There are Sea Demons beneath Sea Temple Island!

This was a secret unknown even to the Leading Families of Jiangnan's thirteen cities; an esoteric truth that ordinary people were not qualified to know. Only a handful of Seventh Grade Martial Ancestors, like Feng Lang and Niu Taishan, were privy to it. This was also why, every ten years after the island's ownership changed hands, its new masters were required to visit the Lin Family in Jiangbei—to request aid. A mere one or two Seventh Grade Martial Ancestors could never fend off the Sea Demons lurking beneath the waves, a constant threat to humankind. In return, of course, the Lin Family collected 30 percent of Sea Temple Island's annual profits.

"Well..." Lin Yong said awkwardly, "Family Head, I never got a chance to tell them."

In truth, he had. But because of Su Daiyi's disrespectful treatment, Lin Yong never mentioned such a critical piece of information.

"What about Niu Taishan and Feng Lang? Ordinary people might not grasp the severity of the situation, but they should know what's at stake," Lin Tianxiong continued, sipping his tea.

"...They've all gone into seclusion."

"Hmm?" Lin Tianxiong was stunned. "All of them?"

"Yes." Lin Yong scratched his head. "After their last trip across the sea, Martial Ancestor Niu Taishan and the other ten Martial Ancestors left East Sea to find places for seclusion."

Lin Tianxiong fell into deep thought. For eleven Martial Ancestors to enter seclusion simultaneously is highly unusual. Were they provoked, or is there some other hidden reason?

"Family Head, I fear they knew the decennial Sea Demon tide was approaching, and that's why..." Lin Yong trailed off.

Even if the eleven Martial Ancestors had fled in fear, it wasn't his place to criticize them. It was enough to have hinted at it.

"That must be it." Lin Tianxiong shook his head, his eyes filled with disappointment. The Lin Family had always led the Martial Ancestors from Jiangbei's Martial Dao families to suppress this decennial beast tide.

"Since they've broken protocol and failed to pay us a visit this year, we will increase our share of Sea Temple Island's revenue from the usual 30 percent to 70 percent!" Lin Tianxiong stated flatly. "Tell Lin Cheng and the others to return for now."

Lin Yong hesitated. "But if the beast tide arrives and there are no Martial Artists to suppress it, won't there be countless deaths and injuries..."

"Otherwise, on what grounds would my Lin Family demand 70 percent?" Lin Tianxiong looked calmly at Lin Yong. "You may be an ordinary person, but you still need to use your brain. It's not us begging them to visit. It's them... who must come begging us!"

"The Family Head is wise!" Lin Yong bowed, his hands clasped.

"You may leave."

"Yes."

Lin Tianxiong's gaze followed Lin Yong's retreating figure, his eyes as tranquil and unfathomably deep as an ancient well.

All these upcoming deaths and injuries fall upon the Su Family, the Jiang Family, and you, Xu Lai... You have only yourselves to blame. We may wish to protect the world, but you people refuse to cooperate.

A slight smile touched the lips of Jiangbei's invincible Family Head.

Jiangnan may be wealthier than Jiangbei, but without the strength to protect your assets, it is all as ephemeral as a flower in a mirror or the moon on the water—shattering at the slightest touch.

* * *

「At Dongli University.」

The campus infirmary was bustling for the first time in a long while, but it was still filled with the same group of old doctors. Indeed, Li Shouzhong, Yan Gui, and the others had returned, their faces beaming with joy, as they had just conquered the final technical hurdle in their "brain research." Furthermore, the clinical trial was a resounding success!

Starting today, patients in vegetative states would no longer need to wait for a miracle. By trusting in science, they could awaken within one to six months. This breakthrough involved a newly discovered type of brain cell, and the publication of their paper sent shockwaves through the medical community. Doctors and scholars from home and abroad rushed to East Sea City, and many more hoped to join the medical research lab to uncover the truth. Or rather, they wanted to pad their resumes.

Yet this breakthrough was merely an insignificant part of Xu Lai's medical theories.

"Director Xu, thank you. I'm thanking you on behalf of my mother." A veterinarian on the team, a man named An, had tears brimming in his eyes. His own mother, who lived back in his hometown, had been lying comatose in a hospital bed for ten years. His family, grasping at straws, had allowed her to become the first clinical trial participant. Just yesterday, she had awakened and regained consciousness!

"...You're welcome." Xu Lai looked utterly baffled. Was the man thanking him or insulting him? The whole thing felt bizarre.

"Director Xu, let's all go out for dinner tonight," Li Shouzhong suggested, his eyes full of anticipation.

The other doctors looked on with the same expression, their hopeful gazes like children begging their parents for candy.

Xu Lai pressed his fingers to his forehead. "I have to cook for my daughter tonight."

"No problem, bring your sister-in-law and Yiyi along," Li Shouzhong said.

It was a good thing Ruan Tang wasn't present. Otherwise, she would have definitely kicked Xu Lai a few times. The last time they had dinner with Liu Nanwei, Li Mi, and the others, Li Shouzhong and his colleagues kept calling her "sister-in-law," which nearly made Ruan Tang want to crawl into a hole.

"I'll ask her," Xu Lai sighed. It was hard to refuse such a heartfelt invitation.

He made the call, and Ruan Tang readily agreed. "Okay, I'll get off work early today then."

"Great."

Xu Lai hung up and smiled. "So, where are we eating tonight?"

"Let's go to Sea Temple Island. I have a student who runs a guesthouse there, and the seafood is exceptional," Yan Gui said, rubbing his hands together. "The tide will be out today. If we go this afternoon, we can still catch the ebb tide and gather plenty of crabs and oysters. How's that for dinner?"

"Agreed!" Li Shouzhong and the others nodded enthusiastically. They had been cooped up in the medical research lab for nearly two months without a single day off. They wanted to take this rare chance to relax properly; otherwise, what would they do if their bodies gave out?

Naturally, Xu Lai couldn't refuse such a simple request from these old-timers who had dedicated their entire lives to medicine. Besides, it made no difference to him what he ate.

Just after noon, Yan Gui and the others departed for Sea Temple Island. They hadn't joined in the festivities during the recent Sea Temple Festival, so this trip felt like making up for a missed opportunity.

Xu Lai, meanwhile, headed to Galaxy Kindergarten. Standing at the classroom door, he grinned. "Come on, sweetie, Daddy's taking you to catch crabs!"

"..."

The classroom fell silent as all the children stared enviously at Xu Yiyi.

Qian Xiao piped up excitedly, "Uncle Xu, I want to go too! I'm really good at catching crabs!"

Xu Lai glanced at him. "You should study hard and not always be thinking about playing, right, Teacher Miao?"

Miao Momo pressed her fingers to her forehead. You should put Yiyi down before you say that.

Ultimately, Xu Lai decided to bring Qian Xiao along, and they left under the envious stares of the other children.

"I want to catch crabs too."

"When is our autumn field trip?"

"Teacher Miao, let's go to the beach too!"

"..."

Miao Momo's head was throbbing. She felt wronged. Why is it so hard to manage a class of children?! With the afternoon lessons a lost cause, Miao Momo had no choice but to call in other teachers to help organize games on the school grounds.

* * *

「Sea Temple Island.」

After centuries of development, the island had become a premier diving hotspot and tourist mecca in East Sea City. Golden beaches, azure waters, and a wide variety of fresh, delicious seafood, combined with culinary delights from all over the country, attracted countless tourists to the island. Even on a workday Monday, the island was teeming with people.

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