[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-solflare-the-painter-s-secret":3,"chapter-solflare-the-painter-s-secret-solflare-the-painter-s-secret-chapter-152":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Solflare: The Painter's Secret",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1322980,1757,"Chapter 152 152: Welcome to the Age of Wealth... or Death","solflare-the-painter-s-secret-chapter-152",152,"\u003Cp>As rain kept on blasting against Leon's glass window, red lightning tore from the sky and struck the center of the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The white light from the lightning brightened the dark edges of Leon's room for just a second, revealing ghostly humanoid figures that had their eyes sucked out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The screen of his Nexa Pro smart device caught one before it lit up, a buzzing sound echoing from it as it vibrated on the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who might be calling me at this time?\" Leon's brows raised as he rolled on the bed, the bedsheet peeling off him like skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Can that be Zoe?' he said low in his head as he wrapped his fingers around the device. \"Liu Yan?!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon propped himself on his elbows, then pressed the green button hovering at the left side of the red button with a cross.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hello, birthday boy.\" Liu Yan's voice erupted first, followed by An Lang's. \"Why don't you ask if it's him? Maybe we called the wrong number.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A soft laugh escaped Leon as he adjusted himself, raising the phone completely from the bedsheet that had tangled with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon sat at the edge of the bed, his feet touching the floor. He inhaled deeply, then cleared his throat. \"This is a wrong number. Please, who are you trying to reach?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tuned his ears to the quarrel going on on the other side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Didn't I say that's a different number?\" An Lang's voice echoed loudly, almost as if the words alone wanted to swallow Liu Yan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then a new voice lanced through. \"Let me check.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Is that Wu Ze?' Leon adjusted the volume of the Nexa Pro, then listened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"That's the exact number I have on my phone,\" Wu Ze confirmed. \"Here, you can try mine. Maybe your device caught up with another person's instead of Leon.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon's pretense got loose as he mistakenly giggled while his device was closer to his lips.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Stop fooling with us, Storm.\" Wu Ze's voice exploded, followed by a long chuckle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My bad.\" Leon apologized, then cleared his head, ready to receive whatever they had for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With one voice, though there were scratches, the madhouse squad sang a birthday song for Leon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon's head moved side to side as he danced with the tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as the birthday song and wishes paused, Liu Yan's voice came up. \"So, Storm, tell us. How old are you now?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An Lang's voice backed Liu Yan, but only moving footsteps echoed, not a single word from Wu Ze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon hesitated, then spoke lightly. \"I am twenty-two years old now.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"TWENTY-TWO?!\" An Lang's voice echoed loudly on the other end, overshadowing Liu Yan's murmuring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon's expression shifted slightly. \"Why, do I look older or younger than my age?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You… never mind. Welcome to the age of wealth… or death.\" An Lang laughed eerily, then footsteps echoed, his voice becoming distant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Age of wealth or death?' The words played a crucible joke in Leon's head as he tried to find the meaning by himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Don't mind An Lang, he has recently been joining me at the library.\" Liu Yan brushed the tension off with a slight joke, then ended the call.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Night birds flew high toward the blue moon, flapping their wings so slowly that they felt frozen for a moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaves danced across the front of Storm's mansion, following the shadowy beings that kept stopping by the iron gate every second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the walls of the mansion, the water dripping from the fountain began to slow, almost as if time had glitched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Long, creepy shapes stretched on the ground as the moon's rays shone on the edges of the mansion itself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sitting room was clean, but wet footsteps remained in the hallway from the entrance to the base of the stairs. Yet not a single soul was in the room at that time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lily's face gleamed with smiles as she changed the posture in which she slept. \"Hehehe… I will tell her if you don't.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice escaped her lips as her mind replayed the moment over and over, as if time had gone back and wasn't ready to let go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chilled wind brushed against Li Mei's window, fogging it. A white bedsheet covered her from the shoulders to the feet as she delved into her dream, where she had sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet her grip remained on the golden cloth she had woven.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside her bed, and on the small table that was occupied by her weaving materials, a thin red thread lay tangled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A knocking sound echoed from her closed window. Outside the window, a small white bird banged its beak on the glass, its chiming cry echoing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smoke blasted around the creature as lightning struck it, burning it alive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Leon's room, his eyelids twitched as the smell of burning flesh flowed through his slightly opened door and entered his lungs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His unconscious self turned, the cloth covering him pulling off his body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Deep within his head, he stood at the front of the gigantic Y-sigil door, the Paloalto in his hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What do we have in here this time?