If when Chen Miemie crafted three Frostlight Candles, Gongshu Key could still stutter out her surprise, then when a Moonlight of Eternal Radiance appeared between Chen Miemie’s fingers, she was struck speechless.
Blood rushed to her head, the unknown veins on her forehead turning completely crimson, and the black of her pupils shrank until it almost disappeared.
"Hey, don’t just stand there. It’s your turn—carve the seal."
Gongshu Key snapped back to reality at the sound of Chen Miemie’s voice.
She stared fiercely at Chen Miemie: “Who the hell are you?”
Chen Miemie tilted his head, playing dumb: “Your guild leader didn’t tell you? I’m Chen Miemie of [Night Watch], moonlight by my side, ever present.”
“You mean your [Mystery] can produce three-colored moonlight?”
“Yeah.”
Gongshu Key let out a small sigh of relief, but then a greedy expression crept across her face:
“Chen Miemie, do you realize? You can make Eternal Light Candles—you’re about to be rich!”
Chen Miemie looked a bit puzzled: “I heard from a candle shop owner that this is already a sunset industry. Not much demand anymore, right?”
“What does he know!” Gongshu Key got excited. “You’re the only one who can make Moonlight of Eternal Radiance. You’re a monopolist. You can set the price!”
“But even Five-light Mailboxes are rarely used now.”
“It’s not about mailboxes. You can sell them to the Church. For grand festivals, they always have to prepare just four kinds of light. If you could provide a fifth, do you think they’d fight over it?”
Chen Miemie just said “Oh,” showing no interest.
He truly wasn’t interested.
One reason was that, for now, he didn’t want to deal with the Church.
Another reason was that the ones who would pay a fortune for Eternal Light Candles were bound to be the very few faithful followers of the Eternal Moon. He had no desire to take advantage of those loyal believers.
Soon, Chen Miemie used up all eleven portions of oil wax he had brought.
The first portion was wasted due to a mishap, but the remaining ten turned into three Rainbowlight Candles, three Frostlight Candles, and four Eternal Light Candles.
Chen Miemie took nine candles for himself and left one Eternal Light Candle with Gongshu Key as payment for her carving work.
When he left Gongshu Key’s workshop, it was already late, close to the time he had agreed to meet Yi Zhu.
By the time Chen Miemie arrived at the agreed-upon square, Yi Zhu was already waiting on a stone bench, holding a book in both hands as he read.
Chen Miemie quietly approached from behind and glanced at the book in Yi Zhu’s hands.
Title: Postpartum Care for Sows
“Yi Zhu, your interests are really broad—studying stuff like this?”
Hearing Chen Miemie’s voice, Yi Zhu put the book away.
“Brother Miemie, you’re joking. Actually, I was curious why pork from the same stall has subtle differences each day. I later found out that gender, feeding status, and even postpartum care affect the texture of the meat.”
Chen Miemie didn’t quite know how to respond to that topic, so he decisively changed the subject:
“Have you had lunch?”
Yi Zhu tucked the book into his bag: “Already eaten.”
“Perfect. Then come with me for a few more bites. Any good restaurants around here?”
“It’s already 2 PM, and you still haven’t eaten? Come on, I’m a foodie walking map. There’s a place just a short walk away—a specialty stir-fry spot.”
Yi Zhu led the way, and they arrived at a restaurant.
Even though lunch time had passed, the place was still bustling with people coming and going, lively as could be.
Chen Miemie looked up and saw a sign with three gold-inlaid characters: [Wan Min Tang].
They walked inside. The main hall was vast, with no partitions in the middle—just a few pillars—so it was completely open.
He checked his watch: it was 14:15, yet the place was still 80 percent full.
Chen Miemie and Yi Zhu had just sat down at an empty table when a server approached.
This server was a bit round, about one meter tall.
It was a panda standing on two feet.
The panda had thick dark circles under its eyes, wore a waiter’s apron, and held a pen and paper.
“Lüe lüe~” it let out an adorable sound.
Yi Zhu was familiar with the ordering process. He first asked Chen Miemie: “Brother Miemie, do you eat spicy? Any dietary restrictions?”
Chen Miemie: “I like spicy and sweet. No restrictions.”
“Good, then let me recommend a few: we’ll have a boiled black-backed perch in chili sauce, stir-fried shrimp, honey-glazed char siu, cold-mixed mint, and a pot of aged jade tea.”
