Until the car stopped in front of the Long Estate entrance and the two stepped out, Jing Pei remained reluctant to part, secretly wishing she could fall asleep hugging that fluffy big tiger.
“Wasn’t I supposed to comfort you tonight? Why did it turn into you comforting me instead? How about you come home with me?” She held his hand, coaxing him.
“That wouldn’t be appropriate. Besides, I have a business trip to catch,” Qiu Fa replied like a mature adult, though his hand squeezed hers tightly, unwilling to let go.
“Then give me a kiss.” Jing Pei tilted her head up.
Qiu Fa glanced awkwardly toward the Long family’s understated yet grand main gates. Though the gates were shut, security guards and surveillance cameras monitored the surroundings. In broad daylight—or rather, under full public view—this hardly seemed proper.
Jing Pei sighed dramatically. “Ah, if I don’t get a kiss, I’m going to be unhappy again.”
Qiu Fa knew she was spinning stories with open eyes. Those eyes looking up at him were dancing with clear laughter, explicitly teasing him. Yet when she was down, he wanted to make her happy, and when she was happy, he wanted her to stay that way forever.
Helplessly obedient, he leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. His long eyelashes fluttered downward, exposing a fleeting glimpse of gentle devotion.
“Give me another hug.”
So Qiu Fa pulled her tightly into another embrace.
“Alright, go inside now. Get some rest early.” Qiu Fa reluctantly released her hand, acting as though forced to do so.
“Okay.”
Jing Pei replied obediently, then turned with a bright smile, skipping forward while looking back every three steps until she disappeared inside. That night, even her dreams tasted sweet.
After watching Jing Pei enter her home, Qiu Fa rushed off to the dock to board a military airship that had been waiting to carry him to a neighboring country for overtime work. The corners of his mouth refused to come down. The world in his eyes looked brighter than ever before, every little thing suddenly pleasant to look at—except for those wretched criminals. Well, those weren’t pleasant at all.
In a neighboring country, was it? I’m coming right now.
“Look at you, so happy.”
Jiang Qing stared at the massive screen in front of him, which displayed the scene of Jing Pei and Qiu Fa reluctantly parting. In this world, the only surveillance that wouldn’t draw an Atavist’s heightened awareness was public traffic control cameras. Thus, even Jing Pei and Qiu Fa hadn’t realized that their every move was being watched.
“You destroyed my happiness, yet you look so utterly content. Is that fair?” Jiang Qing clenched his fist tightly. Though he didn’t know what Qiu Fa and Jing Pei had done inside that spatial bubble, he didn’t need to guess to know it was a date—perhaps even an exchange of heartfelt confessions. Otherwise, those undeniable pink bubbles surrounding them wouldn’t be floating so visibly.
“You really don’t take me seriously at all. You stabbed me in the back, but you act like nothing happened, as if my warning went in one ear and out the other. I hope you enjoy the gift I sent you!” A cold, cruel smile curled at the corners of Jiang Qing’s mouth.
He dialed a number. “Get ready. Initiate the plan on schedule.”
Underneath the calm surface, several dark undercurrents began to surge.
Inside the Long family’s ancient yet luxurious Chinese-style manor, Long Yiming was trapped in a state of restless anxiety. His refined yet sharp face—bearing that distinct crocodile-like cunning—now wore the frantic despair of a normal father whose world was crumbling.
A single thought kept looping endlessly in his mind: There must be a mistake. I definitely misread the situation. Impossible, absolutely impossible!
Long Yiming refused to recall that terrible scene from last night. Under the bright moonlight, compounded by Master Wu’s sudden death, his heart had been tossed in a storm of mixed emotions. Unable to sleep late at night, he had gone for a walk around the estate. After smoking three cigarettes, he felt the heavy gloom in his chest lift somewhat and turned back toward the main house.
He had only taken two steps inside the gate when he heard a car engine rumbling behind him. Thinking Jing Pei had come home, he turned to greet her, only to see Qiu Fa getting out right behind her. The mood between the two of them felt very strange. Without thinking, Long Yiming made a quick, tricky turn and ducked behind a nearby pillar.
