Episode 4.3 Fried Chicken

Due to the potent materials taken from the dungeons, the technology in this world has shown unprecedented progress compared to the mortal world that the celestial fox spirit has previously lived in.

The images taken by the satellite were showing clarity. It's as if a DSLR camera was used. Of course, it was in a top view, but that alone is enough to tell the story that happened in the maze-like rose garden of Roseely Park.

In the picture, Shen Yuan was seen walking along tall bushes of roses, away from the crew responsible for that day's photo shoot, when a group of cloaked men suddenly appeared. These ten unidentified men are pictured throwing their skills at Shen Yuan. Obviously, they harbored ill intentions, which never happens if they are amicably cooperating.

Shen Yuan also fought back with his blue flames that froze and burned his enemies, but in the face of ten skilled awakener combatants, a B-Class omega fire mage could only do so much. In the end, the original Shen Yuan was cornered in the middle of the rose garden maze and stabbed in his shoulder.

The last picture Chairman Mao gave was where Shen Yuan was left lying in front of the spatial rift— the early manifestation of a dungeon gate— and the ten cloaked men encircling the omega, watching him as the mana surrounding Shen Yuan became erratic. It was the prologue of Mana Overload.

"What are they doing? Are they some kind of perverts?" the celestial fox spirit questioned upon seeing the last picture. Out of all the images, the last one is the most mysterious for him. Everything about it does not make sense, especially since it missed explaining how that rift appeared near the original's body, and his intuition whispers to him that somewhere, in between the lines, his world-hopping, uncanny possession happened.

"For someone who was targetted by a terrorist, you are awfully calm, Shen Yuan," Chairman Mao said. "I am unsure if I should be amazed or worried for you."

"I advised you to be amazed then if you are still undecided," Shen Yuan deadpanned. "I don't feel threatened because I got out of that situation alive, and I am confident that once they come after me the second time, I can greet them with much more warmth and hostility."

"But seriously, why did it miss some shots? How did the rift appear? And why are they watching Shen Yuan lying down?"

"You are Shen Yuan," Bai Tingfeng interfected.

Shen Yuan paused, his mouth agape. His lips were twitching while looking at the serious yet handsome face of the man, fuck! "I know, duh. I am trying to think in the third person for a broader perspective on the situation!"

Heaven knows how fast the drop his heartbeat made when he heard his husband in paper pointed that out. Imagine getting hyped because he was about to uncover some major twist about his existence, yet someone poked at his most kept secret that he would die protecting.

The mini heart attack that it caused is mind-paralyzing!

Thankfully, his quick wit gave him the rebuttal that ultimately saved his ass.

Chairman Mao Huanlong answered Shen Yuan's question without minding the bickering couple.

"Satellite photos are shot in thirty second interval. That is why there are some cuts that didn't make it. As for your other questions, their behavior is also a mystery for us. Are they doing a ritual? Are they using you as a sacrifice? We don't have any answer for that. All that is certain is that the Cardinals are behind the attack, judging from the white cloaks they wore. The emergence of the spatial rift added another evidence pointing toward the group— although they were all circumstantial."

"What do you mean we only have circumstantial evidence? There should be that—what do you call it? Awakening stone or Hyperreactive Mana Stone, whatever. Did they not retrieve any of that?"

"If they stick around while you are on the verge of Mana Overload, then there is a possibility that they took that before they escaped," Bai Tingfeng chimed in.

Shen Yuan paused. Well, that is reasonable. However, something does not sit right with him. His foxy senses disagree with Bai Tingfeng's opinion.

"Ah, suck it in for now. We will clash if I open my mouth to refute him," the celestial fox spirit made a concession to a human for the first time in a long while.

"What a bunch of cowards. They are terrorists, yet they do not stake their claims on their crimes. What about eyewitnesses?" He directed his frustration towards their common enemy since that is the most helpful.

Obviously, the crew that came with him must have run to his rescue when they found out about the danger. They must be a top fashion brand, so they must have enough security personnel considering that they made the photo shoot outside. Plus, he must have got his own manager and assistant with him. He is a model. It won't be a stretch to say that he is the goods being sold to the industry (no matter how bad that sounds), and no sane merchant will leave behind such valuable goods as Shen Yuan.

Unbeknownst to him, his question triggered Bai Tingfeng.

"They ran away the moment the rift appeared. We can't really blame them. Most of the staff belong to the 40 percent of unawakened people worldwide. Once they get exposed to a mana of that concentration, they will die. As for your people, Shen Yuan, trusting them— especially your manager—is the most stupid thing you ever did. If we don't count on leaving your son to spite your father."

Shen Yuan gave the stinkiest face he could pull off to Bai Tingfeng. "I am trying hard not to antagonize you, and you are not helping at all, okay? And why do you keep dragging back the past when you know I cannot even remember any of it?!"

"That's because I keep on remembering the times when I warned you about Manager Yu Xiaojin, but you just keep dismissing me, saying, No, Brother Xiao Jin is a good man. You know nothing about him!" Bai TIngfeng met Shen Yuan's eyes with a fiery glare. "And it frustrates me knowing they didn't even remember to look for you or call for your rescue when that accident happened."

"Is that how close you are with them? You are laughable."

The interrogation room was suddenly doused with cold air. 

"Oh, wow." Chairman Mao could only say. He did his best to minimize his presence. It didn't occur to him that between their serious talks about Shen Yuan's case, their conversation would sharply turn to marital issues. "This is below my pay grade as the Chairman of the Hunter Association, so I am out."

