Chapter 673: with translation of chapter title

As Zhiruo fumbled for her keys, she faintly heard the youths' hearty laughter coming from inside.

Translation: When Zhiruo was taking out her keys, she faintly heard the youths' hearty laughter coming from inside the house.

Note: Zhiruo = Zhiruo; 'taking out her keys' = when she was taking out her keys; 'she faintly heard the youths' hearty laughter coming from inside' = she faintly heard the youths' hearty laughter coming from inside. We'll keep it concise.

She paused, her lips curving involuntarily, then she inserted the key into the lock and turned it gently.

Translation: She paused, the corner of her mouth unconsciously curling up, then she inserted the key into the lock and turned it gently.

When the door opened, the laughter inside stopped abruptly; the several young people sitting on the sofa all turned their heads at once, and upon seeing who had arrived, they immediately sat up straight.

Translation: When the door opened, the laughter inside stopped abruptly; the several youths sitting on the sofa all turned their heads at once, and upon seeing who had come, they immediately sat up straight.

Qi Hengyu was scrambling to tidy the table, Chen Mo straightened his posture, Luo Jinyu's tail had already slipped back under his coat before he could react, and only Meng Keyin and Shen Zexi moved naturally.

Translation: Qi Hengyu was hastily tidying up the table, Chen Mo Zhi adjusted his sitting posture, Luo Jinyou's tail had already been tucked back under his coat before he could react, and only Meng Kexin and Shen Zexi's movements remained relatively natural.

Note: 'frantically tidying up the table' likely means 'Qi Hengyu was hastily tidying the table'. We'll keep it as is.

Zhiruo stood in the entryway, holding a transparent plastic box neatly stacked with several rows of pale gold pastries, their surfaces dusted with tiny osmanthus bits.

Translation: Zhiruo stood in the entryway, holding a transparent plastic box in her hand, inside which several rows of pale gold pastries were neatly stacked, the surface sprinkled with tiny osmanthus bits.

She looked at the overly young faces inside and smiled gently.

Translation: She looked at the overly young faces inside the house and smiled gently.

"I bought some pastries back; would you like to eat them?"

Translation: "I bought some pastries back; would you like to eat them?"

Shen Zexi was the first to react; he stood up and gave Zhiruo a slight bow.

Translation: Shen Zexi reacted first, he stood up and gave Zhiruo a slight bow.

"Hello, Auntie, sorry to disturb you."

Translation: "Auntie, sorry for the disturbance."

Qi Hengyu also stood up, a bit embarrassed as he scratched the back of his head, followed by a few scattered "Hello, Auntie."

Translation: Qi Hengyu also stood up, a little embarrassed as he scratched the back of his head, followed by a few scattered "Auntie" greetings.

"This is the one who can tame that chaotic demon king, Xing Duo, and raise him into the genteel figure he is now—truly a 'mother'!"

Translation: This is the mother who could tame that world‑chaos demon Ying Duo and raise him into the well‑behaved appearance he has now!

Zhiruo waved her hand, placed the pastry box on the coffee table, opened the lid, and the sweet scent of osmanthus cake spread through the air.

Translation: Zhiruo waved her hand, she placed the pastry box on the coffee table, opened the lid, and the sweet fragrance of the osmanthus cake spread through the air.

"Have you all had dinner yet?"

Translation: "Have you all eaten dinner yet?"

"They'll eat later," Yang Yixie replied for them, pushing the pastry toward Luo Jinyu so he could take a piece; Luo Jinyu whispered a thank you as he reached for it.

Translation: "They went back to eat." Yang Yixie answered for them, he pushed the pastry toward Luo Jinyou, letting him take a piece, and Luo Jinyou whispered thanks as he reached for it.

Zhiruo watched them eat the pastries, simply sitting quietly aside and occasionally asking a question.

Translation: Zhiruo watched them eat the pastries, she simply sat quietly at the side, occasionally asking a question.

"Is it sweet? Won't it be too cloying?" After all, it was her first time making it, and she couldn't control the amount well.

Translation: "Is it sweet? Will it be too cloying?" After all, it was her first time making it, and she couldn't control the amount well.

"No," Luo Jinyu quickly shook his head.

Translation: "No." Luo Jinyou quickly shook his head.

Yang Yixie's mother is truly a gentle and tolerant person, so it's no surprise even Xing Duo is willing to shed all his sharp edges.

