Chapter 1248: We Are All Little Delicate Wives

"So it was him..."

After hearing Chu Muyun’s description, the image of that figure in the Law Enforcer trench coat standing in the Alliance Assembly hall, using the Verdict of Mortal Sins to put the councilors on the spot, surfaced in Chen Ling’s mind...

This was indeed something Han Meng would do.

In his early years, Han Meng had dared to question the entire Aurora City as a mere District 3 Law Enforcer... In the Wuji Domain, he had also witnessed everything—seeing Chen Ling save people, seeing him break with the Red King. He might have thought that by going through the Alliance Assembly, he could clear Chen Ling of those non-existent crimes, but the final vote had trampled the justice in his heart and mocked it cruelly.

It was from that moment that Han Meng realized the councilors’ justice was not worthy of representing the justice of the era...

And so, Han Meng put the hypocritical "justice" on trial.

Chen Ling’s gaze revealed complexity.

The human domains were hostile to him, his master the Red King was plotting against him, and he had been forced to hide in the deepest part of the Gray Realm. But he hadn't expected that in places he couldn't see, there were still people fighting for him... The world wasn't so bad after all.

"So, the possibility of the Alliance Assembly allowing the Integrationists to enter the South Sea Domain is low?" Chen Ling returned to the main topic.

"Hmm... at least the councilors from the South Sea Domain will definitely vote against it. But the other councilors are hard to say. After all, the purpose of the Alliance is to defeat the World-Ending Calamity. If they feel the Integrationists can give them a better chance of winning, they might not be unwilling to take the risk," Chu Muyun summarized objectively.

Chen Ling was thoughtful.

"In short, the best solution right now is to bring the Integrationists in without alerting anyone and settle them down," Chen Ling frowned again. "But in the current South Sea Domain, is there such a place?"

"Actually, there is."

"Where?"

"There are two divine path organizations in the South Sea Domain: one is the public-welfare Kite Rescue Society, and the other is the Pu family of the Path of Books," Chu Muyun said slowly. "The Pu family’s influence reaches every corner of the South Sea Domain. They have a large amount of idle, undeveloped assets—such as small islands, farmland, and schools—and they are not under the supervision of the South Sea police."

"You mean if I can get one of those peripheral assets, I could smuggle them in and let the Integrationists stay there temporarily?"

"That’s the idea. This is much more covert than going through normal procedures to buy land from the South Sea government," Chu Muyun paused and added, "The only drawback is that they only let their own Pu family members manage these assets... outsiders can't get them."

"I understand."

A sharp glint flashed in Chen Ling’s eyes. "I’ll go check out the Pu family."

……

Chu Muyun still had matters to attend to with the Kite Rescue Society, so the two parted ways after finishing their coffee. However, Chu Muyun had already told Chen Ling how to contact him; if he ran into any trouble in the South Sea Domain, he could call for help.

Chen Ling returned to the hotel entrance.

As soon as he pushed the door open, a faint scent of tobacco drifted into his nostrils.

This tobacco scent was different from the cigarettes others smoked; if one tasted it carefully, it seemed to be mixed with the scent of some kind of medicine.

The room window was open, and the white curtains were dancing in the night breeze. A young girl with two fuzzy ears on her head was leaning against the window frame like a melancholic protagonist in a movie, taking a fierce drag from the burning cigarette in her hand and exhaling a cloud of smoke with a cool air...

"Xiao Bai, do you know?"

"People often only truly grow up after they have died once..."

Perhaps the South Sea Domain outside was too noisy; Xiao Tao didn't hear Chen Ling opening the door for a moment.

But Xiao Bai, who was sitting obediently in a chair nearby, caught a glimpse of Chen Ling returning and was about to say something when Xiao Tao’s melancholic voice sounded again.

"Actually, we are all little delicate wives."

Chen Ling: ?

"We are all little delicate wives, always being pinned against the wall by a CEO named 'Fate'... We can't resist. It is so overbearing, yet so mysterious, making one inevitably harbor expectations even when covered in wounds..."

"All we can do is go with the flow... and enjoy it."

"I know this truth might be profound for you, after all, at your age, you are at your most innocent, but I am different... Blame it on the fact that I have experienced too much and awakened too early."

Xiao Tao took another deep drag, finished the cigarette, and walked in front of Xiao Bai amidst the hazy smoke. With eyes that seemed to have seen through the world, she looked at the bewildered Xiao Bai with love and expectation...

Fourteen-year-old Xiao Tao patted the shoulder of Xiao Bai, who was half a head taller than her.

"But it’s okay, Xiao Bai, I believe that one day, you will grow up... and become as mature as I am."

Xiao Bai was puzzled and scratched his head blankly:

"Oh... I will."

Chen Ling: ............

"Ahem." Chen Ling coughed twice.

Xiao Tao turned back to look, and the next moment, her whole body stiffened as if struck by lightning.

But this time, Xiao Tao didn't scream and run into the bathroom like last time... because the bathroom was right by the entrance, right next to Chen Ling’s hand. She looked at Chen Ling like a terrified groundhog, wanting to find somewhere to burrow into but unable to find one, and could only sweat profusely on the spot.

"Big Brother!! Xiao Tao has recovered!" Xiao Bai stood up immediately and said excitedly, "And she understands a lot of truths now. Although I don't understand them, they sound amazing!"

Xiao Tao’s mouth twitched wildly; she wanted to cover Xiao Bai’s mouth and suffocate him to death.

"It’s good that you’ve recovered." Chen Ling didn't let the awkward atmosphere continue, but instead looked at Xiao Tao as if he hadn't seen anything just now. "How are you? Is there anywhere else you feel uncomfortable?"

"No... no... just a bit of a headache, maybe from the dream I just had..."

"A dream? What dream did you have?"

Xiao Tao opened her mouth, and after a long while, she whispered, "I... I dreamed of my brother..."

Chen Ling fell silent.

"If your brother knew you saved so many people, he would definitely be very happy."

"Really?" A faint light lit up in Xiao Tao’s eyes.

"Really."

The gloom on Xiao Tao’s face vanished. She suddenly seemed to think of something, looked at the brightly lit city outside, and asked Chen Ling excitedly, "Brother Chen Ling, do you think it’s possible that Brother Renjie is in the South Sea Domain?"

Chen Ling paused.

In Xiao Tao’s perception, Xi Renjie hadn't died, but had escaped the Aurora Domain with the help of him, the "Savior," to live in another domain... In other words, she still believed that they would be reunited as siblings.

"Perhaps..." Chen Ling was silent for a long time, his gaze looking toward the bustling South Sea Domain.

"But there are so many human domains... he might be somewhere else, who knows?"