"Did you see my fist, which is as big as a clay pot?"

Gensou smiled slightly, raised his hand, and showed a friendly expression. Ishidou Misora ​​immediately tossed aside her skirt and said with a grin:

"Oh, Yuanxiang, what brings you here? It's been so long!"

"Your expression looks so fake."

Seeing the girl pretending to have amnesia, Gensou didn't dwell on the topic. He sat down at the front desk without ceremony, made himself coffee, and said softly:

"Where are Zhan Tu and the store manager? Did they go shopping?"

“My dad went to buy supplies, but Zhan Tu didn’t.”

Misora ​​Ishidou rested her cheek on her hand and said softly:

"Sento said that they found the enemy's lair before. Although the information inside was rather fragmented, it was still worth studying. Maybe they could find more of the enemy's whereabouts."

Misora ​​Ishidou said with some dissatisfaction. After all, this meant that she had been completely abandoned. Although she was a shut-in, the feeling of being alone was still quite terrible. And the fact that there hadn't been a single customer in the store for a while made it even more unpleasant. She felt like she had been abandoned.

Fortunately, there is now Yuanxiang!

"What are you doing?"

Just as Gengo finished making the coffee, he saw Ishidou Misora ​​unceremoniously poking his cheek. He had a feeling that if he didn't react, she would go further and start rubbing his cheek.

"It's nothing, I just think your skin looks really good."

Miku Ishidou rubbed her arm with a hint of jealousy in her voice, and said unwillingly:

"It feels even better than mine."

Nonsense, it would be a huge loss if this newly reconstructed body still had defects.

"Also, Gensho, you seem quite young."

Seeing the real person, Misora ​​Ishidou was clearly overjoyed, or perhaps she was just happy to finally find someone to talk to. She blurted out everything on her mind, looking at Gengo with a grin and saying:

"Is this the legendary youthful-looking man? I didn't realize you had this potential."

"Miss Misora, watch your words! How can a pure and beautiful anchor like you speak like a hooligan?"

Although he was slightly annoyed by Ishidou Misora's behavior of treating him like a child, he quickly reconsidered and thought it didn't matter. Ishidou Misora ​​was like a child, and he didn't need to stoop to her level and blindly follow suit. So, he calmly took a sip of his coffee and looked at Ishidou Misora, saying:

"Alright, I'm naturally beautiful, so don't try to get any beauty tips from me. But if you insist, I do know a little bit. After all, I'm a detective, and I've met all sorts of people. One of them seems to have a habit of rubbing his face with watermelon rind to make it smooth."

"Really?!"

Hearing this, Misora ​​Ishidou immediately perked up, but then she thought, "Watermelon, huh? Although this kind of fruit is sold in fruit shops, it's very expensive. It's nothing compared to what you find in China across the ocean. Watermelons here are sold by the slice or by the gram. To better appreciate the sweetness of the watermelon, you sometimes have to sprinkle some salt on it. I heard there's a new way to limit sales recently, which is to package and sell watermelons with only a small layer of rind left after the flesh has been peeled off. But if you use that price for cosmetics, it's too extravagant!"

"Don't look at me like that. That family really did toughen themselves up with watermelon rinds."

Gengo noticed the resentful look in Ishido Misora's eyes, but remained calm and continued sipping his coffee. Suddenly, he realized something, silently turned to look at the door behind him, and gestured to Ishido Misora ​​to hide in the basement. He then casually picked up a decorative mask and put it on his face. Seeing this, Ishido Misora ​​naturally realized that something bad was about to happen, and she hurriedly obediently ran downstairs. Then, she sighed deeply, resting her chin on her hand. To be honest, she really felt that one day, her family's coffee shop would be torn to shreds.

"Ciao~ I'm back. Oh~? Are there any guests?"

The door was pushed open, and Ishidou Sōichi walked in, carrying raw materials. He smiled and said softly:

"Excuse me, excuse me, sir, please wait a moment. My daughter has wandered off somewhere, I'm coming right now... Hmm?!"

As Shi Dongsou spoke, he tidied up the table, but at that moment, he suddenly sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere. He subconsciously looked up and saw the masked man sitting at the front desk, holding coffee and looking at him with a strange expression.

"Evolto, we meet again."

