Chapter 274: Great Strength

The leaves rustled in the wind's gusts, and the curved leaves already faintly glowed white in the sunlight.

Just a slight movement in the wind, and those deep‑red leaves fell like snowflakes from the sky, covering the ground with a red carpet.

Anku lay on the tree trunk, eyes tightly shut, brows relaxed, as if having a pleasant dream.

When a ray of sunlight filtered through the leaves and shone on him, Anku, feeling the glare, frowned and unnaturally raised a hand to block the light.

Crimson claws suddenly appeared, gripping the nearby trunk, and with a fierce thrust drove their sharp nails deep into the thick trunk.

Anku snapped his eyes open, watched the branches swaying in the wind, and lightly flipped himself on the tree.

Looks like I need to find a nest soon.

Anku looked at his clothes, already snagged by the rough bark, and involuntarily furrowed his brow.

Although his nature, like a bird's, loves high places, he is now, after all, active in a human body.

Though he didn't want to admit it, he had already been affected by this body.

For example, he would start dreaming, fantasizing about things that could never happen, which made him feel terrible.

Suddenly he turned his head toward the shadow blocked by the trunk nearby, stared with a knife‑like gaze, and shouted: "Yingsi, you brought a stranger over—are you trying to get killed?"

Under Anku's locked gaze, Huo Ye Yingsi slightly poked his head out from his hiding place, revealing an embarrassed yet polite smile.

"I'm no stranger—I'm Quan Binnai, sister of Quan Xinwu. Although my brother now has to rely on you, that doesn't mean I'll accept you."

Binnai, wearing a white‑furred ladies' coat, stepped out from behind Huo Ye Yingsi.

"Hmph, turns out you're just an ordinary human."

When Anku saw Binnai step out, his heart eased a little, then he turned away and ignored her calls.

Humans are just trouble.

"Binnai, go back first—your brother will be fine. I'll watch Anku and make sure he doesn't cause trouble."

Huo Ye Yingsi stepped in front of Binnai, blocking her path forward.

Seeing Anku ignore her, Binnai thought, "How could I entrust my brother's safety to someone else? Besides, with those monsters around, I must constantly watch over his body."

She looked at the trunk where Anku lay, estimated its width, then shoved Huo Ye Yingsi aside and approached the big tree.

"My strength is great; although I don't like it myself, I must do this for my brother's safety."

In Huo Ye Yingsi's astonished gaze, Binnai aimed at the trunk wide enough for two adults and shoved hard.

In an instant, Anku, who had turned away just to avoid seeing Binnai, felt the whole trunk shake.

A powerful force burst along the trunk, the already‑crimson leaves showering down; caught off guard, Anku's body was yanked away by a great force.

In an instant he was hung upside down from a branch, while his true self was gripped tightly by a pale, smooth hand.

Anku let out a sudden wail, feeling as if his whole body were about to be crushed.

"Impossible! How can this body possibly adapt to such monstrous strength?"

Anku struggled desperately, flailing his arms, but even using all his strength he couldn't break free.

Anku had read Quan Xinwu's memories and knew that Binnai would occasionally display such strength on his body—something Quan Xinwu himself had grown accustomed to.

But Anku couldn't get used to it—he wasn't Quan Xinwu, let alone with his true body seized. "I won't give up; this isn't your body, I'd rather just watch from the side."

"Mr. Huo, please stay here and work for the time being," Binnai said, looking at Huo Ye Yingsi.

While working part‑time, I'd heard Miss Bai Shi mention Huo Ye Yingsi and even showed her photos from his travels long ago.

So he knew Huo Ye Yingsi was a drifter without a fixed abode.

Before her brother recovers, she wants Huo Ye Yingsi to stay here.

"Yingsi, what's the deal with this woman! Quick, pull her away."

Anku saw Huo Ye Yingsi smirking on the side and instantly felt a surge of anger.

"I understand; if Miss Bai Shi agrees, I'll keep working here," Huo Ye Yingsi said with a smile.

Anku also had people he couldn't handle; he felt Huo Ye Yingsi wasn't that fierce, just putting on a tough front.

"You want to keep working here?" Bai Shi Qian Shizi exclaimed.

"Yeah, some personal reasons," Huo Ye Yingsi replied, nodding.

"Great, Huo Ye Yingsi—I was planning to discuss things with you after today's themed event."

"I didn't expect you to bring it up first."

Bai Shi Qian Shizi extended her right hand and said, "Then please look after me, Yingsi."

"Please look after me."

"That Yingsi guy—I don't know if he's an idiot or what, but he actually agreed to this."

Anku lay on the wooden bed planks covered in red silk in the second‑floor room and muttered to himself.

"At least now I have a place to stay—I don't have to sleep in a tree anymore."

Anku glanced around the room—it wasn't big, had little furniture, the floor was laid with a red‑patterned blanket, and opposite was a spot for stacking miscellaneous items.

In front lay a small wooden table; there were also two wooden beds stacked together, and Anku was now lying on its side on the upper bunk.

After fiddling with his phone, Anku's complexion suddenly turned ugly.

"My Core Coin is indeed in Hongshang's hands."

He jumped up from the bed and, through the eyes of an eagle‑shaped can, carefully examined the red Core Coin placed in Hongshang Guangsheng's office.

That's right—it's a Vulture Core Coin, unlike Jiang Xia's imitation feel; this time it truly belongs to his Core Coin.

"A convoy transporting cellular Core Coins? We'll need to plan that carefully."

Anku walked out of the room, intending to tell Huo Ye Yingsi the news, but the moment he opened the door he was dazzled by a barrage of multicolored light.

The first floor was bustling with celebration; crystal lights overhead blazed, a colorful Christmas tree stood in the hall's center, and young people weaved through the dance floor.

The restaurant called Couscoussier, an international eatery in this city, is extremely popular; whenever a nation‑themed event is launched, it draws crowds of young people to come play.

"Damn it, where the heck did that Yingsi guy go?"

Anku looked at the crowd below wearing gaudy, unrecognizable clothing, and immediately let out a cold snort.

(End of chapter)