My and Their Anime-Style Otherworldly Survival Adventure

Could it be that......

"Mr. Jiuxiao, did you already know of my existence? Or perhaps, was all of this arranged by you?" Tina's voice carried a hint of disbelief and complex emotions. Her gaze darted back and forth across Jiuxiao, trying to find a clue in his fearless expression.

Jiu Xiao smiled slightly, a sly glint in his eyes: "To say it was all planned would be an exaggeration. I was just being prepared. But I didn't expect things to go so smoothly. Perhaps it's a blessing from heaven."

Tina was stunned; she had no idea where she had slipped up. Then she felt relieved; her loss wasn't undeserved, especially since her opponent had even planned her escape route. For someone in Tina's line of work, mission failure meant death—it was her way of survival.

"I'm clearly... only good at fighting, yet I lost to you... This shouldn't be happening, you have to take responsibility for me." Tina's words carried a hint of coquetry, completely lacking the aura of an assassin. This unexpected cuteness was irresistible to Jiu Xiao; this was exactly the kind of person he wanted to see!

Upon hearing this, Jiu Xiao couldn't help but chuckle. She gently took Tina's small hand and helped her up from the floor, her eyes full of smiles.

"Fighting is just a part of life, Tina. You have many other possibilities, you just haven't discovered them yet. As for taking responsibility, well, since you put it that way, I'll reluctantly accept you as... well, half a sister, and half a maid. Sister-maid, it sounds pretty cool."

Yuan Jiuxiao, the sister-collecting maniac, is back online!

"Sister?" Tina blinked and continued, "But didn't you say you already have a sister? Onii-chan? If I call you that, won't your sister get jealous?"

Jiu Xiao's lips twitched. How did this perfectly normal little girl suddenly become so teasy? Or is it a talent shared by all females? However, Jiu Xiao wouldn't let the topic continue to go astray. He coughed lightly and said seriously, "Tina, I won't ask too much about your past, but there's no need to call me 'Onii-chan.' I'm afraid my heart can't take it. Just call me Brother Jiu Xiao like Xia Shi does."

Upon hearing this, Tina's lips curled into a mischievous smile; she seemed to have a bit of an understanding of Jiu Xiao.

"Okay, Onii-chan, I got it, Onii-chan. From now on, I'll call you Brother Jiuxiao." Tina winked playfully, her tone teasing yet making the atmosphere more relaxed. Jiuxiao shook his head helplessly, but felt a touch of joy at Tina's liveliness.

"So, Brother Jiuxiao, what should I do next?" Tina's smile faded, and she asked seriously. She knew that although she had left her original organization, she still had a long road ahead and needed a clear direction.

Jiuxiao pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke: "First, you need a completely new identity, one that allows you to live freely without being bound by anything. I will arrange everything for you, so you don't need to worry about it. Come on, come back with me to see the Holy Emperor. It's time to put an end to this matter."

Tina nodded, and was about to take a step to follow Jiu Xiao when her legs suddenly gave way, and she almost knelt down. Jiu Xiao reacted quickly, catching her up, a hint of worry flashing in his eyes.

"What's wrong? Were you injured in the previous battle?" Jiu Xiao asked with concern, gently touching Tina's shoulder to check her injuries.

Tina shook her head slightly, her face a little pale: "It's nothing, I was probably just exhausted from the previous battle."

Upon hearing this, Jiu Xiao felt a pang of guilt. After all, Tina's predicament was largely due to his scheme. Although the ultimate goal was to rescue Tina, the risks and hardships involved were very real.

Do you want me to carry you there?

Tina was slightly taken aback, then she shook her head and stretched out her hands toward Jiuxiao, her intention very clear.

Jiu Xiao looked at Tina's outstretched hands, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He hadn't expected Tina to be so outgoing. Although Tina appeared strong on the surface, she clearly still needed someone to lean on at this moment. He gently bent down and lifted Tina into a princess carry, his movements very gentle.