As the Long family’s second master, a powerful business leader, only heaven knew why he had suddenly acted so sneaky.
It’s all Jing Pei’s fault! He thought bitterly, clutching his aching waist.
Then, a scene that deeply traumatized his eyes unfolded.
The Head of their family was hugging and kissing Qiu Fa right at their front door, acting for all the world like a pair of lovebirds!
He didn’t dare recall it, nor did he dare ask. He had tossed and turned all night, plagued by anxiety right up to this very morning!
“Qiu Fa… How could it be Qiu Fa? How could it be Qiu Fa…” He muttered to himself, unable to accept reality.
Shortly after, Jing Pei walked in for breakfast. He stared fixedly at her, watching the healthy pink flush on her fair cheeks, the gentle curve of her smiling eyes, and the radiant glow radiating from her whole person—as if she were literally floating on pink bubbles!
She… She really is in love!
“Second Uncle, what are you doing?” Jing Pei asked with a sweet smile.
Jing Pei smiled a lot. Whenever people saw her, she was usually smiling instead of keeping a straight face—a meaningful smirk, a polite smile, even a fake one that didn’t reach her eyes. But Long Yiming felt that the smile she wore now was completely different from any before. It was just too sweet!
At that thought, his hand trembled, and his spoon clattered sharply against his coffee cup, making a crisp sound that rendered the dining room instantly dead silent.
“You… You aren’t dating, are you?” Long Yiming asked with great difficulty.
“I am,” Jing Pei replied, resting her chin on one hand while smiling brightly at him, looking like a mischievous little demon eagerly awaiting a good show.
“Oh… It’s normal for young people to date a few times. As long as you’re happy in a relationship, that’s all that matters. You don’t need to overthink things. Marriage is where things get complicated,” Long Yiming said, trying his hardest to remain composed. “Try dating a few more people before deciding who fits best.”
“Aiya~ Second Uncle, how could you say such a thing? Half-hearted behavior leads to disaster.”
“That applies to normal people. But as Atavists—especially those with higher Atavist purity—we bear the responsibility of passing down our active, precious Atavist genes.”
As the only member of the Long family to awaken an Atavist gene in two hundred years, the chances of Jing Pei’s children inheriting a pure gene were exponentially higher than anyone else’s in the clan. However, there was a critical constraint: an Atavist could only produce healthy offspring by mating with a normal human who carried no Atavist blood. If she were to mate with another Atavist, or even a carrier of hidden genes, it would lead to tragic genetic defects similar to inbreeding. Because of this, she absolutely could not marry Qiu Fa.
If her partner weren’t Qiu Fa, it might barely be acceptable, provided the man agreed to let Jing Pei keep lovers on the side. But her partner was Qiu Fa! Who would dare arrange lovers for Jing Pei? Any potential candidate would probably pack their bags and flee overnight upon hearing that the official husband was Qiu Fa!
However, Jing Pei cast too large a shadow over him, so Long Yiming didn’t dare speak those words aloud.
Jing Pei knew exactly what was going on in Long Yiming’s head. She had been fully aware of him hiding behind the pillar last night, and had been waiting all morning to tease him.
Her eyes curved even further. “Second Uncle, what’s wrong with you? How could you still think that I’m someone with a sense of responsibility?”
Long Yiming choked on his words. Still refusing to give up, he pressed on, “Passing down precious Atavist genes is like protecting endangered species. Take the White Tiger gene, for instance. Qiu Fa might very well be the last remaining White Tiger in this world. Wouldn’t it be a tragic waste if the White Tiger lineage ends with his generation?”
Jing Pei stroked her chin thoughtfully. “Then I’ll be the last person to own a White Tiger. I’m really amazing! Looks like history books will definitely reserve a page for me.”
“Cough!” Long Yiming choked violently on his own breath, stunned by her sheer audacity. Unable to form words, he frantically winked at Chu Xusheng, who was quietly eating breakfast beside them. As a retainer of the Long family, say something to persuade her! This is your duty!
