Mini World Game Console

On the night of November 24th, in an underground convalescent room of The Third Hospital Affiliated with Lianjiang City Medical University.

It was only when Dong Chengling arrived that she learned this was a "Transcendent facility" under the control of the Lianjiang Countermeasure System. This hospital, located in the suburbs, was established specifically for treating Awakeners, with a large number of underage patients among them.

Those who came to this type of hospital for treatment and rehabilitation were typically new Awakeners who had not received any Transcendent education. Once a new Awakener couldn't control their Transcendent Abilities and went berserk, they would be transferred to this hospital for 'waste treatment,' unless their actions were serious enough to warrant being taken away and executed on the spot.

The cultivators from the Tactical Bureau were reluctant to approach this hospital because it was equipped with a Scattered Spirit Formation. For new Awakeners, this formation was potent enough to make them revert entirely to ordinary people. Regardless of whether the Awakeners had lost their sanity from gaining power or had genuinely gone mad because of it, they had to obediently accept labor rehabilitation here. They also had to recognize the strength of the state's iron fist.

Only after these Awakeners had been 'reconditioned' and 'domesticated' would they be released for further processing. If Lin Xianyu hadn't Awakened in the academy, and if Ren Suo hadn't been at Heavenly Lotus Academy, her self-harming type of Awakening would most likely have also resulted in her being sent to this hospital for treatment.

Thus, this hospital served two functions: healing and imprisonment.

Dong Chengling had come to this hospital, but not, of course, to seek medical treatment.

She was now staying in a convalescent room on the third basement level. Aside from not seeing the sun, the hospital didn't slight her in the least. The room had a computer and a TV. The double bed was furnished with a Simmons mattress; the bathroom even had a large bathtub, and the toilet was an imported fully automatic cleaning model from Flourishing Sakura. Gaming consoles and other amenities were also fully provided. Dong Chengling could order from a menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Even if something wasn't on the menu, as long as she wanted it, the hospital was willing to order takeout to be delivered from the city.

The only things she couldn't do were leave the room and cultivate.

In her perception, if the normal world was an ocean of Spiritual Energy, and rooms where Spiritual Energy gathered were like ice coffins of Spiritual Energy, then this hospital was a desert of Spiritual Energy. Her room, specifically, was a barren desert forever scorched by a blazing sun. The Spiritual Energy she could obtain from the outside world was barely enough to keep her Qi Cyclone operating.

And very subtly, the Spiritual Energy Dong Chengling could use was just enough to pull people from the far ends of the earth to her side, but not enough to send them back. Reeling in a kite was much easier than letting it out.

Recalling her meeting with You Jiu five days ago, a chill crept into Dong Chengling's heart; With just one look, he had seen right through her.

Dong Chengling was certain that the Spiritual Energy concentration in this room was specially calibrated: not low enough to affect her foundation, allowing her Qi Cyclone to barely operate, but also not high enough to give her the power to resist... or to help others.

Just as she had thought, even though the Tactical Bureau knew Qiao Muyi had left from her house, and even though it was theoretically highly probable that she had sent Qiao Muyi away, once she firmly denied all accusations, the Lianjiang Countermeasure System stopped making things difficult for her.

Firstly, from a personal standpoint, Dong Chengling had done nothing wrong. She neither knew of Qiao Muyi's situation beforehand nor had she committed any crime. Furthermore, Space Spells left no trace, making it impossible to accuse her of harboring a fugitive.

Secondly, from a societal standpoint, Dong Chengling was a nationally ranked Fourth-Stage Cultivator. Her Space Spells made her vital strategic personnel. Having been credited with many past achievements, her character and conduct had won the recognition of countless people. She claimed Qiao Muyi's departure had nothing to do with her, and at least everyone in Heavenly Lotus Academy believed her—How could Teacher Dong possibly lie?

But this time, the pursuit of the Demon King was not solely the Tactical Bureau's responsibility. It was an international incident involving all six of the world's major Transcendent Organizations. Both to avoid suspicion and to aid in capturing the Demon King, Dong Chengling, who possessed Spatial Movement abilities and was acquainted with Qiao Muyi, was placed under house arrest here.

Dong Chengling had anticipated this. For the past few days, she hadn't attempted cultivation, instead focusing on studying educational books and preparing her lessons.

