{Eh~ }
Little Sour Sour, covered in a black, shimmering sequined dress, opened its slightly wide and long mouth, its eyes sparkling with the wonder of seeing something unknown for the first time, as it leaned in towards the gap where the stone slab was gradually dissolving into a large hole.
Li Li Ya, suddenly flashing with a soft glow, drew near, pulling its body back and shrinking its dainty face.
{What is this! }
“This! ” Lin Site turned his head, his hand still holding the lighter.
In the dim light behind, Xu Aiyuan parted her red lips, lowered her hand, and stared at the expanse of an ancient hotel room on the other side of the gaping hole, where more decorations were gradually coming into view.
In the silent room, a delicate hand-woven carpet covered every inch of the floor. The patterns on the wall were wall fabrics rarely seen, featuring various different painting styles. Compared to the offset printing aligned by modern machines, it was difficult to find perfectly symmetrical designs on the left and right walls.
Little Sour Sour zipped over with a whoosh.
“Be careful! ” Xu Aiyuan shouted nervously.
But Little Sour Sour, having rushed over, was darting its little head left and right inside the room, and everyone sensed that no danger was occurring.
“Uh… ” Lin Site said to Xu Aiyuan, “Xu Aiyuan, I’ll go take a look. “
“It’s too dangerous. “
Without waiting for Lin Site to take a step, Xu Aiyuan quickly shook her head seriously. “Don’t act rashly, ” she said, glancing again at the mysterious room across from them, which was full of retro charm and seemed to resemble some kind of ancient inn. She then advised, “Let’s wait until we figure out what’s going on before we do anything. “
Lin Site frowned, looked at his lighter glowing with colorful light, and turned back to say, under the gaze of Liliya:
“Yuan, Miss Yuan Yuan. You know, sometimes trying things out isn’t so bad. Hmm, but staying here is best for you. “
His heart pounding, he stared at the quiet, mysterious room, then stepped across the threshold and onto the old handcrafted carpet.
Liliya followed him through, floating in the air as she looked around.
Xiao Suan Suan, who had already circled around twice, flew toward the door, touched the slightly ajar lock, and pushed it with force.
Behind them, Xu Aiyuan hesitated for a moment, then took two steps forward, lifted her foot, and stepped across.
When she appeared inside the inn room and took in the layout after glancing left and right, both she and Lin Site suddenly sensed something and turned back to look.
The faint energy fluctuations that had appeared in the room just moments ago had vanished.
Xu Aiyuan was extremely startled, while Liliya immediately rushed over, spinning quickly around the empty corner of the room several times.
{Ah!!! }
Lin Site ran over with heavy footsteps, the glow from the lighter in his hand still not fading.
“Do you still have a way? ” Xu Aiyuan said quickly.
Then she looked at the door.
“I’ll try this wall first. ” The medium-built man in a cloak immediately got up and approached the wall fabric of the hotel room, pressing the flame, which was glowing with a circle like sunlight shimmering through moisture, close to the cloth, holding his breath and anxiously waiting.
A few seconds passed.
“Damn it, why isn’t there any reaction yet. “
Lily Bit came over with Xu Aiyuan, both looking at him somewhat nervously.
Lin Site frowned, scorching the wall while glancing back at everything in the room. His eyes lingered for a moment on the large bed covered with clean, soft bedding, and finally, with a sigh of irritation in his heart, he turned his head back, pondering how to safely bring the main pillar of these ‘Rose Brook’ sisters back home.
“No use. ” He withdrew the lighter from the slightly smoking wall cloth.
He lowered his head dejectedly, looking up and glancing at the half-open hotel room door.
Little Sorghum dashed back in from the dim hallway outside like a gust of wind—’shua’.
{Lily Bit! } the little thing exclaimed as it scrambled over, suddenly jolting, — “Remember we’ve kind of been here before, huh? “
She paused midair, her face a blank.
{Have been here before? } Lily Bit wobbled over close.
“What have you remembered? ” Lin Site and Xu Aiyuan asked immediately.
{Ugh… } Little Sour Suan held her head, {I, I think… I remember, this afternoon… No, that’s not right! It’s a bit fuzzy, hey… }
{What’s going on! } Li Li Ya stomped her feet in frustration.
{I~ } Little Sour Suan turned around, like a drunkard, leading the way as she dashed to the front, then waiting for Li Li Ya to sway a short distance before darting forward again, flying toward the doorknob.
{I can’t quite recall, it’s just a feeling… like we’ve been here on the big star’s private train before, um, and it seemed like we were following someone. }
Thump, thump, thump!
