Mini World Game Console-Chapter 828 - 829: Fairy Palace World Tree, All Out!

"You know about Teacher Zhao's matter, right?"

Yu Kuangtu, who was enjoying a sizzling clay pot meal with Qin Lian by the Lianjiang at night, picked up a frog leg, put it in his mouth, and tore at it.

The frog meat was both firm like chicken and sweet like fish. Chewing on a frog leg followed by a sip of ice-cold Coke had been the unbeaten top of Yu Kuangtu's favorite food list for over twenty years.

Many people said beer would be a better match. However, drinking alcohol could impair one's thinking and leave an alcoholic scent on the body. Yu Kuangtu, always ready to shoulder responsibilities and deeply valuing his girlfriend, naturally wouldn't touch a drop.

Hearing his girlfriend's question, Yu Kuangtu nodded and said, "Yes, we've already notified the academy's Public Security system to increase police patrols to prevent outsiders from sneaking into the academy to interview Zhao Huo... I heard Ren Suo often mooches meals off this guy. It seems I can score one too."

"You're still interacting with him?" Qin Lian asked in surprise.

Yu Kuangtu looked at her curiously. "Why not?"

"Don't you find him... disgusting?" Qin Lian hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Our class group and grade group were discussing how to oust Teacher Zhao this afternoon. We're planning to petition the school, urging them not to let such a morally corrupt love cheat remain among the students. Otherwise, he'll disrupt the academy's order sooner or later."

Yu Kuangtu exclaimed, "Is it that serious? How did he disrupt the academy's order?"

Qin Lian said, "It is that serious. Although he hasn't done anything yet, being able to have three girlfriends at the same time proves that he is very skilled in using his charm to deceive and even charm women..."

"Zhao Huo, charm, deception?" Yu Kuangtu tilted his head, feeling that those three words didn't connect.

"His usual sunny and cheerful demeanor is all an act," Qin Lian patiently explained. "A playboy like him will never be satisfied. If he continues to stay in the academy, we female students might become his targets."

"But that hasn't happened."

"It'll be too late if it happens. We should strike while the iron is hot, while everyone still remembers this uproar."

Qin Lian picked up her phone and looked at it, saying, "Someone is organizing a petition. They'll probably go talk to the principal and vice-principal tomorrow."

"But he's already a Third-turn Cultivator and will likely advance to the fourth transformation soon. The academy can't just let him go," Yu Kuangtu shook his head.

Qin Lian said, "Even if the academy doesn't want to, Teacher Zhao probably won't be able to teach anymore. Even if he can teach, I doubt many will attend his classes. His influence is terrible. A quiet campus isn't a hiding place for filth."

"But they're genuinely in love..." Yu Kuangtu muttered. "Is it necessary?"

"Bro Yu, actually..." Qin Lian suddenly closed her mouth, looking toward a table of patrons not far away.

Yu Kuangtu focused his mind and listened carefully, then heard the men at that table discussing the matter: "...This Zhao Huo guy is amazing! To have two wives and still get along peacefully!"

"It's three. Besides the two shown in the video, there's also a fiancée."

"Damn, are cultivators that awesome?"

"That's why superhero movies are deceptive. Which superhero has only one wife? One isn't enough; after all, they're Transcendents."

"Tsk, I wish I were a Transcendent too!"

"Try applying to the Superhuman Academy next time they recruit. But since you watched 'Top-secret Archives' and still haven't Awakened, you probably won't even qualify as cannon fodder in thirty years. Don't even dream about the country assigning you a wife."

"Psh, maybe I'll awaken my memories in the next video..."

Qin Lian blinked and said, "You should understand now the terrible impact Zhao Huo has caused, right?"

"Actually, I've known for a while. Like Ren Suo, he's one of those who, priding themselves on their abilities, think they can possess women, treating them as mere appendages and making them vie for their affection... But the Qing Dynasty fell long ago; there's no Emperor now."

