Mini World Game Console

With Ren Suo's reassurance, the high school girl quickly calmed down.

After Qiao Muyi pulled her away and magically dried her clothes, she immediately realized that the two people before her were the legendary Transcendents.

Although Transcendents were now widely known, with plenty of their performance videos on YouTube, meeting one in real life was rare. It was much like knowing many idols and celebrities but never encountering them personally. Transcendents tended to cluster together. Moreover, in countries governed by Supernatural Forces, they usually didn't flaunt their supernatural abilities, so ordinary people rarely had the chance to see them up close.

Therefore, the high school girl's first reaction wasn't hard to guess. "Please, you must take a photo with me!"

She looked at them with wide, hopeful eyes, like someone seeing a giant panda for the first time, and pulled out her brick-like phone, weighing nearly half a pound—fortunately, her phone wasn't damaged; its waterproof feature was excellent.

Qiao Muyi directly declined, but Ren Suo accepted the request. He wore a face mask and a hood, concealing everything but his wisdom-filled eyes. With no other recognizable features, he had no reason to fear a photo.

After the photo, Ren Suo instructed her not to post the picture on social media for a week. The high school girl agreed, but she set the photo as her screensaver right in front of them, giggling foolishly.

A stir in her heart, Qiao Muyi glanced at Ren Suo's phone. Her smile gradually faded, and a faint sigh escaped her, tinged with unease.

However, this was a time for investigation, so Qiao Muyi quickly composed herself and asked the high school girl how she had been captured by the Water Ghost.

The high school girl said, "I had a club activity today and was walking home a bit late, so I took this shortcut. When I got here, the lake surface suddenly shimmered with light, reflecting the moon beautifully… Then, I don't know why, but I walked into the river."

Although Qiao Muyi had her suspicions, the high school girl's testimony confirmed that these Water Ghosts were indeed the Source of Disaster for the river. If they were mere monsters, they wouldn't possess such an alluring power; the minor creatures Ren Suo had easily dispatched certainly couldn't have wielded it. Conversely, I recall case files indicating that a Source of Disaster indeed has the ability to lure people into the water.

Through this conversation, Qiao Muyi's Detective's Eye faintly discerned a thread clinging to the high school girl. A flicker of pleasure touched her, but she maintained a calm expression as she asked, "Then do you know about the criminals the Martial Soul Hall killed here a few days ago?"

The high school girl nodded. "Yes, I do. I happened to pass by when they were fighting here. It was one evening when my club activities finished early, and I was heading home…"

Recalling the details of that day, the high school girl's eyes grew distant. Sitting on the grassy riverbank, she hugged her legs, carefully adjusting her just-above-the-knee skirt—to wear a skirt in such cold weather, Flourishing Sakura high school girls were really something else.

She gazed at the silver moon reflected in the dark river and whispered, "He was a fierce-looking man, with squinted eyes, a face full of acne, and a receding hairline. He probably wasn't much older than me… maybe even younger."

The high school girl pointed towards the river's edge. "After he fled to the riverbank and had nowhere else to go, he didn't surrender. Wielding two kitchen knives, he turned and charged at the Martial Soul Hall Warriors in their black protective suits. The fight was brief; his hands were soon severed by a Swordsman. Yet, clenching a kitchen knife in his teeth, he continued to charge at the warriors. He was very, very…"

"Brave."

Qiao Muyi repeated, "Brave?"

"Yes, he was brave," the high school girl's voice held a faint trace of admiration. "Covered in wounds, surrounded by enemies, with no way to retreat and no path forward—even in such a desperate situation, he still charged fearlessly, shouting something about the 'Demon King's Descent.' Even when his legs were severed at the end, he latched onto a warrior's throat with his teeth. He hung entirely in the air, but the warrior couldn't shake him off and was bitten to death—or so it seemed. Ultimately, however, the other warriors killed him."

Qiao Muyi glanced at the riverbank, an involuntary gasp escaping her. To face a hopeless situation, endure countless injuries, have limbs severed, yet still ferociously bite an enemy to death… No wonder this naive high school girl can't help but admire that criminal.

