Back at the hotel, Chen Huaian breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing that his room remained untouched.
He didn’t like other people messing with his stuff, not even those security guards.
Baji, the cat, poked its head out from the corner upon hearing the noise. Recognizing Chen Huaian, it immediately let out a soft “meow” before sitting in front of him, licking its paw in a perfectly practiced cat performance.
Meanwhile, the big black fish in the basin cautiously peeked its head above the water, as if eavesdropping on the room’s happenings.
Chen Huaian plugged in his phone to charge, then sat on the bed, sorting through his chaotic thoughts.
“Something is seriously wrong with this world.”
Baji, mid-paw-licking, froze.
Its frightened eyes slowly moved upward.
[Wait… could it be… that the boss has already figured it out?!]
Chen Huaian muttered to himself:
“Things have been off ever since I came back from Tianmen Mountain. That mutant wolf’s death was too strange. Three Zero asked me a bunch of weird questions. Then, today, he nearly died in front of me again. I got taken to the Security Bureau, where I met a mysterious and powerful bearded man, who’s pretending to be an internet café owner… What the hell is going on?”
One by one, the pieces started clicking into place.
His eyes grew brighter.
Baji, on the other hand, looked more and more panicked.
Boss…
Is he regaining his memory?!
Suddenly, a shadow shrouded its vision, making the entire room feel dark and ominous.
This… this pressure was terrifying!
It was a force capable of concealing the heavens and altering fate!
But then, Chen Huaian suddenly burst out laughing—
“Hydra, S.H.I.E.L.D., Avengers… X-Men! Hahahaha!”
Baji: “???”
[What the hell is this guy talking about?!]
Baji shook off the sock that had landed on its head and, upon realizing everything seemed normal, resumed licking its paws.
Chen Huaian continued his deductions:
“Think about it—why was a girl like Lin Lingling wandering around deep in the mountains, dressed in a school uniform and carrying a long spear? That’s not normal. She was the one who killed the mutant wolf!
And the bearded man… he’s even more suspicious. He had authority over the guards, yet he’s clearly not part of the security system. He even gave me an address—probably just a front for some secret organization!”
Suddenly, realization hit him like lightning.
“I get it now!” Chen Huaian clenched his fist in excitement.
“Three Zero and the bearded guy… They belong to a secret organization! They must have discovered that I was mutated into a superhuman because of my cancer cells. That’s why they approached me!
And that bearded guy—he deliberately spent 100,000 yuan on my talisman just to leave a deep impression on me!
As for Three Zero… uh…”
Chen Huaian rubbed his chin in confusion.
He genuinely had no clue why Three Zero collapsed at his doorstep, covered in blood.
“Ah, whatever. Not gonna waste my time thinking about it. They’ve already discovered my secret—my superhuman identity. They’ll definitely come looking for me again.“
Following his personal philosophy—”If you don’t understand something, just forget it and enjoy life”—Chen Huaian happily booted up his mobile game.
Virtual Realm – Electronic Girlfriend
“Master, you’re finally here!”
The moment Chen Huaian logged in, Li Qingran, who had been meditating on a cushion, immediately opened her eyes.
She tilted her delicate face upward, her curved brows filled with joy, as if she could sense his warm gaze through the screen.
“Ah~ As expected, electronic girlfriends are the best for healing the soul!“
Looking at Li Qingran’s slightly flushed cheeks and the way her eyes sparkled with anticipation, Chen Huaian felt his heart melt with warmth.
“Master, so much has happened while you were away!”
Li Qingran started excitedly counting on her fingers.
She talked about her morning classes at Jiange Sect—
She mentioned how the lectures were surprisingly easy to understand, how the elders weren’t aloof and unapproachable, and how, aside from fierce competition for seating, most of the sect members were kind and welcoming.
She also gossiped about their tricky master and how her senior sister, Yue Qianchi, managed to wake him up in a rather comical way.
Every time she recalled a funny moment, she couldn’t help but giggle.
“Oh! Master, look at all these gifts my fellow disciples gave me!”
Li Qingran cheerfully showed off a massive pile of various treasures on her bed.
She meticulously introduced each item, explaining their functions, benefits, and the names of the generous donors.
[Looks like she really loves Jiange.]
Chen Huaian felt relieved.