"Wait!" Yu Kuangtu was stunned. "Ren Suo is also a two-timing scumbag?"

"You didn't know?" Qin Lian, slightly stunned, said, "Just among those I know, there are Teacher Dong, Gu Yueyan, Lin Xianyu, and... well, there's one more I'm not sure about, so I won't mention her."

"But he has at least three girlfriends, just like Zhao Huo. However, I haven't told anyone else and don't plan to do anything to Ren Suo... because it's their own business if they are willing to devote themselves to such a man. I won't say much."

"There are some things you can do, but you shouldn't talk about them."

"Zhao Huo did it, and even told the whole world... though it wasn't his intention. He too is a victim. It was Ren Naiser who exposed him. But if it weren't for the seeds he sowed himself, how would there be the fruits now?"

Qin Lian picked up a piece of eel meat and ate it, waiting for Yu Kuangtu to digest her words before continuing, "It's like a piece of dog poop. If hidden in a corner, nobody cares. But if the poop is moved to the middle of a busy street, affecting the city's appearance, it must be dealt with."

"Zhao Huo is now this piece of poop affecting the city's appearance."

"Perhaps he will become very strong in the future and might become a significant figure of this era, but even if he has a thousand accomplishments, they won't erase the stain on him."

"Wrong is wrong; cheating is cheating. For everyone who hates Zhao Huo now, there's someone who envies him. Why do so many relentlessly hound celebrities who cheat? Because they are influential public figures. If we let public figures who have done wrong continue unchecked, then more people will follow their example."

"Look, just because of Zhao Huo, these people think becoming a cultivator means you can have several girlfriends. Isn't that a bad influence?"

"Zhao Huo is unfortunate. He was forced into the public eye, which led to all these issues."

Qin Lian wiped her mouth and said, "However, there are many deeper reasons behind this: the opposition between cultivators and ordinary people, the panic of changing times, the trend of gender conflicts... Zhao Huo just happened to be caught in the crossfire."

She saw Yu Kuangtu eating silently and asked, "Bro Yu, you couldn't possibly be sympathizing with Zhao Huo, could you?"

Yu Kuangtu didn't answer. Qin Lian sighed and said, "Zhao Huo's girlfriends might genuinely love him, but that love is twisted."

"Take me, for example. When I saw the news about Teacher Zhao, I imagined if you, Bro Yu, had other women..."

Yu Kuangtu, desperate to save himself, blurted out, "I don't!"

"I know you don't," Qin Lian said. "But just imagining that the hand you used to touch me has also held others, touched others; that your lips have kissed others; that your body carries another woman's scent... I just can't help but get angry and upset."

"If you love someone, you wouldn't let them suffer such torment constantly."

Qin Lian paused, then said, "Teacher Dong, Gu Yueyan, and Lin Xianyu also took leave... I heard they went on a trip with Ren Suo—together."

"Bro Yu, try to minimize your interactions with Zhao Huo and Ren Suo in the future."

They paid the bill and left. As Yu Kuangtu passed the table where the patrons were still discussing Zhao Huo, he suddenly slapped the tabletop.

The two men, deep in their heated discussion, were stunned at first. Just as they were about to lose their temper, they suddenly trembled, a chill running down their spines, too scared to move.

"So, Cultivation can make you like Zhao Huo? First, take a good piss and look at your own reflection."

Yu Kuangtu snorted coldly and walked out of the restaurant with Qin Lian.

Sitting in the car, Yu Kuangtu drove silently to Heavenly Lotus Academy; Qin Lian also remained quiet the entire way.

As they drove into the academy and stopped near the girls' dormitory, Yu Kuangtu suddenly said, "I don't think this is right."

"Please elaborate."

"Not all Otherkind deserve judgment; not all happiness is the same," Yu Kuangtu said. "Zhao Huo isn't the kind of person you described, and neither is Ren Suo."

