"And who is this?"
Sweety tilted her small face, blinking her amethyst-like, crystal-clear eyes.
Her gaze circled around Ryuga.
From the way they were standing, this handsome guy was the main character of this gathering.
To have Master Yixuan of Suibian Temple and a big shot from the Special Operations Section accompanying him—this handsome guy was clearly not simple.
Sweety, of course, knew Hoshimi Miyabi.
The "youngest Void Hunter," a genius girl who had appeared on the front page of newspapers countless times and was a legend in the hearts of the young people in Failume Heights.
But such a person was actually here as an escort?
Ripples of curiosity stirred in Sweety's heart, and her fingertips unconsciously rubbed the handle of her round fan.
"I'm a visitor from beyond the stars."
Ryuga suddenly leaned in and whispered in her ear.
When he played the game, he always felt that Sweety was like Qingque from another timeline.
Like a Qingque who had actually been fired by Fu Xuan and opened a tea house.
Not the lazy, casual, fish-touching Qingque.
The opposite.
The diligent and shrewd cousin of "Boss Qing," Qingdou.
Isomorphs, after all.
The same face but with completely different personalities—it was quite normal.
As the warm breath brushed past her ear, Sweety trembled all over, her small mouth opening into an "O" shape, and her cheeks instantly flushed red.
The girl stared blankly at Ryuga, then subconsciously looked at Yixuan.
The latter nodded in confirmation.
Sweety's purple eyes widened instantly.
When Suibian Temple settled in Failume Heights, they had dealt with Yum Cha Sin quite often; they were very familiar with each other.
Having grown up here, she naturally knew that although Master Yixuan was a bit mischievous, she wouldn't make this kind of joke.
"Oh, are we going to be eaten by an alien?"
The girl elongated her tone, feigning terror as she covered her lips.
In her soft, sweet voice, there was a hint of playfulness and an unhideable cheekiness.
"That's right~, when I leave, I'll carry you off and eat you in one bite."
Ryuga smiled and took two steps back to maintain social distance.
He couldn't let her have a bad impression at their first meeting.
"Take us to a quiet private room, and also, bring out some of your signature tea snacks."
Yum Cha Sin wasn't just for drinking tea; the overall style was Hong Kong-style dim sum.
"Then it must be our freshly baked shrimp dumplings, rice noodle rolls, and char siu buns! Thin skin, generous filling, and an endless aftertaste. If you miss tonight, you'll have to wait another three years!"
"Distinguished guests, please follow me."
Sweety held her round fan, half-covering her face, leaving only a pair of eyes curved like crescent moons, which winked playfully at Ryuga a few times.
Then she turned around and walked into the shop with graceful steps.
Pan Yinhu went to handle the registration first.
Ryuga followed closely behind.
His gaze chased Sweety's back.
That slender waist was perfectly cinched, and the moment she stepped onto the stairs, the rounded, perky curve of her hips viewed from below was exceptionally eye-catching and shocking.
Round!
The sense of line was full of impact.
Plump yet graceful, it made him hold his breath.
Ryuga sighed inwardly: She really knows what she's doing.
Sweety is truly a flirt.
Every turn, every backward glance—it wasn't just simple beauty, but a beauty with calculation, rhythm, and breath. It was very playful.
Sister Sweety truly has a unique charm.
"..."
You think she's cute?
It's only human, my friend.
A girl's face, a mature woman's figure—in her hairstyle, hair color, movements, and expressions, there was a faint resemblance to an old acquaintance.
The old acquaintance refers to "Rita - I am slightly lewd."
(PS: You're more than just slightly lewd.)
Thinking back to that settlement animation where she leaned over, smiled, and beckoned with her finger—it had hard-controlled the perverts for a long time. Who knows how many times they watched it repeatedly.
How many people's hearts stopped, and their souls left their bodies.
A lethality carved into their DNA.
And now, Sweety's every frown and smile was replicating the fatal temptation of the "Herrscher of Lewdness."
...
Soon, Sweety personally brought up baskets of steaming Hong Kong-style dim sum.
The shrimp dumplings were crystal clear.
The rice noodle rolls were as smooth and tender as clouds.
