"Old Chen, why are you back so early?"
The other security guard, who was looking down at his phone, raised his head and asked when he saw the stout security guard return.
Due to long periods of sitting and their age, they would stroll around the neighborhood every so often, partly for relaxation and partly for patrols.
Of course, such a large residential area definitely had more than just the two of them; however, the younger ones patrolled at fixed times each day.
"Just met the owner of building 12, unit 2408. He said his cat is missing." Old Chen said as he opened the computer monitor.
...
"Mo Yu? Hurry up and come out, we're going home."
Liu Nanfeng searched around the flower bed but received no response. He then looked up at the floor above, finding no obstructions.
"This is really weird." Liu Nanfeng had no choice but to give up.
After thinking for a moment, he pulled out his phone and called Su Jinxiu.
"Mo Yu is missing?" Su Jinxiu was also quite surprised to hear this.
She too recalled Mo Yu's mysterious origins.
"Tell me in detail how it went missing."
So Liu Nanfeng recounted the entire incident.
Su Jinxiu couldn't help but furrow her brows upon hearing this.
"I'll be back immediately."
She hung up the phone.
"Sister, what happened?" Su Huamei asked with some confusion.
"Mo Yu is missing. I'm going back to take a look. You stay here and watch, I'll be back soon." Just as Su Jinxiu was about to untie her apron, the doorbell rang.
Dragon King Ao Xingyun entered from outside, but this time, he didn't bring his son; instead, he brought his daughter, Ao Jiangyue.
"Madam Liu, pardon the intrusion." The old Dragon King greeted with a smile as soon as he entered.
Su Jinxiu hadn't expected Ao Xingyun to arrive so quickly, but this also indirectly proved their determination to obtain the Dragon Gate.
"Welcome, please come in and have a seat." Su Jinxiu quickly invited them in.
At the same time, she signaled Su Huamei with her eyes to call Liu Nanfeng back, as she couldn't return for the time being.
The two found empty seats and sat down. Ao Jiangyue placed the box she had been holding on the table.
"I don't have tea here, only coffee. What would you like to drink?" Su Jinxiu walked over and asked.
"A glass of plain water, please. I really can't get used to coffee," the old Dragon King said with a smile.
He was as amiable as a grandfather from next door.
"A glass of plain water for me too," Ao Jiangyue also said.
"Alright, please wait a moment." Su Jinxiu turned and went to the bar to pour them a glass of water before sitting down beside them.
"Madam Liu, why don't I see your husband?" the old Dragon King asked after taking a sip from his cup.
"He's resting at home today and not with us."
The old Dragon King sighed upon hearing this and then said, "Yesterday was a bit rushed, and I wanted to chat with him."
"How about I call him over?"
"No, no, it's fine if he's not here. Coincidentally, I have something I'd like to say to Madam Liu," the old Dragon King said hurriedly.
Su Jinxiu was very surprised but still politely said, "Please speak your mind, Old Dragon King."
"I heard that Madam Liu has always wanted a child and has been searching for the whereabouts of the Yunmu Grass," the old Dragon King suddenly said.
Su Jinxiu did not deny it, nodding directly. This was not a secret; she had been extensively searching for the Yunmu Grass for years and had inquired with many demons. It was not surprising that the old Dragon King knew something.
"My eldest daughter-in-law's bloodline is inherited from an ancient divine deer, making her naturally sensitive to spiritual plants. Many years ago, she found a stalk of Yunmu Grass, which she intended to use herself. However, if the Dragon Gate is retrieved, this item will naturally be useless."
The old Dragon King spoke as if discussing something unrelated, but the meaning of his words was already very clear.
As long as Su Jinxiu helped him retrieve the Dragon Gate, he was willing to offer the Yunmu Grass as a reward. This immediately captured Su Jinxiu's heart; frankly, she was tempted.
However, she still had some doubts.
"Since it was obtained many years ago, why hasn't it been used?"
