Lu Xiaotian!

Hearing this name, Lu Luo felt his heart stop. Well, he didn't have a heart, to be exact, but his breathing became labored nonetheless.

She actually bore the surname Lu, her name was Xiaotian, and she lived inside the Nightmare Castle!

Lu Luo had many questions in his heart: speculations about Lu Xiaotian's identity, her origins, the Nightmare Demon, Qiu Guling, and Ludie.

Moreover, the scene of his conversation with the Nightmare Demon on the top floor of the Red and White Castle flashed through Lu Luo's mind.

Nightmare Demon, how much sweetness is needed to fill a heart full of bitterness?

You are wrong, Lu Luo. A heart full of bitterness can be filled with just the slightest bit of sweetness.

"Can a heart full of bitterness really be filled with just the slightest bit of sweetness?" Lu Luo asked subconsciously, but Lu Xiaotian gave him a strange look.

"What nonsense are you talking about? A bitter-hearted person needs to drink at least three big bowls of sugar water!"

"Uh... alright then!"

Lu Luo took a deep look at Lu Xiaotian, trying to discern something from her gaze and movements. But he really couldn't tell. Da Tian's movements and behavior were so natural, every second, without a hint of affectation.

He wasn't sure if this verbal probe was a success or a failure. Lu Luo couldn't confirm the relationship between Lu Xiaotian and the Nightmare Demon, or even her relationship with Ludie.

But why did Lu Luo find her name and age so frightening?

"Who are 'they' you're talking about?"

Lu Xiaotian showed a puzzling expression. "People? How could there be people in the Nightmare Castle? Oh, it seems some have come in recently, like you new groom candidates; you're considered new guests of the castle. But there were none before. When I say 'they,' of course I mean the Exotic Species. Like Old Kuding, Ling Jia, Aiou, Tong Meng, Tong Yan, and Ellie."

Lu Luo nodded slightly. The 'they' Lu Xiaotian referred to were the Lords of the castle.

"If you were human, could you also get along well with them?"

"Of course! Have you ever seen them initiate an attack on you? The Lords of Nightmare Castle may look fierce, but they're actually quite easy to talk to. Unless specific conditions are met, they rarely attack humans."

"Specific conditions, huh!"

Lu Luo had to admit, the Lord-level Exotic Species in the castle didn't seem to have any intention of attacking proactively. They each had their roles, as if each had a specific purpose. And they didn't seem to harbor any particular hostility towards humans. The attack from the witch Ellie had also been a result of him abusing the Observer's powers of observation and information gathering to excessively collect candies.

Seeing Lu Luo lost in thought, Lu Xiaotian spread her hands. "Looking at you, you seem to have understood what I'm saying. After all, it's normal for an outsider like you to not quite understand this place."

Her expression was a bit smug—she looked, well, like a bratty kid who was asking for a beating.

What was worse was that after finishing her conversation with Lu Luo, Lu Xiaotian took a cigarette from the pack beside Lu Luo and was about to put it in her mouth.

SMACK!

But the hand reaching for the cigarette was promptly slapped by Lu Luo.

"A child like you, smoking?"

Looking at Lu Xiaotian, Lu Luo didn't know why, but he automatically slipped into the role of an uncle. Yes, an uncle.

Da Tian looked at Lu Luo in astonishment. "You hit me? You actually hit me?"

"What's wrong with that? If you don't behave, I might even spank you."

Lu Luo's expression was fierce, and Lu Xiaotian suddenly felt a surge of flustered anger. "No one has ever hit me in my entire life, and you hit me?"

"So what if I hit you? Children can't smoke. If you don't listen, a spanking won't be far off."

Lu Luo snatched the cigarette from Da Tian's hand and stuffed it back into the pack.

Lu Xiaotian opened her mouth, wanting to retort, but felt at a loss for words and fell silent. She couldn't possibly start a fight with Lu Luo over a cigarette, could she?