If I were pushed to such limits, could I do that?

Qiao Muyi quickly found her answer. No. I don't have that much courage or determination. I'm a girl too, and I'm afraid of pain.

At that moment, she glanced at Ren Suo, who seemed lost in thought. Another question popped into her mind. If Ren Suo were pushed to such limits… could he do that…?

Could he…?

Qiao Muyi paused, a sudden realization dawning on her. I was wrong. I answered the first question wrong. If the second question didn't have to arise, perhaps… I could do it. I definitely could.

"Of course, he deserved to die as well. I later saw on TV that, besides the Martial Soul Hall Warrior who died in the line of duty, the criminal had previously killed nineteen ordinary people… ACHOO!" The girl sniffled, covering her mouth as she sneezed. It seemed falling into the river had given her a cold. She nodded apologetically to Ren Suo and Qiao Muyi.

Ren Suo glanced at Qiao Muyi, who shook her head. He then said to the girl, "It's getting late. You should hurry home and be careful on your way. Oh, and about tonight's events and the photos—don't mention or post anything for a week. Got it? If you break that promise… well, we're Transcendents, you know."

Although she didn't know why they'd set a one-week limit, a week wasn't very long. Besides, the two Transcendents were her saviors. The high school girl nodded obediently, bowed her thanks, and quickly departed.

Qiao Muyi reactivated her Detective's Eye, tracing clues along the riverbank. She soon gathered a wealth of information about that evening's battle.

The man who charged to his death, like the high school boy killed by the Martial Soul Hall Warrior in the warehouse last night, showed no fear. His combat techniques were crude, yet he remained rational throughout…

He killed nineteen people, yet his mind didn't break and succumb to Demonic Possession… Though he had no prior experience in bloody combat, he possessed a will of steel…

Before dying, he too spoke of the Demon King's Descent. Clearly, he was one of the Demon King's Followers.

And the Source of Disaster in this river is connected to his death here… His blood flowed into the river, birthing the Source of Disaster. The Demon King's Followers are indeed significantly linked to Sources of Disaster.

When Qiao Muyi returned from her investigation, Ren Suo saw her pensive expression but didn't ask. He simply took her hand, and they hurried to catch the tram back to Sakado. It was getting very late; any longer and they'd miss the last one.

Upon returning to Ling Yin's home, they both called out, "We're home!" as they entered. Lingyin, dressed in loungewear, quickly stood up to greet them. After they settled in the living room, Lingyin informed them that due to the recent spate of murders in Tokyo, she had discreetly asked around at work. No one knew about any homicide at Hikawa Shrine, so it seemed Young Master Mu burning the pervert hadn't been exposed yet.

"The longer it drags on, the harder it will be to discover," Lingyin said with some relief. She had no sympathy for the pervert who had wanted to assault her. And if Young Master Mu were discovered, she might be dragged into legal trouble too. Naturally, she hoped the murder would become a cold case; it would be best if the dead pervert was simply declared missing—it wasn't unheard of for middle-aged men to vanish under overwhelming stress.

However, she noticed that neither Young Master Mu nor Xiao Suo seemed particularly happy, just offering polite smiles, which puzzled her slightly.

She didn't know the homicide case Qiao Muyi was now burdened with was far more serious than just killing one pervert. Ren Suo and Qiao Muyi naturally wouldn't care about such a trifle.

Lingyin asked where Ren Suo and Qiao Muyi had gone for fun. With a weight lifted from her mind, her eyes suddenly sparkled, and she said enthusiastically, "There are many hot springs around Saitama, from Owazamono to Chichibu. How about we pick a day to go relax in a hot spring?"

Heh, when we go on that hot spring trip, once everyone's in yukatas, I'll get you drunk. Let's see you resist me then!

Having worked all day, Lingyin's desire for Xiao Suo hadn't diminished; in fact, reason had only intensified it. Xiao Suo is a healing Transcendent! He's practically Prince Charming!