Chu Xusheng pretended not to notice, lowering his head even further to minimize his presence while his cheeks burned red. Leaving aside the fact that he was only sixteen and felt embarrassed by such topics, he didn’t care in the slightest about the future of the world, the Long family, or the White Tiger clan. He was a retainer belonging solely to Jing Pei—as long as she was happy, he would agree to anything.
Although his heart had felt hollow and tears had fallen when he realized she liked Qiu Fa, in the end, her happiness was all that mattered.
After enjoying a pleasant breakfast, Jing Pei stood up to leave. She turned to Long Yiming with a bright smile and said, “I thought carefully about what you said, Second Uncle, and I think you make a lot of sense. Precious Atavist genes should indeed be passed down as much as possible.”
Long Yiming looked up in pleasant surprise.
“Therefore,” Jing Pei clapped her hands together, “I think you shouldn’t remain a bachelor, Second Uncle. Starting tomorrow, you should begin blind dating. Get married as soon as possible and aim for two kids in three years. Your brilliant business mind and our Azure Dragon genes ought to be passed down together.”
Long Yiming’s expression froze.
Jing Pei summoned the butler. “Leave the arrangements to Aunt Peici. She knows plenty of exceptional women suitable for Second Uncle. Second Uncle, go meet more people—one date a day. Out of three hundred and sixty-five days a year, you’re bound to find a wife to your liking.”
Long Yiming’s composure broke, and he shot a warning glare at the butler.
The butler offered Long Yiming a look of deep pity. The dignified Second Master Long, at his age, actually has to suffer the agony of being urged to marry and have children. Yet he dutifully agreed and immediately went to contact Long Peici. There was no helping it—even if Long Yiming was Second Master, the one giving orders was the Head of the Family.
Having thoroughly teased her relative, Jing Pei cast a cheerful glance at Long Yiming and walked away.
Long Yiming blinked, turning to the butler. “Do you feel like she’s a bit different today?”
The butler shook his head in confusion.
If asked to explain it, Long Yiming couldn’t quite identify the exact change either. He only felt that the way she looked at him had shifted, as if the mist that had always shrouded her had lifted quite a bit.
Inexplicably, Long Yiming’s mood brightened quite a bit.
However, neither Jing Pei’s good mood nor Long Yiming’s lighter spirits lasted very long.
An urgent phone call shattered the quiet morning.
“Look at the internet right now!”
Online, a video occupied the very top spot of the trending search list. Clicking on it revealed a handsome young man with elegant, classic phoenix eyes looking directly into the camera with a mocking smirk.
“Hello everyone. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Jiang Qing, the Young Heir of a great organization. For those who don’t know me, it doesn’t matter. You only need to know that over the years, whenever ordinary people suddenly mutated into monsters and went on sprees in subways, streets, or residential buildings, we were the masterminds behind it. Beyond that, the turmoil and collapse of several foreign nations were also our handiwork. From this, I trust you can understand what a powerful organization we are.
“Yet even as powerful as we are, we face a troublesome opponent. Compared to us, her name is likely far more widespread, having become a modern urban legend. That person is the owner of the Puzzle Intelligence Agency—an incredible Information Broker capable of predicting earthquakes three days in advance.
“She is truly a remarkable figure. From the moment she stepped onto the stage, she stirred up storms, manipulating the organization, the government, and the entire world in the palm of her hand. In terms of cunning calculations, she surpasses even me. One can only wonder what a character like her is truly aiming for.
“Our marvelous Information Broker caused all the Atavist clans in Hualan to shatter and reorganize. She cut open Liu Yin, the last surviving founding hero, and tore the precious artifact from his heart. She drove Tao Ying, the heiress of the Tao family, to the brink of madness and death. And last night, Master Wu died as a direct result of her scheme. Who will be next?
Then, he casually dropped a massive bomb:
“The current Head of the Long Family, a Great Atavist Clan—Long Jin—is that very Information Broker.”
The moment the video was uploaded, artificial traffic pushed it straight to number one on the trending list, thrusting it before a massive audience. Information about the Information Broker had previously been strictly censored by the government, reducing her to an urban legend known to few and believed by even fewer. Yet the sheer volume of revelations in this video was overwhelming.