Xu Aiyuan walked over quickly, placing her hand on the doorknob, with Lin Site right beside her. She didn’t sense anything. Her gaze flickering slightly, she glanced at the door outside, then quickened her pace to the entrance and grasped the round, exquisite brass handle.
Her breaths slowed down.
Xu Aiyuan turned her head; Lin Site had already stepped up without hesitation and placed his hand on the back of hers. Fixing his eyes on her, he forcefully tightened his grip, twisted her arm, and pulled her behind him with two “thump thumps, ” dragging her to the rear. Then, holding a lighter in one hand, he gripped the brass handle tightly with the other.
“Sorry, but if we run into any danger, I’ll try my best to protect all of you, even if it costs my life. “
Lin Site bowed his head, staring at the brass handle, muttered “sorry ” once more, and turned the door with a click, pulling it open.
小酸酸唰地下冲了出去，在走廊空中一停顿，哧溜地转弯冲向了通往大厅的楼梯。
{等等我！ }
粒粒牙跟在后面带着迷蒙光晕的残影飞了过去。
Lin Site poked his head out to take a look, and after Xu Aiyuan walked out, the two suddenly heard several exclamations from downstairs.
“Wow, where did that come from! “
“And what kind of creature is it? “
Lin Site and Xu Aiyuan exchanged a shocked glance.
As Lin Site hesitated, his hand just resting on a dagger at his waist, a sudden flurry of footsteps and voices came from the stairwell not far away. However, the sounds were coming from upstairs.
“You won’t be able to get into President Buchen’s room, even if you called us back, it’s not like we could make it either. “
“None of us can get in touch with him now. You know, even though we’re all at sea, site 405 isn’t exactly close to the station. “
“We can only try it as a last resort. Brother Torch, should we go find Captain Cheng’s people at sea and try to send word to him somehow? “
“No way. “
Another voice rang out, asking, “Say, do we need to go and invite Mr. Kim Cleist and the others down now? “
The sound of footsteps echoed through the second-floor hallway of the staircase.
“They said, last time they stayed in 405… “
The conversation suddenly paused.
Several people turned their heads to look. In the suddenly quietened corridor, Wang Zhi was stunned, his mouth agape.
The nervous Lin Site saw that the group of people ahead, dressed in sharp but very non-modern styles, were all looking at him and the person beside him standing at the doorway with extreme astonishment.
“Could it be Miss Xu Aiyuan! “
Wang Zhi grabbed his head with both hands, “How could you be here! It’s too incredible, oh my god! I never thought something like this would happen. “
The group at the stairway entrance hurried over with clattering footsteps, looking very serious, and none of them dared to speak rashly.
Holding the lighter, Lin Site looked at these strangers with some nervousness but no timidity; the ears of some of them were even pointed at the tips.
“Hello. May I ask who you are? ” Xu Aiyuan also felt that the person in front of her looked somewhat familiar.
“I’m Wang Zhi, ” Wang Zhi slapped his chest carelessly, then turned his head and glanced at Sword Thirteen, He Yishu, and the others.
“These are all brothers of Zhao Anlong and Yang Ziang. “
With aclap, Lin Site released the flame from the lighter.
Xu Aiyuan took a light breath, looked at those people, then subtly scanned the long, old hotel corridor.
Two plump mouse figures in suits, with thread-like velvet textures, peeked at them slant-wise from behind everyone’s heels and met her gaze.
“Is that… him? ” Xu Aiyuan murmured softly.
“Hey, yeah, that’s right! ” Wang Zhi scratched his head, then turned back to glance at the people here, furrowed his brows, and turned around again.
Everyone was watching him.
“But… I didn’t expect that he would still want to bring you here. “
Xu Aiyuan’s heart stirred slightly. Lin Site’s gaze fell on Wang Zhi’s hesitant and conflicted face. A few men behind were subtly eyeing this lady.
For a moment, Wang Zhi and the others, who didn’t know how to make the introductions, suddenly heard a scream from downstairs.
“What’s going on? ” These people turned their heads to look at the passageway.
柜台上，小酸酸已经扯着张旅费单飞上了慕斯经理高空的头顶。
{This is from last time – uh, no, wait… I never finished writing it anyway! }
“Get down here, quick! “
The people below were hopping around, trying to reach out and grab her down; one of them climbed onto the counter and stood up, but Little Suansuan’s speed and height were too fast, giving these people no chance to touch her at all.
Its tiny arm swung a pen as thin as a leg hair, quickly drawing short and long little black lines on the paper.
{_ I want to stay in the first room! _}
It puffed out its little chest and tossed the straw-yellow Fee & Travel Voucher behind Manager Mus, who reached back and caught it with a single hand.
