The sight left both of them completely stunned and shaken. Nuo Nü was also bewildered, not understanding why the two reacted with such astonishment!

Meanwhile, Thomas and the others couldn't believe that Nuo Wen would dare pick a fight with Robin. Wasn't that practically asking for a beating?

What shocked them even more was that Nuo Wen was still standing before them, completely unharmed—it was utterly unbelievable!

"Brother Nuo Wen, you..." Thomas managed, forcing down the tremor in his heart, "You said you had a run-in with that girl named Robin?"

This matter was far too serious; he had to confirm it.

Nuo Wen nodded dazedly, wondering inwardly: Why was Thomas’s expression so similar to Cherry’s back then? What secret was hidden here?

He was becoming increasingly curious!

"Heavens!" Thomas suddenly exclaimed, "Brother Nuo Wen, you are incredibly lucky! I don't even know how to describe it!"

"You say that too?" Nuo Wen looked at Thomas with a strange expression.

Thomas first took several deep breaths to calm his racing heart, then finally spoke: "Brother Nuo Wen, do you know, we actually had a confrontation with that little girl named Robin before!"

Nuo Wen’s expression froze, his eyes locked onto Thomas, but he didn't interrupt, sensing Thomas would continue.

Thomas sighed, wearing a look of lingering fear, and said quietly, "But we weren't as lucky as you, Brother Nuo Wen!"

"W-what happened?" Nuo Wen’s curiosity was fully piqued.

Thomas glanced at Nuo Wen and tried to keep his tone level: "We nearly died back then."

The moment he recalled being tormented by Zhong Shenxiu and Robin, he couldn't help but shiver!

"What?" Nuo Wen's eyes widened even further.

This time Thomas remained silent, but Laurent, standing beside him, took up the narrative: "Actually, the one who fought Robin back then was me. She beat me so badly I couldn't get out of bed for half a month. If it hadn't been for that deal Cherry made, I might have actually died!"

"You?" Nuo Wen slowly turned his head, then immediately recalled something and quickly asked, "What did you just say? 'Cherry's deal'? What deal?"

At this point, Nuo Wen was beyond mere curiosity; a sense of dread was creeping in. He never imagined his sister had so many secrets hidden from him!

However, Laurent hesitated, a troubled look crossing his face.

"What was the deal, exactly?" Nuo Wen pressed urgently.

Though he rarely confided in Cherry, he cared for his sister deeply. Hearing that she had engaged in some 'transaction' whose contents he didn't know made him anxious, terrified that his dear sister might have been bullied.

"It seems like she was taken away for a few days to be experimented on," Laurent said uncertainly. He had only heard Cherry’s account and knew nothing of the specifics.

"What???" Nuo Wen, overwhelmed with emotion, grabbed Laurent’s shoulders, his eyes bulging almost out of their sockets. His expression looked as if he was about to devour Laurent.

Being taken away for days of experimentation—how could that be good?

Rage boiled up inside Nuo Wen, and a dark impulse took hold. He dared not imagine how his sister had been studied!

It is human nature, when faced with such news, to immediately assume the worst!

Nuo Wen now felt the impulse to kill. He had no doubt that his sister’s purity had been defiled. All he wanted to do now was find the executioner and tear him to pieces!

Laurent hadn't anticipated Nuo Wen's intensity and was caught off guard. Feeling the immense force from Nuo Wen’s grip, his shoulders burned, causing him to grimace in pain.

Solomon, nearby, snapped out of his stupor, wrenched Nuo Wen’s vise-like hand open, and stared at Nuo Wen with extreme vigilance.

It was only then that Nuo Wen realized his outburst. He quickly mumbled an apology, then pressed again: "I need to know the exact process!"

"Brother Nuo Wen, please calm down. Things aren't as bad as you imagine!" Thomas interjected quickly, trying to mediate.

But Nuo Wen paid him no mind, his gaze fixed intensely on Laurent.

It was hard to blame him for being so extreme; surely any person would lose composure learning their sister had been subjected to experiments!

Laurent found himself trapped—no way out. Finally, he had no choice but to recount the entire sequence of events.

"Y-you said... a Necromancer???" Nuo Wen’s eyes widened in horror again after hearing Laurent’s narration.

Laurent merely nodded slightly. He had learned his lesson; he wouldn’t say more than necessary, and he adopted a guarded posture, wary of another sudden attack from Nuo Wen!