On the other hand, Shen Yuan was silent. But that is until he suddenly pulled Bai Tingfeng's tie toward his face. 

"Dear Master Bai, you don't have to worry about them. Because effective this second, they are officially jobless," Shen Yuan said with gritted teeth. 

"But I really don't advise you to raise your voice at me since that is the first thing I hated the most. I have fairly sensitive ears, you see? And I tend to inflict the most painful pain to the shouters once my ear picks up a high enough decibel. "

"So shut up."

His dark eyes met with the unfaltering gaze of Bai Tingfeng. This is the gaze that the celestial fox spirit saw from the manhua. Unapologetic and unbothered. The look that shows pure anger.

Was it for him or his manager? Suki doesn't know, and he cares less because that is not his mistake in the first place.

Well, it seems like the only way for them to thread is the path of divorce.

"That is good if you dismissed them. Because of their negligence, it won't be that hard to send them packing without a fuss," Bai Tingfeng nonchalantly, despite the threatening position of Shen Yuan. He seemed not to mind that the omega was close enough to strangle him.

And that hurt Shen Yuan's pride.

"Bai Tingfeng, you are such a—"

"Daddy! Your fried chicken is here!" The room's door suddenly burst open. 

Yanyan, the cute five-year-old son of Bai TIngfeng and Shen Yuan, entered the room, followed by Assistant Su, who was as white as a sheet of paper. 

"Guildmaster, Master Shen, and Chairman Mao," Assistant Su bowed slightly to the three respected figures in the room. He is aware that the atmosphere was terrible when he entered the room, so he is careful not to make any mistakes. He proceeded to the table and laid out the buckets of fried chicken.

Chairman Mao Huanlong nodded his head in response—meanwhile, the unlikely couple were petrified in their position.

"Are you fighting the two of you fighting?" Yanyan asked, his eyes are slowly turning red.

Bai Tingfeng and Shen Yuan spontaneously stood up as if their tails were stepped on.

"No! We are not! Your Daddy and I are not fighting, right ahm— Yuan?"

Shen Yuan shot a sharp questioning glare at Bai Tingfeng that literally translates: What Yuan? Are we close?

"Daddy is mad at you…" Yanyan smartly pointed out. A tear will drop from his expressive eyes any time soon.

Adding another emotional stress to the child is the last thing Shen Yuan and Bai Tingfeng wanted to happen. So, the mighty celestial fox spirit laid down his pride instead of hugging his stubbornness.

"Absolutely— not, Yanyan! Your Papa and I are just communicating using our body— you know," Shen Yuan unconsciously made exaggerated hand gestures. Because of this, Chairman Mao silently pinched himself not to laugh out loud.

"Charades! That is what we are playing. Your Papa sucked at expressing himself through words, so we tried other alternatives," The celestial fox spirit always believed that he was top-notch in weaving lies, but now, he realized that he is failing miserably.

Bai Tingfeng secretly clicked his tongue at Shen Yuan's baloney. Instead of helping out a sinking boat, he went to their son and soothingly carried him into his arms.

"Your Daddy and I are not fighting. We are just sorting things out that we need to work on. It's nothing serious that is worth arguing."

"Oh, wow. How ironic it is to come from you when you are the one who is yelling his throat out," Shen Yuan silently said in his mind. When Yanyan looked at him, he nodded and approached the innocent little boy.

"Yes, your Papa is right. Actually, I learned something really important to him," Shen Yuan meaningfully said while gently patting Yanyan's head.

"But how, Daddy? You said Papa is not good with his words, so how did you understand what he was saying?"

This time, Chairman Mao Huanlong cannot hold himself from laughing. He cleverly hid it behind his cough. It is simply a sight to behold. The small hands of their five-year-old son were utterly captured by the strongest power couple of Country C! How ridiculously ironic is that?

Assistant Su is also biting his two lips to stop the threatening giggle from his throat.

And the silent Bai Tingfeng was discreetly suppressing the smile on his lips.

"It's Charades, Baby. Charades," Shen Yuan struggled for the last time. 

Mao Huanlong decided to join in calming down cute little Yanyan. "Don't cry, Yanyan. Your daddy will go home with you today since we already cleared his name, and at the same time, we became clear about the potential threats he might encounter along the way."

His words carry profundity. He then turned to the two adults. "You don't have to worry about the other matter because we got incriminating evidence against them."

Shen Yuan and Bai Tingfeng exchanged knowing looks. The only thing they haven't tackled earlier was the connection of Haichong to the terrorist group the Cardinals, but it seems like they do not need to expound that any further because the Hunter Association was ahead with their investigation skills.

"Yanyan can't understand," The little boy suddenly interjected.

"You will, once you become an adult," Chairman Mao answered.

Yanyan peeped behind him to look at his formerly favorite Grandpa and made a stinky face at him, "Hmph! You sent Daddy to prison, and now you are trying to confuse Yanyan. Grandpa Mao is turning bad to me. You don't deserve the meat of my fried chicken, hmph!"

Shen Yuan laughed at the cuteness of his little son and planted a kiss on Yanyan's cheeks. "So, you want revenge for what he did to me, huh? I like that! Let's eat the fried chicken without giving him some. Let's show him what he will miss if he messes with us."

The three other alphas inside the room felt goosebumps creeping on their arms. It is way too early to educate the child about revenge!