28: A greeting from the city lord? No, it's a Children's Day gift!

Tianqiong City, the City Lord's Estate.

After experiencing yesterday's inexplicable "indoor tornado," City Lord Dongfang Xiong's office had been moved to the backup command center on the first basement floor.

The walls here were made of thickened explosion-proof alloy; there were no windows, no antiques, and even the desk was welded to the floor.

Dongfang Xiong sat behind the simple iron desk, his head wrapped in bandages, holding a newly printed document in his hands, which were still trembling slightly.

"Has the envoy been chosen?"

His voice was somewhat hoarse, completely devoid of his usual overbearing aura.

"He has been chosen, City Lord."

Standing across from him was his confidant and the head steward of the City Lord's Estate, named Wang Zhong.

"Wang Zhong, this mission is arduous."

Dongfang Xiong said earnestly, "That Gu Fan is extremely strange. Yesterday's bizarre wind was clearly a warning from him. If we dare to use force again, the next thing to collapse might be all of Tianqiong City."

"Therefore, when you go this time, your attitude must be good, and your posture must be humble."

"But..."

Dongfang Xiong's tone shifted, his eyes becoming sharp. "We cannot be led by the nose entirely. I want to find out where his bottom line is and whether there are any limits to his abilities."

He pointed to three exquisite brocade boxes on the desk.

"These three gifts were meticulously selected by me."

"The first item is the [Mystic Ice Blazing Fire Pill]. On the surface, it's a holy healing medicine, but in reality, its medicinal properties are overbearing. If an ordinary person takes it without a special Cultivation Technique, they will suffer for three days and three nights. I want to see if that bizarre 'Physique' of his can withstand it."

"The second item is the [Spirit-Severing Sword]. This is an ancient malevolent weapon that was recently unearthed; its Evil Qi is extremely heavy and it might even backfire on its owner. If an ordinary person held it, they would be driven mad by the Evil Qi."

"The third item is a Wordless Heavenly Book. It is actually a profound manual of illusion techniques; someone without strong enough Mental Energy would fall into an eternal maze upon reading it."

"Wang Zhong, take these three items over there."

"Remember, have a smile on your face but be ruthless in your heart. This is a probe, and also a gamble."

"Yes! The City Lord is brilliant!"

Wang Zhong bowed respectfully and picked up the three boxes.

Although he felt a bit uneasy, he felt confident of victory when he thought of how formidable these three treasures were.

No matter how strange Gu Fan was, could he really turn the dead into the living? Turn poison into jelly beans?

...One hour later.

Gu Family Manor.

A black sedan with a special license plate from the City Lord's Estate slowly drove in.

This left the neighbors of the Gu Family, who were still frightened by yesterday's events, even more dumbfounded.

The police came and went, the underworld came and knelt, and now even people from the City Lord's Estate have arrived? Is the Gu Family really going to ascend to the heavens?

In the living room.

Gu Fan sat on the only surviving intact sofa, holding a metal tube he had dismantled from Gu Yu's wheelchair, boredly tapping out a rhythm.

Wang Zhong entered, carrying the three brocade boxes with a professional smile on his face.

"Young Master Gu! I have long heard of your great name! I am the envoy of the City Lord's Estate, Wang Zhong."

Wang Zhong bowed slightly, his tone very respectful. "The City Lord heard that Young Master Gu is unwell and specifically ordered me to deliver these three humble gifts as a token of his condolences."

Gu Fan stopped his movements, raised his eyelids, and glanced at the three boxes.

"Oh? Condolences?"

Gu Fan said with a smile, "Is the City Lord satisfied with the renovation of his office yesterday? He has time to care about an idle person like me so soon?"

Wang Zhong was startled.

As expected! Yesterday's incident was indeed this kid's doing!

He suppressed his fear and maintained his smile: "Young Master Gu certainly knows how to joke. This is a small token of the City Lord's regard; please accept it."

With that, he opened the three boxes one by one.

Instantly, an aura alternating between hot and cold, a fierce Evil Qi, and a hazy mental fluctuation filled the entire hall.

Wang Zhong sneered inwardly: [Kid, take this! This is the "surprise" prepared for you. As long as you greedily accept it, you'll suffer! This Medicinal Pill will make you have diarrhea until you're exhausted, this sword will drive you mad, and this book will make you stupid! This is the consequence of opposing the City Lord's Estate!]

This kind of malice was filled with calculation, insidious probing, and potential harm.

Although packaged in exquisite gift boxes, in the face of the Law of Karma, it was as plain as a louse on a bald man's head.

[Ding!]

[Detected 'insidious probing' malice from the City Lord's envoy 'Wang Zhong' (and his mastermind Dongfang Xiong).]

[Nature of Malice: A dagger hidden behind a smile, harboring ill intent, entrapment.]

[Malice Rank: A-Rank.]

[Backlash triggered! Multiplier: Seventy-five times!]

[Random effect generating... Malice carrier detected as "gifts," and the core of the malice carries a strong sense of "teaching a Junior a lesson."]