Li Qingran had suffered so much back in Qingyun Sect, but here, in Jiange, she smiled more often.
“It’s amazing here!” Li Qingran said, her eyes full of gratitude. “Jiange really lives up to its name. Everyone treats me so well. Even though I’ve only been here for a few days, it already feels like home.”
Chen Huaian awkwardly scratched his nose.
He had never actually been to Jiange before—it was all thanks to their Sect Master, who made big promises for Li Qingran.
Suddenly, her expression turned serious.
“Oh, Master, today… I told the Sect Master about your poisoning!”
Li Qingran sat upright at the table, her face filled with determination.
[Oh? What did he say?]
Chen Huaian’s curiosity was piqued.
He genuinely wanted to know how the Sect Master of Jiange would explain this whole mess.
“He took the disciples to the ancestral hall to confirm your identity… and found your tablet inside!”
Chen Huaian: “?”
“Didn’t Master’s disciple worship at Wanjian Peak? The words engraved on the stone tablet were also left by you— ‘When the way of heaven collapses, only the sword remains!’ Hehe, even if Master is thousands of miles away, Qingran was able to choose your mountain gate at a glance!”
Li Qingran’s serious expression cracked into a bright, innocent smile.
At this moment, she was utterly convinced—
Everything was arranged by fate.
She was her Master’s disciple.
And now, she just happened to have joined her Master’s sect.
This was destiny.
Chen Huaian: “???”
Wait, hold on—
That tablet actually exists?!
And I left an inscription on Wanjian Peak?!
So according to the game’s plot progression… wouldn’t it eventually be revealed that I’m actually some hidden Supreme Elder of Jiange?!
Even in 2034, this kind of development would still be insanely cliché!
Chen Huaian felt a headache coming on.
—
“Master, the Sect Master wants to know which state you are in and what realm you’ve reached in cultivation. That way, they can send someone to deliver detoxification pills to you.”
Chen Huaian froze when he heard Li Qingran’s words.
What state?
Bro, I’m in Asia!
What do I do now?!
Just as he was scrambling for an excuse, a dialog box popped up in the game:
① I am not in the Cangyun Realm, but trapped in a small world.
② In truth, I am not the Supreme Elder of Jiange.
③ Hehehe… It’s useless… I’m already dying… I’ve been possessed by a terrifying monster… Hehehe…
④ Consume a Sound Transmission Talisman to answer freely.
…
Chen Huaian fell silent for a moment, then, mimicking the tone of the game’s dialogue boxes, he typed out his response:
“I am not in the Cangyun Realm right now. I am trapped in a subspace—it’s extremely dangerous and crawling with monsters. You can’t reach me. But I appreciate your kindness. Just prepare some detoxification pills. Even if they might not work, I can use my magical abilities to retrieve them, using your location as an anchor point!”
—
“Ah… trapped in a subspace full of monsters…?”
Li Qingran was stunned, her fair face turning pale.
She felt as if the entire atmosphere around her had solidified, pressing down like an unbearable weight on her chest.
It was hard to breathe.
So… this was the kind of dangerous and harsh environment Master was in?
So… Master had been suffering alone all this time?
She had thought that with the Sect Master’s help, she might finally be able to find her Master.
But instead…
Hot tears welled up in her eyes.
‘I can’t be discouraged.
Master has had a hard life. How could I let him worry about a worthless disciple like me?’
Li Qingran took a deep breath and tilted her chin up stubbornly.
She forced herself to smile, bright and warm, even though her eyes were still wet with unshed tears.
“Master, don’t worry.
Your disciple has already found the formula for an elixir that can cure all strange poisons in the Sutra Library!
I will definitely refine the best detoxification pill for you!”
She silently vowed to herself—
Her Master was alone in a world filled with monsters, isolated and helpless.
It must be dark there, with monsters attacking from all directions, forcing Master to fight day and night without rest.
Perhaps… the only time he could relax, the only peaceful moment in his day…
Was when he talked to her.
And even then, it was always so brief.
How much pain was hidden behind that calm, warm voice?
The more she thought about it, the more her heart ached.
Her vision blurred as her long lashes trembled—
Tears finally spilled down her cheeks.
She clenched her fists, her voice resolute.
“Master… I won’t let you die!”