\" he asked, then began walking in his dream, the book tucked under his left arm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the center of the two sentinels, Leon stopped, glanced at them, then sighed. \"At least I can predict what can happen. Let me rest a little.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sat in a lotus posture, the book on his lap.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first page of the book flared open, giving space for the treasure hidden in its pages to appear before him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon traced his fingers on the names that had been inscribed in the book, all having different colors and styles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three nurses. Glass Skitters. Devilish Goat. Grasshoppers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Underneath all the names was a new one, which was now taking shape. Leon's heart rose and fell as he remained calm, staring at the remaining words that were appearing on their own.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ironhide Lizard. Cockroach. Oculus Devourer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dream shattered like paper crumpling into itself. Water splashed on Leon's face, wetting his bed as he cracked his eyes open.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hhhuh!\" he gasped heavily, his hand pressed against his chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beside his bed, Lily stood there, Min-seo by her side. Min-seo's grip on the pan trembled heavily, her face pale.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he could figure out what gave them that look, Lily dashed forward and threw herself on him, crying. \"Brother. Brother. Brother.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon's heart dulled, the faint irritation in him slowly draining. \"What is it, little Athena?\" Leon asked in a calm voice, cupping Lily's face in his palms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Min-seo still stood there like a frozen tree, sweat dripping down her forehead as Leon tilted his gaze to her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Sir, you… you…\" Her voice dragged as a scream tore from outside Leon's door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without thinking about the wet clothes he wore or questioning them about the reason they splashed water on him, Leon dashed out of the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Min-seo broke free the moment Lily moved past her, wiping the tears from her eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the sitting room, Min-ji moved hastily, flapping her arms as if she wanted to fly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the side of the glass wall, Li Mei sat in her wheelchair, her head lowered, green lines dressing her skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"MOM!\" Leon screamed heavily, his boots skipping the stairs as he descended. Though he slid and nearly fell, his attention was far more on Li Mei than on himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He fell in front of Li Mei, sharp cries gushing out of his mouth, nose, and ears. \"Mom! Mom! Mom!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon grabbed his mother's arm and raised it, but the arm fell down the moment he loosened his grip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>More sweat began to bead on his face as Li Mei's head fell the moment he raised it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon turned, looked at Min-ji's helpless self, then screamed. \"WHAT ARE YOU STANDING THERE FOR? CALL THE MEDICAL TEAM!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sound exploded in the sitting room so loudly that a crackling sound echoed from the glass wall by which Li Mei sat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the base of the stairs, Min-seo held onto the helpless, thrashing Lily, her own eyes turning red.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tears dripped from Min-seo's eyes as the medical team, led by Mr. Lee, carried Li Mei on a stretcher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon rushed into his room, then exited quickly, forgetting what he wanted to carry along.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the street to Bastion Hospital, Leon gripped Li Mei's left arm, squeezing it so hard as if doing that would slow her death.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mei's eyes blinked countless times, her lips opening and closing as if wanting to speak.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mom… I'm here.\" Leon said, inhaling the air back into his nose, then wiped his eyes with his elbow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leon,\" a soft, almost dying voice exited from Li Mei as the ambulance joined a traffic queue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon's jaw tightened after checking through the window and seeing not even a single car moving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A ragged cough escaped from Li Mei the moment the cars began to move, but in a sequence like a tortoise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leon…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon turned sharply toward her, staring deep into her blind eyes that had opened wide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Your father is calling me.\" Li Mei's face glittered with a smile. Two silent tears dripped off her face as she inhaled deeply.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Mom, he can't be calling you at this time. We are almost at the hospital, Mom.\" Leon spoke in a voice that sent chills down the chests of Mr. Lee and every other person in the ambulance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take good care of your sister.\" Li Mei added her right arm onto Leon's arm, then squeezed it using the little strength she had left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The heart monitor showed the sequence at which Li Mei's heart was drastically decreasing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her words looped in Leon's head as more nurses rushed out of the hospital and carried her on a wheeling bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon stood at the front of the emergency unit door, his hands pressed hard against his face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as two doctors dressed in full operational outfits walked past him, he heard his name called out loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"LEON!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to turn, but his neck refused him, almost as if a single movement from him would determine his mother's fate.\u003C\u002Fp>",1703,"2026-06-05T19:15:29.583Z",1,"novelbin.me","8ae654b6333b2ef29d02f062111a04fd2ef5fa1406618689e0b01f074f704e55","solflare-the-painter-s-secret-chapter-153","solflare-the-painter-s-secret-chapter-151",272,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fsolflare-the-painter-s-secret-cover.jpg"]