Teasing! (Seeking reads, seeking collection)

After all, since not even a corpse could be found, it meant they had been devoured by some demon.

Zhan Kong also returned with the rescue team. Seeing him covered in wounds, it was clear he hadn't gained any advantage in his one-on-one duel with Lu Nian.

Of course, Lu Nian had escaped from Zhan Kong; Zhan Kong had failed to execute him.

Upon learning this news, Lan Yu couldn't help but sigh.

He had exhausted Lu Nian so much, yet Zhan Kong still hadn't managed to take him down.

It seemed Zhan Kong really was the good-for-nothing Lu Nian had called him; otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up committing suicide at the Holy City alongside Qin Yu'er.

However, Zhan Kong had his most proficient Curse Element sealed, preventing him from using the Curse Borrowing Technique; otherwise, he would have beaten the living daylights out of Lu Nian.

Setting that topic aside, let us return to the main matter.

The military unit Lu Nian belonged to wanted to suppress the incident, but the two institutes and the factions behind the deceased students would not let it go so easily.

Not to mention the Lu Family, who wanted to distance themselves completely, claiming that Lu Nian's actions had nothing to do with them.

But could they really just walk away with a simple "it has nothing to do with us"? That was impossible!

In the end, the Lu Family had to pay a massive amount of resources to barely silence the two institutes and the factions behind the students.

Next, it was Song He's turn.

After all, it was he who had leaked the students' training location to Lu Nian.

Facing accountability from various factions, Song He, like the Lu Family, had to pay up to resolve the disaster.

Having obtained what they wanted, the various parties finally let the matter rest.

On the third day, the Pearl Institute students finally boarded the high-speed train to return to the Magic City.

Back in the Magic City, Lan Yu and Mu Nujiao were the first to return to their apartment.

"Finally back."

Lan Yu changed his shoes, tossed his backpack aside, and flopped onto the soft sofa, sprawling out like a couch potato.

Mu Nujiao sighed, "Can you stop throwing things around?"

She picked up the backpack Lan Yu had discarded on the floor and placed it on the storage rack next to her own.

Receiving no response, Mu Nujiao turned her head, only to find that Lan Yu had already fallen asleep on the sofa.

Lan Yu had indeed been exhausted during this period; that month of agony had nearly caused his mind to collapse.

Click—

Just then, Ding Yumian pushed the door open and entered.

"It's good that you're back." Ding Yumian's tense nerves finally settled.

For the past two days, she had felt uneasy, terrified that something might have happened to Lan Yu.

Fortunately, after hearing from Dean Xiao that he was unharmed, the weight on her heart finally lifted.

"Where is Xiao Yu?" Ding Yumian asked casually while changing her shoes.

Mu Nujiao made a "shush" gesture and whispered, "He's tired and resting on the sofa."

Having changed her shoes, Ding Yumian walked over and saw Lan Yu sleeping quite soundly on the sofa.

"Jiaojiao, do you have a permanent marker?"

Suddenly, the question Ding Yumian blurted out made Mu Nujiao realize something was wrong.

"Huh?"

Sleeping until evening, Lan Yu first caught the unique scent lingering on Ding Yumian.

He opened his eyes and found himself covered by a thick, sky-blue blanket printed with cute cartoon patterns—the very one Ding Yumian usually used.

Lan Yu took a deep breath, feeling refreshed.

He rolled over to get up and folded the blanket, immediately hearing Ai Tutu's laughter:

"Hahaha..."

Lan Yu was confused and said, "Ai Tutu, have you lost your mind? What the hell are you laughing at?"

Ai Tutu was laughing so hard her stomach hurt; she didn't even hear Lan Yu cursing her.

Finally, Lan Yu seemed to realize something was wrong. He rushed into the bathroom and looked into the vanity mirror, his face instantly turning black:

"Ding Yumian!!!"

"Are you kidding me? Drawing a turtle on my face—is there something wrong with your brain?"

Hearing Lan Yu's furious roar, Ding Yumian, hiding in her room, laughed until she was doubled over.

Mu Nujiao couldn't help but chuckle either. She had tried to stop Ding Yumian, but it was useless.

Mainly, she also wanted to see Lan Yu looking so furious yet completely helpless.

When Ding Yumian first started drawing, Mu Nujiao had been worried that Lan Yu might unleash his "cat" to scratch them, but the former had guaranteed that Lan Yu would only be angry for a moment.

Hearing her say this, Mu Nujiao took the bait like a hooked fish.

Sure enough, just as Ding Yumian had predicted, Lan Yu truly flew into a rage and gave each of the three a sharp rap on the head.

"You're all twenty years old, so why do you still act like immature brats?" Lan Yu sat on a single-seater sofa, while Ding Yumian and the other two knelt before him in a standard, disciplined posture.

If this were a comedy anime, the three of them would already have large, swollen bumps on their heads.

"And you two, the accomplices—if it weren't for our three years of friendship as classmates, I'd make you taste a RiderKick!"

"We're sorry, Brother Yu~" Ai Tutu's sugary, coquettish voice rang out, making goosebumps erupt all over Lan Yu's skin.

"Stop!" Lan Yu stood up. "I'm hungry. Is there any food?"

"Yes, yes, there is." Ding Yumian hurriedly pulled Mu Nujiao up and led Ai Tutu into the kitchen.

After they entered the kitchen, the sound of silver-bell-like laughter drifted out from time to time.

Beyond being a High-level Mage, Lan Yu was a powerhouse at the quasi-Soul Emperor level; his physical constitution and five senses were incredibly sharp, so how could he not hear what they were saying?

It was just that one was his future wife, another was a canary, and the last was a bonus—tasteless to eat, yet a pity to discard.

The next day, the twenty-seventh day of the third lunar month.

This day was Ai Tutu's birthday, and she invited Lan Yu and the others to visit a long-established club to celebrate.

However, upon learning the name of the club, Lan Yu's expression turned extremely strange.

Because that club was exactly the place where a group of vampires hid in the original story, and that club was called Northland Club.

In the original story, Nie Dong had set his sights on a pair of twins: the older sister, Liu Xian, and the younger sister, Liu Ru.

One night, while taking the subway, the older sister Liu Xian was drained of her blood and killed by Nie Dong.

The younger sister, Liu Ru, sought revenge for Liu Xian, but ended up becoming a vampire herself.

"Let me tell you, the Northland Club is so interesting. I'm telling you, the wine they have here is so rare..."

On the way to the Northland Club, Ai Tutu kept talking incessantly.

Upon arriving at the Northland Club, the first thing that met their eyes was a lounge bar, bathed in dim tones with dark red floor lights that looked like a glowing red carpet.

The entire lounge bar featured European-style architecture, with a stag's head embedded in a wall covered in religious patterns. Silver goblets and tableware were displayed beside the bar counter, and even the bartender was a handsome Westerner.

"Distinguished guests, how may I be of service to you?" the bartender asked.

"I booked a private room here..." Ai Tutu took out her phone and showed the bartender her order details.

"Very well, please follow me..."