The Moment They Realized He Was a God

Mo Bai looked at the message Wen Zhaoyan had sent—”look up at me”—with a hint of
confusion.

Wasn’t Wen Zhaoyan on the sanatorium planet? He was on the trading planet. The
distance between the two planets required a jump through space. How could he see
him if he looked up?

Wasn’t that just looking at empty space?

Not buying it, Mo Bai replied with a straight face.

[Mo: Are you sure I’d see you if I looked up? I thought I’d only see our Mo
family ancestors, who’ve turned into stars watching over me.]

After sending that, Mo Bai pouted.

This was so-called straight-man romance.

But he wasn’t buying it.

Wen Zhaoyan saw Mo Li’s reply, and the corner of his mouth, which he had just
pressed down, couldn’t help but curve upward again.

He looked at the surveillance footage. Most people were still looking down,
though a small number had already turned their attention to the auction stage.

But from his perspective, no one had looked up.

[Wen Zhaoyan: You haven’t tried. How do you know I’m not one of them?]

[Mo: You’re not dead yet.]

[Wen Zhaoyan: Do you have to be dead to become a star?]

[Mo: Isn’t that what everyone says? ‘Don’t be sad, don’t grieve. He’ll become a
star in the sky, always watching over you.’]

A hint of helplessness crossed Wen Zhaoyan’s handsome face.

He didn’t know where Mo Li had heard that ‘everyone says it.’

At least in the Empire, it wasn’t a common saying.

[Wen Zhaoyan: Just one look.]

Mo Bai wanted to roll his eyes.

Even if he looked up, Wen Zhaoyan wouldn’t see him.

Did he have to play such a childish game?

Even the slide was more fun.

Mo Bai grudgingly looked up at the ceiling, rolling his eyes for good measure.

After a perfunctory look, he typed back: [I looked. Is that enough? I already
looked up.]

In the surveillance footage, Wen Zhaoyan, who had been watching the entire
auction hall, naturally didn’t miss that little head.

Amidst the dense crowd of heads, that little tuft of fluffy hair was
particularly easy to spot for Wen Zhaoyan.

When little Mo Bai looked up, Wen Zhaoyan magnified that part of the
surveillance.

Then he zoomed out.

He scanned the rest of the venue.

No one else.

Aside from little Mo Bai lifting his head, not a single person had looked up at
the ceiling.

Everyone’s attention was on the auction items.

But… little Mo Bai?

[Wen Zhaoyan: You actually looked up?]

[Mo: Why would I lie?]

[Wen Zhaoyan: I only saw the little brat look up.]

[Mo: ?????]

Mo Bai stared at those words. A chill ran down his spine, followed by a chill
over his head.

Wen Zhaoyan could really see him?

Wasn’t he on the sanatorium planet?

How could he see him when Mo Bai looked up?

Wait. He was chatting with Wen Zhaoyan as Mo Li.

But the person who looked up was Mo Bai!

Mo Bai tensed. Had he been exposed?

Just as he was wondering how to reply, another message came from Wen Zhaoyan.

[Wen Zhaoyan: I really can see.]

Mo Bai looked up again, focusing this time, and spotted the surveillance camera
above them.

He remembered: Wen Zhaoyan had designed an app for the scriptures he and Xixi
sang. His technical skills were good. He had also been the one to block all the
accounts that had insulted Mo Bai. So he was a hacker.

He had hacked into the mall’s surveillance?

Seeing little Mo Bai look up again, Wen Zhaoyan narrowed his eyes slightly.

He didn’t know what was interesting up there for the little brat.

Maybe Mo Li had told the little brat something, and the little brat was curious.

But he clearly saw that no one was talking to the little brat. Mrs. Mo was
looking at the auction items. The guards were alternating between watching the
auction and checking for danger around the little brat.

Realizing that Wen Zhaoyan was watching them through the surveillance, Mo Bai’s
earlier nervousness faded.

If it was just surveillance, that was fine.

He had been worried Wen Zhaoyan was actually here.

[Mo: Even if you can see, you can’t see me.] [Mo: Have you forgotten? Besides
you, no one else could see me before.] [Mo: You can only see me when you’re
standing right in front of me. If you’re not there, neither surveillance nor any
other detection equipment can find me.] [Mo: Your mental energy is the best
detector.] [Mo: That’s why only you can see me without me doing anything.
Because your mental energy is so high.]