Tina gently rested her head on Jiuxiao's chest. Jiuxiao's strong and powerful heartbeat made her feel an unprecedented sense of security and warmth. Tina's heartbeat gradually calmed down, as if the fatigue and tension of the past few days had been released in this moment.

"Brother Jiuxiao, thank you." Tina's voice was barely audible, yet it was full of sincere emotion.

Jiuxiao smiled slightly, said nothing more, and simply said calmly, "Hold on tight."

Jiu Xiao leaped from the high-rise building with Tina in his arms. Tina gazed at Jiu Xiao's face, slightly blurred in the moonlight. She felt the howling wind gradually recede into the distance, leaving only the clear sound of a heartbeat. She couldn't tell if it was Jiu Xiao's, her own, or a strange melody created by their resonance. Instinctively, Tina tightened her arms around Jiu Xiao's neck.

Back at the hotel where the previous meeting had taken place, Jiu Xiao, looking slightly guilty, put Tina down. Pushing open the door, he found no trace of Qi Wu Xuanzong, only the Holy Emperor and a group of young women.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Jiuxiao return unharmed. Xiaoyuan looked Jiuxiao over anxiously, only relaxing completely after confirming he was uninjured.

"Jiuxiao Jun, are you alright?" Xiaoyuan asked with concern.

Jiu Xiao nodded, indicating that he was alright. The others also offered words of comfort, and the atmosphere instantly became warm and harmonious. Tina stood to the side, quietly watching this scene, a strange emotion welling up inside her. Although this concern wasn't directed at her, the atmosphere made her feel very comfortable.

The Holy Emperor turned his gentle gaze to Tina, noticing her slightly pale face and trembling body, and said softly, "You must be Tina? Thank you for showing mercy. Although Jiuxiao told me that you were sent by Qiwu Xuanzong to deal with me, I can sense that you have no ill intentions."

Tina lowered her head, feeling even more ashamed at the Emperor's magnanimity. Although assassinating the Emperor was not her intention, and she hadn't even had a chance to put it into practice, this sense of guilt weighed heavily on her heart like a boulder.

"Your Majesty, I am so sorry. If Brother Jiuxiao hadn't stopped me in time, I'm afraid I would have committed a terrible mistake. Thank you for your magnanimity, I..." Tina's voice was barely audible. She didn't know how to express her feelings, let alone how to face the person in front of her. If she were in his shoes, she certainly wouldn't be able to easily forgive someone who tried to take her life, even if it was unrelated to the other person's will.

Seeing the atmosphere getting a bit awkward, Jiuxiao changed the subject, saying, "Why didn't I see that old man from Qiwu Xuanzong? Could he have fled to avoid punishment?"

The Holy Emperor explained, "Emperor Qi Wuxuan surrendered and left after you destroyed the machine guns on the other two buildings, probably because he was afraid you would settle scores with him later."

Jiu Xiao felt a great pity; he hadn't even had a chance to mark Qi Wu Xuanzong with his fire magic before the old man escaped. This showed that the old man was very discerning, had great vision, and was destined for great things. However, Jiu Xiao also knew that such opponents were the most dangerous. They wouldn't be discouraged by a temporary setback; instead, they would secretly accumulate strength, seeking the next opportunity to counterattack.

“Although Qi Wu Xuanzong has left, his influence in Osaka should not be underestimated. Your Majesty, you must not let your guard down. Although her assassination attempt failed this time, it is hard to guarantee that she will not make a comeback. In the future, you should try to reduce your outings. After all, I cannot always be by your side to protect you,” Jiu Xiao said in a deep voice, his eyes very serious.

The Holy Emperor nodded in agreement: "Indeed, the power of Qi Wu Xuanzong is not to be underestimated, but I will not give him another chance. This time, I owe a great debt to Mr. Yuan. If it weren't for you, I'm afraid I would have been in grave danger. I wonder what kind of reward Mr. Yuan desires this time? I will do my best to fulfill it if it is within my power." The Holy Emperor's words were full of sincerity and gratitude.

