Superhumans of the Dome City-Chapter 1409 - 17: The Only History_3

"So beautiful, huh," Gongsun Ce sighed, "This is actually the first time I’ve seen the imperial city’s lantern festival since I was a kid."

"But you previously said you were a native born and raised here..." Liu Zhongwu said.

"Ha, you actually believed what I said?"

"Full of nonsense, shameless." Qin Qianbai puffed out her cheeks.

"Hey hey, say a few more words, Uncle Gongsun loves to listen."

Gongsun Ce immediately bent down and laughed in a way that could only be described as mischievous. Little Qin Qianbai retreated two steps with disdain, then turned around to hide behind Situ Yi’s white robe, refusing to show herself no matter how much Gongsun Ce sweet-talked. Gongsun Ce made a playful gesture to catch her, and the two of them, one big and one small, started running around the tall, lean shadow like a cat and mouse under a pale tree.

Qin Ming watched and laughed, while Yan Qi felt deeply embarrassed: "Encountering a girl even sillier than Qin Ming, what a disgrace!" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

The six of them, one large group, ignored the astonished gazes of others, and casually walked beneath the lanterns. In the bustling lantern festival, the crowd was endless, merchants on both sides endlessly hawking their wares, everything in sight was a scene of family reunion and happiness. The last month of the 97th year was about to end, after the lantern festival it would be New Year, and everyone was very happy.

Yan Qi snorted through his nose, Qin Qianbai tilted her head: "Uncle Yan is not happy."

Situ Yi chimed in: "Always frowning all year, always covered by dark clouds every day. Perhaps it’s that, the Demon Lord descends to the mortal world, wanting to cleanse the vast earth~"

The other three inwardly chuckled. Yan Qi was such a peculiar person, always either disdainful or sarcastic, never showing a genuine liking for anything, even the most lively and sociable person would be defeated by his sour face.

"Can’t you see the atmosphere?" Gongsun Ce said, "The New Year is right around the corner, everyone on the streets is joyfully celebrating, and you’re the only one with a bitter face, does that seem appropriate?"

Yan Qi scoffed dismissively: "What do you know. The people in this city are surely happy every day, it has nothing to do with whether it’s New Year or not!"

This sarcastic remark seemed to have an underlying meaning, and Gongsun Ce pondered for a moment before probing, "Are you talking about... ’keeping things hidden’?"

"Still pretending!" Yan Qi sneered, "Go on, whoever pretends is an idiot!"

Qin Ming, realizing they began discussing serious matters again, quickly led Qin Qianbai away to buy sugar figurines. Liu Zhongwu cleared his throat: "Gongsun Ce, everyone isn’t an idiot, everyone understands who you’re working for, pretending now is pointless..."

Gongsun Ce thought to himself they only knew half the story, if he revealed which year the Universe Patrol Department came into being, it would surely shock them. He scratched his head awkwardly and said with an embarrassed smile: "To be honest, I don’t know much, the higher-ups just told me this thing can conceal the signs of the Impermanence Skill, and that’s it. I tried it a few times out of curiosity, and it feels like large-scale brainwashing."

"Didn’t you just say it yourself?" Yan Qi sneered, "Now do you understand why everyone’s happy in Divine Capital City?"

Gongsun Ce’s eyes widened, even with his extensive knowledge, it took him a moment to react: "Oh crap... this thing can also regulate emotions?"

"Hidden law secretly in play, any anomalies are immediately dealt with~" Situ Yi said with a smile, "Strange powers and dissolute gods, heterodox theories are secretly wiped away~"

Gongsun Ce shivered involuntarily, and the cheerful faces on the street suddenly seemed somewhat eerie. He clicked his tongue: "Isn’t this going a bit too far? It’s like a dystopian novel..."

"It’s not excessive at all." Liu Zhongwu said, "Gongsun Ce, you should know, even the weakest hearts have power. Our Empire has the most citizens, and with so much collective emotional power, even a Creator Realm Mage cannot bear it all alone. If it isn’t properly managed, what should we do if an accident happens?"

Gongsun Ce immediately thought of the King of Skeleton Morton, who was corrupted by malicious information, and of Seviss, who was resurrected by the prayers of many. He had to admit there was some logic to this measure, but the names mentioned by Liu Zhongwu also made him feel worried.

"Do you call it the hidden law?" Gongsun Ce shook his head, "I just hope it doesn’t backfire."

"Oh come on, the hidden law has been running smoothly for two thousand years, how could there be a problem!" Liu Zhongwu said optimistically, "Rest assured, you’re powerful, a little psychological suggestion can’t do anything to you. They say it’s emotional control, but it’s more about occasional suggestions, who has the greatness to control everyone’s emotions individually, not everyone is Situ Yi."

Situ Yi listened with a tilted ear, smiling without speaking.

At this moment, Qin Qianbai came back from buying sugar figurines, curious to hear what they were talking about. Gongsun Ce pushed up his glasses and said in mock seriousness: "Your Uncle Liu just complained, saying that during the nice lantern festival everyone in the city is pairing up, while he’s stuck hanging out with a bunch of his buddies..."

Liu Zhongwu, embarrassed and angry: "What are you talking about! What are you talking about! Do you, Gongsun Ce, even have a partner?"

"I do, waiting for me to finish my studies and ’visit’ Divine Capital," Gongsun Ce said casually.

Liu Zhongwu stared in disbelief: "You... with your smooth talk? Why? Huh? Why?!"

The group couldn’t help but laugh, and Yan Qi cursed jokingly: "Damn fatso, all he thinks about is women!"

Qin Qianbai chuckled softly: "Uncle Liu, without more exercise, it’s tough to win a girl’s heart."

"This body shape is natural! Yan Qi is lazier than me!"

The group laughed and chatted as they walked, leaving the bustling commercial area behind and arriving at the square designated for the public to view lanterns. The craftsmen of Divine Capital City had employed all their skills for this night’s brilliance, each intricately crafted lantern either hung or attached to a wooden or metal base, wrapped in fabric, forming magnificent platforms. There were legendary heroes standing on warships commanding troops, mythical heroes drawing bows against demons in the sky, all sorts of exotic flora, divine weapons, and swords gathered together, overwhelming the eyes with no idea where to start, so they first looked to the highest point.

The official large lantern displays were erected in prominent positions, each brightly decorated hero statue bearing slogans such as "An honorable family serves in the military" "Progress towards world peace" "What’s imperial is best," filled with the 97th year’s end era’s atmosphere.

Yan Qi scoffed contemptuously, and Qin Qianbai stopped, tilting her head, "Uncle Yan is unhappy again."