Evolto was certain he had never heard this voice before, yet it inexplicably gave him goosebumps. Yes, this alien had been affected by the 'cost,' forgetting how Gengo had almost slammed him to death in the sewer. He only remembered that this coffee shop seemed to be hiding something extraordinary, so Evolto decided to come and see. In any case, Kiryu Sento was part of his plan, and if he could, he would never give up. Even if he died, he wanted to die knowing why.

Now, although he still doesn't understand what's going on, the sense of crisis emanating from every DNA makes Evolto abandon Isurugi Sōichi's body without hesitation. He subconsciously wants to run away through the sewers, but when he recalls those unbearable past events, he immediately self-destructs, blasting his own DNA information all over the room before making his escape.

However, Evolto still wanted to test the waters, to see if this seemingly terrifying creature could be corrupted by his DNA. But when the pink flesh touched the mysterious man, Evolto saw something indescribable: a pitch-black stone tablet that seemed to emanate a terrifying aura. Beside the tablet were two invisible forces. As far as Evolto knew, he could tell that the two invisible forces were merely maintaining a balance with each other. Once this balance was broken, it would be a catastrophe that would destroy the world.

Evolto wanted to explore further, but the DNA and flesh were clearly insufficient to support his ideas, especially since the mysterious man had also noticed this and began to clean up the flesh. Before Evolto's 'sight' completely disappeared, he saw it—he saw the mysterious man's eyes, full of disdainful laughter.

"What kind of monster is this?!"

After escaping the coffee shop, Evolto broke out in a cold sweat, then nodded in satisfaction. Well, although this test had made him even weaker, the gains were still greater than the losses. After all, that was a ruthless person who could destroy the earth in three ways. Evolto would never believe that he was a good person. But this was a bit of a headache.

Evolto leaned against the wall and sighed helplessly. For him, Earth was a great source of nourishment. If it were to be destroyed like this, it would be truly terrible.

But there are things to discuss, definitely things to discuss.

Evolto's lips curled up slightly; he believed he could find some common ground with that mysterious man.

Meanwhile, at the coffee shop, Gengo silently removed his mask, feeling a sense of relief. He had no choice; although he now had a way to expel Evolto from Isadora Soichi's body, that method was far too harmful. He himself was fine, as he was going to die sooner or later and had nothing to worry about, but Isadora Soichi would suffer greatly.

"Oh dear, it seems I'm dragging everyone down again."

Sōichi Ishidō recovered and stood up from the ground. He smiled wryly and said to Genji, who smiled and helped him up. Ishidō was not such a hindrance; at least he had preserved his memories, which was why Evolto had to risk his life alone to come here to find the so-called truth.

"I don't think Evolto will be back anytime soon, nor will he be thinking of harming anyone here."

Gengo patted Isadora Souichi on the shoulder and smiled as he spoke. Although it was just speculation, the boy was quite confident in it. He was very good at acting, and his final look was enough to intimidate Evolto. Gengo had a pretty good idea of ​​what to do next. He had deliberately shown Evolto the Sealing Stone and the power of the Undead Joker, hoping to make the alien think more. If his knowledge that Evolto was cunning and suspicious was correct, Evolto should take the initiative to seek cooperation with him.

"Oh, I see. Then it's all right."

Soichi Ishidou didn't ask any further questions. Since Gensho said so, he simply chose to believe him and went down to the basement to avoid the damned alien from coming back.

Isurugi Soichi's guess was accurate. Evolto did indeed want to do that, at least to leave behind the unfinished clues so that Kiryu Sento could continue his research and actions in the direction of his plan. However, his will to survive made him suppress this reckless idea, after all, he was too weak at the moment.

However, Evolto had a backup plan, which was naturally the experimental subject he rescued from Himuro Gentoku—Banjo Ryuga. Right now, the rescued youth was sitting irritably in his cell. Although he hadn't been dragged to do experiments or sent to a regular prison, the current ambiguous situation made him extremely uneasy. His ignorance and confusion about the future made Banjo Ryuga want to punch the wall a few times.

However, Wan Zhanglong dared not do that, because he had done it before and was dragged out and beaten by the jailers. Those men were incredibly strong. Even though Wan Zhanglong was a professional fighter, he could only knock down two before he was powerless to fight back and was beaten to the ground. Even now, Wan Zhanglong still feels a dull pain in his ribs. To be honest, when he was first beaten, he felt like he was going to die, and there was no doctor to help him. Fortunately, he was lucky to be alive.