"Fine, I won't smoke! I was just curious about what it tastes like, why some people like this thing that burns in their mouths."

Lu Luo narrowed his eyes again. Lu Xiaotian had spoken of "the thing burning on her own mouth"! The implication was clear: she had seen others smoking. Was it one of the groom candidates here? Or could it be Ludie?

"Cigarettes are a man's tool for solving problems. When a man is under a lot of pressure, a single cigarette can alleviate most of it.

"Although smoking is harmful to health, its benefits are often overlooked."

Lu Xiaotian looked at Lu Luo, seemingly understanding yet not quite getting it. "Using cigarettes to relieve stress?"

"Yes! Many people only see the harm of cigarettes, talking about getting lung cancer and living twenty years less.

"But no one ever thinks about the office worker who endures a 996 schedule every day, then goes home to face his wife and children.

"Work and life leave them virtually no time for leisure.

"The five minutes in the bathroom, five minutes in the car, five minutes at the stairwell—that's their only time."

Watching Lu Luo puffing out clouds of smoke, Lu Xiaotian aimed a kick at him. "You're so young yet full of such deep sighs! Where's your child, then?"

Lu Luo really wanted to give Lu Xiaotian a thrashing, but after thinking it over, he decided against it. Setting aside her identity for a moment, what if...

What if I can't beat a 7- or 8-year-old kid? That would be too embarrassing.

Ugh.

The pressing matter was to find Qi Xinzhu. If there wasn't an exit on the fourth floor, perhaps Lu Xiaotian knew where the passage leading higher up was?

"Lu Xiaotian, do you know how to get to the higher places in this castle?"

"Are you looking for the bride?"

"Ah, yes."

"That won't do. It's not time for the wedding ceremony yet. The areas above the fourth floor are off-limits; you can't get through."

Can't get through? What now?

Lu Luo looked at Lu Xiaotian. It seemed his only chance to get upstairs lay with her.

This kid is sly. Maybe I should try a roundabout approach!

Right, that made sense! Lu Luo certainly couldn't let go of such an information channel. If he could obtain some important information, it would be very useful.

"Lu Xiaotian."

"What's up?"

"I have some candy here, do you want some?" Lu Luo took out candy from the witch Ellie. He had already finished his own; this batch was Duorang's.

But Lu Xiaotian just pouted. "I've lived here for so many years. Do you really think I've never had Ellie's candy before? You're acting like a country bumpkin."

Country bumpkin? Quite an appropriate descriptor.

Lu Luo was speechless. How could this little girl be so impervious to persuasion? Was he really supposed to offer her a cigarette? No, that wouldn't be appropriate.

A roundabout approach! Yes, a roundabout approach!

"Lu Xiaotian, what are your dad and mom's names? Tell me, and I'll see if I recognize them."

"Lu Luo, are you seriously trying that low-level trick to deceive a child?" Lu Xiaotian still looked disdainful, making Lu Luo feel quite foolish.

A child who could live, and live well, in the world of Exotic Species surely couldn't be a simple character.

"Then why did you come looking for me?"

"Who came looking for you? There was some noise here, so I came to see. Who knew I'd walk in on you killing someone." Lu Xiaotian spoke lightly of Lu Luo killing someone, seemingly unconcerned.

This made Lu Luo even more certain that this child was indeed not normal.

"How about this: I'll tell you a story. In exchange, you tell me your parents' names. How does that sound?"

Lu Xiaotian thought for a moment, not agreeing immediately. "First, tell me, what's the name of the story?"

Lu Luo raised an eyebrow. "Sun Wukong's Battle with the Little Calabash Superheroes. In my hometown, it's a very interesting story."

Who was Sun Wukong? And what were Little Calabash Superheroes? Were they names of humans and Exotic Species? Although Lu Xiaotian had heard many human stories—epic tales, fairy tales, social stories, and novel stories—she really hadn't heard the name "Sun Wukong's Battle with the Little Calabash Superheroes."