"Yes, I know they're all scum, degenerates, beasts, dumb as bricks, but... they aren't the type to inflict suffering on others."

"They are selfish, but not so selfish as to expect everyone else to be selfless. The current situation is likely the best outcome they could have weighed and achieved, an ending everyone involved can accept."

"I can understand them. In life, don't do things you'll regret, and don't sadden those who love you. Because in this world, the people you love are few, and those who love you are certainly not many."

Qin Lian listened quietly and finally said, "Are you done?"

"I'm done."

"Ren Suo is one thing, but you aren't close to Zhao Huo, are you? Why defend him too?"

"It's not that we aren't close... I am, after all, his instructor, and also a friend... I guess." Yu Kuangtu scratched his head.

Suddenly, Qin Lian handed her phone to Yu Kuangtu. "Take a look."

Yu Kuangtu, puzzled, looked at the phone screen. He saw a Weibo account, verified as 'Dragon King Zhao Huo,' had posted:

"Hello everyone! A good man is me; I am the good man, Zhao Huo!"

Beneath it was a photo of Zhao Huo with three beautiful girls, their happy smiles enough to make onlookers die of jealousy.

Is this fool out of his mind? It hasn't even been a day! Yu Kuangtu's first reaction.

Then, as he scrolled down, he realized the comment section's atmosphere was very off—

Likes 178,888—from 'Ren Han':

"You still have the nerve to say that? In a couple of days, when I can descend to the mortal realm, I'll come over and give you a beating."

Likes 174,121—from 'World Tree Walking the Earth':

"Heard you haven't reached the fourth transformation yet? Considering we once Fought Side by Side, I... I'll just watch you get beaten."

Likes 151,232—from 'Golden Finger Explorer':

"Aren't you all being too harsh? Isn't he just going to become a Nine-Turn Cultivator in the future, known as the guardian of humanity, who often taunts us with his several Seventh-Turn Cultivation wives?

"How can you beat him up while he's still weak?

"Definitely don't record it and upload it to the internet to become an indelible dark history!

"And remember not to shave him bald! The Dragon King needs his face too!

"Patience for a moment brings peace; take a step back and the world opens up. He's going to be a Nine-Turn Cultivator eventually. It wouldn't be good if he sought revenge on us in the future. We can't do such things just because he can't retaliate now!"

'Golden Finger Explorer' replied to 'World Tree Walking the Earth':

"Dude, you also show off your love; watching the video just pisses me off. @Ren Han, how about we beat up both of them when the time comes?"

Likes 138,841 - 'Truth Seeker':

"He's become famous. Let's see one of the strongest men from 30 years in the future. Indeed, very interesting. You'll face more hardships; embrace your happiness while you can."

Likes 111,120 - 'Nine-Tailed Miss':

"You men are so embarrassing! The Supreme Supreme and Ren Naiser just went to the World Tree to trigger your 'Future Echo,' and you're already eager to persecute your future nemesis... Zhao Huo is just being a bit nicer to his wives, flaunting their love a bit too much. Your expressions are truly ugly."

Likes 94,655 - 'Immortal Palace's Designated Head Chef':

"They're a fine couple, talented and beautiful, a happy family. What are you bunch of monsters and freaks opposing? In the next few days, a lucky diner will be randomly selected to eat monkey poo."

Likes 84,445 - 'Great Sage Equalling Heaven of the Present Era':

"Good, Old Sun agrees. I guarantee it won't taste like poo."

Likes 79,982 - 'Disaster Messenger':

"Following the seniors' footsteps to greet Dragon King Zhao Huo. I didn't expect the Dragon King to start showing off his love life already. No wonder he can love his girlfriend passionately for thirty years straight, as if it were a single day."

'Taoist You Jian' replied to 'Disaster Messenger':

"I, too, could love you passionately for thirty years as if it were a single day!"

...

