Chapter 40
Shen Wen ruffled little dirty cub Xing Nuo’s head and chuckled.
“Xing Nuo’s tired. Sleep here for a while.”
Xing Nuo had indeed exhausted himself digging holes in the garden.
But his eyes were filled with reluctance, his small hand clutching his dad’s robe. He shook his head.
“Zaizai not tired. Daddy stay with Zaizai.”
Shen Wen was usually emotionally detached, unlike humans with their fluctuating moods.
But seeing Xing Nuo threatened with a knife had crossed a line.
He needed to deal with those noisy humans.
Shen Wen tucked the little dirty cub into bed.
“You sleep first. Daddy will bring you some biscuits.”
Xing Nuo wanted to eat biscuits with his dad, but he also didn’t want him to leave. He scratched his cheek, conflicted.
“O-okay.”
He slowly released his grip on his dad’s robe.
“Daddy bring biscuit quick…eat with Zaizai!”
Shen Wen nodded and went downstairs.
Downstairs.
The buzz-cut player and her teammate, injured, returned to their bedroom. Facing the other players’ worried and surprised expressions, she chuckled wryly.
“I think we’re really done for this time.”
Her teammate recounted what had happened in the living room, and the other players felt their world crumble.
“Is Baldy insane?!”
“We’re doomed! What was he thinking, provoking the little master?!”
“Didn’t we agree on the first day to stay on the little master’s good side?”
“He must have lost his mind!”
The players’ faces were filled with despair. Remembering the gruesome deaths of the blue-shirted player and Baldy, their own emotions started to unravel.
“We might as well just die now! Before the castle master comes and crushes us like ants!”
The buzz-cut player, seeing their spiraling emotions, their growing irritability and self-loathing, sighed wearily.
She took out a roll of healing bandages and wrapped her injured abdomen.
The pain subsided slightly, and she was about to discuss their next move when they heard the butler’s voice from outside.
“Our master requests your presence, guests.”
The players exchanged glances, trembling with fear, but didn’t dare refuse.
The buzz-cut player, their de facto leader, gritted her teeth, stood up, and led the way out.
Outside, the butler’s eyes glowed with a dark, sinister light, fixed on the players.
“Come. Master is waiting in the dining room.”
His stiff face showed his displeasure with these guests who had harmed the little master.
I should have killed them the moment they entered the castle and used their flesh and blood to fertilize Master’s roses!
Now they’ve caused all this trouble!
The players, like frightened quails, didn’t dare speak, just nodded vigorously.
They entered the dining room and saw Shen Wen sitting at the head of the table, a few strands of golden hair falling across his chest. He glanced at them.
“Sit.”
The players nodded and sat down obediently, not daring to plead or try to appease the powerful monster.
They knew that with a monster of this level, pleading would only hasten their deaths.
They lowered their heads, feeling Shen Wen’s cold gaze on them, their lives hanging by a thread.
Surviving in a dungeon of this level was a constant struggle.
The buzz-cut player closed her eyes, sighing, ready to accept her fate.
Shen Wen’s voice was calm and elegant, yet filled with chilling indifference and murderous intent.
“Since you’ve stayed in my castle for a few days, I’ll allow you to choose how you die.”
The players’ faces were filled with despair. One of them spoke, his voice trembling.
“Can’t we…not die?”
Shen Wen’s lips curved into a faint smile.
“No.”
The butler, standing behind him, his eyes venomous, snorted.
“Master is being generous, allowing you to choose your death. Don’t be ungrateful and push your luck!”
The players, facing such a powerful monster, could barely speak, let alone plead.
They were drenched in cold sweat, every cell screaming danger, but they were frozen, like fish on a chopping block, awaiting their fate.
The buzz-cut player, her higher level and props helping her maintain some composure, her mind racing, thought of the little master.
He had been their protector since they entered the dungeon!
She gritted her teeth, taking one last gamble.
She took out the rose the little master had given her from her spatial backpack.
The rose, a B-level prop, hadn’t wilted at all, still blooming brightly.
Its vibrant red color immediately drew everyone’s attention.
Shen Wen also looked at the rose.
He seemed to remember something and asked:
“Did Xing Nuo give you that rose?”
The buzz-cut player nodded, trying to stay calm, her voice steady but tinged with regret.
“Yes, Xing Nuo saw that I was upset and gave it to me. But I won’t be needing it anymore. Could you please return it to him for me?”
