the steak to pieces and swallowed it. They wanted to stop him but were too late. However, before they could do anything, the male host twisted his head around.
His body didn’t move, but his neck turned as he urged, “You should eat quickly too.”
The greed in his eyes was obvious. It was as if they were the delicacies on the table, waiting for the Landlord Family to enjoy. Sheng Tianzong and the others felt a chill run down their spines at the thought.
Should they eat?
How had Lin Juan eaten it?
Was it really okay to eat food made by weird phenomena?
Where exactly did these ingredients come from?
Were they really normal food?
One question after another flashed through their minds. They agonized over it, but in reality, not much time passed before the remaining members of the Landlord Family also turned their heads without moving their bodies, looking toward them.
It gave them the feeling that no matter what choice they made, the Landlord Family would launch an attack.
At the critical moment, a “Pfft!” broke the heavy atmosphere.
Several heads snapped toward Lin Juan in unison.
Lin Juan covered his mouth, amusement in his eyes. “Sorry, I just saw you all and thought of a famous dish—Gazing at the Stars. Have you heard of it?”
It was fine that he didn’t mention it, but once he did, the ability users couldn’t hold back.
It really did look just like it.
No, they had to hold it in. They couldn’t laugh.
They barely suppressed their smiles, and the tension in the room eased at once.
Lin Juan finished laughing and set down his fork. The metal fork clinked crisply against the porcelain plate.
“I’ve finished eating. Can I go take a look at your kitchen?”
His request came out of nowhere. Not only was the Landlord Family baffled about what he intended, but Sheng Tianzong and the others were equally puzzled by why he suddenly wanted to visit the kitchen.
“Sure.”
The male host’s smile widened. His appearance grew even further from that of a normal person, but his excited expression made it clear he was thrilled at the idea of a guest entering the kitchen.
What was in the kitchen?
Lin Juan and the male host headed to the kitchen. Moments later, they heard the crash of heavy objects toppling. Right after, the Landlord Family members across from them changed expressions drastically and rushed toward the kitchen.
Two of them tripped midway, failed to get up, and simply crawled the rest of the way.
Gu Kai was stunned. “What’s going on?”
Sheng Tianzong pieced it together. “According to the information we gathered, the Landlord Family has fully mutated. But after we entered the house, we saw no plants in the living room—only green vines covering the cabin from the outside. That means the 【Forest Cabin】 has vines inside. So where are they?”
“In the kitchen!”
“We’ll find out if we check.”
Several ability users stood. You Chuyao hurried to follow. “I’m going too. My children are still inside.”
Her two children had trailed after the Landlord Family into the kitchen.
“No, we’ll get you out first.” Sheng Tianzong dispatched an ability user to escort You Chuyao away.
You Chuyao looked back every few steps. She desperately wanted to stay, but she knew she couldn’t help—in fact, she’d only be a burden.
“My children…”
“We’ll definitely bring your children out.”
Sheng Tianzong’s decision was the right one, but he overlooked something: no predator lets its prey escape easily, and weird phenomena were no exception.
The ability user escorting You Chuyao got trapped.
The door was clearly just ahead, but no matter how they walked, they couldn’t get closer. The ability user had no choice but to bring her back the way they came.
They hadn’t been gone long. Seeing them return, Sheng Tianzong frowned slightly. “Can’t get out?”
“Yes.” The ability user explained the situation.
“Then we’ll have to handle it together.” Sheng Tianzong raised his hand, and the ability users followed suit.
The kitchen door stood ajar. Peering through the crack revealed only pitch blackness.
Sheng Tianzong paused and activated his supernatural ability. A small cluster of 【Starfire】 ignited, serving as a light source.
He pushed open the door. The bright light forced them to squint. When they opened their eyes, the ability users gaped one after another.
What met their eyes wasn’t the kitchen they expected, but a pristine botanical garden.
Verdant green vines crawled over every inch of the space. Thick vines writhed, flipping up the crimson soil beneath and unearthing countless remains.
Including, but not limited to, those of humans, horses, cows, sheep…
Gu Kai’s sharp eyes spotted half a skull dragged out amid the vines.
Where was Mr. Lin?
Lin Juan stood atop a thick vine, his feet on several stacked human skins. His hair whipped wildly, his features demonically alluring—not human at all. He looked every bit the major villain.
“Mr. Lin?” Gu Kai called cautiously.
Calling out to their colleague, all the ability users gripped their weapons. If anything seemed off, they would attack.
Hearing the voice, Lin Juan turned. “Why are you all here?”
The moment he spoke, the demonic aura around him vanished, reverting to the familiar Lin Juan.
