Chapter 44 – Praying, No One To Video Call With You

Indoors, it was so quiet.

After returning from the hall, Lu Xingwang was very silent.

In his heart, of course, he would secretly speculate and guess about certain things. If his divine power returned, it must be connected to someone else. Either the other party had done something, or he himself had done something to establish this connection. If he delved into deeper thoughts, the other party might… know him.

If it’s someone not on this planet who knows him, excluding all possibilities, there’s a person , a child he least wants to get involved with, Jian Mei.

“Ding dong.”

While he was thinking, a message came through.

Lu Xingwang sat on the rooftop of the tallest building in the underground city, where he could overlook the busiest district with bustling crowds. In the past, he disliked such a noisy environment, but after experiencing some things, he was now willing to sit here from a distance and watch the human and fireworks. He opened the message, which was from Jian Mei.

“Good evening, I’m home after school.”

Lu Xingwang replied: [Good evening]

He was someone accustomed to hiding his emotions and would naturally not reveal them to Jian Mei, lest the child becomes anxious.

Jian Mei didn’t notice and continued to chatter about what happened at school during the day. He said, “Today, I went out to eat with my friends.”

Lu Xingwang asked, “Friends?”

He had made good friends already?

His thoughts quickly turned, and the heaviness that was there earlier inexplicably became tinged with a trace of sadness, a feeling that couldn’t be clearly expressed.

Jian Mei replied, “Yes, I went out to eat with them. They helped me with some questions while we were studying in the library, so I treated them to a meal at the snack street.”

So, there are people actively helping him with his studies now.

Then he should be fine, right? With his parents’ love and friends now, he probably doesn’t need anything else, and maybe he doesn’t need himself either. He should have realized this long ago. Instead of virtual and distant online friends, real-life friends who can accompany you and help you at critical moments are more substantial. Lu Xingwang seemed to have crossed some boundaries in his thinking, unable to control such thoughts, and his mind gradually settled down, trying to digest that groundless sense of loss.

However…

“Ding!”

[Allow transmission access]

Lu Xingwang hesitated for a moment before choosing to accept the transmission. His built-in transmitter lit up, and then a well-wrapped roasted sweet potato was sent over, but that wasn’t all. There were neatly arranged takoyaki balls in a box, well-sealed fried skewers, and… many more.

Lu Xingwang raised an unexpected eyebrow and messaged Jian Mei to ask: [What is all this?]

Jian Mei sent him a voice message, and there was a hint of excitement in his voice: “These are the delicious snacks I tried today at the snack street with my friends. When treating them, I bought these because they were so tasty, and I thought you might want to taste them too.”

Just like a child who hadn’t received any candies , standing in the corner, but someone noticed him.

The bright sun in the sky spread warmth over the earth, not neglecting the dark corners, offering its warmth there as well.

Jian Mei spoke softly, “I don’t know if you like these, but they were really delicious. If you haven’t had dinner yet, you can try them.”

Lu Xingwang looked at the pile of items beside him, his head lowered, his expression ambiguous and inscrutable. He spoke, “I’ve already eaten. You don’t need to go through this trouble next time.”

“It’s not a problem at all. I just wanted to share the delicious treats with you.”

Jian Mei’s eyes were gentle, and his voice transmitted through the receiver to Lu Xingwang’s ear, “Because when I’m with my friends, although it’s lively, when we buy things, I can’t help but think, it would be great if you were here, if you could taste them too, if…”

His voice trailed off.

Lu Xingwang’s eyes were as black as ink, sitting on the parapet1 of the tower, his clothes fluttering in the wind. His usually stern face softened slightly, and he couldn’t remain indifferent after hearing those words.

Jian Mei, however, showed a smile and whispered, “So I couldn’t control myself and bought extra.”

“It really wasn’t any trouble. I brought my little backpack, and I kept everything safely in it. I came back with it on my back.” He seemed afraid that Lu Xingwang would misunderstand, “It really wasn’t any trouble.”

