Chapter 72

When Miaoling found Lijue, the child was hiding in a bush of golden thorns, in a daze, hugging his legs, resting his chin on his knees, and curling himself up into a small ball.

It was dusk, and the shimmering clouds covered the sky and looked down. A few long-legged birds with white feathers flapped their wings and flew over the lake not far away, shattering the sky light and cloud shadows into ripples.

This is a vast world, especially compared to a little child, it is so big that it feels a little lonely.

The thorn bush gathered its hard thorns for the little cub and snuggled up to him softly, building a safe nest.

Miaoling made no sound when she walked, but Li Jue still noticed her before she got close.

The cub raised his head, but instead of smiling sweetly as usual, his voice and expression were as gloomy as ever: "Brother..."

"Call me sister." Miaoling corrected reflexively, stepped over the thorn bush outside, and sat down beside him.

Jin Ke did not retract his thorns for "her" as he did for the little cub, but it didn't matter. The thin layer of black mist that followed "her" like a shadow was enough to burn away any resistance.

However, this time, Zizi didn't just change the address and instead looked up at the person next to him with makeup on. "Why does my brother have to be my sister?"

Miao Ling knelt down in a very girlish posture, tugging at the hem of her flower-bud-like, layered skirt. "Because girls can wear skirts, they look really nice."

"Boys can wear skirts too," Zizi said seriously. His parents had let him wear them before, and they were very cute.

Miao Ling seemed to have never thought of this before. She was stunned for a moment, then laughed: "You're right, next time I'll try wearing a skirt directly. But, this is also a disguise."

Li Jue was puzzled: "Disguise?"

Miao Ling's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Well, the best part is almost here."

Li Jue was very curious about the plot, but was perfunctorily answered with the excuse that "the little baby is still growing and you can't worry so much."

Miaoling brought the topic back to him: "So, tell me, why did our little sweet bean become bitter?"

Li Jue lowered his eyes and stopped talking.

Miao Ling ruffled his hair: "Don't you trust your sister? You can tell me anything."

"She" likes to listen to other people's complaints, although in the past she did it for fun, especially since she can double the feedback after understanding the other person's greatest fear. Seeing the other person's extremely panicked reaction makes "her" satisfied.

But for the baby, I just simply wanted to help him solve his problems.

Miaoling never thought that she had such a pure and kind side - oh, these two words are quite funny to describe herself.

"Brother...sister." The child said in a low voice, "Xixi, will you come back?"

I knew it was because of that little brat.

Miao Ling was almost angry. What was so good about that child? How could he make the little system sad? Just based on this point, it was clear that he was not a good child - bad children were destined to be eaten.

Unfortunately, the baby would definitely not let him eat that little devil.

Miao Ling licked her lips, savoring the soul she hadn't eaten, and instantly switched back to diligent maid mode: "Yes, the young master has to come back from school every rest day. In a few months, during the New Year holidays, he will stay home all the time."

Li Jue's eyes lit up, then quickly dimmed again: "But, Zizi is leaving soon."

Miao Ling was stunned for a moment: "Let's go?"

"With my brother." Li Jue said.

The word "little brother" made Miaoling even more confused. There was no baby younger than Baobaozi in the entire castle - unless, this little brother was not younger than him.

Ah. Now I remember, it's that pretty little doll.

There were so many messy things in the past two days that Miao Ling almost forgot that the small system she had downloaded after bathing, burning incense and making a sincere wish was actually sold to the Earl and the High Priest in just two or three sentences.

What disgusting humans are! Sooner or later, I will chew all their bones into pieces.

Miaoling gritted her teeth imagining the taste, then she took the cub's tiny hand and placed it in her palm, assuring him, "Don't worry, they won't take you away. You stay here and you're not going anywhere."

Li Jue blinked, unable to tell whether he was happy or disappointed about the promise: "But..."

Miaoling poked his forehead and said, "Baby, have you forgotten what you are here for? Who are you working for?"

The little cub covered his forehead with his hands, his light golden eyes filled with confusion, and it took him a few seconds to react.

Ah, he is not a little servant, he is a little system!

I'm not working for the Earl and the Caster family, I'm working for the Hub and Infinite Space.

Didn't he enter this sub-world just to find the person in front of him?

So I will stay in Caster Castle and wait for Xixi to come home.

Miaoling narrowed her eyes and looked at the child's smile after he "suddenly came to his senses", and her mood actually improved.

It turns out that seeing others screaming and crying is not the only way to be happy.

It turns out that he can also be happy for the happiness of others.

It hardly sounds so evil anymore.

It seems OOC. But it doesn't matter, he doesn't mind.

These are unprecedented experiences provided by the small system, which are enough to show off.

The nights in autumn are long and it gets dark earlier than usual.

