Chapter 36: Baize’s Serpentine Madness

Longyin observed the person before him with intense curiosity. The other was both bashful and reckless—his whole body trembling, yet he stood with unwavering resolve, arms outstretched to block Xiaochui’s path. Such contradictions made him a fascinating character.

“I—I… I…” Gongliang Yi stammered for a long time, unable to get a single word out. His resolute gaze faltered under his own growing awkwardness, and if there had been a hole in the ground, Longyin thought, the young man would have gladly crawled into it.

At last, just as Gongliang Yi seemed on the verge of tears, Longyin hopped down from Xiaochui’s shoulder and stopped before him, touching a trembling, thick lip with a slender finger. “Gongliang Yi?”

Instantly, the other’s face flushed a deep red, and he staggered back several steps. As the soft, moist sensation left his fingertip, Longyin felt a fleeting sense of regret, then burst out laughing—Gongliang Yi’s reactions truly were entertaining.

“What do you want?” Longyin asked with a delighted curl of his lips. He had already seen the other’s exam papers: unsurprisingly, Gongliang Yi would make an excellent card maker. Judging from his answers, it was clear he hadn’t been shackled by the more rigid card-making formulas yet; he had his own ideas. Longyin didn’t mind making the acquaintance of such a person.

Under Longyin’s gaze, Gongliang Yi retreated even further until he was hiding behind a large tree. Only then did he cautiously peek out, stammering, “I—I just wanted to ask… that formula, how did you come up with it?”

Longyin reached up and touched his mask. Did he really seem that frightening?

“Do you want to know?” Longyin beckoned mischievously. “Then come here.”

Gongliang Yi swallowed hard, a picture of longing and trepidation, and the sight made Longyin laugh. Producing paper and pen from his dimensional space, Longyin swiftly scribbled down a series of formulas—bold strokes, but the writing was neat.

He placed the notebook on a nearby bench and smiled. “My address is written there. You’re welcome to visit anytime.”

Xiaochui came over and lifted Longyin back onto his own shoulder, casting a glance at Gongliang Yi. The way the young man immediately shrank back made Xiaochui grin. “Yin, he’s quite amusing.”

Longyin nodded and waved to the one hiding behind the tree. Only after he was sure they had gone did Gongliang Yi dart out, swept away by the transformations in those formulas. Hugging the notebook to his chest, he recalled Longyin’s invitation, and a flush of heat rose within him.

Longyin had only just met one interesting person when he turned and ran into Dodge.

Dodge was tall for his age, with golden curls, long limbs, and deep-set features that spoke of strong Old Western ancestry. Resting his hands on his knees, he panted heavily—his pet walked at a remarkable pace, and if not for a delay, he would never have caught up.

“How old were you when you started studying card making?” For some reason, Dodge was fixated on this question.

Dodge was the grandson of the president of the Texas Card Makers’ Guild, possessed A-level mental strength, and was a Level 2 card maker himself. Tilting his head, Longyin studied this always-low-key youth, realizing that chasing after him must have been prompted by a blow to his pride.

It was a simple question, but Longyin didn’t know how to answer. In his previous life, he had started at four years old. In this one, he’d been thinking about card making since birth—how could he explain that?

His hesitation made Dodge lose interest. “I started at three,” he declared, straightening up and turning to leave. “If you don’t want to answer, so be it.”

“My situation is more complicated,” Longyin said calmly as Dodge turned his back.

Dodge spun around, eyes wide. “Complicated?” Just how complicated? True to his Western heritage, Dodge was direct to a fault. Normally, such a reply would have been a tactful refusal, but he pressed on, undeterred.

Longyin shook his head. “There’s no way to explain.”

A hint of disappointment flashed in Dodge’s dark eyes. He nodded. “I understand.” Crestfallen, he walked away. Watching him go, Longyin thought for a moment and added, “Your fundamentals are solid.” Too solid, in fact—his thinking had grown rigid, unable to adapt. This was already apparent from his exam paper. Longyin felt a silent pang of pity; with such a grandfather, was it a blessing or a curse?

Longyin’s words failed to comfort Dodge. He ruffled his curls, sighing in frustration. “After seeing your exam, that’s the only advantage I have left.”

