Chapter 20: The Starless Card

Cassanova’s arrival made Long Yin realize it was time for him to leave this place.

Cassanova had come well-prepared, bringing such an abundance of delicious food that it filled half the small cabin. At the sight of this feast, Long Yin felt that life was boundlessly beautiful.

He grabbed Little Hammer, who had returned without anyone noticing, and together, boy and pet began to devour the food with abandon.

As they ate, recollecting the food they’d had over the past three years, Long Yin was suddenly moved to tears. This was how life ought to be! Thinking back to those days without food, when every few days he had to discuss barbecue techniques with those self-sacrificing animals, he truly felt he’d gone against the natural order; Long Yin was embarrassed even to think of it.

Clutching his now round belly, Long Yin leaned against Little Hammer’s back, his features radiating satisfaction.

Little Hammer, who had grown to two meters tall and over a meter wide in all directions, showed no pressure after consuming all the delicacies in the cabin. Both bear paws gripped food, stuffing it eagerly into his mouth.

Long Yin patted Little Hammer. “Careful you don’t burst!”

With a guileless face and an equally honest expression—though in truth, nothing could be more deceptive—Little Hammer shook his head. “Yin, I can manage.”

A year ago, thanks to Long Yin’s persistent efforts, Little Hammer finally no longer needed him to guess his intentions. Now, the two could communicate fluently in human language. Little Hammer’s speech had become smooth, but most of the time, he preferred to speak in a tone that sounded clumsy. In his own words, that tone fit his image better. Long Yin could only sweat, thinking, Just admit you want to better trick others.

Since Little Hammer insisted, Long Yin had no objections; after all, once they left here, there would be no shortage of good things to eat.

Cassanova’s attention lingered on Little Hammer only briefly when the bear appeared, and after confirming he was his grandson’s pet, he paid him no further mind. An eighth-rank card beast was nothing to him. If not for the fear of arousing outside suspicion, he’d have wanted to assign his grandson a whole squad of ninth-rank card beasts as full-time guardians.

Looking at his refined little grandson, Cassanova was increasingly pleased. Especially after his unfilial son recounted how the child had endured and grown through three years of training, he could feel nothing but shock and pride. Who said the Long family couldn’t produce a card maker? Now, at just seven years old, his little grandson was already a level-five card maker! Ha! Heaven still favored their family; was the chance to break the ancestral curse perhaps in his little grandson’s hands?

His grandson was precious indeed. Ever since he’d learned from his son about the boy’s identity, Cassanova knew that he must never let the hidden families discover this. Thus, concealing the child’s identity became a necessity.

Over these three years, Cassanova had wanted to visit his grandson, but after a quarrel with his son, he received a distress signal and was drawn away, unable to return. One incident after another followed—his own identity was exposed, and his grandson’s ill-tempered, useless father almost lost his life. Fortunately, everyone else was unharmed, but the Long family, long hidden in the shadows, was forced out. Although Long Yin’s identity remained secret, if he left, as Cassanova’s apprentice, he would surely arouse suspicion. The boy’s genius at card making would become his death warrant!

He’d once thought his protection would ensure a smooth path for his grandson, but now that his own identity was exposed, it only brought more trouble. Hiding the boy’s identity seemed the only way forward.

After some thought, Cassanova decided to tell his grandson everything. That night, he talked with Long Yin through the night. Long Yin’s gaze was icy—those people deserved death. They had harmed his father; although he had never met him, he was still his father. To harm his kin—these people, no matter how far, must pay! Long Yin sneered, a flash of murderous coldness in his eyes.

Counting on his fingers, aside from the several hundred loyal Long family retainers scattered across the states—whose surnames had been granted and whose original names were lost—there were only seven people left among the two branches of the family! The family’s strength was all but destroyed. With Cassanova’s exposure and his father’s brush with death, his two older sisters were safe for now, but there was no word of his mother. Cassanova, however, was more concerned for the boy’s uncle, whose business empire was left in ruins. The family’s commercial interests in five regions—Federal District, Hanzhou, Yanzhou, Yunzhou, and Dezhou—were eradicated, and even Lianzhou and Mingzhou were purged. Only Lizhou, near the card beast territories, survived intact.

At this point, Cassanova couldn’t help feeling guilty. Had he not been angry with his son and cut off contact, things might have been different. Though he restored the connection three months later, business was like war—three months’ delay was fatal. Many loyal retainers were affected.

“This was premeditated!” said Long Yin.

Cassanova nodded. “Those old, cunning foxes—I thought they didn’t know, but it turns out they’re just patient. Now, with the Long family’s power at its lowest, I must bear great responsibility. Across the states, some of our retainers are being hunted. I have to save as many as I can.” At this, he suddenly seemed to age ten years.

“Will it be dangerous?” Long Yin’s brows furrowed.

Cassanova stroked his head with a smile. “Silly child, if I told you it wasn’t dangerous, you wouldn’t believe me. But don’t worry—your grandpa is still a tenth-rank card beast; saving a few people is no problem.”

Long Yin frowned. “To have eradicated a centuries-old power and yet let some escape—I don’t buy it. This is just baiting a trap, waiting for you, or rather, waiting for any Long family member to show themselves. Grandpa, you…”

“Little Silver, I know what you want to say, but I have to go!” Cassanova interrupted. “If I don’t… the hearts of our people will scatter. Raising people is easy; raising loyalty is hard. Most of our subordinates are Long family retainers. If we stand by and watch, concerned only for our own safety, the dead will say nothing, but their descendants will. The Long family has raised generation after generation; we can’t let it all collapse now. Perhaps the enemy is waiting to catch a big fish—or maybe they’d be just as happy to see us do nothing and fall apart from within.”