“Ahhh! Damn it, who the hell is that? “
“Are you related to a rat! Get down here and stop making trouble! “
A noisy crowd came running down from the stairway. The commotion outside disturbed the great scientist Moffs downstairs, who craned his neck to look over from the corridor entrance.
“Are we going to start the bidding now? ” the manager said with a faint smile, lifting his head.
{Yes, exactly! I want the biggest room, and I want to share a pillow with little Grain-Toot! Hmm, but tonight it’s better I sleep alone. }
She glanced at the crowd on the stairs, then looked back, ignoring them.
“Alright, then. The bidding begins now. “
“Huh?! ” This group of people who felt they had caused a huge disaster rumbled and rushed to the counter, crowding the area around the cabinet where the Visualizer was located, barely leaving any space. Sword Thirteen’s expression turned serious as he stared at the creature. The terrifying Stellar Yuan aura emanating from the group seemed to force the air around them drawing back in retreat.
Lin Site silently clung firmly to Xu Aiyuan’s wrist, shielding her, who wore a faint and gentle smile, behind his not-so-broad shoulders.
{You are the bad guys! }
Little Suan Suan cursed harshly at this group of villains radiating terrifying waves, then rushed toward one man’s ear and kicked a step.
Slap, slap, slap!
A flurry of slaps landed on this person’s ear.
Then, the slender and charming figure in a little black dress slowly began to float upward, spinning in the air amidst the indescribable shock and awe in the crowd’s eyes.
In the corner of the hotel lobby across from the service desk, two rats pushing round trays that were taller than themselves looked up and gasped, “Wow-oh!” as they gazed in worship at “her, ” a small orb of light ascending into the sky.
“The guest in Room 201 has responded. You may proceed, ” Manager Mus stated.
Swoosh! A black shadow flashed through the air, and Little Sour Sour, who had been just above, had vanished in an instant.
“Dammit! ” Sword Thirteen twisted his broad brows, glanced back briefly at the two individuals who had suddenly appeared, and with a soft sigh, followed the group charging toward the staircase.
Wang Zhi lagged behind the group, stopping to look at Xu Aiyuan and her companion, who seemed somewhat puzzled.
“Ah ha. ” Wang Zhi gave Xu Aiyuan a helpless smile. “I’m afraid this person has caused big trouble for Yang Zicang. “
{Big trouble? } Li Liya, with her glistening eyes wide open, floated between Wang Zhi and Xu Aiyuan, timidly asking with confusion, {Will it really cause big trouble? }
“Yes indeed! ” Wang Zhi nodded. “The qualification to stay in a room at this hotel is extremely precious, ” he said to Xu Aiyuan. “Those people just now were all vouched for by Zhao Anlong and someone named Sword Thirteen, guaranteeing they wouldn’t occupy any rooms here. Only then were they allowed by Chairman Yang to enter the hotel. “
He spread his hands and said, “So, you two, coming here… hmm, perhaps through a door? No matter how it happened, first put your names on Chairman Yang’s hotel committee list. Hey, if I, an outsider, were to say so, I think Chairman Yang wouldn’t find it too difficult to handle, right? “
Lin Site turned his head to look at Xu Aiyuan.
“I… sure. ” Xu Aiyuan revealed a smile.
A faint voice reached the ears of the three.
{Big chunk. }
They turned their heads to look, Wang Zhi still had a smile on his face.
Li Liya, wearing a sparkling silver dress at the counter, asked:
{Which room does naughty Yang stay in? }
Manager Mu Si turned his head to glance back, and amid Wang Zhi’s shocked posture as he frantically extended his hand and rushed over, said: “He is mostly in room 407. “
“No! Ah! “
粒粒牙 turned a deaf ear to that someone’s voice. She moistened her lips with the tip of her tongue, took the paper the manager handed over, pulled out her own black pen, held it firmly, thought for a moment, and slowly drew a vertical line on the paper, followed by another small black line segment.
In front of Room 201.
Several people formed layers upon layers, spreading their arms to block the door.
A shiny black Xiao Sour Sour wobbled over, drawing the solemn gazes of the crowd as it approached the bronze nameplate at Room 201.
She reached out her small hand and tapped it gently. With adripsound, the brass nameplate slowly and loosely rotated horizontally, forming an arc. With a“Hmm? “of surprise, the little sprite slipped through the small, elliptical opening it revealed.
Outside the door, the group of men blocking the entrance all dropped their jaws in unison, staring in disbelief toward this small window that they had already pushed open.
Inside the room.
Waves of scorching heat radiated outward from across the room.