But what exactly is going on now?!

Wan Zhanglong clutched his head in anguish. He had only gone to see that lab technician to look for a job, but the moment he entered, the man was already dead. He had been framed, completely and utterly framed, but...

I can't find any evidence to prove that I was framed!

Thinking of this, Banjō Ryūga felt even more pain, tossing and turning on the bed. Then, he accidentally aggravated his injuries, gasping for breath in pain. Outside, the jailers heard the commotion from Banjō Ryūga's side, but no one went over. To be honest, they were all people who had been enhanced by nebula gas to some extent. How could ordinary people be their match? They were quite confident in this, but to have two of them defeated by Banjō Ryūga was truly humiliating.

"I said, let's go take a look..."

At that moment, a jailer sensed something was wrong and whispered something, but before he could finish, he saw the prison door open from the inside...

Side Story: The First Reincarnation

"How are you? How is Yuanxiang's injury? Is he alright now?"

Inside a refined and ancient courtyard stood birds and beasts, brimming with spirituality and possessing an ethereal quality untouched by worldly concerns. Yet, they all appeared extremely tense, huddled together, their anxiety causing the air around them to distort slightly. Even so, they kept their voices extremely low. If anyone dared to raise their voice, the other immortals would slap them on the head first. The immortal who was slapped would not object, but would simply shake their head sheepishly and continue waiting for news from inside the house.

However, they did not receive any words of assurance from Yuanxiang. The immortals who appeared from the window waved to them, signaling them to leave. The immortals exchanged silent glances and then obediently left.

Even after they left, these immortals resembling birds and beasts didn't smile. The somber atmosphere deterred the mortals who wanted to express their gratitude from approaching. At this moment, one immortal noticed this. His name was Yaoyue Zhuyang Zhenjun, a disciple of the Rock King Emperor. He could transform into a deer, always possessing a compassionate heart, and was the most benevolent among the immortals. He glanced at his companion, coughed, and whispered:

"I never thought this chaotic war would actually come to an end."

"Yes, I still feel like I'm dreaming."

The one who spoke was a blue and white crane named Liuyun Jiefeng Zhenjun. She looked at the people around her. Although their clothes and houses were dilapidated, their faces at least had hope compared to before.

"Next, everyone should be prepared. Although the demon has retreated, the reconstruction work should not be underestimated. If possible, it would be best to help the people get through this most difficult period."

The one who spoke was a black and red crane, the True Lord of Lishui Dieshan. He subconsciously wanted to repeat the Emperor's words, but he saw his friend beside him staring blankly at Tianheng Mountain, which was directly opposite Liyue Harbor. His friend's pair of golden antlers were gleaming in the sunlight.

"Yixiao, what's wrong?"

Lord Lishui Dieshan asked curiously, while Lord Yixiao Daotian replied in a subtle tone:

"It's nothing. I was just thinking that if Genshou hadn't held up that mountain, would my horn have been able to withstand the collapsing mountain range?"

The horns of the Celestial Lord Yixiao Daotian absorbed the essence of the Geo power of the Geo King, making them the hardest thing in Liyue and his most powerful weapon. The immortals had no doubt that they supported Mount Tianheng. However, in the midst of the chaos of the war between the gods and demons, if the Celestial Lord Yixiao Daotian lost those horns, he would probably only die on the battlefield.

"Okay, don't think about it too much. At least it's all in the past now."

"make life difficult for."

Lishui Dieshan Zhenjun lightly patted his friend's shoulder with his wing. He had just managed to steer the conversation away from Yuanxiang, but now he was about to go back to it.

However, the True Lord of Yixiao Daotian did not cooperate with him, but instead spoke in a somewhat sentimental tone:

"Yuanxiang is a mortal. Although he is incredibly strong, he is indeed just a mortal. You and I have both confirmed this, there's no mistake. And it is this mortal who single-handedly supported a mountain, a mortal who should have been protected by us immortals who instead held up the sky..."

"Yixiao, don't say that."