The panda nodded, scribbling wildly on the paper with its pen. The lines were messier than a doctor’s handwriting, and Chen Miemie couldn’t make out a thing.
After the panda left, Yi Zhu explained: “This panda is intelligent, understands human speech, but can’t talk. It’s the shop owner’s pet—not dangerous.”
Chen Miemie’s gaze still lingered on the retreating panda: “So what is it? Not a Weird, doesn’t seem like a demon either.”
“Who knows? The world is full of all kinds of bizarre things.”
“Alright, Yi Zhu, back to business. Since you made a request to me, and I agreed, I need to understand more about the situation, even if it means getting into your family matters.”
Yi Zhu said seriously: “Of course. I won’t hide anything I know.”
“Good. Sorry, hold on a moment—I need to use the restroom.”
In less than five minutes, Chen Miemie returned from the restroom.
As soon as he sat back down, he got straight to the point:
“Sorry for the wait. Let’s continue. Please tell me the basics about your younger sister, Yi Xian.”
Yi Zhu answered without even thinking.
“Yi Xian and I were born into a small family. Our Yi family isn’t exactly wealthy nobles, but we were well-off, with no worries about food or clothing.
Our father was a Level 4 [Mystery] mystic, and our mother was an ordinary person. She got injured early on and has been bedridden ever since.
Seven years ago, when Yi Xian and I were 12 and just starting school, our mother passed away.
I started boarding at school, while Yi Xian stayed home.
For the next six years, we were in the same grade but different classes. We seemed to be at the same school, but we didn’t interact much.
It wasn’t until last year, after graduation, when we joined the same guild that we started seeing each other more often.
After our mother died, our father remarried a woman and had a son with her.
Five years ago, our father also passed away.
Now, the only ones left in the old house are that woman, her son, and Yi Xian.
Both Yi Xian and I were underage—without the power or rights to be independent—so the woman took charge of the household.
After our father died, I would occasionally see Yi Xian at school. She had no friends and never smiled. When I tried to talk to her, she was very withdrawn.
Over the past year, as far as I know, she doesn’t seem to have any hobbies or interests. She doesn’t care much about anything. She even…”
“Even what?”
“Even… it feels like she doesn’t care about anything, isn’t afraid of anything. Even when she suddenly went blind, she acted totally indifferent.”
Chen Miemie looked straight into Yi Zhu’s eyes: “Don’t be reserved—just say what you’re thinking.”
Yi Zhu hesitated for a few seconds before speaking with difficulty: “I suspect Yi Xian has a tendency toward self-destruction.”
“Why?”
Every year on my mother’s death anniversary, I go home. More than once, I’ve heard the neighbors say that Yi Xian, on the Day of Endless Dark, would open the door herself and run outside.
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.”
for mindless slaughter, this isn't for you.] My name is Ye Shu, and I'm a transmigrator. It seems I'm supposed to be the protagonist, but that feels pretty unlikely. This world has been invaded by a system. The antagonists on the other side have suddenly become pure, flawless saints. The female leads have been force-fed the so-called "original plot," making them think they've been reborn. Now, everyone thinks I'm scum. Including the old lady in my ring. And here I am, in the Monster Beast Mountain Range, braising pork. To put my situation in perspective— It's as if, the moment Xiao Yan stepped into the Monster Beast Mountain Range, the Soul Emperor already knew he would become the Flame Emperor, and Yao Lao had been turned to the enemy's side. I have nothing right now. Oh wait, that's not true. I do have a white-haired loli child-bride who's the Heavenly Dao, and her only skill is acting cute. So, tell me guys... what are my chances of making it to the end?
lan, the Luo family, tracked him down - along with the babies in their arms. Mo Xuan stared pensively at the paternity test results from over a dozen top institutions, both domestic and international, showing a 99.99% match between himself and the two baby girls. At 23, Mo Xuan, a doctoral student, had become the father of two three-year-old children. The kicker? The mothers weren't even the same person! He gradually realized he was being lured step by step into an elaborate trap designed by these two yandere sisters. "Be good, little Xuan. Sister's life belongs to you entirely." "Brother, if you try to run away, I'll have no choice but to tie you up." Mo Xuan: "Do whatever you want, ladies. I give up."
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