Watching these words from Mo Li, Wen Zhaoyan’s heart inexplicably quickened.

His gaze shifted away from the screen, then back.

‘Only you’ and such.

Although Mo Li was stating a fact, to Wen Zhaoyan’s ears, it sounded like the
sweetest of words.

To make her words more believable, Mo Bai deliberately tilted her head, as if
asking someone nearby, “Is it that amazing?”

Then she nodded and sat up straight.

To Wen Zhaoyan watching through the surveillance, it looked like Mo Li was
talking.

The guards, of course, didn’t notice. When the little brat spoke out of nowhere,
it startled them; they didn’t know who he was talking to. They couldn’t see Mo
Li. But that was normal. When Wen Zhaoyan first met Mo Li, no one else could see
him either.

Sure enough, a moment later, Mo Li sent another message.

[Mo: I told little Mo Bai you were in the sky. He thought you were invisible
like me and said you were amazing.]

Wen Zhaoyan’s suspicions were completely dispelled. He simply assumed that
surveillance couldn’t capture Mo Li. Just as Mo Li had said, mental energy was
the best detector. If Mo Li could be easily detected, the soldiers at his estate
wouldn’t still think he had a split personality.

So it was still just him.

The corner of Wen Zhaoyan’s mouth lifted almost imperceptibly, a rare display of
his good mood.

Of course, Wen Zhaoyan didn’t connect the little brat with Mo Li.

Although they looked alike, one was a little child just over six, the other
already a youth. No matter how skilled the disguise, you couldn’t disguise
yourself as a child.

Besides, the Mo family had moved here over two years ago. Wen Zhaoyan had often
seen the simple, dull little brat back then. He only felt that Mo Li and little
Mo Bai must be related, somehow.

[Wen Zhaoyan: No, you’re the amazing one.]

[Mo: Did you hack the mall’s surveillance?] [Mo: Why?]

Three days ago, it had been because he wanted to see him.

Today, it was because of the biological mecha. He was worried they might be in
danger, so he had hacked the surveillance.

After a moment’s hesitation, Wen Zhaoyan answered honestly:

[Wen Zhaoyan: To see you.]

Mo Bai: “…”

Looking at those three words, Mo Bai regretted asking.

Now how was he supposed to reply?

‘What’s so interesting about me?’

Or ‘Why are you looking at me?’

Either way, it felt strange…

Mo Bai frowned, his little brows nearly knitting together. Wen Zhaoyan was
really troublesome, always giving him difficult questions.

His face felt a little warm…

Was Wen Zhaoyan… indirectly confessing?

Did he really like him?

Pfft, that wasn’t a confession!

But it was even more confusing than a confession!

The guard sitting next to Mo Bai was also stunned by his sudden words.

“What’s amazing?” the guard asked, looking up at the auction stage. “Is this
auction item amazing?”

Thinking that, he assumed the young master liked it.

Before arriving, Li Chaoci had ordered the guards to inform him immediately if
the little brat liked anything.

As an uncle, he wanted to prepare plenty of gifts for the little brat.

Thinking this, the guard diligently forwarded the picture of the auction item to
Li Chaoci, adding: [The young master said this is amazing. He probably really
likes it.]

Li Chaoci replied almost instantly, without even looking at what the item was.
All he knew was that his little nephew liked it, so he had to snatch it up
first!

In fact, even the guard hadn’t looked closely at the item. He had just seen a
bionic robot, almost indistinguishable from a human, being introduced by the
host. Then little Mo Bai suddenly said, “Is it that amazing?” So he assumed Mo
Bai liked it and hastily reported to his boss.

[Boss: Buy it.] [Boss: Money is no object. The important thing is to win it.]

With his boss’s instructions, the guard proudly and boldly placed a bid.

After a round of intense bidding, though it didn’t reach an astronomical price,
he spent over twenty million interstellar coins. The guard finally won the item.

Just as he was feeling pleased, the other two guards beside him, little Mo Bai,
and Mrs. Mo all looked at him in surprise.

The guard said, “Wh-what?”

He had a bad feeling.