The char siu buns were golden and soft, and when bitten into, honey-sweet juice gushed out.
The rich, sweet aroma hit the nose, making one's mouth water.
After their respective "guardians" nodded in approval, Ju Fufu and Soukaku, the two "big eaters," immediately began a food duel.
You take a char siu bun.
I take a rice noodle roll.
The two were quick-handed and nimble, yet they maintained proper decorum.
They only took the food in front of them, being so well-behaved it was almost heartbreaking.
"Is this 'Big Tiger' starving for three meals a day?"
Ryuga was a bit dazed.
Senior Ju Fufu's cheeks were bulging as she ate, her eyes and brows overflowing with long-lost satisfaction.
After all, during the early days of Suibian Temple, funds were very tight.
They didn't even provide three meals, only a meal allowance.
"Mmph!! Mmph... I like you (I like you)."
While wolfing down the food, her eyes suddenly lit up when she heard Ryuga's words. She felt like she was about to cry—finally, someone called her a "Big Tiger."
The junior brothers and sisters in the temple all treated her like an orange cat QAQ.
When the two had finished the food on the plates like a whirlwind, they looked up in unison, staring expectantly at their respective "guardians," clearly not full.
"Suibian Temple's funds are very tight; Fufu is always only seventy percent full."
Seeing Ju Fufu's greedy cat look, the corner of Yixuan's mouth curled up imperceptibly, and she quietly pushed the char siu bun in front of her over.
"Mmph~, thank you, Master."
Ju Fufu pulled it into her arms, eating the buns one by one.
Hoshimi Miyabi did the same, pushing the tea snacks by her hand toward Soukaku.
"Soukaku is of the Oni race, a natural big eater."
The two smiled at the same time, a hint of tenderness flashing in their cold eyes.
Noticing Ryuga looking at her with a smile, Hoshimi Miyabi quickly turned her head away, the tips of her ears feeling a bit hot.
"..."
Ryuga, on the other hand, ate with great relish.
Looking at the "Herrscher of Lewdness" Sweety and eating the fragrant tea snacks made them feel even more delicious.
...
"If it's not enough, I'll go order some more." Sweety said softly, turning to leave.
"Is she pretty?"
Yixuan suddenly spoke with a lazy smile.
"Pretty, but... not as pretty as Master Yixuan. How can the delicious Sweety compare to Master Yixuan's mature charm?"
Ryuga blurted out instinctively, then quickly corrected himself after realizing.
"I'm not a teenage girl anymore~"
Yixuan spoke slowly, resting her cheek on one hand.
"Ahem, how should I put it?"
"Sweety originally has a round and non-aggressive small face, soft and fair, paired with the fluffy pigtails tied on both sides, which gives her an almost innocent girlish feel."
Ryuga coughed twice and appraised.
Of course, that was only if you just looked at her face.
But what if you looked further down?
The stand-up collar, sleeveless, slim-fit, qipao waist—the tailoring was a masterpiece of craftsmanship, pulling the tension of her body curves to the max.
Plump where it should be plump, slender where it should be slender, her waist could be encircled by a single hand, and the hip line bloomed with a breathtaking arc.
"The most important thing is Sweety's large eyes."
"When they're wide open, they're like two clear springs, showing a bit of worldly innocence."
"But once they're slightly narrowed, they immediately take on a charm with a certain 'calculation'."
Ryuga continued.
What was even more amazing was that looking at Sweety from the left and right sides would present completely different charms.
The moment she turned to leave just now.
Looking from the left, because her left face was fully exposed, her expression appeared very clear.
But when looking from the right, because the falling bangs half-covered her right eye and most of her face, she looked a bit dangerous and had a hint of "kusogaki" (bratty) cunning.
Moreover, the ribbon on her hair accessory said "Exquisite Delicacies."
Yes, Sweety did indeed look delicious.
A red string wrapped around her slender white ankle—a stroke of genius.
A red string tying the soul, every step blooming a lotus.
Adding a piece of emerald green jade to the red string was the finishing touch.
But Ryuga really couldn't figure out what the allusion of that jade was.
