177: Chapter 177 I...can't eat... anymore

Elsewhere. In the northern suburbs. Under the ice and snow.

There were no city lights here, nor the glow of communication towers.

The entire snowfield was weighed down by the night, and the cold wind howled across the ridges, whipping up vast amounts of fine ice crystals, as if countless tiny knives were spinning in the air.

Yet, beneath this desolate, frozen earth, a massive underground facility was hidden.

The black alloy walls were coated with a thin layer of frost, and deep blue Source Power liquid flowed through the pipes, emitting a faint humming sound from time to time. In the conference room at the end of the corridor, a dozen figures sat around a long table.

They all wore masks.

Some masks looked like birds, some like beasts, and others like human faces that had been melted by fire and then re-solidified.

Eerie. Silent.

On the screen, footage of Lu Cheng from this period was playing on a loop.

The High School Tournament. The Rong City contamination incident. The livestream at the Qian Family Manor. And the scenes of him activating the Holy Dragon Armament, Flame Demon Transformation, and Ten Thousand Souls Prison Suppression in the underground altar.

The footage zoomed in again and again.

Finally, it stopped at the moment Lu Cheng looked up.

Golden-white dragon scales covered half his face, black-red flames danced in his molten golden pupils, and the phantom of the Radiant Dragon Soul behind him spread its wings, like a holy beast crawling out of the abyss.

There was silence in the conference room for a long time.

Until the man in the center, wearing a white faceless mask, spoke slowly.

"Confirmed."

His voice was very soft, yet it seemed to lower the temperature of the entire conference room by a few degrees.

"This guy is..."

"The descendant of that person."

Beside the long table, someone's fingers tightened slightly.

The footage of Lu Cheng on the screen was magnified; his pupils, bone structure, Source Power fluctuations, and bloodline reactions were all broken down into data.

Another man wearing a Red Ghost mask sneered.

"No wonder, so it's that person's blood."

The white faceless mask did not respond.

He simply raised his hand and tapped lightly on the table.

The screen switched.

Footage of Lu Cheng's livestream at the Qian Family Manor appeared, and the atmosphere in the conference room became even more oppressive.

Someone said in a low voice: "If we want to kill him completely, ordinary Combat Generals are no longer enough."

"We must act ourselves."

"And it must succeed in one go."

The Red Ghost mask snorted.

"Easier said than done."

"Make a move within the territory of Dragon Country?"

"Those old fogies won't let us touch him."

"Now that he has been exposed to the public eye, the Navigator Academy will surely keep a close watch on him. Not to mention that he has people like Shen Guhong and Mei Wushuang by his side."

"What is the difference between trying to kill him within Dragon Country and delivering our own heads to the doorstep of the Supervision Bureau?"

The conference room fell silent again.

A moment later, the white faceless mask slowly raised his head.

"Then let him leave the territory of Dragon Country."

Someone looked at him.

"How do we lure him?"

The white faceless mask's fingertips traced across the tabletop.

Several photos popped up on the screen.

Black Seed. Remaining strongholds of the Origin Organization. And several contamination rifts located along the borders.

"Contact the Grand Pope of Black Seed."

"Tell them to find a way."

"Lure him out."

The Red Ghost mask narrowed his eyes.

"Black Seed suffered heavy losses in Rong City and the Qian Family recently; they might not be willing to cooperate."

The white faceless mask said indifferently: "They will be willing."

"Because they also want what is on Lu Cheng."

"What's more..."

He paused here.

The image of Lu Cheng on the screen was lightly tapped by a pale finger.

"This guy is growing too fast."

"If we let him go on like this, he won't just be a student."

"He will become the second coming of that person."

As these words fell, all the masks in the conference room fell silent simultaneously.

Even the Red Ghost mask stopped laughing.

The wind and snow howled outside the underground facility.

The Lu Cheng on the screen was still paused at the moment he looked up.

The golden-white dragon soul spread its wings behind him, like a blade about to pierce through the darkness.

The white faceless mask slowly closed his eyes.

"Before that happens."

"Kill him."

... At the same time.

Nanling City, the Qian Family's courtyard.

The sky was just beginning to turn a pale fish-belly white.

Faint mist drifted over the lake, and white magnolia petals, blown down by the night wind, covered half of the bluestone path.

Lu Cheng didn't know when he had fallen asleep.

He had originally thought he would stay awake all night.

But sitting on the bench, with Qian Shuying leaning on his shoulder, after her breathing steadied, he had drifted off into a daze as well.

When he woke up, his first feeling was...

His shoulder was a bit sore.

His second feeling was...

It was a bit damp...

Lu Cheng looked down.

Qian Shuying was still leaning on his shoulder.

She was sleeping very quietly, completely unlike her usual self.

Usually, when Qian Shuying stood there, she always gave people a sharp feeling.

Like a long spear stuck in the wind, her back straight, her eyes bright, ready to rush out and fight someone at any moment...

But now, her eyes were closed, her long eyelashes drooping, a few strands of hair sticking to her cheek, her breathing shallow, and she looked unexpectedly soft...

If one ignored that suspicious little patch of moisture on his shoulder...

Lu Cheng was silent for two seconds.

