Love, Gun, Cupid

Chapter Fifty-Seven: Agreement Reached

The cuckoo and reed warbler's home is filled with complex structures that Lin Jiade cannot understand. The highest bird's nest-like structure is the love nest of the cuckoo and reed warbler parents, who once transformed into birds to mate here. However, according to the cuckoo, they have now become obsessed with amphibians, so they have created a muddy swamp for themselves in the garden.

Beneath the bird's nest-like structure lies the bedroom of the cuckoo and the reed warbler—this is Lin Jiade's interpretation, as there is no bedding inside. The cuckoo's room is themed in pink, and it is a scaled-down version of a gas giant revolving and rotating on its own axis, passing through a harmless atmosphere. At its core is a liquid sphere.

Lin Jiade sat down, and the liquid ball seemed to come alive, changing according to the cuckoo's commands. Sometimes it became a recliner, sometimes an ergonomic chair, sometimes cold, sometimes warm, and even produced many liquid cuckoos that grabbed him from all sides, their fingers burrowing into his clothes, scaring Lin Jiade into screaming.

All the furniture that Du Juan needed was materialized in this liquid sphere, while Wei Ying's room was a dwarf planet. The "inside of the planet" was filled with weapons and training equipment that Lin Jiade could neither understand nor comprehend. Lin Jiade tried to pick up a sword, and then his vision flipped, and he found himself standing on the ceiling.

Like the kapok tree, Lin Jiade was completely unaccustomed to three-dimensional warfare. He quickly came down and visited other things with a sense of novelty... Most of them were beyond his understanding, like Grandma Liu visiting the Grand View Garden.

“The reason I let you visit our house in my dream is so that you won’t embarrass yourself when you actually visit our house… I’m just saying there’s a possibility,” Wei Ying said. “After all, my sister and I both live here with you, and out of courtesy, we should let you return the visit.”

"You even know how to be polite?" Lin Jiade was quite surprised.

Wei Ying kicked Lin Jiade, which brought him back to reality. He opened his eyes groggily and found that it was already eight o'clock the next morning. Tianlong and Mumian had hoarse throats, but they still hadn't reached an agreement.

Time was a pressure for both sides, perhaps more so for Tianlong. Seeing Lin Jiade wake up, they put aside their argument for the time being and enjoyed the breakfast served by the waiter: fried eggs, fried bacon, fried potato pancakes, fried sausages, and juice and coffee with a huge amount of sugar.

Lin Jiade was probably the only one with a good appetite. While eating, he whispered to Mu Mian, "Sorry, I fell asleep."

“It’s not your fault. You were pulled into a dream, and in the end, you were more useful than when you were awake,” Kapok replied.

"Could it be that I had a second personality after I fell asleep, and that Kogoro Rinri is actually myself?"

"No, what I mean is that we have a huge advantage. My assistant can fall asleep easily and doesn't wake up in the middle of the night."

"The Empty City Stratagem, the Empty City Stratagem."

Lin Jiade laughed awkwardly. He could hear the resentment in Mu Mian's voice, but he really didn't feel comfortable in this kind of situation.

By 10 a.m., Tianlong had barely managed to reach an agreement with Mumian. Under the witness of the Oath-Keeping Magic, they signed a secret contract outlining what they would sacrifice and gain for the Hatter's reckless actions.

After Mumian swiped her room card, Hehuan let out a joyful cheer and rushed over to hug Mumian. Mumian swayed slightly and pressed herself against Lin Jiade. Lin Jiade reflexively closed his arms around both Mumian and Hehuan.

"Is everything going smoothly?" Hehuan asked.

"It's alright, but I still have to be wary of him changing his mind at the last minute, so I need to rest for a while... Hehuan, you're making it hard for me to breathe."