Within the scorching radiance, where a phoenix-like form twisted, emerged, and then dissipated into flames, the outline of a section of tree trunk opened eyes resembling tree scars. With no trace of emotion, it fixed its gaze on the small figure standing at the doorway, arms crossed.
“Another clueless person wants to check into the Divine Hotel. “
{Huh? }
Little Suansuan thought it over seriously.
{You’re right. }
Click. Phoenix-Perching Tree’s eyes flickered with a start as it turned to look at the wall cleared so thoroughly that nearly nothing remained. On the table, the only object bathed in the glow of a half-scorched crimson light,, a number plate automatically flipped open.
1V0.
Phoenix-Perching Tree let out a scornful, hearty laugh: “Ha ha ha! “
“You imbecilic humanoid creature. “
Some of its extended branch-like roots retracted back in,, “The only human who could defeat me has become my servant. Let alone you? Go back now, little thing. You hold not a single story capable of defeating—anytime it is being rebirthed’—Me!“
The last two words of its speech were exceptionally loud, as if filled with pride for finally finding itself worthy of a new story to tell.
Far out at sea, Yang Zicang, who had already learned from Tatamingqi how to exchange control of the Flying Carpet through a contracted agreement, heard from the Key the bidding information for the room where his charge was located.
“Hmm~ ” Little Suansuan inside the door scraped her small finger along the corner of her mouth.
She pulled a large stack of papers from behind her waist, glanced at the tree trunk staring her way, then took her finger from her mouth and lightly thumbed through the stack with her small palm.
{Let’s start from, last weekend. }
“What do you mean? ” Fengqi tree was startled.
{Last weekend, early in the morning, I saw two new peach trees had been planted in the Haotian Shed Area. }
Click!
1V1。
Fengqi tree looked over.
{Mm, and a new pigsty had been repaired. }
{The Zhongtian Trade Area meeting decided to plan a robbery on the neighboring Li Kai Shed Area. }
“What are you talking about? “
Click! Click! 1V3.
{A small soldier squad chased down a wild wolf that had run out from the fallen woods of the Lost Frequency Lands. }
This one probably doesn’t count. Little Suansuan, after glancing at the tag, let her eyes continue downward, swaying slightly in mid-air while looking at a small black dot nearby.
{Back then, a very powerful demon appeared in the south. It almost caused quite a few deaths and injuries. Luckily, a great figure named Gu Ao took care of it. }
Click.
“You… what are you talking about! “
A system-kin notif: A man wanting to take just some water,…west of the Lunar pen.
/ Radiance System note: By The Dusk Shed C O R E . . .
“Hey, wait up! I have a story too. I, I’ve had a phoenix land on me, didn’t you see?! “
{Rose Creek made a new loom. }
One chant after another spread out.
Click-clack! Click-clack!
Within the flames, the Phoenix-Perching Tree gazed at the small figure with an air of disbelief.
“Ah! Stop! “
Click-click-click-click-click! Like the incessant sound of a falling counter, the Phoenix-Perching Tree turned its body inch by inch to look.
1V10…15，16…
{Also, the thirty-sixth name was Sister Xiao Li. She said she wanted to eat a full meal. And then she did, at breakfast! }
“What is this! How could this sorry thing possibly count as a newly born story! “
The Phoenix-Perching Tree roared!
Xiao Suansuan lifted her head, {This is really a difficult thing, why doesn’t it count? Hmph, you want to eat it but can’t even get it! }
“Wrong! I can eat it! ” shouted Feng Qi Mu, “As long as it’s buried in the soil! “
Xiao Suansuan, wearing a slanted black-collared shirt, snorted disdainfully and turned a page without even looking.
{Forget it, this page has twenty-six things about new life. Read it yourself! }
She turned this stack of paper around to face Feng Qi Mu.
“What the hell is this stuff you’ve got here? It’s all black dots, you just made that up, didn’t you! Manager, I demand to protest! “
— “Protest denied. “
“What! ” The crowd outside, who hadn’t heard anything from inside, looked up at the brass speaker hanging just above their heads.
Clatter, clack!
Before long, with a creaking sound, the black door was twisted open from the inside.
The members of the “Dragon’s Domain ” in the corridor, along with a newcomer walking up from behind them, stared as room 201—a door they had never seen opened since their arrival—was finally unlocked.
A wooden stake, radiating a dull crimson glow, scanned the crowd coldly with misaligned, scar-like “eyes. ” With a slow root-shifting motion, it stepped out of the room and silently stood at the doorway, the people silently parting to create a path.
“Hey. “
“Huh? ” The crowd of bewildered individuals, of varying heights, responded in unison.
A golden, phoenix-like voice rang out, as if from legend.
“At a time like this—where is my caretaker? “
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