"Is that your soul pet?"
Wen Yu glanced at Star beside him and nodded.
"Why is it so tiny?"
"Size doesnāt matter. Strength is what matters most."
Xiao Xue nodded.
"Can I hold it?"
"What?"
Wen Yu looked at Xiao Xue uncertainly, his eyes full of surprise.
As a fellow Soul Master, Xiao Xue understood the importance of a soul pet; she knew her request was a bit abrupt.
"TSK. If you donāt want me to hold it, just say so. Why are you glaring at me like that?"
Xiao Xue also realized her request was somewhat excessive and murmured quietly.
However, less than thirty seconds later, Xiao Xue asked again, "You must have other soul pets, right? Can I see them?"
"HEH HEH."
Wen Yu smiled and nodded, then asked seriously, "Do you want to die?"
At Wen Yuās words, the soldiers behind Xiao Xue swiftly drew their firearms, aiming them squarely at Wen Yu.
Yet, facing the soldiersā hostility, Wen Yu remained motionless.
This was confidence born from his foundation, true self-assurance!
Perhaps sensing the killing intent in Wen Yuās eyes, Xiao Xue fell silent for a moment before finally speaking. "Put your guns down. And... Iām sorry."
"Iām sorry. Iām just like that, a bit thoughtless, and I tend to speak without thinking. I didnāt mean anything by it!"
Seeing that Wen Yu was indeed growing impatient, Xiao Xue changed her attitude, bowing her head and speaking placatingly.
"Letās go. The sooner we deal with Simba, the sooner you all can head back."
Wen Yu sighed and shook his head, immediately sensing that this mission would be very troublesome.
"Do you know where that lion is?"
"East Mountain."
"Where is East Mountain?"
Wen Yu shook his head helplessly.
"Over there." Wen Yu casually pointed in the direction of East Mountain.
"Itās so vast; how are we going to search it? How about this: Iāll have my people find Simbaās location first, and then we can go. What do you think?"
Just as Wen Yu frowned, about to refuse, Xiao Xue spoke again. "It was so hard for me to get out this one time. Letās just treat it as a vacation for me, okay? Pretty please! How about you consider it as me owing you a favor?"
"HUFF."
Wen Yu heavily let out a breath, remained silent for a long moment, then slowly nodded.
"Two rules. First, donāt bother me unless itās important."
"Okay." Xiao Xue immediately nodded.
"Second, donāt disturb the family across the hall."
Xiao Xue nodded again.
"Also, you owe me a favor."
Xiao Xueās head bobbed like a pecking chicken.
"Alright, you can leave now."
"Okay, Iāll inform you when we have news."
Seeing Wen Yu nod, Xiao Xue finally left his room.
Then, incessant CLANGING and BANGING erupted from upstairs and downstairs!
So these people had decided to take the rooms above and below mine.
Xiao Xue... Sheās such a nuisance!
ć...ć
When the people Xiao Xue brought had cleared out three rooms, all the noise finally subsided.
Wen Yu also knocked on the door across the hall, explaining the situation to Ye Nanās wife and reassuring the mother and son not to be afraid.
Then, Wen Yu walked down the stairs, heading in the direction where he sensed Cyclops.
With the militaryās strength and equipment, as long as Simba was still within Mudanjiang City, finding him wouldnāt be difficult. According to Wen Yuās estimation, news should arrive today, or by tomorrow at the latest. Therefore, Cyclops had to be brought back.
In Wen Yuās blind spot, an unmutated small bird first glanced at the departing Wen Yu, then at the military personnel bustling about in the building. Then, flapping its wings, it flew off into the distance.
ć...ć
By the time Wen Yu found Cyclops, Cyclops had already smoothly taken the position of leader among the stray cats and dogs.
Seeing Cyclops in his miniature state, standing atop the head of a Third-level mutant dog and barking "WOOF! WOOF!" wildly at his underlings below, Wen Yu didnāt disturb his fun.