Then he was silent for another two seconds.

Finally, he moved his gaze away with great difficulty, pretending he hadn't seen anything.

Even the valiant and heroic Miss Qian could drool.

That was reasonable...

Probably...

Lu Cheng checked the sky.

It was just dawn, and he estimated that most people in the courtyard hadn't woken up yet.

Thinking that Qian Shuying had finally managed to fall asleep last night, he simply didn't move, intending to let her sleep a little longer.

But what he didn't know was that at the exact moment he woke up, Qian Shuying had actually woken up too.

To be precise.

She had woken up from embarrassment.

Qian Shuying leaned on Lu Cheng's shoulder, her body motionless, her eyes closed peacefully, but her heart was already experiencing an earthquake.

He's awake.

He woke up.

He must be awake.

Did he find out?

Qian Shuying, what on earth are you doing?!

She clearly felt her face heating up little by little.

Last night, she had only intended to rest against him for a moment.

And what happened?

She had actually fallen asleep.

Falling asleep was one thing.

She had actually drooled!

Qian Shuying's heart was roaring.

She, the eldest daughter of the Qian Family!

A woman who would sweep across her generation on the battlefield in the future!

Actually sleeping on a boy's shoulder and drooling!

Ahhhhhhh!

Kill her!

Right now!

Or, killing Lu Cheng would work too!

No, that wouldn't work.

They had just kissed, so she couldn't kill him.

Qian Shuying was as stiff as a piece of wood, her brain a mess of mush.

And yet, Lu Cheng didn't move.

The less he moved, the more awkward Qian Shuying felt.

Was he pretending to be asleep?

Had he already seen it?

Was he laughing at her in his heart?

Qian Shuying secretly opened her eyes just a slit.

Lu Cheng was looking straight ahead, his expression very calm.

A little too calm, intentionally so.

Qian Shuying: "..."

He definitely saw it.

Qian Shuying felt like her soul was about to float out of her body.

She waited for a long time, confirming that Lu Cheng hadn't looked down at her, and only then did she raise her hand little by little.

The movement was very light.

Like a thief.

She used her sleeve to carefully wipe the moisture on Lu Cheng's shoulder.

After wiping it, she looked down again.

It seemed okay.

It wasn't obvious anymore.

Qian Shuying let out a sigh of relief.

Then, very naturally, very calmly, and pretending that nothing had happened, she changed to a more comfortable position and leaned back against him.

Lu Cheng: "..."

The corner of his eye twitched imperceptibly.

Qian Shuying kept her eyes closed, forcing her face to maintain a peaceful expression.

Neither of them called the other out.

The lakeside was quiet enough to only hear the sound of the wind.

Ten minutes passed.

The two of them opened their eyes almost simultaneously.

And then sat up straight almost simultaneously.

The air instantly became so awkward it could solidify.

Qian Shuying stood up so fast it was as if she had been scalded by something.

"I..."

She just started, her voice still a bit hoarse.

So she cleared her throat, trying to put on her usual calm and capable demeanor.

"I'll go get you some breakfast."

After saying that, she turned and walked away.

She walked very fast.

Her back was still valiant and heroic.

If one ignored the fact that she was moving her same-side arm and leg together.

Lu Cheng sat on the bench, watching Qian Shuying walk further and further away, and finally raised his hand to rub his brow.

He felt he should pretend not to have noticed.

After all, one should be kind.

Especially when facing a Miss Qian who had just experienced a social death.

Half an hour later.

The courtyard dining room.

The breakfast arranged by the Qian Family was quite sumptuous.

Congee, xiaolongbao, steamed dumplings, shrimp dumplings, fried eggs, spiritual rice cakes, several kinds of medicinal soups, and Nanling City's specialty sweet tofu pudding.

Chu Xiuxiu was already awake.

After washing up, the little girl was in much better spirits than last night, though her eyes were still a bit swollen.

She sat in a chair, holding a bowl bigger than her face, drinking congee seriously.

Qian Duoduo sat next to her, looking as frail as if he had just crawled out of a coffin, his face pale, holding a xiaolongbao with his chopsticks, unable to bring it to his mouth for a long time.

He looked at Lu Cheng, then at Qian Shuying.

He felt like something was wrong with the atmosphere.

Qian Shuying was sitting very straight.

Lu Cheng was also sitting quite normally.

But Qian Duoduo, relying on his years of survival instinct in the cracks of the Qian Family, keenly sensed...

These two were not right.

Especially his own sister.

She usually ate very quickly, but today, she had stared at a shrimp dumpling for a full thirteen seconds.

This was not normal, very not normal.

Qian Duoduo was just about to open his mouth to probe, when Qian Shuying swept a look at him.

Shut up.

Qian Duoduo immediately lowered his head to eat his bun.

It's good to be alive.

Lu Cheng didn't notice Qian Duoduo's mental activity.

He saw Chu Xiuxiu was in good spirits and suddenly remembered something.

"Right."

He took out a bowl of packed Douzhi from the system space and placed it in front of Chu Xiuxiu.

"Didn't you say you wanted to drink this before?"

Chu Xiuxiu's eyes lit up.

"Douzhi!"