What? What is this video even talking about?
The last founding hero?? We still have a living founding hero in Hualan?!
Is this a prank? How is it number one trending with only a few comments?
Long Jin is the legendary Information Broker?!
The earthquake warning in Mingbo City came from Long Jin?
Master Wu is dead?!!
The initial viewers were thoroughly stunned before the reality set in, causing an explosive uproar across the web.
Shortly after, social media platforms received direct orders from government departments to remove the video. Yet no matter what they tried, the video could not be deleted. Their servers had been breached by hackers and were no longer under their control. As a result, the video remained pinned at the top spot for several hours.
Those hours were more than enough for netizens to dig up mountains of hidden context. Among the reveals, the identity of the last founding hero was leaked by an anonymous insider, causing a massive wave of history enthusiasts to rush online in tears and rage.
Compared to the confused public, the reaction within the elite Atavist families was vastly more explosive.
“Long Jin is the Information Broker?!”
“Impossible! Jiang Qing is just spouting nonsense without a shred of proof!”
“Why would he slander Long Jin out of nowhere?”
“I knew that kid Long Jin was unnatural!”
“Damn it, she better not actually be her!”
The grudges between the Information Broker and these aristocratic families ran deep. Their fall from prestige to their current diminished state—where young junior members held power over them—was directly tied to her actions. If Long Jin truly was the Information Broker, their humiliation would be absolute.
At the Wu Estate, Wu Ying stared at the video on her screen, surrounded by a crowd of Wu clan members who were still consumed by rage over Master Wu’s death.
“Is what Jiang Qing said true?”
“Did Long Jin really scheme to kill our Family Head?!”
“This is a debt of blood! She must pay with blood!”
Wu Ying took a deep breath. “He’s just running his mouth. Has he produced any evidence? Do you want to be made fools of by him again?”
“With so many Atavists out there, why did he name Long Jin specifically?”
Indeed, why single out Long Jin as the Information Broker?
Meanwhile, the phones at the Long Estate were ringing off the hook.
“Impossible! How could she be the Information Broker? Jiang Qing is smearing her!”
“What? Why slander her instead of someone else? Go ask Jiang Qing, how should I know?!”
Jing Pei finished watching the video, her smile turning cold and fake. Jiang Qing really outdid himself this time. Without a shred of proof, he just opened his mouth and dumped every single black pot onto my head.
Right then, her phone rang. It was Jiang Qing.
“Long Jin, do you like the gift I sent you?”
“Did you really think something like this could do anything to me?”
“Is it really useless?” Jiang Qing sneered. “When I said I was going to kill you, did you think I was just mouthing off?”
“Long Jin, rumors kill even the wise. I look forward to your end.”
This is the price of choosing to be my enemy instead of my friend.
The video posted by Jiang Qing was finally deleted after nearly five hours, only after government hackers stepped in. However, countless users had already downloaded and saved copies. Furthermore, the number of people concerned about the “last founding hero” was immense, keeping the discussion at a fever pitch as related search terms surged to the top one after another.
Without concrete proof, people remained suspicious, but few truly believed Jiang Qing’s claim that Jing Pei was the Information Broker. After all, the gap between her and the public’s image of the broker was vast. People had always assumed the Information Broker was an older, middle-aged man with decades of experience needed to build a secretive intelligence network spanning every industry, family, and criminal underworld.
How old was Jing Pei? A girl who had barely reached adulthood last year!
Yet right on the heels of the commotion, Long Ankang—the long-silent eldest master of the Long family and Jing Pei’s biological father—suddenly made a public statement.
Long Ankang V: [I have always suspected that Long Jin isn’t my biological child. As everyone knows, she was only brought back last year. Before that, she lived in the countryside with my adoptive mother, never setting foot in a city. She should have been an ignorant country girl, yet her speech, demeanor, and posture perfectly matched an educated young lady. She even magically uncovered my wedding video with her mother to attack me—clearly coming fully prepared.
