Chapter 518 - 518: Going to the Eastsea City!

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--- Chapter 518 ---

In the quiet living room in a quarter of the Blacksmith Association, Xing Lan sat at a sleek wooden table, carefully reviewing official documents from Tianxing Academy.

Although she had already stepped down from her day-to-day duties as dean, several high-level, important projects still required her personal seal and approval.

Having lived at the Blacksmith Association HQ for a few months now, she had grown accustomed to its bustling yet cozy atmosphere.

Hearing footsteps on the staircase, she looked up to see two youngsters walking down, softly bickering and joking with each other.

"Teacher, I'm going home tomorrow!" Mu Xi beamed, skipping over to her side.

"You're going back to Eastsea City?" Xing Lan set down her teacup, her gaze softening as she looked between her star disciple and her beloved godson.

Mu Xi nodded eagerly. "Mhm! I've been away on break from school for way too long anyway. Plus, it'll be nice to visit Mom, Dad, and my friends back home."

Xing Lan turned her gentle, observant eyes onto the silver-eyed youth beside Mu Xi. "And you're going with her?"

Han Yuan shrugged casually. "Might as well."

"I've been getting pretty bored staying in Heaven Dou City. Besides, I rarely get the chance to explore the coastal cities. I heard their seafood is good."

"Have you informed your grandfather yet?" Xing Lan narrowed her eyes slightly, reminding him, "The Illusory Brain Douluo is currently overseeing the layout for the Youth Genius Training Camp."

"Not officially yet, but I'll send Grandpa Han a message right after this," Han Yuan replied casually. "Though... considering you'll report it to him anyway, I should probably beat you to it so he doesn't nag me."

"Good." Xing Lan chuckled, giving him an approving nod.

"What?! You brat, you're leaving the city without telling me first?"

The heavy kitchen doors swung open as Mu Ye strode into the room, still wearing a flour-stained apron. Judging by the steam wafting behind him, he had been experimenting with new recipes again.

Han Yuan rolled his eyes at this granduncle of his. "I was planning to tell you over breakfast tomorrow morning. It's not like we're leaving without eating one last meal at the Association."

"Besides... it's not as if you can tag along to Eastsea City anyway. If you leave, who's going to guard Uncle Zhen?"

"..."

Mu Ye opened his mouth to bark back, but the words died in his throat. He knew the boy was completely right, but being called out so bluntly by a junior still thoroughly bugged him.

"Haha! Xiao Yuan truly understands my situation..." Zhen Hua walked into the living room, wiping soot off his hands with a towel, looking a bit dusty from an intense forging session.

He glanced at annoyed Mu Ye with an amused smirk. "Indeed.. Unlike a certain someone who technically has two jobs, yet consistently forgets the second one..."

Turning toward the two genius kids, Zhen Hua's expression softened into a smile. "Eastsea City is a fine place, and Mu Chen will take great care of you both while you're there."

"With Her Excellency, the Nebula Douluo, keeping an eye out as well, you two won't run into any real danger."

"And if anyone dares to bully either of you," Zhen Hua added with a grin. "Just drop my name!"

"Hmph!" Mu Ye pouted like a disgruntled child, slowly turning his head away.

"Hehehe!" Mu Xi giggled at the Body Sect Master's dramatic reaction. She trotted over, tugging playfully on Mu Ye's apron. "Uncle Mu, can you make us that warm spirit-beast stew of yours?"

"I really want to eat a bowl!"

"And make a big bowl for Xiao Yuan too!"

"..."

Mu Ye huffed, crossing his arms. "You little brats only remember me when your stomachs start growling... Tch, fine! I'll go cook up a batch."

Despite his grumbling, a pride flashed in his aged eyes as he turned back toward the kitchen.

As a master chef, Mu Ye's spirit dishes are legendary, and powerhouses from across the continent would happily queue for miles just for a single bowl.

These kids had no idea how spoiled they really were.