Lin Jiade and Hehuan let go at the same time. Mumian went to sleep, and Hehuan also pushed Lin Jiade to rest, probably thinking that Lin Jiade had stayed up all night with Mumian. The two talked as they walked. Lin Jiade explained the fierce argument that broke out ten minutes before they signed the documents. He thought the deal was off, but after applying extreme pressure to no avail, Tianlong obediently signed the documents.

"So, what was the reason that made Tianlong decide to lose to Kapok?" Hehuan asked.

"Well, I can't say because of the oath-keeping magic," Lin Jiade said helplessly, spreading his hands. "Senior Hehuan, you should also be careful. If this gets out, we're all doomed."

Hehuan rolled her eyes at Lin Jiade: "What kind of person do you take me for? I'm just asking you, is Mumian feeling alright?"

"I... I can't tell. Mu Mian understands me far better than I understand her, after all, I've never even seen her face. Senior He Huan, have you seen her?"

“I told you before, we played together for a long time,” Hehuan replied. “What do you think a kapok tree should look like?”

"It should be a neutral or slightly heroic look, with very strong facial features."

Hehuan smiled and said, "It's normal for you to think that way."

So stop keeping me in suspense and tell me!

"Beg me? I've recently really liked a certain chocolate..."

Honest advice is hard to hear but beneficial. Lin Jiade felt that he and Hehuan were friends, so he had to say it: "I'm sorry, I can't buy you chocolate."

He Huan was just joking, but after Lin Jiade refused, her rebellious nature and the feelings she had for Lin Jiade made her stubbornly say, "I only want chocolate."

“Then I’d rather know nothing,” Lin Jiade said.

"Why?" Hehuan asked, somewhat angrily.

“I’m a little worried about my senior’s weight,” Lin Jiade said. “I’ve been watching her closely and I feel like she’s been gaining weight recently. And her ambition is to pursue a music career and step into the spotlight, right?”

I think Hehuan's good looks are a natural advantage, so I think you should maintain that, rather than indulging in sweets that make you feel good but also cause weight problems. Of course, you don't need to diet too much, since you're tall.

Hehuan was a little annoyed by the constant mention of her "body shape," but the fact that Lin Jiade was looking at her made her both shy and happy. These three emotions made her blush even more intensely than usual.

"Oh, I see. So you've thought about all this for me." Hehuan asked cautiously, "Won't Jasmine mind?"

“Jasmine? She wouldn’t be jealous of something like that, because…”

Lin Jiade smiled awkwardly, and Hehuan gave an understanding snort, saying, "You're a womanizer."

Lin Jiade changed the subject: "So, what exactly is so big, Senior Kapok?"

Hehuan beckoned, and Lin Jiade leaned closer. First, he felt her breath, then the breath she exhaled when her lips parted, and the ticklish sensation filled his ears.

“I won’t tell you,” Hehuan said. “I don’t support your relationship with Mumian anymore.”

Before Lin Jiade could fully savor those words, Hehuan ran off, her smile shy, bathed in the sunlight streaming through the window with a holy glow.

Chapter 58 A Doomed Failure (27→26)

At 8 p.m. on December 12, amidst a romantic scene created by artificial snowfall, spectators enjoyed hot drinks while watching the most exciting match since the start of the knockout stage.

Although the outcome was already decided before the start of the match, perhaps because Tianlong's acting was so realistic, or perhaps because Tianlong was unwilling to accept defeat, the two fought for twenty minutes, completely destroying the virtual space. It was only when Tianlong accidentally stepped on a small stone when he fell to the ground that he lost his balance and was exploited by Mumian.

When the match ended and Tianlong shook hands with Mu Mian with great courtesy, Lin Jiade still felt like he had experienced a real battle. Back in the lounge, Mu Mian sat down in a chair and let out a weary sigh.

“There were a few times when I felt that Tianlong wanted to kill me, I’m talking about the real me,” Mu Mian said.

"Is he crazy?"

"A person is not always rational. When they act on their emotional impulses, they may do things that they will regret for the rest of their lives."

