Only after Xuan Ziwen left…
Su Wen's smile faded. His brows knit slightly.
Why would Mingde Hall suddenly assign Xuan Ziwen's lab such a task? It was abrupt—and strange.
Especially considering Ju Zi's warning from a few days ago, something felt even more off.
After pondering for a while, Su Wen shook his head.
If soldiers came, he'd block; if water rose, he'd build a dam. Worst case, he still had time reversal—such a ridiculous BUG that it gave him enough confidence to face anything.
…
In the dorm.
Mu Qiu'er stepped in small, crisp footsteps in delicate leather shoes. She wore Mingde Hall's female uniform—short skirt, showing off long, fair legs—and paced back and forth in front of Su Wen, as if deliberately flaunting her tall figure.
Nana stood to the side, also sneaking a glance.
A trace of emotion flashed in her eyes.
She really was… stunning.
And with a face that was absolutely flawless. Even Nana could only match her in figure; her face didn't come close…
But even with such a beauty in front of him—one that could make even a girl's heart race—Su Wen kept his head down, still thinking about something, acting as if he hadn't noticed her at all, treating her like air.
"Damn it!" Mu Qiu'er fumed.
She stepped forward.
Su Wen slowly raised his head. The girl stood over him, glaring angrily. Their eyes met.
Mu Qiu'er nearly lost it. "Look at your eyes—you weren't paying attention to me at all, were you? You're playing me like a monkey?!!"
As she spoke, her slender hand pressed against Su Wen's chest and shoved him back against the sofa. "Look carefully—hasn't anything changed about me today…?"
"This uniform is nice," Su Wen nodded.
At least it was far better than Shrek's shit-green.
"And what else?" Mu Qiu'er's eyes turned seductive.
"Nothing else." Su Wen spread his hands helplessly.
"Ugh!" Mu Qiu'er gritted her teeth and leaned in lower, taking his hand and placing it on her thigh. "Now?!!"
"Very white…" Su Wen felt his nose grow a bit hot.
"Hmph!" Mu Qiu'er looked proud.
She shot Nana a slightly provocative look.
Nana pouted.
She was only her master's personal maid—she just needed to take care of his daily life, warm the bed, cough cough…
Then came a fragrant kiss.
Dry wood meeting raging fire—one spark and it ignited.
Even Nana blushed, awkwardly turning her head away, yet still stealing glances at the two tangled on the sofa. When she was with her master, was she also like this?
"Sigh! I can finally do fusion forging!"
A voice came from outside the door.
When Wang Dong'er burst into the room, she was surprised to see Su Wen sitting with one leg crossed, calm as ever, while Mu Qiu'er—scantily dressed—glared at her and sulked. Nana, the new maid Su Wen had taken in, covered her mouth and giggled.
"Um, ahem… Did I come at a bad time?" Wang Dong'er shrank her neck and spoke cautiously.
"Hmph!!" Mu Qiu'er folded her arms and turned her head away, clearly broadcasting: I won't forgive you. I'm hard to placate.
"Tell me—what are you here for?" Su Wen asked with a smile.
He slowly suppressed the heat rising in his chest.
Wang Dong'er explained simply and efficiently: she had finally succeeded in fusion forging!
Even if it was just the most basic form—completely merging two metals into one—it was still something extremely difficult for most people. After all, a thousand-fold forging to awaken spirituality was already enough to block the vast majority at the door…
"Tch~ I thought it was soul forging." Mu Qiu'er poured cold water on it with a calm face.
Su Wen shook his head helplessly.
These two sisters had never gotten along. But the cold, aloof Wang Qiu'er from the original story had somehow become the golden-haired, curvy Mu Qiu'er, with a livelier, more playful personality.
Who taught her that?
Don't tell me it was the Silver Dragon King?
Could this be the Silver Dragon King's other side?
Su Wen put a hand on Mu Qiu'er's head and petted her smooth golden hair like petting a cat, looking helpless. "You're a level fifty-nine Soul King at peak—already rushing toward Soul Emperor. Dong'er is only level fifty-two. What's there to compare?"
Besides, this strength was forcibly boosted by immortal herbs—seven levels in one go.
Otherwise, if he remembered correctly, Wang Dong'er at this time should only be at the peak of Soul Elder. After all, in this life the Sun Moon Empire exchange trip had started more than a year earlier than in canon.
"Hmph~" Mu Qiu'er hummed like a cat. She complained with her mouth, but clearly enjoyed the petting—she even nudged her head into his palm.
"Where are Lou Yingying and Song Lei?" Su Wen narrowed his eyes.
"They also broke through fusion forging a few days ago," Wang Dong'er said.
"Good." Su Wen nodded.
Though he hadn't given them immortal herbs, as vice dean of the forging department and with resources in hand, he hadn't been stingy at all—whatever they needed, he provided. The forging department had been built up for a bit over a year; these two had talent fully invested in forging, and with resources piled on, stepping into master artisan level wasn't too difficult.
Now, the forging department's backbone was basically formed.
Not that they were already fully qualified.
Rather, as time passed, their talent was proven sufficient. They were only teenagers, yet they'd reached master artisan level—then in the future, saint artisan… even divine artisan… all seemed possible.
If one school produced six divine artisans, that would be interesting.
Then mass-producing battle armor in the future would be possible…
But jokes aside, he'd probably still need to steal some know-how from ten thousand years later and obtain real battle armor technology to actually develop it. Xuan Ziwen was right: he'd been treating him like a god. The product of ten thousand years of evolution—how could one person replicate it in just a few years?
"Tomorrow, I'm going out for a trip," Su Wen announced after thinking.
"What?!"
"Take me with you!"
"I… can go on the ship to warm the bed."
"…"
The three girls reacted differently.
But Su Wen hesitated, then still refused.
If he truly died in this assassination, the remaining girls wouldn't be harmed. The Sun Moon Empire had traded to get these academy students back from Shrek—these people had targeted him from the beginning.
If they were going to take anyone, they should take everyone.
But that was impossible.
A mission to explore sea ore—yet you bring Shrek's entire group? What, are you planning to use the sea trip to evacuate everyone?
Unless he was certain the Sun Moon Empire intended to kill him, he wouldn't do that.
…
In the palace.
"You will continue to monitor," Xu Tianran said gently. "Don't worry. As long as you detect anything unusual, report it to me as soon as possible. I will record your merit."
"Yes!" Ju Zi bowed and replied softly.
"Your Highness, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave…"
"Mm." Xu Tianran smiled and waved.
Only after Ju Zi left his sight did his eyes narrow.
His fingers tapped quietly on the tabletop.
"Betrayal? Would you betray me… Ju Zi?"
"Why do I feel like your recent behavior has been a bit off?"
"My liege, should this old man…" A figure faintly appeared at his side—an elderly man with hair and brows completely white, staring at Ju Zi's departing back.
"No need." Xu Tianran sighed lightly.
"It's no longer necessary…"
"Your meaning is… the Emperor's side has already…" Xue Chen was shocked.
"Mm…" Xu Tianran said calmly.
Once suspicion took root, the outcome no longer mattered.