Despite their brief encounter, Longyin realized that Dodge, though blunt, wasn’t disagreeable. He blinked, then said, “If you don’t mind, you’re welcome to come to me anytime.” With that, he left, Xiaochui carrying him away.

Dodge’s mouth dropped open in surprise. His directness didn’t mean he was naive—he understood there was more to Longyin’s words. Most people would keep their distance after seeing him at odds with the crown prince, but Longyin had extended an olive branch, clearly aware of his background. His grandfather didn’t have to bow to the prince, and neither did he. He kept a low profile simply because there was no need to stand out. But just now, he realized Longyin wasn’t as cold as he’d imagined; perhaps it was his own status that made Longyin more approachable. Whatever the reason, Dodge didn’t mind—in fact, not at all! He habitually ruffled his curls and grinned to himself, perfectly content.

“Will they come?” Xiaochui asked.

Longyin jumped from Xiaochui’s shoulder and leaned against the door, considering for a moment. “Eighty percent chance.”

“I see. Yin, you’d better move your card makers to the innermost rooms. I get the feeling Gongliang Yi is quite an odd one as well, and if he and Dodge meet, it could be trouble.”

“Alright,” Longyin agreed. He had already been thinking along those lines, especially after noticing Yuan Shaolin’s intentions. The thought often lingered in his mind. Remembering Yuan Shaolin, Longyin rubbed his brow. “Leave Yuan Shaolin to you. I need some peace.”

Xiaochui nodded. Longyin watched him enter, then stood by the wall, staring ahead and breathing deeply. Only when all was quiet did he turn, open the door, and go inside—only to meet Yuan Shaolin’s silver gaze.

“You…” Longyin froze, caught off guard and unable to hide his expression. Under the other’s intense stare, he could only ask awkwardly, “Is your hand better?”

“Yes.” Yuan Shaolin nodded, his eyes never leaving Longyin. “Is there something you need?” Longyin asked.

“There is.” In front of Yuan Shaolin, a hall-level card appeared. “What is your relationship with him?”

Longyin sighed inwardly, tilting his face up. “Master and disciple.”

Master and disciple? Yuan Shaolin’s expression turned dazed for a moment. That cold, proud man—now his disciple stood before Yuan Shaolin. He didn’t doubt it; he’d heard rumors from his uncle, Dorin, which verified the truth. The icy look in Yuan Shaolin’s eyes softened, replaced by a gentle affection. So this was what it meant to love someone for the sake of another. He nodded. “Since you are his disciple, you are someone I wish to protect. From today onward, I will stay by your side at all times.” Having met the disciple of that man, how could he let the legacy vanish before his eyes?

Longyin felt a suffocating irritation. This attitude was exhausting. Tearing off his mask, Longyin glared at Yuan Shaolin. “He’s dead. Dead!”

Yuan Shaolin’s fists clenched, his lips trembling. Pain flickered in his eyes as he turned away. “Whether you wish it or not, I will protect you.”

Running a hand through his hair, Longyin leaned against the wall, a cold sense of loneliness creeping over him. What right did he have? If only, in his previous life… Longyin shook his head abruptly, and under Xiaochui’s worried gaze, entered the bathroom. Soaking in the water, his throat felt parched, and something wet stung at his eyes. How much longer could he endure, with such relentless provocation?

He burst from the water, spraying droplets everywhere. Wiping his face, he snagged a towel and dried off haphazardly, then took clean clothes from the wardrobe and changed. Leaving the bathroom, he found Xiaochui watching him intently. Longyin forced a smile. “I’m fine. You and he can make dinner yourselves tonight. I’ll be in my room.”

He locked the door, intending to train his mental strength, but couldn’t concentrate. Frustrated, he slammed his fist on the table. Glancing at his spatial inventory, his eyes fell on the personal network terminal he’d flung far away. After a pause, he picked it up, put it on, and lay down on the bed, entering the Federation Network.

Longyin materialized in a room the moment he logged on. The bizarre setting startled him—he hadn’t bought any property here. Suspicion immediately fell on that troublesome brat. Normally, he would have logged out immediately, but after Yuan Shaolin’s provocation, all he wanted was to vent. If the brat wanted to throw himself into the fire, so be it—he was no pushover.

Meanwhile, the instant Longyin entered the room, Baize’s eyes lit up at the trading floor. He abandoned a deal halfway and teleported over, afraid that if he hesitated, Longyin would log off again and he’d be forced to wait another month. He wasn’t impatient by nature, but it was a hassle.