Jiu Xiao smiled slightly and waved his hand. "Your Majesty is too kind. I only hope that you will not pursue Tina's responsibility. In a way, this child is also a victim. If we can arrange a new life for Tina so that she can start over, that would be the best." Jiu Xiao's gaze fell gently on Tina, full of affection for her.

Upon hearing this, Tina's eyes reddened slightly. She hadn't expected Jiuxiao to plead for her, and even more so, she hadn't expected the Holy Emperor to be so lenient. She lowered her head, her voice slightly choked, and said, "Thank... thank you, Brother Jiuxiao, thank you, Your Majesty the Holy Emperor..."

The Holy Emperor smiled slightly, his eyes revealing approval and satisfaction. "Very well, since Mr. Yuan has said so, then I will re-register a new identity for Tina, so that she can stay away from the shadows of the past and start a new life. I will arrange for relevant personnel to handle this matter as soon as possible to ensure that Tina can smoothly integrate into the new environment."

After dealing with these troublesome matters, it was already past ten o'clock at night. After escorting the Holy Emperor back to her residence, Jiu Xiao and his group prepared to disperse. The Holy Emperor stood at the door, watching their departing figures, a warm feeling welling up in her heart. She knew that everything that had happened today was thanks to Jiu Xiao and his group's help; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

"Your Majesty, you should also get some rest," a servant stepped forward and gently reminded him.

The Holy Emperor nodded and turned to go inside. She sat on the sofa, picked up a cup of hot tea, and took a small sip. Recalling the events of the day, a lingering fear crept into her heart. She understood that as a ruler, she must remain vigilant at all times, giving her enemies no opportunity to exploit. But at the same time, she recognized her own weakness, realizing that she could not handle all threats alone. She needed greater power and more reliable allies to jointly protect this land and its people. Thinking of Jiuxiao, the Holy Emperor felt that a marriage alliance might be a good option…

Meanwhile, Jiu Xiao and Tina's group were walking home. A gentle night breeze blew by, carrying a slight chill. Jiu Xiao sneezed and muttered, "I have a feeling someone's thinking about me. Is it just my imagination?"

Chapter 110 A Budding Talent

Tina stayed close to Jiuxiao, her heart filled with gratitude. She knew that she was able to start over entirely because of Jiuxiao's help and the Holy Emperor's forgiveness.

"Brother Jiuxiao, thank you so much," Tina said softly, her voice filled with deep gratitude. Her bright eyes, like the moon in the sky, swept away everything.

The haze added a touch of tenderness to the quiet night.

Jiuxiao stopped and turned around, looking into Tina's eyes. "Tina, you don't need to thank me. As long as you can live a good life, that's the greatest thanks you can give me." He gently patted Tina's head and continued, "Remember, the past is the past, and no one can change it. But we can choose how to face the future. I hope you can let go of your burdens and start living in the sunshine again."

Tina nodded and silently took Jiu Xiao's hand. Jiu Xiao held one hand on each arm, Fate on his left and Tina on his right. Xiao Yuan and Sania felt a little jealous; although they knew Jiu Xiao only saw them as younger sisters, they couldn't help feeling a little disappointed. In the night, their figures gradually disappeared into the distance, the streetlights casting their shadows longer and longer.

Back home, Yeonju expressed a slight protest against Jiuxiao's habit of frequently bringing girls home. However, upon learning about Tina, this slight dissatisfaction instantly turned into fondness. The unfamiliarity of the Cursed Child made Yeonju feel even closer, and since Xia Shi knew Tina, the children quickly became acquainted. After a brief self-introduction, Tina officially joined this big family.

Kisara especially liked Tina. In her words, she felt an instant connection with Tina upon first sight, an affection that stirred within her. So much so that upon their first meeting, Kisara immediately pulled Tina into her arms and gave her a good rub, acting like a strange old man. While some things changed because of Jiuxiao's appearance, there seemed to be some unchanging law maintaining the world's operation, which made Jiuxiao marvel at the wonder of fate.

