Generation Z Mainland

Chapter 7: Secret Castle (1)

Under good guidance, the group headed towards the so-called big castle. However, along the way,
"It's too long~"

Zhang Guiyuan couldn't help but sigh to the sky, and the other friends around him also said, we have walked two or three kilometers, and we haven't reached the castle yet?
Finally, Zuo Qihan was lost in thought as he stared at the huge castle in front of him. This was a bit like the place Yu Yuhan had taken him to before. Zhang Hanrui looked at his dazed expression and said with a smile, "What are you thinking about? They've all gone in, and you're still looking!"

Zuo Qihan came to his senses and saw a group of people excitedly rushing into the castle. Zhang Hanrui also walked in that direction after he finished speaking, saying as he walked: "Hurry up! Don't fall behind!"

Zuo Qihan trotted over and said, "Here I come!"

When everyone entered the castle, they were stunned by the magnificently decorated lobby. Guan Junchen walked in front and shouted loudly, "Is anyone there?" Echoes echoed in the spacious hall.

"Who is it? What's the matter with you coming to our castle?"

As they were talking, they saw a young girl standing on a long and winding crystal staircase. The girl was wearing a light blue short skirt with a faint snowflake pattern on the hem, white fluff on the collar, and a pair of white long-sleeved gloves also with snowflake patterns on them. She was stepping on the stairs with long white snow boots, and the girl's fresh voice reached everyone's ears.

The girl looked at a figure in the crowd and smiled slightly, then walked down the stairs quickly. At the last step, she jumped down happily.

"Hello, my name is Ling Zhaoxue."

Before anyone could say anything, they were interrupted by another voice: "Hey, are there guests?"

Ling Zhaoxue turned around when she heard the voice and saw a figure in a dark blue cloak flash from the top of the hall. He landed and stopped in front of everyone. Seeing Ling Zhaoxue standing in front of Guan Junchen and Zhang Hanrui, he curled his lips and said, "Xue'er, what are you doing?"

Ling Zhaoxue smiled sweetly: "Nothing, brother, there are guests coming to our castle, I just want to say hello."

Wang Hao watched the man slowly lower his cloak, surprised and puzzled, "Zhang Zeyu? Senior?"

Zhang Zeyu acted as if he hadn't heard Wang Hao's words. He looked at Ling Zhaoxue walking towards him and said, "You're almost getting married, but you're still acting like a child!"

Ling Zhaoxue pouted and pulled Zhang Zeyu's arm and acted coquettishly: "Oh~Brother~I haven't met the person I like yet!" As she said that, she turned her head and glanced at Zhang Hanrui.

Zhang Zeyu ignored his sister and gently pushed Ling Zhaoxue's hand away. He looked at everyone and said, "Hey, isn't this Chi Yan, the one who possesses the Holy Fire? How did you find the time to come to my place?"

Zuo Qihan raised his eyebrows slightly and tugged at his arm: "Tsk, are you so famous?"

"How would I know."

Zhang Hanrui turned his head to look at Zuo Qihan, who was some distance away from him, and stared at Zhang Zeyu and said, "You're not going to take him away too, are you?"

Zhang Zeyu smiled and waved his hands: "No, no, no, I'm not as rude as Yu Yuhan and Yao Yuchen. We are all civilized people~"

Zhang Hanrui turned his head and sneered: "What you said is a bit fake~"

Ling Zhaoxue looked at Zhang Hanrui with admiration and appreciation.

Zhang Zeyu was amused. "Oh, look at you. You've been here for such a long time, and I still let you stand. How disrespectful! Come, please give you a seat. You're our honored guest."

Just as a group of elves were busy preparing tables and chairs, Ling Zhaoxue suddenly jumped to Zhang Zeyu and said something in his ear. After that, she glanced at Zhang Hanrui and left the castle with a smile on her face.

