Lin Xuan replied, "There's no special relationship. We're just two people stranded on this island, forced to rely on each other."
"Oh? Is that so?" Zhao Long raised an eyebrow with interest. "From what I can see, you two seem quite close. Anyone who didn’t know better might think you were a couple."
Lin Xuan clenched his fists.
Judging by the man’s demeanor, he might be planning to use him as leverage against Su Hua.
No.
He couldn’t reveal the true nature of his relationship with Su Hua.
Lin Xuan smirked coldly. "The first time we met, she tried to kill me. How could I possibly ally myself with her willingly?"
Zhao Long nodded in satisfaction.
Trying to kill him on their first meeting—that certainly aligned with Ling’s nature.
But why hadn’t this man died?
Zhao Long stared intently at Lin Xuan, as if trying to discern whether he was lying.
Lin Xuan took a deep breath and continued, "Later, she failed because I came down with a fever."
"Maybe she spared me because I saved her, or maybe because she saw some use in me—like helping her recover from her own fever."
"I, in turn, saw that she was skilled at hunting and had formidable combat abilities. She could protect me, so I pretended to reconcile with her. But for these past two months, I’ve been on guard, afraid she might kill me one day."
Lin Xuan’s voice was icy. "All this time, as a grown man, I’ve had to coddle her, lower myself in front of her. Do you really think I’d willingly be with her?"
"Excellent, excellent." Zhao Long clapped. "You certainly know how to look out for yourself."
As expected.
So-called love was nothing but hypocrisy.
This was good. It would give Ling a taste of that false affection, ensuring she’d never again entertain the idea of being with a man.
She would remain the cold, ruthless killing machine under his command.
"Since you’re so good at securing your own survival, how about I offer you a way out—a chance to leave this island alive?" Zhao Long said with a smile.
"There’s no such thing as a free lunch," Lin Xuan frowned. "What do you want me to do?"
"Hahaha!" Zhao Long laughed again. "Good. You’re smart and self-aware."
Lin Xuan remained expressionless, waiting for Zhao Long to continue.
Twirling the prayer beads in his hand, Zhao Long revealed his purpose. "It’s simple. I just want Ling to see your true colors—to witness how hollow so-called emotions really are. Once her heart is broken, she’ll leave with me willingly."
"Leave with you?" Lin Xuan stared at Zhao Long, masking his tension. "Are you planning to kill her? Or take her away to torture her?"
The two groups of assassins who had come earlier must have been Zhao Long’s men.
Su Hua had killed so many of his people. If Zhao Long was furious enough, he might imprison and torment her.
Lin Xuan subtly tightened his fists.
"No," Zhao Long said with a smile. "She’s my finest creation. How could I bear to kill her?"
"Of course, if she ever disobeys or slips from my control, I won’t spare her life either."
Ling was an exceptionally skilled weapon.
As long as she obeyed, she would remain the sharpest blade in his hand. But if she rebelled, that blade would turn against him.
A weapon that could kill its master? He would never let such a thing exist.
Hearing this, Lin Xuan’s heart sank further.
If he refused Zhao Long’s offer, both he and Su Hua would die.
If he agreed…
Once Zhao Long achieved his goal, Lin Xuan might be killed, but Su Hua would survive.
He had no other choice.
"Fine."
Lin Xuan took a deep breath and nodded. "I’ll do as you say. Just remember your promise—let me go and take me away from this island."
"Don’t worry. I always keep my word," Zhao Long said with a grin.
What a self-serving man.
Good. It saved him the trouble.
"Someone, go fetch Ling. Tell her Lin Xuan is with me," Zhao Long ordered his subordinate.
"Yes, sir." The subordinate immediately obeyed, turning and disappearing from Lin Xuan’s sight.
Lin Xuan clenched his fists.
How was Su Hua now? Had she recovered?
Would she fight the men Zhao Long sent? Would she get hurt?
Meanwhile—
After sleeping for over two hours, Su Hua woke up.
Her fever had completely subsided, but her head still felt heavy from the illness.
Stepping out of the hut, she saw no sign of Lin Xuan. She checked his makeshift shelter—it was empty too.
At this time of day, Ah Xuan was always here.
Where was he now?
Su Hua frowned, pressing a hand to her chest.
Why did she feel such an overwhelming sense of dread?
"Ah Xuan…" she murmured.
Still weak from her illness, she forced herself forward, determined to find him.
