Approaching midnight, everything was silent.
In the pitch-black Muyang Community, only a few homes twinkled with lights.
Among them was one from the Su Family.
In the Su Family living room, six uniquely charming young women were gathered around the sofa, filling the room with a faint, sweet fragrance.
Yet, contrary to that sweetness, the atmosphere among them was somewhat oppressive.
After all, the revival of the Demon King, and the news that the revived Demon King would actively seek out Su Qi, who had eaten the World Tree Fruit—this was not good news for any of the girls present.
Although they knew their discussion meant little compared to the decisions of the Adventurer’s Guild, since Su Qi’s safety was at stake, everyone spoke freely.
“The letter says that the area where the Demon King’s Castle is located can connect to all the Saint Ruins of the Fourth Layer. That means if the Demon King really revives, it’s futile for Xiao Qi to run anywhere. In that case, it’s better to stop the Demon King from seizing that new World Tree Fruit than to flee.”
After a moment of contemplation, Su Lulu stated her analysis.
The room fell into brief contemplation.
Unlike Gu Wen Yin, Ye Fufu, and Mo Yu—who had learned of the letter in the Saint Ruins—An Xiaoling and Lin Xue, who had just seen the letter, were still in shock.
Although they had never heard of the World Tree or its fruit, anything with “World” in its name was obviously an extremely precious item.
Besides the World Tree Fruit, what surprised them was that the legendary Demon King of this world actually existed.
If the letter was accurate, it seemed like it was about to emerge soon.
This simple outing had brought so much shocking news that Lin Xue and An Xiaoling were deeply shaken.
While Lin Xue and An Xiaoling were still absorbing the latest information, Ye Fufu, dressed in her Saintess uniform, spoke up after a short deliberation.
“If we want to stop the Demon King, the most important thing right now is intelligence on the Demon King’s Castle. What’s inside it? What are the Demon King’s abilities? Can human strength overcome it? But there’s an even more urgent issue: we need to find the Demon King’s Castle using the map first. Last time the Hero Party explored the Fourth Layer, the beasts there were very powerful, right, Little Mo Yu?”
“Mm-hmm.”
Ning ning~
Xixi~~
As the girls were discussing, two adorable childish sounds rang out.
Seeing the two little ones come out of Su Qi’s bedroom, the discussing girls were surprised.
Usually, the two were close to them, but they were closest to Su Qi, often hanging on her like accessories—quite the father-mother treatment difference.
So why today had they broken the norm and come out instead of sleeping with Su Qi?
While the girls were puzzled, An Xiaoling and Lin Xue, who had done something bad that afternoon, blushed slightly as they watched the two little ones covering their little bellies.
Could it be that they hadn’t eaten well at Su Qi’s place and were hungry? Thinking that, and seeing the cute, bewildered looks of Little Red Pupil and Su Xixi, as well as the late hour, Lin Xue felt the fullness in her chest from having eaten Su Qi and tentatively spoke.
“Sister Lulu, it’s getting late, and you’ve been tired all afternoon. How about we go home first and come back to discuss tomorrow? Besides, Qi Qi is asleep now. You might be exhausted taking care of the two little ones tonight. Why don’t Little Red Pupil and Xixi stay at my place tonight?”
Hearing Lin Xue’s suggestion, Su Lulu was momentarily stunned.
It was thoughtful—the two little ones were at a toddler stage and full of energy.
Last night they had slept restlessly and tossed around.
But the issue was that Xixi often stayed with Lin Xue, so that was fine, but Little Red Pupil was so young—wouldn’t she be shy around strangers?
Just as Su Lulu was about to refuse, she saw Little Red Pupil already in Lin Xue’s arms.
The little one sniffed a faint mellow fragrance—though not as rich as Mommy’s bento—and it made the hungry little thing’s red pupils flash with color.
Instinctively, it excitedly ning ning-ed and tried to burrow into Lin Xue’s clothes.
Seeing Little Red Pupil’s affectionate little movements, Su Lulu was taken aback.
She didn’t expect the little one to be so close to Lin Xue.
Remembering that Xixi and Su Qi had always lived with the Wildcat Group, and that Lin Xue and An Xiaoling clearly doted on children, Su Lulu didn’t think much more and quickly nodded in agreement.
However, watching Su Xixi, covered in dust and also trying to burrow into Lin Xue’s arms, she broke into a sly smile.
She gently pinched Su Xixi’s waist and said,
“Xixi, since Little Red Pupil is leaving, tonight you’ll sleep with Auntie. Wait, Auntie will give you a bath.”
“Xixi! (No~)”
At 1:00 AM, with the girls leaving, the small gathering at the Su Family came to an end.
Just as the living room lights went out and Su Lulu pulled Su Xixi into sleep, the Adventurer’s Guild in Lin City was brightly lit and bustling.
President Nie and President Wu Qiong, along with several guild high-ranking officials, were just as shocked as An Xiaoling and Lin Xue upon seeing the family letter left by Lin Zhi.
They soon fell into discussion.
“It seems we should organize personnel as soon as possible to verify the accuracy of the map.”