Later that night, Han Yuan called Han Tianyi to inform him of his impulsive trip to Eastsea City with Mu Xi. He had expected his grandfather to object out of concern for his safety, but to his surprise, Han Tianyi agreed almost instantly.

Not only did Han Tianyi grant permission, but he also assigned Han Yuan a vital task—one tied directly to the upcoming expansion of the Youth Genius Training Camp.

The next morning, Han Yuan, Mu Xi, and Xing Lan boarded a high-speed Spirit Guidance Train, waving goodbye to Zhen Hua and Mu Ye on the platform.

"Send my regards to your mother," Zhen Hua said softly to Mu Xi, a tinge of bittersweet nostalgia in his voice.

Mu Xi tilted her head, then nodded obediently. "Mhm!"

"Alright, here are your packed lunches. Don't forget to eat them while they're warm." Mu Ye handed a large, insulated box to Han Yuan.

Han Yuan caught it effortlessly with a smile. "Thanks, Granduncle."

"Alright, you two, the train is about to move." Xing Lan gave the two older men a helpless look, gently patting Han Yuan and Mu Xi on the head before leading them inside.

Watching the train smoothly glide away under the morning sun, Zhen Hua and Mu Ye stood together on the platform, a sudden wave of emotion washing over them.

After all, they had been personally caring for and guiding the two kids for over a year.

"Do you think Mu Xi will stay at Heaven Dou City permanently after this?" Zhen Hua asked quietly.

"You really haven't let go of her mother yet, have you? That woman has been someone else's wife for years, Zhen Hua," Mu Ye chuckled in amusement.

Zhen Hua glared at him. "I've let go..."

"It's just... Mu Xi reminds me so much of Bao'er in her youth."

"I devoted my entire youth strictly to forging, and Mu Chen used that exact opening to win her heart first..."

"It was the first and only true regret I've ever made in this life."

"Still... I want to cherish those memories. Mu Xi is a wonderful girl, and her devotion to forging is so much like mine."

"Thankfully... she didn't follow my lonely path. She loves the boy just as fiercely as she loves the forge." He smiled peacefully.

"Xiao Yuan is a great kid," Mu Ye agreed, crossing his arms. "Though I'm afraid he's going to charm half the young women on this continent as he grows older. Mu Xi... is just the first."

"That... is true."

The two old masters exchanged a look and sighed in unison.

Meanwhile, inside a luxurious private section aboard the Spirit Guidance Train, Han Yuan, Mu Xi, and Xing Lan settled into their seats. The onboard attendants catered to their every need, and Mu Xi immediately ordered a chilled soda.

"Really? Soda this early in the morning?" Xing Lan gave her disciple a speechless look.

Mu Xi let out a sheepish giggle. "I just felt like drinking something sweet, Teacher! It's going to be a long trip, after all."

"Sister Xi will always be Sister Xi," Han Yuan murmured with a chuckle, a faint smile touching his lips.

Silently, he initiated a secret mental connection with Xu Deming.

'What's the current status regarding the Eastsea expansion?'

'Everything is proceeding smoothly,' Xu Deming's faint, static-laced voice resonated directly within Han Yuan's mind. 'Though the new batch hasn't logged in yet, the server expansion was a massive success.'

'The boundaries of the DND Realm have expanded to three times their original size.'

'Do you think it's time to do more content—I mean, more trial zones?'

'You're really treating DND Online like an actual game, aren't you, Game Master?' Han Yuan commented with deadpan sarcasm.

'Well... cough, cough... I can't help it,' Xu Deming replied awkwardly.

'Let's hold off on new content for now. I'm now going to Eastsea City,' Han Yuan paused for a beat before continuing. 'At the same time, I'll be taking a detour to check Glorybound City near it to look for an anomaly.'

Up on the moon base, Xu Deming tilted his head in surprise. 'An anomaly?'

'Yes... an anomaly,' Han Yuan nodded internally, his silver eyes turning cold as he stared out the train window at the passing landscape.

'The Child of the Sea God!'