Chapter 46: A Dangerous Alliance and a Mysterious Anomaly

“Rothschild.”

Zhang Wu silently repeated the name in his heart. The moment he learned the goddess’s name, he was ecstatic, his excitement beyond words. He was practically ready to jump up and dance.

If not for Zhang Xiuxin’s timely reminder, the situation would likely have devolved into another awkward silence.

Lin Ling watched, a wry smile playing on his lips. ‘Is my charm really that potent?’ he wondered.

[Creator: Don’t underestimate my character-sculpting skills!]

After some time, Zhang Wu finally composed himself and brought the conversation back on track. “Um, Miss… Rothschild, thank you so much for saving my life. Although it might be a bit inappropriate, I have a request.”

Lin Ling was taken aback by Zhang Wu’s sudden seriousness. The contrast was quite stark.

“No matter. Speak your mind,” Lin Ling replied, her tone unperturbed.

“My family’s patriarch, Zhang Zhongjun, encountered a landslide on Ruohua Mountain a month ago, the day the world underwent its great change. Though his body was unharmed, he fell into a coma upon returning home.”

“Despite all our treatments, there has been no sign of him waking, nor have we been able to diagnose the cause. I earnestly implore you, Miss Rothschild, to help heal my father.”

“Should you be willing to visit the Zhang family and treat him, we will offer you a satisfactory reward, regardless of the outcome.”

To demonstrate his sincerity, Zhang Wu even bowed ninety degrees before Lin Ling.

Lin Ling was speechless.

‘Come to think of it,’ Lin Ling mused, ‘the world’s upheaval, the collapse on Ruohua Mountain? Wasn’t that the old man who was the first to climb the peak back then? Could he be Zhang Wu’s relative? What a small world.’

‘Well, this guy is giving me quite a bit of face, not directly saying I was the cause,’ Lin Ling thought.

‘An inexplicable coma, then? It seems my spiritual energy aura at the time damaged the old man’s soul. In that case, his luck was quite good. I was very weak back then; if I’d had a little more spiritual power, his grandfather would probably have already met his maker.’

Moreover, though Lin Ling hadn’t read his memories, he could sense the sincerity in Zhang Wu’s words, a stark contrast to the insincere facade often displayed by many noble families. Since he was, in a way, the culprit, he decided to lend a hand.

Lin Ling’s silence made the hearts of the Zhang father and son pound in their throats. If she refused, Zhang Zhongjun might remain in his eternal slumber.

“I can.”

“Really?!”

“I’m not joking.”

Lin Ling’s answer instantly shattered the anxiety in the hearts of the Zhang father and son, bringing smiles to their faces. Just as they were about to express their gratitude further, Lin Ling’s words reached their ears once more.

“However, you’ll also have to do me a favor.”

The Zhang father and son exchanged puzzled glances.

****

After a period of discussion, Lin Ling and the Zhang father and son reached a preliminary agreement. She would visit the Zhang family in Tianjing this Tuesday to heal the elder, while the Zhang family would help her establish some connections with Huaguo and assist her in handling some troublesome matters.

After the negotiation concluded, Zhang Xiuxin asked with some curiosity, “Miss Rothschild, where do you live?”

“Nowhere permanent. I’m just temporarily staying here to deal with some things.”

“Then, you and the residents of this house are…?”

“I merely took advantage of the owner’s absence and am illegally squatting here. He’s just an ordinary person.”

Lin Ling replied calmly, her acting skills at their peak.

“Oh, I see,” Zhang Xiuxin responded thoughtfully, already planning his investigations.

However, Lin Ling had long been prepared. She had already had Little White forge a fake itinerary for her. The ‘Lin Ling’ they would find was currently away on a business trip, so there was no need to worry about them discovering anything amiss.

Meanwhile, Zhang Wu, the playful one, paid no attention to Lin Ling’s confessed illegal act. He grabbed his phone, rushed over to Lin Ling, interrupting her conversation with his father, and asked with eager anticipation, “Miss Rothschild, um, could I take a photo with you?”

Lin Ling was speechless.

****

Origin Star Universe, Heart of the World Tree

(The following is in Ancient God Language)

A gigantic, dark red dragon, thousands of meters long, was conversing with Bisika. As their dialogue deepened and Bisika described the situation, the dragon’s once sleepy eyes gradually opened, revealing a grave expression.

