Invasion - Chapter 99

Chapter 99

The elderly man delivering milk walked along the road, a heavy milk box on his back.

Delivering milk every morning in this wealthy district was his job. Though the pay was meager, finding any work in Capital these days was no easy feat. He couldn't afford to miss a single day, rain or shine.

The uphill path was a bit steep, with beautiful rose branches extending from the courtyard. This was one of his favorite households.

The main gate opened, and a young girl with a bob cut emerged with a bright smile, taking the milk and offering a tip.

"Has something good happened?" the elderly man asked cheerfully while expressing thanks. "You've seemed very happy these past few days."

"My young miss has returned from her travels," Guo Suo said, holding the milk bottles with curved, smiling eyes.

"Is that so? That's certainly something worth celebrating."

In these times, leaving Capital was dangerous—something that would cause any family great worry. A safe return was indeed cause for joy.

When he first started delivering milk, the young maid of this house was terribly shy, only daring to stretch out a hand from behind the door. Now she had become much more cheerful and confident, coming out to greet people openly, always smiling, and often giving warm snacks and tips to lonely elderly folks like himself.

A house that employed such a cheerful young girl must have a very kind master. The elderly man felt genuinely happy for her, and for the young miss who had safely returned home.

The rose branches stretching out from the courtyard were blooming brilliantly. In the humid morning air, a faint floral fragrance drifted about.

Gardens with such beautiful blooms this early in the season were rare indeed.

As the elderly man walked back, he saw a gardener wearing a silver mask, standing on a ladder by the flower trees, using scissors to clip a few dew-covered blooms.

The elderly man reflected thoughtfully. This mansion had been a notorious haunted house just a year or two ago.

Desolate and silent, lifeless and gloomy—passing by in the early morning had been frightening.

Now, with more people gradually joining the household, the courtyard had become lively, growing more vibrant with each passing day.

There must be a very good master here now.

Lin Yuan rolled over in her warm blankets, vaguely hearing Xiao Suo running across the courtyard. She drowsily activated her personal terminal to check the time.

A breeze stirred the wind chimes hanging by the window, making the bright glass beads sway in the soft morning light, refracting colorful gleams.

Among the many beads, there was now a small round bead like a cat's eye. The translucent stone, resembling an eye, was now tinged with dawn's light as it gazed upon the colorful world outside.

Many days had passed since returning from the Land of No Eyes, and Lin Yuan had spent most of her time cocooned in bed sleeping. She didn't know why, but she felt extremely tired, as if she had missed many days of sleep at some point and needed to make up for it.

"You seem to have become more powerful," Xun Hua had said once.

"Did something happen in the Land of No Eyes?"

"Your spiritual power used to be within my acceptable range, but now it gives me a sense of awe."

When Xun Hua said this, Lin Yuan was busy dealing with a large pot of beef short ribs prepared by Guo Suo, her cheeks too stuffed to speak.

She didn't know if she had become stronger.

She just felt oddly empty since returning, needing vast amounts of sleep and food to fill herself up.

Unfortunately, she probably couldn't sleep in today—a royal summons had arrived, requesting another personal audience with Her Majesty the Queen.

She had to get up early to prepare.

In recent years, Her Majesty rarely met with outsiders, even royal family members couldn't enter without being summoned, yet she had called for Lin Yuan twice in succession. Such special treatment had drawn considerable attention.

During the days Lin Yuan had been sleeping soundly, invitations had been arriving at her home like snowflakes.

Fortunately, she was no longer a student at the Guide Academy. She had the right to refuse.

Lin Yuan groggily struggled to get up, leaning against the windowsill to look at the morning courtyard.

Being home felt comfortable. But for some reason, Lin Yuan felt something wasn't quite right.

It was as if something was missing from her side. Something she had grown accustomed to, something that had been by her side night after night, supporting each other.

The morning courtyard was beautiful, not in a neat and orderly way. Under Xun Hua's recent care, it displayed a vibrant, content kind of beauty.

The flowers were brilliant, the foliage lush and moist, with a natural, wild charm.

In the corner, hardy vines grew thick and green. Though they typically grew slowly, they had somehow already silently climbed the stone walls, quietly sending their roots deep into the wall crevices.

And the stone wall remained unaware.

Lin Yuan sat yawning at the breakfast table.

