Invalidated Bug Lord and Invalidated Common Sense

In the cellar, time seemed to freeze once more.

The wisp of gray-white flame, which had been incredibly agitated moments ago, crying out for its "Daddy," was suddenly silenced as if its throat had been choked. All emotional fluctuations ceased, its light stiffening in mid-air.

It seemed... utterly bewildered by this sudden appearance of a... little beetle that was yelling insults while putting its hands on its hips?

Ling Ye, Su Wanqing, and even the bellyband, all stared dumbfounded at this surreal scene.

A bug?

Crawled out of a stone that could be eaten...?

And was still... yelling at that terrifying little flame?!

Even demanding... compensation?!

Had this cellar somehow connected to a dimension's comedy channel?!

Ling Xiaoye also stopped crying, his teary eyes wide as he curiously watched the aggressive little black bug.

After a few seconds of stiffness, the little flame seemed to finally react.

A feeling of offended rage, like an impending volcanic eruption, began to build within its tiny core! It was a part of an existence that even Madam herself was wary of! And now it was being cursed out by a bug?!

However, just as the little flame was about to erupt, ready to annihilate this suicidal bug along with the remaining breadstone—

The little black bug seemed to sense the danger. Instead of retreating, it became even more furious!

It vibrated its wings sharply (though it didn't fly), emitting even more piercing and rapid "squeaks." Simultaneously, its tiny mouthparts opened and closed, and it actually... spat out... a wisp... of extremely faint, yet containing some... ancient power of [Contract] and [Rules]... golden thread?!

The golden thread, as if possessing life, flashed in the air and instantly merged into the core of the little flame!

The little flame shuddered violently!

The accumulated rage was doused as if by ice water, replaced by a sense of... unbelievable... and... apprehension?!

It felt as if... from that golden thread... it had sensed... a supreme [Rule] that it had to obey?!

[Squeak squeak squeak! (Translation: What are you looking at! Pay your debts! It's only right! This is stipulated in Chapter N, Article N of the [Void Industrial and Commercial Management Regulations]! Do you intend to defy the [Origin Contract]?!)] The little beetle stood with its hands on its hips, its imposing aura growing even stronger.

The little flame flickered intensely, conveying complex fluctuations of extreme [frustration], [anger], but also [helplessness]. It seemed genuinely intimidated by that so-called [Origin Contract] and [Void Industrial and Commercial Management Regulations]?!

Ling Ye, watching from the side, felt his eyeballs about to pop out.

Origin Contract? Void Industrial and Commercial Management Regulations?!

What in the world were these?!

What was the origin of this bug?! How could it use rules to restrain the ancestor of this pendant?!

Just as Ling Ye thought this farce would end with the little flame being defeated—

In its extreme frustration, the tip of the little flame's core suddenly... pointed at Ling Ye again!

A strong, intense will surged over:

[His!]

[Belongings!]

[Are His!]

[Smell!]

[You!]

[Pay!]

[Find Him! Pay!]

Well, after going in circles, the ball was kicked back to Ling Ye! And the target was aimed at the "Daddy" who might exist behind him!

Ling Ye almost spat out a mouthful of blood! What did it have to do with him?! He was just a scavenger!

The little black bug, upon hearing the little flame's words, twitched its antennae, seemingly noticing Ling Ye beside it for the first time.

It sized up Ling Ye with its small eyes (if it had any), sniffed the air (perhaps), and then...

It actually... revealed... an extremely anthropomorphic... expression of [disdain]?!

[Squeak? (This is it?)] The little black bug's thoughts were filled with contempt, [Squeak squeak squeak! (A total pauper! Not a trace of [Void Coins] on him! Not even worth as much as my breadstone! You want him to pay? Pay what!)]

Ling Ye: "..." He was actually looked down upon as poor by a bug?!

But the next second, the little black bug's attention was abruptly drawn to the cracked and mottled beast-tooth pendant on Ling Ye's neck!

Its antennae instantly stiffened! Its small body trembled slightly!

[Squeak?! Squeak squeak squeak?! (This... this smell?! Is it... the tooth of [that person]...?! How is it with you?! And it's cracked?!)] The little black bug's voice was filled with extreme [shock] and [fear], and it even subconsciously took two steps back, almost falling off the breadstone!

It seemed to recognize the origin of this pendant?! And was extremely afraid of it?!

Seeing this, the little flame immediately fanned the flames [furiously]: [He! Broke it! Find him to pay!]

The little black bug suddenly looked up, its gaze (if one could discern its gaze) completely changed from disdain to... a complex mixture of [fear], [curiosity], and [extreme disbelief].

It cautiously, tentatively crawled forward a small step, emitting faint "squeaks" towards Ling Ye, its thoughts becoming much more polite (even a bit fawning):

[Squeak... squeak squeak? (Your Excellency... may I ask your honored name? And you... what is your relationship with Lord [Tooth Ancestor]?)]

Ling Ye was completely dumbfounded.

Tooth Ancestor? What kind of title was that? It sounded even scarier than "Daddy"!

What should he say? That he found him? Would this bug immediately consider him a thief and kill him?

Just as Ling Ye's mind was racing, trying to come up with a plausible identity--

Ling Xiaoye, cradled in his arms, seemed to find the little black bug amusing. He stretched out his chubby little hand, babbling… reaching for the little beetle!

"Wow… buggie…"

The little beetle was staring intently at Ling Ye, completely unprepared for a baby's "claws"!

Splat!

Ling Xiaoye's little hand accurately… grasped the little black bug… in his palm!

"Screeeech—!!!" A shrill, terrified scream emanated from between his tiny fingers!

Everyone was stunned!

"Let go quickly!" Ling Ye's soul nearly flew out of his body as he rushed to pry his son's hand open!

The bug's origin was unknown. If it were crushed, who knew what consequences might arise!

However, it was already too late!

Ling Xiaoye felt the "toy" in his palm moving and found it even more fun. Instead of letting go, he giggled and tightened his grip!

"Screeeech—!!!" The bug's scream weakened, filled with despair!

Just as Ling Ye was about to pry open his son's fingers—

Another change occurred!

The little black bug, held captive, under extreme fear and pressure, suddenly erupted with a blinding… dark light!

A terrifying power, different from the little flame, imbued with the laws of [Absolute Concealment] and [Void Travel], exploded like a spring compressed to its limit!

Buzzz—!!!

The entire cellar space… violently… twisted!

As if a "knot" had been tied!

Then…

The dark light rapidly contracted!

Along with the bug, Ling Xiaoye's little hand, and Ling Ye's prying fingers…

Together…

Instantly…

Vanished!!!

All that remained in their place was…

A dumbfounded little flame, A shocked bellyband, A dumbfounded Su Wanqing, Half-eaten breadstone, And…

Ling Ye, whose arm was still outstretched, but whose child and hand were gone… utterly petrified.

Inside the cellar.

Deathly silence.

Ling Ye slowly, extremely slowly… lowered his head…

Looking at his empty embrace…

And…

His right hand, which had vanished at the wrist, its severed surface as smooth as a mirror, without a single drop of blood…

He blinked.

And blinked again.

As if unable to comprehend what was happening before his eyes.

A few seconds later.

An indescribable, Primordial-shattering…

Extreme terror…

And...

Sky-high rage...

Like billions of volcanoes...

Inside his body...

Booming...

Exploded!!!!

"My--------------son--------------!!!!!!"

A piercing, distorted roar, utterly inhuman, like the mournful cry of an ancient, wounded beast, suddenly erupted from the depths of the cellar, instantly shooting into the heavens, shaking the entire earth!