That evening, everyone held a simple welcome party for Tina, which ended late at night. Except for Tina, who possessed the owl gene, all the little ones became drowsy, and even the adults, including Jiu Xiao, were yawning constantly. Due to the short notice, there wasn't enough time to prepare a separate bedroom for Tina, so Jiu Xiao arranged for her to stay with Yan Zhu and the others temporarily. Incidentally, Fate, Yan Zhu, and Xia Shi were already sharing a room, making the little ones' bedroom feel a bit like a dormitory. With Tina added, there wasn't enough space.

But there was nothing he could do but make do for the night. Just as Jiuxiao was settling in and heading back to his room to rest, his communicator suddenly rang. It was a special communicator that Jiuxiao and Ziyuan Xian used to contact each other regularly. Because today was their agreed-upon monthly contact day, Jiuxiao had taken the communicator out of his system space early on, so that if he couldn't get in touch, Ziyuan Xian wouldn't notice anything amiss.

After the call connected, Jiu Xiao was initially a little apprehensive, as he knew that Qi Wu Xuanzong was also a member of the Five Flying Soaring Society. Jiu Xiao's actions today were undoubtedly a slap in the face to the Five Flying Soaring Society. It wasn't that he was afraid of their power, but rather that Jiu Xiao didn't want to alert them, otherwise his plan to trick the Five Flying Soaring Society later would be difficult to implement.

But the result was very unexpected for Jiu Xiao. Zi Yuan Xian Yi not only did not blame him, but also expressed his implicit approval of Jiu Xiao's actions today.

“Jiuxiao, I’ve heard about what you did today.” Ziyuan Xianyi’s voice slowly came from the other end of the communicator, with a hint of barely perceptible laughter. “You did very well. Qi Wu Xuanzong’s reach has gone too far. Osaka is already that old man’s territory, but he’s still not satisfied. Does he really think Wuxiang will be his alone? Hmph! This kind of ambitious guy will become a stumbling block for us sooner or later.”

Upon hearing this, Jiu Xiao was overjoyed. It seemed the Five Flying Stars Society wasn't a monolithic entity after all. He hoped they would fight amongst themselves, their minds clashing, so he could reap the benefits. After condemning Qi Wu Xuanzong, the communication ended. Zi Yuan Xian Yi didn't issue any new instructions, only telling Jiu Xiao to be cautious and not to prematurely reveal their influence in Tokyo. Jiu Xiao naturally had no objections; this was exactly what he wanted. After hanging up, Jiu Xiao let out a long sigh of relief, a huge weight lifted from his shoulders.

In the early hours of the morning, Tina tossed and turned beside Yeonju, unable to sleep. Her owl-like nature made her nocturnal. Adding to this, many things had happened the day before, and she had been pondering the future. If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad, but Yeonju was a terrible sleeper, kicking her every now and then or putting her arm around Tina's face, making it even harder for Tina to fall asleep.

Tina got out of bed and decided to go outside for a walk to clear her head. As she passed Jiuxiao's room, a plan suddenly came to her. Looking around suspiciously like a thief, and finding no one else in the hallway, Tina quietly entered Jiuxiao's room.

While Jiu Xiao was sound asleep, he suddenly felt something soft and fragrant press against him. Almost instinctively, he pulled the soft, fragrant thing into his arms. Tina froze, startled by Jiu Xiao's action; she thought he had woken up. After confirming it was a false alarm, Tina's heart relaxed. Jiu Xiao's embrace made her feel very safe, just like a father's. Although Tina had never experienced fatherly love, that didn't stop her from longing for it.

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, Jiu Xiao felt something pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe. Struggling to open his eyes, he saw Tina sleeping soundly against his chest, a tear still glistening on her lips…

"Oh, it's Tina. I thought it was sleep paralysis..." Jiu Xiao murmured, but the next second he suddenly woke up, all sleepiness gone. The scene in front of him was a bit too stimulating. Tina's pajamas were flipped up, revealing everything that should and shouldn't be revealed.

At this moment, Jiu Xiao desperately wanted to recite a poem: "The spring's eye is silent, cherishing its gentle flow; the shade of the trees reflects on the water, loving the soft sunshine. A tiny lotus bud just shows its pointed tip; a dragonfly has already alighted on it." But upon closer inspection, there was no dragonfly, only Jiu Xiao's own fingers. No wonder Jiu Xiao had felt something soft on his hand from the very beginning! If anyone else saw this scene, his reputation would be ruined!

