Chapter 408: Bored to the Point of Sickness

Ning Qing fetched two cups of hot water, then took a jar out of the refrigerator and scooped a large spoonful of autumn pear paste into each.

She then began to stir them.

Chen Shu silently came up behind her, staring at her back.

"Clink, clink, clink..."

The small iron spoon collided with the cup walls, producing a crisp sound that drifted through the autumn afternoon.

Ning Qing sensed his approach; she could even picture in her mind his stealthy, shifty-eyed appearance. She sighed inwardly, put down the spoon, and turned around before he could press against her. With a look that seemed indifferent but was actually helpless, she questioned:

"What do you want to do again?"

"I want to cuddle."

"..."

The honest answer gave Ning Qing a headache, so she had to change the subject and asked, "Why did you run over here again?"

"I'm so bored."

"If you're really that bored, go work on your graduation project."

"Then I'd rather stay bored."

"..." Ning Qing was silent for a few seconds before asking again, "Aren't you scrolling through your short videos?"

"I don't want to anymore. There are too many contrarians online. They argue every single day; if it's not one thing, it's another. They argue about men's rights, then they argue about women's rights. Plus, there are so many ads. It's annoying as hell."

"Are you bored to the point of getting sick?"

"You're the one who's bored to the point of getting sick..."

"..."

"Not talking again? Mute again."

"You talk so much; in the coming centuries, I might be annoyed to death by you." Ning Qing handed him one of the cups of water mixed with autumn pear paste.

"Fine! You find me annoying, you already find me annoying. What will it be like in the future? You heartless woman!" Chen Shu took the cup, feigned anger, and turned to leave. He felt that the sister-in-law was better; the sister-in-law never found him annoying.

"Xiaoxiao..."

"Hmm?"

"Come here, let's chat."

"Oh."

The little girl walked over obediently and stood by his side.

When her brother-in-law spoke, she was responsible for listening.

However, she kept a straight little face the entire time, her two hands twisted together in front of her, wringing them back and forth, her eyeballs darting everywhere. When her brother-in-law asked her something, she answered honestly; when he didn't ask, she didn't make a sound, occasionally replying with a monosyllable. She wasn't like her sister, who would simply ignore him, and she didn't feel he was annoying—or perhaps she did, but just didn't say it out loud.

Time passed slowly.

Her sister walked over and saved her:

"Go do your homework!"

"..."

For a moment, she didn't know which was more unbearable.

But glancing at her brother-in-law, who didn't seem to have any intention of starting a great battle with her sister for her sake, the little girl hesitated for a moment, then chose to leave under the oppressive might of the Demon King Sister and returned to her room to do her homework.

Only Chen Shu was left by the stone table again.

"Sigh..."

Chen Shu took out his Mobile Phone and opened the silly group chat.

Qingcai Keke: So bored.

Qingcai Keke: May I ask you experts, how did you all spend the time right after leaving school?

Gate of All Wonders: Cultivating, spamming the group, cracking melon seeds.

Green Lamp Ancient Buddha: Cultivating, spamming the group, cracking melon seeds.

Haoran Zhengqi: Cultivating, spamming the group, cracking melon seeds.

"..."

Come to think of it, whether it was the group owner's fifth year or the Buddhist-Daoist duo's fifth year, those were the peak seasons for gossip in the group.

Qingcai Keke: Sounds very fulfilling.

"Buzz, buzz."

Just call me Luo Huaian: Fighting in wars, killing people.

"..."

How did something so strange get mixed in?

Qingcai Keke: /complex expression

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: Cultivating, binge-watching dramas, binge-watching anime.

Qingcai Keke: Recommend a good, mindless drama, anime is fine too, for when I'm bored.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: "Kittens Are Always Like This."

Qingcai Keke: Already watched it.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: "If No One Sees It, It's Not Stealing."

Qingcai Keke: Already watched it.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs:...

Suddenly Closed Mouth Standing: Cultivating, enjoying the autumn.

Jiang Lai: Playing in tournaments.

"..."

How did another strange thing get mixed in?