Due to her seclusion, other teachers had covered her classes. Dong Chengling had already planned to catch up on her teaching schedule, and now that she had this free time, she naturally wouldn't waste it.

Suddenly, Dong Chengling's eyebrows twitched. She stopped her work, saved the current Word document, walked to the door, and opened it just in time to see two soldiers armed with automatic rifles saluting an approaching figure.

"Do Fourth-Stage Cultivators attract each other?" Nan Xi, following behind You Jiu, looked surprised at Dong Chengling, who had opened her door first. This specialized convalescent room's sound insulation should be very good; Dong Chengling couldn't possibly have heard their footsteps.

With his hands in the pockets of his sweatpants, You Jiu said, "His Majesty just released a burst of Fourth-Stage aura as a greeting to her."

"Why didn't I know?"

"My dear consort, you are too weak to bear His Majesty's thunder and rain."

Nan Xi's face darkened. She silently cursed inwardly, I need to hurry up and advance to the third turn; otherwise, I'll always be subjected to such veiled mockery from this chauvinist. However, she wasn't like before, when she would jump at You Jiu's every word. Now, facing his nonsensical ramblings, she had grown accustomed to them and couldn't be bothered to say much.

After all, You Jiu had been running around Mysterious Country these days providing disaster relief and punishing evil. Therefore, whether out of genuine admiration or for the sake of Mysterious Country's reputation, Nan Xi did not want to embarrass him in public.

Seeing them, Dong Chengling stepped aside to make way. You Jiu waved his hand. "His Majesty does not wish to enter. It's already uncomfortable enough out here; if I went in, I'd surely not even be able to hold my bladder."

Nan Xi's mouth twitched at his words. I really want to smack his backside—why didn't you say you needed to pee earlier? Are you a child?

Dong Chengling didn't mind and smiled. "So, you endured the discomfort to come all this way to see me. What is it?"

You Jiu straightened his slightly hunched back, narrowed his eyes, and a bone-chilling killing intent spread out like ripples. Dong Chengling instantly felt her hair stand on end, her muscles tensing as if facing a natural predator. An indescribable sense of panic welled up within her.

However, she instantly suppressed the cowardice in her heart, igniting a blazing will to fight. Her beautiful, clear eyes reflected every detail of You Jiu. In that moment, You Jiu sensed a faint yet fatal sense of crisis, as if a needle were pressed against his throat, so oppressive that he dared not move!

"Hmph." You Jiu dispersed his aura and twisted his neck. "To advance to the Fourth Stage at this time, indeed, none are incompetent."

Dong Chengling also exited her combat stance and said calmly, "Compared to the Great Wall's 2,500 miles, Cheng Ling still has much to learn."

2,500 miles… Hearing this number, You Jiu felt a dull ache, thinking that Ren Zuo must have done it on purpose, giving him a title that sounded like a fool.

He shook his head and said, "His Majesty has come to ask you once more."

"Can you help us catch Qiao Muyi?"

You Jiu didn't ask if Dong Chengling knew Qiao Muyi's whereabouts, nor did he ask if Dong Chengling had sent Qiao Muyi away. Instead, he sounded as if he were requesting her assistance.

But Dong Chengling was not at all adept at investigation; inviting her to join the pursuit would be practically a waste of manpower. So, she immediately grasped You Jiu's unspoken meaning: I know you did it. I'm sure you did it.

Perhaps the Lian River Tactical Bureau couldn't detect traces of spatial movement. However, Dong Chengling had once gone to Sky Capital to participate in Space Spells research. The Great Wall, which benefited from all of Sky Capital's Spiritual Energy Technology achievements, knowing she had cast a Space Spell was not surprising.

Therefore, Dong Chengling's answer was, "No."

As she spoke, Dong Chengling turned to walk back into her room, intending to continue working on her lesson preparations. The drafts she had could almost last until the winter break.

"There's one more thing," You Jiu called out to her. "You can leave this place now."

Dong Chengling looked at You Jiu in surprise. "I told you, I can't help you."

"A ruler does not engage in trivial talk; Our word is as heavy as nine tripods," You Jiu sneered. "Precisely because you cannot, the state has no interest in continuing to support your freeloading here. Go back to teaching. Without you, His Majesty can still catch Qiao Muyi."