Lu Xingwang listened quietly, then turned to look at the food beside him, picking it up slowly, still warm. How far was the journey from the street to home? Was he in a hurry to protect the things in his backpack? Even when hanging out with his real-life friends, he hadn’t forgotten about him.

He took a bite of the takoyaki ball and said softly, “Thank you, it’s really delicious.”

Jian Mei paused for a moment, then revealed a smile, genuinely happy, “Is it tasty? That’s great! It was worth all the effort to protect them on my way back!”

Lu Xingwang responded “Hmm.”

“That’s good then. I was afraid you wouldn’t like it.” Jian Mei felt relieved. “You seem quite busy lately, and I was really worried you wouldn’t have time to eat properly. Your medicine is ready now; I’ll send it over. Remember to take it on time. Do you think the medicine is effective? Has your body improved recently?”

At the mention of the medicine, Lu Xingwang hesitated for a moment.

The night was as dark as thick fog, and half of the boy’s face was covered by a silver mask. His body’s poison still flared up regularly, and Lan Chang had used sorcerer’s technique to restrain it somewhat. However, he noticed that the fatigue in his body seemed to have lessened recently. He couldn’t immediately determine if the medicine had really worked.

But…

Lu Xingwang still asked him, “Jian Mei, I have a question to ask you.”

This was a rare serious tone, and Jian Mei couldn’t help but tense up a bit, replying, “Sure, go ahead and ask.”

“After you found the phone, besides having some high-tech new functions, did anything else seem abnormal?” Lu Xingwang knew his divine powers well. “Did you feel any changes in your body?”

Jian Mei was puzzled, “Huh?”

Lu Xingwang explained, “For example, do you have some abilities that you didn’t have before?”

After thinking for a while, Jian Mei replied, “Yes.”

Lu Xingwang’s eyebrows unconsciously furrowed. He asked seriously, “Like what?”

“My academic performance improved,” Jian Mei replied, “This phone makes it so convenient to watch online courses and search for information. I also got to know you, and you’ve been teaching me. Since I got it, I feel like my brain has become much smarter.”

…

On the other end of the phone, there was deathly silence.

The Five Elements divine power, which had been unseen for thousands of years, turned out to be nothing more than a learning tool in Jian Mei’s eyes. It was truly heartbreaking.

However, Lu Xingwang couldn’t help but feel a little relieved. He inquired, “Are there no other abnormalities in your body?”

Jian Mei racked his brains to think and felt that he was actually doing exceptionally well recently. The results of the medical examination at the hospital were also good. So he replied, “Nothing”

Lu Xingwang fell silent for a moment and then nodded, “That’s good.”

If a person really possessed his divine power, it was impossible for the body not to change.. Such a powerful force would be enough to alter a person. However, he believed Jian Mei. If the child said there were no changes, then there should be none. In fact, it was for the best. If that person really wasn’t Jian Mei, then he could be much more at ease.

However…

He still couldn’t disregard it completely. Sometimes, Jian Mei seemed a bit dull. It was possible that his divine powers were indeed with Jian Mei, but the child just hadn’t realized it. Everything was still inconclusive at the moment.

While he was contemplating, another person sat down beside him.

Lu Xingwang glanced at him. “Why did the young general come here?”

“His Highness and Patriarch Lan finished their discussion and are sitting here to alleviate their worries. Can’t I come to grieve a little too?” Zuo Qingshan looked at the box of takoyaki balls on the ground and took a bite. “You know what? They’re quite delicious.”

Lu Xingwang’s face remained expressionless. “So, the result wasn’t very good?”

Zuo Qingshan swallowed the food in his mouth and sighed deeply. “Well, not exactly. Patriarch Lan said my father should still be alive, but the things I brought weren’t enough for him to set up the formation. The distance is too far, so he said he needs some items from my father’s hometown when he was young as the array’s core.”

Lu Xingwang said, “A person’s life is more important than anything else.”