It was time for dinner, and the figure of the elderly maid appeared in the distance, looking everywhere for the child she was caring for.

Miaoling was the first to notice Gwen and patted Lijue: "Go, she's looking for you."

Li Jue held his hands with both and shook them, her eyes sparkling, a wordless act of coquettishness that expressed gratitude and love.

Then, he ran out of the bushes, waving his hands and shouting: "Grandma—Grandma! The child is here—"

Humans, Miaoling thought.

Those soft, useless, and wonderful emotions that only humans have.

It is precisely because human beings are filled with so many ups and downs and emotions that their souls are particularly delicious compared to other species.

Endless desire is the best seasoning.

The day of harvest is not far away.

"She" watched the child throw himself into the old man's arms, be picked up and walked towards the castle, then she stood up and walked towards the lake in the opposite direction.

*

After dinner, Xu Jiahang first returned to his study to read some official documents. The more he read, the more irritated he became, so he simply went to Houhu Lake to relax.

He was originally a young nanny with low education and little cultural knowledge. In this life - or you could say in the previous life - what he learned most was how to take care of the elderly. These days in the new world, he relied entirely on the memory of the "original owner" to handle his work, like a robot with input instructions.

At the beginning, he was very excited when he "traveled through time". He was living in such a magnificent and solemn era, and in the upper class society where people could make things happen with a wave of their hands. Even a fish leaping over the dragon gate would not experience such changes.

But as time went on, all kinds of strange things began to appear more and more.

First, there were Chen Lijue and Xu Lingxi, two little brats who made me upset just by looking at them;

There is also the superstitious organization of the Vatican that can suppress his authority;

Then there was the butler who was becoming increasingly annoying to him, always putting on a fake smile and opposing him;

…

Xu Jiahang often felt a sense of disconnection, as if he was in power but was also someone's puppet.

The person manipulating him from behind could be the high priest, the Son of God, or a seemingly gentle and humble steward—or even a weak and helpless little cub who lives next to others.

He began to doubt everything.

Doubt the reality of this world, until you doubt your own reality.

In this cold world, only the hands of the little maid massaging his shoulders and back are warm.

Thinking of the gentle and lovely Miao Ling, Xu Jiahang felt a little better.

He pulled his cloak closer, feeling annoyed at being out in the cold alone on such a nice night. He should have gone to the little maid to express his feelings.

Xu Jiahang was about to walk back when he suddenly caught a glimpse of a familiar figure.

The lake sparkles under the night sky, as beautiful as a glass mirror.

Someone is kneeling among the withering flowers by the lake, stretching out his arms to touch the cold water, with his long hair loose and his waist bent in an arc that makes people think.

Is this what it means to be in tune with each other? Or is the little maid waiting here on purpose?

Xu Jiahang was delighted.

Then another joy.

The girl's eyes vaguely slid over where he was, she stood up, turned her back to him and untied her outermost apron.

Then, another one,

Xu Jiahang's heart was pounding, and all his worries were forgotten in an instant.

This is seduction, right? This is definitely seducing me, right?

As expected of the thoughtful Miao Ling, she must have noticed his depression early on and understood his habits early on, carefully choosing this place where no one would come, waiting here to relieve his worries...

Xu Jiahang's heart began to pound.

He knew he was not mistaken.

Even if the whole world deceives him, the little maid will never betray him.

Xu Jiahang walked over excitedly.

The hazy moonlight sprinkled on Miaoling L's exposed back, as if outlining a pair of wings, making "her" look like an elf that would fly away in the next second.

The man chuckled obscenely. He wanted to grab that slender white ankle to prevent "her" from flying away...

Wait.

Xu Jiahang suddenly stopped.

That's not "as if".

There really is a pair of wings behind Miaoling!

They were not translucent like the wings of an elf or a butterfly, nor were they the delicate down feathers of birds or angels, but rather pitch black... wings like a bat.

——What kind of creature has both human form and bat wings?

Xu Jiahang stood there in a daze, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.

However, when he opened his eyes again, the wings still had not disappeared.

It flapped vigorously behind the girl, creating a small hurricane, and the surrounding grass leaves were swept into it.

At this moment, human vigilance was still slightly inferior to lust. He even wanted to believe that it was a special outfit that the little maid changed into to please him. He bravely shouted, "Meow Ling..."

The girl turned her head when she heard the voice, and her originally bright eyes turned into a bright peach pink, and her pupils became vertical lines like a cat.

The most important thing is that the gaze was not human at all, it was cold and wild, like an untamed beast.

Xu Jiahang realized something was wrong and ran away.

But the speed of two legs could not compare to that of wings. Every step was slapped hard from behind by something - it was the pair of black bat wings that were half a person's height.

Xu Jiahang fell to the ground and was about to get up and continue running when he was gently lifted up like a toy and fell on his back.