Little Hammer, listening nearby, wore a grave expression. His master was in a terrible mood, and he flexed his paws in frustration, feeling how weak he still was.

Long Yin bit his lip, then looked up at Cassanova. “If you must go, Grandpa, will you wait one day for me? Leave tomorrow.”

A troubled look crossed Cassanova’s face.

“It sounds like you’ll inevitably encounter danger. Since the enemy is lying in wait, those people are unlikely to be in immediate peril. Give me one day—I want to prepare something for you.”

Cassanova scratched his disheveled hair, then, seeing the worry on Long Yin’s face, nodded. One day would make no difference. He’d wait to see what surprise his grandson would come up with.

Seeing Cassanova agree, Long Yin finally relaxed a little and steadied his emotions. He began taking out card-making tools and medicinal herbs from his storage. As he worked, he said, “Grandpa, Little Hammer, whatever happens next, don’t panic. I’ll be fine.”

Cassanova was startled. “Good boy, what are you up to? Tell Grandpa first?”

Long Yin didn’t look up, his hands busy. “Creating a card!”

“A card?” Cassanova’s wrinkled old face showed confusion. “You want to make a card for Grandpa?”

“Yes.”

Cassanova didn’t believe his grandson would be so shortsighted as to make him a five-star energy card. The boy surely knew he didn’t lack even nine-star cards, let alone five-star. Unless it was a divine-level card, Cassanova couldn’t imagine what would make his grandson insist he stay.

“What kind of card?”

“A card that can instantly unleash dozens of SS-level mental power shocks to the brain.”

The concept of an SS-level mental shock—any card master below the seventh rank hit by it would be rendered an idiot. An eighth-rank card master struck by so many SS-level mental shocks wouldn’t recover for two years. Even a ninth-rank saint would be bedridden for days. As for card beasts, most only had D-level mental power. Even as a tenth-rank card beast, Cassanova would avoid such a card at all costs.

Cassanova’s throat went dry. He had no idea how his grandson could create such a card. In his eyes, its power was no less than a divine-level card.

“Little Silver, tell Grandpa, what star rating is this card?”

“Zero star.” By now, Long Yin had almost finished preparing the necessary potion.

“Zero star?” Cassanova exclaimed. Why would such a terrifying card be unrated?

Long Yin glanced up at Cassanova. By now, the medicine was ready. He spoke to the incredulous man, “This card has never been submitted for star evaluation. Besides, very few people have SS-level mental power. Even those with S-level are rare, and they’d never bother making such a pointless card.” Long Yin smiled wryly to himself. Who else but his past self would be bored enough to create something like this? Those others… they’d just complain about its uselessness.

Now, he’d let the world see its power.

“Grandpa, I’m starting now.”

“Alright!” Cassanova nodded repeatedly. “Grandpa won’t disturb you. Be careful!”

“I will.”

Before Cassanova’s astonished eyes, Long Yin seemed to become someone else—calm, rigorous, cold, confident, proud—a person radiating an ineffable aura, the kind that commands respect.

Card in hand, pen gripped, tip dipped in potion—three simple actions that left Cassanova dumbfounded. The boy’s presence was innate, a natural force. Cassanova could only marvel—his grandson was born to make cards.

As the pen touched the blank card, Long Yin’s vast mental power began to pour into it with every stroke. The process grew ever harder as more power was channeled, his energy draining rapidly, leaving him increasingly exhausted. He dared not allow the slightest distraction. Sweat dripped in heavy beads, wetting his lashes; he wouldn’t even blink. His face grew paler and paler, his whole figure seeming to sway precariously, blue veins standing out on his arm, yet his hand remained steady, jaw clenched until his lips bled. Little Hammer barely dared to breathe, while Cassanova watched with aching heart.

Just one stroke left—just one. With a twist of his wrist, his mental power was finally depleted. He blinked, watching a flowing blue light sweep across the card. He knew he’d succeeded. With a faint smile, Long Yin looked weakly at Cassanova. “Grandpa… don’t try…” Before he finished, he collapsed backward.

Little Hammer caught him just in time. Seeing that Long Yin was merely exhausted as he’d been countless times before, the bear sighed in relief—he’d be fine after a nap.

Cassanova’s eyes grew moist. He knew what Long Yin meant—don’t test the card! Every card’s power was usually verified upon completion, but single-use, consumable cards couldn’t withstand such tests. The intricate, beautiful card on the table was just such a single-use card. Cassanova’s heart ached even more, realizing the card’s creation had drained his grandson’s mental power.

He’d never experienced the pain of having his mental power completely emptied, but he knew it must be excruciating. Cassanova gazed at Long Yin with grief.

A blue figure entered the room, stopping by Long Yin’s bedside. Seeing who it was, Little Hammer clutched Long Yin tightly. “M-m-milord…”

“Stupid bear! You’ll smother my dear grandson!” A large hand landed, leaving Little Hammer dizzy, his eyes spinning. “What ‘milord’? He’s Little Silver’s uncle—how could he possibly hurt him?”

Uncle? Little Hammer stared blankly as Karanen reached out with slender fingers, touching Long Yin’s forehead. A blue droplet appeared there again, this time spinning rapidly like a bewitching blue blossom. The rotating drop continued healing Long Yin, the pain in his head fading, his breathing evening out as he slept.

Seeing this, Cassanova relaxed, though he still found the use of a card beast’s soul for healing rather strange.

“His mental power has gone from S-level to SS-level,” Karanen said quietly, withdrawing his hand. “Father, do you realize what that means?”