Just as no one believed Dong Chengling would lie, no one thought You Jiu would lie either. The former was because, How could a confident, self-disciplined, good-natured beauty possibly lie? The latter was because, A male chauvinist so blatant about his perversions has no need to lie.

Dong Chengling, convinced that You Jiu wasn't joking, returned to her room, emailed herself the lesson plans she had prepared over the past few days, noted the page number in the educational book she was reading, and then left the convalescent room where she had stayed for five days.

As the three of them took the elevator back to the ground floor, You Jiu said out of the blue, "For the next few days, My dear consort will be following you at all times."

Dong Chengling immediately looked at Nan Xi, who, suppressing her anger, said word by word, "First, I am not his 'dear consort.' Second, I will indeed be following you for the next few days. This is an order from the Great Wall, and you need to cooperate with my actions."

Dong Chengling said, "So I can't go back to teaching at the academy?"

"No, you can teach as usual. But when I need you, you must immediately take me via Spatial Movement," Nan Xi said, pointing to herself. "You should know who I am, right?"

"The... Ren Naiser, Immortal Palace, World Tree Special Case Group?"

Although Dong Chengling corrected herself instantly, Nan Xi immediately sensed something was amiss. I must never team up with You Jiu again; everyone else is getting brainwashed by his foul mouth. "Yes, I'm here specifically for the Immortal Palace this time. The Demon King incident was originally none of my concern, but now people from the Immortal Palace have appeared at disaster sites, eliminating the Source of Disaster, so I need your power."

"When people from the Immortal Palace appear at the site of a Source of Disaster, you want me to teleport you there?" Dong Chengling asked. "But Sources of Disaster can appear anywhere in the world..."

At this, You Jiu scoffed, his tone strange, "You can take people across national borders."

This was a statement, not a question.

Dong Chengling, who disliked lying and wasn't one to be shamelessly persistent, stopped pretending once You Jiu saw through her. She nodded. "Alright. Will you be staying with me?"

She also understood the Tactical Bureau's thinking—they didn't want to keep a promising, faultless Fourth-Stage Cultivator under house arrest. Coincidentally, Nan Xi needed her assistance, so they had Nan Xi follow her constantly, conveniently serving as surveillance. If Dong Chengling dared to teleport Qiao Muyi back, Nan Xi would certainly notice. Then, the Tactical Bureau wouldn't be as accommodating as they were now. Moreover, there might be covert agents constantly monitoring Dong Chengling, ready to act the moment they detected spatial fluctuations. Simply put, the Tactical Bureau was planning a sting operation.

"Yes. For the next few days, whether you're teaching or sleeping, I'll be nearby, ready to depart at any moment," Nan Xi said. "Your guest room should be unoccupied, right?"

"...There's a young guest staying."

Nan Xi blinked, quickly recalling Dong Chengling's connections from her intelligence file. "Ren Xiaojiu? Ren Suo's non-biological sister?"

Dong Chengling hummed in affirmation. "She's been staying at Ren Suo's house these past few days. Now that I'm going back, I should bring her home... So, you don't mind, do you?"

Although Little Jiu was at Ren Suo's house, Dong Chengling had asked Ren Xingmei and the other three to help look after her. She wondered if they had gotten along well... As for why Ren Suo wasn't home, Dong Chengling naturally had her story coordinated with Bai Ji, who had no problem creating the impression for everyone that 'Ren Suo and I are already close enough to share the same bed.'

Nan Xi said cheerfully, "Not at all, I don't mind. I hear Ren Xiaojiu is a very cute little girl..."

"That's great. I'll get the sofa ready for you," Dong Chengling said, breathing a sigh of relief, her worries eased.

Nan Xi's face turned as black as coal. Just then, the elevator reached the ground floor. After the three of them exited the hospital, Dong Chengling couldn't help but let out a breath of cold air. Seeing the ground outside the hospital was damp, clearly from a recent rain, she remarked, "I haven't been out in days. Has Lianjiang City gotten cold already?"

"Another cold front has arrived," Nan Xi said with a smile. "I even had to put on an extra jacket. But a Fourth-Stage Cultivator shouldn't be bothered by this bit of cold, right?"

You Jiu wore the same breathable sports jacket and long sports pants from summer through winter, the zipper always pulled only halfway up, revealing the light shirt underneath.

