Chapter 38
The little biscuits needed time to bake. Xing Nuo, dressed in a light green robe, as fresh and vibrant as new spring leaves, skipped out of the castle’s long corridor.
Shen Wen followed, carrying a small wooden trowel, his gaze fixed on Xing Nuo’s small figure.
There were three or four steps leading down to the back garden from the north side of the castle. Shen Wen watched as Xing Nuo crouched down, preparing to jump, and his heart leaped into his throat.
He frowned, his voice sharp:
“Xing Nuo, don’t jump!”
Xing Nuo, full of energy after his nap, had no concept of his own limitations.
A few small steps, how could they possibly pose a challenge to a brave little knight?!
He glanced back at his dad, flashing a sweet, innocent smile.
Then, he clenched his fists and jumped with all his might, attempting to take flight!
Unfortunately, his attempted liftoff was cut short. Before he could even leave the ground, Shen Wen grabbed him by the back of his collar.
The soft fabric of Xing Nuo’s robe crumpled around his neck.
Xing Nuo, dangling in mid-air, gasped for breath, his small hands and feet flailing.
“Can’t…breathe!”
After a few moments, he was placed back on the ground.
Shen Wen’s face was cold as he knocked lightly on Xing Nuo’s forehead.
“Do you think you can fly?”
Then, he looked at the steps and sighed.
“They’re so high, almost taller than you, and you still dared to jump?”
Xing Nuo rubbed his neck, looked down at the steps, then tilted his head up and let out a small hum.
“Zaizai…can do it!”
And, “Zaizai…very tall!” he shouted, his voice full of conviction.
Not short like Dad said, shorter than the steps!
Shen Wen rubbed his forehead, feeling like he had aged decades in just one morning.
Was raising a child this exhausting?
And what was he even doing this for?!
Just as he was about to tell the little one to behave, he saw Xing Nuo crawling down the steps.
Xing Nuo, having reached the garden, happily squinted his eyes, his curls bouncing.
He gestured with his hand, presenting Shen Wen with a challenging request:
“Dad…Zaizai…wants…plant…biscuits…here!”
Shen Wen: “…”
“…You might as well try flying, it would be easier.”
Xing Nuo didn’t care. He was highly attuned to emotions and could sense that his daytime dad’s tolerance for him had increased significantly this morning!
Dad must have remembered Zaizai!
He pushed his luck, testing Shen Wen’s limits.
“Then…plant…milk?”
He imagined a backyard filled with milk, where he could swim every day, his face flushed with excitement.
He should have thought of this sooner!
Shen Wen wanted to whack the little one with the trowel in his hand.
He gritted his teeth, trying to restrain himself—
Forget it, he’s your own flesh and blood.
Connected by blood, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Shen Wen rubbed his temples and looked at the little one who was now digging in the flowerbed, preparing to plant “milk.” He felt a moment of bewilderment.
Would his future self also face situations like this?
Although Xing Nuo was generally obedient and considerate, children inevitably had strange and unpredictable ideas.
Had his future self truly accepted and tolerated all of this little cub’s antics?
Shen Wen couldn’t imagine it, so he stopped trying to.
He put down his tools, picked up the dirt-covered little one, and dangled him slightly in the air.
Dirt and dust rained down from Xing Nuo’s hair and clothes.
Shen Wen’s lips twitched, baffled by how he had managed to get so dirty from just digging a small hole.
In just two minutes, the clean, white little cub had turned into a small, dirt-covered mess.
Xing Nuo, after being dangled, his head spinning, stumbled and landed on his bottom next to his dad’s leg as soon as his feet touched the ground.
“Dad…Zaizai…dizzy…”
He shook his head, trying to clear his vision.
Shen Wen looked at the little one and smiled.
When he smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkled slightly, his beautiful fox-like eyes softening, a glint of warmth in their depths.
But his words were cold:
“You must be sick again. Let’s ask the cook to make some medicine.”
Xing Nuo’s eyes widened in alarm. He shook his head until the dizziness subsided and quickly stood up.
“Not dizzy…Zaizai…can walk!”
He took two unsteady steps, his small body swaying precariously, almost falling.
But he managed to stay upright, straightening his back and praising himself:
“Zaizai…walking…very well!”
Shen Wen closed his eyes, wanting to block out this self-praising little cub.
He sighed and carried the little one to the steps.