A while ago, I brought my adoptive mother to live with me. She told me that this Long Jin isn’t the child she raised at all. I thought she was suffering from senile dementia or failed to recognize her because of how much she had changed. Looking back now, my real daughter Long Jin might have been replaced. My adoptive mother’s deep love allowed her to spot the imposter instantly. So… who is truly hiding under Long Jin’s skin?!]
At the end of his post, he attached an interview video. The people featured were plainly dressed villagers with weathered, dark skin, wearing straw hats or carrying hoes—clearly neighbors from the village where the original Long Jin had grown up.
“Ah? That’s Xiao Jin? Doesn’t look like her.”
“How does she look like a completely different person?”
“She wasn’t like this before. Her grades at school weren’t great, and she didn’t talk much—very introverted…”
Looking at the photos shown by the interviewer, the villagers shook their heads one after another.
Long Ankang’s post and the accompanying interview sent chills down many spines. Atavist abilities were vast and strange; if Long Jin were a fake, it wasn’t impossible. Furthermore, Long Ankang’s words revived doubts that had lingered in people’s minds long ago.
Indeed, why did she show no trace of a country background? From her grand return where she publicly slapped her scum father and stepmother in the face, to exposing Long Ling’s fake persona, to dazzling everyone at the Twelve Zodiac Academy—she had operated with absolute confidence, establishing a firm grip on the Long family and the Atavist community within a single year to claim the Azure Dragon Throne.
She was very formidable. It defied all logic. It wasn’t as if she were a protagonist from a xianxia novel who had hidden her strength for fifteen years just to make a grand splash upon returning. Yet even that explanation fell short—why go through such a convoluted process if she already possessed such intellect and power? After all, as the only Atavist in the Long family, she wouldn’t have faced assassination even if she had returned earlier.
Within the Atavist clans, another narrative began to gain traction: “The timeline of the Information Broker’s appearance seems to overlap directly with Long Jin’s return.”
“That’s true! Before Long Jin returned to the Long family, no one had ever heard of the Puzzle Intelligence Agency! I used to think I was just ignorant, but looking at it now, the broker really might have appeared alongside Long Jin!”
“Long Jin has always been the broker’s client, able to buy any piece of information. That in itself is suspicious! Even if she isn’t the Information Broker, she’s definitely in league with her!”
“Then… Master Wu’s death really was connected to her?!”
Long Ankang had previously been held in utter contempt, but stepping forward now with the title of “father,” his words carried significant weight in the eyes of many. If even her own father raised such claims, didn’t it make her even more suspicious?
The more people pondered, the more glaring the anomalies around Jing Pei seemed.
Even members of the Long family began to feel uncertain.
“Is she… really Long Jin?”
“Are you joking? We did DNA testing! Besides, she’s a Dragon Atavist—her Atavist frequency matches the record registered with the Tribunal Division! She’s definitely a member of our Long family!”
“Then… is she really the Information Broker?”
“That… couldn’t be, right…”
The Long family members grew more and more uneasy. The Information Broker was strong, but she had far too many enemies. If she really was the broker, the Long family’s place among the Atavist clans would be ruined.
Meanwhile, as more details regarding Liu Yin were leaked by anonymous sources, the public confirmed that he was indeed the legendary young general from history. The outcry demanding an official response from the government grew deafening.
Speak up! Was he really harmed?!
His chest was cut open?! My god, tell me this isn’t true!
Was something taken from his heart? How were you protecting him?! Don’t forget that this country owes its existence partly to his contributions!
Is it really Long Jin?!
@LongJin @LongJin come out and say something!
The public didn’t care about the internal conflicts of the Atavist families, but Liu Yin was a different story entirely. No matter how popular Jing Pei had been online, if she was proven to be the person who harmed Liu Yin, their fury would tear her to pieces.
Madam President took time out of her schedule to contact Jing Pei. “I will ask you only one question. Are you truly that Information Broker?”
“What if I am?” Jing Pei countered. Her tone carried a light smile, mysterious as ever, making it impossible to discern truth from fiction.
“You know that we hold no ill will toward that famous Information Broker,” Madam President said smoothly. “We judge that she isn’t an evil person, and we believe her actions stem from justice—because every event so far has resulted in the good being rewarded and the wicked punished. Therefore, if you are the Information Broker, we will not move against you. If you require assistance, we can even extend a helping hand.”
