Chapter 628 - 613: Her Surname Is Mu, San Shuimu

Chapter 628: Chapter 613: Her Surname Is Mu, San Shuimu

PUFF... PUFF... PUFF...

After absorbing Mu Chen’s Primordial Power, the crystal ejected three more Elemental Energy Balls. Seeing this, the onlookers knew the blue-haired man had once again given up his chance to choose a prize. Only this time, no one pitied him, because he was trying to create a miracle.

"Are you ready?"

The middle-aged stall owner’s expression grew serious, the playful and exaggerated tone he’d used earlier completely gone. He had a feeling the man before him was actually going to walk away with this Original Memory Crystal.

"The countdown begins now!"

"Ten, nine, eight..."

"Two, one, zero!"

When the final countdown hit zero, all eyes were fixed on the Flying Target Device.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Without any delay or suspense, three targets shot out from the Flying Target Device at the same time. But unexpectedly, they emerged in an overlapping pattern.

In this overlapping pattern, the first target partially obscured the second, and the second partially obscured the third. As a result, only a third of the surface of the second and third targets was visible to Mu Chen and the crowd, and they were moving exceptionally fast!!

If the goal was simply to hit one or two targets, this overlapping pattern would have made it much more likely. But to hit all three simultaneously, one would have to strike the mere one-third that was exposed. The chances were practically negligible.

It wasn’t just the audience that was shocked; even the middle-aged owner wore a bewildered expression. After hosting this challenge for so many years, this was the first time he had ever seen the targets fly out like this!

But, while everyone was lost in their own thoughts, a dazzling blue light suddenly erupted from Mu Chen’s eyes. The next instant, three purple Elemental Energy Balls shot forth, vanished, and reappeared already striking the three targets!

The deviation! Almost zero!

"..."

The surroundings were completely silent. Only when the three targets fell from the sky and clattered on the ground did the stunned crowd finally snap out of their stupor.

What followed was a thunderous uproar and applause. Though it wasn’t a duel between Martial Artists, and there was no bloody battle, it still got everyone’s blood pumping!

"WHOA!!! That was amazing!!!"

"He hit all three targets perfectly!! And he was holding a child!! Stall owner, hurry up and give him the prize!!"

"Yeah!! You’d better make good on that promised reward!!"

...

The cheers from the crowd finally snapped the owner out of his shock. Hearing their words, the middle-aged man gave a sheepish smile and announced loudly, "But of course! I’ve never been one to go back on my word."

"Then!" The middle-aged owner waved his arm grandly and boomed, "Congratulations on winning the Original Memory Crystal!!"

Having said his piece, the owner brought the Original Memory Crystal directly from the shelf and presented it to Mu Chen and Xiao Ying’er. Gazing at the irregularly shaped crystal, fifty centimeters in diameter, Xiao Ying’er—who had been clutching the front of Mu Chen’s clothes—had eyes that flashed with light. A pinkish glow suffused her slightly pale little face, and her mouth rounded as she cheered, "Daddy is the best! Daddy is amazing!!"

But Mu Chen, who hadn’t shown the slightest hint of joy despite the crowd’s praise, felt a deep sense of satisfaction from the adoring gaze of the little girl in his arms. He didn’t even realize it himself, but an involuntary, blissful smile spread across his face, creasing the corners of his closed eyes.

However, just as Mu Chen was basking in his contentment, he suddenly felt something wet on his cheek. He turned his head and saw Xiao Ying’er, her eyes curved into crescents, beaming at him with a look of pure adoration.

He didn’t know why, but that simple touch nearly made his heart leap from his chest. His joy could no longer be concealed, and it felt as if he really were this little girl’s father.

"How... can this be?"

Yalan, who had been standing beside Mu Chen and watching them the whole time, looked on in disbelief. From her angle, she could perfectly see both Xiao Ying’er’s and Mu Chen’s blissful smiles. Yet, in the moment these two complete strangers smiled, they looked astonishingly alike. Even the curve of their lips was exactly the same!

’Could it be that he...’

The thought hadn’t even fully formed before Yalan instantly dismissed it, shaking her head. ’No, no, no, that’s impossible,’ she thought. ’I heard from the Young Miss that the Young Master-in-law isn’t handsome at all, but this guy is pretty enough to be a woman.’

"Ying’er, can you hold it?" Mu Chen asked with concern, seeing Xiao Ying’er reaching out with both hands, wanting to take the Original Memory Crystal suspended before her.

"Don’t worry."

The middle-aged owner had appeared beside Mu Chen at some point and said with a smile, "The weight of an Original Memory Crystal is practically negligible. And because it’s a type of Memory Crystal, it can shrink or grow according to your will. However, its maximum size is its current, original state. You’ll understand if you’ve heard about Memory Crystals before. But as for shrinking it..."

As he spoke, the owner placed his hand on the Original Memory Crystal. A powerful pulse of Primordial Power spread from his palm, enveloping the crystal’s entire surface. Immediately after, the Memory Crystal shrank rapidly, becoming the size of an adult’s fist in a mere instant.

"This is the smallest it can get. If you want to make it large again, just infuse it with more Primordial Power."

With that, the owner placed the shrunken Memory Crystal directly into Xiao Ying’er’s hands. He gave her a friendly smile. "You’re still entitled to a regular prize, too. There aren’t many gifts left on the shelf, but it’s better than nothing."