In fact, the only ones who received Lin Yuan's invitation were Nicole and Shu Jingtong.

When Shu Jing came, he brought a box of scented tea as a gift. Nicole held a large bouquet of fresh roses and held a little girl of two or three years old in her arms.

Lin Yuan had just seen this little girl when she bought cakes in the morning, and she even took one of her candy figures.

"Her name is Jiang Xiaochan. I brought her here to play." Nicole pushed the little girl who was lying on her lap out. "When I saw them this afternoon, they said a sister came to distribute candy, and I guessed it was you."

Jiang Xiaochan changed into a very clean set of old clothes, hugged Nicole's legs, exposed his head, and smiled at Lin Yuan, not afraid of people.

The deceased brother is named Jiang Xiaohe, and the other brothers and sisters are named Jiang Xiaowa, Jiang Xiaochong, Jiang Xiaochan...

This family's naming is a bit simple and crude, Lin Yuan thought.

Lin Yuan opened a few windows of the living room on the first floor facing the courtyard, and the three of them sat on the tea table by the window, drinking tea and eating snacks.

Watching the tiny figure of Jiang Xiaochan catching insects in the deserted courtyard.

"Your yard is really pristine and full of wildness. But it's also quite interesting." Shu Jingtong commented on Lin Yuan's courtyard politely, "Do you live here alone with a maid?"

Nicole immediately interrupted, "Yes, I envy you so much. Living alone in such a big yard must be very free, right? No, unlike my family, my parents control me very strictly, and I don't have any freedom at all."

"Envy." Lin Yuan silently repeated the word.

I felt this emotion with my hands and remembered it, but I didn't quite understand it.

She never thought that there were others who envied her.

Shu Jingtong poked Nicole beside him secretly with his finger.

Lin Yuan sat opposite them, resting his chin on his elbows, leaning against the window, looking lazy.

Her lonely back was set against the desolate courtyard; the orange afterglow of the setting sun stained her porcelain-like profile, but could not warm her expression.

In the past, Shu Jingtong felt that Lin Yuan was aloof, arrogant, and terrifyingly powerful, like a cold passer-by in the world, and that was why he was incompatible with everyone.

Now he discovered that Lin Yuan might just be a very lonely person.

I have been an orphan since I was a child and have been isolated by everyone, so I am not good at expressing myself and seem a little different from everyone else.

In fact, she is very gentle. She will rescue her not-so-familiar companions in times of danger, give a piece of candy to a strange child on the street, and even invite herself to her home.

The loneliness of living alone in such a large courtyard may not be comparable to the troubles of those who grew up under the care of their parents and were nagged by their parents.

Shu Jingtong felt ashamed of some of his inappropriate words, actions and thoughts in the past.

"The yard is so big, it shouldn't be a big deal to let the spiritual bodies out, right?" Shu Jingtong suggested.

A giant snow-white chinchilla appeared in the desolate and silent courtyard, shaking its fluffy and soft hair in the weeds.

It is larger than an adult lion.

The pure white giant cat stretched out comfortably in the afterglow of the setting sun and began to lick its paws.

Jiang Xiaochan shouted with joy, jumped up, and climbed up along the big cat's furry back.

The large cat indulged her and let her ride on its back.

A giant silver-white python appeared in the green sunset, its majestic and nimble body winding among the wild trees, its fine scales flashing a cold light as it moved.

This is Nicole's spirit form, a silver-white reticulated python. Beautiful and powerful.

Jiang Xiaochan was riding on a furry big cat when he passed by. He saw the beautiful big snake and shouted loudly. He happily rolled down from the cat's neck and stretched out his little hands to touch the white snake's cool scales.

The big snake rolled her up, put her on its head, and swam quickly around the yard with her.

The road meandered along, leaving the little girl's giggling laughter in the air.

When passing by the window, the silver snake's huge head hissed and spit out a long tongue, and looked at Shu Jingyi provocatively.

Shu Jingtong chuckled.