Translation: Yang Yixie's mother is truly a gentle and tolerant person, so it's no wonder even Ying Duo is willing to sheath all his sharp edges.

"Mom, I might go out traveling with them for a few days in a few days."

Translation: "Mom, I might go out traveling with them for a few days in a few days."

Zhiruo looked into his eyes, merely nodding, and said, "All right, just remember to pack your luggage before you go and let me know in advance if you need anything."

Translation: Zhiruo looked at his eyes, her gaze merely nodded, "Alright, before you go remember to pack your luggage, and let me know in advance if you need to bring anything."

"Mm."

Translation: "Mm."

The others nearby fell silent for a few seconds, but soon Zhiruo voluntarily returned to her room, leaving the living room to the group of young people.

Translation: The few people nearby fell silent for a few seconds, but soon Zhiruo voluntarily returned to her room, leaving the living room to this group of youths.

Yang Yixie also didn't linger long in conversation with them, since it was already late.

Translation: Yang Yixie also didn't chat with them for much longer, after all it was already late.

After seeing them off, he plunged into the kitchen and didn't forget to reopen the email he had previously received.

Translation: After seeing the few people off, he plunged into the kitchen, and he didn't forget to open that email he had received earlier once again.

The game world has been completely overrun by mutations; the land has turned dark red, and the photo likely shows some ruins, but due to the limited camera angle we can't tell exactly where it is.

Translation: The game world has been completely overrun by Mutation, the land turned dark‑red, the photo‑taking location should be some ruin, but because the camera's coverage is limited, we can't tell what place it is.

The man who usually wore a carefree expression lay there, his crimson eyes utterly devoid of luster, like a broken doll flung aside, his silver-white hair stained with dust and sand.

Translation: The man who usually wore an expression of ease lay there, his dark‑red eyes completely devoid of luster, like a broken doll flung there, his silver‑white long hair stained with wind and sand.

That is merely a hollow shell, devoid of a soul.

Translation: That is merely a shell, a hollow vessel bereft of soul.

Where did the soul that once resided there go?

Translation: Where did the soul that originally resided within it go?

——————————————

Translation: —————————————— (we keep the line as is? Probably just repeat the dash line.)

The Special Division quickly issued Yang Yixie's pass; lately their research has focused on Red Ling and Lu Mu, who after initially collapsing fell into a day-long coma before waking.

Translation: The Special Ability Department quickly issued Yang Yixie's pass; recently the department's research has focused on Hong Ling and Lu Mu, who after their initial weakness fell into a coma for a full day before waking up.

Lei Zhao learned from Bai Mu Yun that Red Ling was also there, and he has been guarding the place almost every day.

Translation: Lei Zhao learned from Bai Mu Yun that Hong Ling was also there, and he has been guarding the place almost every day.

Thus, Luo Jinyu became free to accompany them to Tiān'ān City.

Translation: Thus Luo Jinyou became free, able to accompany them to Tianmian City.

The agreed time with the authorities is early morning.

Translation: The time agreed upon with the authorities is a morning.

Since this is an official commission, they can go openly and legitimately, so they don't need to sneak in themselves.

Translation: Since this time they were commissioned by the authorities, they could go openly and legitimately, so they didn't need to devise their own smuggling plan.

Yang Yixie wore a dark gray thin jacket, carried an inconspicuous backpack, and idly fiddled with the card in his hand bearing the passage number.

Translation: Yang Yixie wore a dark‑gray thin coat, carried a rather inconspicuous backpack, and idly played with the card in his hand that bore the pass number.

As soon as Luo Jinyu arrived, he saw Yang Yixie waiting on the steps and quickly walked up to stand beside him.

Translation: Luo Jinyou had just arrived when he saw Yang Yixie waiting on the steps; he quickly walked to Yang Yixie's side.

Compared to the lawless Xing Duo, the Yang Yixie before us is still quite normal, aside from occasionally being unable to suppress a hint of his demonic nature.

Translation: Compared to the lawless Ying Duo, the Yang Yixie before them is still too normal, merely occasionally unable to suppress a hint of his demonic nature.

Overall, however, this Yang Yixie is indeed much easier to get along with than the previously mercurial Xing Duo.

Translation: However, overall this Yang Yixie is indeed much easier to get along with than the previously mercurial Ying Duo.

Shen Zexi and the others also arrived shortly, each receiving a paper cup of coffee from the Special Division cafeteria, which is quite considerate in this regard.

