True or False

Spiders are creatures with an extremely strong sense of territory.

In places they consider home, they do not allow any living beings other than family members to roam.

Joker's reaction was fast, but Red was even faster.

When Joker stepped out the door and tripped over the first spider web, Red, who was sleeping in Chen Miemie's bedroom, had already opened her scarlet eyes.

Fortunately, Chen Miemie hadn't woken up, otherwise he might have been startled.

Red had spun a spider web on the ceiling directly above Chen Miemie's bed. She slept hanging upside down, her feet on the web and her head pointing downward.

Her normal size was not small, so the strands of her upside-down hair were not far from Chen Miemie, who was lying flat.

Or rather, they were very close.

Close enough that if Chen Miemie sat up in bed, there was a chance he would brush against Red's hanging hair.

Red opened her eyes, a bloodthirsty gleam flashing in them, and moved silently across the ceiling.

She exited Chen Miemie's bedroom, passed through the living room, and prepared to go out the front door to wrap up the prey that had tripped her web.

She only intended to capture it alive, not to kill; this was what Chen Miemie had instructed.

Just as she reached the door and was about to open it, Paper Wind Chime sensed her.

Red, what are you going out for? Origami woke from its silence.

Its voice wasn't loud, but it immediately triggered a chain reaction.

Gazes shot over from the vase, the iron pot, and the water bottle.

Loop also opened its eyes.

There is prey outside.

Qinghua walked out of the vase. That's not prey, that's a neighbor.

Red was a bit puzzled. Isn't that the same thing?

Loop showed an understanding expression. Let's put it another way. The one outside the door is on Chen Miemie's side, not an enemy.

Oh.

Red understood and crawled back to Chen Miemie's bedroom.

Throughout the whole process, the conversation was brief, and everyone kept their movements to a minimum.

There was an invisible rule in the house: unless Chen Miemie requested it, no member would ever wake him up; he woke up naturally every day.

The problem inside Room 1803 was resolved.

In the hallway, Joker didn't dare to relax in the slightest.

After a preliminary assessment, he relied on his experience to rule out the possibility of it being a mystic.

There is an anomaly here that hasn't left. It's highly likely the one that spun the web.

Cautious as Joker was, he was not one to shy away from trouble.

Since it had already spun a web at his doorstep, fear was useless. He had to go in and out daily; there would be a fight sooner or later.

Wait, that's... Chen Miemie's doorstep.

Joker noticed something suspicious.

The spider webs hanging from the ceiling in the hallway were very thick. They dangled down from time to time, requiring people to push them aside with their hands, creating somewhat of an obstacle for walking.

The scene at the door of Chen Miemie's Room 1803 was completely different.

There were webs there too, but they had clearly been carefully managed so as not to affect the coming and going of the people inside.

The case was instantly solved.

Chen Miemie. Joker was utterly speechless. Are the anomalies in his house no longer satisfied with staying indoors and are now coming out into the hallway?

What do you do when you are stuck with a neighbor who likes to occupy the public space in the hallway?

Joker expressed that he had no objections.

This morning, Chen Miemie was destined not to get a good sleep.

Just past 10 o'clock.

A guest arrived on the 18th floor; he was the driver for the Jiang family.

He had previously driven Chen Miemie home, and before the graduation exam, he had delivered the stationery that the Jiang family gave as a reward to his door.

This driver was also startled by the spider webs in the hallway.

However, he had a mission to complete, so he braced himself, walked up to the door of Room 1803, and knocked.

Since someone was looking for him, Chen Miemie naturally had to get up.

The driver was invited inside.

Mr. Chen, apologies for the abrupt visit. I was sent by Elder Jiang to pick you up. He sent you a message this morning but didn't receive a reply. The situation is urgent, so he told me to come directly.

Chen Miemie glanced at his watch.

Sure enough, there were two messages from Elder Jiang that morning.

The first one.

Time: 7:23 AM

Sender: Elder Jiang

Content: Young friend Chen, Sixiang City is about to face a massive war, and the situation is not optimistic. There is still a lot of room for your strength to improve. It is not advisable for you to get involved in this meat-grinder of a battle too early. I will send someone to escort you out of the city.

The second one.

