With an idiocy that could only be described as supreme, she stared at Kayni, her expression akin to that of an alien.

What did she just say?

Shenxiu??

Heavens above, surely I misheard that???

At this moment, no words could adequately describe the profound shock flooding Charlotte’s senses. She never imagined this woman would dare address Zhong Shenxiu by name—it was an act of utter audacity!

Angelia was equally stunned, a mouthful of food paused halfway to her lips, frozen by Kayni’s utterance.

And Rhys was even more dramatic; he simply dropped his chopsticks onto the table, completely oblivious.

Moments later, the three of them simultaneously registered a chilling thought: how on earth did this woman know Zhong Shenxiu’s name? They were certain no one had mentioned it.

Could the landlord have told her personally?

This realization was staggering. Their gazes swung back to Zhong Shenxiu, utterly confused about what transpired between him and Kayni.

Facing Kayni’s direct question, Zhong Shenxiu offered no reply, merely shaking his head gently.

His expression remained utterly placid; he showed no sign of anger at Kayni using his given name!

Perhaps some readers wonder why Zhong Shenxiu’s demeanor towards Kayni was so remarkably different—isn't that strange?

In truth, it’s nothing remarkable. The actions of a true "genius" are inherently unpredictable; you can never truly fathom what’s occupying their mind. If one absolutely must assign a reason, it could only be described as ‘intuition,’ much like when Zhong Shenxiu first took Robin in!

Sometimes, doing things doesn't require a logical justification; one simply follows their heart.

Since beginning his path of "Returning to Simplicity," Zhong Shenxiu shed his former prejudices, and his actions grew increasingly governed by whim.

Kayni offered a slight smile and said no more, returning to her meal. However, when she turned back, she noticed the comical expressions of the trio and couldn't help but ask, "Why aren't you eating?"

"Huh?" The three momentarily froze, then managed a soft "Oh," pretending they hadn't seen or heard anything as they resumed eating. In reality, their appetites had vanished entirely.

The meal concluded under this bizarre atmosphere, but what followed next left Charlotte and the others even more bewildered: Kayni actually followed Zhong Shenxiu and Robin into the room!

What in the world was going on?

The trio had absorbed too much shock today; their minds felt entirely muddled. They stood silently before Zhong Shenxiu's door, rooted there for a long time.

"Sis Char... Charlotte," Rhys asked, his voice slightly slurred, "What is the relationship between Kayni and the landlord?"

He was starting to suspect Kayni was an old acquaintance of Zhong Shenxiu; otherwise, why such intimacy? And why no reaction from the landlord? Wasn't that strange?

Charlotte shook her head, saying nothing, but a particular thought did cross her mind, one she hesitated to share with Rhys. Based on the current situation, one might describe it as a cohabitation arrangement!

Sigh.

After a period of silence, Rhys asked another foolish question, "Um... Sis Charlotte, Kayni isn't planning to live with the landlord, is she?"

Ugh, did that even need an answer? It was obvious. If she wasn't planning to live there, why would she go inside? To clean the room or check the sanitation? Don't be ridiculous!

So, Charlotte chose silence, unwilling to discuss such mature topics with Rhys. Ironically, Zhong Shenxiu and Robin were ostensibly minors, yet they were involved in 'unsuitable' matters—sigh!

"Sis Charlotte, did you notice?" Angelia, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke up. "That woman's hair looks a bit more disheveled than when she first arrived!"

Although Zhong Shenxiu had the power to heal Kayni’s injuries, he couldn't restore hair that had been violently ripped out.

Charlotte nodded softly but remarked, "I don't think this woman is simple; she seems to carry many secrets."

Following a brief lull, Rhys piped up again, "Sis Charlotte, do you think this woman has some sort of ulterior motive?"

Just then, the door suddenly swung open. Kayni emerged, startling the four of them.

Charlotte and the other two looked at Kayni with distinct nervousness, Rhys showing it most clearly.

Kayni merely offered a gentle smile, like a lotus blooming on a pond, her tone soft as she asked, "Shenxiu mentioned he has an early start tomorrow. Shouldn't you all be sleeping soon?"

The three didn't immediately process this, remaining stock-still, gazing at Kayni with peculiar expressions.

Kayni smiled again and inquired, "I still don't know your names, do I?"

The trio finally snapped back to reality and provided brief introductions.

"Good, then we are acquainted," Kayni's expression didn't shift. After a pause, she added, "I should get to bed now. We can talk more tomorrow." With that, she actually turned, preparing to re-enter the room.

"Um..." Charlotte's voice suddenly cut through the air, tinged with hesitation.

