Out of Danger

"Big sister, you're so pretty!"

San Pao, the smallest of them all, looked up at Nan Jin with stars in his eyes. "What's your relationship with Brother Gu Shen?"

Nan Jin smiled as she brushed back her hair, doing her best to play the part of a gentle, refined older sister. "Little one, I'm Gu Shen's senior apprentice sister."

San Pao shook his head like a rattle drum. It was his first time seeing such a beautiful woman.

But his instincts told him—

This beautiful big sister's relationship with Brother Gu Shen was anything but ordinary!

He solemnly shouted, "Big sister, I'm already eight years old! I understand everything! Do you two have some other kind of relationship?"

Black lines appeared across Nan Jin's forehead.

This little brat was not even ten yet. What was going through his head all day?

"My relationship with Gu Shen really isn't that simple..." she said with a smiling squint. "But it's a secret. I can tell you, but you're not allowed to tell anyone else."

San Pao's eyes lit up.

"Come here."

Nan Jin crouched down gently and beckoned to San Pao, signaling for the child to come closer.

San Pao scampered over, leaning in with his ear as well.

Nan Jin smiled. "I'm Gu Shen's biological father, who's been missing for many years."

San Pao's face filled with shock.

He stared at the gentle, refined big sister before him in disbelief. "R-Really?"

"What do you think?"

Nan Jin pressed one hand on San Pao's head and asked with a bright smile, "Do you think I'm lying to you?"

Danger, danger, danger, danger, danger.

"H-How could that be?"

San Pao nodded like a pecking chick, then smoothly launched into a string of flattery. "Big sister, you're so pretty, so everything you say must be right."

Nan Jin released him in satisfaction. Watching the little brat run off again while hugging his toy, she leaned against the railing and looked at the mountain mist stretching into the distance like a painting. She sighed softly and murmured, "Honestly... besides his real father, who else would travel all this way to send him to a place like this..."

A car engine started outside the institute gates.

Nan Jin frowned as she saw a black sedan driving away through the curtain of rain.

She had noticed that sedan long ago. Why would anyone come to such a remote Welfare Institute under normal circumstances? While chatting with the children earlier, she had learned that a "kindhearted benefactor" had specifically come to Morning Light to inspect the place and offer sponsorship.

The matter of the Amnesty Decree had not yet settled down, and the impeachment proceedings against Teacher were still ongoing. It was not impossible that someone had chosen Gu Shen as a "breakthrough point"... After all, certain people lurking in the shadows were evil beyond imagination. She had to stay alert.

Nan Jin watched the car disappear into the rain and dialed a number.

"Senior Brother Zhong... I saw a suspicious vehicle at Gu Shen's Welfare Institute. Its license plate number is..."

By the skin of his teeth, he had survived the ordeal.

Gu Shen exchanged a look with Orange Cat and let out a long breath.

Though he knew this was far from over, he could not help smiling.

Han Dang had been tricked into going to his apartment. With his abilities, sneaking into Gu Shen's room would not be difficult. Once he failed to find the "ruler" in its original location, Gu Shen's lie would be exposed.

He would immediately realize that he had been deceived.

But by then... it would already be too late.

No matter how furious Han Dang became then, he would no longer have another chance to catch Gu Shen alone.

"Whew... that was far too dangerous..."

Gu Shen did not know whether he should feel fortunate or terrified in hindsight. He had not suffered any harm in the Dream of True Words, entirely because of Han Dang's personality. He was a strange man obsessed with perfection and fond of playing roles.

This encounter had come too suddenly. Gu Shen had been completely unprepared.

If he had known of Han Dang's existence in advance... could he have escaped from him using the Truth Ruler?

"As things stand, the probability of you escaping Han Dang is very low." Chu Ling seemed to possess mind-reading abilities. A glimmer of light flashed through her eyes as she immediately guessed his thoughts. "If you risk your life and use the Truth Ruler, the highest probability of escape is 1%."

"...That low?"

Gu Shen had long since stopped finding Chu Ling's mind-reading strange. Instead, the calculated probability made him smile bitterly.

One percent.

And that was the highest possible probability.

But the next moment, Gu Shen accepted it. He recalled the records in the files. Han Dang was a superpowered expert on the same level as Senior Apprentice Sister Luo, a young leader capable of standing on his own at the Adjudication Court.

He had not even awakened his Transcendent Ability yet... It was still far too early for him to think of fighting someone like that.

Gu Shen circulated Awakening of Insects, steadied his emotions, and silently calmed himself. He truly did not want to experience that sensation of every second feeling like a year in the Dream of True Words a second time...

He suddenly understood why Nan Jin worked so desperately hard.

Clashes between Transcendent Abilities were exceptionally dangerous, and the weak were like fish on a chopping block.

He would rather train every day until he collapsed from exhaustion than experience again the feeling of being toyed with at someone else's whim within True Words.

"Little Gu, that Little Han is truly such a good person."

Grandma flicked the check and could not help laughing. "There probably aren't many young men in Da Teng City as rich and generous as him... I kept praising you earlier, and it seems to have worked rather well. Little Han said he felt an instant connection with you. Maybe you two can become friends?"

"Friends..."

Gu Shen found it rather amusing.

When the dream was about to end, Han Dang had even planted hypnosis on him... If it had been a different setting, would he have been killed directly by True Words?

He could never be friends with someone like that.

"Little Han truly is a good person."

Since Han Dang had put on such a performance, Gu Shen could only play along. "But he is still an outsider."

He did not want Grandma to remain in contact with Han Dang.

"We can't rely on him. If there are any difficulties in the future, I'll solve them." Gu Shen smiled. "I forgot to tell you, I received a five-hundred-thousand scholarship this time."

"H-How... how much?"

Grandma froze blankly. "Five hundred thousand?"

"Five. Hundred. Thousand." Gu Shen burst out laughing. He had reacted exactly the same way when he first saw the balance on the card.

"Didn't you always say I'd make something of myself someday?" He placed the card in Grandma's hand. "Well, I've made something of myself now! When I said I'd cover all the expenses here, I wasn't just talking. I meant it!"

Grandma's eyes grew a little moist.

She had never imagined that the large sum Gu Shen spoke of would be this large.

"No, I can't take this money. You keep it."

She had barely begun to speak.

"The institute provides food, lodging, and job placement. I've got a car, a house, and a job." Gu Shen quickly closed Grandma's hand around the card. "I'm doing wonderfully! All right, all right, just take this money without worrying... There's something urgent I need to handle over there, so I'm leaving!"

Holding the cat, he nimbly crossed through the rain curtain, dragging Nan Jin along as well. The two of them dashed back into the car.