CHAPTER 79: TROUBLESHOOTING...

Across the pristine white hallway, a young lady with sharp-cut bangs and a ponytail sprinted through, staggering and nearly collapsing. She bore a bandage on her neck and several more on her thighs.

She steadied herself as she halted before the door at the end of the immaculate corridor. She cleared her throat and straightened, clutching a tablet in her hand.

Then she knocked gently before turning the door handle.

As she entered, a bright, expansive room unveiled itself before her. In the center of the room, on a raised platform, sat a sleek, cutting-edge capsule.

A young man with long hair—currently facing a mirror and fastening his wristwatch after donning his fine black suit—spoke without glancing in her direction.

"I suppose you’re finally ready to quit."

The young man finished adjusting his wristwatch and eventually turned.

The lady dropped to her knees immediately.

"No, sir! I would never dare. I have momentous news, sir."

Yinhui regarded her with an indifferent, dark gaze. He extended his long fingers.

"What news?"

The lady scrambled toward him and thrust the tablet above her head.

"Player Cien. I have finally found him."

Yinhui’s eyes widened. He seized the tablet from her and examined it.

On the screen was the video that Yinhui had uploaded. He watched it for a few seconds, his expression brimming with disdain, then he looked at her.

And kicked her leg.

"What is this nonsense? Have you also come to slap me in the face with how awesome he is? Just like the game and everyone else does?!"

Ruiyi trembled. She tried to cradle her leg while attempting to respond.

"No, sir! Not at all, sir! I apologize, sir!"

He gestured at her with the digital tablet.

"Then what is this supposed to mean? Huh? Where is Player Cien? Or do you think I didn’t know he released a damn video?"

She shook feverishly.

"I know... I had the video’s IP address traced, sir. I was able to determine where he posted the video from."

Her voice quavered.

"H...H...However, th...there is a problem."

Yinhui’s gaze seemed to cool slightly. He adjusted his tie.

"What problem?"

Ruiyi hesitated, but she knew each passing second of silence was like a death sentence. She eventually exhaled and said:

"The location... is your grandmother’s house."

Yinhui’s gaze turned grim.

"What?"

Ruiyi squeezed her eyes shut, bracing for another blow or slap. But one second, two seconds, three—nothing came.

She slowly opened her eyes, one after the other, peeking first before opening them fully.

Yinhui had staggered backward, a dark and menacing scowl etched on his face.

Ruiyi could see that this had enraged him far more than she had calculated. She was already prepared to endure the beating of her life.

However, what she never imagined was that Yinhui wouldn’t actually strike her—that he would be too shaken by the news to hit her.

She didn’t know what exactly had transpired with his grandmother, but whatever it was had occurred before Yinhui became a Cultivator and founder of the largest sect in Evolution Online and in the world.

He turned and stared at the mirror. At that moment, she made sure to keep her head bowed.

A moment later, she heard the sound of glass shattering. Her shoulders trembled.

Yinhui finally turned back and spoke.

"Get the car ready. Also send word to the External Disciples who are willing to be promoted. I need help doing a very dirty job. Whoever accomplishes it gets a free pass to becoming an Inner Disciple."

He cleaned the blood from his hand and discarded the handkerchief.

"Let’s go. I need to pay my grandmother a visit after so long."

Ruiyi scrambled to her feet and hurried after him as he walked out.

***

Lucien opened his eyes to a dim room—not entirely dark. Rays of light slipped through the shuttered windows and closed doors, but the room’s brownish accents and theme cast everything in shadow.

He could hear the soft chirps of birds and muted voices laughing outside.

Last he remembered, he was at the cave. Why was he suddenly on a wooden bed with straw matting?

Also, he could log in, which meant he had logged out. However, he didn’t remember logging out.

Lucien stood and first opened the window. From his vantage point, he could see the field that separated the town from the mountains beyond.

It was green and fresh, and a couple of kids along with a woman were playing on the field.

He raised a brow and barely a second later realized the woman was Elara.

"They seem quite happy."

He muttered to himself with a subtle smile.

"And why are you smiling?"

The voice startled him so badly he nearly sent his sword hand flying backward, only to stop and see Gayanna sitting on a chair with one leg crossed over the other.

And her arms folded.

"Ga...ya. When did you get here?"

Lucien didn’t think he remembered seeing her when he woke up.

She slowly stood and marched closer to him. With each step she took, Lucien suddenly had a bad premonition—and it wasn’t just him.

[Predator’s Instinct is detecting a large amount of killing intent]

"Gaya... I don’t know why you look like you want to kill me, but you’re gonna have to chill out a bit, okay?"

Gayanna stopped... and smiled.

Lucien nodded.

"Good, good. You’re doing great."

All of a sudden...

[Predator’s Instinct is detecting a large amount of killing intent]

[You are advised to flee!]

Gayanna’s hand shot out before he could blink. Lucien had shifted into defense mode. However, the hand merely landed on his hair and gently stroked it.

She was forcibly smiling.

"Lord Cien. You must have strained yourself terribly. You must have been bleeding in your head. Your bones are structured in the wrong places—can I help you reset them?"

Lucien stared at her strangely.

"This is so unlike you. Why are you holding back so much? If you want to say something, I think you should just say it."

Gayanna’s eyes widened. Her grin too.

"I have your permission to do anything I want?"

Lucien frowned.

"Isn’t that what you’ve been doing all along?"

Gaya raised her head.

"Do. I. Have. Your. Permission?"

Lucien nodded.

"Yes, you do."

Gayanna’s grin turned wicked. Her hand flew and bludgeoned into Lucien’s belly.

He doubled over and coughed up spit.

[You have taken damage]

[You have lost 1,344 health points]

She clenched her fist again and prepared for another punch.

"You must think you have nine lives. Let me help you spend them."