It wasn't just in Lianjiang City in the south of Mysterious Country; when he went to Heilongjiang a few days prior, he still wore the same outfit, facing -10°C weather and snowflakes while eliminating a Source of Disaster.

Dong Chengling rubbed her palms together and said softly, "Even those who aren't afraid of the cold will still feel the chill when they encounter it."

She looked up at the night sky, washed clean by the rain, where a bright waning moon hung. Clasping her hands before her lips, her voice was as low as a mosquito's hum, as if greeting a distant friend.

Do you know? Lianjiang has already turned cold.

「...」

"It's so cold outside."

Stepping onto the first floor of the Tokyo Skytree, Qiao Muyi let out a heavy sigh and complained, "It's so windy around Asakusa. It's much warmer inside buildings."

Ren Suo glanced at Qiao Muyi's lower attire and said, "It's almost December, and the lowest temperature is only 8°C, yet you're still wearing denim shorts and over-the-knee socks... But you're a third-turn cultivator like me. I'm not cold. Do you really feel cold?"

These past few days, Qiao Muyi had come into money. While traveling, she had gone on shopping sprees at major department stores, changing her outfit daily. Today, her most eye-catching attire was denim shorts paired with black over-the-knee socks, revealing a dazzling hint of pale skin on her thighs. This compelled Ren Suo, guided by her Desire Resonance, to praise her in twenty different ways from early morning before she was satisfied.

"You think I'm as tough and resilient as you? I get cold easily," Qiao Muyi said disdainfully, pulling him towards the ticket counter. "Let's go, let's go! I want to take pictures on the top floor."

They entered an elevator as large as a men's restroom, and Ren Suo and Qiao Muyi, along with other tourists, ascended to the first observation deck at 350 meters. A quarter of the elevator's ceiling was transparent, allowing them to clearly watch themselves getting closer to the top.

The moment they stepped out of the elevator, Ren Suo's first sensation was—it was even warmer than downstairs!

The heating was on full blast here!

They strolled around the 350-meter observation deck. From the electronic consoles in front of the viewing windows, they could zoom in on the streetscape below, comparing the computer-generated images with the view seen with their naked eyes.

Several screens were playing music videos. Ren Suo glanced at one and saw it was by a girl group called Star Girls. Nearby, there were audio-visual displays of anime characters. It seemed these characters had once visited the Skytree in anime or games. Pressing a button in front of a character's figure played quotes from their respective works, such as: "We don't often get this chance! Let's take a photo together. Ryuji, come a little closer!" and "The warmest place in the world is at the top of the Sky Tree..."

"That person," Qiao Muyi said, pointing to a photographer taking wedding photos for a couple, "is also carrying a clue."

"Great!"

Ren Suo knew this was likely the final investigation. In the game, after the investigation at the 'White Tower Building' concluded, the plot advanced to the next stage.

After successfully obtaining the clue, Qiao Muyi stood to the side, lost in thought, gazing at the distant scenery in silence. Ren Suo didn't disturb her, allowing her to quietly organize her thoughts.

Then, Qiao Muyi suddenly asked, "Which do you think is prettier, the White Innocence or a wedding dress?"

"Huh?" Ren Suo was stunned—Weren't you organizing clues?

"We saw the White Innocence at the shrine yesterday, and tonight we're seeing a wedding dress here. You're well-qualified to give an opinion," Qiao Muyi said, chin in hand, looking at him.

The previous day, when they visited the Meiji Shrine, they had chanced upon an authentic Shinto wedding. The groom wore a traditional black kimono and hakama with a flat striped pattern. He was adorned with a small white floral corsage, held a white fan, and wore white shoes. The bride, dressed in the symbolically pure White Innocence, proceeded slowly under a large red umbrella held by an attendant.

Unlike Chinese or Western-style weddings, Shinto weddings are very elaborate. Participants include priests, shrine maidens (unmarried girls), and even the parents from both sides must take part in the ceremony. The entire ritual appeared very solemn, quiet, and reverent. When they passed by, they weren't even allowed to get close, only to observe from a distance.

Ren Suo didn't have a strong opinion on the matter, and he couldn't discern Qiao Muyi's preference, so he resorted to his usual answer: "Both are beautiful."

"If it were you, which wedding style would you choose?"

"I'd want both."