He quickly pulled back the covers, then looked around the room. Luckily, this was his room; otherwise, he would have been in a real predicament. Jiuxiao gently straightened Tina's pajamas, covered her with the blanket to make sure she wouldn't catch a cold. Tina seemed to sense something, mumbled a few words in her sleep, and then fell back into a deep sleep. Jiuxiao secretly rejoiced; thankfully, Tina hadn't woken up, otherwise the situation would have been even more awkward.

Just as Jiu Xiao was worrying about how to get Tina back to Yan Zhu's room next door, there was a relentless knock on the door. Jiu Xiao panicked immediately, and in the few seconds he hesitated, the doorknob turned, and the door slowly opened. Before he could stop it, Jiu Xiao quickly pulled the blanket over Tina's head, using his signature move—pretending to be asleep! That's right, as long as the blanket wasn't pulled off, he still had a chance to get away with it.

But things often go against people's expectations.

Seeing no response from inside the room, Fate carefully pushed open the door and tiptoed to the bedside. Seeing Jiuxiao seemingly asleep, Fate gently called out a few times; her task was to wake him.

As everyone knows, you can never wake someone who's pretending to be asleep. Fate gave up on her futile efforts and instead gazed at Jiu Xiao's sleeping face. Come to think of it, Fate felt like it had been a long time since she'd slept next to Jiu Xiao; the last time they'd slept together was a year ago. This made Fate somewhat nostalgic for their life on the deserted island. Although conditions there were harsh, and they didn't have these friends around, at least they could fall asleep next to her beloved Jiu Xiao brother every day.

"Once in a while is fine, right? Even if it's just for a little while," Fate thought to herself.

Jiu Xiao, sensing that Fate hadn't responded for a while, assumed she'd given up and breathed a sigh of relief. But the next second, Jiu Xiao felt something tiny slip into his blanket... oh my god! Jiu Xiao's heart sank; he could only continue pretending to be asleep. He never expected his little angel Fate to sneak into his bed. Normally, he wouldn't have let his Fate-themed pillow get away with it, but now he felt guilty...

Before Fate could even "enjoy" herself after snuggling into Jiu Xiao's bed, she was startled by the sight before her. She discovered Tina was there too. A multitude of thoughts raced through her mind, but she quickly dismissed them. She trusted that Jiu Xiao wouldn't be so heartless as to do anything to Tina. From his interactions with the other children, she could tell that while he might do intimate things, he always kept things within certain limits and never crossed any lines.

Suppressing her surprise, Fate tried her best to keep her breathing steady so as not to wake the two sleeping people. She gently moved her body, attempting to leave the crowded bed without disturbing anyone. However, the warmth of the bed and the comforting scent emanating from Jiu Xiao made her reluctant to leave. Since she was already there, Fate decided to stay a little longer; after all, she wasn't alone.

Just then, Tina suddenly rolled over, almost making intimate contact with Fate. Fate was so startled that she immediately held her breath, freezing in place, afraid of making the slightest sound. Fortunately, Tina only mumbled a few words in a daze and didn't actually wake up.

Jiu Xiao felt utterly restless, as if the two soft, fragrant little girls had turned into cold, chilling ice, slowly stripping away his warmth. Just as Jiu Xiao was praying that things wouldn't get any more complicated, the knocking on the door sounded again...

Although Fate didn't close the door completely when she came in, Xiaoyuan still knocked politely to let her know she was coming in. At the same time, Jiuxiao clearly felt Fate's body tremble slightly; it seemed this girl might also be feeling guilty.

"Jiuxiao-kun, wake up! If you don't get up, Musang-nee will be angry." Xiaoyuan called Jiuxiao's name while shaking his body. Seeing that Jiuxiao did not respond, Xiaoyuan pulled open the curtains, and the dazzling sunlight instantly filled the entire room, causing Jiuxiao to involuntarily squint.