He struggled to lift his upper body and kicked the ground with his legs to try to retreat, but was pinned down by a slap, and the sharp claws easily pierced into his flesh.

Blood and severe pain gushed out together, but Xu Jiahang had no time to care about it.

Meowling—no, that monster—was standing on him, looking down at him, its pink eyes flashing with the joy of a successful hunt, its mouth wide open, revealing its dagger-sharp canine teeth.

This is a precursor to eating.

"Meow, Meow Ling, wake up, it's me!"

Xu Jiahang held on to hope and called out "her" name in vain.

Of course there is no possibility of response.

The monster's originally exposed smooth skin was gradually covered with black hair, and its body shrank as it bent down and got on all fours.

Xu Jiahang watched helplessly as "she" transformed from a petite and sweet human girl into a large feline.

It is bigger than a cat but smaller than a leopard, with pink eyes and black fur, bat wings on its back, and a pair of goat horns on its head.

Even the evil sects that practice witchcraft and sorcery have never created such a strange creature.

The monster's limbs were all on Xu Jiahang, almost squeezing out his internal organs. However, this was not what he cared about most at the moment.

It stuck out its tongue, and the warm smell of blood immediately filled Xu Jiahang's nostrils.

To be eaten.

About to be eaten.

The human brain is too slow to produce a second thought.

This is truly an outrageous world!!

The monster lowered its head and opened its bloody mouth.

"Hey, Meow Ling, what did I tell you? You can't eat it!"

A clear young voice suddenly rang out.

If Xu Jiahang was still awake, he would find that the pronunciation and intonation of this voice were very familiar.

Unfortunately, his eyes rolled back and he fainted from fright.

The monster named "Meow Ling" looked at the unconscious human unwillingly and patted him with his claws, but got no response, so he had to retreat to the side regretfully but obediently.

It sat upright and elegantly, its long, slender black tail swinging behind it, intertwining affectionately with the tail of the boy approaching - their tails were surprisingly similar in length.

Not only the tail, but also the pupils are the same peach color, making them look like the human and animal forms of the same creature.

"Well done." The boy kissed the monster's head. "You really do suit this name."

The real Miaoling rubbed his head against him and licked his arm with its barbed tongue. Its docile and clingy appearance was completely different from the cold-blooded predator just now.

The boy's skin was scratched with blood by the monster, but it healed as before after being wrapped in a light black mist.

He didn't feel any pain at all, chuckled, and scratched Miaoling's chin: "Be patient and wait. When I reclaim his soul, his bones and flesh will be yours."

Miaoling meowed sweetly like a real kitten, and then licked her paws seriously.

The boy did not disturb its favorite cleaning process and glanced coldly at the human lying on the ground.

Xu Jiahang's life or death is unknown, and his eyes are all dark. It seems that he was scared to death.

Apart from stepping on him a few times, Miaoling didn't even scratch him, that was it.

Ridiculous stupid stuff.

Recalling the harassing gazes and words the old man had given him on a daily basis, the young man showed disgust and, in a blatant act of revenge, kicked him several times, especially in the face.

This isn't enough to satisfy my anger, but it's the only way for now.

The Autumn Festival is about to come, and he needs Xu Jiahang to be alive to start the ceremony and ring the bell for the dinner.

*

Esteril City, Caster Noble Academy, Junior School.

"In the year 320 of the old calendar, the 'Abyss Land' in the northernmost part of the continent was once again in turmoil. The demon dragon awakened and marched southward, attacking a total of 12 large towns and 158 villages, causing heavy casualties and countless property damage.

"In the spring of the 321st year of the Lu calendar, the four allied families of the Central Region—Campbell, Austin, Lu, and Morishima—formed the Fulong Coalition and decided to march north to attack the Dragon Nest.

"At the same time, the southern coastline was harassed by an unknown pirate group, and the Caster family immediately took action..."

The female teacher wearing glasses spoke eloquently at the podium, and her emotions were particularly high when she talked about how the Northern Alliance fought against the dragon. She was so excited that she seemed as if she had been there in person, holding up spears and silver guns to fight bravely against the enemy.

The children in the audience were also listening attentively. They grew up in the South and were very familiar with the history of the Southern Maritime Fleet. However, the battlefield in the ice and snow in the north seemed vague and distant.

The teacher's lecture was very inspiring and the whole class was paying close attention.

Only one student seemed distracted.

She noticed this, rolled up the book, and tapped it. "Mr. Custer, please answer the question: what was the event that marked the full formation of the Fulong Alliance of the Four Great Families?"

“…”

The ignored teacher cleared his throat and said, "Mr. Custer."

"Mr. Custer?"

"Lingxi Xu Custer!"

After shouting several times without getting any response, the teacher was so embarrassed that he walked down the podium angrily.

