Central Area

As a native of Mingdu, Luan Yu not only had a pass but also a residence permit and a Spirit Tool Master badge. She even had Mingde Hall's Identity Certificate.

However, Luan Yu was not someone who liked to draw attention. She merely showed her permanent pass, helped Liu Xing and Firefly obtain two passes as well, then led them into Mingdu.

The three entered Mingdu through its East District. Luan Yu wore a blue dress, with Liu Xing and Firefly following at her left and right. As they passed through the bustling streets of the East District, the crowds surged around them, and vendors' cries rose and fell without end. The shops lining the streets displayed a dazzling array of goods in their windows, while the light of spirit tool lamps danced across them, reflecting every shade of color.

The sky above the East District was pierced by the spires of towering buildings. Sunlight streamed through the gaps, forming patches of light that danced across Luan Yu's skirt.

Luan Yu led the two toward Mingdu's Central Area, where the Imperial Palace stood. It was also the residential district of Mingdu's nobles and dignitaries. Most of the Sun Moon Empire's upper echelon had their own villas in the Central Area.

After all, living in the Central Area made it easier for Mingdu's high-ranking officials to attend Morning Court. Though the Sun Moon Empire's architecture leaned toward modernity, it was still a feudal empire, a so-called family-state.

As subjects, those high officials dared not keep the emperor waiting. To guard against emergencies that might prevent them from reaching the Imperial Palace in time, most of them settled down in the Central Area.

Luan Yu's elder sister was one of the Sun Moon Empire's high-ranking officials. Although her elder sister belonged to the military, she still had to remain on standby in Mingdu when there was no war.

Though Luan Yu had refused to join the Sun Moon Empire's political institutions and chose to live freely, she was, after all, a Rank 9 Spirit Tool Master, a Titled Douluo, and a graduate of Mingde Hall. The Sun Moon Empire's imperial family wanted to win her over as well, so she had a villa of her own in Mingdu's Central Area.

She did not wish to join the Sun Moon Empire and be bound by others, but she could not easily refuse the imperial family's goodwill. Her elder sister was part of the military, and she could not simply disregard them. A direct refusal would mean disrespecting the Xu Family of the Sun Moon Empire's imperial household, and that would bring trouble.

That was also why she spent most of the year away and rarely returned to Mingdu: to avoid such troublesome matters.

As they walked on, the bustling atmosphere gradually faded. Compared to the liveliness of the East District, Mingdu's Central Area was relatively quiet. The people living here were either rich or noble, and most preferred peace and quiet, so few merchants could open shops here. Mingdu's commoners normally did not come near the Central Area either.

Those who could open shops in the Central Area all had important figures backing them.

By the time Luan Yu brought Liu Xing and Firefly to the villa, it was already late. The villa's gates stood slightly ajar, with a warm yellow light spilling through the gap. Luan Yu gently pushed them open, and the fragrance of flowers and grass rushed out to greet them. In the pond at the center of the courtyard, lotus flowers bloomed silently in the night, as though welcoming their arrival.

When the servants saw the three of them enter, several hurried over to greet them. Although Luan Yu was away all year round, people still regularly cleaned and maintained her large villa. Otherwise, when they opened the door just now, they should have been greeted by a cloud of dust.

After all, Luan Yu had not returned for several years.

Though Luan Yu rarely came back, the servants had all seen spirit tool photographs of her. After all, it would be bad if they failed to recognize their own mistress and caused some embarrassing misunderstanding. Those who could work as servants in the Central Area all had some background; ordinary commoners could not find such good jobs.

Waving the servants away, Luan Yu pointed at the luxurious villa before them and said, "You two little ones, this will be your home from now on."

"Home?"

Liu Xing and Firefly exchanged a glance, both with a hint of delight in their eyes. Nan Shui Shui had treated them well at the Earthly Dragon Gate, and everyone there had been friendly, but they had always felt that something was missing.

Only after arriving at Luan Yu's villa did they feel as though they truly had a home of their own. That sense of tranquility and warmth was something they could not experience at the Earthly Dragon Gate.

The villa was huge. Liu Xing and Firefly each chose a room for themselves, tacitly picking rooms next to each other.

"Rest for today. Tomorrow, I'll take you around Mingdu properly, then we'll buy some daily necessities and the like."

After showing Liu Xing and Firefly around the villa, Luan Yu clapped her hands and said with a light smile.

"Mm. You should get some rest too, Aunt."

Liu Xing and Firefly nodded, then returned to their respective rooms.

Time passed slowly, and night deepened. Still unaccustomed to the new environment and unable to sleep, Liu Xing suddenly heard a door open next door. As soft footsteps receded into the distance, he frowned.

He then threw back the covers, put on his pajamas, and quietly opened his own door. Looking down the silent corridor, he followed in the direction the footsteps had gone.

Luan Yu's villa had four floors. Firefly and he lived on the third floor, while those footsteps had clearly gone up to the fourth. No one lived there; it was an open-air terrace.

Liu Xing pushed open the terrace door and immediately saw the silver-haired girl with her back to him, both hands resting on the railing as she gazed up at the starry sky.

Hearing the door open, Firefly turned and saw Liu Xing. Apology appeared on her face. "Sorry, did I wake you?"

Liu Xing shook his head, walked to Firefly's side, and looked up at the stars as well. Smiling, he said, "Why did you come up here alone to look at the stars?"

Firefly looked up at the sky and softly said, "It's closer to the sky here, and quieter at night."

Liu Xing said nothing more. He quietly accompanied Firefly as they gazed at the stars, watching the lights of Mingdu turn on one by one, then go out.

Liu Xing knew very well that Firefly, as an artificial human, lacked certain normal human functions, such as dreaming. Firefly did not possess the ability to dream, and she needed very little sleep. So what she liked most was finding a high place and quietly watching the starry sky. Sometimes, she would watch all night until dawn.

Back at the Earthly Dragon Gate, Firefly often secretly climbed onto the roof alone and stayed there all night, returning to her room only in the morning. Only Liu Xing, who occasionally accompanied her, knew about this. Nan Qiuqiu, who slept like the dead at night, knew nothing at all.

Beside the stairs leading to the terrace, Luan Yu stood in an Ice Blue nightgown, her arms folded across her chest as she leaned against the stairwell wall. She remained there quietly for a while before turning and slowly leaving.

Though she had tried her best to suppress the sound of her footsteps, Liu Xing and Firefly's senses were incredibly sharp. They had noticed her long ago, but neither of them said anything.

As time passed, the night grew darker. Around Firefly and Liu Xing, a swarm of fireflies had already gathered. In the corners, several spiders and cockroaches also crept closer to them.