The room suddenly lit up, and Xiaoyuan noticed the unusual thing on the bed. Was Jiuxiao's blanket a little too bulging? Just as Xiaoyuan was about to lift the blanket to check, the blanket moved.

She stirred. Tina rubbed her sleepy eyes and groggily peeked out from under the covers. Her golden hair shimmered brilliantly in the morning sun. She didn't seem to be fully awake from her dream, her eyes filled with a hint of confusion and bewilderment.

Tina sat up, and the blanket slowly slipped down, revealing Fate with her head down and her face flushed. Fate was extremely annoyed. She didn't understand why she had been so foolish as not to wake Jiuxiao and the others immediately, and even "got involved." Now she was so embarrassed that she wanted to find a crack in the ground to crawl into.

Tina yawned, and in her drowsy state, she immediately spotted Xiaoyuan standing by the window, looking surprised and uncertain.

Good morning, Sister Xiaoyuan, what time is it?

"Good morning... Wait, Tina, what are you doing here? And Fate too? Didn't you just come up to wake up Jiuxiao-jun? How come..." Xiaoyuan asked in surprise, her gaze shifting back and forth between Tina and Fate, as if she had discovered some incredible secret.

Tina then realized her current situation, looked down sharply at herself, then looked up at Xiaoyuan, and calmly said, "Good morning, Xiaoyuan-jie. Last night was truly a pleasant night. Although it hurt a little at first, Brother Jiuxiao was very gentle..."

Jiu Xiao couldn't listen anymore. What kind of outrageous talk was this? If Tina continued like this, he might really get arrested. He abruptly stood up and interrupted, "Tina, stop talking nonsense. Nothing happened between us last night. I don't even know when you crawled into my bed, okay?" Jiu Xiao quickly clarified, while gesturing to Fate and Tina with his eyes, hoping they would cooperate with his explanation.

Tina was startled by Jiuxiao's sudden loud interruption, then gave an innocent look.

"Brother Jiuxiao, didn't you say last night that you would take responsibility for me? Why are you denying it today?" Tina blinked her big eyes, looking at Jiuxiao with a wronged expression, as if Jiuxiao had really done something to wrong her.

Jiuxiao suddenly felt completely overwhelmed. Where did this all come from? They were on completely different wavelengths!

Jiuxiao gave Tina a chop to the neck and explained, "Don't talk nonsense, look how scared you are, Xiaoyuan! Although I did say I would take responsibility for you after I defeated you last night, that meant I would take care of you. Don't take things out of context! And what about the pain at first? You mean what happened during the fight, right?"

Chapter 111 Hot Spring Trip 1

Tina clutched her aching head, a sly glint in her eyes, but she still feigned a pitiful look, muttering softly, "Yeah, what else?"

Xiao Yuan listened intently, completely bewildered, her brow furrowed as she tried to piece together the truth of last night's events from Jiu Xiao and Tina's conversation. Her already not-so-bright little brain was now working even faster, but she still couldn't seem to keep up with their pace. However, she understood one thing: it seemed to be all a misunderstanding, and Jiu Xiao hadn't done anything.

After a flurry of activity, Jiu Xiao finally cleared up the misunderstanding caused by Tina's mischief. He sighed helplessly and looked at Fate, who was still pretending to be asleep. The child was good in every way, except for being too introverted, and now this had happened...

After everyone left the room, they turned a blind eye to Fate's behavior. It was best not to expose her, or she would have to flee Earth overnight. For the next few days, Fate avoided eye contact with Jiu Xiao, afraid he would bring up her embarrassing secret.

With Tina joining the family, the atmosphere became much livelier. Enju finally found a like-minded comrade-in-arms; both of them were big fans of the anime "Tenchu! Girls' Love." Because of this, Enju repeatedly asked Madoka and Fate to transform for them, making the two of them quite embarrassed. Transforming during battle is one thing, but this kind of performance-oriented transformation is another matter entirely.