Because he felt that Lin Yuan was also smiling.

Lin Yuan leaned his arms on the windowsill and leaned his head out a little, looking intently at the large courtyard, where two lively spirits and a happy human little girl were playing.

It was still the same masked face, expressionless and dull. But Shu Jingtong inexplicably felt that the face had become more lively, and there was a lively light in the pair of dark eyes.

He is the most successful mentor in the college and is very good at capturing subtle changes in other people's emotions.

He felt that Lin Yuan was just like him and could smile in his heart.

A huge and thick pink tentacle appeared, crawled around Lin Yuan's body, stuck to Lin Yuan's skin, and looked out the window together.

It seemed as if they were surprised by the hustle and bustle in the courtyard.

Two, three tentacles, one after another, appeared in the shadow of the yard with their curved arched bodies.

They raised the tips of their tentacles and looked at everything curiously.

With a little hesitation and a little excitement, he swam slowly and followed.

Nicole and Shu Jingtong exchanged glances and laughed.

Maybe Lin Yuan doesn't understand yet.

But they know that the active communication between spiritual beings is a natural expression of closeness.

Even if they are both guides, only when they are with their closest friends will they release their spirit bodies without any guard and play together.

Many people say that the most intimate relationship in the world is the combination of a Sentinel and a Guide.

Everyone took the whistle to a deep level of spiritual communication, almost praising it as the greatest emotion in the world.

But these young guides feel that as long as they are willing, the emotions between friends can also be stable, lasting, pure and enjoyable.

Just like what happened in this courtyard.

They discussed what they had seen and heard at different posts since they had separated.

"There are some very annoying people among the Sentinels," Nicole said. "They were very rude to me. I released my largest spiritual form and frightened him so much that he became incontinent on the spot."

This is a girl with very clear likes and dislikes.

"But most of the sentinels are very cute." She immediately laughed, "They expressed their gratitude for the help I provided. They were very sincere and interesting. After going there, I realized that the sentinels on the outposts really need guides. Such a cruel battlefield needs guides. I am actually willing to stay there longer."

"Yes, I also met some very good sentinels. In fact, sentinels are like guides, of course there are good ones and bad ones." Shu Jingtong said, "Only when you go out and see the world can you realize how big it is, how many things there are out there, how dangerous the environment is, and how many different kinds of people there are."

His expression darkened a little: "I didn't know before that life was so hard in the sentry post. Compared with the White Tower, it is simply another world. But most of the human beings live in the sentry posts outside."

Nicole held her chin and said, "Actually, I think we should go there more often. The situation there is so bad, with sentinels and ordinary people dying one after another. Why are we hiding in the White Tower, having parties and dancing?"

"They only send a few people once a year to go through the motions."

"I really can't understand it," she said.

I can't understand why something so irrational happens, but everyone turns a blind eye to it and regards this abnormal life as the norm.

The two guides were surprised to hear that Lin Yuan was about to set off again.

"You mean, you're ready to go again?"

"How did your Special Research Department get approval for external investigation so quickly? Where are you going this time?"

"Have you really been to the contaminated area? What is it like there? It's scary, isn't it?"

"I'm a little jealous of you, Lin Yuan. Really, I don't care what others think of me. But how many guides in this world can live like you, living according to your own wishes, carefree and at ease?"

Guo Suo came over wearing a neat maid outfit and a snow-white apron, carrying a dessert tower.

She moved with gentle steps and soft gestures, and bent down to place the beautifully presented dessert tower on the table.

Her every move was extremely decent, befitting a maid in a noble family.

"Thank you." Nicole gave her a sweet smile.

The Lin Yuan family's courtyard was in a mess. Such a large manor had neither a housekeeper nor a gatekeeper. Fortunately, there was such a gentle and lovely little maid.

"Ah, no, you're welcome." Guo Suo's face turned red, he was at a loss and almost wanted to walk sideways.

Finally, he held back, turned around stiffly, and walked away in a serious manner.

