Chapter 377 - 374: A Sense of Crisis

Chapter 377: Chapter 374: A Sense of Crisis

After getting the Qi Recovery Pills, Xiaohai immediately lost interest in the firecrackers. It wagged its tail and began to scarf them down off to the side.

Speaking of which, the little guy Xiaohai had grown incredibly fast since arriving. In less than half a year, its body had gone from the size of a small cat to that of a small dog, and its genetic level had increased from twenty-eight to thirty-six.

It couldn’t be helped. With Feng Hao, a Ninth-level Alchemist, around, it ate high-tier pills like daily meals. It was no wonder it grew so much.

At this rate, it would likely grow into a Tier Five Magical Beast within a year. Then, just like its mother, it would be able to change its form at will.

"The fireworks are done. Everything’s ready, just waiting for the new year." Feng Hao waved his hand, storing the fireworks and firecrackers in his Spatial Ring, then pursed his lips and chuckled to himself. ’No, that’s not right. It’ll only feel like a proper new year if I celebrate it with Yao Girl when she gets back.’

At this thought, he couldn’t help but be lost in his longing for Yao Girl once more.

According to Xue Xiaoyun, the Magic Tide was supposed to arrive the day after tomorrow. He didn’t know if Yao Girl could make it back in time.

Feng Hao gazed quietly out the window. Below, Five States City was ablaze with lights under the night sky. Specks of red light dotted the streets and alleys, adding to the festive and peaceful atmosphere.

In the night sky, the Yin Yang Double Moon hung suspended, their cool and gentle light intermingling as if they, too, were welcoming the new year.

"By the way, Xiao San’Er, do you have a family?" Feng Hao asked, gazing at the moonlit scene outside before his eyes drifted to Three-second Fire beside him.

Three-second Fire shot back with a look of disdain, "This flame is one of the Celestial and Earthly Spiritual Objects. Heaven is my father and Earth is my mother. Wherever I go, it’s a family reunion."

"Is that so?" Feng Hao said, his eyes filled with pity. "Then you’re quite pitiful, not having a family at all."

"Bullshit! This flame was born alone and doesn’t need a family," Three-second Fire snorted, turning its nose up.

Feng Hao shook his head, speechless. He then turned to Three-second Fire with a sincere gaze and said, "You’ve been with me for a while now. Regardless of whether you had a family before, from now on, I’m your family. Oh, and Yaoyao, too."

"Don’t try to get chummy with me," Three-second Fire said, averting its gaze. "This flame is a Spiritual Object nurtured by heaven and earth. If you become my family, wouldn’t that make you family with heaven and earth themselves?"

"However, seeing how sincere you are, this flame will reluctantly agree," Three-second Fire said, its light twinkling.

"You little rascal..." Feng Hao shook his head in exasperation.

Three-second Fire smacked its ’lips.’ Its ’eyes’ suddenly darted around as it floated in front of Feng Hao, asking with a mischievous grin, "So, uh, we’re family now, right?"

"That’s right. Is there a problem?" Feng Hao asked, confused.

"Since we’re family, we should share weal and woe," Three-second Fire said, its eyes gleaming. "You should still have plenty of magic souls on you, right? How about... you give me a few to tide me over?"

"Get lost!" Feng Hao’s mouth twitched.

"Tch. And you call us family. Can’t even spare a single magic soul for me," Three-second Fire pouted resentfully before diving directly into Feng Hao’s sea of consciousness. It then began to circle the Genetic Tree joyfully, though for what reason was anyone’s guess.

Feng Hao snorted in annoyance, casually closed the window, then sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes, and began to cultivate.

「The night passed peacefully.」

Early the next morning, Feng Hao opened his eyes, emerging from his cultivation. After quickly washing up, he habitually opened the shop doors for business.

With the new year just around the corner, all of Five States City was immersed in a festive atmosphere. The streets and alleys were adorned with lanterns and streamers. Countless young men and women, dressed in their finest, roamed the bustling streets, searching for someone—or something—that caught their eye.