She placed the rose on the table, her hand trembling with fear.
Shen Wen, hearing Xing Nuo’s name, smiled.
“You humans are so cunning, still playing tricks at a time like this.”
He shook his head and chuckled, but his eyes softened slightly.
“That little rascal Xing Nuo, picking my flowers to appease others, getting himself all dirty in the process.”
He thought of the always-dirty little cub and smiled faintly.
The buzz-cut player, highly perceptive, sensing the change in the Big Boss’s demeanor, pressed her advantage.
“Xing Nuo is a very kind little master, always wanting others to be happy.”
Shen Wen nodded in agreement, his eyes crinkling slightly.
“That’s true.”
The thoughtful little one even remembered that the often-overlooked pastry chef would secretly cry.
So, the next day, he would specifically ask for biscuits and praise the pastry chef.
This prevented the pastry chef from being bullied too much by the cook and kept him from being constantly gloomy.
Shen Wen looked at the rose for a long moment, then picked it up.
He held the fragrant flower, his fingers around the stem, and sighed.
Xing Nuo, waiting for his dad in the bedroom, had fallen asleep, his head resting on the pillow, his breathing shallow.
When he woke up, he saw his dad sitting by the bed. Still groggy, he mumbled:
“Daddy!”
Shen Wen, hearing the little one’s sweet voice, chuckled softly.
“I’m here. What does Xing Nuo want to eat?”
It was already afternoon.
Shen Wen pinched the little one’s cheek and gently picked him up, carrying him downstairs.
Xing Nuo, still sleepy and dazed, looked at his dad’s gentle profile and thought it was nighttime again.
After all, Daddy was being super nice to Zaizai now!
He swung his little feet, leaning against his dad’s shoulder, and secretly played with his smooth hair, his eyes filled with envy.
“Zaizai’s hair…curly.”
Not pretty.
Daddy’s hair was smoother than Zaizai’s clothes. He loved touching it.
Shen Wen didn’t stop him, but he still couldn’t help but look away, a hint of disgust in his eyes.
“The chocolate biscuits are ready, and the milk you wanted. We also have steamed egg custard with minced meat for lunch. I don’t know if you can eat it.”
A three-year-old should be able to eat meat, right?
Shen Wen, lacking knowledge about raising children, placed the little one in his chair and gave him the egg custard.
Xing Nuo gasped, his little legs swinging excitedly, sniffing the fragrant custard.
“Daddy wemember Zaizai evewy day…eat with Zaizai…good!”
Shen Wen paused, then smiled and nodded.
“Of course. Xing Nuo, see this little backpack?”
He pointed at a small backpack hanging nearby.
“After you finish eating, you’ll put on this backpack and walk down the path outside.”
Xing Nuo tilted his head, confused.
“Why?”
This was Zaizai’s home. Why should he leave?
“Daddy no come?” he asked, scratching his cheek.
Shen Wen shook his head and placed the backpack beside Xing Nuo.
“I can’t go with you.”
They were from different timelines, their paths crossing only because of this peculiar dungeon.
Shen Wen had met his future child, witnessed his cuteness and sweetness.
He considered himself lucky.
Otherwise, he might never have chosen to have a human child.
“Xing Nuo, such a beautiful name.”
He murmured softly, urging Xing Nuo to eat.
“Hurry up and eat. After you’re done, put on your backpack and walk down the path.”
Xing Nuo, sensing something, ate slowly, his usual enthusiasm for food gone.
The usually delicious egg custard and biscuits tasted bland today.
Shen Wen put the backpack on Xing Nuo’s small shoulders. It contained the pastry chef’s freshly baked biscuits and a bottle of honeyed milk.
He held Xing Nuo’s hand and led him out of the castle.
From outside, the castle still looked magnificent, like the home of a real prince.
Shen Wen, standing on the dirt path, gently pushed Xing Nuo forward.
“Xing Nuo, walk down the path you came from. The key is around your neck.”
Xing Nuo’s eyes widened, and he tried to follow as Shen Wen stepped back.
“Daddy, Zaizai no go!”
But Shen Wen was firm, gently pushing him forward.
“You have to. The dungeon only lasts for a few days. Don’t worry, Daddy will be waiting for you at the end of the path.”
Xing Nuo, sensing his dad’s resolve, stumbled, then stopped, looking at him.
He wiped away his tears and took a couple of steps forward.
“But…”
He turned back, wanting to return to his dad.
