Chapter 27
Shen Wen travelled in grand style, with dozens of carriages in his procession.
The canopy of his carriage was trimmed with gold and studded with large crystals, seemingly without regard for cost. The white horses pulling the carriage had sleek, shiny coats and unicorn-like horns on their heads.
As the carriage stopped in front of the castle gates, a carpet was unfurled before Shen Wen even stepped out.
“Master, be careful.”
The butler, after instructing the servants to lay out the carpet, stood bowed, respectfully awaiting Shen Wen’s arrival.
Shen Wen hummed softly, his eyes half-closed, and stepped out of the carriage.
He wore elaborate, classical noble attire, his golden hair flowing and beautiful. In this sunless instance, Shen Wen’s golden hair seemed to be the only source of brilliance.
He wore agate bracelets and a gold-inlaid belt. Despite the extravagant accessories, he didn’t appear gaudy or ostentatious.
Born to rule, his aura of indifference and superiority was innate. No amount of luxury could diminish his inherent nobility.
The moment Shen Wen stepped out, the butler and servants lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at their master.
Walking half a step behind Shen Wen, the butler quietly reported on the recent events.
“Everything has been as usual since your departure, Master. The roses are also growing well. However, we had a few unfamiliar guests arrive yesterday. I’ve had the footman arrange accommodations for them.”
Shen Wen, always “hospitable” to outsiders, didn’t mind having strangers visit the castle.
He nodded, about to ask about the “child” mentioned in the letter he had received, when he looked up and saw Xing Nuo standing under the eaves, holding a vase.
In that instant, Shen Wen, the heartless monster, felt a strange thumping in his chest where a heart should be.
This child…
How could there be a blood connection between them?!
His expression shifted slightly as he stopped, his gaze fixed on the young cub.
A look of intense scrutiny filled his eyes.
Xing Nuo, holding the vase, looked at his seemingly “unfamiliar” dad, a puzzled look in his eyes.
Why…did Dad seem so strange?
The way he looked at Zaizai wasn’t warm like the sun anymore, but cold, like milk straight from the refrigerator.
Xing Nuo, naturally sensitive to emotions, clutched the vase tightly and instinctively took a step back from his familiar yet drastically changed dad.
Shen Wen also looked away, his gaze returning to its usual indifference. Addressing the monster butler, he simply asked about this mysteriously appeared “son” of his:
“Have you arranged a room for him?”
The monster butler nodded, a polite smile on his human skin mask:
“I’ve already arranged accommodations for the little master. The room is next to yours.”
Shen Wen raised an eyebrow, a frown creasing his forehead, as if about to say something.
His gaze flickered to the small cub who was standing shyly with his feet together. He pursed his lips and remained silent.
Shen Wen, his eyes half-closed, led the servants through the hallway and into the living room.
Xing Nuo followed his dad with his eyes, his small lips pressed into a thin line.
Dad hadn’t given him a kiss or a hug; he had simply ignored him.
Xing Nuo dejectedly lowered his head, staring at his feet, a heavy feeling in his chest, like a lump of wood.
He sighed, not understanding why his dad was acting like this, as if he didn’t recognize him.
He sadly turned around, clutching the vase, and went to the backyard alone.
In the brightly lit living room, the players were forcing smiles.
Facing the castle master who had returned from his inspection, their expressions were a mask of despair.
The moment Shen Wen entered, they had all received a system notification:
[Ding! System notification: Instance core boss has been replaced. Instance Castle Exploration has been upgraded to SSS+ level!]
[Attention players! Surviving this instance under the core monster will grant ten times the normal points! Please do your best to survive!]
[System notification: The main storyline has not changed! Players are encouraged to actively explore and clear the instance as soon as possible!]
An SSS+ level instance!!!
The veteran players almost fainted upon hearing the system announcement.
How could the castle master be so high-level?!
They had assumed he would be A-level at most!
Their faces ashen, the veteran players sighed, closing their eyes in despair.
Shen Wen sat down on the main sofa, his posture relaxed, and glanced at the stiff “guests.”
The butler, his face cold, looked at the players and said sternly:
“Our master has returned. Out of courtesy, you should greet him.”
The players’ hearts leaped into their throats, and they nodded nervously.