“Yes, I’m just worried, you know? Why hasn’t he contacted us if he’s alive? Did something happen to him?” Zuo Qingshan was really puzzled. “Does he have some sort of problem?”

Lu Xingwang spoke frankly, “He might have his own reasons.”

Zuo Qingshan sighed, “In this day and age, who doesn’t have their own reasons?”

Since they had made this decision, their original plan to return directly to the imperial city was ruined. Lu Xingwang chose to accompany Zuo Qingshan back to his hometown. It wasn’t out of any kindness, but because if they left as two people and returned as one, it might raise suspicions among others. For safety’s sake, he decided to travel together.

This sudden trip was unknown to many people, and Lu Xingwang and Zuo Qingshan acted discreetly. Few could guess that they had originally gone to the north for investigation and then decided to make a detour to the south. Both of them were action-oriented people. Once they had planned their route, they quickly set out. Surprisingly, before leaving, Lan Chang personally came to see them off and handed Lu Xingwang a bag of pills. It was a secret recipe of the Lan family. Although it couldn’t detoxify, it could alleviate the pain during a poison outbreak.

Lan Chang said, “I once told your mother that, no matter what, our Lan family will not get involved in the political disputes of the court.”

Lu Xingwang had expected this. He said, “Rest assured, my purpose in coming this time is not to form alliances.”

“Mmm,” Lan Chang nodded. This middle-aged man seemed to have aged a lot after learning of his daughter’s death. He said, “The Lan family has many branches, and I can’t only consider myself. The political entanglements are too deep, and any slight mistake could lead to serious consequences. I can’t play with the lives of our entire clan, do you understand?”

Lu Xingwang nodded, “I understand.”

Other princes had some support from their maternal families, and even the second prince had his mother by his side. Only Lu Xingwang faced the pressure alone, like an arrow in the rain. Despite appearing young, he always stood tall and never showed fear to outsiders. Even at this moment, he didn’t display a disappointed or hurt expression. Without expectations, there wouldn’t be much disappointment. He had long grown accustomed to being alone, so he wasn’t sad.

Lu Xingwang bowed deeply to Lan Chang. “Please take care of yourself.”

Lan Chang looked at the child before him, and his heart was deeply moved, experiencing a mix of emotions.

His daughter had been in the deep palace, but in the end, she met such a tragic fate. He couldn’t protect her, and as a result, he couldn’t even protect the last bloodline of his daughter. What a miserable life he led.

“While I can’t assist you in court, you can still contact me if you need anything.” Lan Chang took out a token from his pocket. “This is the Lan family’s ancestral token. As long as there are Lan family businesses anywhere in the world, you can mobilize some funds. This token can also freely access the Sorcerer’s Street. Keep it safe.”

Lu Xingwang looked at the token in his hand. Suddenly, he recalled a painting that was once on his mother’s desk. The design on it strangely resembled the pattern on this token. He reached out and took it, then said as Lan Chang turned away, “I’ve seen this pattern at my mother’s palace before.”

Lan Chang’s footsteps paused.

The middle-aged man who had always seemed calm and composed didn’t dare to turn back at this moment. It was as if he took a deep breath before saying, “That’s her token she left behind when she left home.”

Lu Xingwang touched the smooth texture of the token and spoke after a moment of silence, “She said she never blamed you.”

Lan Chang’s body stiffened, and his dark eyes gradually turned red. He continued walking back, using the back of his hand to wipe his face twice, indicating that he had heard. He appeared so composed, but only the slightly disordered steps exposed his anxious inner turmoil.

After resolving matters in Sorcerer City, they would head south. Lu Xingwang finished speaking and then set out with Zuo Qingshan to visit the general’s hometown, taking the opportunity to inspect various places.

During the journey, Zuo Qingshan said, “I want to tell you something strange.”

In the past, he wouldn’t have discussed such things with Lu Xingwang.

Lu Xingwang asked, “What is it?”

