Tian Hai lightly punched Zhong Yun's shoulder, his words tinged with complaint, yet his eyes betrayed a deep sense of relief.

"I just went to..." Zhong Yun's voice trailed off, the words he was about to speak catching in his throat; the well-rehearsed lie simply wouldn't come out.

"I understand." Tian Hai patted his shoulder. "You must have your reasons. I won't push you. Tell me when you’re ready."

In that instant, a warm sensation enveloped Zhong Yun's entire being. He felt a powerful urge to confess the truth, but ultimately managed to restrain himself.

He wordlessly gripped Tian Hai's arm tightly, a silent acknowledgement of his friend's understanding and tolerance.

"However," Tian Hai looked up at him, speaking with mild annoyance, "you've grown so much in a month and a half—how?"

Zhong Yun finally noticed that he now towered over Tian Hai by nearly half a head; before he left, they had been the same height. No wonder he'd felt a slight visual discord upon first seeing Tian Hai—his elevated perspective was due to his growth spurt.

Zhong Yun let out a sheepish chuckle, using his hand to demonstrate that Tian Hai's head only reached just below his nose. "I told you to exercise more, but you wouldn't listen. Regretting it now, aren't you?"

Tian Hai pushed his hand away, retorting indignantly, "Don't get cocky. I'll catch up to you before long."

They chatted by the doorway for a while before remembering to actually step inside. They entered with silly grins.

"Did you specifically come to my place to wait for me?" Zhong Yun asked, stepping ahead with his backpack, pushing the door open as he questioned.

"Chen Wen called me earlier," Tian Hai replied while taking off his shoes. "He said you were almost home, so he asked me to come over first. He won't be free until evening." Two mechanical arms automatically extended, taking the shoes away. Then, a bottle was brought out, spraying his feet with a coolant that seeped into the bone—a disinfectant.

Big corporations certainly paid attention to the details, Zhong Yun mused faintly. Ou Feng must have informed Chen Wen that he was home. This arrangement truly made Zhong Yun feel cared for.

"I'm heading up for a shower first. Grab whatever you want to drink," Zhong Yun tossed over his shoulder before heading upstairs.

Back in his room, he first installed Xiao Ling and rebooted the computer, then carried his clothes into the washroom.

After showering and coming downstairs, he found Tian Hai lounging in a chair with his feet up, sipping Crimson Plum Juice while engrossed in a panoramic film—a Star Wars feature.

Zhong Yun navigated around the foot of a mech statue and sat beside him. "What movie is this? I haven't seen it before."

"It just premiered about a week ago. It's called Mobile Storm," Tian Hai replied, his eyes never leaving the screen.

By the time the film ended, night had fully fallen. Just before dinner, Chen Wen finally arrived. The moment he stepped inside, his gaze locked onto Zhong Yun, scrutinizing him.

"What are you looking at? Don't tell me you've suddenly developed an interest in men now?" Tian Hai teased maliciously.

Ignoring his provocation, Chen Wen continued to gaze at Zhong Yun, a strange light flickering in his eyes—a look that suggested both a sigh and bewilderment. "It seems you've gained quite a lot during this past month."

"Every bit of progress is earned through sweat," Zhong Yun responded, seeming to understand what lay in his friend's expression, echoing the sentiment.

He recalled the month of ceaseless dismantling and assembling, dismantling and assembling, working until utter exhaustion forced him into unconsciousness, only to wake up and start assembling again...

Had it not been for the ample supply of 'Heart-Cleansing Broth' he prepared to restore his energy, his body would have collapsed long ago. But to repeatedly drain every last drop of stamina, reaching that state of fatigue where one craves eternal sleep—not everyone could endure that. Looking back now, Zhong Yun didn't know how he had pulled through.

"In any case, our trio is finally reunited," Tian Hai declared enthusiastically from the side.

Zhong Yun and Chen Wen couldn't help but exchange a knowing smile. Though separated for over a month, their rapport hadn't diminished at all.

That night, the three played to their hearts' content at Zhong Yun's house, eventually resulting in both Chen Wen and Tian Hai falling asleep there.

In his room, Zhong Yun sat rigidly in a chair, his expression grave. Before him rested a completely silver case, above which a small digital display flickered with numbers. Beside the case sat small bottles of various colors, each bearing a different label.

Tian Hai and Chen Wen had been plied with so much alcohol that they were completely passed out, snoring like logs in the living room. Zhong Yun was also dizzy from the drinking, and only the few large cups of sobering tea he downed kept him from collapsing alongside them, as he remembered the crucial task ahead.

Zhong Yun's face was flushed crimson, and a heavy scent of alcohol radiated from him; the two had certainly hammered him tonight, forcing him to use the restroom five times. However, his eyes remained clear; the de-intoxication tea was beginning to take effect.

He glanced at the timer on the case—about thirty minutes remaining. Zhong Yun regulated his breathing, calming his mind.

Slowly, something within his body began to stir, flowing through him. It was neither gas nor liquid, formless yet present. He couldn't pinpoint where it originated. It moved like mischievous children, ignoring the control of his will, darting around inside him. When it tired, it settled into his viscera and limbs. More of it surged toward his head, dissolving into threads of coolness.

Zhong Yun opened his eyes; a flash of violet light emanated from them. All trace of alcohol vanished, leaving his mind clearer than ever before, his body tuned to peak condition.

The numbers on the silver case had ticked down to single digits: 9, 8, 7... 0.

With a soft click, the lid of the case slowly opened. First, a plume of white vapor escaped, bringing with it a chill that quickly dissipated.

Once the mist cleared, what lay inside was revealed: about two dozen uneven, eye-sized orbs of a dark cyan color.

These were the seeds obtained after Yang Siqing’s Crystal Glazed Rose was reborn. Yang Siqing had given the seeds to Zhong Yun once the rose had revived and borne fruit, then she departed with the revived plant, disappearing to an unknown location.

Zhong Yun had placed these seeds into the specialized case he prepared—a box capable of maintaining a constant temperature of negative eleven degrees Celsius. He had then set the timer for three months hence. Now, the three months were up, and Zhong Yun had rushed back precisely in time; otherwise, such precious second-season Crystal Glazed Rose seeds would have been wasted. At that point, finding another naturally withered Crystal Glazed Rose whose lifespan had run its course would have been nearly impossible.

As the twenty-odd seeds slowly returned to ambient temperature, Zhong Yun focused with absolute concentration. This was his only chance; messing it up would mean forfeiting a second opportunity.

Carefully, he picked up a small vial from the table and let a few drops of [**] fall onto the seeds.

P: Highly recommend a friend's book, The Divine Watch, ISBN 1241011. It's an urban supernatural type; feel free to check it out if you're interested.