She noticed that the two guests behind her were looking at her back. They were observing her!

That look was like needles piercing her back, making her whole body tense.

These are two sensitive guests, of the same type as Miss?, but not as strong as her.

Did they guess it?

Guo Suo became even more nervous, and even released a strong aura belonging to an underwater creature.

Finished.

They have caught it and seen through it all.

Guo Suo's mind was in a mess and she was very depressed. She wished she could just crawl away and run back to the kitchen which belonged to her.

What kind of eyes and expressions are those guests looking at me with now?

Is it true? He began to dislike the young lady in his heart, saying that there were monsters in her house and it was a haunted house, and he never wanted to come and play there again.

Guo Suo almost bit his hand.

She tried hard not to let her tears fall. She tried to withstand those strange looks, walked into the kitchen step by step with a normal attitude, and closed the door.

In the living room, Nicole looked at Lin Yuan in surprise.

"She?" Nicole pointed to the closed kitchen door and said very quietly.

Lin Yuan nodded, indicating that her guess was correct.

"Oh my God." Nicole almost jumped up, then sat back down, stroking her skirt, feeling that her action just now was a little too unladylike.

"I know that some people raise mutants at home." Nicole said this, and whispered the word "deformed" very quietly, "but I didn't expect you to actually use mutants as servants at home?"

"No, he's not a driver, he's a servant," said Lin Yuan.

"Hire a maid? Are you serious?" Even Shu Jingtong was surprised.

Lin Yuan nodded. "She is very cute and fragile. Please don't laugh at her."

Shu Jingtong opened his mouth, but could hardly utter a word.

This Lin Yuan really is able to refresh his cognition every time.

Of course he had seen those strange creatures kept in giant fish tanks at banquets held by some of the top dignitaries.

But I never thought that someone would allow a deformed creature to live next to them.

"No? Laugh, of course." Nicole slowed down. "This is your home. Why should I mind your lifestyle? But are you sure she is fragile?"

Just now, when the maid turned and left, she clearly sensed a strong biological aura.

It has extremely fast speed, sharp weapons and a hard shell.

Nicole used to think she was a very unique girl, but now she finds that she is not good enough in front of Lin Yuan.

Thinking about it this way, Lin Yuan is very handsome, and even the maid hired by the family is particularly handsome. She made a cool gesture towards Lin Yuan.

In the kitchen, Guo Suo closed the door and went out through the back door. He squatted in the corner of the yard outside the back door and covered his face with his hands.

She is a failed crab. She brought shame to the lady.

A little girl who was less than three years old came over from nowhere and hugged her "legs".

The two people, one big and one small, were stunned at that moment.

The moment Guo Suo was hugged, his whole body froze.

Her "leg", one of her many hard legs, was held through her skirt by a pair of fleshy human hands.

This might be the first time that she had her strange legs hugged by human hands.

Little Jiang Xiaochan was also stunned. This sister seemed a little different from the other sisters.

She touched it carefully and felt it was hard, flat, and maybe a little sharp.

I lowered my head and looked down. I saw a sharp leg covered with a lot of fur exposed at the edge of my sister's snow-white skirt.

Like the feet of some sea creature she had seen at the market.

The little girl blinked.

Guo Suo wanted to escape, but Jiang Xiaocang hung on her legs, and her skirt was ruffled for a moment, revealing more legs that belonged only to arthropods.

"Wow, sister, you have so many legs." Jiang Xiaochan's eyes were sparkling and full of envy.

Guo Suo took a few steps sideways while maintaining her running posture, and the little girl hanging on her legs started to giggle.

"You, aren't you afraid?" asked the stiff little maid.

With the exception of the young lady, she had never seen a human being who was not afraid and hated herself.

"No, I'm not afraid." Jiang Xiaochan's natural skill is to pull the thighs, "Sister, you have a lot of legs, you must be able to run very fast. Can you run for me to see?"