Mrs. Mo had the upbringing of a lady from a distinguished family. At home, she
could shout all she wanted, but in public, she was a gentle, polite lady. She
gave him a meaningful look and said, “Nothing.”

After a pause, she added, “I’ll have Mo Xiangtian give you a few days off.”

Let him go home and enjoy himself, have some fun.

The poor thing, to be buying something like that.

The guard said, “???”

What? Why was he suddenly getting a few days off? Was his work not good enough?

Before he could ask, Mrs. Mo had already turned away with Mo Bai, saying quietly
to him, “Baibai is still young. He doesn’t understand.”

But Mo Bai did understand—he could read.

He gave the guard a complex look, then turned back to watch the auction.

The guard said, “?”

While the guard was still confused, the guard on his other side spoke. “Why did
you bid on that thing?”

The guard lowered his voice. “The young master likes it.”

The other guard’s eyes widened. “Are you joking? What does the little brat know?
Look closely at what you bought!”

The guard checked the product details and was dumbfounded.

M·L Company’s latest model, fully autonomous companion bionic robot, limited
edition.

At the bottom of the robot was a slogan—

Latest limited edition! Make your partner unique! Make your partner never
repeat! All the sweet words you want, he/she has them! All the positions you
want, he/she knows them! Every part is adjustable, smaller or larger as you
wish. What are you waiting for? Order now with your terminal!

The guard: “…………”

The other guard said, “Even if the young master really likes it, would you dare
give it to him?”

No.

The guard almost cried. If he actually gave this to the young master, his boss
would probably cut off his head.

Oh no. What would he do when his boss asked if he had given the gift?

The guard looked at the message he had just sent. Too late to retract it.

Mo Bai had no idea that his words had put the guard in a difficult position.

He was now watching the auction while still agonizing over how to reply to Wen
Zhaoyan’s message.

Just as he was struggling, another message came from Wen Zhaoyan.

[Wen Zhaoyan: Be careful. Someone is modifying the surveillance data.]

Wen Zhaoyan was remotely hacking the surveillance. He immediately received an
alert when someone started tampering with the data.

At first, he thought his own intrusion had been discovered, and they were
tracking him.

But after a moment, he noticed that the other party stopped after modifying the
surveillance data.

This happening during an auction clearly meant they were up to something.
Especially since this auction had a biological mecha from the Uruk Civilization.

Wen Zhaoyan immediately told Mo Li, hoping he would be prepared in case things
got chaotic.

At the same time, Wen Zhaoyan watched all the surveillance feeds, sending Mo Li
real-time updates.

[Wen Zhaoyan: The surveillance data has been overwritten.] [Wen Zhaoyan: Someone
entered the auction item storage room.] [Wen Zhaoyan: He opened the safe. The
alarm didn’t go off.] [Wen Zhaoyan: He took the space button containing the
biological mecha.]

Frowning slightly at the messages, Mo Bai noted that the auction was going
smoothly and quickly. They were already on the fourth item. As they neared the
end, the items would be more valuable, and the auction would take longer. The
whole process would probably take about two hours.

So the biological mecha wouldn’t be up for another hour and a half.

But if it was already stolen…

[Wen Zhaoyan: He’s leaving.] [Wen Zhaoyan: Mr. Mo, do you want me to sound the
alarm?]

Wen Zhaoyan had never called him ‘Mr. Mo’ before. Mo Bai’s mood inexplicably
became subtle.

He straightened his face and replied:

[Mo: You’re talking too much today.] [Mo: Sound it.]

A smile tugged at Wen Zhaoyan’s lips. If anyone else were present, they would
notice that his smiles today outnumbered those of the past several years
combined.

[Wen Zhaoyan: Yes, Mr. Mo.]

The moment his message sent, the alarm sounded. The entire venue erupted in
chaos!

The auction director and mall manager exchanged glances, both seeing shock in
the other’s eyes.

Before the plan began, they had set the alarm to shut off for just two
seconds—enough time for the man to take the biological mecha from the safe.
After two seconds, the security alarm would restore. To anyone else, the
two-second interruption would look like a minor signal fluctuation.

Then the man could leave with the biological mecha, silently.

When it came time to present the auction item to the winning bidder, the loss
would be discovered. Mo Xiangtian would have to try to retrieve it. But by then,
the man would be long gone. Not easy to recover.