But when Baize rushed back, he found Longyin sprawled leisurely on the sofa, flicking through channels with the remote while a simulated screen played out a battle.

Baize grinned, arms folded, and watched as Longyin patiently finished one match after another. All the recorded duels were classic online battles, and Baize soon realized Longyin was selecting only his own matches. Was he being studied?

“If you want to know something, you can just ask me directly,” Baize said, stepping in front of the screen.

Longyin arched a brow. How long had this one been waiting here?

As if reading his mind, Baize shrugged. “Not long.”

“I’m more curious—why aren’t you hiding anymore?”

Longyin stood, tossed aside the remote, and countered, “Why are you so fixated on me? Or did I do something in the past that made you misunderstand?” He really didn’t want to discuss this with a child, but clearly, this was no ordinary boy.

At last, an admission! Baize was suddenly overwhelmed with emotion. After searching so long, he’d finally found him! Since Longyin said he could just ask, Baize tried to recall the past, but all he remembered was a furious little face and the candies he’d offered to appease him. He shook his head. “Nothing at all.”

Longyin frowned. “I want nothing to do with you. If there’s no misunderstanding, let’s just forget the whole thing ever happened. You walk your own path, I’ll walk mine. How about it?”

Baize shook his head at once. “No, not at all. I don’t want us to be strangers.”

Longyin rolled his eyes. “What is it you like about me? I’ll change, anything you want—I can’t live up to your standards. Besides, I don’t like you at all!” Communication with a brat was still an unbridgeable gap.

Baize frowned. “When did I ever say I liked you?”

Longyin was speechless. If this brat doesn’t like me, why did he leave a mark on me? Does he have some compulsive disorder? Longyin felt like coughing up blood. He never wanted to discuss matters of affection with this brat ever again. Annoyed, he snapped, “In that case, even better. You do your thing, I’ll do mine—let’s stay out of each other’s way!”

“No,” Baize replied, shaking his head.

“What on earth do you want?” Longyin exploded, jabbing a finger at Baize’s nose.

Baize caught his hand and frowned. “Rule number one of the partner’s code: be polite. It’s very rude to point at someone with your finger.”

Partner’s code? What nonsense was that? Longyin was furious. “Don’t shove your harem rules on me—I have nothing to do with you!” He raised a foot to kick.

Baize caught his ankle and shook his head. “What harem rules? You really need to be taught some manners. From tomorrow on, you must spend an hour online practicing, and I’ll supervise you!”

Longyin’s hair practically stood on end. This brat must be clinically insane—a thoroughly incurable case!

In the end, Longyin surrendered. Baize was too stubborn, never listening no matter how much Longyin repeated himself. He always found a way to drive him mad.

Nothing seemed right, nowhere felt comfortable, so in the end, Longyin simply challenged him to a straight-up fistfight. Yet Baize always held back, infuriating Longyin even more. He’d rather Baize punch him so he could kick back—being coddled only made him more frustrated.

Longyin wanted to beat Baize to a pulp, but couldn’t even land a hit. At last, he collapsed on the floor, gasping for breath.

“According to the partner’s code, your physical fitness doesn’t even meet the minimum standard.”

Longyin gritted his teeth. “Get lost. Having you show up is the biggest mistake I’ve ever made!”

Baize crouched down and looked at Longyin. “Are you in a bad mood?”

Startled, Longyin erupted, “How could I be in a good mood after running into you?!”

Baize shook his head. “You already seemed troubled when I saw you. I just had the misfortune of showing up while you’re unhappy. As your partner, there are things you must learn. Even if I don’t choose you, if I did, and you couldn’t pass the basics, I’d be very distressed!”

Damn it! What was this lunatic talking about? Longyin lay face-down on the floor, unwilling to see Baize’s face anymore—not that it had ever been clear to begin with.

Baize shook his head, then grabbed Longyin’s arm and hauled him up. “Let me take you somewhere to blow off some steam.”

Longyin wanted to refuse, but soon realized Baize was a dictator—once he decided something, you had no choice but to comply. To make matters worse, Longyin discovered that, when dealing with Baize, his intelligence shrank to a child’s. Good grief, what was one supposed to do when faced with a lunatic?