“Stay here and don’t move. I’m going to weed this area.”
Xing Nuo wasn’t upset at being dismissed. He nodded vigorously.
“Dad…work…Zaizai…eat biscuits…”
Shen Wen: “…”
“…Fine, go find the…pastry chef…and ask him to bring you some biscuits.”
Just don’t stay here and make his head spin.
Xing Nuo, afraid his dad might forget his promise later, quickly ran towards the kitchen.
The castle was vast, with several hallways and corners on the first floor alone.
It was easy to get lost if you weren’t familiar with the layout.
Fortunately, Xing Nuo, despite his frail body, had a good memory. After several turns, he arrived at the central living room.
He panted, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
His cheeks flushed from running, his weak body finally giving way, he collapsed onto the sofa, his little legs unable to carry him any further.
He curled up in a corner of the sofa, hidden from view by the pillows and backrest.
Just then, the players entered the living room.
The servants were cleaning the castle, scattered throughout the various rooms, leaving the living room quiet and empty.
Baldy rubbed his head and, looking at his teammate, lowered his voice.
“What do you think of Buzz-cut’s suggestion?”
They had discussed their plan last night, but hadn’t been able to agree on anything.
Baldy looked down on the weak, clumsy little master.
He didn’t sense any threatening aura from him, not like a high-level monster.
Perhaps the little master was the castle’s biggest weakness?
If they captured this little one, who was still practically a baby, they wouldn’t even need to threaten him, he would probably tell them how to clear the instance himself!
Baldy had always resented the buzz-cut player, who had been fawning over the little master since they arrived.
His teammate, having teamed up with him in a couple of instances before, was one of the few people he trusted.
But remembering the buzz-cut player’s words, he hesitated.
“But…”
“No buts! We might not be able to get the cook’s soup tonight. If our emotions become unstable again, we’ll end up like that idiot last night!”
The crazed, blue-shirted player had foolishly gone to the rose garden alone last night, trying to pick a rose.
This morning, the players had found his dismembered body in the garden.
One of his arms, lying among the rose bushes, its blood drained, the flesh withered and dry.
Seeing this, the other players knew they couldn’t risk going near the roses.
But they hadn’t found the real secret of this instance, nor the key to escape.
They didn’t even know what the key looked like or where it was hidden.
The rules were closing in on them, threatening to push them into madness if they didn’t comply.
And the occasional glance from Shen Wen, the SSS+ level core monster, was enough to send chills down their spines, making them want to collapse on the spot.
Trapped between a rock and a hard place, they had to take a gamble!
“Wen Xingxue must have cleared the instance last night. I’ve heard things about him, relying on him isn’t an option anymore.”
Baldy, wanting a cigarette to calm his nerves, but remembering they were in the castle, continued grimly:
“If we can’t clear this instance today, our chances of survival will plummet.”
They had used invisibility charms to explore last night, and, for some reason, the monsters hadn’t attacked them, allowing them to survive another night.
But what about tonight?
They were walking a tightrope, with no way back.
His teammate, clutching his hair, let out a frustrated groan.
“What is the secret of this instance? What does that stupid sunflower painting mean?!”
Then he added:
“Don’t tell me…that painting was made by the little master? Is it a hint?”
Hearing the words “little master,” Xing Nuo, who was dozing on the sofa, peeked out, his cowlick sticking up.
Before they could come to a conclusion, the buzz-cut player arrived.
“What are you two doing?!”
Slightly breathless from running, she glared at them.
Baldy snorted disdainfully.
“None of your business! We’re going our own way. Maybe I’ll clear the instance today! I’m done with that fake, ass-kissing act!”
He was sick of pretending to cater to a little child.
The buzz-cut player took a few deep breaths, trying to reason with her former teammate.
“We just need to figure out why that sunflower painting suddenly appeared on the wall. That must be the secret of this instance. As for the key, the little master probably knows where it is.”
Baldy scoffed.
“How could the little master possibly have the key?! Didn’t you notice how cold and indifferent the castle master was towards him? He might not even be his biological son!”
These words were like a bolt of lightning, striking the eavesdropping little master, Xing Nuo, who was hiding on the sofa.
Xing Nuo, indignant, poked his head out and shouted at the annoying bald man:
“You…wrong! Zaizai…Dad’s…real son!”
His childish voice cracked with emotion.
