76: Sipunculus

Everyone's gaze kept falling on Tu Nan and McCoy.

Among them was Li Na, with a meaningful smile.

"Oh my, McCoy, won't you introduce this beautiful lady beside you to me?" This was the Defense Minister of Mata City, Ke Yongqiang.

"Hahahaha. Old Ke, long time no see. Let me introduce you, this is Tu Nan."

Tu Nan responded with a smile.

McCoy played coy, "I actually have to thank you. Tu Nan's husband owes much to your care. These Two Children, sigh! They insisted on striking out on their own... but at least they didn't lose face for me."

Ke Yongqiang's expression shifted slightly. What? This Female Beast's husband is someone he knows?

"My husband, Li, serves in your Sharp Blade Squad. He always says he has received a lot of care from everyone there." Tu Nan took over the conversation.

What? Li?

How did the talent he favored get involved with McCoy?

Ke Yongqiang's face stiffened slightly. But he could only offer polite pleasantries, "So it is Li's wife. Oh... those twins of yours..."

"Sigh... we old folks really worry ourselves to death over the younger generation. They, on the other hand, just run around everywhere! I don't know if the young couple can handle Two Children at the same time."

"In my opinion, it would be better to bring them home and keep them under my nose so I can be at ease."

McCoy seemed to be scolding, but his words were full of showing off. He looked like he was waiting for Ke Yongqiang to ask further.

Ke Yongqiang naturally understood.

Hah, what? So after all this, Li is a junior in this bastard's Family? A nephew? No, he heard reports from his subordinates... Li was just a drifter at the bottom of society before.

Then it's this Female Beast?

Hmm... he hadn't paid much attention to this, but it turns out she's from McCoy's Family? Damn! It would be much harder to pull Li into his own bowl now.

But letting him help McCoy act smug? That was absolutely impossible!

He held back, refusing to ask the question McCoy wanted to hear, and just changed the subject.

"Sigh, this is really worrying. You see, I am exhausted day after day! The White Dragon Emperor suddenly appointed our Mata City to host the celebration! Sigh, fortunately I have many young lads who can help me."

"If Sand City were to handle this, with your many old fogies and mixed opinions, it would be hard to manage."

Tu Nan just listened to the two of them trading barbs.

Success!

Although it wasn't said particularly clearly, it was enough!

Leaving room for everyone to speculate was more useful than clarifying some "adopted daughter" identity.

The unknown... is the most intimidating.

Tu Nan thought correctly.

But what she didn't know was that among those misled at the scene was someone she didn't even know—Sheng Ranran's father, Sheng Mingqian.

"Didn't you say... that Female Beast had no background?" His lips barely moved, yet he still made Sheng Ranran clearly hear his anger.

Sheng Ranran was bewildered.

For the past few months, she had hired people to follow Tu Nan and had never seen any nobles appear around her. That was why she judged that the identities Tu Nan claimed were all fake.

And now...

A junior following Sheng Mingqian went to inquire around and answered their questions.

"I heard from those ladies that Tu Nan is likely an illegitimate daughter McCoy raised outside."

He added his own conjecture: "Perhaps she wasn't valued much before, but now... it's probably because he saw her Male Beast getting ahead, so he acknowledged her."

Sheng Mingqian sneered repeatedly. "Sheng Ranran! You really have talent. With such a father-in-law, would that Male Beast marry you? Fine, you didn't recruit any talent for the Family, but instead almost provoked an enemy for me."

He couldn't be bothered to pretend to be a kind father anymore.

"Good wealthy life you didn't want to live. Must participate in the Family Head Battle? Just based on you?"

"Just wait obediently for your brother to deal with you."

He shook off Sheng Ranran's hand, left his terrified daughter alone in place, and walked away coldly.

"How could this be..."

Sheng Ranran couldn't believe all this. Tu Nan actually had another identity, and she was just abandoned like this.

She was unwilling to accept it!

Li... she must try again.

Even if Tu Nan is a noble's daughter, so what? If her father was really willing to support Li, why would Li still be at the bottom of the military?

She could go talk to Li.

As long as Li could really keep winning, after obtaining the position of Family Head, she could guarantee she would listen to everything he said and let him have all the power of the Sheng Family.

Anyway... if she lost, she wouldn't even keep her life. And if Li could win, she wouldn't make Li a live-in son-in-law; she could let him enjoy everything of the Sheng Family!

* * *

"Father, shall we go to the ceremony site? Will my position be in the front row if I follow you? Li will definitely be able to see me at first glance."

Tu Nan was fully aware of her value to McCoy. Everything was just relying on Li. She kept increasing the stakes, determined to let McCoy know how much Li valued her.

McCoy was very satisfied with his newly acknowledged daughter's tact.

He teased Tu Nan kindly: "You have only such a small request? Fine, it's just right for me to see the demeanor of my good son-in-law."

"Let's go."

The two smiled at each other, looking quite like a loving father and filial daughter.

Tu Nan took McCoy's arm and walked out of the banquet hall, where a platform had already been set up, waiting to show the distinguished guests the demeanor of the excellent young men in the military.

"Woo—woo—beep—"

The shrill alarm sounded throughout the venue.

Everyone's expression changed drastically.

"Star Worms? This is the alarm for Star Worms invasion. How could Star Worms appear? Did the air defense chain break?"

People swarmed out like a tide, looking up at the sky.

Sure enough, small black dots were falling like meteors.

The cowardly Female Beast was scared to tears on the spot. "What to do... why is there a war again. I want to go to the safety fortress. Open the safety fortress quickly!"

A figure pushed aside the people in front and walked to the front of the crowd.

He swung the black cape behind him, put the military cap on his hand neatly on his head, looked up, and observed the situation in the air.

The man turned back and spoke indifferently to the dignitaries and nobles present.

"Just some little bugs." He looked down on them, appearing not too worried. "The Star Chain is not broken. It seems these Star Worms grew some brains this time. Just small fry, not even worth activating the Star Chain."

His dark green long hair was inlaid with a golden rim in the sunset.

This was Kong Jiamu, a general of the Patrol Army, the Emperor's special envoy, a noble from the Capital Star.

His attitude stabilized the emotions of everyone present. After everyone gradually calmed down, they found that everything was indeed as he said—no larger Star Worms appeared.

"Let's go, it seems this is the real activity site for the 10th anniversary celebration."

As the Defense Minister of Mata Star, Ke Yongqiang directly transformed into a majestic lion beast. He greeted Kong Jiamu: "Colonel Kong, together?"

Kong Jiamu raised his eyebrows and responded.

"I'll take these soldiers to practice." He was talking about the soldiers standing under the podium waiting for the award!

They transformed into their Beast Form one after another.

Except... Li.