Chapter 27
Shen Wen traveled in grand style, with dozens of carriages in his procession.
The canopy of his carriage was trimmed with gold and studded with large crystals, pulled by a white horse with a shimmering coat and a unicorn-like horn.
As the carriage stopped at the castle gate, a carpet was unrolled before Shen Wen even stepped out.
“Watch your step, Master.”
The butler, having directed the servants, stood bowed, waiting for Shen Wen to alight.
Shen Wen hummed softly and stepped down from the carriage, his eyes half-closed.
He wore elaborate, aristocratic clothing, his golden hair flowing and beautiful. In this sunless dungeon, his golden hair seemed to be the only source of light.
He wore agate bracelets and a gold-inlaid belt, the luxurious accessories not looking out of place on him.
Shen Wen, born to rule, exuded an innate aura of aloofness and superiority. No amount of extravagance could diminish his inherent nobility.
The butler and servants lowered their heads, not daring to look directly at their master.
The butler, walking half a step behind Shen Wen, reported the recent events in a low voice.
“Everything has been as usual since your departure, Master. The roses are growing well. We had a few unexpected guests yesterday, and I’ve had the servants settle them in.”
Shen Wen, always “hospitable” to outsiders, didn’t mind the unexpected guests.
He nodded, about to ask about the “child” mentioned in the letter, when he saw Xing Nuo standing under the eaves, holding a vase.
In that instant, Shen Wen, the heartless monster, felt something stir within his nonexistent chest.
This child…
How could he have a blood connection to him?!
The blood tie startled Shen Wen. He stopped, his eyes narrowing as he looked at the child.
Xing Nuo, holding the vase, looked at his “unfamiliar” dad, his eyes filled with confusion.
Why…Daddy so strange?
Daddy’s eyes not warm like sunshine anymore…cold like milk from the fridge.
Xing Nuo, naturally sensitive to emotions, clutched the vase tighter and instinctively took a step back from his familiar yet strangely different dad.
Shen Wen also looked away, his gaze returning to the inexplicably present “son” who shared his blood. He simply asked:
“Did you arrange a room for him?”
The monster butler nodded, a polite smile on his wrinkled face.
“Yes, I’ve arranged a room for the little master, right next to yours.”
Shen Wen raised an eyebrow, his lips pressed together, a frown forming.
His gaze fell on the small child standing there, his feet close together, looking apprehensive. He hesitated, then remained silent.
Shen Wen, his eyes half-closed, led the servants through the hallway and into the living room.
Xing Nuo watched his dad, his little mouth turned down in a frown.
Daddy didn’t kiss him, didn’t hug him, just ignored him.
Xing Nuo’s head drooped, his eyes fixed on his feet, his chest feeling heavy, as if a large log was stuck inside.
He sighed, not understanding what was wrong with Daddy, as if he suddenly didn’t recognize him.
He turned and walked to the backyard, clutching the vase.
In the brightly lit living room, the players were forcing smiles.
Facing the castle master, who had just returned from inspecting his manor, their expressions were a mixture of fear and despair.
The moment Shen Wen entered, they had all received a system notification—
[Ding! System notification: The core dungeon boss has been changed. The dungeon “Castle Exploration” has been upgraded to SSS+ level!]
[Attention players! Surviving this dungeon’s core monster will grant ten times the normal points! Please strive to survive!]
[System notification: The main storyline has not changed! Please actively explore and clear the dungeon as soon as possible!]
An SSS+ level dungeon!!!
The veteran players almost fainted.
How could the castle master be so powerful?!
They had thought 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:
“Our master has returned. You should greet him.”
The players’ hearts leaped into their throats. They nodded frantically.
“He-hello.”
Shen Wen had seen many humans like this, trembling and pale in his presence, as if they had seen a ghost.
How could such weak humans produce offspring with his blood?
Shen Wen looked away, disgusted, stood up, and hummed coldly, his mood sour.
“Don’t go upstairs. Butler, take them away. They’re an eyesore.”
The butler bowed to Shen Wen, then turned and glared at the players.
“Get out!”
Useless things, staying in the castle and angering Master!
The butler’s expression was cold, his eyes lingering on the cowering players as they left. Should I just kill them?
No, Master doesn’t like bloodshed. It’s unbecoming.
The players, oblivious to the butler’s barely concealed murderous intent, returned to the bedroom in the far corner and slammed the door shut.
A newbie crouched on the floor, his voice filled with despair.
“What the hell?! Why is that monster so high-level?!”
Even the usually calm veteran players were losing their composure.
“How should I know?! What’s wrong with this stupid dungeon?!”
“This shouldn’t be happening! The system shouldn’t send low-level players like us to such a high-level dungeon!”
“We’re doomed! We might as well just kill ourselves!”
The players clutched their hair, mumbling, their expressions frantic.
The buzz-cut player, the highest-level among them, also complained, but then, the pendant she wore activated, and 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, this filled with despair and anger.
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 jolted them back to reality. They exchanged glances, their faces grim.
“Something in this castle is affecting our emotions! We have to stay calm, or we’ll never escape!”
They became alert, suppressing their negative thoughts, and started discussing their next move.
Upstairs.
Shen Wen walked up the stairs, noticing that his favorite rose-red carpet had been replaced with a childish, light-colored rug, the sharp corners of the furniture padded with soft cloth.
Even his luxuriously decorated bedroom had a 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 child.
He sat down, his mood foul, about to call the butler to change the ridiculous carpet, when he saw a dirty little cub standing by the door.
The human child’s face was streaked with dirt, his slippers covered in grime.
Shen Wen, with his meticulous nature and dislike of dirt, closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Just as he was about to speak, the child, Xing Nuo, walked in.
“Daddy.”
Xing Nuo, his clear eyes watery, looked up at Shen Wen and offered him the vase he was holding.
“Pwetty flower!”
He held the vase high, his eyes filled with expectation.
Shen Wen, tall and imposing, looked down at him, his expression cold and distant.
Even towards this child who shared his blood, his voice was icy.
“Get out!”
He then added:
“You’re dirty. Don’t come into my bedroom.”
The light in Xing Nuo’s eyes dimmed, and he hugged the vase tighter, lowering his head.
Strange Daddy called Zaizai dirty.
Xing Nuo’s mouth turned down, tears welling up in his eyes, his face turning red.
He sniffled, wiped his eyes with his hand, smearing dirt on his face.
“O-okay.”
He tried to hold back his tears, his voice thick with nasal congestion.
“Then I leave flowers…here.”
He placed the vase on a small table, his curls drooping, and turned to leave, 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 sat down on the sofa, rubbing his chest.
He looked down at the flowers the little one had brought.
A vibrant, golden tulip, its delicate fragrance filling the air, blooming beautifully.
The golden color reminded him of Xing Nuo when he first saw him in the castle.
Full of life, bright and cheerful, 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, he went to the backyard to pick a tulip because he was afraid I wouldn’t like the rose?