[Congratulations, selected: Age of Innocence (Rejuvenation · Children's Day Special Edition).]

[Effect Description: Since you're treating the protagonist like a child, then I'll send you real "children's toys." May this world be full of love, peace, and the scent of milk.]

Just as Wang Zhong was about to introduce the "extraordinary qualities" of these three treasures...

A pink light suddenly flashed in the air.

There were no energy fluctuations; it was purely a modification of rules.

Wang Zhong felt the boxes in his hands suddenly become light, or rather, that heavy sense of pressure vanished.

He looked down and couldn't help but widen his eyes.

In the first box, the [Mystic Ice Blazing Fire Pill], which had radiated red and blue light and possessed astonishing medicinal power, had now turned into a... round, colorful rainbow lollipop emitting a rich fruity aroma.

And it was one of those oversized ones, ten centimeters in diameter.

In the second box, the [Spirit-Severing Sword], notorious for its malevolence and bound to draw blood once unsheathed, had turned into a yellow, plastic-looking, and even glowing toy sword.

There was even a button on the hilt. Wang Zhong's hand shook, and he accidentally pressed it.

"Death is like the wind, always by my side!"

A demonic electronic voice came out of the sword, echoing in the hall.

Wang Zhong's face turned ashen.

With trembling hands, he looked at the third box.

The [Wordless Heavenly Book], which could trap the Mental Energy of a Grandmaster, now had eight little sheep and a big bad wolf drawn on its cover.

The title was boldly written: "pleasant goat and big big wolf — Early Childhood Enlightenment Pop-up Picture Book."

"This... this... what is this..."

Wang Zhong was stunned.

He had personally gone to the warehouse to collect the items! He had watched with his own eyes as the City Lord put the Medicinal Pill inside! How did it turn into this pile of junk in the blink of an eye?

Was this magic? Or an illusion?

If it was an illusion, to be able to swap things right under the nose of a Great Grandmaster without anyone noticing, what Realm must this Gu Fan be at?

Looking at the pile of things, Gu Fan wasn't angry; instead, he had a look of pleasant surprise.

He stood up, snatched the rainbow lollipop, tore off the wrapper, and stuck out his tongue to take a lick.

"Mmm! Strawberry flavored! So sweet!"

Gu Fan said contentedly, "Oh my, the City Lord is truly too kind. Knowing that I've been under a lot of pressure lately and feeling bitter, he specifically sent candy to cheer me up."

He then picked up the talking plastic sword and swung it twice.

"The road is long, with only my sword for company! Though I wander to the ends of the earth, I have not lost my heart!"

Coordinating with the sound effects, Gu Fan pointed the sword at the stunned Wang Zhong.

"Envoy Wang, this sword is really nice. It doesn't hurt your hands and even has background music. I like it very much."

Finally, he flipped open the book "pleasant goat and big big wolf."

"Tsk tsk, this pop-up artwork, this paper quality—you can tell it's genuine at a glance. Just right, I've been having insomnia lately; I can read this at night to help me sleep."

Gu Fan held the three items in his arms, looked at Wang Zhong, and flashed a childlike smile.

"Envoy Wang, thank the City Lord for me."

"Tell him I really like this Children's Day gift. It makes me feel a long-lost fatherly love."

"By the way, could you send some 'Ultraman' next time? I quite like Tiga Ultraman."

Wang Zhong stood there, feeling a chill.

Looking into Gu Fan's eyes, he couldn't help but shudder.

This wasn't just a magic trick.

This was telling them: In front of me, your so-called killing moves and trump cards are as laughable as children's toys!

He could turn poison into candy and malevolent weapons into plastic.

Could he then turn the City Lord's head into a ball? Turn the entire City Lord's Estate into a kindergarten?

"I... I will certainly convey that..."

Wang Zhong's voice trembled, and he couldn't even maintain his standard fake smile; it looked hideous.

"Since Young Master Gu likes them, then... then this humble one shall take his leave!"

After saying that, Wang Zhong didn't even bother with etiquette; he turned and left with frantic steps, as if a malevolent ghost were chasing him.

The moment he walked out the gate, his legs went weak, and he almost fell.

Too terrifying!

How was this a playboy? This was clearly an unfathomable existence!

Half an hour later.

The underground command room of the City Lord's Estate.

After listening to Wang Zhong's report and looking at the photos of the "lollipop" and "plastic sword" taken with a miniature camera...

Dongfang Xiong was silent for a full ten minutes.

Finally, he leaned back in his chair weakly, appearing extremely exhausted.

"Rules... this is the power of rules that modifies reality..."

Dongfang Xiong muttered to himself, "Wang Zhong, pass down the order."

"From now on, when you see Gu Fan, you must treat him like you see me... no, you must revere him like an ancestor!"

"Whatever you do, do not probe him ever again."

"If next time he thinks I'm being disobedient and turns me into a sheep from 'pleasant goat and big big wolf,' where will I hide my old face?"