After a stunned silence of about ten seconds, Nuo Wen murmured to himself, "How is that possible? I don't recall any Necromancer!"

"Wait!" Nuo Wen suddenly recalled something and looked sharply at Laurent, asking, "How many little boys were there?"

Nuo Wen remembered clearly seeing a little boy beside Robin, but he certainly wasn't a Necromancer. He had some knowledge of Necromancers; they all wore robes that completely shrouded their bodies.

Laurent was even more bewildered by the question. One small boy was enough to terrify them; if there were more, would they even survive?

"Just one!" Despite his confusion, Laurent answered truthfully.

"Just one?" Nuo Wen clearly didn't believe it. After a silence, he added, "I saw a small boy, but not the Necromancer you described. What exactly is going on?"

"Brother Nuo Wen, the little boy you saw might be the Necromancer!" Thomas couldn't help but interject.

"That’s impossible. I saw his face with my own eyes, and he just left here. How could he be a Necromancer?" Nuo Wen felt completely confused by their story.

"You said what? You just saw him?" Solomon spoke up for the first time.

Nuo Wen nodded, recounting the situation he had just witnessed to the group.

When Solomon and Thomas heard that the young master himself had personally escorted him out, they froze, unsure what hidden machinations lay behind the matter.

Seeing everyone lost in thought, Nuo Wen urged them, "You still haven't told me what is going on!"

"Brother Nuo Wen, I know you might not believe it, and frankly, we can't figure it out either, but that little boy is the Necromancer. If we have to explain it, perhaps he's a mutated type, completely unaffected by sunlight!" Thomas said quietly.

"This... this is impossible!" Nuo Wen was stunned again. In all his years of schooling, he had never heard of anything so bizarre. Even in the 'Capital City,' this news would be shocking!

"Brother Nuo Wen, you might not know, but that little boy is actually Robin's master. His strength is even more formidable. I have never in my life seen anyone so powerful! Brother Nuo Wen... you... you must stay calm and not do anything foolish!" Thomas advised him sincerely.

This was genuine concern. Not only could they not afford to offend Zhong Shenxiu, but even their respected teacher, Elena, dared not provoke this little boy and had repeatedly warned them to steer clear if they ever encountered him, under no circumstances to start trouble!

While Thomas knew Nuo Wen was strong, strength was relative. If he rashly went to settle scores with Zhong Shenxiu, he would only be asking for a beating, and might even lose his life!

Nuo Wen seemed not to have registered the warning. After a moment of silence, he asked, "That little girl named Robin, she’s a mage, right?"

Little did he know that the moment he asked, Thomas grabbed his arm with unusual urgency and said earnestly, "Brother Nuo Wen, please don't think that. Robin’s fighting skills are far more terrifying than her magic. Never assume you can defeat her in close combat! It's useless; she is too strong—no one can beat her!"

Nuo Wen remained silent, but his expression clearly asked: Is she really that exaggerated?

In reality, Robin’s true power was far more outrageous than Thomas described!

After talking for a while longer, Nuo Wen announced he needed to leave. The more he learned, the more questions arose. However, what he wanted most right now was to confront Zhong Shenxiu and demand to know exactly how he experimented on his sister!

Nuo Wen was, after all, a hot-blooded young man. He was not the type to stand by idly while his sister was harmed. No matter how powerful Zhong Shenxiu was, he was determined to fight—it was his duty as a brother!

Watching Nuo Wen’s retreating back, Thomas grew increasingly uneasy. He exchanged a few words with Laurent and Solomon before hurrying after him.

...

Meanwhile, Zhong Shenxiu and his two companions had returned to the 'Fengshao Courtyard.'

Zhong Shenxiu was inside, reading the books he had borrowed from the library, while Robin stood guard quietly by the entrance, just as she had yesterday.

Kaini, at this time, was chatting with Xia Luo and the others in another room.

Riss had just asked Kaini a question: why she could always smile.

Kaini answered without hesitation: "There is already so much unhappiness in life; why add sorrowful faces to it?"

This statement held profound meaning, causing even Xia Luo and Angelia to ponder deeply.

Riss paused for a moment, then asked, "Sister Kaini, why do you think the Landlord and Robin don't like to smile?"

This question not only surprised Kaini but also made Xia Luo and Angelia perk up their ears, staring intently at Kaini, their expressions expectant for an "official answer" from her!