The extra bullets, Xavi had no idea where You Ye had managed to obtain them.<br>Although he used to play with firearms, it was always in sanctioned areas, accompanied by professionals. Ever since his father passed away a few years ago, Xavi hadn’t touched such things in years.<br>He hadn’t forgotten everything, but what was left was essentially an empty shell. Accuracy and other skills still needed practice.<br>The Buyers Club 66 granted its owner the ability to traverse freely, which proved very useful. Late at night, accompanied by You Ye, Xavi indulged in a shooting game in the wilderness, revisiting an old obsession.<br>Bang bang bang bang bang—!<br>Only the small animals in the wild were startled. Meanwhile, more than ten magazines had unknowingly been exhausted.<br>A feeling of exhilaration surged through him. Xavi rubbed his slightly sore shoulders, looked at the results of his last shooting session, and smiled, “Not bad, right?”<br>You Ye also smiled, “As long as you’re happy, Master.”<br>Xavi knew the results were disappointing, but he didn’t feel embarrassed. Instead, he handed the handgun to You Ye for safekeeping, waved goodbye, and headed in two different directions—left toward the club and right toward his home.<br>“If there’s a guest, just call for me.” Xavi tried to explain. “If possible, right now, I’m still just myself: a plain university student living in this city with a wonderful mom-in-law.”<br>You Ye nodded, watching Xavi disappear to the right.<br>Back at the Buyers Club 66, You Ye didn’t stop. She sat quietly, her sapphire eyes gradually dimming without closing her lids. For You Ye, this was considered rest.<br>However, the moment the wooden door swung open and the bell rang, the maid who had served here for 300 years would rise with a beautiful smile on her face.<br>……<br>……<br>By the time Xavi woke up early, Ren Ziling had already left for work.<br>Normally, Xavi should also have caught the shuttle bus to attend university classes. However, he had no intention of returning to school at the moment.<br>Xavi had few friends at university—in fact, most students entering university had very few true friends. Among classmates, familiarity didn’t necessarily mean close relationships. Not everyone sought out extensive social connections, nor did they take pride in them. Broad networks rarely resulted in someone genuinely willing to give their all for you.<br>Of course, the lack of friends and ties to school was one reason, but the main reason lay in Xavi’s chosen major.<br>Even now, Xavi still wondered if he had been hexed to choose this major back then.<br>It seemed to be a newly established course in recent years. Even counting the current fourth-year students, there hadn’t been any graduates yet.<br>The Fossil Studies major, where Xavi currently studied, had only two students—including himself.<br>He knew his choice stemmed from struggling with his father’s passing, avoiding crowded places, and a sense of self-sabotage.<br>Looking back now, Xavi still felt he must have been hexed...<br>But Fossil Studies had its benefits. For instance, the course load was incredibly light—so light it might horrify even liberal arts students. The only instructor was an old professor who skipped classes more often than the students did.<br>So even if he skipped a week’s classes, his attendance wouldn’t affect his grades at semester’s end—there was only one course in total, without any general education classes.<br>Rumor had it that this major existed because of some deal between the old professor and the school. It was said the professor was obsessed with Fossil Studies and used the new major as an excuse to divert funds for research.<br>This setup even allowed Xavi to skip bothering his only classmate for excuses.<br>After washing up, Xavi poured a glass of warm water and sat by his computer. He began checking the location of the Bug Fiend he needed to protect later using satellite maps.<br>Although he could use his traversal ability to visit the place directly, satellite images provided a superior, comprehensive view.<br>Time flew by all morning. The Bug Fiend had mentioned its body began to rot after consuming food containing harmful substances. So Xavi focused on finding potential sources of the Bug Fiend’s poisoning on the map.<br>By noon, Xavi shut off the computer and returned to the club.<br>Since last night, there hadn’t been any new guests.<br>You Ye prepared lunch for Xavi: beef stew with a side of pickled cucumbers, bread with caviar, and finally, borscht he had tasted once before.<br>Xavi examined the bread carefully. “This must be Dalieba, right?”<br>“Yes, it’s called that phonetically here,” You Ye said with a smile. “But it’s just ordinary bread—only larger and sturdier.”<br>Xavi glanced at the elegantly arranged dishes before him, smiling. “This must be typical Russian food, especially since this is the second time you’ve made borscht. Seems like you’re a fan of Russian cuisine?”<br>You Ye simply smiled, not answering directly.<br>It was easy to deduce—You Ye, a soul-imbued doll made by a Potion Master, likely had Russian or nearby origins. That frigid land could very well have been where You Ye’s soul hailed from.<br>Xavi had once asked if she remembered anything from before becoming a doll. She merely shook her head, her sapphire eyes dimming slightly.<br>“Master... don’t you like this type of food?” You Ye asked suddenly.<br>You Ye, as a doll, didn’t need to eat, yet she could craft exquisite dishes. Perhaps this was the only memory link this soul retained.<br>Over three centuries, You Ye had likely prepared countless Russian dishes.<br>“I’m not picky,” Xavi replied, shaking his head. “But eating it here might not have its authentic taste.”<br>He smiled at You Ye. “So, let’s go to Russia someday and cook with the freshest ingredients there. I bet it’ll taste amazing.”<br>Perhaps it was his imagination, but Xavi thought he glimpsed a trace of longing in her beautiful sapphire eyes.<br>After lunch, Xavi stayed at the club, chatting with You Ye and learning about the secret world of fiends hidden within human society from her stories.<br>He lost track of time until You Ye gently reminded him of his appointment with the Bug Fiend. Quickly, Xavi activated the portal to the designated meeting spot, and in a blink, he and You Ye stood beneath the crescent moon.<br>Surrounded by a dense forest, a river from the west flowed nearby. In the distance, the silhouette of a factory could be seen, its feeble lights glowing faintly.<br>This chemical plant had been exposed years ago for illegally dumping sewage. After a halt and rectifications, it seemed to have resumed operations.<br>The river mirrored the crescent moon. Years ago, it had likely been murky, littered with dead fish. Who knew how long the water could remain clear?<br>“Master, the guest has arrived,” You Ye suddenly whispered in his ear.<br>Drawing his focus from the river, Xavi took a deep breath and turned to welcome his second guest with a smile.<br>The figure moved slowly, likely due to its insect-like form. Its attire hadn’t changed from the previous night.<br>The Bug Fiend shuffled toward Xavi with a hint of joy. “You... came.”<br>Surveying the tranquil environment, Xavi thought it might be a nice place to read under the cool, serene night. But reality seemed less cooperative.<br>A shrill cry pierced the air, distant yet near, echoing from all directions. The Bug Fiend began trembling, and Xavi realized its nemesis must have arrived.<br>Hmm... a Praying Fiend of 120 years?<br>This was going to be interesting.")
