Master of Monster Synthesis

Yu Shusheng ignored Qin Shou and simply stared blankly at Leng Xinlan's delicate face, his voice trembling.

"You... you're still... just like before..."

Leng Xinlan thought for a moment. This person seemed somewhat familiar, but she couldn't quite recall where she had seen him.

She nodded slightly, treating it as a greeting.

At his age, still only at the Vajra Nine Stars level—if not for Qin Shou's introduction, she typically wouldn't bother with someone of this caliber.

Seeing this, Yu Shusheng's face dimmed, and he staggered back a few steps, grieving quietly to himself.

As expected, she doesn't remember me.

"Ahem!"

At this moment, Qin Shou covered his mouth and coughed softly, leaning in closer to Yu Shusheng.

"Principal, Principal, wake up! What's going on? Do you two know each other?"

The flames of gossip in his heart were already blazing brightly.

Yu Shusheng came back to his senses, while Leng Xinlan had no desire to elaborate.

She turned to Qin Shou and said, "Xiao Shou, Principal Qin told me before leaving that the aftermath of Dragon Island would be fully entrusted to you. What should we do now?"

Qin Shou stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Hmm... temporarily seal Dragon Island. First, gather all the mechanical monsters on the island and send them to the Beast Cultivation Main City."

With so many people around, Qin Shou couldn't outright say that all these mechanical monsters were his now.

After all, reputation must still be maintained.

Sending them to the Beast Cultivation Main City or the System Space made no real difference.

Passing off trivial authority as grand power—this wasn't the first time he had done it.

Leng Xinlan nodded and raised her communicator to issue orders.

Meanwhile, Yu Shusheng noticed Leng Xinlan's obedience to Qin Shou and suddenly his eyes lit up.

He pulled Qin Shou aside and asked in a low voice, "Qin Shou, are you and Miss Leng Xinlan close?"

Qin Shou glanced up at the sky and replied coolly, "Of course, she's Xiao Bai's aunt. We're on very good terms."

Yu Shusheng's face grew more and more animated. "Then, then, then... Qin Shou, could you help me..."

"Nope!"

Qin Shou waved him off, cutting him short with a shoulder nudge, his expression odd.

"Principal, so the goddess you've been pining for all this time is Leng Xinlan, huh? Your taste is really..."

"Really what?"

Yu Shusheng's face darkened, as if ready to roll up his sleeves and throw a punch if Qin Shou said something unpleasant.

Qin Shou raised an eyebrow. "Nothing, just that great minds think alike."

"Think alike?"

Yu Shusheng thought it over, then suddenly grabbed Qin Shou by the collar, furious.

"You little punk, what do you mean by that? You can't even spare Miss Leng... are you even human?"

Qin Shou shrugged, looking innocent. "Principal, what did I say? Can't you tell I was complimenting your taste?"

"Really just that?" Yu Shusheng slowly let go, still suspicious.

Qin Shou's eyes gleamed with sincerity. "Of course! I'm too young to understand sugar momm— cough, cough, I mean, the affairs of adults like you."

Yu Shusheng snorted. "It better stay that way. So, are you going to help me or not? You'll be rewarded if you do."

Qin Shou held his face, grimacing. Reward? What reward could you even offer?

"Principal, it's not that I don't want to help, but you're letting yourself down!

Look how old you've gotten, and then look at her—she's so well-maintained, anyone would mistake her for a girl in her twenties. And besides, she's an Unbreakable Realm Five-star powerhouse. Do you think there's even a chance between you two?"

Qin Shou shook his head repeatedly, looking up at the sky and sighing. "Since ancient times, deep passion only results in endless regrets. This sorrow, forever unending..."

Yu Shusheng: "..."

"You little punk, stop overthinking things! I just want a photo to make up for past regrets. Whether there's a chance or not, I'm clear on that. Who asked for your commentary?" Yu Shusheng grumbled lowly.

"Oh... so it's like that. You scared me for a second there."

Qin Shou chuckled awkwardly. "But I still can't help you."

"Why?"

"Because I haven't heard the story of how things went between you two back in the day. And I'm really curious."

"You... don't push your luck, kid!"

"Haha, Principal, you've just met me today, haven't you?"

"You... just watch if I don't pound some sense into you..."

"Hey, hey, hey, no violence! You can't beat me anymore now."

Yu Shusheng felt like weeping but had no tears, looking to the sky and lamenting how unlucky he was in choosing people...

...

The situation on Dragon Island was resolved, and the mechanized students began sending messages home to reassure their families.

However, due to their mechanical transformation, they were temporarily too afraid to return, fearing how people might look at them differently.

Until the authorities officially announced the success of the mechanical system, they could only be temporarily accommodated on small islands near Dragon Island.

Handling the remaining matters on Dragon Island would also take some time to complete.

At a temporary Dragon Island outpost, Yu Shusheng found Qin Shou.

He looked hesitant. "Qin Shou, I heard from a survivor of the Demonic Group that you... abandoned Yi Chuan?"

Qin Shou fiddled with a virtual interface of mechanical blueprints and replied casually, "Principal, Yi Chuan drove me away. I didn't abandon him, so don't go accusing innocent people."

He suddenly turned his head and looked at Yu Shusheng, asking, "Principal, do you think I'm a good person?"

Yu Shusheng immediately shook his head. "No, not a good person—don't even count as a bad one."

Qin Shou twitched at the corner of his mouth. "Heh, Principal, since you know it so well, why ask me about this?

Yi Chuan is a naive and kind person. But differences of path make us unwilling to walk together. Opportunities don't wait, and there's no medicine for regret in this world. I also don't have much patience..."

"What are you trying to say?" Yu Shusheng interrupted.

Qin Shou stood up, his smile slowly vanishing.

"What I'm saying is, Yi Chuan is just an irrelevant person."

After speaking, Qin Shou cast a meaningful glance at Yu Shusheng before turning and walking away.

As he watched Qin Shou's receding back, a trace of fear appeared in Yu Shusheng's eyes.

"So this... is his true self!" he murmured under his breath.

...

In the Capsule Assembly Hall, a group gathered in the main chamber.