General Sima emerged from the S-class prison of H City’s Security Bureau, his expression grim. In his hand was a sealed document containing some confessions from the Archduke Asmodeus.
However, due to the demon’s recalcitrant attitude, they had yet to extract much information. Still, what they had learned was enough to make General Sima’s face tighten with solemnity.
“What a pity! If only He hadn’t forbidden me from sharing the news with you all, I would have truly loved to tell you the important information!”
The Archdemon, bound by top-tier magical artifacts and with every part of their body securely sealed by ‘Immortal-Binding Ropes,’ strolled leisurely out of the main gate. They were flanked by a phalanx of fully equipped Shadow Guards, each wielding at least an A-grade magical treasure, ready for any sudden development.
The S-class prison was adequate for confining Hell Dragons, but for an Archdemon possessing demigod status, they had to be escorted to the Shadow Guard Headquarters, to the Nine-Layered Forbidden Domain beneath Ying Tian Mansion.
“Relax, everyone. I won’t run away!”
Having quickly recovered their mental state, the Archdemon gradually revealed the true nature of their personality.
“Although, if I truly wanted to, there’s always a way for me to escape!”
“Hmph, what bravado!”
“My apologies, I ate a lot of garlic today and didn’t brush my teeth! Got any gum?”
“Oh?”
General Sima’s eyes narrowed as he watched the Archdemon, who was utterly arrogant and nonchalant. He reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, turned the speaker volume to maximum, and played an audio clip.
“Wuwuwuwu, I was wrong, I won’t dare to do it again, wuwuwuwu…”
A shrill wail instantly echoed through the surroundings, causing the stern expressions of all the Shadow Guards to turn peculiar. In the center, the Archdemon’s arrogant smirk on their delicate, pale face abruptly froze.
“Let’s go. Escort our mighty ‘Dark Archduke’ onto the vehicle!”
General Sima deliberately emphasized the word “mighty.” No sooner had he finished speaking than two Shadow Guard colonels stepped forward and took hold of the ends of the Immortal-Binding Ropes.
As they passed General Sima, the piercing cries on the phone escalated another notch.
“I imagine those cultists would greatly enjoy this music, wouldn’t you agree?”
“You have the potential to be a demon yourself!”
The Dark Archduke gritted their teeth, enunciating each word.
General Sima merely offered a slight smile, connecting his phone to the car’s Bluetooth. Amidst the even louder wails, he bowed slightly, with utmost politeness.
“I am not. You are, Your Great Archdemon Highness!”
****
‘Ugh, classes again tomorrow…’
After a quick wash-up, Lin Xuan brewed a cup of honey water and began to drink it.
She wasn’t sure when it started, but a cup of honey or lemon water in the morning and evening had become a habit spanning many years. Shi Chen often teased her about her ‘elderly health regimen’ because of it.
Lin Xuan, however, couldn’t be bothered to care. After drinking it for so long, she had actually grown quite fond of the taste of both lemon and honey water. Speaking of which, she had done another good deed yesterday. Would her luck improve for the next gacha pull? At this rate, she’d have to vent her frustrations on the forums. MiHoYo’s gacha rates were almost as bad as the Qin Group’s, after all…
Walking downstairs, Lin Xuan paused by the counter. She took a blue crystal from a nearby wooden box and dropped it into her cup.
Inhaling the fragrant aroma from her cup, Lin Xuan smiled.
Why hadn’t she realized before that this thing could be used as a sweetener?
As Lin Xuan watched the crystal slowly dissolve in her cup, she inexplicably recalled a dream she had last night.
In the dream, she saw a young maiden with wheat-colored skin running haphazardly, adorned with blurry golden ornaments on her hands and forehead.
Pure white hair covered her entire body, obscuring her wild and delicate figure, adding a touch of mystery. Behind her, numerous hazy black shadows seemed to be giving chase. Then, ears appeared on the maiden’s head, her mouth sharpened, and a colossal idol shimmered indistinctly behind her.
‘Is this a side effect of watching too many movies?’
At this thought, Lin Xuan let out a self-deprecating laugh and shook her head.
Lately, the author chat groups were abuzz with discussions about catgirls, foxgirls, and other beast-eared maidens. Some authors even indulged in suggestive content in their spare time.
Lin Xuan felt certain she had been brainwashed by these people. Yet, she supposed she was a beast-eared maiden herself now. Could the dream be a premonition of what she would transform into next? It couldn’t be that fantastical, could it?
As she chuckled to herself, Lin Xuan tilted her head back and finished the lemon water in her hand before exiting the shop and heading to the breakfast stall at the alley’s entrance.
“Auntie Wang, four pan-fried buns and a bowl of bean noodle soup!”
“Coming right up!”
Soon, four steaming, golden-fried xiaolongbao and a warm bowl of bean noodle soup were placed before her. Lin Xuan, who had been eagerly rubbing her hands together, grabbed her chopsticks and devoured the food.