Unable to bear watching any longer, Kisara gave the two a good talking-to, which finally made Enju behave a little. However, whenever she had free time, Enju would still pull Tina aside to discuss the plot of "Tenchu ​​Girl," and the two could talk on and on for ages. Even Jiuxiao sometimes had to admire their passion for the anime. They even wanted to cosplay the characters, and secretly bought related costumes and props online. When Jiuxiao found out, he offered to be their photographer to help with their cosplay. Although Jiuxiao wasn't a fan of "Tenchu ​​Girl," what man doesn't dream of being a photographer?

Time flies like an arrow, and it's already early July. Jiuxiao has been frequently traveling between the two worlds, constantly transporting resources to the deserted island in the other world. This includes not only food and daily necessities, but also a considerable amount of building materials and farming tools. Thanks to the efforts of Jiuxiao and the Five Flying Society, it's rare to see "wild" Cursed Children on the streets of Tokyo anymore. Jiuxiao has gathered over two thousand Cursed Children under his command, forcing him to transfer a large portion of them to the island in the other world ahead of schedule for farming.

It has to be said that the Five Flying Spirits Society is a very effective tool organization. Jiu Xiao silently gave the Five Flying Spirits Society a thumbs up. Although they often act out of self-interest, they have objectively contributed to reducing the wandering and suffering of the Cursed Children. However, Jiu Xiao also understands that the Five Flying Spirits Society is essentially still an organization driven by self-interest, and their actions are often accompanied by ulterior motives. Therefore, while utilizing them, Jiu Xiao remains vigilant, always prepared to deal with any possible unforeseen circumstances.

The Five Falcons didn't help Jiu Xiao for no reason. They had issued him a mission—to subjugate four Gastrea during the extermination phase and bring back samples of their carcasses—for reasons unknown. This was because the Five Falcons primarily focused on mechanized soldiers, and their research on Gastrea, or rather, biological weapons, was not in-depth, at least not according to Jiu Xiao's intelligence. Although Jiu Xiao was suspicious, he didn't refuse, as it would both prove his abilities and yield a substantial reward.

In addition, Jiuxiao also completed the second phase of the main quest issued by the system: increase the island's population to over 100. Reward: Unknown. Since Jiuxiao sent over two thousand Cursed Children to the island at once, this quest was completed three days later. It seems the system determines the island's residents based on actual landing and stable living on the island for three days, rather than simply counting them as residents as soon as the population reaches the target.

The system's reward this time was unlocking the first stage of the system shop. Jiu Xiao examined it and found it filled with technological creations. Perhaps because it was only the first stage, the products were relatively basic, but even so, they caught Jiu Xiao's eye. The shop included many kinds of power generation devices, efficient water purification equipment, basic medical instruments, and some automated tools for agricultural production.

Among them, the most technologically advanced are various robots. There are automated construction robots for building, capable of erecting sturdy houses and facilities in a short time; there are agricultural robots specifically for farming, which can autonomously complete sowing, fertilizing, and harvesting, greatly improving agricultural production efficiency; there are patrol robots, equipped with basic weapon systems and monitoring equipment, which can perform patrol missions on the island to ensure the safety of residents; and there are also nanny robots, which have multiple functions, including caring for people, cooking, providing first aid, and teaching pre-recorded knowledge.

These robots come in all sorts of bizarre appearances and all have a metallic finish. While Jiu Xiao was slightly disappointed that they weren't biomimetic, their level of intelligence was extremely high, and they were all electrically powered. Correspondingly, their prices were also considerable. For example, a high-efficiency water purifier in a store, capable of purifying 100 tons of fresh water per day, only costs 200 Home Coins, while a robot, even the cheapest patrol robot, costs 50 Home Coins. The most expensive construction robot costs a whopping 500 Home Coins.

Homestead Coins are the system's latest currency, and there are only two ways to obtain them: 1. You immediately receive 3 Homestead Coins for each new member added to the island; no two members can receive the same amount repeatedly. 2. You receive 1 Homestead Coin per day for every 100 members on the island, with a daily limit of 100. Furthermore, items purchased from the Tier 1 Shop can only be used on the island and cannot be taken off the island. Despite these restrictions, Jiu Xiao was still incredibly excited. These technological creations would undoubtedly greatly improve the living conditions and quality of life of the island's residents.