Seeing her usually steady elder brother display such an expression, Bisika couldn’t help but take a deep breath. The atmosphere instantly grew heavy.

Yet, this oppressive feeling didn’t last long, dissipating with the activation of three teleportation portals.

Upon seeing the two individuals who emerged and the single fish that floated out, Bisika, without a word, immediately hid behind her elder brother’s dragon horn, her wary demeanor fully evident.

Witnessing this, the red-haired woman in an orange dress, who had just stepped out of the portal, immediately revealed an undisguised expression of utter heartbreak and disappointment.

Looking at Bisika, she whimpered plaintively, “Little Six, you’ve truly broken my heart. How could you treat your elder sister like some monstrous beast? Waaah, waaah.”

Her sorrowful appearance, coupled with her peerless beauty, was enough to make anyone go through fire and water for her.

However, Bisika remained unmoved by the sight. She was long accustomed to such theatrics, having been deceived this way countless times before. The same old trick wouldn’t work on her now.

Thus, Bisika retorted mercilessly, “Oh, come on, Second Sister, give it a rest. Why would I compare you to a monstrous beast? Such trash could never match your ferocity, could they?”

Seeing her younger sister’s mischievous grin, the Second Battle Sovereign, Fen, stopped her weeping. She flashed a brilliant (and benevolent) smile and simply watched Bisika.

Noticing that characteristic smile and feeling the familiar chill, Bisika’s heart sank. ‘Oh no, I need to escape,’ she thought.

But just as Bisika prepared to flee, a scorching aura abruptly appeared behind her. As a pair of ‘friendly’ hands squeezed both sides of Bisika’s cheeks, her desire to escape vanished instantly.

“I-I’m sorry!” Bisika hastily pleaded for mercy. Refusing to yield now would lead to unimaginable consequences.

“That doesn’t sound like you’re truly sorry,” Fen, however, seemed to have no intention of letting Bisika off the hook.

Feeling the interaction between the two sisters above him, Dragon Emperor, their elder brother, felt a pang of helplessness. When no outsiders were present, these two truly behaved like children, completely devoid of the dignity expected of a Primeval Battle Sovereign.

‘Fortunately, a certain someone isn’t here, or they’d never stop lecturing them,’ he thought.

“Alright, Fen, Bisika. Come down. We have important matters to discuss.”

Fortunately, they were quite obedient—or perhaps it was his elder brother’s considerable authority. Hearing his voice, Fen reluctantly released her grip, a lingering sense of dissatisfaction on her face. “Hmph…”

Bisika, granted a reprieve, darted to another corner of the hall as if flying. ‘Damn, I thought I was going to be tormented again.’

As the farce concluded, the black-haired, horned man, who had been observing the spectacle for a long time, turned to the Dragon Emperor. “Didn’t you say it was urgent? Why isn’t Iphis here?”

“Two Sky Prison Beasts were discovered near the Elven border, and there are some troubles in the west as well. He can’t leave for a while. I’ll speak with him privately later.”

“Oh,” the black-haired man simply replied, saying no more.

“So, what’s the urgent matter this time?” asked Sea Emperor Van Mo, who had been idly wandering nearby, steering the conversation to the main topic.

“Let Little Six explain it to you all,” the Dragon Emperor said, looking towards Bisika, who was still trembling in the corner. ‘Is it really that bad?’ he wondered.

Noticing everyone’s gaze, Bisika quickly composed herself and began to describe the sequence of events.

****

(Bisika’s description continues)

“A humanoid Outer Realm Battle Sovereign?!”

Upon hearing those words, everyone fell into a brief silence, which soon erupted into a heated discussion.

Such beings were not as easily dealt with as Sky Prison Beasts. Not only were they immensely powerful and capable of wielding authority, but more importantly, they often possessed formidable command abilities. Historically, the appearance of a humanoid Outer Realm Battle Sovereign usually signaled a large-scale invasion.

‘It seems necessary to notify all members of the Anska Alliance; the border rifts need reinforced garrisons,’ they concluded.

Just as everyone was discussing countermeasures, the Dragon Emperor suddenly spoke, as if he had discovered something. “There’s a strange fluctuation near Blue Star. It seems to be… a coordinate?”

!!!???