…

When Lin Yuan entered the kitchen, he saw Guo Suo holding a little girl, walking vertically on the kitchen wall and strolling around.

She took out the various desserts stored in the cupboard and tried hard to fill Jiang Xiaochan's pockets.

Seeing Lin Yuan coming in, the big and small quickly climbed down from the wall. She adjusted her skirt and looked at her with a bit of embarrassment.

[It's her again]

[No? Let her come]

【What are the most annoying things about children】

[My candy is running low again]

【But I like playing with kittens】

[The little snake and I became friends]

[Let her come, it's still fun to play together]

Why didn't the big fish come?

The party was really interesting, Lin Yuan thought. No wonder everyone liked friends and liked to hang out at their friends' homes.

Next time you invite friends over, it would be a good idea to hire a gardener.

Lin Yuan looked out the window.

As the night deepens, a single bright moon shines in the night sky.

It was getting dark and everyone was getting ready to go back. It looked like the little fish really wasn't coming.

***

Ni Ji was standing in a dark alley. If he looked up, he could just see the manor with lights on.

After the life-and-death assassination last night, he had to deal with two senior sentries of the Royal Guard all day long without stopping.

Assassination, Chinese medicine, detoxification, high-intensity and continuous mental concentration, and it has just stopped now.

He was already very tired and didn't know why he came here.

But since he was already here, he just wanted to stand here for a while and rest.

Ni Ji did not deliberately deploy the sentinel's powerful hearing.

No? You don't have to listen. Just stand here and look at the dim light hidden in the courtyard.

He thought it must be very warm there at this moment, with soft lights, fragrant food, and laughter. He could relax and talk casually.

He seemed to hear the giggling of a little girl.

I also smelled a little bit of pastry.

The Sentinel's overly powerful five senses are a bit troubling at this moment.

The medicine injected into his neck last night was too strong and disrupted the various physiological functions in his body. Even with his physique, he endured the whole day in discomfort.

He suppressed all his discomfort and faced the two officers of the Royal Guard in the best mental state.

In fact, his stomach was churning and uncomfortable, and in order to avoid vomiting, he didn't eat anything the whole day.

At this moment, standing in this cold alley, looking at the light in the distance, I inexplicably felt hungry.

Ni Ji missed the northern border outpost a little.

Although it was poor there, if he was hungry on a night like this, he could go to any of his brothers' houses. No matter who he stepped into, he would be greeted with a warm hug and a steaming hot meal.

Now, he hardly dares to go back there or meet those people's parents and wives.

In this bustling imperial capital, he was alone. When he was tired, it seemed that there was nowhere to go.

Fortunately, there is finally a place he wants to stay.

He can stand here and look at that person from a distance.

She invited me too. I wasn't totally stuck.

Tall? Tall? Thin man? He stood alone in the alley for a long time.

The footsteps of two or three passers-by passed by on the road in front of me.

The night gradually grew darker, the bright moon hung high in the sky, the weather was very cold, and the breath exhaled from the mouth condensed into white smoke.

The sentry dressed in black almost blended into the dark alley.

Deep in the densely vegetated courtyard, lights were on in the highest attic.

A vague silhouette appeared through the curved window glass.

The sentry in the alley couldn't help but take a step forward.

He saw a familiar figure appear at the window. The slender figure seemed to be in a good mood. It turned around at the window, with its slender arms raised, holding a chubby killer whale.

The sentry's pupils contracted, and he couldn't help but magnify his vision.

It was a killer whale, that's right.

He saw the girl poke the killer whale's face with her fingers and pinch its tail.

Finally, he reached out and gently touched the killer whale's round head.

The moonlight in the night sky shone softly, slanting into the dark alley.

Ni Ji kept staring at the small window with the light on.

The spirit body appeared in the dark night, and the killer whale's huge head popped out from the void beside him. It raised its head and made a slight whimpering sound.

All the tiredness and hardships seemed to disappear with the gentle touch of the silhouette in front of the window.