“Just this year, after I took office, there are some situations I’m not quite familiar with. But a couple of days ago in Sorcerer City, I had some spare time and chatted with a fellow villager. They said that many people from the northern regions are now heading south to apply for civil service exams and military tests.”

Looking at Lu Xingwang, Zuo Qingshan continued, “Let me give you the simplest example. Last year, right after I took office, the military announced a new regulation stating that people without divine powers could also join the army. The registration rate on the internet for those who qualified for military service based on their number and region was around 80%. But after the military selection process was over, those without divine powers accounted for only about 1.2%.”

Zuo Qingshan went on, “So, I thought maybe the screening and training difficulty were too high. This year, we lowered the bar slightly, and the day before yesterday, I asked my deputy, finding out that in this year’s recruitment, those without divine powers still accounted for about 1.3%.”

Lu Xingwang asked, “Did you have your subordinates investigate it?”

“Of course. They reported that the reason is that those without divinebpowers couldn’t withstand the training difficulty and voluntarily withdrew from the camp.” Zuo Qingshan spoke, “But there’s something very strange about it.”

Lu Xingwang questioned, “What is it?”

“The selection rate in the northern regions is as high as 50%.” Zuo Qingshan’s expression gradually turned serious, “That fellow villager said people nowadays want to come to the north to apply and undergo training, even though the difficulty levels in both regions are the same.”

There’s something fishy going on here, and it’s a significant issue. If not for the reminder from the fellow villager, Zuo Qingshan wouldn’t even have thought about paying attention to such a problem. As a newly appointed official, he was already overwhelmed with work. How could he find time to manage this?

Lu Xingwang suggested, “If you have doubts, why not personally investigate on-site? Since you are sitting in a high position and can’t see the truth, you might as well go visit the camp yourself.”

Zuo Qingshan’s eyes brightened. “Is that possible?”

Lu Xingwang raised an eyebrow. “Why not?”

Zuo Qingshan replied, “But I have divine powers. I won’t pass the tests and won’t be able to enter the camp for those without divine powers. I’m afraid Your Highness will have to do it.”

…

Lu Xingwang looked at him in silence, wondering what kind of dream he was having.

Zuo Qingshan took out his exclusive weapon. “As for Your Highness’s appearance, I have a face-changing potion given to me by a sorcerer. It can maintain the disguise for ten days, and no one will discover your identity. For the future of our Stan Star, please help me out, Your Highness.”

Lu Xingwang remained silent.

Zuo Qingshan gritted his teeth, “If you help me, I will promise you one thing unconditionally.”

Lu Xingwang didn’t react, showing no signs of being moved.

“Two things… three things!” Zuo Qingshan was distressed, weakly extending his fingers, “Alright, alright, I’ll also get you the latest model of mecha to play with in the military! Don’t be too unreasonable!”

“Deal.”

Lu Xingwang used the face-changing potion given by Zuo Qingshan. The sorcerer’s product was top-notch. His youthful face gradually started to change, his handsome features becoming ordinary. Freckles even appeared on his face. His eyes seemed smaller as if he hadn’t opened them, and his nose appeared flatter. The principle of this potion was to achieve the opposite effect of one’s original appearance. For example, someone not so good-looking would become exceptionally attractive, while someone originally handsome would become quite ugly.

The young general gasped and turned his face away, feeling uncomfortable.

Lu Xingwang raised an eyebrow and asked, “Am I ugly?”

…

The young general couldn’t express it in words. He remembered the kid he once video-called with Lu Xingwang and said, “Let me put it this way, if you use this appearance, not only would I not recognize you, but even your friends and loved ones would be repulsed by you for at least three days. Luckily, you’re not on a video call right now. You better pray that nobody will video-call you in these ten days.”

…

Lu Xingwang didn’t show much reaction to this and just glanced at the mirror, asking, “Is it that ugly?”

(a low wall along the edge of a roof, bridge, or other high structure that prevents people from falling down)