Yu Kuangtu didn't continue reading. The rest was mainly people fawning over the Fairy Palace World Tree and asking to become disciples.

He tapped on the profile picture of one of the Fairy Palace members, only to find the Weibo app redirecting to a 404 page.

Nonexistent, yet existent.

Moreover, their posts from the Fairy Palace World Tree members were all in their unique fonts: Ren Han's ancient ink, the Magician's Fiery Flame, the Nine-Tailed Fox's cherry blossom stealth...

Ren Han and the Magician even started a flame war. Yu Kuangtu opened their argument thread and found their words transforming into Fireballs and Flying Swords, launching back and forth!

He could actually see Immortals having a magical battle in the Weibo comment section!

This is definitely some black technology from the Fairy Palace!

Yu Kuangtu handed the phone back to Qin Lian. She remained silent for a moment before saying, "I'll talk to everyone in the grade group, tell them to calm down for a couple of days."

She pushed open the car door and got out, then suddenly said, "But Bro Yu, you defending those two still makes me very angry. Even though I know you wouldn't be unfaithful, I'm still angry. Don't try to chat with me tonight."

Yu Kuangtu watched helplessly as Qin Lian walked into the women's dormitory. He scratched his head, thinking he should apologize to her tomorrow.

Driving back, as he passed by the faculty dormitory building, Yu Kuangtu felt a sudden impulse.

Let's call Zhao Huo out for drinks. And get Li Dan too, otherwise, if we both drink, there'll be no one to drive.

However, just as Yu Kuangtu was about to pull out his phone, he saw a car drive in and stop in front of the dormitory building.

From the dorm building, a tall, imposing man in slippers, grinning like a fool, rushed out like a gust of wind. He hugged the three women emerging from the car, happily spinning them around one by one in a 'magic of love' twirl.

Yu Kuangtu put his phone back and drove away from Heavenly Lotus Academy.

Halfway there, he suddenly slapped himself, muttering, "Damn it, why did I argue with Little Lian over those animals?"

"Guess I'll call Li Dan and ask how to apologize..."

***

"Still can't find them."

In the Dispersing Spirit Space, a young woman wearing a lab coat and headphones, with dark circles under her eyes, said to Ren Zuo, "It must really be people from the Fairy Palace World Tree, just like when the Nine-Tailed Fox appeared. I can't trace them through the network either. Perhaps, when a few games were subject to Random Intrusions before, it was the Fairy Palace testing their Wi-Fi network."

"Even you, as 'Digital Invasion,' can't analyze it. Then there's really no way, hm?" Cha Xian'er remarked from the side.

The only non-Fourth-Stage Cultivator in the Great Wall, and one of the currently few Shanhe—an Awakening Monk who can control the global network through a medium—is 'Digital Invasion' of Thousand Li Shanhe. Because her combat power is too weak, her real name isn't even disclosed internally.

"I just didn't expect them to all go... online because of Zhao Huo, hm."

Ren Zuo said, "It's quite normal. Didn't the Nine-Tailed Fox say? The Supreme Supreme and Ren Naiser just went to the World Tree to initiate the 'Future Echo' for the members of the Fairy Palace and the World Tree. This means they already know what will happen in the next thirty years."

Cha Xian'er asked, "Predicting the future... can that really be done, hm?"

'Digital Invasion' yawned. "Well, they can definitely go back to the past. Is predicting the future harder, or is changing the past harder?"

Chen Liao sighed, "The Fairy Palace World Tree really values Zhao Huo a lot."

"Of course," You Jiu said without looking up from his phone. "Squatter, do you have Nine Revolutions Cultivation yet?"

"...Not yet," Ren Zuo said faintly. "This world does not yet permit the emergence of a Nine Revolutions Qi Cyclone."

You Jiu said, "That means when the world permits the emergence of a Nine Revolutions Qi Cyclone, Zhao Huo will become a peak combat power comparable to you, right?"