No matter how he looked at it, it looked like a "Japanese Melon sitting on a Lotus."
Maybe it was just Sweety's personal preference?
But it was undeniable that she combined too many contradictory charms.
Innocence and calculation, purity and temptation, cuteness and danger—like a finely mixed "poisonous wine," fragrant and inviting.
And those without poison resistance might die on the spot after drinking it.
Of course, Ryuga had full resistance and it was worth feasting upon.
"..."
Hoshimi Miyabi cursed secretly in her heart.
As expected, this man is an out-and-out "Lewd Demon God," his head full of crooked thoughts, yet he says them so seriously.
Don't you Demon Gods have anything to do during the day?
As for Sakura and Himeko, the two had long been used to it and didn't even bother to look up.
Sakura took a light sip of tea.
She remembered very clearly that back then, Ryuga had taken a large group of beauties, including her, from Mobius's laboratory.
She had long known that every one of them was a dish on Ryuga's plate.
And Himeko, after seeing the Chrysos Heirs of Amphoreus, understood it clearly in her heart.
She had never even thought about being the only one.
Being able to grab the third spot would be good enough.
...
Soon, Sweety entered with several maids in a line, their trays filled with various exquisite tea snacks.
Just as she was about to leave, her wrist was grabbed.
"Sit down."
"???"
Sweety blinked. Although she had a head full of questions, she obediently sat down to the side.
"Yum Cha Sin is still too quiet."
"Suibian Temple is currently in its early stages, with everything waiting to be rebuilt. We can reach a cooperation with Yum Cha Sin. For tasks with special commissions, Yum Cha Sin can ask Suibian Temple for help."
"When the time comes, you can just have Belion pass on the message."
"In this way, Yum Cha Sin gains fame and extra income by acting as a bridge, and Suibian Temple can also get commissions to manage various businesses in the temple."
Ryuga laid out the plan.
Yixuan and Sweety were instantly stunned.
The two looked at each other and thought silently.
A moment later, the two suddenly looked up and blurted out almost simultaneously: "It's feasible!"
Then, they raised their small hands and gave a crisp high-five with a "clap."
The plot of the second season was just like this.
Commissioned business flew in like snowflakes, and the name of Yum Cha Sin became more and more famous.
And Suibian Temple also rose with the trend, with increasing incense offerings, courtyard repairs, and a growing number of disciples. The herb garden, library, talisman workshop, and so on were established one by one.
The once quiet Taoist temple finally became a magnificent sight.
...
Having eaten and drunk their fill, Ju Fufu and Soukaku rubbed their bulging little bellies and lay on the backs of their chairs, unable to move.
Everyone also began to discuss the plan for Hollow Zero.
"Hollow Zero is currently managed by the New Eridu F4. It won't be easy for us to get permission."
Hoshimi Miyabi's brow furrowed slightly.
"Wait, what on earth is the F4?"
Ryuga raised an eyebrow, a bit puzzled.
"The four major families and the conglomerate alliance, such as 'TOPS' which controls the Outer Rim."
"After the old capital collapsed, many residents' bodies were eroded and became weak and sickly. To encourage national fitness, a union of wealthy businessmen was formed."
"Unfortunately, the slogan gradually changed its flavor. Resources were monopolized layer by layer, and those survivors struggling on the edge of pain instead became forgotten dust."
Yixuan snorted coldly and explained.
Back then, Yunkui Summit had exhausted all its strength to rescue the people of the Outer Rim, but now they couldn't live like human beings under the oppression of TOPS.
"In addition, I have invited the legendary Proxy, Phaethon. They will enter the Hollow together with us."
Hoshimi Miyabi hesitated, afraid of being blamed for her unauthorized decision.
"Phaethon?"
Ryuga was startled.
Belle?
"The space-time structure inside the Hollow will be distorted into a disordered mess."
"Space folding, time dislocation, and even areas with causal inversion may appear. Without a Proxy to lead the way, rushing in blindly will result in getting lost at best, or being trapped inside and eroded into an Ethereal at worst."
"I know you're not afraid, but it's good to have an extra layer of defense."
Yixuan took over the conversation and explained.
