Chapter 1636: Healing The Land

When Zhao Li Xin returned from the Mystique Realm, he found Lory still asleep. With each passing day, her periods of slumber had grown longer, as though sleep had become the only thing her body truly desired.

He walked quietly to her bedside and leaned closer. Her unique scent, the one he had come to love more than anything else, lingered gently in the air. He listened to the steady, rhythmic beat of her heart, and a faint but unmistakable smile spread across his face.

He remained there for a while, silently admiring her peaceful sleeping face before his attention drifted to the television. It was still on.

The channel had switched to a news broadcast, though thankfully the volume was low enough not to disturb Lory’s rest. Not that it would have mattered much. Ever since her pregnancy, her keen senses had dulled considerably. She could sleep for hours without waking, completely oblivious to the outside world.

Zhao Li Xin glanced at the screen.

The news was covering yet another Bael attack overseas. It was no longer the attacks themselves that dominated the headlines—those had become disturbingly commonplace, but the devastation they left behind.

The camera swept across a once-thriving town that had been reduced to a lifeless wasteland. The toxic blood spilled by the slain Baels had seeped deep into the earth, poisoning the land beyond recovery. Trees stood blackened and brittle, their branches stripped bare. ℯⅇ𝙡.

Crops had withered, and even the rivers had taken on an eerie, murky hue. Experts warned that, if left untreated, the contamination would continue to spread, rendering vast stretches of land uninhabitable for generations.

The reporter spoke of the growing fear spreading among neighboring nations. Every Bael that fell left behind another poisoned scar upon the world, and despite the efforts of countless researchers, no one had yet discovered a way to purge the corruption completely.

Zhao Li Xin remained silent.

After one last glance at the television, he quietly stepped out of the bedroom, careful not to disturb Lory. The door clicked shut behind him with barely a sound.

At the same time, in the royal study, another television continued broadcasting the same grim report.

Lucas leaned back in his leather chair, his elbow resting on the armrest and his chin propped against his fist. His eyes remained fixed on the screen, though his mind was clearly elsewhere.

Across the room, Fredhardt stood by the window, speaking into his phone in a calm, measured voice.

"Yes, I understand your concerns, Mr. vice President."

He listened patiently as the man on the other end of the line spoke at length. "Please don’t worry. Kindly inform the President that Harland will provide every assistance within our power."

Only after the call ended did he lower the phone then turn to Lucas who sit behind the desk, "President Zhang is very worried," Fredhardt said.

Lucas let out a quiet sigh. "Everyone is."

He reached the remote and turned off the television. The room fell silent. "How bad is the damage in Xiya?"

"About four hundred hectares," Fredhardt answered with heavy tone.

Lucas frowned. "That’s enough land to sustain an entire village."

"And it’s not the only problem" Fredhardt handed him a tablet.

Surveillance footage filled the screen. In one clip, a man with special abilities suddenly attacked pedestrians without warning. In another, a woman unleashed uncontrollable mana that consumed an entire city block before collapsing. Similar incidents emerged one after another, each from a different country.

"They all share the same symptoms," Fredhardt said. "A sudden surge of mana, followed by complete mental deterioration."

Lucas’s expression was etched with suspicion. "And naturally, the public blamed the Gifted for it."

"The media only reinforces the narrative that Gifted people are a danger to society," Fredhardt replied. "No one is asking why these incidents are increasing so rapidly."

"If the enemy controlled the media, no one would question a thing." Lucas lowered the tablet, his gaze turning glacial. "...So this was the true purpose behind creating MADD."

Fredhardt gave a slight nod. "So it seems."

Silence settled between them.

The existence of the Mana Deterrent Device had never been made public. Officially, it did not exist—not yet. There was no need for it to. Fear was still being cultivated.

Once the public had witnessed enough tragedy, they would beg for protection. That was when MADD would finally be unveiled—not as a weapon, but as humanity’s salvation.

It would be presented as a revolutionary mana-control device designed to protect society. Unlike conventional mana controllers, MADD could neither be activated nor removed by its wearer. Every function would remain under government authorization, ensuring that only the authorities could control it.

Under the banner of public safety, every Gifted person would be forced to wear one, while the public applauded it as a necessary measure to keep society safe.

Fredhardt let out a contemptuous sneer. "We have to admit, they’ve planned this well."