Then they would check the surveillance, which they had already made seamless
preparations for, undetectable even by the best hackers. As for why the alarm
failed, they had also prepared.

By the time someone rushed to the port to stop interstellar flights, it would be
too late.

What could Mo Xiangtian do? Could he blame them for losing the auction item? He
wouldn’t dare, because he was personally overseeing the auction.

He might scold them, but he wouldn’t dare fire them—because without them, there
was no one experienced to take over. And with the theft just happening, they
were needed to handle everything.

With the power they had gained, they could legitimately replace a few of the
previous owner’s people and show everyone that Mo Xiangtian clearly lacked the
ability to run this mall.

He could only own a biological mecha.

But now, the alarm had sounded. The highest-level alarm.

The moment it sounded, the hyper-dimensional scanning detector activated
automatically, scanning everyone and everything in the mall, searching for where
the auction item might be.

All mall passages were also sealed immediately.

The man who took the biological mecha still hadn’t left that floor.

The auction was interrupted. Countless security personnel and machine guards
blocked the exits, checking everyone one by one. Many security personnel wore
mecha space buttons around their necks. The consequences of non-cooperation were
predictable.

The guards immediately surrounded Mrs. Mo and Mo Bai, protecting them.

“Madam, an auction item may have been stolen. You and the young master must stay
close to us.”

Mrs. Mo nodded, holding Mo Bai’s hand tightly, and called Mo Xiangtian.

Mo Xiangtian answered quickly, his voice urgent. “Honey, are you and the baby
okay?”

Mrs. Mo said, “We’re fine. What’s happening?”

Mo Xiangtian said, “The biological mecha, the last item, is gone.”

Mrs. Mo’s face grew serious. “Can it be found?”

Mo Xiangtian said, “They’re searching. You and Baibai stay safe. Go directly to
the top floor, to my office. I recorded your door lock the other day. It’s
safest there.”

Mrs. Mo said, “Okay.”

She relayed Mo Xiangtian’s instructions to the guards. After the investigative
screening, they would go to the top floor.

Seeing the chaos through the surveillance, Wen Zhaoyan, worried for Mo Li, sent
a message.

[Wen Zhaoyan: Don’t worry. I’ve been watching that person.]

Mo Bai wasn’t worried at all.

He replied calmly:

[Mo: I’m not worried.] [Mo: Mo Xiangtian prayed to the Wish-Granting God.]

Wen Zhaoyan was a little helpless.

Fine. He was used to it. Starting with his butler and the soldiers, they were
all already brainwashed by that ethereal Wish-Granting God. Arguing was useless.

He didn’t expect Mo Li to also like it…

But that was normal. Who didn’t have a few beliefs?

Having forgotten that he himself had once eradicated a cult, Wen Zhaoyan
seriously entertained this thought.

–
After arranging for his wife and son, Mo Xiangtian felt relieved and could focus
entirely on the stolen auction item.

The auction director comforted him. “Don’t worry, Boss. With the alarm
triggered, all mall passages are sealed. The thief is surely still inside. We’ll
find them by investigative screening.”

Mo Xiangtian said, “Mm, I’m not too worried.”

Ever since praying to the Wish-Granting God, his luck had been consistently
good. Though anxious, the anxiety would be inexplicably calmed by a sense of
peace, making him calm and settled.

It was a strange feeling, as if someone really was watching over him.

Mo Xiangtian said, “The important thing now is how to screen.”

Attending this auction were not only spectators but also many wealthy and
powerful people from all over the interstellar. Offending them all would be
trouble, even if Mo Xiangtian wasn’t afraid.

“That does need discussion,” the mall manager said absently, lost in thought.

After hurriedly consulting with several mall and auction executives, they
quickly decided on a plan.

Once everyone left, the auction director anxiously asked, “What now? Where is he
now? Has he left the mall?”

The manager shook his head, his face grim. “He’s trapped in the elevator. The
passages are sealed.”

“Trapped in the elevator?! He’s Strell, the most powerful interstellar thief!
How could a little elevator trap him?”

“Wait. He’s out of the elevator. Don’t panic. If we can open the passage nearest
him, he should be able to leave.”

