Doomsday Sequence Caravan: I Have a Mechanical Heart

"Okay," Ling Hao replied, his expression becoming more serious.

The first thing he did upon returning to the ship was to find Nie Xiaoying and ask her, "Make a prediction now and see if the eerie two-headed dog has completely disappeared."

Nie Xiaoying nodded and quickly began to predict. After a moment, she shook her head at Ling Hao, "No, it's hidden."

"Su Mu was right after all." Ling Hao's expression immediately turned serious. "Then can you tell me where it's hidden?"

"I don't know." Nie Xiaoying shook her head.

"Then check if they're on our ship," Ling Hao asked after a moment of silence.

"No." Nie Xiaoying was quiet for a moment, then shook her head again after her prediction.

"That's good." Ling Hao said, turning and leaving. "You should get some rest."

He went to Su Mu's room and told him about Nie Xiaoying's prophecy.

"Since it doesn't," Su Mu said after a moment of silence, "then let Zhu Meng open the barrier, just in case it suddenly reappears while we're resting."

"That's what I was thinking too." Ling Hao nodded.

"I'm going to find Dream Chaser now." Su Mu thought of the Black Abyss Stone and decided to let Dream Chaser swallow it now, so that its defensive barrier would be stronger.

On the way, he spoke to Zhu Meng in his mind, and soon a white barrier enveloped most of the ship.

A moment later, he came to the deck, took out the Black Abyss Stone, and upon seeing it, Zhu Meng exclaimed excitedly, "I want to devour this."

"This is for you," Su Mu said, placing the Black Abyss Stone on the hood of the Dream Chaser's vehicle. "Remember to guard this ship well and don't let that two-headed dog sneak in."

"Okay." Zhu Meng quickly agreed, and the whole car even swayed slightly.

Su Mu did not linger there and returned to his cabin.

An Xin is still in Yuyao; he needs to go check on her.

Arriving outside Yuyao's room, he knocked on the door. "Yuyao, how is Anxin now?"

"She's asleep, she's fine," Yu Yao's voice came from inside. "Let her sleep here tonight."

"Alright then." Upon hearing this, Su Mu didn't say anything more and returned to his room.

Yuyao room

An Xin lay there, fast asleep.

Yu Yao lay on her side next to An Xin, propping her cheek with her hand. Her eyes, usually so spoiled, now held a deep blue, sinister allure. A faint blue pattern seemed to linger between her brows.

She gazed quietly at An Xin, then gently inhaled. A wisp of white air rose from An Xin's body and flowed into her mouth. Though the air appeared somewhat ethereal, it exuded a sacred aura.

That was An Xin's original energy.

After a moment, as she was swallowing, An Xin suddenly frowned, a look of pain on her face. Her eyes were tightly closed, as if she were having a nightmare, and she instinctively cried out, "Su Mu, I'm in so much pain!"

Upon hearing this voice, Yu Yao's sinister gaze suddenly cleared, and a hint of fear appeared on her face. "What... what happened to me?"

"Why devour Xin Xin's essence?"

She sat up abruptly, patted her face to clear her head, but still didn't know why she was acting this way.

After a moment of silence, she turned to look at An Xin, whose face was full of pain, and reached out to shake An Xin's arm, "Xin Xin, Xin Xin."

"What's wrong with you?"

After a while, An Xin slowly woke up. She opened her eyes and looked blankly for a moment before turning to Yu Yao. "Yao Yao, where's Su Mu?"

"He's next door." Yu Yao didn't dare let An Xin stay with her any longer, so she quickly got out of bed. "I'll go call him."

Before An Xin could say anything more, she had already rushed out of the room.

Soon, Su Mu arrived here with Yu Yao. "What exactly happened to An Xin?"

"It seems like I had a nightmare." Yu Yao didn't dare tell the truth; she really didn't know how to tell Su Mu, "I kept calling your name."

"She must be tired from tonight." Su Mu came to An Xin's side, picked her up, and said, "Let's go back to our room and rest."

"Mmm." An Xin rested her head on Su Mu's shoulder, feeling inexplicably safe.

After seeing the two off, Yu Yao closed the door and sat on the bed, hugging her knees, her eyes filled with sorrow and fear. She didn't know why she had hurt An Xin, and as she thought about it, she silently began to cry.

Su Mu carried An Xin back to the room. Just as he was about to put her on the bed, An Xin shook her head, hugged Su Mu's neck tightly, and murmured, "I want you to hold me like this while I sleep."

"I'm scared."

"Okay." Su Mu replied softly, then added with a smile, "Then you come down first, I need to lock the door."

Upon hearing this, An Xin finally loosened her grip.

After Su Mu locked the door and returned to bed, An Xin nestled in his arms and reached out to hug his neck again.

"What nightmare did you have?" Su Mu sensed something was off about her and asked softly.

"I dreamt that I was locked in a cage," An Xin said softly, a hint of fear flashing in her eyes. "There was someone whose face I couldn't see drawing my blood."

"I couldn't move at all, and could only watch helplessly as he drained my blood."

"I'm so scared, and I can't find you."

"Don't be scared anymore." Su Mu gently patted her back. "I'm right here with you now."

"Sleep peacefully."

"Mmm," An Xin responded, looking up at Su Mu. "Let's sleep together."

A peaceful night

Su Mu sat there, holding An Xin, and slept until dawn.

He woke up first, while An Xin was still sleeping quietly, but a faint smile appeared on her face, as if she was having a sweet dream.

After a moment, An Xin slowly woke up, squinting at Su Mu, "Brother Mu, you're awake."

"How did you sleep?" Su Mu asked with a smile.

"Mmm." An Xin nodded, snuggling tightly against Su Mu. "I haven't had any more nightmares."

As if he had just thought of something, a silly smile appeared on his face. "I just dreamed about so much food, more than I could eat."

"Just thinking about it makes me feel so happy."

"Then let's get up and eat," Su Mu said, reaching out to smooth her hair. "What would you like to eat?"

"Can I eat meat?" An Xin looked up at Su Mu with a blank expression.

"Okay," Su Mu agreed with a smile. "Get up first, my legs are a little numb."

"Then I'll give you a massage." Upon hearing this, An Xin quickly sat up and reached out to massage Su Mu's thigh.

"Alright, alright." Su Mu, tickled by her pinching, quickly stopped her. "Go get some water to rinse your mouth. We're going to eat."

A dozen minutes later

Su Mu and An Xin were having breakfast when Ling Hao came to the door and knocked. "We're having breakfast."

"What's up so early?" Su Mu glanced at him and asked.

"I'd like to use your boat to explore the nearby sea routes," Ling Hao said directly. "I plan to leave here around noon."