Lucas calmly lifted his coffee and took a slow sip, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Eventually, everything will lead back to us. They want to plant suspicion against the Lucient Kings—the people born with the strongest Gifts. They want the world to wonder what we’re capable of... and what we might do."

Fredhardt poured himself a cup of coffee before speaking. "If we protect the Gifted, they’ll accuse us of being biased—of siding with our own kind. But if we don’t intervene, the Gifted will condemn us for abandoning them. Either way, we lose the people’s trust."

He took a slow sip of his coffee.

"And once that trust is gone, the public will have only one power left to believe in—Luxemborough and the S.A.I.N.T. Organization, with Alinna serving as the perfect face of their cause."

Fredhardt’s expression turned sour with every word that left his mouth.

"Like you said, it’s a well-planned scheme. And the more we uncover, the more we realize how fortunate we are that Lory has returned." Lucas’s expression remained calm.

"Indeed." Carrying his cup, Fredhardt walked to the chair across from Lucas and sat down."Though I do have one question that’s been bothering me."

"Oh?" Lucas raised a brow, waiting.

Fredhardt took an unhurried sip of his coffee before speaking. "Zalchana..." He paused, slowly swirling the dark liquid in his cup. "I wonder if that creature is really so easy to control."

Lucas set his cup down gently on its saucer before tilting his head ever so slightly.

"Yes... that’s what troubles me. A creature like Zalchana shouldn’t be so easily controlled." His voice remained calm, yet there was a quiet weight behind every word. "We know far too little about what she’s truly capable of, even now."

Fredhardt chimmed in, "All we know is that she can bestow power through the fruits she produce. The so-called Seed of Life is, in truth, nothing more than the seed hidden within those fruits. Beyond that..." He gave a faint shake of his head. "Everything else is unknown. And the unknown is always the most dangerous."

His gaze drifted beyond the study walls, "I managed to peek who she once was." His voice grew quieter, tinged with regret. "But the moment she surrendered to her own malice..." He fell silent for a heartbeat, his eyes darkening with old memories. "The person I knew died. What remains is something else entirely."

Another moment of silence passed before Lucas spoke again.

"I’m not even sure there’s any humanity left in her."

"Right..." Fredhardt murmured, absentmindedly stroking his chin. "I almost forgot. Zalchana... was once human."

’Knock’

A single knock echoed softly through the room before the door opened without waiting for a reply. Zhao Li Xin stepped inside as naturally as though permission had already been granted.

To anyone meeting him for the first time, the gesture might have seemed presumptuous. Yet neither Lucas nor Fredhardt reacted.

After hearing Lory stories, they knew what kind of man Zhao Lixin was, he was a man who stood at the very pinnacle of power, before whom even emperors were forced to bow their heads.

In truth, the fact that Zhao Li Xin had knocked before entering the study was already a considerable show of respect toward Lucas—a courtesy he had never extended to anyone else. To him, the knock was never a request for permission; it was simply a polite notice of his arrival.

His conduct was not born of arrogance but of habit, one forged over countless years of standing above all others. Seeking permission before entering someone’s presence was a custom long forgotten by him.

Once they understood that, they found Zhao Li Xin’s blunt and straightforward nature surprisingly refreshing, even somewhat amusing.

"Li Xin, you’re here?" Lucas greeted him with a faint nod.

Zhao Li Xin returned the gesture with a slight inclination of his head before saying, "I have something important to discuss."

Standing with his hands clasped behind his back, he carried himself with effortless poise. His posture was impeccably straight, his expression calm and composed, and the quiet authority he exuded filled the room without the need for a single commanding word.

"Oh? What is it?" Lucas asked, his interest immediately piqued. He knew Zhao Li Xin was not the sort of man who spoke unless he had something of genuine importance to say.

"It’s about the land ruined by Bael," Zhao Li Xin replied. "Jade can restore it."

Lucas’s eyes widened slightly. "He can? What effect would it have on his well-being?" he asked, a faint frown creasing his brow. His concern was genuine.

It was precisely this kind of attitude that had earned Zhao Lixin’s respect. Every ruler he had known had been selfish and entitled, concerned only with their own ambitions, while the lives of those beneath them were little more than expendable pieces on a board.

Lucas, however, was different. He cared for those who served under him, and he valued the lives of his people as though they were his own.