"Little sister, is something the matter?" Kayni responded with a hint of playful teasing in her tone.

Charlotte wasn't offended by the familiar address. After some hesitation, she finally asked, "What is your relationship with Shenxiu?" If she didn't ask this question, she felt she wouldn't sleep a wink tonight!

However, uttering the words "Shenxiu" caused her heart to race, and her voice dropped to a near whisper.

"I am Shenxiu’s handmaiden!" With that, Kayni left the three utterly stunned and went inside. Today, perhaps, had been a truly marvelous day for her!

The following day.

Despite having the entire night to process the situation, the way the trio looked at Kayni remained somewhat strained, especially when observing her intimacy with Zhong Shenxiu and Robin—it gave them an urge to bang their heads against a wall!

Yet, they had to admit that Kayni was genuinely attending to Zhong Shenxiu. From paying bills to serving tea, her care was comprehensive and utterly devoid of artifice; it seemed genuinely heartfelt.

What impressed them even more was Kayni’s impeccable sense of boundaries; her attentiveness never seemed to annoy Zhong Shenxiu!

As a mature woman, Kayni had long since learned how to keenly sense another person's needs, which might be precisely why she chose to follow Zhong Shenxiu.

After a quick breakfast, the group set off toward their destination: the City of Dream's Dusk.

It was about one hundred li from their current village to the City of Dream's Dusk. To increase their travel speed, and to accommodate Kayni’s stamina, Zhong Shenxiu rented a carriage.

Inside the carriage, Angelia and Rhys gazed out at the scenery flashing by, full of curiosity. This was their first journey, so everything piqued their interest.

Charlotte sat lost in thought, likely still troubled by matters concerning tribal customs.

Kayni sat quietly, watching Robin beside her with genuine interest, while Zhong Shenxiu rested with his eyes closed in her embrace.

For a time, the carriage remained silent, broken only by the occasional shout of the coachman.

During their journey, they passed numerous towns and villages, but because they intended to reach the City of Dream's Dusk that same day, they made no stops.

Without further preamble, they finally spotted the City of Dream's Dusk just before dusk.

From a distance, the illuminated lights were stunningly beautiful—befitting a city renowned for its night markets!

As the carriage drew closer, they could see several soldiers guarding and patrolling the city entrance. This alone suggested that a large city was vastly different from the smaller towns.

Upon seeing the soldiers, a flicker of something unusual crossed Kayni’s eyes, but it vanished quickly. Rather than being calm, it seemed she possessed immense faith in Zhong Shenxiu.

The soldiers did not intercept Zhong Shenxiu’s carriage. Their patrol wasn't about vetting passersby but routine duty, much like clocking in and out of a fixed job.

In this era of peace, their workload was minimal; unless an official directive came down, they wouldn't stop travelers.

A military strategist once voiced a profoundly philosophical truth: In the grand scheme of the world, what is long divided must unite, and what is long united must divide! This current peace had lasted too long; perhaps in some future year, a war would erupt, one of immense scale.

The calm before the storm often signals a more violent tempest to come. Who knew what spark would ignite the world's conflict, and which nations would be drawn in?

After disembarking and paying the fare, Zhong Shenxiu and his companions began to wander the streets of the City of Dream's Dusk.

It had to be admitted, the prosperity here truly dwarfed that of the smaller towns. Rows of buildings stretched out of sight, and the number of shops was countless. Furthermore, the flow of pedestrians on the street was ceaseless, the noise a constant roar.

Rhys acted like a country bumpkin visiting the city, finding everything novel. Angelia wasn't much better; though she tried hard to conceal it, the curiosity shining in her eyes betrayed her.

The group had no definite destination and no desire to find an inn immediately, so they simply walked forward aimlessly.

Zhong Shenxiu’s gaze differed from the others. He scanned his surroundings with the eyes of a predator. What he most desired right now was to find a sizable weapons shop—or better yet, a mineral shop. He needed to locate materials suitable for forging storage space as soon as possible!

Kayni inquired locally and found there was a decent weapons shop a thousand meters south, across one street. The group was currently heading in that direction.

However, the world is full of coincidences. Just as they turned onto another street and hadn't gone far, they bumped into an acquaintance!

Zhong Shenxiu and Angelia were both intimately familiar with this person—it was none other than Cherie, the one they had previously purified for the Skeleton Rooster!

To run into her in such a large city—it was truly more than mere coincidence! If you wish to know what happens next, please log on to Chapter [Bēng Xiōng Bā] for more, support the author, and enjoy genuine reading!