At this moment, the Mobile Phone vibrated again—

Grandma Always Says: Diligently cultivating and preparing the thesis

Grandma Always Says: Only diligent cultivation created the youngest Seven-Tier Cultivator in the whole world, and only the day-and-night preparation of the thesis, with every word condensing my knowledge and heart's blood, created that excellent graduation thesis that shocked the ancient cultivation academic world and went viral on the internet.

Grandma Always Says: /I don't care, anyway my attitude is sincere

"..."

This thing is even stranger, okay?

At least that person didn't lie!

Chen Shu couldn't help it and typed rapidly.

Qingcai Keke: Do you dare to say that your thesis was completed entirely by yourself?

Grandma Always Says: I dare! Why wouldn't I dare?

Grandma Always Says: My thesis was completed entirely by myself.

Grandma Always Says: Not only do I dare to say it, I also dare to swear it.

Qingcai Keke: You say Yiguo people don't deceive Yiguo people.

One minute passed.

Three minutes passed.

Ten minutes passed.

No one in the group spoke.

"Buzz buzz."

Haoran: @Gate of All Wonders

Gate of All Wonders: @Grandma Always Says

Grandma Always Says: At work, a bit busy.

In the fragrance of rice flowers, one hears the sound of melon seeds being cracked.

After a string of emojis that looked like screen-spamming, the group owner sent a message first.

Haoran: It won't be boring for long.

Qingcai Keke:?

Qingcai Keke: You are a Seven-Tier Cultivator?

Haoran: Yes.

Qingcai Keke: Awesome.

Qingcai Keke: The group owner is still the group owner, catching up so quickly without even cheating.

Haoran: /cracking melon seeds

Just Call Me Luo Huaian: I am also almost a Seven-Tier Cultivator.

Gate of All Wonders: Me too.

Green Lamp Ancient Buddhist: Me too.

Beauty with Eight-Pack Abs: Me too.

Jiang Lai: Me too.

Grandma Always Says: /cracking melon seeds

Haoran: Stand guard properly.

Gate of All Wonders: Translation: This emoji does not belong to you.

Qingcai Keke: When will it start?

Haoran: Now all countries have discussed it, just waiting for the World Will to adjust the Predicted Timeline.

Qingcai Keke: Now the whole world is spreading rumors.

Haoran: Yes, the time spent haggling was too long, and several countries were not very tight-lipped, leading to the leak of information, but it doesn't matter, the problem is not big; under the joint search of the four major systems of Buddhist, Daoist, Heavenly Human, and Secret Sect, and under the all-out suppression by various countries, even if they learn the news in advance, it won't make much difference.

Qingcai Keke: Is there any news about Brother Wuming?

Haoran: Regrettably, not yet.

Qingcai Keke: /complex expression

Grandma Always Says: Then the question arises, when can that Predicted Timeline be adjusted?

Haoran: That would have to be asked of Zhaoyeqing.

Qingcai Keke: @Zhaoyeqing

Zhaoyeqing: By the end of this month.

Zhaoyeqing: Probably.

Qingcai Keke: Good, so you were looking at the messages! I thought you were so busy, ignoring me!

Zhaoyeqing: Don't want to ignore you.

Haoran: *Cough cough*

Haoran: You two can discuss such things in private chat.

"Swish!"

A white shadow jumped onto the wall, then jumped down from the wall, with a Fatty Sausage in its mouth, swaggering across the lawn.

This little thing can now easily climb walls and rooftops.

"Taozi!"

"Hm?"

"How much money have you owed the supermarket owner again this week?"

"Hmm-ying?"

"Stop 'hmm-ing' me..."

Watching this little thing's carefree appearance, Chen Shu felt a bit envious—he had been carefree when he was little, too; even if he did nothing all day long, he could still be very happy. But now that he was clearly idle, he felt bored instead.

After a brief silence, he said to Taozi, "Hurry up and undergo Transformation, I want to send you to kindergarten to ruin your carefreeness."

"Hmm-ne?"

"All you do is 'hmm'..."

"..."

Taozi looked at him in silence.