"Because it was weak," the old Dragon King said matter-of-factly.
Then, the old Dragon King explained the reason.
Children born from the Dragon race and any other race are considered sub-dragons. Sub-dragons become true dragons after being refined by the Dragon Gate.
Therefore, in the absence of the Dragon Gate, consuming Yunmu Grass to suppress one's own bloodline and give birth to a pure-blooded dragon is also a good option.
However, this also indicated that the old Dragon King's eldest daughter-in-law was very powerful, even stronger than the Crown Prince of the Dragon race, which is why Yunmu Grass was needed.
The Dragon King said this because although sub-dragons have impure bloodlines, they usually possess innate divine abilities.
For example, the Dragon King's nine sons each possessed a unique innate ability.
After leaping over the Dragon Gate and purifying their bloodlines, they became even more powerful.
Moreover, the old Dragon King's eldest daughter-in-law, Lu Caiwei, possessed an incomparably noble bloodline, not much weaker than the Dragon race's bloodline, and perhaps even superior. The sub-dragons born from their union would inevitably be incredibly powerful, and after being refined by the Dragon Gate, they would undoubtedly become powerful dragons. It had to be said that the old Dragon King's calculations were quite shrewd.
"I asked my husband, and he doesn't remember anything related to the Dragon Gate. After all, his reincarnation completely wiped his memory."
Su Jinxiu did not hide anything, as Ao Haiping had already recognized Liu Nanfeng's identity, and there was no point in continuing to conceal it.
"I know, which is why we brought this item today."
Ao Xingyun finished speaking and gestured to Ao Jiangyue, who was sitting opposite him.
Ao Jiangyue pushed the box on the table towards Su Jinxiu.
Su Jinxiu glanced at the two of them. Seeing their calm expressions, she wasted no time and opened the box.
Inside the box lay an unnamed ancient book, its four corners even slightly tattered, appearing very unremarkable.
However, upon closer inspection, one immediately felt a sense of disorientation, as if countless images were flowing across the cover.
Su Huamei reacted decisively, closing the box with a snap to shield her eyes.
"The Book of Three Lives?"
Su Jinxiu's excitement was evident on her face.
She had been searching for a way to help Liu Nanfeng recover his past life memories, even going so far as to steal the Samsara Mirror from Mao Yanfang, the mountain god of Mount Mao.
"Yes, with this book, I believe it won't be difficult for Husband Liu to recover his past life memories," the old Dragon King said with a smile.
However, Su Jinxiu felt some concern.
"Although the Book of Three Lives is good, it might not necessarily restore Feng Zhirun's memories."
The Book of Three Lives doesn't mean it can directly restore memories from three lives; rather, it can restore memories from any one of the last three reincarnations.
Moreover, Feng Zhirun passed away over three hundred years ago, so it's likely that he has undergone more than three reincarnations.
Therefore, the Book of Three Lives is not as effective as the Samsara Mirror, which can trace memories back life by life.
"Strong individuals like Feng Zhirun would have difficulty reincarnating immediately even if they entered the cycle of reincarnation. They usually linger for a long time, their cultivation being slowly worn away before re-entering the cycle," the old Dragon King stated with great certainty.
Su Jinxiu was truly unaware of these secrets of reincarnation.
The old Dragon King continued, "Furthermore, although the Book of Three Lives only restores memories from one life, it will inevitably restore the most brilliant and dazzling life, because such a life, in the river of time, must have been as dazzling as a pearl, and eventually, it will be illuminated by the Book of Three Lives."
What the old Dragon King said was well-reasoned and convincing.
Su Jinxiu fell silent.
Ao Xingyun chuckled and stood up.
"Madam Liu, we shall take our leave."
With that, he stood up and walked towards the door, not even looking at the Book of Three Lives on the table. Ao Jiangyue quickly stood up and followed him.
Su Jinxiu remained silent and did not rise to see them off, merely staring at the Book of Three Lives on the table, lost in thought.