After everyone sat down, Zhang Zeyu stood at the front of the table and said, "I originally wanted to keep Chi Yan, but my sister just told me that she has her eyes on one of you here and wants him to stay. In that case, how about we make a deal?"

Wang Junxi looked at Zhang Zeyu and asked seriously, "What deal?"

Zhang Zeyu paused and said, "As long as the person my sister likes stays, the others will naturally become the nobles of our castle. As for Chi Yan's Holy Fire, I don't have to take it. What do you think?"

Guan Junchen sat next to Zhang Zeyu and said to him, "Senior Zhang Zeyu, who does your sister like?"

Siyin quickly replied, "Could it be Zhang Guiyuan? Or Yang Hanbo? Which little girl wouldn't like them?"

Yang Hanbo turned his head to glance at Siyin and said, "Li Jiasen, right?"

Yu Junxi shook his head and said thoughtfully, "I think it's Zhang Hanrui. He's gentle, kind, considerate, and safe. I feel at ease around him."

Li Jiasen's eyes widened. "What? Zhang Yiran, or Zuo Qihan would be fine too!"

Yang Hanbo looked at him and chuckled, "Neither of them can cook as deliciously as you."

Li Jiasen: “?”

After thinking it over carefully, he said: "I vote for Zhang Hanrui!"

Zhi Enhan glanced at him: "Yu Junxi?"

Haohao glared at Zhienhan: "Did my brother provoke you?"

Zhienhan rolled her eyes: "Did my brother provoke you?"

Haohao said loudly: "You coward!"

Zhi Enhan also shouted loudly: "You bookworm!"

"coward!"

"Bookworm!"

Zhang Hanrui and Yu Junxi said almost at the same time: "Okay! Quiet!" The two took out the magic book and magic wand, pretending to put them away. Seeing this, Haohao and Zhienhan immediately quieted down. It's scary when their brother gets angry!

Zhang Zeyu raised his lips again and continued, "My sister said that she likes..."

Wang Hao interrupted, "Who is it?"

"That's him!" Zhang Zeyu said, pointing at Zhang Hanrui: "Zhang Hanrui! I hope you can stay."

Zuo Qihan looked at Zhang Hanrui in confusion: "Ah? A Rui?"

Li Jiasen slammed the table and said, "What did I say? No girl can refuse Zhang Hanrui!"

Siyin was silent for a moment, then forced a smile and said, "Hey, it's great, Hanrui. You're enjoying all the glory and wealth!"

Zhang Hanrui waved his hands repeatedly and said in panic, "I can't do this. I just want to help Zuo Qihan complete what he wants to do!"

Zhang Zeyu smiled and said, "That's not a rush. You can come back after you're done."

Zhang Hanrui was a little at a loss: "I~that, Xiao Qiqi~" Then he turned his head to look at Zuo Qihan, asking him for help.

Zuo Qihan frowned: "Senior, you are being a bit too pushy, aren't you? You can't just consider your sister's preferences, you also have to see if the other party agrees or not!"

Zhang Zeyu smiled and said, "It's okay, you can learn about it slowly first!"

Si Yin continued, "That's right, you should understand, right? Oh, by the way, it's time for my little bugs to take a walk, I'm going to go out for a while!"

Zhang Hanrui looked at Siyin: "Siyin"

Siyin smiled and said, "It's okay, they won't run around and hurt anyone!" Then she turned around and left.

After Siyin left, Zuo Qihan said goodbye to the others and followed her out.

Yu Junxi patted Zhang Hanrui on the shoulder: "Hey, brother, you said that if you stay here, I will have company, right?"

Everyone in the castle was arguing with each other, and Zhang Hanrui looked in the direction where Zuo Qihan and Siyin left.

Outside the castle, Zuo Qihan caught up with Siyin and asked, "Are you unhappy?"

Siyin turned to look at him in confusion: "No, what's the matter?"

Zuo Qihan raised his eyebrows: "I haven't heard you say that the Gu worm needs to be taken for a walk before?"