The True Lord of Moon-Slicing and Sun-Building shook his head and said softly:

“If Yuanxiang heard this, he would be unhappy. He has never seen himself as someone who needs protection. In his heart, we immortals are also people he needs to protect.”

"But this kind of protection is definitely not what I want."

Yi Xiaodao Tianzhenjun shook his head and said painfully, he still remembered the sight of Yuanxiang covered in blood. The strong young man who had been fighting had turned into skin and bones in the blink of an eye. He could not accept such an ending no matter what.

"I will apply to the Emperor. From now on, I will be stationed on Mount Tianheng. I will remember the companion I failed to protect forever. I'm sorry, I've made this topic too heavy. I'll be going now."

After saying this, True Lord Yixiao Daotian turned and left, while True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng watched his friend's retreating figure with some dissatisfaction and muttered:

"What do you mean I failed to protect my comrades? You make it sound like Genji is about to die."

"...How long do you think Yuanxiang can survive?"

Meanwhile, True Lord Xiaoyue Zhuyang glanced at True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng and remained silent for a moment. He knew his friend's temperament—proud, stubborn, and so on. If he didn't bluntly point things out, she might cause more trouble for others in the future. Therefore, True Lord Xiaoyue Zhuyang ultimately decided to openly discuss with True Lord Liuyun Jiefeng the matter that everyone already knew but was unwilling to admit:

"His vital energy is already depleted. Even if the Emperor spares no effort, how many more years can that body maintain? We've used all the best medicinal herbs and the best techniques in Liyue. Even the Emperor can't think of any other solutions. In these few remaining years, is it really possible that a divine physician capable of curing Yuanxiang will be born? It's impossible, very difficult. So... let's adjust our attitude a little... and not let Yuanxiang leave any regrets in his final days."

Being arrogant is a disease.

The True Lord of Shaving the Moon and Building the Sun largely agreed with this view. Although some people liked this little quirk, he felt that if arrogance outweighed delicacy by too much, it could easily hurt others. Even close friends would find it unpleasant to be subjected to too much arrogance. Therefore, he felt he could play the villain this time to make the True Lord of Leaving Clouds and Borrowing the Wind restrain his temper a little, so as not to leave any regrets and turn it into a demon in his heart.

Meanwhile, in the most exquisite and only intact courtyard in Liyue Harbor, Zhongli gently stirred the steaming medicinal soup, blew on it softly, then sat on a chair by the bed, looking at Yuanxiang who still seemed to be asleep, and whispered:

"Come on, stop pretending to be asleep, take your medicine."

"Zhongli, there's really no need for this."

Zhongli knew, and Yuanxiang knew, that there was no such thing as dormancy in this broken body. Yuanxiang's state was locked; he was in a rather mystical state, teetering between life and death. But this was not due to Liyue's herbs or magic; it was simply because the boy himself did not want to die.

"eat."

Zhongli didn't say much, but simply handed the spoon forward. Yuanxiang's lips twitched helplessly. He opened his mouth and let the spicy medicine roll down his throat. Zhongli watched the black medicine flow through the boy's esophagus and be stored in his stomach. Then he scooped up a new bowl of medicine.

Yes, the boy's body was so badly mutilated that even eating was barely visible. Despite this, Zhongli's expression remained gentle, but the chill in his eyes grew increasingly terrifying. Not long ago, Liyue Harbor was plunged into an extremely terrible war, with countless demons besieging the place. To be honest, as the god who protected this place, he played a less effective role in the battle than Genshou. Although he held off the main battlefront, it was Genshou who led the Yakshas and the immortals to thwart the demons' sneak attacks one by one. To be honest, Genshou was as brave as a war god at that time, making Zhongli forget that he was just a mortal.

It was precisely because of this intense battle that the boy beneath the armor reached this point. With the final collapse of Tianheng Mountain, the boy, facing certain death, endured it all, causing the entire cause and effect to erupt.

However, if those demons hadn't wanted to destroy Liyue Harbor, things wouldn't have escalated to this point. Ultimately, the fault lies with those demons. Back then, I was thinking of Liyue and didn't pursue those demons who fled in panic when they saw that the situation was hopeless. Now, I'm about to have some free time and it's my turn to go and settle accounts with them one by one.

"Don't be in a hurry. It will take a year or two. Liyue will still need you to take charge."

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