Chapter 93: Chapter 79: Belated Awakening
He yearned to belong, but was terrified of being cast out.
Zhong Ling headed to the kitchen to prepare dinner with Big Bell.
Although Zhong Chenghuai didn’t return that evening, there were still five people for dinner.
Zhong Yi had just mentioned that Shen Xuan might become part of the family, so with a new member joining, Zhong Ling decided to make a few extra dishes.
As a Four-finger Peak Soul Master, Zhao Kai had felt something was off about Shen Xuan’s condition from the moment he saw him.
But at the time, Zhao Kai couldn’t quite pinpoint what the problem was.
When Zhong Yi said he wanted Zhao Kai to perform the Soul Awakening for Shen Xuan, inspiration struck.
He immediately realized why Shen Xuan was covered in so many purple marks!
Zhao Kai pondered for a moment, organized his thoughts, and spoke to Zhong Yi in an exceptionally serious tone.
"Young Master, if I’m not mistaken, this young friend you’ve brought back, Shen Xuan, is covered in purple marks."
"This is most likely because his Soul Base wasn’t awakened on time, causing the Lifebound Guardian Beast within his Soul Base to affect his body through his soul."
After finishing his explanation to Zhong Yi, Zhao Kai turned to Shen Xuan and asked.
"If I’m not mistaken, these purple marks started appearing on your body when you were around thirteen, correct?"
Hearing this, Shen Xuan nodded, his breathing becoming much lighter than before.
The man before him was discussing the purple marks with such gravity, and Shen Xuan was terrified that the man would be disgusted by them.
Having just been accepted by Zhong Yi and Zhong Ling, Shen Xuan feared he would be rejected again and cast out from the group he had just joined.
Seeing Shen Xuan nod, Zhao Kai’s expression grew even more serious.
"Young Master, I suspect that the Lifebound Guardian Beast Shen Xuan is set to awaken is very likely a Deceit Beast."
"If I help Shen Xuan with his Soul Awakening, and it really turns out to be a Deceit Beast, I’m afraid it will cause the Ghost Suppression Bureau to take him away."
As a knowledgeable and experienced Creator, Zhao Kai held no prejudice against Deceit Beasts.
Back in Zhuxue City, Zhao Kai had even cooperated with Deceit Holders.
Ever since becoming Zhong Yi’s Servant, Zhao Kai had instinctively begun to prioritize Zhong Yi’s interests.
Hearing this, Zhong Yi raised his hand and clapped Shen Xuan firmly on the shoulder, then said in an extremely serious tone.
"Even if Shen Xuan does awaken a Deceit Beast, I can make sure he stays. You don’t have to worry about that, Brother Zhao."
Shen Xuan didn’t know what an Order Beast was, but living in the Lower City District, he knew all too well what Deceit Beasts were.
In the eyes of the people from the Lower City District, Deceit Beasts were tantamount to man-eating Demons. Every appearance was a disaster, inevitably claiming many lives.
The people of the Lower City District were both terrified and disgusted by Deceit Beasts. ’If I really awaken a Deceit Beast...’
Before Shen Xuan could dwell on it, Zhong Yi’s words gave him immense strength.
"Brother Zhao, on the contrary, I don’t think Shen Xuan will awaken a Deceit Beast. I think it’s more likely an Order Beast."
"How could a Deceit Beast’s effect on a Guardian Beast Master’s body be this severe?"
Zhong Yi’s words struck Zhao Kai like a bolt of lightning.
Zhao Kai had considered that Shen Xuan might awaken a Deceit Beast, but he had never imagined that an Order Beast would awaken within Shen Xuan’s Soul Base.
’Celestial Destiny Seekers don’t just appear that easily!’
A Heroic City like Starlight City had only produced three Celestial Destiny Seekers in the past decade.
It was safe to say that before Zhong Yi had uttered the two words "Order Beast," the option hadn’t even existed in Zhao Kai’s mind.
But once Zhong Yi opened his mind to the possibility, Zhao Kai looked at the conspicuous purple marks on Shen Xuan and felt that Zhong Yi’s guess was actually quite likely.
’Zhong Yi goes out for one day and brings back a boy who might be a Celestial Destiny Seeker!?’
Zhao Kai felt his entire worldview being turned upside down, and his head even began to spin.
Zhao Kai had once heard of a type of Insect Guardian Beast in this world—a parasitic Poisonous Insect called the Great Luck Sky-Reaching Gu.
It was said that this Poisonous Insect seized the very luck of heaven and earth. If all the luck in the world were divided into ten parts...
...the Great Luck Sky-Reaching Gu would claim one part for itself, leaving all other Creatures in the world to share the remaining nine.
’If this Great Luck Sky-Reaching Gu really exists, could it be attached to Zhong Yi?’