Jiuxiao first decided to purchase a batch of basic medical equipment, water purification equipment, and wind turbines to ensure the health and drinking water safety of the island's residents. As the population continues to increase, the construction of this infrastructure becomes particularly important.

At the same time, Jiu Xiao also considered the island's security. He decided to purchase a number of patrol robots to carry out patrol missions on the island, promptly identifying and dealing with potential threats. These robots are equipped with basic weapon systems and monitoring equipment, which can effectively improve the island's security level.

In terms of agricultural production, Jiuxiao bought a batch of farming robots to clear land on the island first. After all, you can't expect a bunch of children to farm, right? Finally, there were construction robots. These were too expensive; only three were bought so far. Moreover, Jiuxiao needed to provide building materials before construction could begin. Fortunately, the island had abundant tree resources, which could serve as initial building materials. Jiuxiao decided to organize the children to cut down trees. The 2000 Cursed Children worked extremely efficiently, comparable to a well-trained labor army.

Jiu Xiao left Xia Shi behind to oversee the overall situation, while he himself became a porter, specifically responsible for moving supplies. The various supplies needed for 2000 people were no small amount, and in the initial construction phase, it wasn't feasible to build only housing for 2000 people. Considering that an average of 200-300 people would be added each month, although this number would gradually decrease, building housing for 5000 people ahead of schedule was always a good idea.

Fortunately, the main material of the building was wood, which greatly alleviated Jiu Xiao and his team's concerns about construction costs. Although the wood required processing and transportation, these were not problems thanks to the efficient operation of the construction robots.

It took Jiuxiao half a month to move all the necessary supplies and arrange them according to the plan. During this time, Jiuxiao also spent most of his savings. Fortunately, the time flow of the two worlds was unified, so there would be no more troublesome situations like three days on a deserted island or a year with a black bomb.

Once the deployment on the island is complete, the rest can be handled by various robots. The children are also very well-behaved, managing the island's life in an orderly manner with the help of the nanny robots.

It was Friday, and Jiuxiao, finally free, was relaxing on the sofa when Musang approached him, asking about their planned trip to a hot spring resort. Last month, Musang and her friends had won a four-person deluxe stay at the Ikebukuro Tami Onsen Hotel in a shopping street raffle. Upon hearing this, Jiuxiao's eyes lit up, and he immediately sat up straight. Lately, he had devoted almost all his energy to the island's development and management, and hadn't truly relaxed in a long time. The thought of enjoying a leisurely hot spring trip with the girls filled him with joy.

"Haha, I almost forgot about that." Jiu Xiao patted his forehead and laughed, "Since we've already won the ticket, of course we have to go. Besides, everyone has been working hard these past few days, so this is a good opportunity to relax."

“Alright, I’ll go and inform the others now. We’ll set off tomorrow.” After saying that, Kisara turned around to prepare to inform the others.

Jiuxiao continued to lie on the sofa, secretly planning the arrangements for this hot spring trip. Although an open-air hot spring party was definitely out of the question, it wouldn't hurt for everyone to soak in the hot spring together in their swimsuits; there was a lot of room for maneuver involved.

On Saturday, Jiu Xiao and a group of girls headed to the Ikebukuro Tami Onsen Hotel. This hotel wasn't far from their home, only a ten- or twenty-minute drive away. The hotel had a very pleasant environment; the hot spring water had a sulfurous smell that made it very comfortable.

At Jiu Xiao's insistence, the eight of them chose a private hot spring room. Luckily, the hot spring hotel sold swimsuits, otherwise his plans would have been ruined. After changing into their swimsuits, everyone looked youthful and energetic, and Jiu Xiao couldn't take his eyes off them.

"Jiuxiao, how do you think of my swimsuit? Are you completely captivated?" Yanzhu asked playfully, tightly hugging Jiuxiao's arm and rubbing her entire body against him.