Chapter 70: A New Story

Two hundred kilometers away from London, in Wiltshire.

In the evening, after passing through a lush forest, Ino finally arrived at his destination, Malfoy Manor.

Walking into the estate, the first thing he saw was a vast lawn.

To his astonishment, the lawn was planted with the glowing grass mentioned in *One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi*.

Although two Knuts for a small bundle seemed inexpensive, planting it across such an expansive lawn was a luxury few could afford. Only the Malfoys could decorate their garden with money in such a manner across the British Isles.

At the end of the lawn stood the main building, white and solemn, exuding a strong Victorian architectural style. Both the walls and the stone pillars were adorned with intricate carvings.

In front of the main entrance, Ino's gaze met with the manor's owners—Draco's parents, Lucius and Narcissa.

Lucius was a dignified yet graceful middle-aged man.

"Welcome to Malfoy Manor, Mr. Swinburne!" His deep and powerful voice carried an innate elegance with every word.

Ino responded with a slight bow: "Thank you very much for your invitation, Mr. Malfoy, and Mrs. Malfoy."

Narcissa, once a pureblood lady of the Black family and now the manor's mistress, spoke gently: "Please come in. After such a long train journey, you all must be exhausted."

However, Ino keenly noticed that Narcissa's gaze never left her son, Draco.

Her deep eyes were filled with love and longing for her son, with emotions flowing warmly and subtly across her brows.

...

At dinner, Ino once again marveled at the Malfoy family's wealth and connections as he looked at the array of dishes.

Many of the items on the table were not just purchasable with money; they required bypassing the Magical Creatures Protection Act and evading the Ministry of Magic's scrutiny.

During the meal, the Malfoys seemed to adhere to traditional etiquette, avoiding sensitive or controversial topics in their conversation.

For example, Narcissa always inquired about Draco's life at the castle but never mentioned his end-of-term exam results.

Watching this warm scene, Ino couldn't help but smile. Imagine a mother who never asks about exam scores; how enviable.

On the other side, Lucius's voice broke the tranquil atmosphere at the dinner table.

"Mr. Swinburne! Both Draco and Severus have told me about you. If you don't mind, I hope you can call me Uncle Lucius. And I warmly welcome you to stay at the manor during holidays, at least until you graduate."

After Lucius finished speaking, the atmosphere in the dining room became subtly different. Draco, who had been chatting quietly with his mother, stopped and looked at Ino with expectant eyes.

"Of course! Draco and I are friends, and I also hope you will call me Ino."

Ino nodded slightly, his face showing a gentle smile.

"But Uncle Lucius, thank you very much for your invitation. As for accommodation, I still hope to buy my own house in Hogsmeade, as Draco knows."

"Alright, I respect your choice." Lucius nodded, indicating his understanding.

Although Draco felt a bit disappointed, he knew Ino's character well—that he rarely changed his mind once he had decided.

Thinking of this, Draco resumed chatting quietly with his mother, recounting various interesting stories from the castle.

...

After dinner, only Ino and Lucius remained in the living room, sitting opposite each other.

"Ino, to be honest, I'm truly glad that Draco has a friend like you. Your perfect scores and the professors' fondness for you prove your excellence."

As he spoke, Lucius's eyes showed genuine appreciation.

Ino smiled slightly, leaning back on the soft sofa: "Thank you for your praise, Uncle Lucius. I'm just trying to find a bit of simplicity in this chaotic and complex world. Everything I do is for that goal."

"Finding simplicity..." Lucius repeated in a low voice. This phrase seemed to touch something inside him, resonating deeply.

After a moment of silence.

Whatever Lucius had thought of, his expression became serious:

"Ino, I sincerely hope you can regard me as an uncle. In your future journey of seeking simplicity, the Malfoy family will be your most reliable friend."

...

Holidays always seem to pass faster than usual.

On the third day at Malfoy Manor, Ino bid farewell to the Lucius couple.

He had no choice; the restlessness in his heart forced him to leave.

Although each trip and return was only a moment, with house-elves in the manor, any unusual activity could be easily noticed.

In the morning, after declining the Malfoy family's offer of a carriage, Ino walked along the country road in Wiltshire, humming a cheerful tune and carrying his suitcase.

He was in a very good mood. With Lucius's help, he not only acquired a flying broom without stepping out but also stocked up on various standard potions.

This included a rare small bottle of Felix Felicis and some illegal Polyjuice Potion. Importantly, all these potions came from the potions master Slughorn, ensuring their quality.

Thinking of the Polyjuice Potion, Ino couldn't help but laugh. The only reason he bought it was to experience different identities in future stories.

However, Lucius seemed to have thought too much, directly providing a large suitcase akin to a crime kit.

Besides two large bottles of Polyjuice Potion, the suitcase contained twelve sets of hairs with photos, covering all ages, different styles of robes for disguise, and three inconspicuous aluminum flasks.

...

On the country road.

Feeling the restlessness in his heart again, Ino immediately dove into the dense bushes beside the road.

Moments later.

A twenty-something, black-haired, blue-eyed ordinary young man emerged from the bushes.

"Stale slop..."

The young man looked speechlessly at the aluminum flask in his hand and then carefully placed it in his pocket.

The young man was Ino after drinking the Polyjuice Potion.

Having obtained the potion, he wanted to experience participating in a story as an adult.

Emerging from the bushes, Ino looked around. All he saw was a vast prairie stretching to the horizon.

To his left was a dense forest, with tall and deep trees, lush with foliage, creating a dark world.

A fleeting glance also revealed two eerie statues standing outside the forest path, facing each other to form an arch just wide enough for two people.

...

"Heh!"

With a light laugh, Ino headed towards the prairie without looking back.

As for the spooky forest, whoever wanted to go could go. He wasn't on a mission to seek adventure, and he wasn't about to find trouble for himself.

Someone once said that gazing at the sea, with its boundless horizon, was incredibly majestic.

But now, in this vast prairie, Ino felt the same sense of awe.

Under the setting sun, walking on the endless prairie was a rare enjoyment.

___