"Jade’s power has grown considerably stronger," Zhao Li Xin replied. "He should be able to handle it. Besides, there’s something I want to test."

Lucas leaned forward slightly, his curiosity immediately stirred.

"Test what?"

Zhao Li Xin tilted his head slightly, as though arranging his thoughts. "Jade’s true form is a Zalchana seedling. More precisely, he is the Seed of Life itself," he explained. "Although Jade and Zalchana are connected, she couldn’t sense him while he remained within my realm. Therefore, I want to know what will happen if I bring him into this world for brief periods."

His eyes glint dangerously, "I want to determine how long it takes for Zalchana to detect his presence, the maximum distance at which she can sense him, and how she will react once she does."

Fredhardt pinched his chin thoughtfully before looking at Zhao Li Xin."How long can Jade remain in our world?"

Zhao Li Xin gave a slight shrug. "That’s another thing I intend to find out," he replied calmly. "Regardless of the outcome, Jade should be able to restore the poisoned land. Once news of that spreads, the Saintess will lose one of her greatest advantages."

The room fell silent as Lucas and Fredhardt exchanged glances.

Lucas gave an approving nod. "That would greatly diminish the influence of the S.A.I.N.T. Organization, as well as the Saintess herself."

Fredhardt let out a derisive sneer. "If she can’t even restore the land while someone else can, then what exactly is she good for?"

"En, her downfall will be the first stage," Zhao Lixin said. "I expect the enemies will do everything they can to get rid of Jade—kill him, capture him, whatever works. That’s why I want to hide Jade’s face... and let them come after me instead."

Lucas raised his eyebrows. "So, you don’t plan on just being a painter?"

"I think most people know I’m not just a painter," Zhao Li Xin replied without a change of expression. "Besides, there’s no harm in showing people my skills so no one would question my position as Crown Prince of Princess Lorient."

"Well, that’s true," Fredhardt agreed. "Once Lory comes out of hiding, everyone will learn Mr. Zhao’s identity. I don’t think it’s a bad idea for Mr. Zhao to make a name for himself. It’ll be good for Lory’s reputation and public image later."

Resting his chin on the back of his hands, Lucas studied Zhao Li Xin for a moment before he speak in warning tone, "Yes, but are you ready?" he asked. "The enemies attack will be relentless. They’ll use every method they can—defaming your name, monitoring your every move, and openly attacking you every time you leave Cestine Palace."

"It’s not like they haven’t done that before," Zhao Li Xin said nonchalantly. "They put a bounty on my head before, right? So what’s the difference now?" The prospect of being hunted no longer aroused any emotions in him.

"That’s true," Fredhardt agreed.

Lucas realized his worries were unnecessary. With a deep sigh, he finally nodded.

"Alright then. Let’s do this and see what Zalchana and her gang will do, expecting the worst." Lucas’s tone was light, but he was serious.

"Need help?" Fredhardt asked, even though he already knew the answer.

"No. I can handle it from here," Zhao Lixin replied calmly. "Order your men to protect the civilians around me, and stay out of my way."

Those words might have sounded harsh to anyone unfamiliar with him, but there was no disrespect behind them. Zhao Li Xin was simply stating what he believed was the most practical course of action.

In the past, he never had to worry about who might get caught in the crossfire. But now, the situation was different. He didn’t want to see innocent people accidentally injured during a fight, worried that the incident would one day be turned into a weapon to tarnish his reputation. 𝖋𝘳ℯ

_______________________

After their discussion came to an end, Zhao Li Xin suddenly spoke again. "Since we have finished discussing everything, may I ask for permission to use the kitchen?"

Lucas paused, slightly surprised by the unexpected request. "Yes, of course. But what do you intend to do in the kitchen?"

The calm expression on Zhao Li Xin’s face softened into something gentler.

"I have learned how to make dim sum, so I would like to prepare some for Lory," he explained. "Do not worry. I will carefully choose the ingredients and make sure everything is safe for both her and the baby."

Fredhardt and Lucas stared at him in stunned silence.

After a moment, Lucas finally spoke, a hint of envy in his voice. "You can cook too?"

Zhao Li Xin looked at him with mild confusion, unable to understand why that was surprising. After a brief pause, he simply nodded. "Yes."

Fredhardt looked at him as if he had witnessed something unbelievable. "Good grief... he’s perfect," he murmured in awed.