Li Mei returned empty-handed after her investigation.
Lu Zhi had expected this and had packed his luggage before Li Mei's return.
The sound of a helicopter grew closer. Lu Zhi locked the door and turned. Li Mei was waiting by the side, looking bored. "If you're done packing, let's go," she said.
Lu Zhi nodded, took a deep breath, and got into the helicopter.
-
Nian Feng City.
Sui Xiang District, the base of the Kuang Ye Guild.
Lan Guo Guo, a sixteen-year-old boy lounging on a sofa, engrossed in his game, suddenly kicked the bald man sitting on the other sofa. "Big Wood, why haven't I seen Sister Mei Mei today?"
Mu Sen, nicknamed "Big Wood," looked at Lan Guo Guo with bloodshot eyes and sniffled. "W-what did you just ask me?"
Lan Guo Guo glanced at the family drama playing on the TV, his lips twitching. He rolled his eyes. "I asked why Sister Mei Mei went out so early this morning. It's almost night and she's still not back."
Mu Sen pulled out a tissue and dabbed his nose. "Isn't the boss always looking for his brother? Two days ago, Sister Mei Mei heard some news, but she was afraid it was false information spread by others. So, she went to investigate without telling the boss. She should be back soon."
Lan Guo Guo uttered an "oh" and then, hearing the sound of a helicopter, curiously put away his phone and sauntered out, hands in his pockets.
The helicopter landed in the guild's backyard. Lan Guo Guo immediately spotted Lu Zhi, whose back was to him, stepping out of the helicopter. Lu Zhi's delicate face was tightly drawn. When Lu Zhi turned and revealed his profile, Lan Guo Guo froze.
-
"Blech—" Lu Zhi never imagined he'd get motion sickness on a helicopter.
"Are you okay?" Li Mei hadn't expected Lu Zhi to be so delicate.
Lu Zhi waved his hand, his face already pale from blood loss. "I'm fine, just a little airsick."
He decided then and there that he would never ride in a helicopter again.
"Sister Mei Mei, you're back." A cool, swaggering voice sounded from behind them.
Lu Zhi turned and saw a sixteen-year-old boy with a handsome face, wearing a hooded short-sleeved sweatshirt. His hands were casually stuffed into his shorts pockets. His eyes, filled with hostility, stared at Lu Zhi, and his tone was clearly displeased. "Who is this guy?"
"Hehehe~" Li Mei proudly placed her hands on her hips and patted his shoulder. "You'll know tomorrow."
The DNA test results wouldn't be out until tomorrow. Although Lu Zhi's appearance was about seventy to eighty percent similar to Lu Cheng Xuan's, Li Mei felt it was better to wait for the test results before informing the captain, just in case.
Lan Guo Guo glared fiercely at Lu Zhi and said to Li Mei, "The results aren't out yet. Why did you bring him back to the guild?"
Li Mei blinked, tapped her head, and stuck out her tongue sheepishly. "Oops, I forgot. I brought him back, I can't just kick him out, right? Look, it's getting so late, and we haven't had dinner yet."
Lan Guo Guo's expression soured. "Anyway, we can only confirm if he's Brother Lu's brother after the results are out. There are plenty of hotels outside for him to stay in. I'll pay."
Lu Zhi raised an eyebrow. Why was this kid so hostile towards him? They were meeting for the first time, weren't they?
"You're right," Li Mei, being a bit stubborn but disliking trouble, said, "Guo Zi, I know you're afraid he's a骗子 (piàn zi - swindler), but he's only staying for one night. When the results come out tomorrow, if he's not the captain's brother, we can just kick him out then."
Lu Zhi: ... Is it really okay to say that in front of me?
Lan Guo Guo was about to say something more when Li Mei pushed him aside, changing the subject. "Alright, alright, everyone in the guild knows your little thoughts. I'm hungry, let's eat first." As she spoke, she beckoned Lu Zhi behind her.
Lu Zhi chuckled and shook his head. With a sense of curiosity, he followed the two into the Kuang Ye Guild, the basecamp for its core members.
It was worth noting that this book depicted a world of fantasy.
As night fell, Divine Blessing Cages would randomly descend. Those chosen by the cages would become divine apostles, and those who survived the cages would become demon hunters.
The cages were black cages bestowed by the gods. Within their coverage, all animals and plants would undergo evolution. The evolved animals were called Nightmare Beasts, and the evolved plants were called Demonic Flora.
After evolution, all Nightmare Beasts and Demonic Flora possessed special abilities. Nightmare Beasts were treasures, and their crystal cores were most important for enhancing the abilities of demon hunters. Demonic Flora could be used to refine medicine, and their fruits could even cure cancer.
However, the most crucial aspect was being recognized by the god who bestowed the cage, becoming a divine apostle.
And the guild was a massive organization formed by demon hunters. In Nian Feng City, the Kuang Ye Guild was one of the top ten guilds.
"Sister Mei Mei, you're back." Mu Sen's loud voice pulled Lu Zhi back from his thoughts.
Lu Zhi observed the Kuang Ye Guild dormitories. It was a three-story villa. The big guy with the red-rimmed eyes in front of him was likely Mu Sen.
Lu Zhi remembered this so clearly because, in the latter half of the book's plot, Mu Sen sacrificed himself to save people in a town.
"Hello, I'm Lu Zhi." Lu Zhi proactively greeted Mu Sen.
Mu Sen stood up from the sofa. He was nearly two meters tall, muscular, and robust. When he looked down at people, his fierce face was intimidating.
The next moment, Mu Sen broke into a simple, honest smile. "Oh, hello, hello. I'm Mu Sen. Welcome to the Kuang Ye Guild."
Lan Guo Guo walked over to Mu Sen and kicked him.
"Hiss~ What's wrong?" Mu Sen looked confused and didn't complete his handshake with Lu Zhi.
Lan Guo Guo's expression was sour. "You're blocking my way to the sofa."
Mu Sen, looking wronged, moved his backside that was blocking the path. He really wanted to point out that they could have just walked around.
Li Mei asked, "Are you hungry? I'm boiling noodles, do you want some?"
Lu Zhi offered a polite, faint smile, a hint of apprehension appearing in his eyes. "Yes, thank you."
Li Mei had one face for public and another in private. Although she appeared cool and mature outside, she was actually a naive sweetheart. Before heading to the kitchen, she instructed Mu Sen, "Sen Sen, could you show Lu Zhi to the guest room for the night?"
Mu Sen assumed Lu Zhi was a new guild member and immediately helped him with his luggage. "I'll help you. The guest room is this way."
"Thank you," Lu Zhi said, not being pretentious. The suitcase wasn't heavy anyway.
Lan Guo Guo snorted disdainfully, his face sour as he played his game. However, he stole a glance at Lu Zhi going upstairs and muttered, "I don't know what Sister Mei Mei is thinking, bringing him back before confirming anything."
Lu Zhi was unaware of Lan Guo Guo's hostility towards him. Mu Sen, on the other hand, was very friendly. It was hard to imagine that he would become one of the antagonists opposing the male protagonist in the future.
"Here, this is for you." Mu Sen handed him a bottle of stomach medicine.
Lu Zhi looked confused. "What is this..."
Mu Sen explained, "You're going to eat the noodles Sister Mei Mei personally cooked, right? I'm afraid you'll get a stomach perforation."
Lu Zhi: ... Is it really that exaggerated?
After Mu Sen left, Lu Zhi closed the door. He turned around, and his heart almost stopped from fright.
In the dim room, a pair of fiery golden eyes gleamed.