Changes

Fifteen minutes earlier, Fang Sheng had sent him the location.

But the location alone was no use. To enter the venue, he had to present an invitation for an identity check.

This was the most expensive piece of land in the entire capital. The security guards switched patrols every half hour, and Cen Xia couldn't find a chance to sneak in.

He had intended to ask Fang Sheng to come get him and see if he could bring him inside.

But Fang Sheng said his invitation was platinum, which admitted only the holder. Only a higher-tier black-gold invitation allowed the holder to bring additional guests.

But how could Cen Xia possibly know anyone who had a black-gold invitation?

Just as he was growing anxious, a familiar daze came over him. The world spun, and he was pulled into a bank of white mist.

Cen Xia suddenly stopped worrying, because someone else was even more anxious than he was.

This part hadn't been in the original plot. Something had clearly gone wrong with this world again.

The World Will got straight to the point. "There's been a major change to the world line. I can't interfere."

"Are you informing me, or are you asking me for help in a roundabout way?"

The World Will fell silent for a moment, then talked around the question. "When the world line reaches its ending successfully, I can send you home."

Cen Xia wasn't so easily persuaded. "What do you need me to do?"

"Just as I said last time: stabilize the key nodes and, when necessary, push the plot back on track."

Cen Xia closed his eyes in exasperation. "Don't you think you're contradicting yourself?"

Before, the World Will had said that as long as the key figures were present at the key nodes, it didn't matter how the plot developed. Now it was changing its tune and asking him to steer the plot?

There was little change in the World Will's voice, but a hint of guilt showed through. "If the plot strays too far, this world will still collapse."

Cen Xia didn't understand. "How far is too far?"

"For example... right now."

The air rippled violently. In a flash, Cen Xia appeared in a courtyard.

Amid clinking cups, guests in splendid attire chatted in groups of two or three.

He was at the entrance to the courtyard. The spreading layers of branches and leaves on a thick-trunked old camphor tree ahead concealed him, and no one had noticed him yet.

Since it had brought him inside, why couldn't it send him straight to Lu Mian?

In a place this big, how was he supposed to find Lu Mian?

"Go find Wen Xingzhou."

Hearing the World Will's voice in his ear, Cen Xia thought something was wrong with his hearing.

"After the plot went off course, a new node emerged. The world will only recognize it if all the protagonists are present. Otherwise, the world will erase it as a bug. Lu Mian is in great danger right now."

Cen Xia frowned. "Why didn't you say so just now? And aren't you the World Will?" How could it be so useless?

Whether Cen Xia had angered it or not, the voice in his ear fell silent.

"Where's Wen Xingzhou?"

"...You'll have to find him yourself."

Cen Xia didn't know whether the World Will was angry, but it had nearly made him laugh with anger.

How could it be so utterly useless?!

He couldn't help growing suspicious. It isn't really the World Will at all, is it? Was everything it said before just to fool me because I lacked experience?

The World Will, which could hear Cen Xia's thoughts, suddenly felt a little guilty.

The He Family's old residence had the layout of a traditional courtyard compound, with adjoining courtyards to the east and west and over a hundred rooms. The banquet had yet to begin, and the guests were scattered throughout the compound, so finding someone wouldn't be easy.

Cen Xia decided to find Fang Sheng first. Fang Sheng had met Wen Xingzhou before and might know where he was.

Cen Xia didn't know the layout of the residence, so he could only stay where he was and wait for Fang Sheng to come find him.

"How did you get in?" Fang Sheng had initially thought Cen Xia was joking. Now that he saw him with his own eyes, his mouth fell open in surprise.

"I closed my eyes, opened them, and I was inside."

He had been telling the truth all along, but no one believed him.

Cen Xia didn't want to waste time and asked directly, "Where's Wen Xingzhou?"

Fang Sheng was completely baffled, but he answered the question. "People of his status are all in the main courtyard."

"Where's the main courtyard?"

"You can't just go into the main courtyard whenever you want..."

"Just take me there. I'll find a way."

Seeing how anxious he was, Fang Sheng could only suppress the questions filling his mind. On the way there, he grew increasingly uneasy and finally couldn't resist warning him, "If you really can't get in, don't force your way through. The people in there really aren't people you can afford to offend."

Cen Xia smiled. "You're not even going to ask what I'm going there for?"

Fang Sheng shook his head. "No. It's better to know less in life."

When they reached the vicinity of the main courtyard, Fang Sheng pointed out the gate to him, his expression grave. "I won't accompany you the rest of the way. Take care of yourself."

Cen Xia: "..." What on earth has he imagined?

After Fang Sheng left, Cen Xia asked the World Will in his mind, Can you send me in?

"No."

Cen Xia grumbled inwardly, Useless thing!

World Will: ...Does he even know I can hear what he's thinking?

After several more attempts, Cen Xia completely gave up-

"Find yourself someone more capable. There's nothing I can do."

Several bodyguards in black were constantly patrolling around the main courtyard. Forget finding Wen Xingzhou-he couldn't even get close.

But the World Will suddenly grew angry, as though provoked by Cen Xia's indifferent attitude. "If you don't find a way, Lu Mian will die!"

Cen Xia had never been a good-tempered person. At those words, his expression abruptly turned cold. "Then there's nothing I can do."

The air remained still for several seconds.

"You won't let him die." The World Will suddenly calmed down again, its tone carrying an inexplicable certainty. "From what I've observed, you're a softhearted human. You helped Lin Jiandu and Shi Su, so you won't just stand by and watch something happen to Lu Mian."

It said, "You'll find a way to help him."

Cen Xia suddenly laughed. "I helped them because it was within my power. But when it's beyond that, sorry, I can't do it."

"If you can't do it, find a way!" The World Will flew into a rage out of humiliation. "Once this world collapses, you'll die, and all of them, your friends, will die too!"

Cen Xia's expression was almost cold in its composure. "Will we die, or will you be destroyed?"

The World Will's anger abruptly caught.

Cen Xia sneered inwardly. So stupid.

How can it be so brainless?

The World Will was already agitated because Cen Xia had seen through it, and hearing his assessment in his thoughts made it lose its composure completely.

"Then you can all die together!"

The World Will angrily threw down those words and vanished without a trace.

There was no moon that night.

Cen Xia looked at the brightly lit courtyard ahead and lowered his eyes slightly.

The World Will had been right about one thing: he really wouldn't stand by and watch something happen to Lu Mian.

After all, he was a good person.

His expression calm, Cen Xia walked toward the main courtyard one step at a time. The bodyguards around him gave nothing away, but their gazes remained fixed on him.

When he was still five meters from the courtyard gate, two bodyguards strode forward and stopped him.

"Please show us your invitation."

Cen Xia said, "I'm looking for Chief Wen."

The two bodyguards exchanged a glance, and one of them spoke. "You can tell us what it's about. We'll pass the message on after the banquet."

After the banquet? How long will that take? I can wait, but Lu Mian can't.

Cen Xia quickly shook his head. "It's urgent, and it's important. I have to see Chief Wen now."

"Sorry, but please show us your invitation and identification first." The bodyguard who spoke wore a serious expression.

Cen Xia frowned. "Who carries identification around with them?"

"It's fine if you don't have identification, as long as you can prove who you are." The bodyguard held out his hand. "First, please show me your invitation."

"Didn't you already check my invitation when I came in? Do you have so little faith in your own security?"

The bodyguard remained unmoved. "Please show us your invitation."

Cen Xia irritably ran his tongue over one of his side fangs. How am I supposed to play this now?