Chapter 147: Devour: Journey Through the Ruins (Part Three)

Swallowed Star, in the basement of his villa, Qin Ming opened his eyes.

He had spent quite some time in the Great Hong World this trip, but back here, only a few days had passed. After all, the time ratio between the two worlds was one to one hundred.

In the past, when his cultivation was weak, he had to carefully time his travels, shuttling every half-day to coincide with his sleep—going to bed at night and waking up at dawn, while fifty days would have passed in the other world.

There was no need for that now.

Qin Ming glanced at the smart watch on his wrist, smiled faintly, and powered it on. A moment later, Babata popped up. "Qin Ming, what’s going on? You said you were going into seclusion at home for a few days, and that’s fine, but why did you turn off your smart watch? You even cut the power to the basement network. I was so worried, afraid something might have happened to you!"

"I was contemplating a secret technique this time and needed peace, so I didn't want to be disturbed," Qin Ming laughed. "What? Did you miss me?"

"I was afraid you would try to force the practice of 'Original Body Heaven and Earth' and 'Absolute Space.' Those are secret techniques intended for the Golden Horned Beast race. If you force them, it could lead to unpredictable consequences!" Babata cautioned.

"Don't worry, I know my limits. How is Luo Feng doing?"

"The same as before. If he wants his avatar to successfully gestate, it won't happen overnight!"

"That’s true! With you staying with him and the access to the network, he shouldn't be too bored."

After chatting for a bit, Qin Ming stood up and circulated his internal energy. With a slight tremor, all the dust on his skin was shaken off. He walked out of the basement and into the bright, sunny outdoors.

"Big brother, you’re finally out of seclusion!" Lulu jumped over from the adjacent villa. This was his private villa, and his family home was right next door.

"What? Missed me?" Qin Ming waved and sat down on a chair.

"A little bit!" Lulu walked over. "You’ve been in seclusion for so many days. Mom and Dad were very worried, so they made me check on you every day. Hmph, and you—seclusion is one thing, but you had to lock the door so we couldn't even get in!"

"I was comprehending a secret technique; I couldn't be disturbed," Qin Ming smiled. "Go on, get me some fruit!"

"You're always ordering me around!" The young girl pouted, but she obediently skipped back to the house next door. A moment later, she returned with a platter of fruit, complaining, "Mom knows you’re out now and is already busy preparing a feast for you. Hmph, Mom is so biased!"

"If you went into seclusion for a few days, don't you think Mom would be worried too?" Qin Ming picked up an apple and took a bite. "The feeling of eating is really quite nice. It’s just a pity that my periods of seclusion will likely only get longer."

"Do you really have to go into seclusion?" Lulu plopped herself down onto the table.

"You’re not a child anymore, mind your manners!" Qin Ming said. "You'll understand when you're older!"

"I'm not any older than you!" Lulu retorted, tilting her head with sparkling eyes. "Brother, take me out to hunt ferocious beasts! I have the physical fitness of a Warlord-level fighter now, but I’ve never killed a single beast. I'm so pathetic!"

"Wait until you're older."

"I'm sixteen this year!"

"Sixteen, is it?" Qin Ming was momentarily stunned. "You really have grown up. By the way, why don't you go yourself? You’re a Warlord, and you’ve practiced quite a few secret techniques. Dealing with some low-level beasts should be easy for you, shouldn't it?"

"I'm scared!"

"Scared?"

"Hmph! I’ve had the urge to go out and raise a ruckus a few times, but when I look at the data on those beasts, they all look so terrifying. Plus, killing beasts involves blood—if it splatters on me, it would be so gross!"

"And you still want to go?" Qin Ming smirked. *Is this little girl spoiled rotten?*

"Well, everyone has to have their first time, right? Brother, take me once, please! Just once!"

"Fine. After we eat, I'll take you."

"Yay! I knew you were the best!" Lulu cheered and ran off.

A strange look flickered in Qin Ming's eyes.

