Trash Island Coast.
Black Bull, Little Crane, and Little Chi stood at the forefront, facing Chen Xun with their backs to the sea breeze. The wind whipped through their hair, making it flutter wildly.
However, their gazes were somewhat evasive, occasionally glancing at the piles of trash and the encroaching seawater.
Chen Xun, with eyes full of wisdom, leaned back in his chair and looked at Little Crane, speaking in a low voice, "Nangong Heling."
"Eldest Brother!" Little Crane exclaimed, her face breaking into a bright smile, her cheeks flushed more vibrantly than flowers.
"This ledger seems a bit off," Chen Xun squinted slightly, looking at Black Bull and Little Chi, "Do you know anything about this?"
"Moo~~"
Black Bull snorted, shaking its tail to indicate it knew.
"Brother Xun," Little Chi cautiously observed his expression, puzzled, "What's going on?"
"Eldest Brother, I'll tell!" Little Crane panicked, even stomping her feet in her black skirt, whispering, "Eldest Brother, I lied..."
Boom!
Suddenly, a massive wave surged behind them, rising dozens of meters high, terrifying Little Chi into a shiver.
"Nangong Heling, come here!" Chen Xun scolded angrily, slamming his palm on the armrest, "Hands on your head!"
Little Crane whimpered, placing her hands on her head, but instead of putting them behind, she made a heart shape with her fingers on top of her head.
"Moo moo?!" Black Bull cried out in surprise, quickly running to Chen Xun's side, nudging him.
This was its idea, and it had nothing to do with Third Sister.
Chen Xun ignored Black Bull and looked at Little Crane with a stern expression, "Nangong Heling, have you been reading lately?"
"Eldest Brother, I read every day, then tend to the flower field for half an hour."
Little Crane's voice was soft and tender, with a hint of ethereal grievance, "I know I was wrong, I just didn't want you to waste spirit stones..."
Her posture with her hands on her head made Chen Xun chuckle, his lips curling up slightly without realizing it.
"Brother Xun!" Little Chi's mane bristled, and it instinctively shouted, Brother Xun actually smiled just now!
"Third Sister, show me your insights from reading every day. I've been too busy these years and have neglected to guide you."
Chen Xun sighed softly, his sternness tinged with the care of an elder brother, "The knowledge in these books may not always be right, and your experiences are too few. I need to correct your insights."
Little Crane's eyes, filled with grievance, suddenly turned joyful. She lowered her hands and ran to Chen Xun's side, wrapping her arms around his, "Eldest Brother, really?!"
For fifty years, Eldest Brother hadn't looked at her insights, but she still wrote them every day and kept them well.
Chen Xun snorted coldly, "Third Sister, don't get carried away. For deceiving your brother, you're punished by not tending to the flower field today and reading for a day!"
"Ah~~"
Little Crane shook her head, acting coquettishly towards Chen Xun, "Eldest Brother, I'll just tend to it a little, just a peek~"
"Two days without tending to the flower field." Chen Xun glanced at Little Crane, not falling for it at all.
"Eldest Brother, I'll go read now! I know I was wrong!!"
Little Crane shuddered, exclaimed in surprise, fearing Eldest Brother would say three days, "Wuwu..."
Her face showed disappointment mixed with a hint of excitement as she hopped away into the distance.
She took out a small booklet, starting to review the insights she had written over the years.
By the coast.
Only Chen Xun, Black Bull, and Little Chi remained.
Chen Xun stood up and walked forward, his gaze becoming gentle and calm, "Little Chi."
"Brother Xun!" Little Chi placed a paw on Chen Xun's arm, staring at him intently.
It had survived until now by understanding patience and letting go, even having no thoughts of revenge for the disaster that wiped out its clan.
But now, as long as Brother Xun gave the order, it, the Beiming Red Lion, would definitely become a major force for him, unleashing its strongest power!
They didn't want to see Chen Xun like this, even if it meant letting him have peace of mind, no regrets for killing more...
Before it could finish its thoughts, Chen Xun suddenly picked it up and tucked it under his arm.
Black Bull mooed and walked forward, rubbing against Chen Xun, standing firmly by his side.
The three figures gazed at the boundless sea, just like when they first arrived at the West Sea, seeing the ocean for the first time.
"Little Chi, it's been hard on you all these years."
Chen Xun spoke softly, his gaze distant, seemingly with a sigh, "These years, I've been too caught up, neglecting you all."
Little Chi looked up at Chen Xun, chuckling, "Brother Xun, it's fine. I've also gathered a few underlings, not tired."
"No matter how much we lose, we still have each other."
Chen Xun glanced at Black Bull beside him, then at Little Chi, "Let's live well in the present and plan for the future, not muddle through."
"Moo moo~~!" Black Bull snorted heavily, feeling that Eldest Brother had truly let go of many things this time.
"Brother Xun, yes, we should look forward. Our garbage recycling plant is thriving!"
Hearing this, Little Chi's four paws began to tremble with excitement, its mouth bursting open, "Once Sister Crane finds the way back, we'll return to the severed path..."
"Damn it, still thinking about it!"
Before Little Chi could finish, Chen Xun suddenly erupted in anger, grabbing it by the scruff and shouting, "Bull, beat it up!"
"Moo moo~!!"
"Ah! Brother Xun! Ah~~~ Brother Bull!!!"
Little Chi spun in the air, some of its black-dyed mane flying off, carried away by the sea breeze.
After a stick of incense's worth of time of beating, Little Chi fell to the ground with a thud, limbs stiff and twitching, seemingly on the brink of death, unable to utter a word.
Black Bull raised its hooves, its horns mighty, its body exuding explosive power like a spirit beast.
Suddenly, a shadow loomed, two ghostly lights shooting from the eyes within.
"Moo??"
Black Bull's four hooves went soft, its body tensed, hair standing on end, "Moo?"
"Bull..."
The shadow slowly spoke, carrying a chilling aura, "The spirit stones, you planned it, didn't you..."
Black Bull's eyes trembled, unable to hide anything from Chen Xun, only it knew his weakness.
"Heh."
Chen Xun's lips curled into a cold smile, "You've got guts, daring to conspire against me! Ximen Black Bull, die!!"
With those words, he unleashed his ultimate move, lifting Black Bull with overwhelming strength!
"Moo~~~" Black Bull went limp, its four hooves in the air, struggling continuously, "Moo moo~~"
Whoosh!
Chen Xun suddenly exerted force, hurling it towards the distant sea. Black Bull traced a graceful arc in the air before crashing into the water.
At this moment, only two horns could be seen bobbing on the sea's surface, drifting further away. Chen Xun laughed wildly, finally venting his frustration.
Seeing this, Little Chi rolled its eyes, stuck out its tongue, and immediately fainted, pretending it hadn't seen anything.