In Flourishing Sakura, doctors and lawyers were among the highest-paid professions. By analogy, a healing Cultivator should also be a talent with great prospects. If I can become Xiao Suo's wife, I'm sure I'll be set for life—even if it means going back to Mysterious Country with him! With money, it's the same anywhere!

If last night she was driven by passion, today Lingyin was spurred on by the prospect of a blissful life!

At this moment, Qiao Muyi tapped the table and asked in a peculiar tone, "Is it mixed bathing?"

Lingyin shook her head. "Very few, unless they're small bathhouses… and those places usually add separate women's baths as well. Mostly, only elderly ladies go to the mixed baths… Or you could stay at a hotel with private hot springs. Each suite has its own pool, so you can bathe however you like. Xiao Suo, do you prefer a large public bath or—"

"There are hotels with private hot springs?" Qiao Muyi interrupted Lingyin, her curiosity apparently piqued. Then she turned to Ren Suo and said, "You go take a bath first today."

"Alright," Ren Suo lazily put down his phone, went to the balcony to retrieve the underwear he'd hung out the previous night, and prepared for his bath.

Ren Suo suddenly realized something—it felt like ages since he'd last collected his own laundry! He kind of missed it!

Lingyin was eager to get closer to Ren Suo, but with Qiao Muyi persistently questioning her, she couldn't very well ignore her. So, she resigned herself to chatting with Qiao Muyi…

The night passed quickly, and the three of them retired to their respective rooms. Ren Suo, as usual, slept undisturbed on the tatami mats in the living room.

Lying in bed, Qiao Muyi placed her hands on her chest, closed her eyes, and began to circulate a secret art, using this brief respite to purify her negative emotions.

Today, she had been very happy.

The trip to Sensoji Temple: the Thunder Gate she'd seen, the ningyo-yaki she'd eaten, the hand-washing ritual, the fortune she'd drawn… and Ren Suo, her diligent and considerate guide.

Qiao Muyi didn't know if she would forget these things in the future, but as she recalled those moments now, an irrepressible joy naturally welled up in her heart.

The night's investigation had also gone smoothly. It was now almost certain that the Demon King's Followers were the ones creating the Sources of Disaster. If the investigation continued, they would sooner or later unmask the mastermind behind them.

And she'd properly handled that little vixen Ling Yin. HUMPH.

The only problem was…

Recalling the image on Ren Suo's phone screensaver, Qiao Muyi felt as if an invisible hand were squeezing her heart. She couldn't help but turn onto her side, her graceful body curling up like a snail retreating from reality.

As if sensing Tokyo's bone-chilling loneliness and cold, Qiao Muyi pulled the blanket tighter, forcibly emptied her mind, and slowly drifted to sleep…

「In the middle of the night, 3:32 AM Tokyo time, 2:32 AM Sky Capital time.」

Ren Suo awoke.

It wasn't his bladder, nor the need to log into a mobile game for an event or to collect expedition rewards. His body simply jolted him awake as if an internal alarm had sounded; he sat up, perfectly and utterly alert.

He rubbed his forehead, let out a couple of soft groans, then couldn't help but chuckle. So… no, it really is like this… 'Our sect senior is now a Great Warrior renowned throughout the Martial World'—so that's what it meant…

An image suddenly updated in Ren Suo's mind from "Xiao Suo's Secret Diary."

The scene was also late at night, in a city resembling a steel jungle, where only the neon lights of skyscrapers and the warm yellow glow of streetlights illuminated the roads. Though he didn't know which city it was, the sign 'HSBC Building' on a skyscraper told Ren Suo it had to be a city in Mysterious Country—perhaps even Lotus River.

At that moment, Ren Suo saw that a section of a road in the image had completely exploded. A massive fissure had seemingly torn open the highway, clearly exposing the subway station beneath. Fortunately, it was the dead of night. Even an incident of this magnitude merely forced a few cars to halt before the chasm, and the subway below was deserted.

However, those few cars were now frantically turning around to flee, because a grotesque giant of black fog was materializing above the crack!

This method of birth naturally reminded Ren Suo of one type of creature—a Source of Disaster.

But if there's no ongoing disaster, how can there be a Source of Disaster…?