Among them, many men and women clad in "Feng" apparel quickly became the center of attention.

Just as Feng Hao was soaking in the festive atmosphere, he suddenly received a Stone Listening Communication from Sun Yaowen: "Kid, I’ve got everything arranged on my end. Get your butt to the lab for research as soon as the new year is over, you hear me?"

"Damn it, it’s the new year! Can’t you talk about something else?" Feng Hao grumbled.

"Hmph! True researchers don’t get holidays. Cut the crap. Are you coming or not?" Sun Yaowen grunted.

Feng Hao didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "Alright, alright, I’ll definitely be there."

"That’s more like it." Sun Yaowen nodded in satisfaction, then his tone suddenly grew serious. "Right, I’ve received intel recently. A large number of Mages from unknown origins have flooded the area around Five States City. I suspect they’re here for the magic toxin antibody. Even though your name wasn’t in the public announcement, anyone determined enough can follow the breadcrumbs back to you. So, you need to be extra careful."

Hearing this, Feng Hao couldn’t help but frown. He nodded gravely. "Understood. I’ll be careful."

After ending the communication, the joy in Feng Hao’s heart evaporated. Gazing at the stream of people on the street outside, he felt an inexplicable sense of worry.

Although things had been turbulent recently, Five States City itself hadn’t been affected, so Feng Hao hadn’t paid it much mind. All he wanted was to spend a peaceful year with Yao Girl.

But now, after hearing Sun Yaowen’s warning, it seemed that peace in Five States City was about to be broken.

’Whatever. I’ll deal with soldiers with generals, and floods with earthworks. I’ll just take it one step at a time,’ Feng Hao thought with a sigh, his brow furrowed. He turned and went back to his bedroom upstairs. He laid out his Alchemy Equipment and began to concoct potions with a frenzy, focusing mainly on poisons.

Whether or not Five States City descended into chaos, it was always good to be prepared.

His alchemy session lasted until the afternoon. Looking at the ample supply of pills he had prepared in his Spatial Ring, Feng Hao secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Just as he was stretching, he heard Xiaohai suddenly start meowing downstairs. It was immediately followed by a familiar, charming laugh—a loud cackle that was uniquely hers. "Bwahaha, this young lady is back! Hey, pill-pusher, get out here!"

Feng Hao let out a cry of surprise and rushed downstairs. There she was—Yao Girl, looking at him with a wide grin.

"Come here, come here, let your husband take a look," Feng Hao said, his eyes turning red. "Did that good-for-nothing sister of yours bully you?"

Xi Yueyao gave him an exasperated eye-roll, then rested her head against his chest and mumbled, "How could she? She couldn’t dote on me enough as it was."

"As long as you’re alright." Feng Hao chuckled, then couldn’t resist cupping Xi Yueyao’s face. "You were gone for so many days," he asked teasingly, "did you miss your husband at all?"

"Of course not," Xi Yueyao said cheekily. "This young lady was just thinking about ’driving the train’." ℯℯ𝑙.

"Haha... Spoken like my girl! You and your husband are on the exact same wavelength." Feng Hao roared with laughter, scooping her up and charging toward the bedroom while cheerfully humming a little tune.

The young woman clearly felt the same. She buried her blushing face in his chest, letting him carry her without protest.

As he rushed to the bedroom door, Feng Hao suddenly remembered something and bellowed, "Xiao San’Er, go play with Xiaohai! Don’t disturb this young master’s ’life contemplation’!"

"Damn!" Three-second Fire cursed as it shot out of the sea of consciousness, drifting downstairs in a huff. "For cryin’ out loud! Yesterday it was all ’we’re family,’ and today he’s kicking me out like a stranger!"

Meanwhile, a ruckus of things being tossed about came from the bedroom, and then... nothing more was heard...