As she spoke, Kapok dispelled the confusion spell and removed her clothes—only from the head down, of course. Several more wounds appeared on her pale body, and more blood gushed from the cut on her abdomen that spelled out Lin Jiade's name, making his name stand out vividly.

Mu Mian grasped Lin Jiade's wrist and pressed it against the name on her lower abdomen. Lin Jiade felt a burning sensation where she touched it. In the blink of an eye, Mu Mian transformed into a colorful sword. Upon closer inspection, the sword's colors changed constantly under the light, attracting Lin Jiade's attention like a rotating kaleidoscope.

He reached out and touched his weapon, and "Kapok" responded with a joyful tremor. Even though his fingers were cut by the sharp blade, and the blood that flowed in was absorbed by the kapok, the pain did not diminish his fascination.

Kapok was the first to snap out of her fervent emotions. She tapped Lin Jiade's cheek with the hilt of her sword, making him lay her flat on the bench. She then took out the Amanda Stones that held her energy and placed them around her, before taking out a manuscript and chanting incantations.

The manuscript was written in Sanskrit, with pinyin annotations and a thoughtful reminder to the reader to read it according to the pronunciation of the Imperial Common Language. Otherwise, there is a 5% chance of altering the ritual and summoning strange things—such as succubi.

Lin Jiade chanted sutras over a sword, a scene that was indescribably strange. In his voice, which had become dry from tension, the energy of the Amanda Stone was transferred into the sword. The nicks and scratches on the sword were repaired, and Lin Jiade felt that the newly formed parts of the sword were colder and sharper than the others.

In a flash of light, Kapok transformed. The Amanda Stone, now devoid of energy, was shattered under her foot. Her wounds disappeared, and she picked up her clothes from the ground. Lin Jiade turned around, and Kapok said behind him, "You've already seen it. I know very well that it can't arouse your desires, so there's no need for you to feel embarrassed."

"This is out of respect for you."

“You don’t dare look at me, and that makes me very sad,” Kapok replied.

Lin Jiade had no choice but to turn around. Mu Mian met his gaze calmly. He said uncertainly, "Senior, are you the kind of person who gets excited when others see your body?"

"I'm not an exhibitionist, but I admit that being looked at by you would give me pleasure."

"As a woman?"

"As a swordsman and with the sword."

Lin Jiade was slightly disappointed, but he quickly cheered up and said, "No wonder Senior Mumian was always able to be discharged from the hospital quickly despite being seriously injured. It turns out she used this method."

"Yes, the recovery will be even better if you're around. And as you can see, I become stronger with each repair after being damaged."

Du Juan had Lin Jiade increase the upper limit of his physical energy storage through excessive training while taking the magic potion. It is likely that the principle behind Kapok becoming stronger after being injured is the same.

"Kapok, I'm coming in."

Hehuan's voice overlapped with the sound of the door opening. Seeing Lin Jiade and Mumian's current state, she opened her mouth slightly, unsure of what to say. Hearing footsteps behind Hehuan, Lin Jiade strode over and closed the door behind her.

"You two... are already in this kind of relationship?" Hehuan asked in surprise.

“Our relationship is somewhat complicated and difficult to explain, but we are not lovers because I am not a woman,” Kapok said.

Hehuan said, "I've been looking for you because I saw many people at the scene beating their chests and stamping their feet, saying some very unpleasant things, so I'm a little worried..."

"No one will cause me any trouble, don't worry, I can handle it. It's just that you need to keep an eye on the team."

"I still can't understand what secrets you know about Tianlong that made him willing to withdraw from the competition."

Lin Jiade found an opportunity to get revenge on Hehuan. He stood between Hehuan and Mumian and said, "I won't tell you. This is a secret between me and Senior Mumian."

Hehuan glanced at him sideways: "You stingy little thing!"

"Liar!"

Mu Mian was speechless: "Are you two children?"

