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After talking about Nana's situation, nobody really felt like shopping anymore. They finished dinner and each headed home.
During dinner, Fire Phoenix Douluo also came to Luan Yu's place. She was busy with official duties most of the time and rarely joined Meteor and the others for meals, so her showing up made everyone pretty happy.
In the middle of dinner, Meteor brought up Nana's family again.
"Hey, Auntie, how's that thing I asked you to look into last time?"
Luan Yu frowned and said in a serious tone, "There really is a mysterious group lurking around Mingdu. They've been taking people's mothers away—your classmate's mom isn't the only one. But they're sneaky. I sent people to follow them, but none of them could keep track."
She shot a quick glance at Luan Feng, leaving something unsaid. Truth was, she had planned to dig deeper, but her sister Luan Feng had stopped her.
Luan Feng set down her chopsticks and looked at Meteor and Liu Ying gently. "Don't worry about this for now. I'll handle it. Mingdu might get a little unstable soon. Aside from home and school, try not to go out too much. I promise, your classmate's mom will be fine. You've got my word."
Meteor felt a chill in his heart. Mingdu might be unstable? What kind of instability are we talking about? And what role did Nana's mom play in all this?
He thought about Xu Tianran and Shangguan Wei'er—and now Feng Aunty too. All three major figures were acting like something big was coming. Something huge was going down in Mingdu.
Still, Feng Aunty's promise gave him some relief. He didn't want to get involved, and he probably couldn't even if he tried. But Nana was a close friend. If he could help her, he would.
"Big Sis, what are you guys planning?"
Luan Yu's face darkened. She wasn't stupid—she'd started to notice something was off. If it weren't for Meteor asking her to investigate Nana's mom, she probably wouldn't have realized something big was brewing beneath the surface in Mingdu.
Not that it was her fault. She was basically just a bystander—well connected, but she didn't have her own power base. So she was always a bit behind on things.
"For now, all you need to do is look after Meteor and Liu Ying. Stay out of everything else."
Luan Feng locked eyes with her sister, her tone full of warning.
"You—"
Luan Yu wanted to say more, but Luan Feng waved her off. Her expression was cold. "You wanted your freedom. That means there are some things you don't get to ask about."
"I..."
Luan Yu had no words. She had chosen her freedom—so there really were things she shouldn't get involved in. And now with Meteor and Liu Ying to care for, she couldn't afford to get pulled into anything dangerous.
But still... she was worried about Luan Feng! She could stay out of it, but clearly, Luan Feng was already in deep.
"Relax. I'm the captain of the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineer Regiment. A Rank Nine Soul Engineer. As long as I don't screw up, nobody can touch me. Don't forget—our teacher is still around."
Hearing that finally calmed Luan Yu's nerves. She was right. As long as their teacher was still around and they didn't mess up, nobody in the Sun Moon Empire could easily lay a hand on them.
Luan Yu also believed her sister wouldn't make mistakes. After all, Luan Feng was smart. She held one of the top five Protector positions of the empire. You don't get that kind of job unless you're seriously capable.
Meteor and Liu Ying exchanged glances. They felt a bit helpless. Being young really had its downsides. Even if they wanted to know what was really going on, Feng Aunty wasn't going to tell them. They were still just kids.
Even Luan Yu was in the dark—so how could they possibly be in the loop?
All they could do was stay at home or the academy, go out as little as possible, and not cause trouble for Feng Aunty. That was the best way they could help.
Prince's Mansion
Xu Tianran looked in the direction of the imperial palace and asked quietly, "Has Tianzhen gone to sleep?"
A man in black behind him bowed and replied, "Your Highness, the young lady is meditating and cultivating in her room."
"Oh? So this little girl is finally putting in some effort. Looks like letting her hang out with those kids was the right move."
"Your Highness, the young lady hasn't given up investigating that matter."
Xu Tianran's eyes flashed coldly. He said lightly, "You know what to do. It's just a Soul Sect. For Tianzhen's sake, spare her life—but not yet."
Xu Tianran didn't really care whether Nana's mom lived or died. That group was currently his father's honored guests. This wasn't the right time to demand someone from them.
In the end, it was just a Soul Sect. He could always ask for her back later, once everything blew over. He figured they'd give him that much face.
Time passed.
It had almost been a year since Meteor and the others joined the Mingdu Junior Soul Engineering Academy. They had smoothly moved up to second year.
Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen had already graduated and advanced to the intermediate academy.
Nana's mom still left home often—sometimes she'd be gone for a whole month. But thanks to help from certain people, Nana's dad had gotten some financial support, and the family's situation had improved a lot.
Though she still worried about her mom, Nana was reassured knowing she always came home eventually. Her dad also encouraged her to focus on studying and training.
So after a while, Nana started looking a lot better. Meteor and the others were relieved. After that, they did exactly as Feng Aunty said—spent most of their time either at the academy or at home, rarely wandering around Mingdu.
From their point of view, Mingdu still looked as prosperous and peaceful as ever. No sign of any chaos. But the things happening behind the scenes… were way beyond their current reach.
Until the day Meteor and Liu Ying turned seven.
That night, Mingdu glowed brightly under the city lights.
A terrifying figure radiating overwhelming pressure barged straight into the imperial palace without a care.
At the same time, figures exuding sinister, evil energy emerged from every corner of Mingdu. They headed into the palace and mercilessly slaughtered every single guard they encountered.
On top of a tall building, Gu Yue Na stood with Di Tian and Bi Ji, gazing into the distance at the palace.
"It's started," Gu Yue Na murmured. "Looks like this isn't the work of the old Douluo continent's three nations."
Bi Ji shook her head. "Humans are always the same. Power struggles, betrayal, turning on their own people without hesitation."
Di Tian's gaze was indifferent. "It's just survival of the fittest. A shame though… this little performance won't last long. Most of Mingdu's top experts haven't even moved. The so-called Protectors of the Nation? Only the ones stationed at the palace are actually guarding their king."
Gu Yue Na shook her head and turned to leave. There was nothing left worth watching. It was just a one-sided massacre now.
Luan Yu suddenly stood up, her figure instantly appearing on the rooftop, looking out in the direction of the palace.
She clenched her teeth and scanned the four corners of Mingdu.
The other Protector forces who were supposed to be stationed around the city—completely silent. Not a single sign of movement.
And in the south, the territory guarded by the Fire Phoenix Soul Engineering Regiment—where her sister was—was just as silent.
"....."