Si Yin smiled and said, "Just because I didn't tell them doesn't mean they can't come out!"

Zuo Qihan saw the disappointment in her eyes that was hard to detect without looking closely: "It seems like you are reluctant to let him stay here?"

Si Yin shrugged and said, "There's no such thing as being reluctant. I'm a Gu Miao, a saint of the Gu Miao. I'll have to go back sooner or later. Besides, we saints can't marry other Miao people or members of other tribes."

Zuo Qihan looked at her: "So?"

Si Yin took two steps forward and said, "So, now I just want to go back quickly and protect my people."

Zuo Qihan spread his hands and said, "After all this trouble, it turns out it was just a misunderstanding. I thought..."

Siyin turned her head and looked at him and smiled: "Do you think I have feelings for him?"

"Yeah." Zuo Qihan nodded.

Si Yin laughed heartily: "Hahaha! Stop it, I just taught him a few simple witchcraft techniques. Other than that, we didn't have any other interactions. What they were discussing doesn't interest me, and it's too depressing inside, so I came out to get some fresh air!"

Zuo Qihan watched her walk faster and faster, and he couldn't keep up. Siyin turned around and looked at Zuo Qihan who had been following her and frowned and said, "You go back, I'll be back soon. You are an important person they are discussing!"

Zuo Qihan said worriedly, "Can you do it alone?"

Siyin was speechless: "You're already an adult! I'm just taking a walk nearby, and you're still worried!" Zuo Qihan: "Okay, then come back early." After saying that, Siyin watched Zuo Qihan turn around and go back to the castle. She sighed and looked at the white clouds in the sky, as if thinking about something.

Zuo Qihan returned to the castle. Zhang Zeyu watched him return to his seat and smiled without saying a word.

Zhang Hanrui asked quietly, "Zuo Qihan, where is Siyin?"

Zuo Qihan raised his head, thought for a moment and said, "She said she was going out for a walk and was a bit bored. She'll be back soon."

Zhang Hanrui sighed and looked outside the door. Suddenly, a man in a brown cloak walked in.

"Wow, it's so lively! I just went out to do something, and when I came back it was so lively!"

Wang Hao got excited again: "Chen Tianrun! Senior!"

Chen Tianrun looked at Wang Hao with interest.

Zhang Zeyu raised his eyebrows and looked at Chen Tianrun who came in and said: "You are finally back. These people are our distinguished guests!"

Chen Tianrun walked over to the seat next to Zhang Zeyu and sat down. "Oh?" He saw Zuo Qihan sitting across from him and said with a smile, "Hey, isn't that Chi Yan? Why are you in our castle? Aren't you going to maintain order in the world with your other elemental friends?"

Zuo Qihan looked at him and asked seriously: "Then let me ask you, do you know where the people from other elements are?"

Chen Tianrun remained silent and just smiled.

Zuo Qihan sneered: "Right now we just want to find a way to leave this world as quickly as possible. I wonder if the seniors have any good suggestions?"

Yang Jiahao agreed: "Yes, now that we are here, we hope that the seniors can give us some guidance."

Zhang Zeyu: "This world...tsk, why should I tell you?"

Yang Jiahao: “…”

Just as Zuo Qihan was about to speak, the door was suddenly blown open by a gust of wind. Two people walked in. As soon as they came in, they laughed and said, "Oh my, you guys are pretty fast. You got here so quickly? Chi Yan, does this place look familiar to you?"

Zuo Qihan stared at the person who walked in and said seriously: “Yu Yuhan, I do find that this place is very similar to the castle you took me to.”

Yu Yuhan smiled and walked behind Zuo Qihan, patting him on the shoulder: "Yes, there was fog around when I brought you here last time, so you didn't see clearly. This is where I took you that day."