Ren Suo examined the image carefully and immediately spotted the problem: the fissure in the ground was still deepening and expanding, now rapidly approaching a nearby skyscraper!

The supernatural magic causing the ground to crack was still active! If the fissure spread beneath the nearby buildings, destroying their foundations, the hundred-meter-tall structures would collapse… And one of those buildings right next to the chasm was residential!

A Source of Disaster born from such a cataclysm would also be extraordinary. A quick glance revealed the black fog giant was nearly as tall as the HSBC Building, easily one or two hundred meters high.

As an Extraordinary Creature, a Source of Disaster possessed an extremely bizarre structure. It could naturally adapt to physical laws, maintaining its colossal form while moving swiftly on the ground, its weight not causing the earth beneath it to buckle. Thus, this black fog giant's destructive potential was even more terrifying than the expanding fissure!

Ren Suo touched the cyan Mark on his left ring finger.

He knew, of course, what he had to do now.

"Xiao Suo's Secret Diary" had delivered the live scene right to him; it was as if Ren Suo could reach out and return to Lotus River. Casting distance was no longer an obstacle.

However…

"Whom should I choose?"

Ren Suo didn't have many options at present: the Fairy Palace Assassin was unsuited for such a large-scale confrontation, Zhao Zili wasn't skilled in combat, and the Collector, the Adventurer, Ilina, and Devouring the Spirit of the World were all 4-star characters he couldn't summon yet.

His only choices were the Truth Seeker, Ren Woxing, and the Mage Under the World Tree.

Wait… I can choose three game characters now, and in the game, I think I also summoned a sect senior three times…? Ren Suo sat up, leaning against the door. He looked up at the ceiling, rendered silvery-white by the moonlight, a thoughtful expression on his face. And aside from Ren Woxing, the other two are 3-star characters. They might advance to 4-star after a single use. Theoretically, the best arrangement would be for each of the three game characters to be deployed once.

What a perfectly orchestrated destiny…

Ren Suo lowered his head, gently stroking the cyan Mark on his ring finger. He closed his eyes and murmured softly, However, players are the kind of creatures who will meekly submit to destiny when it benefits them; but when it doesn't, they're willful enough to use cheat codes if necessary, just to trample destiny underfoot…

Thinking of the young lady, the true protagonist, sleeping behind the door, Ren Suo chuckled. I'll go along with your arrangement for now. But later, I'll find a way to get you back.

Despair, sadness, hate, anger.

Before her, an endless sea of angry enemies wielding weapons, their bloodshot eyes ferocious.

Behind her, a bottomless abyss, with mournful winds howling through the mountains.

Qiao Muyi looked around. No one stood beside her. It was as if only she, her enemies, and the turbid air, thick with all manner of negative emotions, existed in the entire world.

She wanted to flee but discovered that at some point she had been clad in a set of enormous, all-encompassing Black Armor.

The Black Armor was not only incredibly heavy but also lined with spikes on the inside. If she wanted to move or fight, she would have to allow herself to be thoroughly pierced by it, to accept a baptism of endless pain before she could wield its power.

As she hesitated, the enemies had already surrounded her and were charging.

Seeing their savage expressions and blood-red eyes, Qiao Muyi panicked for a moment, yet her heart recoiled violently from accepting the Black Armor.

The spikes within the armor, flickering with black flames, filled her with an immense, terrifying dread.

Just then, her gaze suddenly passed over the torrent of enemies before her and saw, in the far distance, two figures walking side by side towards a mountain peak.

At that moment, she suddenly found herself devoid of both fear and courage, standing dumbly within the Black Armor as the ferocious enemies swarmed her. Because she hadn't accepted the Black Armor, it offered her no protection. The sharp, vicious blades pierced it effortlessly, impaling her body from all directions—

Clutching her blanket tightly, Qiao Muyi jolted upright in bed, her body curled into a ball. A sound, as if squeezed from the deepest folds of her soul, escaped her throat: "Ren Suo!"

A goofy but kind and gentle voice came from behind the door, remarkably clear in the cold, silent Tokyo night: "I'm here."