“He-Hello.”
Shen Wen had seen many humans like this, trembling in fear, their faces pale, as if they had seen a ghost, upon encountering him.
How could such weak humans produce his offspring?
Shen Wen looked away disdainfully, stood up, and gave a cold, dismissive hum.
“Don’t go upstairs. Butler, take them away, they’re an eyesore.”
The butler bowed to Shen Wen, turned around, and glared at the players.
“Get out!”
Useless things, staying in the castle and daring to anger Master!
The butler’s expression was cold, his eyes lingering on the cowering players as they left. He considered just killing them.
No, that wouldn’t do.
Master disliked bloody massacres; it was unbecoming.
The players, unaware of the butler’s barely concealed murderous intent, returned to the bedroom in the far corner of the first floor and slammed the door shut.
A newcomer collapsed on the floor, his voice filled with despair.
“What the hell?! Why is that monster so high-level?!”
Even the usually calm and collected veteran players were starting to panic.
“How should I know?! What’s going on with this damned instance?!”
“This shouldn’t be happening! The system wouldn’t normally send low-level players like us to such a high-level instance!”
“We’re doomed! We might as well just kill ourselves!”
The players clutched their hair, muttering to themselves, their expressions manic.
The buzz-cut player, the highest level among them, also complained for a moment, then, as the effect of her prop pendant activated, she suddenly snapped out of it.
“Wait!”
Something was wrong with their mental state!
Even if the monster was SSS+ level, they shouldn’t be this easily agitated, their anger and despair so overwhelming.
One of the male players was even trying to jump out the window, clearly suicidal.
The buzz-cut player took a deep breath, cut her arm with a small knife, and then did the same to her teammates.
The pain instantly brought them back to their senses. They exchanged glances, their expressions serious.
“Something in this castle is affecting our emotions! We need to stay calm, or we’ll have no chance of clearing this instance!”
They became alert, suppressing the feelings of self-loathing and despair, and began discussing their next move.
On the second floor.
Shen Wen walked upstairs, noticing that his favorite rose-red carpet had been replaced with a childish, light-colored rug, and the sharp corners of the furniture padded with soft cloth.
Even in his luxuriously decorated bedroom, there was a small sunflower-shaped pillow.
Shen Wen’s face darkened. He had only been gone for a few days, and the castle was filled with traces of a human cub.
He sat down, his mood foul, about to call the butler to have the ridiculous rug removed, when he saw the dirty little cub standing by the door.
The human cub’s face was streaked with dirt, his velvet slippers covered in grime.
Shen Wen, a clean freak, seeing the dirty child, closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Just as he was about to speak, Xing Nuo walked in.
“Dad.”
Xing Nuo, his clear, watery eyes looking up at Shen Wen, held out the vase.
“Pretty…flower!”
He held up the vase, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
Shen Wen, being tall, usually looked down at people with an indifferent, aloof expression.
Even facing this child who shared his blood, he didn’t soften his tone, his voice cold and sharp.
“Get out!”
Then, he added:
“You’re dirty. Don’t come into my bedroom.”
The light in Xing Nuo’s expectant eyes dimmed. He hugged the vase tightly and lowered his head, his lips trembling.
The unfamiliar Dad called him dirty.
Tears welled up in Xing Nuo’s eyes, his face turning red.
He sniffled, wiped his eyes with his hand, smearing dirt across his face.
“O-Okay.”
He tried to hold back his tears, his voice thick with a nasal tone.
“I…put flowers…here…”
Xing Nuo placed the vase on a small table, his curls drooping dejectedly, and slowly walked away, his shoulders shaking.
Shen Wen watched the little one’s retreating figure, his face turned away.
He felt a strange tightness in his chest, and he sat down on the sofa, rubbing his chest.
He looked down and saw the flower the little one had brought.
A vibrant, golden tulip, emitting a delicate fragrance, in full bloom.
The brilliant golden color reminded him of Xing Nuo the first time he saw him in the castle.
Full of life, vibrant and radiant, a feeling Shen Wen cherished.
He paused, his fingers gently touching the tulip.
He remembered the little one had been holding a rose earlier.
So, afraid he wouldn’t like the rose, had he gone to the backyard and picked a tulip instead?