Suddenly, two men appeared before her.
Instinctively, Su Hua drew her gun and aimed at them.
These men were probably sent by the Su family again.
She had to eliminate them quickly before they targeted Ah Xuan.
Just as she was about to pull the trigger, one of the men shouted, "Ling, wait!"
Hearing that name, Su Hua’s eyes flickered.
Not the Su family—Zhao Long’s men.
Seeing her hesitate, the man exhaled in relief. "The boss sent us to tell you—Lin Xuan is in his custody."
Ah Xuan…
Su Hua’s face paled.
"If you want him to live, come with us," the man added.
Her finger trembled over the trigger before finally lowering. Step by step, she followed them to Zhao Long.
"Ah Xuan!"
Su Hua cried out in alarm at the sight of Lin Xuan’s back.
Zhao Long chuckled. "Relax, Ling. He’s unharmed—not a single hair out of place."
"After all these years, this is the first time I’ve seen you care for someone. Don’t worry, I’ll treat your beloved… properly."
"What do you want?" Su Hua demanded coldly.
"Nothing much," Zhao Long said, smiling. "I just thought it’d be nice for Lin Xuan to share his true feelings with you."
"Besides, you’ve been trapped here for two months, haven’t you? I’m here to take you both back."
Su Hua clenched her fists.
Since when had he ever been this generous?
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
to panic—he has a system. As long as an investment target dies, he can claim a reward. And since he is immortal, the one thing he has plenty of is time. ... Countless years later. “Immortal Emperor of Longevity? I invested in him.” “Supreme Celestial Venerable? I invested in him.” “Undying Empress? I invested in her.” “...” “Heh. Once they’ve all died, even the Heavenly Dao will have to kneel and call me Dad.”
e bizarre and supernatural had descended. The previous emperor was a thoroughgoing tyrant; no longer satisfied with human women, he had set his sights on a stunningly beautiful supernatural entity. He met his end in his bedchamber, drained of all his vital essence. As the legitimate eldest son and crown prince, Wang Hao was thus hastily enthroned, becoming the young emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty. No sooner had he awakened the "Imperial Sign-In Intelligence System" than he was assassinated by a Son of Destiny—a classic villain's opening. The Great Zhou, ravaged by the former emperor's excesses, was in national decline. The great families within its borders harbored their own treacherous schemes, martial sects began to defy the imperial court's decrees, and border armies, their pay and provisions in arrears, grumbled incessantly against the central government. Fortunately, the central capital was still held secure by the half-million Imperial Guards and fifty thousand Imperial Forest Army who obeyed the court's orders, along with the royal family's hidden reserves of power, barely managing to suppress the realm. As the Great Zhou's finances worsened and supernatural activities grew ever more frequent, the court sat atop a volcano. Ambitious plotters everywhere dreamed of overthrowing the dynasty, and even some reclusive ancient powers emerged, attempting to sway the tides of the world. At the first grand court assembly, the civil and military officials nearly came to blows, fighting tooth and nail over the allocation of fifty million taels of silver from the summer tax revenues. The spectacle opened Wang Hao's eyes—the Great Zhou's bureaucracy was not only corrupt but also martially proficient, a cabinet of all-rounders. Some officials even had the audacity to suggest the emperor release funds from the imperial privy purse to address the emergency. Wang Hao suddenly felt weary. Let it all burn.
his freshman year, Su Bai accidentally bound the "Indulgence Tycoon System." 【Sleeping in? Reward: +$1,000】 【Spent $288 at a street barbecue stall? Cashback: +$2,880】 【Dropped $14,396 on in-game skins? Special reward unlocked: A brand-new Porsche Panamera!】 Luxury cars, penthouses, corporate shares, financial empires… College life was all about living freely and doing whatever he pleased! … When the adorably naive academic genius faced family medical bills and financial struggles, Su Bai waved his hand dismissively: "Your future is on me." "Wuwu~ Big Brother is so good to me! I’ll become a scientist to repay you!" When the genius girl got bullied by a shady professor? Su Bai casually dropped a billion-dollar investment, forcing the university to grovel and beg for her return. A company’s funding chain collapsing? Su Bai smirked—cash was the one thing he’d never run out of. Years later, when people traced the rise of the AI prodigy beauty, who was the man behind her success? Not just that—Su Bai also became the tsundere campus belle’s unattainable dream, the contrast senior’s daily necessity, and the beautiful counselor’s emotional anchor…