Everyone in the classroom turned their heads and looked at the boy who was sitting by the window, staring blankly outside with his chin in his hand.

In this fiefdom where the Custer family has absolute power, Xu Lingxi, as the family heir, is not arrogant. Instead, he has a gentle personality and is polite to others. Coupled with his excellent grades, he is the most popular child among teachers and classmates.

He has always studied hard and has worked several times harder than his peers to become a qualified heir. He never makes childish mistakes like skipping classes or fighting, nor does he openly daydream in class.

But things have been different lately.

He has been feeling uneasy since returning to school after the rest day.

I think of that little servant from time to time, and how he looked at me from afar with tears in his eyes.

Why on earth did the child blurt out his own name?

It’s not because his name is a secret, but because all the servants, including the descendants of Custer’s side branches, will respectfully call him “Young Master” or “Young Master”.

Even her father had never called her "Xixi", such an intimate name.

Why did the little servant seem so familiar with him? Did they know each other before? Were they close friends?

If he really had such an important person, he would not forget it.

If anyone tries to use this to play the emotional card and deliberately deceive him, he will never tolerate it.

However, if everything is an elaborate hoax, how can I explain why I feel heartbroken when I see the other person crying, and why I feel jealous when he or she gets close to other people?

The seven-year-old boy was confused and distraught.

Today I am not only upset, I am panicking.

He had been feeling suffocated since early morning, but the weather was not gloomy and the other children did not seem abnormal. Xu Lingxi had to explain to himself that it was because of the upcoming Autumn Festival and the excessive pressure.

This year's festival not only requires the Earl to preside over the overall situation as usual, but also the seven-year-old will officially debut as the heir of the Custer family.

By then, the whole city will be watching him, including that——

The teacher's reflection in the window suddenly pulled the boy back from his thoughts. He stood up and stammered, "I'm sorry, Ms. Donna, I... shouldn't have been distracted. Please forgive me..."

The child apologized sincerely, lowering his head and with a pale face.

He was the teacher's beloved student. Seeing him like this, Donna could no longer be angry. Instead, her tone became gentle and comforting: "Mr. Custer, are you feeling unwell? Go see Dr. Yoshii."

Dr. Yoshii is the junior academy's specially appointed physician, specializing in both internal and external injuries.

"No... I'm fine, just a little bored." Xu Lingxi whispered, "I will pay attention to the class."

The teacher graciously allowed him to open the window and sit down, and called on another student to answer the question. After the other student answered fluently, he smiled with satisfaction again.

"Okay, let's continue talking about—"

The knock on the door once again disturbed the class. The female teacher was really annoyed this time, but after opening the door, she turned into surprise: "Mr. Principal? What are you..."

The old man in a suit and tie with gray hair said anxiously, "Ms. Donna, is the young Earl Custer in your class?"

The teacher was stunned for a moment: "Yes, what do you want to see him about?"

The boy heard his name and stood up in a daze.

The principal walked up to him in two steps, his face serious. "Mr. Custer, your father is ill. You need to return home—right now."

The distance from Esteril City to Caster Castle is a two-hour carriage ride, and Xu Lingxi has never felt it so long.

My father pays great attention to health preservation and has been in good health for many years. Dr. Carlos always praises him for taking good care of himself and has never had any serious illness.

How could this happen? How could he suddenly fall into a coma?

The boy leaned against the bumpy, speeding carriage with sore eyes, eager to arrive immediately, but also afraid of what he would face if he returned.

The two-hour drive was compressed into just over an hour, and it was still light when we saw the spire of Custer Castle.

Gwen waited at the door with a worried look on her face, and when she saw the carriage coming, she hurried to meet it.

However, Xu Lingxi couldn't wait any longer and jumped out of the car directly. He didn't even have time to put down his schoolbag and ran in with it on his back.

He ran all the way to the master's living room, and just as he was about to rush in, he realized how unruly the dust on his shoes was. If his father saw it, he would definitely...

The boy stopped awkwardly, took off his shoes, put down his schoolbag, patted the wrinkles on his clothes, and even didn't forget to smooth out his hair that was blown into a mess.

After completing these basic etiquette, he took a deep breath and walked into the bedroom.

There were many people gathered in the room, from family members to doctors to servants, but they were all silent, making no sound except for their breathing.

Xu Lingxi subconsciously tried to identify whether the little male servant he had been thinking about was in the crowd, but soon realized how inappropriate this idea was.

He mustered up his courage and was about to walk towards the bed surrounded by people when a man rushed towards him.

Xu Lingxi was shocked by the force and took several steps back before he realized it was Miao Ling.

The maid hugged him and cried bitterly: "Young Master, you are finally back. You must find a way to save the old master - I don't want to live without him, wuwuwu -"