“The security system is fully activated. How can we open a passage? It requires
five administrators simultaneously.”

“So we need to contact Strell, tell him to prepare. We’ll find the other
administrators.”

The director knew they had no other choice. Now, they had to get Strell out
first.

–
On the other side.

Strell, the famous interstellar thief, felt that this was the most frustrating
job he had ever done.

It had started so smoothly.

He had entered the storage room, opened the safe. He hadn’t even needed the full
two seconds—1.2 seconds to take the space button with the biological mecha.

Of course, he had an inside accomplice, so it was easy. But Strell felt that
even without help, he could have easily stolen the biological mecha.

But as he prepared to leave with it, strange things began to happen one after
another.

First, as he left the storage room, though the lock was temporarily disabled,
somehow the alarm was still triggered.

Fine, alarms had gone off before in his work. He had almost been caught a few
times.

But only almost.

If he moved fast enough—

Then he got into the elevator.

It got stuck between two floors. Not only could he not open the doors, but when
he forced them, there was no exit.

What era was this? Elevators were all hovering. They never got stuck like this.

But Strell wasn’t worried.

“Staying calm in any unexpected situation is a thief’s basic professionalism.”

He started removing the ceiling panel. He climbed out through the ventilation
shaft and up the elevator shaft.

Stranger still.

As soon as he climbed out, the elevator started moving!

It had refused to move, but now it was moving, and racing upward!

Strell’s heart sank.

But he stayed calm.

“Staying calm in any dangerous accident is also a thief’s basic
professionalism.”

He quickly summoned his mecha. He got in, raised its arm, and fired a light
energy blast.

If he could shoot through the top of the shaft, he wouldn’t risk hitting the
roof.

Then—

The mecha had no energy!

No energy!

How could something so bizarre happen?

Had he dreamed of replacing the high-grade energy stones before he left?

Strell was no longer calm. To hell with professionalism!

Why were there so many inexplicable accidents on this job?!

CRASH—Strell crashed into the top floor, dazed and seeing stars. Fortunately, he
was still in his mecha, though the impact made him cough up blood.

–
The people already on the top floor, in Mo Xiangtian’s office, also heard the
crash.

Two guards immediately went to investigate. One stayed to protect Mrs. Mo and Mo
Bai.

Mrs. Mo, worried, held Mo Bai tightly. “Baibai, don’t run off, okay?”

Mo Bai patted her hand with his other hand. “I know.”

The child’s soft voice seemed to carry a soothing power, calming Mrs. Mo
slightly.

But Mo Bai frowned slightly.

–
Strell’s mecha was A-class. The crash hadn’t destroyed it, but it had damaged
the energy core.

Another inexplicable, infuriating event!

Normally, a mecha’s energy core was specially treated. The energy converter
would minimize radiation leakage. And it was extremely sturdy! It wouldn’t break
easily. Sometimes even light energy shells couldn’t open it. How could a crash
damage it?

“Damn it!” Strell swore. “This is insane!”

With the energy core damaged, radiation spread. Strell, still inside, felt the
shock immediately.

High-grade energy stones’ radiation was intense. It required a special energy
processing unit. The leakage made Strell, who already had mental energy rage
disorder, feel dizzy, as if hands were tearing apart his brain. A mental storm
radiated from him.

The two guards arriving at the scene quickly backed away.

“His mental energy rage has triggered!” “This person’s mental energy is strong.
The storm could hurt the madam and the young master.”

They immediately opened the app and played Mo Li’s ‘Great Compassion Mantra,’
spraying calming spray at Strell. This was a free version, given personally by
Mr. Mo Li to Mo Xiangtian for his guards’ use.

Gradually, Strell calmed down. Without the guards’ help, he might have been
destroyed by his own sudden storm.

But calm, Strell thanked them while his eyes held murder.

They had seen him. To leave with the biological mecha, he had to eliminate them.

The guards, wary, asked, “Who are you?”

“I’m a security guard. An auction item was stolen. Every floor needs
investigative screening.” Strell spoke as he stood. “The elevator malfunctioned
and crashed. My mecha’s energy core is leaking.” He spread his hands. “Do you
have repair tools? The leak needs to be fixed, or the radiation could make me
lose control.”