Tianlong withdrew because Mumian gave him a few pointers, and he discovered a way to profit even from failure: betting on his own losses and shorting his own losses. Naturally, there were professionals from wealthy backers executing these strategies.

With his ability, if he doesn't make any mistakes next year, he will most likely still make it into the top three and advance to a senior professional title. The wasted year and lost commercial contracts can be compensated by the reverse benefits of match-fixing. Anyway, as long as he performs well next year, his fans and sponsors will come crawling back like dogs. A fence-sitter has never had any dignity.

At the same time, Kapok promised that if she came in first place and qualified to go to the forest, she would transfer that qualification to Tianlong for a fee, but no more than half the market price (although it is hard to believe, the qualification to enter the forest also has a price).

The last point was just an addendum; Tianlong didn't think Mumian had the ability to take first place. He felt Mumian was at best a top-eight finisher. If it weren't for his impulsive lover making a fatal mistake, he would have eliminated Mumian tonight.

Recalling the several opportunities he had to defeat Mu Mian during the match, only to have to hold back and fight to a draw, Tianlong felt frustrated. At that moment, he opened a bottle of Queen Anne whiskey, poured it into a glass, mixed it with ice, and drank it down with some fried onion rings.

The strong liquor went down his throat, and the chicken in the onion rings tasted bland. Tianlong sighed. Although he could profit from his failure, who would want to lose before even starting the game if they embarked on this path?

Just then, the door to his bedroom opened, and the hatter cautiously poked his head in, saying, "Tianlong?"

"Well, I'm here."

"I'm sorry... I messed things up."

Chapter Fifty-Nine: Emerald Curtain and Wind Curtain

A woman's sobs echoed in the darkness. Suddenly, Tianlong remembered her kindness again. When he was ostracized because of his alien blood, it was the hatter who accepted him. In the darkness, they confessed their secrets: she was a woman who identified as a man, and he... was a futa.

Only in the darkness can the futa with alien blood and the woman who identifies as male kiss and embrace like humans, without fear. Tianlong harbors resentment towards the hatter, but she remains his haven.

So he walked over with his wine glass, and the hatter's tears dripped into the wine, which he then held in his mouth, cupped the hatter's face, and put it into his lover's mouth.

Congratulations!

The representative of FN Company, Kane, the unacknowledged brother of Kapok, also arrived, wearing a night-blooming cereus on his chest. It's foreseeable that after Kapok eliminated Tianlong, the tournament's favorite, Kane's value within the company will rise significantly, given that Kapok had bet on Kapok from the beginning.

“I’m here today to say goodbye,” Kane said. “The head of FN Corporation on the Second Continent has been assassinated, and I have to go there to put out the fire. Have any of you bought FN Corporation stock? You’d better sell it all by next Wednesday.”

Fortunately, the potential retail investors here are aware that their small amount of money can't even make a ripple, while financial giants can potentially wipe out their life savings with a single move. Therefore, they don't touch financial products at all.

"Finally, here's a personal suggestion: a top-eight finish might shut up your other sponsors. If you can orchestrate your own failure in the top eight, you'll maximize your profits," Kane said.

“I’ve made it to the quarterfinals, and I can’t give up at this point,” Mu Mian said. “I’m fighting for my place precisely because I don’t want to live the life my brother had, being bossed around by our parents.”

“Stop now, Kapok. Your father and mother won’t let you rebel for long… They’ve already entered the fray,” Kane said sadly.

Lin Jiade and Hehuan exchanged a glance. They already knew that Mu Mian's illegitimate sister was also in the elimination round. It was likely that Kane's "entry" referred to that. Mu Mian could only win against the competitors in her family.

Lin Jiade couldn't find a suitable time to say it, and even fantasized about the early elimination of Kapok's sisters, but reality was not so wonderful. Kane's warning indicated that Kapok would encounter its own "competitor" in the near future.