"Young Master, if you want me to perform the Soul Awakening for Shen Xuan, I’ll need to prepare thoroughly."
"It’s been many years since I’ve performed a Soul Awakening. When the time comes, I’ll do my best to ensure Shen Xuan doesn’t suffer too much from his Soul Base being stimulated by Spiritual Power."
"It’s a good opportunity. Before awakening his Soul Base, I can also prepare a few potions for Shen Xuan to stabilize his mind."
With that, Zhao Kai went directly to the merchandise area, preparing to concoct the potions at its counter.
Zhong Yi turned to Shen Xuan, who was standing beside him, and said.
"You don’t need to be too nervous about the Soul Awakening later. The process itself won’t harm you."
"You just need to focus your mind and passively endure the stimulation to your soul."
"There are no other rooms in the shop, but there’s a spare bed in the storage room."
"We’ll put the bed in my room. For tonight, you can stay with me."
"Regardless of whether you decide to stay here and join my team, the day after tomorrow, you’ll come with me and Xiaolingdang to explore a First Level Secret Realm. I’ll help you get some Divine Origin Value."
"That Divine Origin Value might be very useful in the future."
Even now, Zhong Yi was still wondering what kind of items could be found in that mysterious Divine Origin Store.
Zhong Yi didn’t want to interfere with Shen Xuan’s decision, but he had bought Shen Xuan from the Greenfield Tavern.
Zhong Yi had no intention of holding anything back from Shen Xuan.
Besides, after spending this much time with Shen Xuan, Zhong Yi had a feeling that he wouldn’t choose to leave anyway.
Zhong Yi’s voice had barely faded when Shen Xuan spoke up anxiously.
"Young Master, where else would I go if I didn’t join your team?"
"I’m just afraid that if my awakened Order Beast isn’t powerful, you won’t want me anymore, Young Master."
Seeing Shen Xuan’s "wronged puppy" expression, Zhong Yi was momentarily at a loss for words.
No matter what kind of Order Beast awakened in Shen Xuan’s Soul Base, it couldn’t possibly be weak. Order Beasts are born carrying Rule Authority.
Besides, for Shen Xuan’s Order Beast to have such a profound effect on his body through his soul, Zhong Yi felt its potential had to be at least S+ to start.
It might even have a potential rating of SS!
Shen Xuan moved with extreme efficiency, not even giving Zhong Yi a chance to help.
He hurried to move the small bed from the storage room into Zhong Yi’s room.
After putting on the sheets and duvet cover, he then helped Zhong Yi tidy up the room that had been set aside for Zheng Yufeng for the night.
When Zheng Yufeng returned, Zhong Ling and Big Bell were in the middle of setting dishes on the table.
Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs, Squirrel-shaped Mandarin Fish, Stir-fried Beef, Shrimp with Asparagus Lettuce, Double-cooked Pork Slices...
A full ten dishes and a soup, along with large glasses of freshly squeezed fruit and vegetable juice.
After being asleep for so long, the sight of so many delicious dishes made Zheng Yufeng’s mouth water.
Zheng Yufeng wasn’t a reserved person to begin with, and he didn’t hold back at the dinner table, showing none of the restraint of a typical guest.
Shen Xuan, in contrast, was practically drooling over every dish but didn’t dare to pick up his chopsticks.
Shen Xuan was gaunt, his collarbones protruding sharply from his neckline.
Zhong Yi, Zhong Ling, Zhao Kai, and even Zheng Yufeng used the serving chopsticks to pile food onto Shen Xuan’s plate.
As a result, even though Shen Xuan barely served himself, his belly was still full by the end.
Over the course of the meal, Shen Xuan’s shyness clearly began to fade.
Because he needed to restore the Life Energy his Shadow Strangling Beast had overdrawn, Zheng Yufeng returned to his room early after dinner.
With Zheng Yufeng protecting everyone in the Guardian Beast Shop, their safety was guaranteed even if a Mythical Tier Deceit Beast came knocking.
Even if Zheng Yufeng couldn’t defeat a Mythical Tier Deceit Beast, his presence would be enough to hold out until the Ghost Suppression Bureau arrived.
Zhao Kai handed two potions to Shen Xuan with an extremely solemn expression and instructed him.
"Drink the clear one first, then the blue one. The blue potion might be a little bitter."
"Once you’ve finished both potions, close your eyes. Leave the rest to me."
Shen Xuan was extremely nervous, but despite his anxiety, he obediently followed Zhao Kai’s instructions and drank both potions.
Zhao Kai had specifically warned him that the blue potion would be bitter, and Shen Xuan had been worried he wouldn’t be able to stand it.
But as he drank the blue potion, he realized it was nowhere near as bitter as the moldy, spot-covered dry rations he was used to.