In short order, the table was completely cleared.
“Auntie Wang, another bowl of bean noodle soup, please!”
Another steaming bowl of bean noodle soup was swiftly brought to her.
The crystal-clear bean noodles, adorned with vibrant green scallions and pickled vegetables, resembled an exquisite work of art.
The delightful aroma continuously stirred Lin Xuan’s appetite.
Taking a deep breath, Lin Xuan finally began to eat slowly, like a refined lady.
At that moment, the news broadcast on the shop’s television chimed in.
“Global warming intensifies, marking the 44th consecutive January to exceed the 20th-century average temperature. The ten hottest Januaries on meteorological record have all occurred in…”
“The extent of sea ice covering the North and South Poles continues to decrease. Rising sea levels are now impacting numerous island nations in the ocean. Many small countries in Oceania have evacuated to the mainland, and the Oceanic nations, led by Elia, have issued requests for aid to Huaxia…”
Upon hearing this, Lin Xuan sighed. As society developed and civilization progressed, the environment had inevitably paid a hefty price.
Although people had done their utmost to protect it once they realized the damage, the wounds inflicted in the past were nearly irreversible. The natural environment was now increasingly abnormal, prone to sudden gales and blizzards.
Huaxia was still fortunate. As the world’s leading power, self-proclaimed as the Celestial Empire, it could thrive even if isolated from the rest of the world. Aside from a slight reduction in imported vegetables, there wouldn’t be much impact.
Moreover, with recent technological advancements, there was hope that some foreign specialty foods could be cultivated domestically.
But then again, Huaxia had always been a nation of etiquette, deeply committed to the ideals of equality, mutual assistance, and peaceful development. It was also the big brother of the World Peace and Security Organization.
How could a big brother abandon its younger siblings in times of trouble?
This commitment resulted in Huaxia’s soldiers constantly being dispatched to disaster relief efforts, perpetually on the move. While some high-ranking military and political officials didn’t openly voice it, privately, they thoroughly cursed the emperor who had impulsively established this World Peace and Security Organization!
She had heard this story from her adoptive father, and it struck her as quite amusing.
Apparently, after establishing the World Peace and Security Organization, that emperor initiated various reforms, leading to heated conflicts with the old nobility during that period. It nearly resulted in national division. Fortunately, both sides eventually conceded, and the country’s name remained unchanged. However, some privileges of the old nobility were abolished, and democratic ideals were incorporated.
It had to be said that while the emperor’s actions were often baffling and his historical evaluation mixed, the system he created was truly excellent and had been maintained to this day.
It simply made the old nobles who had conceded feel as though they had swallowed excrement, intensely uncomfortable.
“Auntie Wang, I’m checking out!”
“Alright, that’ll be six yuan!”
After scanning to pay, Lin Xuan smacked her lips, still feeling a lingering desire for more. Her gaze swept across the small, quiet shop, and she couldn’t help but exclaim,
“Auntie Wang, with your amazing skills, it’s such a waste to run your shop in such a secluded place! If you moved elsewhere, you’d definitely make a fortune!”
Indeed, with Lin Xuan’s years of developing a discerning palate, this breakfast shop was absolutely the most delicious she had ever encountered, far superior to the breakfasts served in many large shopping malls and restaurants.
What’s more, the prices were incredibly reasonable.
The value for money was truly outstanding!
Yet, for some reason, Lin Xuan felt that she was the only customer who ever came to this breakfast shop. At least, every time she visited, she never saw any other patrons.
“Ah, I’m old now. Money is something I’ve come to regard lightly. For me, what matters are the people in this place, not other things,” Auntie Wang said with a smile, wiping her hands with a hot towel beside her.
Seeing this, Lin Xuan said no more. Everyone had different pursuits, after all. It seemed Auntie Wang was a person of strong character, perhaps keeping the shop here to reminisce about her late husband or an important relative from her childhood.
As she thought this, Lin Xuan seemed to conjure a poetic story in her mind, and she felt a sudden urge to shed tears.
“Well, Auntie Wang, I’ll be going now. See you next time!”
“See you next time!”
Watching that grand figure disappear at the alley’s mouth, the elderly woman’s face suddenly split open. Within the fissure, countless twisted chaotic entities seemed to writhe.
She slowly knelt in that direction, full of reverence.
“Oh, Great Lord! To receive your praise is my supreme honor!”
Behind her, the flames in the stove, which should have been extinguished, suddenly reignited, dancing and seemingly exulting.
****
Walking back to the shop entrance, it had only been a little over ten minutes.
Lin Xuan noticed a strange package sitting by the door.
“A delivery?”
She picked up the package, feeling its surprising weight, and examined it from all angles.
“SF Express, recipient is me. But the sender is a question mark?”
Lin Xuan’s face showed a strange expression.
“Given its size, could a reader have sent me a box of razor blades?”