Is this human stupid? It was currently holding a Fatty Sausage in its mouth, so of course it could only 'hmm'. If it barked, wouldn't the Fatty Sausage fall to the ground?

However, this human had indeed been a bit stupid these past few days, often crowding in front of it, insisting on talking to it, and even pretending to understand what it said. The result was that the conversation process was completely wrong, or else it would forcibly pick it up and pet it for a while, which annoyed it to death.

It was best to stay away from him...

Taozi withdrew its gaze and, taking small, quick steps, ran toward the dining room.

"Don't go!"

"..."

"Come back!"

"..."

Taozi's small, quick steps moved even faster.

Chen Shu felt very helpless.

At this moment, his Mobile Phone vibrated again—

"Buzz, buzz."

It was a Feixin message from Teacher Shi Qian.

Shi Qian: Have you decided on your graduation thesis or project? It's about time to start settling on one.

Chen Shu: I haven't decided yet.

Shi Qian: You can start thinking about it.

Chen Shu: I plan to start from the Reverse Rune Principle. I was researching the Reverse Rune Principle a while ago, referencing the Lieyang Series Spell, but not involving the specific technology of the Lieyang Series Spell, just referencing it.

Shi Qian: Any progress?

Chen Shu: No.

Shi Qian: Then what have you been doing during this time?

Chen Shu: Being a salted fish.

Shi Qian:...

Shi Qian: If the Reverse Rune Principle can be figured out, whether it's the result or the theory, it would be quite remarkable.

Chen Shu: /It's too difficult.

Shi Qian: Do you have any ideas?

Chen Shu: A little bit.

Shi Qian: Think about it slowly.

Shi Qian: I'll help you stall for time.

Shi Qian: If it really doesn't work out by then, with your ability, you can just do anything and still get an excellent thesis.

Chen Shu: I think so too.

"Sigh..."

He couldn't help but let out a sigh.

These boring few days had originally felt hard to endure, but now that he had made up his mind to end them, he felt very reluctant.

He didn't want to return to a busy life.

Yet, he had no choice but to do so.

Chen Shu seemed to sense a gaze, and when he turned his head to glance, he saw Qingqing sitting on the swing, looking at him without blinking.

Chen Shu drank the rest of his autumn pear paste water in one gulp and said to her:

"I will still keep annoying you!"

Ning Qing pursed her lips, still staring at him, and did not speak.

She had long since gotten used to it.

In late September, there was a global joint anti-Fear operation.

For Chen Shu, who was in Yujing, the first thing he felt was the domestic action.

But in reality, the domestic action was not very large.

Although the Mengyue Sect had always acted low-key and had even obtained legal status in many countries and regions, they had long anticipated this day. They were not stupid enough to place their main strongholds within the borders of major powers, and after receiving the news earlier, they had withdrawn many members from all the major powers.

Only some stubborn ones remained, adhering to the philosophy of "I'll do whatever I want," and simply refused to leave; the Mengyue Sect could do nothing about them either.

Domestically, the main focus was on clearing out these people.

In terms of Yiguo's strength, it was almost effortless.

Many core members of the Mengyue Sect were even taken out as part of ordinary anti-gang and anti-crime sweeps. Those with big reputations could make the news, while those with small reputations were wiped out without a sound. Those lucky enough could go to court for trial and live a few more days; those unlucky enough were gone on the spot.

The main Battlefield was abroad.

Each country basically allocated tasks according to their sphere of influence—

Ordinary major nations with the capability are responsible for their own domestic affairs.

Most small nations in Xizhou are the responsibility of Lanya, most small nations in the Northern Continent are the responsibility of the Hanying Kingdom, and in Dongzhou there is only one Yaoguo, which handles its own affairs. The entire Zhongzhou is almost entirely under the influence of Dayi; for thousands of years, a pan-Chinese cultural sphere with the Middle Kingdom as its core has long since formed, and therefore all are the responsibility of Dayi.

In addition, Dayi is also responsible for several pro-Dayi nations in Xizhou, and responsible for two nations in the Northern Continent whose geographical locations are close to Zhongzhou.