CHAPTER 1153: SECTION 711: NARROW ESCAPE (PART TWO)

When Sage Yu arrived on the aircraft, he fell silent as he looked at the Chaos heads piled up like a small mountain. After a while, he awkwardly chuckled, "The City Guardian of New Hangzhou underestimated the number of heads. I assure you, in the name of a sage, the rewards for these heads will be tripled, and if New Hangzhou’s brood stock is insufficient, New Azura can supply five thousand more piglets."

"Thanks to Sage Yu." Malin never misjudged New Hangzhou’s officials—if it were him, he wouldn’t believe that such a small Dark Zone could contain nearly six thousand Chaos heads.

All these Chaos came through the rifts, and Malin, through Salis, could confirm that about seven lucky ones had escaped. But in the Dark Zone, Chaos is not at the top of the food chain, with far too many beings capable of putting them to death. Moreover, Malin instructed Shen Wansan to order that each lucky one would have a corresponding hunting squad responsible, and the top four would get extra portions.

Within the Awakeners, extra portions work far better than money.

This time, when Sage Yu came, Malin specifically took him to revisit the city. To describe it as ever-changing might be an exaggeration, but it’s always impressive to Sage Yu after a short absence.

"I don’t know if we can have that old lady teach the orphans of New Hangzhou." Sage Yu, looking at the situation of the old director in the courtyard, muttered to himself and then sighed afterward, "Let me take that back. This is the opportunity for the Awakeners, not for us."

"No, I think you can try, but I hope you can add a comparison target." Malin gestured for Sage Yu to follow him.

"What do you mean, Mr. Malin?" Sage Yu followed Malin out of the courtyard.

"What I mean is, for humans, bring two groups of children, one group of normal orphans and one group of intellectually disabled. I know this damned world; the latter rarely makes it, but I think in a vast place like Thainan, we can find some. I want to know if my old director... can treat them equally." To Malin, it was remarkable that the old director could enlighten mutated biohumans, and it would be a great thing if he could enlighten these defectives.

"Leave it to me, but I’ll need at least a week." Sage Yu expressed no objections.

Malin naturally expressed his understanding, simultaneously taking him to the infirmary to meet that unlucky group of Adventurers—information from Zhang Minghe, already sent back by Malin, revealed that the seemingly youthful captain was an Awakener of elven bloodline. Despite appearances, the man was already eighty-five, possessing the Transcendent abilities of a Sword Dancer.

Unfortunately, he encountered a Chaos squad; a Sword Dance and double fists were no match for hundreds of weapons. Leading the team out of the encirclement was already his best effort.

"You’re lucky." Sage Yu seemed acquainted with the Half-blood, whose mouth Malin had knocked all teeth out, the latter’s whole face swollen but still smiling like a blooming pig head—according to the guy himself, he sealed his soul with the best hope that his elders could retrieve his soul stone afterward. Though it couldn’t bring him back to life, at least it could allow him to return to the underworld and reincarnate again.

Who would’ve thought they’d encounter a Legendary Lord, who, with one Sacred Punch, not only expelled the Chaos Wraith from his body but also saved his life.

Although he lost his full set of teeth, it’ll be excruciating to undergo the Tooth Growth Spell Formation later, but at least he’s alive, right?

Then he shook hands with the remaining young people one by one and finally came to the Immortal Master young lady, who seemed full of curiosity.

"Little Grandpa!" To Malin’s surprise, the young girl called Sage Yu that.

"This time, if it weren’t for Lord Malin, you’d be dead, you little brat." Sage Yu didn’t respond further, merely saying in a very light, cold tone.

The little girl hung her head, showing a very aggrieved demeanor.

After they left, Malin expressed a certain curiosity.

"I knew you would be curious; this story begins long ago. My family is the most renowned Immortal Master family in New Azura. My father, before having me, had seventeen children from four wives. My brothers and sisters were all incredibly powerful Immortal Masters, but I... I was disabled. Hence, I was no longer a family member but was sent to the previous Sage Yu."

Through Sage Yu’s narration, Malin understood his experiences; he had known his true surname since childhood, knowing where he came from.

After he became a sage, his parents indeed came to apologize in person, and Sage Yu was willing to forgive them. Everything seemed to settle down peacefully.

But Malin realized that Sage Yu never truly forgave him or her.

After all, just because he had no Transcendent abilities, his family abandoned him. If it weren’t for the previous Sage Yu, who knows how twisted a child Sage Yu might have become.

"I know... A family can’t support a useless person; not discarding or disposing of me was already a very merciful thing." Sage Yu walked ahead, seemingly in a bad mood: "But... since I have memories, I never felt love from my father or mother. They hated me, hated me for my lack of abilities... I clearly remember they were happy when they sent me away."