He simply conveyed a message to Cyclops through Spiritual Fluctuation:
You must return tonight.
Although Cyclops loved to play, he never neglected serious matters. He nodded towards Wen Yu, who was hidden in the distance, then glanced one last time at the large pack of mutant cats and dogs below, a flicker of reluctance in his eyes.
A peaceful and comfortable life was the hope not only of humans but also of mutant creatures.
Unfortunately, in the apocalypse, true tranquility was hard to find!
ć...ć
The round trip took less than an hour, and Wen Yu was already back at the Jindu Residential Area.
Downstairs, by his building, Wen Yuās eyelids twitched when he saw furniture and other items from his apartment scattered on the street below.
Thatās the furniture from my room! This means that in the short time I was out, someone wrecked my place!
Looking up, he saw Xiao Xue standing at his window, waving incessantly at him. Wen Yu roared, "What on earth are you doing?!"
"Hey, why are you being so fierce? I was just helping you clean up your room! Honestly! What a temper!" Xiao Xue retorted.
With that, she slammed the window shut. At the same time, a CLANGING and BANGING sound reached Wen Yuās ears.
Most importantly, that noise is coming from *my* room.
The coldness in Wen Yuās eyes intensified.
Itās true, after the Flashing Bluestar trial and the battles on the Two Worlds Battlefield, my temper has mellowed considerably! But my fundamental nature hasnāt changed! Iāll help where I can; thatās compassion and conscience. Iāll keep my promises; thatās trustworthiness. But if someone pisses me off, Iāll make them pay. Thatās ruthlessness! Ruthlessness and decisivenessāthose are my truest traits, deep down! These days, living at home... this is what I call ālife.ā A simple, peaceful life. I donāt want to be like an unapproachable lion during this ordinary life, just like how I interact with the Ye Nan family. Because *this* is life! But someone always has to try and provoke this sleeping lion!
"HEH HEH... perhaps Iāve been too lenient," Wen Yu muttered, head bowed, in a voice too low for anyone else to hear.
Xiao Xueās actions... perhaps a test from the military, or maybe her own probing. But now, none of that matters!
Ignoring the incessant racket coming from his room, Wen Yu slowly ascended the stairs.
Meanwhile, a storm was brewing in his heart; a beast was slowly opening its eyes.
ć...ć
Standing quietly before his apartment door, Wen Yu slightly relaxed his body as Mad Medley and Palpitation slowly materialized in his hands.
He knocked. "KNOCK, KNOCK, KNOCK..."
The sound echoed, and then the door slowly opened.
A small figure suddenly lunged into Wen Yuās arms.
"Uncle Wen Yu, youāre back!"
Wen Yu, meanwhile, was surveying his home in shock.
The apartment itself wasnāt large. Wen Yu had originally returned only intending to take a quick look around; heād probably be leaving again in less than two days. So, his own arrangements had been quite haphazard.
But now, after the furniture Wen Yu had brought in was removed, the entire room had been completely rearranged by someone else.
In the bedroom, a new set of bedding was spread on Wen Yuās bed. Beside it stood a beige nightstand, on which sat a slightly worn-looking desk lamp.
Of course, with no electricity, the lamp is merely a decoration.
In the living room, a few sofas were neatly arranged. The table Wen Yu had brought back had been thrown downstairs. In its place was a glass coffee table, looking almost new, adorned with a few cups and a complete tea set.
From the nearby kitchen, the sounds of cooking drifted out, accompanied by continuous conversation, indicating that more than one person was at work.
"Uncle, the gun in your hand is so beautiful!"
Ye Nanās childās words snapped Wen Yu back to reality, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes.
After a long moment, Wen Yu sighed and slowly made Palpitation and Mad Medley disappear.
The kitchen door slid open slowly, and Xiao Xue and Ye Nanās wife appeared before Wen Yu.
"Youāre back? Change your shoes first!"