Maybe it was an epic story about a great battle between humans and Exotic Species! She'd listen first and see.

Thinking this, Lu Xiaotian nodded. "Then go ahead and tell it!"

"On a dark and stormy night...

"Firstly, this happened, then that happened, and afterward, this happened.

"That's where the story ends."

Drawing from 'Journey to the West' and 'The Calabash Brothers,' Lu Luo managed to concoct a logically coherent, if somewhat forced, story that left Lu Xiaotian utterly baffled.

"So, in the end, Sun Wukong and the Little Calabash Superheroes both perished together?" Lu Xiaotian looked incredulous; she found the outcome of Lu Luo's story hard to accept.

However, Lu Luo nodded with great certainty because it was almost 9 o'clock. Although he was intrigued by Lu Xiaotian's identity and background, the story had to end there.

"Yes, that's the ultimate outcome! I've finished the story. Can you tell me now how to get to the fifth floor?"

"What kind of crap story is that, Lu Luo? That's what you call a lousy ending, and people who write lousy endings don't grow a Ding Ding!" Lu Xiaotian grew somewhat flustered and angry. From her demeanor, it was clear she had no intention of telling Lu Luo how to get to the fifth floor.

Upon hearing this, Lu Luo suddenly lost his temper. "Hey, you little girl, are you trying to weasel out of our deal?"

"You were the one talking; I never agreed to anything."

"You little rascal, don't make me resort to force." Lu Luo reached out to grab Lu Xiaotian, but unexpectedly, she deftly dodged his fingers. And no matter how Lu Luo sped up, he couldn't touch her.

"Lu Luo, you're too slow! You can't even touch me! It's nearly 9 o'clock, and you still have the heart to play games with me! Lu Luo, you're really laid-back."

Hearing Lu Xiaotian's mockery, Lu Luo felt angry, but there was nothing he could do at the moment. He indeed couldn't catch Lu Xiaotian.

"Forget it. I have things to do now. I'll deal with you properly later!"

Lu Luo checked the time; it was indeed almost 9 o'clock. He turned and started heading downstairs. Just as he was about to leave the fourth floor, a staircase suddenly appeared at its far end.

Qi Xinzhu happened to run down those stairs just then.

The soldiers' bloodstains made the red gauze on her body even more crimson. She had clearly been rushing. Qi Xinzhu hadn't even had time to use the Healer to remove the stains from her body.

Just as she came down the stairs, Qi Xinzhu saw Da Tian floating on the fourth floor.

"Da Tian? What are you doing here?"

Lu Xiaotian looked awkwardly at Qi Xinzhu. What had this girl eaten? How could she kill so many guards upstairs so quickly? "Uh, I was here listening to a story."

"Listening to a story? Who would tell a story here?" Qi Xinzhu asked, somewhat curious.

"Um, a fellow with white hair."

"White hair? That must be an old man, right? It seems unlikely for an old man to be a groom candidate, doesn't it?" Qi Xinzhu was puzzled; in her mind, a person with white hair had to be old.

However, Lu Xiaotian glanced at the downward staircase several times to make sure Lu Luo had left, then spoke again, "That person doesn't look old, probably just over twenty, but he really does have white hair."

"Just over twenty, and with white hair? What happened here just now?"

Lu Xiaotian put on a thoughtful expression and then said, as if mimicking someone, "Just now, that white-haired guy told me his name is Lu Luo. I just don't know if he's the Lu Luo you're looking for."

"Da Tian, what did you say?" Qi Xinzhu grabbed Da Tian's wrist, but Da Tian frowned.

"Da Zhu, you're hurting me! He really said his name was Lu Luo. He fought a guy who called himself a Believer of Light. After winning, he shouted something. I remember it very clearly."

Something she remembered very clearly? Seeing Da Tian's somewhat mischievous expression, Qi Xinzhu suddenly had a bad feeling. "What did Lu Luo say?"

"He said Han Shiyu is his woman, and they've even thought of a name for their child."

