Chapter 389

"Bird?"

Lu Wan closed his eyes and recalled: at that time, in Xingqiri's room, there indeed was a crow that was entirely dark black, with strange symbols etched on its body. It coldly observed everything happening in the room from start to finish, making no sound.

"Could that crow be related to the dream master?" Ming Ren guessed.

"Not sure, but if it's related to the dream master…… then it means the dream master doesn't really trust Xingqiri either, even secretly sending a crow to monitor Shajin's interrogation."

It seems the family is not a monolith as Lu Wan imagined; at first he thought the company's executives would be a loose sand, mutually checking each other for profit. But the result was that they were actually the most united. On the other hand, the family…… seems to have a crack in a corner he cannot see, silently spreading.

——

"Xing then gave the guard another beating, but unexpectedly he this time refused to back down, firmly refusing to let them pass."

"Xing had no choice but to adjust his mood to sadness, but unexpectedly this older brother burst into whimpering right in front of them."

""You, you guys… really insist on doing this?""

""Sorry, human lives are at stake, and for the family's reputation we need to know the details of the case." The older brother's crying made even Ji Zi feel a bit embarrassed."

"The older brother painfully wiped the tears from his face, "No, I mean——do I really have to kneel and beg you?""

"Xing: "If you don't mind……""

"The older brother cried, tears streaking his face, growing more sorrowful: "I didn't expect… you would really push your luck. Since it's come to this… I have no choice but, as you all wish, lower my noble head to plead with you all.""

"San Yue Qi hurriedly waved his hands: "No no no don't… you just stand there, listen up……""

"Seeing him cry so sadly, Xing had no choice but to shift his mood to joy. This time, the older brother didn't even wipe the tears from his face before excitedly glancing at his wristwatch: "Let me see, what time is it now…… What? Already time?""

"He was so happy like a child, not even giving Xing and the others a chance to speak, and simply left the scene laughing loudly on his own."

"……"

"San Yue Zi and Ji Zi watched his bouncing and hopping retreating figure, and fell into silence again."

"Fortunately, no one disturbed them anymore, and they finally got to meet Jia La He as they wished. After explaining their purpose, Jia La He let out a deep sigh: "Even the nameless guests have gotten mixed up with the family… fate toys with people.""

""Family…… what's wrong with it?" San Yue Qi sensed there was more to his words."

""Nothing much, don't worry about it. In Pinokangni, everyone loves the family." Jia La He said, "No matter how much one resists the 【Beautiful Dream】, when the time comes they'll become reluctant to leave. Who would want to leave a warm nest? Only fools, children… and drunkards with muddled minds.""

——

Death God

"This guy is definitely hiding something." Dong Shi Lang said coldly, "He says this kind of thing, afraid that the nameless guests won't notice the oddness in his words?"

Ping Zi Zhen Zi lounged lazily in the swivel chair, his golden bangs falling to cover half an eye: "Well~ compared to hiding, he's more like……" Zhen Zi propped his chin on his index finger, showing a teasing smile, "Fishing."

"What does that mean?"

"Look——" Ping Zi Zhen Zi crossed his legs, "Since this guy has heard of Miss Ji Zi's great name, he should know they won't let any clue about the family slip by. His saying this, even we outsiders can hear the hidden meaning in his words. Isn't this just actively throwing out a bait, waiting for the nameless guests to bite and dig deeper on their own?"

"Hey… you this guy, are you overthinking?" Dong Shi Lang glanced at Jia La He, "This uncle may look reliable, but his beard is scruffy, his spirit listless, and he differs quite a bit from the family's elites—not the type of old, crafty strategist."

Ping Zi Zhen Zi spread his hands: "If he doesn't have that idea, then just treat me as talking nonsense, right? Anyway I lean toward him having discovered some information about Death, which also caused his attitude toward the family…… really somewhat subtle."

——

"Ji Zi also caught his implication, but he immediately denied it."

"Jia La He looked around, lowered his voice: "You want to talk about the case? Sure, follow me—this place isn't suitable for talking, let's find another spot.""

"……"

"At the same time, elsewhere."

"Wa Er Te and Huang Quan walked side by side on the streets of the Golden Hour, gazing at this luxurious city unique to dreams. Wa Er Te couldn't help but remark: "Even after such a shocking tragedy, this beautiful dream continues to operate in an orderly manner.""

""Besides the Harmonious family, it's hard to imagine any other force in the universe capable of maintaining such a colossal structure.""

"Huang Quan said lightly: "The family itself is also a huge, perfect structure, like…… a living divine statue." Her gaze turned to the distant Pipi Xi people: "Each family member sees himself as a piece of the divine body, surrounding the sole core, the shared ideal; under His command, they faithfully fulfill their duties, dedicate themselves, yet also receive His sustenance."

"Wa Er Te nodded in approval: "That's an interesting metaphor; perhaps this is the fundamental reason Pinokangni's beautiful dream endures.""

""But the human body has its limits, and so does the physique.""

"Wa Er Te said coldly: "This doesn't sound like a comment a 【Sea-wandering Ranger】 would make.""

"Huang Quan said unhurriedly: "Just stating the facts; Mr. Wa Er Te surely understands the essence better than I do.""

——

Dragon Clan

"This family looks like some kind of extreme religious organization."

Inside the headquarters of the Eight Families of Sheqi, Yuan Zhi Sheng stood alone under the eaves of the Japanese-style room. The night wind carried the clear sound of bamboo tubes striking stones in the courtyard as he looked up at the resplendent city in the heavens—the lights of the Golden Hour were overly brilliant, even more extravagant than Tokyo at night. It was as if someone had melted the entire galaxy's stars and poured them into those ostentatious spires and arches.

"Young Master, to be precise, all those forces that follow the Star God are like this. If it weren't for the company's top brass unable to integrate into Kripp's divine body, they would have already done so." Wu Ya said, "Looking at it this way, Xingqiri intends to force Shajin to defect to the 【Harmonious】 Star God's side, or else kill him."

"Yeah, their devotion is truly enviable."

Yuan Zhi Sheng's fingers unconsciously rubbed the hilt of the Spider-Cut sword. Actually, the composition of the Eight Families of Sheqi and the Pinokangni family are remarkably similar—both are made up of different families. But the biggest difference is that what connects all members of the Eight Families of Sheqi is honor, courage, dignity and the like—intangible yet fragile things—while what binds the family together is the "Star God".