"And... the interior of the Hollow is severely damaged. I was still young back then, and my memories are blurred... I'm afraid... I can't even remember the way home."
Hoshimi Miyabi bit her lip, her voice growing lower.
"Are they on their way now?"
Ryuga agreed.
He currently didn't have spatial abilities, though a mere Hollow couldn't stop him.
Letting Belle and the others assist was also fine.
"Not yet."
"This commission is extremely dangerous. The equipment is heavy and needs to be transported, and the HDD still needs remote debugging. We will officially set off tomorrow morning."
Hoshimi Miyabi shook her head, her shoulders relaxing slightly as a heavy stone was lifted from her heart.
"Tell them I'll pick them up personally."
"Oh."
...
The next day.
"Brother, they told us to look up at the sky. What does that... mean?"
"Waah~" "What a big sparrow!"
Belle looked up and asked naively.
In the next instant, her pupils shrank. She saw a black shadow in the sky rapidly growing larger, larger, and crazily larger until it blotted out the sun.
When she saw it clearly, she realized it was actually a giant sparrow.
Its wings were like churning ink clouds, its eyes like burning molten gold, and its wings whistled with wild winds.
Whoosh!
The terrifying airflow pressed down like a landslide. The residents of Sixth Street were blown to the ground, staring up in a daze.
Then, Hoshimi Miyabi and Yixuan descended from the sky.
"Let's go~"
After everything was packed, Yixuan grabbed Ryuga's collar like she was picking up a chick and then forcefully threw him onto the giant sparrow's broad back.
Then Ryuga leaned down, his strong arms passing through Belle's leg bends, and he picked her up in a gentle princess carry. With a tap of his toes, he leaped onto the sparrow's back and gently set her down.
Belle's small brain was fried and confused.
Ryuga: Differential treatment, right?
Also, you brat, you're taking advantage of my sister. I just saw you touch her thigh.
Whoosh~
The giant sparrow took to the air again, speeding toward Hollow Zero.
...
"Warning! Warning! Unidentified flying object approaching Hollow Zero at high speed!"
The cold mechanical voice echoed outside the Hollow.
Amidst the flashing red lights, the watchtowers were activated layer by layer, and the energy cannon barrels slowly rose, their muzzles condensing a piercing white light.
"Warning! Please stop flying immediately, otherwise forced interception measures will be taken..."
Boom.
Before the warning could even finish, a ball of shadow flame had already smashed down like a meteor, accurately hitting the F4 interception array.
The firelight exploded, and the alarm sound stopped abruptly.
On the sparrow's back, the Bangboo Eous's eyes lit up. Belle was online in the safe house.
Then, her small hands danced rapidly, calculating.
"That way, the safety passage."
Belle's eyes widened, and her heart almost stopped beating.
She didn't expect these fierce people to plan to fly in from above the Hollow?
"Prepare! 3—2—1."
Whoosh!
The giant sparrow suddenly accelerated like an arrow leaving a bow. With a flap of its wings, it crashed into Hollow Zero!
In an instant, the world turned upside down.
The feeling of weightlessness swept through the body like a tide.
The space-time inside the Hollow was in chaos, and the concepts of up and down, left and right were completely overturned.
In other words, the sparrow flew in upside down.
One second, everyone was looking up at the sky on the sparrow's back.
The next instant, they suddenly found themselves head-down and feet-up.
"Ahhh!"
"Didn't you say it was safe?"
A group of people fell off the sparrow's back one by one like dumplings into a pot, screaming as they fell.
Eous held its head with both hands, its eyes tightly closed: "I said it was safe, but the safety passage is only three meters in diameter, ahhh—we came in by scraping the edge!"
(Truly "scraping the edge".)
At the critical moment, the giant sparrow's wings suddenly folded, its tail feathers tracing an elegant arc, and its body made an accelerated rotation.
It caught everyone one by one and placed them steadily on its back.
Everyone sat paralyzed on the sparrow's back, their faces pale and cold sweat dripping.
That moment just now was too exciting.
Hoshimi Miyabi slowly stood up, looking at the strange yet familiar broken world, and murmured.
"Mom, I've come to take you home."
To be continued…