May All Your Wishes Come True

Last time Chunhua came to the shop, he not only benefited from the circle's [Mysterious] healing, but also went out with him to save others. Strictly speaking, he had helped him twice.

So the price he asked for was not light.

The price he paid was what he desired most at that time, and what he desired most then was a bright future.

If the price had been collected normally, what Chunhua would have faced was a life of constant setbacks and failure from that point onward.

But when Daidai collected the price last time, an accident occurred, causing the price collection to only "half succeed."

At first, they thought it might take effect conditionally, or take effect but with side effects. But after seeing Chunhua tonight and hearing his account, that wasn't the case.

Chunhua slowly began to recall his experiences over the past year or more:

"I don't know how to describe the change you brought me. If you call it a 'price,' it feels more like a 'blessing'; if you call it a 'blessing,' it also seems somewhat like a 'curse.'

I call this price, blessing, curse: [Wish Fulfillment].

Within my reach, everything I want to do gets done, but the process of getting there never happens the way I hoped.

For example.

When I was preparing to break through to [Mysterious] Level 4, I lacked a high-compatibility material. Coincidentally, the Scholars' Academy had a suitable one, so I planned to save up internal contribution points to exchange for it.

In the end, I did get that material, and I did use contribution points for it—but the source of those points was the reward obtained when my entire research team was wiped out in an accident.

Another example.

I recently gained some fame and status. Once, I went back to visit the orphanage where I had lived as a child. Seeing that the orphanage building was too old and run-down, I wanted to renovate it.

My intention was to allocate the Academy's resources for it. Unexpectedly, the very next day, before I could even sign the paperwork, the orphanage building collapsed from years of neglect, and someone was seriously injured. Later, the building was rebuilt—it certainly became new, but sadly...

The most recent one happened not long ago.

I led a team to pursue the Lullaby Hummer and ended up severely injured. I wanted to survive.

As you can see, although I was badly hurt, I did survive. But when I woke up, I learned a devastating piece of news.

My best friend since my school days—his name is Yi Wuduan—died saving me. He overused his [Mysterious] ability, taking on too much of my damage, and 'died from exhaustion.'

This past year, everything I wanted to achieve, I achieved—but always in ways I never wanted to see."

Chen Miemie listened quietly to Chunhua's story.

"You seem to be afraid of this 'Wish Fulfillment' ability."

"A little, yes. Every time this ability fulfills something for me, it feels like it's trading away something I currently hold dear, and I have no control over it."

"Do you want to cancel this ability?"

Chunhua fell silent.

After a long while, he spoke again.

"No, not yet. I don't want to lose it right now. What I want is power—the power to defeat the Lullaby Hummer."

"Why are you so obsessed with defeating the Lullaby Hummer?"

"Because if I defeat it, I'll qualify to become a Grand Scholar.

Shopkeeper, I know that for a hermit master like you, what I want—whether it's power or fame—seems too worldly and materialistic. But I grew up an orphan. Everything I wanted, I had to fight for myself."

Chen Miemie waved his hand.

"You're very honest. You know exactly what you want and you're willing to pay the price. I don't dislike that.

But I'm a bit confused. You said 'defeating the anomaly' grants you the qualification to become a Grand Scholar?

Just for a qualification, you're willing to stake everything? Isn't that too much of a risk?"

"Don't laugh at me, but there is a Grand Scholar who's semi-retired. His granddaughter was severely injured by the Lullaby Hummer. He once declared that if an unmarried person of the same generation defeated that anomaly, he would let that person marry her."

"Oh, so you've set your sights on the girl."

"She is indeed beautiful, but I'm not after her looks. I need that Grand Scholar's support."

"Let me ask another question. The Lullaby Hummer—I've seen it. It's at least [Mysterious] Level 6. You're only Level 4. What made you dare to chase after it?"

"I never planned to fight it alone. By now, I'm already a Senior Scholar at the Academy, with some reputation. I can mobilize quite a few people.

I have an old rival at the Academy—Luo Lang. He's my main competitor.

He's been spreading word that I'm afraid to confront the Lullaby Hummer. I needed to prove myself."

"Chunhua, you've always been independent, straightforward, and strong-willed. How could such simple provocation push you into danger like that?"

"In hindsight, maybe I was too eager for results. But at the time, Luo Lang wasn't just provoking me—he was putting real pressure on me.

He's not the type to coast on family connections. He has talent and works hard, and he's leading his own team to chase the Lullaby Hummer. He's just as relentless as I am.

If he gets to it first, given my age and background, I would never have another chance."

Through this back-and-forth, Chen Miemie roughly understood the situation with the price Daidai had placed on Chunhua.

What they call [Wish Fulfillment] must have limits—things beyond its reach wouldn't "come true." Otherwise, Chunhua wouldn't need to come to the shop for help; he could just "wish" to destroy the Lullaby Hummer outright.

In Chen Miemie's view, this was purely a curse, with nothing blessing-like about it.

Of course, different people might see it differently. Generally speaking, the more someone already has, the more it feels like a curse. Someone with nothing might actually think of it as a blessing.

"Chunhua, let me confirm your request."

"I want power—enough power for me to personally lead a team to kill the Lullaby Hummer."

Chen Miemie understood. Chunhua wasn't asking him to do the killing. He wanted to complete the kill himself, in front of everyone.

"You're a Level 4 [Mysterious], trying to personally kill an anomaly that's already advanced to danger rank 7." Chen Miemie tapped the sofa with his fingers.

"Shopkeeper, I know it's difficult, but I'm not alone. The whole city is hunting it down. My entire team includes one Level 6 [Mysterious] and three Level 5s."

"I need to be clear with you. When the rank gap is this wide, there's no way—none.

But if it's only a matter of you being the leader, what you need to do is withstand the Lullaby Hummer's lullaby attack. That, I can help you achieve."

Chunhua thought for a moment, then nodded. "I understand. That's enough. I'll figure out the rest myself."

Chunhua left, taking with him three full large bottles of tea this time.

Xunhuan cleaned up the table. "Miemie, can he actually do it with just the tea?"

Chen Miemie calculated for a long time in his head.

"Chances are slim, but not zero. This tea can keep a person clear-headed and calm, neutralizing the lullaby attack. If Chunhua is willing to arrange it for every fighter involved, then with the team's combined strength, there's a twenty to thirty percent chance of victory."

After seeing off the guest, Chen Miemie also went out.

But he wasn't heading to Chunhua's era.

The three-day deadline had arrived, time to go collect the debt from [Butler].

When [Huangyi] reached the entrance of Burger Workshop, before he could even slip inside—

At the spot where [Butler] had once had three limbs severed, there on the rear seat of that remaining vehicle, sat a middle-aged man, impossible to miss.

“You were waiting for me?” [Huangyi] revealed himself.

“My son was reckless and offended you. I’ve come to plead for leniency.”

“Impressive—no wonder you’re the great scholar known as the ‘Logic Pledgor.’ You’re far more humble than your son.”

“A mere honorary title. Please, just call me Luo Lang.”