“My, how generous of you.”
“Not as generous as you might think. As you know, we are currently stretched thin trying to capture the organization’s members. Under our current intelligence, it is difficult to spare manpower or resources for other matters.”
Her words contained a clear implication: if Jing Pei was the Information Broker and wanted sufficient protection, she needed to provide more intelligence regarding the organization. After all, there was no such thing as a free lunch. Protecting an Information Broker surrounded by enemies on all sides during such a tense crisis would cost Hualan dearly.
Jing Pei’s eyes curved slightly. As expected of Madam President.
“I understand what you mean,” Jing Pei replied with a smile.
Her answer remained ambiguous—neither confirming nor denying. Madam President didn’t press the matter. If Jing Pei truly was the Information Broker, she likely didn’t need outside help anyway; intelligence she had previously refused to share wouldn’t be handed over now either. Besides, the President was far too busy. Since the broker wasn’t willing to offer more information, the government would have to rely on its own efforts. Who had time to fuss over Jing Pei?
“Madam President, are we really going to do nothing on our end? Perhaps we could send Division Nine to conduct a subtle investigation?” the Chief of Staff asked with a frown. After all, Division Nine was currently the least occupied department in the entire government.
“Even if Division Nine handles it, we must act on evidence,” Madam President said, waving her hand.
Jiang Qing had only spoken, and he had not shown any proof. After looking at the video from every angle, all the government agencies agreed it was useless propaganda. Spending time on it now would play right into the organization’s plan to slow down state operations.
Madam President turned her attention toward the neighboring country.
The battle in the neighboring nation had raged on without pause. Within the sealed barrier, the clash between Atavists was grand and terrifying. Explosions echoed continuously as combatants flew across the sky, occasional severed limbs scattering through the air.
Qiu Fa stood along the perimeter alongside key government officials of the host nation. They monitored the battle via the ability of a specialized Atavist whose “Heavenly Eye” projected everything within his sight onto a large display screen.
“If Director Qiu weren’t here to back us up, we wouldn’t have dared let our young ones handle this on their own. We are deeply grateful,” the Prime Minister standing beside him—sporting a large, bushy mustache—said in fluent Hualan.
Qiu Fa stood with arms crossed, maintaining a stone-cold expression while mentally logging every flaw demonstrated by the fighters on screen so he could point them out later. The senior generation in these young combatants’ families had perished, leaving the future of their nation on their inexperienced shoulders. The burden was heavy. Since he had come all this way, he intended to help as much as he could.
As his assistant, An Yan served as Qiu Fa’s official spokesperson in diplomatic settings. He immediately stepped up to reply, “Not at all, Mr. Prime Minister. Our two nations have always maintained friendly, mutually beneficial relations…”
Qiu Fa didn’t pay attention to their polite exchanges. Yet suddenly, he heard the mustachioed Prime Minister ask, “Director Qiu is at an age suitable for marriage. Do you have a partner? I happen to have a niece…”
Good grief, trying to use marriage to recruit him? An Yan thought, rolling up his sleeves to handle the situation. But before he could speak, his Director spoke up first.
“I have a partner.”
The Prime Minister’s mouth remained slightly open. “O-Oh, I see…”
“Mm.” Qiu Fa himself didn’t realize that the corners of his mouth had twitched upward. His tone sounded remarkably gentle.
The Prime Minister’s momentum evaporated, his shoulders slumping.
An Yan, on the other hand, was overjoyed—feeling like an old father who had finally witnessed his bachelor son find a bride.
At the mention of his partner, Qiu Fa couldn’t help but let his mind wander to Jing Pei. He glanced at his phone, but there were no new notifications. Doesn’t she miss me at all?
Then again, signal strength in the area was poor. Large-scale Atavist battles frequently disrupted magnetic fields, causing electronic devices to malfunction. Qiu Fa suppressed his longing, forcefully checking his urge to jump into the battle himself to wrap things up quickly so he could return home. He refocused on his duty.
In the Yuewan Mountain Range Autonomous Region.