“The non-teleportability of the Demon King’s Castle also needs consideration. We can’t just send adventurers to their deaths. I suggest using some scout-type spiritual artifacts to send down from the entrance. Though the cost is high and the price great, it’s still a way to obtain intelligence.”
While the guild leaders were discussing the Demon King’s Castle, a deep voice interrupted.
“Wait. I think everyone’s focus is a bit off. Compared to the Demon King’s Castle, isn’t Su Qi, who ate the World Tree Fruit, more important?”
This remark sparked deep thought among the crowd. The speaker was none other than Wu Qiong, president of the Linyin Guild where Su Qi was a member. As he spoke, everyone’s eyes turned to him. But Wu Qiong continued unfazed.
“Let’s set aside where the World Tree Fruit came from for now. Just from this letter, Professor Lin Zhi clearly foresaw that Su Qi would be targeted by the Demon King. So here’s the question: although the World Tree Fruit is a good thing, as a mother, why would she put her own child in danger? Could this mean something? Perhaps Professor Lin Zhi believes that Su Qi might be the key to breaking this calamity.”
Hearing President Wu Qiong’s analysis, everyone was stunned.
Only then did they realize that Su Qi, though usually introverted and not flaunting her strength like other adventurers, was clearly extraordinary based on the strength and races of the three spirit beasts she had contracted.
As they realized this, some who didn’t know Su Qi asked,
“President Wu, that makes sense. But what exactly is Su Qi’s ability? Just an ungrown dragonling, a talking little rabbit, and that big serpent shouldn’t be a match for the Demon King.”
Hearing this, Wu Qiong didn’t rush to refute. Instead, he silently took out his phone, opened the latest Lin City news, and showed it to everyone.
Shocking! The Crispy Wife Boss’s bento actually sold for 10,000 per serving.
Hype? After eating the Crispy Wife Boss’s bento, I awakened an ability?
Crispy Wife Bento X: A mobile ability EXP pack.
Looking at the trending search items on Wu Qiong’s phone, and Su Qi’s calm, gentle face beneath them, everyone quickly pulled out their phones and searched.
After reading the comments on the reports, they were surprised.
If only one person mentioned the miraculous effect, they might be a shill—someone Su Qi hired as a water army to buy bento.
After all, 300 yuan per bento was expensive no matter the taste.
But as they read more and more adventurers’ comments and feedback after eating, the high-ranking officials realized something: perhaps Su Qi’s ability was a hidden nurturing superpower!
While they were amazed, Wu Qiong continued.
“Tomorrow is Sunday. For the past three months, Su Qi has sold bento every Sunday. I think tomorrow we can secretly buy a few portions and test them. Also, Su Qi must be protected.”
Achoo~
In her sleep, Su Qi—perhaps unaccustomed to sleeping alone, or because the two little ones had messed up her clothes earlier—found her nose itchy and sneezed.
But in her drowsiness, she quickly wiped her little nose, turned over, and continued sleeping blissfully. It must be said that after excessive indulgence, sleep quality really does improve.
While Su Qi remained in dreamland, back at the Cangyou Wildcat Group base, Lin Xue’s mood was complicated.
As one of Little Red Pupil’s mothers, Lin Xue doted on her; otherwise, she wouldn’t have borne to see the little one go hungry.
But after sneaking Little Red Pupil back to her room, Lin Xue discovered an important problem: although Little Red Pupil was so small, she was way too gluttonous! If she kept eating like this, Lin Xue would be drained dry.
Just as Lin Xue, a first-time mother, felt the weakness of having her body emptied—a feeling Su Qi had once experienced—and was about to cry,
Knock knock~
A clear knock came from outside the door.
Hearing it, Lin Xue’s pretty face flushed.
No matter how she thought about it, if feeding Little Red Pupil were exposed, it would be embarrassing in every sense.
In the midst of Little Red Pupil’s reluctant ning ning ning-ing, Lin Xue tidied her clothes and expression, then pretended to be casual as she opened her bedroom door.
There she saw An Xiaoling standing at the entrance.
“Little Ling, it’s so late. Aren’t you sleeping?”
Hearing Lin Xue’s question with a hint of dismissal, An Xiaoling was momentarily taken aback.
But as she sniffed the faint mellow fragrance in the room and saw the trace of white residue on Little Red Pupil’s pale little face, she quickly understood the situation.
A glint of mischief flashed in her round eyes.
‘Looks like after eating Su Su, Lin Xue and I have similar constitutions.’
Pretending nothing had happened, An Xiaoling looked at the obedient Little Red Pupil and said,
“Senior Sister Lin, I want to sleep with Little Red Pupil tonight too!”
Saying so, An Xiaoling walked into the room, took out the pillow she’d hidden behind her back, climbed onto the bed, and hugged Little Red Pupil.
Faced with this bandit-like behavior, Lin Xue had originally intended to kick her out.
But as a Blood Princess, she could smell a rich fragrance on An Xiaoling similar to her own.
Remembering the scene that afternoon, Lin Xue quickly realized the purpose of An Xiaoling’s visit and abandoned the idea of expulsion.
She turned off the light.
The two lay on either side of Little Red Pupil, the scene warm and serene.
In this cozy atmosphere, Little Red Pupil, surrounded by them, contentedly patted her little watermelon belly.
Ning ning~
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