A call came from next door, and with a graceful movement, he glided over. The dining table was already laden with dishes. During the meal, there was the usual grumbling about his frequent seclusion. Qin Ming just chuckled, sharing a drink with his father. Being nagged was a form of happiness in its own right. Looking at his father, he realized he had grown used to it over a lifetime; if his mother, Luo Xia, didn't nag him one day, he would actually find it strange.

In the afternoon, a fighter jet roared through the sky, quickly leaving the base city behind. The jet touched down, and Qin Ming pulled Lulu out.

"When I first went out to hunt, I wasn't afraid at all; I was eager and adapted quickly," Qin Ming said. "Back then, even if not everyone was fighting for their lives, anyone who reached the Fighter level would go out to battle. These days, the pressure to survive has lessened, and some fighters have become decadent. But that’s fine; the world is basically stable now. Some ruins that were once very close to the residential zones have been reclaimed and are back in human hands."

"Brother, this is all thanks to you!" Lulu’s eyes twinkled like stars. "The news shows it every day—reclaiming this ruin today, taking back that one tomorrow. I feel like it won't be long before this land is completely back in our hands. And those beasts? Hmph, they’ll surely be rounded up and become lambs waiting for the slaughter!"

"They certainly will," Qin Ming said with absolute certainty.

As they landed, they saw a red-haired pig running toward them.

"An entry-level soldier-rank beast. Go on, practice a bit!" Qin Ming pointed.

"I'm scared!" Lulu was eager, yet timid.

"You're a Warlord!" Qin Ming said, and gave her a gentle push.

"Ah...!" Lulu shrieked, but she had already landed in front of the red-haired pig. The pig froze, its blood-red eyes glowing with excitement as it let out a howl and charged.

"Go away, go away...!" Lulu shuddered, kicking out wildly.

*Splat!*

One kick landed squarely on the pig's head, exploding it instantly. A mist of blood filled the air! With another scream, she turned and bolted, covering a kilometer in the blink of an eye before rushing back to Qin Ming’s side.

"You, you, you're not my brother, you're a bully!" Lulu’s eyes were red. "I, I almost got hurt by that little piggie!"

Qin Ming rolled his eyes. "You’re a Warlord. In terms of both reaction and speed, that pig couldn't even catch up to your shadow. Plus, you’re wearing the Black God suit—even if you just stood there, it couldn't hurt a single hair on your head!"

He was truly speechless. As for the Black God suit, he had given it to his sister long ago.

*Girls really shouldn't be coddled,* Qin Ming thought to himself.

"But I'm just scared!" Lulu pouted. She looked at the exploded pig, and her courage grew. She cautiously walked toward a gray-haired rat that was peeking at them.

*Squeak!* The rat turned and fled!

"Don't run, little rat!" Lulu chased after it quickly. In her haste, she stepped on it, turning it into a bloodstain. Her body stiffened, and she scrambled back. She lifted her foot to look at it, wiped it off on the ground with disgust.

"How do you feel?"

"Gross!"

"Still scared?"

"I don't think so, actually!"

"Good, keep going! If you don't kill a hundred today, I'm tossing you into the ruins of the city ahead!"

"You're so mean, brother!"

Lulu pouted, but this time, she drew her combat blade and actively sought out a leopard.

*Pfft!*

One strike, and the beast was bisected. These soldier-rank beasts were no match for her; she brutally sliced them all in two! The more she killed, the more excited she became, and her boldness grew until she voluntarily entered the ruined city!

*Rumble!*

The ground cracked, and buildings collapsed. Lulu raised her blade, shouting with excitement as she charged into a pack of red-haired pigs. In an instant, blood sprayed and mournful wails filled the air. Before long, the ground was littered with broken corpses.

"Awesome!" Qin Lu wiped the blood from her face, let out a triumphant roar, and continued searching for more beasts, not a trace of fear left in her.

Qin Ming followed along, bored, and sighed, "Girls... once they have their first time, there's no turning back. From now on, I have a violent sister."