Chapter 522

Min Xingyao slightly furrowed her brows; although she also did not want to see this situation, she knew Mu Lingxiao's temperament even better.

Since she was playing her role, she naturally could not do anything that would violate her character.

Even though she said so, she could at a glance tell that the man had only suffered prolonged abuse, a dual fatigue of body and mind, and after the brief outburst just now, had completely stalled.

"Then from now on you will work under my command."

Min Xingyao said coolly, having Lao Bao and Hua Jian Lei lend a hand to first escort the two people below.

She also saw how poor the environment below was; even though Min Xingyao already knew the Slum's condition well enough, each time she saw it with her own eyes, her heart inevitably tightened.

She couldn't both break Lingxiao's character here and keep the person safe, so this was the only option.

She had Hua Jian Lei tamper with that dealer's memory, and informed the two that from now on that man and that child would work under his command.

Min Xingyao, in a few words, had originally prepared for the two to contest her for a Special Ability Practitioner or to share a piece of the pie, but Lao Bao and Hua Jian Lei gladly accepted.

Lao Bao, looking at the tall, hulking figure, after the energy hindering his movement was dispersed by Hua Jian Lei, could even while wounded easily lift that child and the skinny, tall man who seemed only a skeleton out.

Both to soothe the frightened child and to gather information, Lao Bao, urged by Hua Jian Lei, went to the child's side, comforting him while asking his name.

"Me… I was kidnapped here; originally I was from District Eight, and Brother Cai and the others called me Little Seven."

"That brother said his name is Si Jing, seems he's from District Five…"

Little Seven didn't know much about Si Jing, but without his presence, Little Seven might have been beaten to death long ago.

Compared to Si Jing's higher price as a Special Ability Practitioner, he seemed worthless.

He knew Si Jing came from District Five, and also because Si Jing told Little Seven that if one ever escaped, one could go to a place in District Five for help.

However, one must never mention his name there.

"Si Jing…"

Hua Jian Lei mentally calculated; he had never heard of any powerful Consciousness Law Special Ability Practitioner in the game world bearing that name.

So the Church still hides an unknown Consciousness Law Special Ability Practitioner?

Hua Jian Lei first sent the news to Ying Duo; if he also knew nothing, then after returning to the game, he would have to thoroughly collect relevant information.

【Ying Duo: Si Jing? I know.】

Unexpectedly, Ying Duo replied immediately.

【Ying Duo: Didn't I already mention him to you before? I even had you investigate why he came to Heavenly Dome City.】

Hua Jian Lei subconsciously frowned, wondering when that was.

Since he was in charge of intelligence work, any information Ying Duo needed was asked of him directly; if he didn't have it, he was sent out to gather it.

Ying Duo had indeed had him investigate several people… and narrowing it down to Consciousness Law Special Ability Practitioners…

【Hua Jian Lei: Butterfly Speaker?】

【Ying Duo: bingo~】

That exclamation mark was a bit demonic; Hua Jian Lei really found it hard to picture Ying Duo's deadpan face together with his theatrically goofy expression.

This perverse fellow…

But had the Butterfly Speaker and these people already been in contact so early? And just happen to be the Special Ability Practitioner they needed.

After this episode, did the Butterfly Speaker truly know nothing about the Undercurrent's inner workings or Lingxiao's true purpose?

Hua Jian Lei found it hard not to doubt this, but he thought perhaps they wouldn't have to wait until returning to the game world; an answer might appear here first.

Hua Jian Lei and Lao Bao found an empty alley and slipped in, seeking a relatively clean spot, and looked up at the sky.

The Slum's day–night cycle was not obvious; after all, the entire Slum was in a perpetual dim state, with only distant sky light, like a flickering, poorly connected, wildly flashing bulb.

Time was rushing by.

Because the plot they could trigger in this time segment had already fully concluded, time began to flow again.

It's just that they didn't know whose side the next plot would occur on.

————————————————

Meng Kexin sat on the living‑room sofa, where a cute white teddy bear rested, and a cleaning rag lay on the coffee table.

She stayed here under the pretense of helping care for Chen Xiaoshuang's daily life, but the school did not permit it; ultimately, elders of the Chen Family, out of concern for Chen Xiaoshuang, allowed her to remain as a student as well.

Time outside continued to pass; the previous lapse was only a few days, while they actually waited in place for no more than a minute.

But this time, the day–night alternation seemed far too long…

Or perhaps this plot has ushered in such a massive timeline span?

Meng Kexin saw the world outside flickering as if it had suddenly paused, time frozen at night.

"Squeak—"

The door was pushed open from outside; Chen Xiaoshuang of this timeline returned.

She still held a stack of documents, her fragmented bangs lifted, a few strands stuck to her forehead—probably from sweat—and she looked very flustered.

"You've worked hard," Chen Xiaoshuang glanced at the rag by Meng Kexin's side, realizing they had likely just finished tidying the house, "During this period, thanks to your care."

She smiled gently at Meng Kexin, every movement displaying her graceful demeanor.

Meng Kexin rose from the sofa, her hands obediently at her sides, "You are too kind; this is all I should do."

Chen Xiaoshuang didn't linger, but took the report on aberrant plant in her hands and entered the laboratory.

This was Chen Xiaoshuang's daily routine; besides being busy with studies, the place she spent most time in was the laboratory.

This is similar to Chen Mo Zhi, but although Chen Xiaoshuang spends most of her time in the lab, her external social interactions are also meticulous; almost everyone who has dealt with her praises her personality highly.

Meng Kexin sat back down, preparing to check the Team Channel to confirm whose side this plot point occurred on.

In short, everything on her side remained as usual…

At that moment, a wave of scorching heat suddenly surged on her thigh.

Meng Kexin reached into the small pouch tied to her thigh and took out a Rune Stone.

This was the Chen Family's internal communication method; not as advanced as those on the Dome, but fully sufficient for relaying messages.

The surface of the Rune Stone brightened, and a line of bright white characters floated on the slab's surface,:

"The Chen Family is in trouble; the family head's life hangs by a thread, and they must immediately escort the miss back to the manor."

This time, the plot point is on her side.