"Such combat power is likely rare even in the Fairy Palace. Moreover, they haven't invited Zhao Huo to join the Fairy Palace. This means either Zhao Huo doesn't meet their standards, or... they know Zhao Huo wouldn't be willing."

"But undoubtedly, Zhao Huo will Fight Side by Side with the people of the Fairy Palace World Tree countless times in the future. That's why these Transcendents who received the Future Echo immediately sought out Zhao Huo, reminiscing like old friends."

"It's like when you all were reborn three years ago and met the Squatter. Wouldn't you value him? Even protagonists in rebirth novels know to cling to the thighs of powerful figures. Wouldn't these Transcendents know that?"

Speaking of this, You Jiu snorted, "Damn it, am I not going to reach Nine Revolutions in the future?"

The people from the Great Wall exchanged glances. Cha Xian'er said, "Then, should we recruit Zhao Huo into the Great Wall, hm?"

"Before that, let's solve his problem first," You Jiu said. "Use your brain. Why didn't the Fairy Palace recruit Zhao Huo? It's because Zhao Huo has Bonds in the mortal world, and people from the Fairy Palace generally cannot easily descend to the mortal realm."

Chen Liao immediately chimed in, "His family, friends, and lovers!"

You Jiu said, "Originally, after the second episode of 'Top-secret Archives' was released, this kid Zhao Huo was at the center of a storm due to his 'harem team' incident. But after these Transcendents stirred things up, everyone's attention has been diverted."

Cha Xian'er said, "Perhaps this is the Fairy Palace World Tree clarifying their stance. They revealed that Zhao Huo will become a Nine-Turn Cultivator in the future and affirmed that Zhao Huo and his lovers will be happy for the next thirty years. I believe many people will support Zhao Huo now, hm."

"Let Zhao Huo continue to stay in the Mysterious Country. Let him become a guardian deity of humanity, not a Fairy Palace warrior."

Ren Zuo made the final decision: "Suppress this matter, change public opinion, and clear Zhao Huo's name."

He paused, then added, "And in the 'Special Relationship Law'... add corresponding provisions for Zhao Huo and his lovers."

The 'Special Relationship Law' was initially established for other non-human entities like Demons and Ghosts to participate in national construction and maintain a stable, harmonious life. It primarily guides relationships such as adoption, marriage, and inheritance between humans and Demons and Ghosts.

Zhao Huo... could also be considered a non-human entity now. And the relationship between Zhao Huo and his lovers... could also be considered a special relationship.

Since we're showing goodwill to Zhao Huo, we might as well see it through to the end and prepare the legal basis for his multiple-partner marriage.

Chen Liao asked with some concern, "If such legal provisions are established, could it encourage undesirable social trends?"

"No need to worry," Cha Xian'er said. "We just need to set an extremely high threshold for this type of special relationship to resolve that, hm."

You Jiu also remarked, "Just model it directly on Zhao Huo and his lovers: all parties to the marriage must be High-Tier Cultivators, and all parties must have made significant contributions to the Mysterious Country and human society..."

"Besides Zhao Huo and his 'harem team,' who else could meet such stringent conditions?"

"If anyone truly meets them, the Great Wall would willingly recognize such a marriage!"

Everyone agreed. Not knowing before was one thing, but now that they knew Zhao Huo could become a Nine-Turn Cultivator, everyone understood the priorities. While there was no need to curry favor, building ties was necessary.

You Jiu, still fiddling with his phone, couldn't help sighing, "How nice. I also want to see the future... Holy crap! The Queen replied to me!"

What, the Disaster Messenger really replied to him?

Everyone was shocked. Even Ren Zuo couldn't resist opening Weibo, wondering if he should send a reply to the Nine-Tailed Fox.

Gazing at this World-shattering Demon Fox, whose every expression was soul-stirringly captivating, Ren Zuo felt a momentary daze.

My future, what might it look like? Or rather, do I even have a future? And your future, what might it look like?