“We’re worried. Are these the true forms of the Landlord Family?”
“Probably.” Lin Juan jumped down from the thick vine, turned, and pulled two unconscious children from between the vines.
“Big Treasure! Little Treasure!” You Chuyao rushed forward anxiously.
The vines churned constantly, making it hard to cross. She only managed a few steps before falling.
“Miss You, I’ll bring the children over. Retreat quickly—these vines are alive!”
The instant Lin Juan spoke, You Chuyao felt countless mouths sprout on the vines touching her, gnawing at her flesh.
Sheng Tianzong swiftly pulled her back.
Where her legs and hands had touched the vines, numerous small holes had been gnawed out. Blood flowed from them, dripping onto the vines and making them thrash even more violently.
Lin Juan leaped over in a few strides, children in arms.
Vines lunged at him one after another, but he snapped them cleanly.
That short distance was heart-pounding.
The ability users held their breath until Lin Juan arrived safely.
Lin Juan handed the children to You Chuyao. “They still have vital signs. Once we’re out, have Doctor Zhuang take a look.”
You Chuyao nodded repeatedly, clutching her recovered children.
“Not good! The door’s shut!”
The ability user by the door twisted the handle hard several times, but it wouldn’t budge.
They prepared to force it open when a thick vine slithered over to block the door, followed by a second, then a third… The exit was completely sealed.
Suddenly, the entire space shook. The ground trembled, forcing them to grab hold of things—but any contact with the vines meant being bitten.
The ability users launched attacks, forcing the vines back and carving out a small safe zone.
You Chuyao was shielded in the center by the Vanguard Squad.
“Give me back my children, you child-stealing thief!”
An angry shout rang out. At the tip of a vine charging straight at Lin Juan, a familiar face sprouted.
—The face of the young woman who had welcomed them into the house.
“Give back our children!”
“Give back the children!”
Mixed voices crashed like waves from every direction, making it seem as if the accused had committed some unforgivable crime.
Lin Juan laughed angrily. “The kids’ real mother is right here. Whose children do you think you’re returning?”
He seized the vine and snapped it with a crack.
The vine bearing the woman’s face hit the ground, only to be swiftly devoured by the others. It was like flipping a switch—countless vine tips sprouted human faces.
“I’m going to find the vine roots. Sheng Tianzong, can you hold here?”
Sheng Tianzong activated his 【Starfire】, igniting countless vines. The other ability users unleashed their supernatural abilities as well, attacking the vines.
“Go ahead. We’ll manage.”
With that assurance, Lin Juan charged toward the center of the vines.
He knew where the roots were; he’d just dug the two children out from there.
The vine roots were thick, twisted together from four vines of roughly equal girth, indistinguishable from one another.
If only he had a hoe.
The thought crossed Lin Juan’s mind when a hoe abruptly appeared beside him.
Lin Juan: ?
When did I gain wish-fulfillment powers?
He picked up the wooden hoe, tossed it to test its weight. Regardless of where it came from, he took position and swung with all his might.
“Boom—”
A deafening blast echoed as the massive vine root snapped clean off at the base.
Thick green sap gushed out like blood.
Lin Juan glanced at it and delivered two more strikes to the break.
The vines were thoroughly severed.
The chaotically writhing vines froze as if paused, then slowly vanished.
The Landlord Family reappeared before Lin Juan.
They fused into a single figure right in front of him, countless faces emerging across their body.
The gaze they fixed on Lin Juan brimmed with undisguised malice.
“You’re a monster.”
Countless mouths uttered the same words. Different voices echoed through the empty space, burrowing relentlessly into Lin Juan’s mind.
With the vines gone, Sheng Tianzong and the others rushed over, catching the words just in time.
His heart skipped a beat as he looked worriedly at Lin Juan.
An impatient ability user shot back angrily, “You’re the monster! How dare you call someone else one? Shameless!”
Lin Juan felt nothing. “Oh, flattery. I’m indeed very strong—no need to emphasize it.”
The monster covered in faces twisted every one in rage. “You child-stealing thief!”
“Those are clearly my biological children! You’re the thief!” You Chuyao, whose children Lin Juan had retrieved, couldn’t stand the slander and refuted loudly.
Lin Juan scanned the surroundings. With the vines gone, the room’s true state was revealed: crimson soil mingled with remains on the floor, filthy walls, the whole place ruined beyond recognition.
“Speaking of that,” Lin Juan recalled the hoe that had appeared from nowhere and made a serious suggestion, “You see other people’s kids as cute and claim them for yourselves. I think your cabin is pretty nice too—how about you give it to me?”
