Chapter 16: What Transmigrator Chat Group

In the study of Shibao, Lin Yu closed the chat window in his mind and leaned back on a recliner, stretching lazily.

After a friendly exchange with the three junior group members, he had fully grasped the situations of all three.

Su Su Haoming was a transmigrator from "Strange Tales from Tang Dynasty," the cousin of Su Su Wuming, currently situated in the timeline of the first case of the TV series, the Chang'an Black Tea Case.

Xiang Yunye was the protagonist of "Tang Brick," who transmigrated to the Zhenguan era of the Tang Dynasty and had already become the Marquis of Lantian County of the Great Tang; the timeline was roughly at the beginning of the second volume of the novel, before Yushan Academy was officially established.

Fan Xian was the male lead of "Joy of Life"; he believed he had transmigrated to an ancient world in a Parallel World, but in reality, it was a future world where humanity had rebuilt from the Stone Age after a nuclear war destroyed the world.

As for the timeline, according to Fan Xian himself, he had only just arrived in the capital and had not yet met Lin Wan.

Undoubtedly, the common thread among these three was their identity as transmigrators!

Combined with the fact that Lin Yu himself was also a transmigrator, he couldn't help but suspect that the chat group had some hidden requirement, selecting only transmigrators from the myriad worlds of the heavens to join.

... What Transmigrator Chat Group!

While teasing himself inwardly, Lin Yu pondered another question—the power level of the worlds where the group members resided.

Both Xiang Yunye and Su Su Haoming had transmigrated to a Low-Magic World, or more accurately, a world that appeared to be Low-Magic on the surface.

As for the strongest, Fan Xian, he was merely in a Low-Magic World, where only a Grand Master could barely touch the threshold of Low Martial Arts.

In comparison, the world where Lin Yu resided, whether it was the Universe Within or "Frieren: Beyond Journey's End," had power levels that were somewhat excessively high.

If the chat group truly had a hidden standard when selecting members, the gap between members should not be so vast.

So... was it indeed his problem?

Lin Yu blinked; after all, when the chat group first drifted into his Universe Within, it had no intention of inviting him to join.

It was he who had forced his way in, forcibly keeping the chat group, thereby compelling the chat group to acknowledge him as its master...

Never mind, the deed is done; brooding over this is meaningless. It is better to figure out how to get along well with these three little ones first!

Thinking of this, Lin Yu couldn't help but sigh.

While chatting with Su Su Haoming, he couldn't hold back, laid his cards on the table, and revealed his desire to travel to other worlds.

Regarding this move, Su Su Haoming was quite delighted, but Fan Xian and Xiang Yunye fell into a brief silence, seemingly still hesitant about inviting Lin Yu to their respective worlds.

This was also normal; after all, even meeting up with an online friend known for many years in reality requires some hesitation, let alone inviting Lin Yu, a powerful being from another world who had joined the group less than twenty minutes ago.

But it didn't matter; the seed had already been planted.

In the future, whenever they encountered problems they couldn't solve, they would surely think of him first!

While thinking this, Lin Yu cast his gaze through Shibao, looking out over the territory spanning ten li in all directions.

The reason he chose to end the chat at this moment was certainly not without cause—

After ten long years, the warrior who had gone out to adventure finally returned home, covered in scars and medals.

Seeing his hometown, which had changed drastically in ten years, the warrior, who had traveled with Fu Fu Lamei, couldn't help but be startled; seeing his parents, nearly sixty years old yet still robust, he couldn't help but be startled again.

Of course, none of the surprises along the way compared to the two little ones being held in his parents' arms.

"... Are these really not children you adopted?"

The burly warrior, standing over two meters tall, carefully held the two children and couldn't help but pose a soul-searching question to his parents.

The smile on the Old Village Chief's face froze, then he said grumpily, "Don't imagine things; they are truly your younger brother and sister!"

Dai Meng still looked full of suspicion: "But you two..."

The Old Village Chief glared at him and kicked his son in the waist with his foot.

But the burly Dai Meng was clearly not someone he could shake; facing his father's kick delivered with all his might, Dai Meng's figure didn't even waver, and the children in his arms didn't feel the slightest vibration.

"Father, be careful not to frighten your sister!"

"Hmph!"

The Old Village Chief reluctantly put his leg down, then stared at Dai Meng and said, "Remember, this is a gift from my lord, not something you can question!"

My lord?

Dai Meng was stunned for a moment.

The Old Village Chief seemed to remember something and said cheerfully, "Now that one-fifth of the walls of Jifeng City has been built, I am preparing to form a City Guard for my lord; since you have returned..."

Before he could finish speaking, Dai Meng frowned.

The Old Village Chief also noticed that his son did not seem willing to serve my lord, so he coughed twice and quickly changed the subject: "Since you are back, rest at home first; after dinner, come with me to pay respects to my lord!"

"..."

Dai Meng's frown eased, and he nodded.

Even if his father hadn't said it, he would have gone to the castle to deliver Fu Fu Lamei's greetings to that lord he had never seen.

Compared to ten years ago, Shibao had undergone some slight changes.

Although the dome above remained towering and the Shibao Hall remained magnificent, the stone pillars on both sides were no longer as empty as they once were.

In addition to many exquisite carvings on the stone pillars themselves, the bronze candlesticks had been replaced by crystal chandeliers shimmering with magical light.

Between the stone pillars lay a long red carpet, flanked by two rows of soldiers over two meters tall, clad entirely in plate armor.

The silver armor on these soldiers was inscribed with profound runes; they wore wolf-head greatswords at their waists and held long spears, standing like sculptures with the cold spear tips pointing directly at the dome above.

Judging by the blue magical light burning in their eyes, these were by no means human soldiers, but powerful magic puppets.

'With things like this, is there any need for you to form a City Guard?'

Dai Meng's lips twitched, and he couldn't help but cast a questioning glance at his father beside him.

At this moment, the Old Village Chief had changed into a decent robe.

Facing his son's questioning, his expression was solemn on the surface, but he felt nothing but contempt in his heart.

Whether it was needed was one thing, but whether to do it was another...

Indeed, this fellow had wandered outside for ten years, yet he was still as childish as before!

Just then, a familiar footstep sound came from behind the crystal throne at the end of the red carpet.

The old village chief's expression tightened; he immediately pulled his son down to one knee, lowered his head and eyes, and respectfully said, "My Lord—".

Before the words had finished, the figure ahead appeared before the two as if by teleportation.

An invisible force surged forth from nowhere, forcibly lifting them up so they could look directly at the elven youth in black robes standing before them.

... What?!

Dai Meng, forcibly held aloft, was shocked in his heart, but before he could react, he met the eyes of the young lord, black as night.

Seeing the My Lord appear without following the usual protocol, the old village chief's face could not help but show a look of helplessness.

"My Lord, according to the rules, you should..."

"Enough, enough!"

Lin Yu waved his hand carelessly: "What rules? Here, my word is the rule."

"... Yes."

The old village chief sighed and responded respectfully.

Lin Yu turned his head, looked at the tall warrior who still did not understand the situation, and said with a smile: "Only I live in this place; all this pomp is just for show and has no actual function."

"Under normal circumstances, I receive your father in the study behind."

"This time, your father insisted on meeting me in the main hall; I agreed only reluctantly, for your sake..."

Hearing Lin Yu's so frank words, the old village chief's face turned red; he clearly felt he could not hold his ground.

Lin Yu did not care; his gaze traveled over the tall warrior before him, sizing him up from head to toe, before he asked with a smile:

"You are Dai Meng?"

(End of this chapter)