She reached out to take it, her little face full of anticipation.

Before she sent the message to Lu Cheng yesterday, she had indeed been talking about this.

At that time, her mind was full of "Imperial City time-honored brand", "specialty snack", "locals love it".

Although the Qian Family incident happened halfway through, now that the crisis had passed and the Douzhi appeared again, her curiosity immediately bubbled up.

Chu Xiuxiu lifted the lid.

The next second.

An indescribable smell wafted out of the bowl.

Sour.

Rotten.

And carrying a kind of indistinct fermented aura.

The anticipation on Chu Xiuxiu's face froze.

Qian Duoduo had just taken a sip of soup and almost spat it out.

Su Wan sat not far away, glanced at it indifferently, and then very naturally moved her chair half an inch to the side.

Qian Shuying also smelled the odor.

She frowned imperceptibly.

Then she looked at Lu Cheng.

"Are you sure this is drinkable?"

Lu Cheng's expression was very serious.

"Yes."

"The boss said it's a time-honored brand."

Chu Xiuxiu looked down at the Douzhi in her hand.

The Douzhi also seemed to be looking at her.

The little girl swallowed her saliva.

"It smells... so special."

Lu Cheng nodded.

"It is quite special."

Chu Xiuxiu thought about it.

This was what she had asked for.

Brother Lu Cheng even brought it back specially for her.

She couldn't waste Brother Lu Cheng's intentions!

So Chu Xiuxiu held the bowl with both hands, her eyes gradually becoming tragic.

As if she were about to rush into battle.

"I'll drink it!"

She tilted her head and took a sip.

The next second.

Chu Xiuxiu's entire face twisted.

Her eyes widened.

Her eyebrows squeezed toward the middle.

The corners of her mouth pressed down.

Her soul seemed to have run away on the spot.

She was stiff in the chair, and it took a full three seconds before she managed to swallow that mouthful with difficulty.

Qian Duoduo asked cautiously: "Is it good?"

Chu Xiuxiu raised her head.

A layer of moisture had already welled up in her eyes.

Her lips trembled slightly, but she still forced a smile that was so bright it was about to shatter, and gave a thumbs up behind her back.

"It's... delicious!"

Lu Cheng: "..."

Qian Shuying: "..."

Su Wan: "..."

Qian Duoduo: "..."

Chu Xiuxiu looked down at the remaining large half bowl of Douzhi, her fingers trembling.

But she was a person of principle, and she wouldn't waste food.

She asked for it, so even if she cried, she had to finish it!

So she took another sip.

Her face twisted again.

Another sip.

Her soul flew away again.

By the time she had forcibly finished the whole bowl, she looked as if she had gone through a fierce battle.

She put down the empty bowl, raised her little face, and tried to keep smiling.

"Brother Lu Cheng..."

"It really is delicious."

Lu Cheng was silent for two seconds.

Then, under Chu Xiuxiu's relieved gaze, he reached into the system space.

And took out a second bowl.

"It's okay."

"There's more."

Chu Xiuxiu's smile froze.

Lu Cheng took out a third bowl...

"I bought ten bowls that day, and the boss even gave me two extra."

Chu Xiuxiu looked at the Douzhi gradually lining up on the table, her pupils losing their highlight little by little.

She opened her mouth.

"Ah~"

Then she fell backward very decisively.

She fainted.

The bun in Qian Duoduo's hand fell back onto the plate with a plop.

Su Wan turned her face away, her shoulders shaking slightly.

Qian Shuying raised her hand to cover her forehead.

She suddenly felt that the heavy emotions from last night seemed to have been diluted quite a bit by this table of Douzhi.

Lu Cheng looked at the fainted Chu Xiuxiu, then looked at the eleven bowls of Douzhi on the table.

He pondered for a moment.

"Is it that hard to drink?"

Qian Shuying glanced at him.

"Have you tried it yourself?"

Lu Cheng: "No."

Qian Shuying: "..."

Qian Duoduo: "..."

Su Wan: "..."

Lu Cheng looked down at one of the bowls of Douzhi.

Then he reached out and pushed it toward Qian Duoduo.

"Do you want to try?"

Qian Duoduo's face changed drastically.

"No, no, no, I haven't recovered yet!"

"I'm really weak right now, really, if I drink this I might die!"

Lu Cheng looked at Su Wan.

Su Wan picked up her teacup very calmly.

"I need to keep my soul clear for my cultivation today."

Lu Cheng finally looked at Qian Shuying.

Qian Shuying was silent for a second.

Then she stood up.

"I'll go check on Xiuxiu."

She walked away quickly.

This time, she didn't move her same-side arm and leg together.

Lu Cheng watched the dining table, which had emptied out in an instant, and then looked at the eleven bowls of Douzhi.

Finally, he lowered his head and smelled it.

Three seconds later.

He silently put the lid back on.

"Indeed."

"This stuff... had better be left for the enemies."

Outside the window, the morning sun was shining into the courtyard little by little.

The storm at the Qian Family had temporarily come to an end...

The Black Seed forces in South District 7 had been completely uprooted, and the Qian Family had also begun to recover and restructure their industries distributed in other regions.