【I've been feeling very low on energy lately】

【Me too】

【Probably because we haven't gotten to pet any fish】

【Little Fish hasn't come by these past few days】

The tentacles were as listless as she was.

Lin Yuan sipped her hot fresh milk while checking messages on her personal terminal.

These days, her personal terminal was receiving more and more messages.

Xiaoniao's message carried a hint of concern about recent events:

"Recently, there have been more mutant species roaming the wilderness. The contaminated zones also seem more active than before, which has us worried."

"We heard you've returned from the Land of No Eyes, and we're all happy for you. Please stay safe, my dear friend."

Roy's message read:

"I found some information about your mother. It seems that, just as you asked me about before, she had also been to that place."

"When I went to your house, your gardener said you were resting. Let's talk next time we meet. Something seems strange, and I want to confirm a few things."

Cao Yunyun sent a message telling her that she had learned to stand up to her husband.

"I suddenly realized you were right—he's not as powerful as I imagined."

"Thank you, Xiao Yuan. You helped me see a new world and understand myself anew."

"In a few days, I'll bring your favorite snacks to visit you. Get plenty of rest for now."

Nicole had sent hundreds of messages, too many to read.

"Oh my god, Yuan Yuan, you've gone viral!"

"A Guide who actually solved the Land of No Eyes!"

"Oh my, do you know how many people are talking about you lately?"

"I'm going crazy, I have to let everyone know you're my friend."

"You've really made us Guides proud."

"Even my father is starting to waver. About my request to return to the sentinel post, he said he'd think about it."

"Many classmates are like me, quietly asking about you. We feel that maybe we could have broader horizons like you."

"Love you so much, sending you a million kisses..."

Panda Lady Du Yuanyuan's message: "I heard you've returned safely. If there's any expansion in the exclusive sentinel positions, could you please consider me first? *Panda rolling cute* Heart~"

Among the many passionate or excited messages, Ni Ji's was probably the most moderate.

His greetings were brief, just one or two sentences, never too much. But they came every day. Like a gentle stream, warming silently.

"Has your headache improved at all?"

"Have all your injuries healed?"

"Today I received recognition and a bonus. My salary is also a bit higher than before."

"While out on a mission today, I found a nice dessert shop. I've already sent some to your house by express delivery, hope you like it."

...

Since returning, he had been much busier than Lin Yuan. From his various messages, it seemed he had gained recognition from leadership, received commendations, and participated in several external missions—he was probably run off his feet.

But he still remembered to send Lin Yuan greeting messages every day.

While browsing the records, Lin Yuan also saw her own replies.

"Is your headache any better?"

"Yes"

"Please rest well."

"Mm."

"I'm heading out for a mission"

"Oh"

"Sent you some treats."

"Thanks!"

No matter what Ni Ji said, she basically replied with just one word: "Oh," "Mm," "Ah," "Okay."

"Is this perhaps not very good?" Lin Yuan gulped down her milk along with the hot snacks on the table—some rare handmade traditional sweets, crispy and delicious, with just the right amount of sweetness.

All of them had been quietly sent by Ni Ji.

【Actually, the host is the most impolite one among us】

【Yes, and a bit of a player】

【No wonder Little Fish hasn't come by these days】

"I'm polite, I always reply," Lin Yuan protested. "I'm just not very good with words."

She, who wasn't even good at verbal expression, was even worse at written language.

【Let me, let me, I'm great at typing!】

A tentacle rolled up its sleeve and got to work. The soft appendage tapped away rapidly on Lin Yuan's personal terminal, and before she could see clearly, it had already finished typing and hit send.

"Hi baby, want to come over for dinner tonight~~"

The word "dinner" was followed by a pink sparkling heart emoji.

Lin Yuan watched as the terminal's communication page showed that the other party was typing.

The typing indicator appeared and disappeared, appeared and disappeared, repeating several times.

Just as the other tentacles were rolling up their arms and appendages, struggling to come up and send another message, the other side finally sent a single word:

"Okay."

Lin Yuan didn't like written communication—looking at just the words, she couldn't see the other person's emotions at all.

For Lin Yuan, it was very difficult to read the other person's true meaning from such flat strokes.

But this time, Ni Ji had only said one word.

She somehow managed to read rich emotions from this simple, single word.

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