Qi Xinzhu listened, her fingers trembling slightly, her expression somewhat strange. Was it happiness at Lu Luo's arrival? Or sorrow from his words?

Did something really happen between Lu Luo and Senior Sister?

Qi Xinzhu bit her lip, her body twitching unnaturally. After taking a few deep breaths, she calmed her emotions with her excellent mental fortitude.

Seeing is believing, and hearing is not always truth. Da Tian's words were likely true, but it was better to ask Lu Luo himself to be sure. Perhaps everything here was just a trap set by the Nightmare Demon.

When Lu Xiaotian saw that Qi Xinzhu managed to calm down even after hearing such news, she grew a bit anxious and quickly added, "Qi Xinzhu, are you okay? Although I heard Lu Luo say that Han Shiyu is very beautiful, I think you really don't need to worry about that kind of thing..."

Lu Xiaotian suddenly stopped mid-sentence, feeling a strong murderous intent from behind her.

"Uh..."

"Lu Xiaotian, you little brat! You deserve to be beaten to death by your parents!" Lu Luo burst in, appearing behind Lu Xiaotian.

Though his speed was fast, Lu Xiaotian was faster! Much faster, even.

"Da Zhu, he's going to hit me!" Lu Xiaotian had already hidden behind Qi Xinzhu, but Qi Xinzhu paid her no mind, rushing headlong towards Lu Luo.

The two hugged each other tightly!

Qi Xinzhu's tears fell like beads, sliding down one after another. After hugging Lu Luo tightly for a while, Qi Xinzhu lifted her head slightly, gradually gazing into Lu Luo's eyes.

No words, only actions.

The two of them drew closer and closer, and just as their lips were about to meet...

Nine o'clock struck!

Lu Luo's body was pulled away by an irresistible force. Within just two or three breaths, he had vanished from Qi Xinzhu's sight.

"Lu Luo? Lu Luo?"

The warmth in her embrace was real; the touch from moments ago was real. Though she didn't know why Lu Luo's hair had turned white, Qi Xinzhu was certain that the person just now was Lu Luo. She and Lu Luo had genuinely embraced.

But...

Qi Xinzhu knelt on the ground, silent for a long time.

At this moment, Lu Xiaotian didn't know how to comfort her and could only ask timidly, "Qi Xinzhu, are you okay?"

Qi Xinzhu took a deep breath and lifted her head. Though the tears had smeared the makeup she had carefully applied earlier, her eyes now held a light. "I'm fine. Where did he go now?"

Seeing Qi Xinzhu quickly regain her composure, Lu Xiaotian couldn't help but respect her a little more. "The groom candidates should be undergoing some of the Nightmare Demon's tests now. They said before that 9 o'clock should be morning tea time. They should be on the first floor. However, getting there will be quite troublesome for you!"

Qi Xinzhu glanced at Lu Xiaotian. Even though it was just an ordinary look, it made Lu Xiaotian feel somewhat guilty. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Da Tian, what story did Lu Luo tell you just now?"

"Uh, 'Sun Wukong's Battle with the Little Calabash Superheroes.'" When Lu Xiaotian said this name, she felt an inexplicable sense of shame.

When Qi Xinzhu heard this name, she too smiled knowingly, a smile that made Lu Xiaotian's skin crawl. "What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing. Thank you, Da Tian. Thank you for always being with me."

After saying this, Qi Xinzhu started walking towards the staircase leading downstairs.

Lu Xiaotian floated in the air, silent. She didn't quite understand what Qi Xinzhu had meant. However, the sight of the two embracing had stirred a different kind of feeling in her.

"Sigh, I really kind of want to see them get their happy ending..."

Lu Xiaotian floated a little further, her hand pausing before the door to Gu Fangyi and Tong Meng's room. She placed her finger on the door, tracing purple-black circles.

While thinking of Lu Luo and Qi Xinzhu, she murmured softly, "So, should I help them get together?"

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