Time: 9:15 AM

Sender: Elder Jiang

Content: Grateful for your great kindness, young friend. Time is limited, and the quota for leaving the city is also limited. I have asked the driver to go directly to your home. The situation is urgent, depart immediately. You have no relatives in the city anyway. There will be plenty of time in the future, so do not let your emotions dictate your actions.

Elder Jiang told you to escort me out of Sixiang City? Where are we going?

Tomorrow, Sixiang City will be a river of blood. Currently, all the major families are sending out their core lineage members to preserve their bloodlines. Our destination is the nearest human city, Dice Roller's Market. Elder Jiang has already arranged a place to stay over there.

Chen Miemie remained silent for over ten seconds.

Thank Elder Jiang for me, but I won't be leaving.

But...

Everyone has their own path, and I have things I must do as well. However, whether I leave or not, I will remember Elder Jiang's good intentions.

Chen Miemie stood up to see the guest out.

Chen Miemie happened to want to check out the situation outside today, so he went downstairs with the driver.

Just as the two stepped out of the building's entrance.

A familiar face hurried toward them.

Archaeologist Velar.

He blocked the path of Chen Miemie and the driver.

Hello, Chen Miemie, I am...

The famous Archaeologist Mr. Velar, I know.

Velar glanced at the Jiang family's driver. Mr. Chen, are you leaving in the Jiang family's car?

Chen Miemie neither confirmed nor denied it. Mr. Velar, you didn't come here by chance, did you?

That's right. The Nanjun Society noticed the Jiang family coming up the South District building, and I rushed over specifically after receiving the news. I urge Mr. Chen not to trust the Jiang family too much.

Velar made no secret of the fact that he had planted informants nearby.

This was the territory of the opposing society, and with people like Bie Shengtao downstairs, it was considered open surveillance.

Hearing this, the driver blew his top:

Mr. Velar, my Master Jiang exposed you for tampering with the side effects of mystical items, causing you heavy losses. You are the ones who are unforgivably evil. Besides, that is between the Jiang family and you. Why drag Mr. Chen into this?

Chen Miemie looked at Velar. Mr. Velar, if I remember correctly, we have had no prior interactions.

To suddenly pop out and worry on someone else's behalf when they hadn't even met before made no sense.

Velar nodded. Of course, I have my own stance. I know this seems a bit abrupt, but with the Jiang family trying to take you out of the city, I had to come out and stop it in a hurry. The very fact that my actions are so unusually abnormal is in itself a form of credibility.

Let's set aside why you suddenly ran out here for a moment. Give me a reason why the Jiang family would want to harm me.

The Funeral City Mourning that you killed is rumored outside to be a relative of the Jiang family's madam, Gui Yuan.

Chen Miemie glanced at the driver, and the driver did not refute it.

Are you saying that just because of a rumor, the Jiang madam is problematic, and therefore their whole family is problematic?

Velar shook his head.

The rumors outside are false. In reality, Funeral City Mourning is Gui Yuan's uncle. Do you dare trust them?

You're spitting venom! The driver's face was full of anger.

A purple ray shot out from Velar's eyes. The driver was also a mystic; he managed to dodge halfway but couldn't avoid it completely, and one of his ears was sliced off.

The driver knew Chen Miemie would not leave, and there was no point in staying behind himself. To save his own life, he immediately turned and fled.

After the driver left.

Velar continued speaking to Chen Miemie:

"I know you formed a connection with the Jiang family because you cured Old Man Jiang's family of their porcelainization. But have you ever wondered why, at that time, three generations of the Jiang family were porcelainized, with the sole exception of Gui Yuan?

We speculate that the Jiang family has long been controlled by Gui Yuan. You have already ruined Gui Yuan's plans once, and this time you killed his uncle. If you leave with them, you won't be heading to a new city. Only a dead end awaits you on the way."

"Speculate? So, Gui Yuan controlling the Jiang family is just a guess."

"Gui Yuan is the strongest in the Jiang family. Mr. Chen, every family has only one quota to send someone away to continue their bloodline. Does it make sense for the Jiang family to give it to an outsider like you instead of their own Jiang Gui?"

Chen Miemie listened quietly, then clapped his hands.

"As expected of an Archaeologist, a great story. So, who might you be?"

Velar placed a hand over his chest, bowed, and gave a hat-tipping salute.

"A subordinate of the Seventh Seat of the Witches' Coven, sending regards to the descendant of the Third Seat."