Not wanting to risk the radiation, the guards exchanged a glance, took repair
tools from a space button, and tossed them to Strell.

Just then, Strell activated the biological mecha.

It was larger than ordinary mecha and strongly radiation-shielded.

Hiding inside, he stood on the leaking energy core, crushing it.

The radiation spread. The guards’ faces changed. They summoned their own
biological mecha to block it. By the time they looked, Strell was gone.

–
Back at the office, the spreading radiation triggered an over-limit warning.

The guard with Mrs. Mo and Mo Bai sensed something wrong and was about to move
them when a light energy cannon aimed at them.

“Don’t move.”

The guard’s eyes darkened. He tried to summon his mecha.

But as he moved, a bullet hit near Mo Bai’s feet.

A cold voice warned, “I know you have mecha. Move again, and I’ll kill the woman
and child. See if my bullet is faster.”

The guard froze. The attacker was in a biological mecha. If they fought, the
madam and young master would definitely be caught in the crossfire. He quickly
thought of another plan.

Satisfied, Strell turned to Mrs. Mo, then to Mo Bai. He recognized Mrs. Mo, wife
of the Empire’s new richest man. And this child beside her…

Strell chuckled. “So this is Mo Xiangtian’s son. Quite delicate. How much do you
think he’ll pay?”

The guard warned, “Don’t touch the young master. You’ll regret it.”

Strell wasn’t stupid. With this much commotion, leaving silently would be hard.
But with a hostage, it would be different. Especially this child, Mo Xiangtian’s
treasure.

His eyes on Mo Bai through the mecha, Strell said, “Kid, come here, or I’ll
shoot your mother.”

Mrs. Mo held Mo Bai tighter. “Don’t listen, Baibai!”

She glared at Strell. “Taking a child hostage—how are you a decent person?”

Strell sneered. “I’m not. I’ve killed plenty of women and children over the
years.”

Mrs. Mo’s face grew paler.

Mo Bai, who had been about to trigger the one-touch alarm for police robots,
stopped.

He couldn’t see Strell’s face inside the mecha. Mo Bai released his spiritual
sense, entering the mecha, and saw a foul, resentment-filled evil spirit.

The mark of an irredeemable criminal.

Mo Bai slowly let go of Mrs. Mo’s hand and walked toward Strell.

Mrs. Mo tried to pull him back, but for some reason, couldn’t lift her arms.

Mo Bai walked to the front of the biological mecha and looked up.

He was like a pure, small, harmless kitten.

Strell chuckled. “Good children listen.”

He had the biological mecha’s tentacle pick up Mo Bai, lifting him to the
mecha’s dark green eyes.

Mo Bai didn’t struggle. He looked at him steadily and said softly, “You’ve
killed so many women and children. Do you feel any guilt?”

The child’s soft, milky voice would have made anyone want to scoop him up and
comfort him. But to Strell, it was absurd.

“Guilt? Why? So they can grow up and come after me?”

Mo Bai said calmly, “Even if they don’t, someone will.”

Strell laughed. “Who will? Who can find me? Those who came for revenge are dead.
As for you…” he lowered his voice, wanting to hear the child’s terrified scream,
“You think I’ll let you go when we leave? Yes, I will—but you’ll be a corpse.”

But the child wasn’t scared. He was as calm as before.

“Have you heard of divine punishment?”

Mo Bai’s voice was light, like a calm sea without a ripple, yet strangely
oppressive.

Strell laughed harder. He was about to mock the child when he felt his throat
tighten, as if an invisible hand was choking him. An inexplicable fear spread
through him.

He struggled, the biological mecha thrashing on the ground.

Then he heard that soft, milky voice again—

“You know, when someone gets angry, they can strike you with lightning.”

“Now, I’m angry.”

A bolt of lightning struck Strell, splitting the biological mecha in two.

Mo Bai, still held by a tentacle, landed unharmed.

Watching, Mrs. Mo was stunned.

The guards were also speechless.

Through the surveillance, Wen Zhaoyan had followed Mo Bai to the top floor. He
switched feeds to keep them in view, worried for their safety. Seeing this
scene, his eyes darkened.

But his mood was very subtle and shocked right now, and he didn’t have the
presence of mind for those small details.

Was this really Mo Bai?

A six-year-old child?