Translation: Shen Zexi and the others also arrived shortly, each holding a paper‑cup coffee taken from the Special Ability Department cafeteria; the department is quite humane in this regard.

The helicopter was already parked on the tarmac, with two or three people in identical uniforms holding tablet computers, having just finished checking the personnel and supplies list; now that the check is complete, they only need to wait for everyone to assemble before takeoff.

Translation: The helicopter was already parked on the tarmac, two or three people in identical uniforms holding tablet computers, just having finished checking the personnel and supplies list; now that the check is complete, they only need to wait for everyone to assemble before takeoff.

"... apparently that day's energy surge caused the headquarters' energy monitors to flash red; I really don't know what happened."

Translation: "... It's said that day's energy surge directly made the headquarters' energy monitors flash red; I really don't know what happened."

"... in the end it wasn't a big deal; mainly, that energy color was just unsettling..."

Translation: "... Actually it didn't become a big deal after all; mainly it's just that the energy color was too unsettling......"

"Yeah, I've seen people on forums spinning conspiracy theories, but what can you actually tell from those leaked on‑site videos? It's just like something photoshopped in—could there really be pixel‑people fighting in reality?"

Translation: "... Yeah, I see people on the forum spinning conspiracy theories, but what can those leaked on‑site videos actually show? It's like they've been Photoshopped; could there really be pixel‑people fighting in reality?"

Chi Jin'an and Yang Yixie's battle was truly massive, but even if it were posted online, although many know it really happened, the footage simply doesn't look authentic.

Translation: Chi Jin An and Yang Yixie's battle momentum was truly massive, but even if it were posted online, although many know it really happened, the video still doesn't look genuine.

Yang Yixie was walking past them, completely unaware of being the instigator.

Translation: Yang Yixie was just passing by them, completely unaware of being the culprit.

"When are we departing?"

Translation: "When are we departing?"

Yang Yixie pushed up his black‑frame glasses and asked the group.

Translation: Yang Yixie pushed up his black‑framed glasses and asked the group.

"We can leave as soon as everyone's here," that person said, immediately stopping his gossip with friends to answer Yang Yixie's question.

Translation: "We can leave as soon as everyone is here." That person immediately stopped gossiping with friends and turned to answer Yang Yixie's question.

"Besides your team, there are also some research staff."

Translation: "Besides your team, there are also some research personnel."

He glanced at the list; after all, Tiān'ān City lies tens of thousands of meters above ground, so a round trip is no easy feat.

Translation: He glanced at the list; after all, Tianmian City is up in the high heavens, making a round trip no easy feat.

Many who go to Tiān'ān City end up staying there for a long time, needing a considerable period before they can return.

Translation: Many who go to Tianmian City end up staying there for a long time, needing a considerable period before they can return.

People their age—like Shen Zexi and Yang Yixie—who can reach Tiān'ān City must be quite outstanding spellcasters.

Translation: People like Shen Zexi, Yang Yixie and others of their age, if they can reach Tianmian City, must be quite outstanding Special Ability Practitioners.

"Hmm... this young man before me seems somewhat familiar..."

Translation: "Hmm...... this boy before me seems somewhat familiar......"

"I probably saw him in the Special Division, maybe on the field team?"

Translation: "I probably saw him in the Special Ability Department, maybe an field‑team member?"

"Is that so? Thank you," Yang Yixie replied politely, then he and a few others went to find seats; when he turned back, he saw the faces of the other 'Version Answer' participants showing a hint of... relief?

Translation: "Is that so? Thank you." Yang Yixie replied politely, he and a few others went ahead to find seats; upon turning back, he saw the faces of the other "standard answer" people actually showing a hint of...... relief?

？？？

Translation: "???"

"Great..." Qi Hengyu couldn't help but say, "He actually knows how to communicate with people on his own—finally we don't have to trail behind him cleaning up his messes!"

Translation: "Great......" Qi Hengyu couldn't help but say, "He actually knows how to communicate with people on his own; we finally don't have to trail behind him cleaning up his messes!"

"Yeah." The group nodded solemnly.

Translation: "Yes." Everyone nodded solemnly.

They had been waiting for this day, and they'd waited far too long.

Translation: They had been waiting for this day, and they had waited far too long.

"Can you be a little more polite?" Yang Yixie gave a fake smile.

He always feels this is a mockery.