Inside the Angel Cage in the sky.
Lou Ting flew around boredly, landing on the second-floor railing one moment and perching atop a cabinet on the first floor the next. Watching him, Zhang Simiao—the mutant maid—nervously darted her large eyes back and forth.
“What? Are you afraid I’ll fly out?” Lou Ting looked down at her from above.
Zhang Simiao nodded honestly.
“Although I really am reaching my limit, since my Lord asked me to endure, I can only keep enduring.” Lou Ting floated back down to sit on the sofa. Resting his chin in his hand, his divine, handsome face stared out the small window. His silver pupils seemed to look far into the distance, settling upon his divine master.
He looked forward to her arrival every day, yet it seemed harder and harder to see her.
Thick clouds drifted outside the window, the crimson sunset appearing close enough to touch. Vast sea-like cloud formations were dyed blood-red, dazzling and vibrant like an oil painting. Yet these breathtaking views held far less attraction for Lou Ting than even a tiny scrap of news regarding Jing Pei.
His long, silver-white hair flowed like silk, his silver eyes resembling galaxies trapped within. His snow-white wings bore elegant, artistic contours, and his features were cold, majestic, and divine—the very image of a heavenly deity.
Around his neck hung a single dragon scale, shining with a bright green light—like the first green of the world, fresh, mysterious, and pure, almost impossible to look away from.
It was one of the gifts Jing Pei had given him during his very first summoning, standing out brilliantly even among a sea of sparkling gems.
Watching him like this, Zhang Simiao felt he resembled a loyal dog left at a boarding kennel, moping around all day while staring out the window, praying for his master to pick him up.
Jing Pei had previously promised Lou Ting she would visit once a week, but lately she had been so busy that sometimes a month would pass without a visit. On a few occasions, Zhang Simiao had watched him answer his phone with a bright smile, only to hear the person on the other end say she couldn’t make it. His smile would fade, and his wings would droop in sorrow.
“Be good. You know I have major things to handle, right?”
“Once things are settled, I’ll have plenty of time for you.”
“Of course I like you, but it’s not the kind of liking you’re thinking of. I prefer the big cat type.”
“You’re my trump card, meant to be played at the very end. It’s not time yet, so endure a little longer.”
Lou Ting was running out of patience. He desperately wanted to go outside. Every time, Jing Pei had to exert immense effort to coax him, but he was clearly approaching his absolute limit.
Looking at the online news regarding Jing Pei, Zhang Simiao broke into a cold sweat. Her phone and computer were the only devices connected to the outside network. Lou Ting occasionally borrowed them to check if there was news about Jing Pei. Right now, Zhang Simiao terrified that he might ask to borrow her phone—if he saw the news, he might charge straight out!
She didn’t dare imagine the consequences.
The online outrage hadn’t cooled down over time; instead, it grew fiercer. The government had previously issued an official statement reading: Accusations require evidence; rumors stop with the wise. That had calmed things down somewhat, but vocal, aggressive individuals continued to hurl insults and drive the narrative.
If Long Jin isn’t the Information Broker, and if Liu Yin isn’t a founding hero who was harmed, why didn’t the government state that clearly instead of issuing a vague sentence? Is it because they can’t lie, but still want to protect Long Jin?!
That Information Broker saved many people in Mingbo City, but she sold that intelligence for money! Don’t act like she did it out of kindness! Besides, who is Liu Yin? In terms of lives saved, can Long Jin even compare to him?!
They must give us an explanation!
The Long family are all hypocrites! Long Jin and Long Ling are equally bad! At least Long Ling never moved against a founding hero!
Zhang Simiao felt her blood pressure spike just reading the comments, wishing she could punch the commenters through the screen—let alone Lou Ting! What nonsense! How dare they compare Jing Pei to someone like Long Ling!
With that thought, she pushed her phone deeper into her pocket, terrified that Lou Ting might remember to ask for it.
Fortunately, Lou Ting was currently occupied playing with the dragon scale. He turned it at different angles, reflecting peacock-like iridescent colors onto the wall, completely absorbed and entranced by the gift.