Qiao Muyi glanced at him. "You want to get married twice?"

"...I appreciate your optimism, but I don't even know if I'll ever get the chance to marry once."

"True," Qiao Muyi affirmed his self-assessment. "You're quite self-aware."

Ren Suo's mouth twitched. He retorted, "Then which do you prefer?"

"I like them all."

Ren Suo rolled his eyes. "So you want to get married twice too?"

"No, I want to get married three times. I also like the traditional Chinese Phoenix Crown, Xia Pei, and red bridal veil," Qiao Muyi said, glancing at Ren Suo. "What, do you think I won't get the chance to marry?"

Having lost two consecutive rounds in their battle of sarcastic wits, Ren Suo hung his head dejectedly and said nothing. He obediently followed Qiao Muyi into the elevator to the second observation deck at 445 meters. They walked through the spiral corridor, savoring the sensation of a skywalk, and after a few minutes, reached the 450-meter mark, the highest point accessible to visitors.

The 450-meter observation deck held a special Easter egg: a photo spot themed around the Nine-Tailed Fox. A huge screen displayed the view from the very top of the Skytree. On the floor lay a large photograph showing the view looking down from the tip of the Tokyo Skytree. The image of the Nine-Tailed Fox stood atop this photo, its face left blank.

Visitors could hide behind the Nine-Tailed Fox cutout, placing their face in the blank spot. Someone else could then take their picture, capturing a "crude, low-quality version of 'The Nine-Tailed Fox Stands Proudly Atop the Tokyo Skytree.'"

Of course, this cost money.

And business was booming; the line for photos was incredibly long. When I get back, I should use the 'Unnamed Account' to pretend to be the Nine-Tailed Fox and collect some fees from the Skytree operators, Ren Suo thought.

Qiao Muyi couldn't resist the temptation either. She pulled him to queue up, pay, and take photos. Afterward, she hurried over to lean against him, looking at the photo. "How is it? Does it look good?"

"Not bad," Ren Suo appraised honestly. Others might produce a crude, low-quality version, but Qiao Muyi's is more like a DLC version—though there's a gap compared to the original, it's perfectly fine as downloadable content.

"So, compared to..." Qiao Muyi started, then stopped, pulling him towards another empty area. "Let's take another one over there!"

Ren Suo asked, "I thought you were going to ask whether you or the Nine-Tailed Fox looks prettier."

"I wouldn't ask such a thing. Am I that boring?" Qiao Muyi said disdainfully. "Of course, I'm prettier."

"You're that confident?"

"Because I'm right here in front of you," Qiao Muyi said, tilting her chin up proudly. "Can a Nine-Tailed Fox in a photograph be prettier than me, in the flesh?"

Ren Suo was momentarily stunned. He looked at Qiao Muyi carefully and had to admit she was right—the girl before him, with her warmth, her presence, her expressions, her gaze, indeed shone brighter than the Nine-Tailed Fox in any photo.

"See?" Qiao Muyi said. "Right now, in your eyes, I must be the prettiest... Open your camera, right here!"

Ren Suo opened his phone's camera, noticing Qiao Muyi was practically leaning her entire body against him. He let out a soft sigh. "It's so warm here. Don't you feel hot being this close...?"

"Not at all. The temperature is just right."

Qiao Muyi clasped her hands before her lips, as if praying to the gods from this spot in Tokyo, the closest one could get to the sky.

Those who love warmth naturally feel more at peace when they find a warm haven.

Looking at the photo on her phone, Qiao Muyi's thoughts began to drift.

She had never imagined that she would actually succeed in gathering all the clues while sightseeing—she had now traced the mastermind behind it all.

However, she possessed neither evidence to prove her own innocence nor any to incriminate the mastermind. Her words alone were not enough.

Moreover, that person's status and power were far beyond what she could currently contend with.

Perhaps, in the end, it would all prove to be an elusive mirage, a fleeting dream.

But she had never harbored much hope from the beginning, so naturally, she didn't feel particularly disappointed now.

Though she might not be able to grasp the hope of success, she could cherish the happiness right before her.

Qiao Muyi turned her head and, from the 450-meter-high Tokyo Skytree, saw the waning moon hanging high in the night sky.

Lianjiang City holds many springs, summers, autumns, and winters that belong to you, but I have only this one warm winter in Tokyo.