Zuo Qihan looked at him and Yao Yuchen, then at Zhang Zeyu and Chen Tianrun, and sneered, "Hey, so the four of you have different ways of speaking? They said this place is theirs, and then you said it's yours last time. Don't you think it's contradictory?"

Yu Yuhan stared at Zhang Zeyu, and the other party gave him a stern look in return. Chen Tianrun glanced at Yao Yuchen, and they both sighed at the same time.

Chen Tianrun said, "How about this, you can rest here today. The rooms are upstairs, and you can arrange to stay there yourself."

Zhang Zeyu cleared his throat and said, "That's it, elves, prepare delicious food and comfortable rooms to entertain our guests." After that, he waved his hand, and several elves appeared, busying around preparing a table full of sumptuous food. While the teenagers were attracted by the delicious food, Zhang Zeyu and the other three quickly left the castle. As soon as they came out, they saw Siyin who had returned from "walking the bugs".

Siyin was slightly stunned when she saw them, then continued to walk inside. Just as she was about to open the door, Zhang Zeyu called out, "Hey? Sister Siyin, how's the progress on the cooperation we talked about earlier?"

Siyin didn't even turn around, staring at the door and said, "Not bad, progress is going well."

Zhang Zeyu nodded, and Yao Yuchen patted Siyin's shoulder: "Very good~"

Chen Tianrun suddenly remembered something: "We have to go back. Zuo Hang has something to say."

Yu Yuhan stretched and said, "Let's go."

Siyin watched the four people disappear into the woods outside the castle, sighed, and entered the castle.

Zhang Hanrui heard the noise at the door, turned around, saw Siyin walk in, and ran over with a smile: "Siyin, you're back! Come and have something to eat."

Siyin looked at the food on the table and said, "I don't have much appetite."

A little elf flew to her and said, "Sister, let me take you to your room to rest."

Siyin smiled and patted the elf's head: "Okay!"

Zhang Hanrui watched Siyin and the elf gradually disappear at the end of the stairs before returning to the dining table. Yang Hanbo looked at Zhang Hanrui, who was preoccupied with his thoughts, and was about to say something when he heard a clear female voice from outside the door again: "Hello everyone, are you having dinner?"

Everyone looked towards the door and saw Ling Zhaoxue walking in lightly from outside.

Ling Zhaoxue looked in Zhang Hanrui's direction and smiled softly. At the same time, Zhang Yiran looked at her thoughtfully, and suddenly a look of difficulty appeared on his face. Yang Jiahao noticed and asked anxiously, "Brother? What's wrong with you?"

Zhang Yiran shook his head: "It's okay." In fact, even he himself couldn't explain what was going on.

Zhang Hanrui walked over and held Zhang Yiran's shoulders with concern: "Are you okay?"

Zhang Yiran looked at him, then at Ling Zhaoxue, then turned and whispered to Zhang Hanrui, "I think I know why she wanted to keep you."

Zhang Hanrui was stunned at first, then frowned: "No matter what the reason, my first priority is to help Zuo Qihan complete his task."

Zhang Yiran sighed and looked up at Ling Zhaoxue. Li Jiasen looked at Ling Zhaoxue who was sitting in the seat Zhang Zeyu had taken and said, "Hey, Ling Zhaoxue, your brothers are all gone, why are you still here?"

Ling Zhaoxue raised her eyes and smiled: "I live here, and besides, I have things I need to do!"

Zuo Qihan watched her pick up a piece of cake and started eating, then said, "Ling Zhaoxue, your brother said that he wants Zhang Hanrui to stay because you..."

Ling Zhaoxue smiled faintly. Seeing that she didn't say anything, Zuo Qihan didn't ask any more questions.

