The comments said I was deeply affectionate, I just added points by using an alternate account.

Looking at the unyielding stubbornness in his grandson's eyes, he sighed inwardly. That look was just like his own when he was young, and just like his son.

"It seems that all these years you've spent out there have only honed your skills, not broadened your horizons." Long Ye's tone turned cold. "Still so naive. You think you can change the world with just a surge of passion?"

"I'm not naive!" Long Ao gritted his teeth: "I just think that we shouldn't get used to sacrifice, and we shouldn't take sacrifice for granted. Every sacrifice should be a last resort, and it should be remembered, not just casually categorized as a price."

The grandfather and grandson's eyes clashed fiercely in the air, and the atmosphere in the study was tense.

"Those who walk different paths cannot make plans together." Long Ye finally waved his hand, his face returning to its usual calm, but beneath that calm lay deep disappointment.

"You can bring your friends back, that's fine. Aunt Wang will take good care of you. Jiangcheng's affairs are none of your business to question. You can try to stop it, but only if you have the ability."

"Go out."

"grandfather……"

"go out."

Hearing his grandfather's unquestionable tone, Long Ao felt all the words stuck in his throat.

He knew that there was no point in continuing the conversation. His grandfather's beliefs were an indestructible fortress forged in decades of blood and fire, and even his closest relative could not shake them.

He suppressed his turbulent emotions, turned around, and strode out of the study.

The door closed behind him, shutting out the heavy, suffocating atmosphere inside.

In the courtyard, Chen Guan stood up from the rattan chair, looked at Long Ao's tense face and clenched fists, and asked no further questions.

Wang Ma glanced at Long Ao's face and said softly, "Young Master, the room is ready. It's the same room you used to stay in. The room next door is for Chen. Please rest for a while."

"Thank you, Aunt Wang." Long Ao tried to soften his tone and turned to Chen Guan: "Let's go, let's settle in first."

Chen Guan put the coffin back on his back and walked with Long Ao towards the west wing.

Long Ao glanced at the coffin that had vanished behind him in an instant, and after a moment of silence, said, "If you need anything in the future, you can tell me."

Chen Guan nodded: "Yes, I'll let you know if I need anything in the future."

"I'm serious." Long Ao walked ahead, not bothering to hide it from Wang Ma beside him: "Every gift bestowed by fate has already had a price tag attached in secret."

The door slammed shut, cutting off his next words.

After closing the door, Long Ao stood there for a long time without moving.

He thought that only An Changqing could be his opponent, but the appearance of Guan Jinyue and Chen Guan was undoubtedly a slap in the face.

He had also wondered yesterday what the point of him catching up would be.

Chen Guan is stronger than himself.

Long Ao stared into the study, as if trying to see through the walls to the person inside: "Grandpa, I don't believe in fate."

……

In the evening, Wang Ma prepared a simple home-cooked meal.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was silent, and Long did not appear. According to Wang Ma, he was in the study dealing with important matters. Long Ao did not ask much about his grandfather and ate quickly, his mind clearly not on the food.

After the meal, Long Ao said to Chen Guan, "We'll leave for the Great Wall tonight. You can rest first, or take a walk around. There's nothing in the courtyard. I... need to prepare some things separately."

Chen Guan nodded: "Okay."

Long Ao returned to his room and closed the door tightly.

Chen Guan stood in the courtyard for a while, watching the night gradually paint the sky.

The night sky over Jiangcheng always seemed to be shrouded in a layer of haze, with sparse stars. He returned to his room, put down the coffin, sat cross-legged, and let his mental energy sink into his sea of ​​consciousness.

The starry sky visualization slowly rotated, nourishing his spirit, and he deliberately looked at the mark of Baal deep in his soul.

"Wake up." Chen Guan offered to wake him up, knowing that Baal had been watching the commotion.

The marker lit up lazily for a moment, and Balna's teasing voice rang out: "Oh, so you finally remembered Lord Balna?"

"What is the Great Wall's real plan?" Chen Guan asked directly. With Long Ao's words, even the most oblivious person would realize something was wrong. Long Ao's visit to Jiangcheng was not to visit relatives at all; it was probably related to Long Ye and himself as well.

"Plan? What plan? Is Old Dragon Head planning to use you as bait to catch a big fish?"

Barr scoffed, "Do you even need to ask? It's obvious. The bait that little guy named Hong Xing told you about was just the tip of the iceberg. The real issue is that Old Dragon Head needs to fully activate everything hidden underground in Jiangcheng so he can uproot it completely."

"And you, boy, you are his chosen, most suitable sacrifice. As for the reason, Lord Baal is not omniscient, so don't ask me."

Chen Guan's heart sank slightly. As expected, Hong Xing had been hiding something.

"Do you have a way to crack it?"

"Crack it? Why would I want to crack it?" Bal said casually, "It's so interesting. Knowing the old dragon head as I do, his plans are definitely quite thorough, and the success rate is not low."

"If you died, I could just move to another place with this mark, even if it's a bit of a hassle. But you didn't die, which means you're very capable. I have even more faith in you now. It's a sure-fire deal."

"……what ever."

Chen Guan withdrew from his sea of ​​consciousness and opened his eyes. The room was dark, with only a faint light coming in from the window.

Barr's attitude was expected.

This demon was never an ally; he was more like a malicious spectator crouching under the stage, hoping the plot would take the most unexpected turn.

Hoping that Baal can help break the deadlock between Long Ye and the Great Wall is like gambling. Although Baal had a prior agreement with him, Baal has no shortage of people. Guan Jinyue, whose whereabouts are currently unknown, is a prime example.

However, it wasn't entirely without gains; Baal's words confirmed the worst-case scenario.

I am indeed a victim marked in the plan. The cult must be eliminated, but my life or death is not important.

Run? Can he really run?

Touching the coffin beside him, he knew that as long as his main body didn't die, he wouldn't die either. This was his greatest advantage, and he might be able to gain some benefits for himself. In the academy, it was too slow to earn popularity points by just doing daily tasks.

He was not Baal's only contractor, and Baal was not his only ally.