The moon went down, and the sun slowly shone on Acoustic City, letting the tall buildings protect the short ones from the sunlight with their shade. The surrounding forest had a tranquil silence, as most profound beasts were sleeping or enjoying the sun.
Current news reflected on the billboards, and the hot topic was the advancement of the Fu Clan young master to World Realm at only the age of 23, breaking all the records of the past.
On the other hand, no one talked about the burning down of the Southern squatter camp. The whole city just blamed it on the mortals' carelessness, leaving gas bottles on and using charcoal heaters.
Only the Zhong Clan put great importance into this matter under the shadows. A few spirit realm Book Lords stood at the site where the raging flames took place last night.
"Sigh, the clan leader is really a fool for his daughter," Zhong Cao Yan said in a grumbling tone as he tried to lower his volume.
After all, there is a saying, speak ill of the king when you are in a deserted place. He had to be wary of the things he said. What he was doing was total blasphemy towards the clan leader, but as the only 5th stage human Book Lord, a step away from reaching the world realm, among the group, no one dared to do anything to him.
Zhong Cao Yan shook his head in disapproval. How was he going to look for the Maple leaf masked man in a pile of ashes?! The maple-leaf guy was shrouded in mystery. He just popped up from nowhere and swindled the patriarch's daughter.
Zhong Cao Yan had a complicated gaze about the whole situation. 'What if this maple-leaf wearing guy told the truth? Him popping up in front of the biggest pharmacy in the city proves how bold he is. Where did his confidence come from?'
There was an old saying from Earth: Just because the food looks bad, it doesn't mean it won't fill your stomach to evade hunger.
The food here refers to the cure, and hunger to the poison. Yes, one might get an upset stomach, but one will at least live for a longer time.
Zhong Cao Yan understood this and hated how lucky Zhong Xie was, ever since she was young. She always had lucky encounters, opening up a Primeval World without the help of the Golden Hope Rain, and having 'B-Grade' talent. She was so much different from his daughter.
She had the regular C-Grade talent, despite being born with higher intelligence than her peers. Worse, in terms of physical appearances, she was leagues behind Zhong Xie.
And this hurt Zhong Cao Yan even more.
The two got crippled by the mysterious poison on the same day. He was not financially funded like Zhong Bai Yi, who flipped the whole city up and down to look for a way to cure his daughter.
Zhong Cao Yan tried his best, and when he was about to fall into debt, his daughter begged him to stop with tears all over her face as she stated, "Dad, it is not worth it. Even if you cure me, I won't make it anyway. Please, please, I ask you to just take care of us like you have always done. In my heart, you are the greatest dad in the world."
Zhong Cao Ke Xin's words were supposed to be sweet, but the father felt like his heart was stabbed by over a billion needles. He went on his knees and shed tears like an infant.
"I'm sorry my baby, I have failed you as a father."
His wife, Bai Jia, and Zhong Cao Ke Xin tried hard to console him to feel better, yet the scar was left after the wound was healed. Thanks to having a lot of things on his mind, he had already gone bald, and his eyes were now dull.
Memories of that very day played in his mind, making him release crying sounds.
His subordinates just gave him time to mourn to himself. They mistook the pain visible on his square-shaped face.
'Such a shame, this squatter camp must have had someone the chief liked. Maybe his mistress.'
'Who said Book Lords didn't care about mortals? Look, the chief is crying for the lowest among them.'
Zhong Cao Yan raised his hand, and all the five Book Lords with him walked over to him, clearing all the thoughts they had about him.
As the captain, Zhong Cao Yan had to maintain a thoughtful expression, despite having things bubbling under him.
"I hereby proclaim the issue about the Maple leaf masked man finished. That scandalous person died in the fire last night, and my thoughts say it was heaven's judgment."
"I will write the report about the issue to give to the patriarch. You are all dismissed."
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief. They originally thought that their captain was going to make them search for evidence among the ashes.
They immediately took off; no one wanted to be given additional work after work hours. When they were out of sight, Zhong Cao Yan let out a loud laugh that moved the clouds apart.
"Heaven is fair to all! When one refuses its blessing, it just gives to another!"
He knew the issue about Zhong Xie and the maple leaf masked man, and he took the maple leaf masked man as a physician expert who kept himself hidden to avoid dangers.
However, he had to do one thing to confirm his theory. He dialed the number saved as 'My admiration' on his cell phone.
An alluring sweet voice that was similar to angels singing quickly came through the phone. "Hello, Dad. I thought you were at work? Is everything alright, do you need something from me?"
Zhong Cao Yan felt slightly bothered by his daughter's worried voice, but he shook off that feeling. "Ke Xin, before, did you get bitten by a blue chameleon?"
For a few seconds, no reply came from the phone. Zhong Cao Ke Xin needed time to organize her memories. "Yes, I did, but does that have anything to do with your work?"
Zhong Cao Yan couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. "It has everything to do with us."
Before the young lady could ask any further, her father speed dialed her, after saying, "Daddy loves you, there is something big for you tonight."
Zhong Cao Yan clenched his fist. He felt refreshed and angry at the same time. He was taking in his daughter as a test subject.
This method was never tried before, and worse, it might end up with him losing his only daughter he got after countless nights of trying.
However, the feeling of his daughter walking and hugging him because he was able to make her a Book Lord again overwhelmed him.
"Don't you worry, Ke Xin. Daddy is going to save you!"
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