That night, everyone rested in the rooms arranged by the elves. Zhang Hanrui originally wanted to stay with Zuo Qihan, but Zuo Qihan refused when he thought of that incident. Zhang Hanrui had to take Zhi Enhan, Fu Ziming and Chen Yiheng to live in a four-person room. Guan Junchen and Wang Hao took Li Yunchenrui, and Wei Zichen also lived in a four-person room. Wang Junxi took Chen Junming, and Zhang Zhongyu lived in a triple room. Zhang Yiran and Yang Jiahao lived in a double room. Zhang Guiyuan, Yang Bowen, Wang Lujie, Li Jiasen, and Yang Hanbo lived in a five-person room. Zuo Qihan and Yu Junxi took Haohao to live in a double room. Siyin lived in the single room next to Ling Zhaoxue.

It was late at night and everyone fell asleep. After such a long journey, they could finally get a good night's sleep.

Zuo Qihan took advantage of Yu Junxi and Haohao sleeping and carefully slipped out of the room, ready to go to the room that Yu Junxi took him to take another look. Just as he reached the door of that room, he heard Ling Zhaoxue calling softly: "Hey? Chi Yan, what are you doing?"

Zuo Qihan was startled when he touched the door handle and shrank back abruptly: "Can I walk around?"

Ling Zhaoxue teleported to his side: "You, can't sleep? Want to see that box?"

Zuo Qihan looked at her in shock: "You know that too?"

Ling Zhaoxue shrugged and raised an eyebrow slightly: "Hmm, my brother and the others have been studying the Holy Spirit Fire and have learned a little bit."

Zuo Qihan looked at her seriously: "Can I ask you a question?"

Ling Zhaoxue looked at him and smiled: "It's okay to talk about it."

Zuo Qihan coughed lightly and asked, "Do you know where to find the Ice Crystal Tree?"

Ling Zhaoxue was stunned, looking at him in disbelief: "The Ice Crystal Tree can only be touched by Ice and Water types. Why are you, a Fire type, looking for it?"

Zuo Qihan's eyes rolled. "To be honest, I have something very important to discuss with it." Zuo Qihan briefly summarized the main point to Ling Zhaoxue. "So, I can only rely on the energy of the Ice Crystal Tree."

Ling Zhaoxue seemed to be thinking about something, then curled her lips into a smile: "In that case, I can help you find the Ice Crystal Tree, but you have to promise me that after the matter is done, you will let Zhang Hanrui stay here."

Zuo Qihan remained silent. Ling Zhaoxue smiled and patted him: "Actually, I don't want to force you, but I really admire him."

Zuo Qihan looked at her and was about to say something when suddenly there was a loud noise outside the castle. The two of them were startled at first and quickly ran downstairs to the hall. At the same time, the others were also awakened. Yu Junxi saw that Zuo Qihan was not in the room and ran to other rooms: "Everyone, did you hear any noise?"

Yang Hanbo rubbed his eyes and said, "Yes, hey, Zuo Qihan is not with you?"

Yu Junxi shook his head: "No, he was gone when I woke up!"

Haohao frowned and said seriously: "I always have a bad feeling~"

Everyone rushed to the hall to meet up. It was half past five in the morning. Everyone was sleepy and thought they could have a good sleep.
Zhang Hanrui looked at Yu Junxi and asked, "Where is Zuo Qihan?"

Yu Junxi spread his hands helplessly: "I don't know either!"

Haohao: "He got up in the middle of the night and then disappeared."

Yu Junxi was surprised: "How do you know?"

Haohao: "I was awakened by him and I found out, but he...didn't notice that I was awake..."

Yu Junxi glanced at Zhang Hanrui and remained silent.

Guan Junchen counted the number of people present: "Zuo Qihan is not here, that girl is not here either, and where is Siyin?"

Zhang Hanrui clenched his fists nervously.

Wang Junxi looked around and yawned: "How can I not sleep well at this late hour?"

"Bang!" There was another loud noise outside the castle. Everyone rushed out of the door. The scene in front of them shocked everyone present.
—To be continued—

No Prize Guess: What happened outside the door?
The next episode will be more exciting

(End of this chapter)