VESSEL - Extinction Countdown 924: Heart’s Aberrant Demon

Hua Jian’s words dropped—and silence took over. All eyes turned to Ye Shisan.

But to everyone’s surprise, the first to speak was Yi Qing. “Young Master Hua, aren’t you making this tournament sound far too casual? From what I’ve heard, the participants aren’t just skilled—they’re monsters!”

Her voice was cold—laced with unmistakable anger.

Ye Shisan shared her thought. A martial contest tied to such immense wealth—the scale of it was far beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

Hua Jian’s personal visit, his humbled stance, had one cause: he knew Ye Shisan wasn’t ordinary. In fact, the abilities Ye Shisan possessed were not something any human should rightfully have.

Ye Shisan had mastered the power of the Pseudo-Spirit Zhuqiu. Even a martial arts master capable of cleaving stone and parting water would be no more than an ant before him.

To put it plainly, Hua Jian wasn’t relying on Ye Shisan himself, but on the Pseudo-Spirit within him.

If Ye Shisan were to lend his aid, any human in the ring would fall, securing Hua Jian the Hua Clan patriarch’s seat.

Hua Jian didn’t deny it. “Officer Yi’s right—fists are blind. I can’t predict Mr. Ye’s opponents. But one thing I’m absolutely certain of: with Mr. Ye’s abilities, winning this contest is child’s play. Even wiping out an entire nation would be effortless. That’s why my offer isn’t about wealth or status—those things, Mr. Ye could seize with a flick of his wrist.”

Behind Hua Jian’s calm expression lay a hunger for power and wealth—a desire masked by youth, yet sharpened by cunning far beyond his years and an intelligence network that could rival nations.

But Ye Thirteen’s dilemma was different. Even if he longed for a quiet life, he wouldn’t go so far as to destroy a country to get it. Besides, he still had a mountain of unfinished business to deal with.

For the first time, Ye Shisan took a careful look at the young master of the Hua clan. Slowly, the image of Hua Jian faded from his eyes. In its place, seated on the leather sofa, was a humanoid mass of smoke.

It was a strange mist, as if steeped in deep blue ink— and within it, something even stranger stirred: a pale, pointed head, a creature writhing in desperation.

Was this… Hua Jian’s Heart Demon?!

Ye Shisan squinted, straining to see what it really was. But just then, Yi Qing’s phone rang. “Hello? What’s going on? Ye Shisan’s kinda busy…”

Hearing the call, Hua Jian rose to his feet. And with that, the vision before Ye Shisan vanished.

“Mr. Ye, the contest is still three months off. I hadn’t planned to approach you so soon, but fate brought us here. No rush to answer. You’ve got time to think… Well then, I’ll take my leave.”

Ye Shisan rose and shook his hand. Uncle Ma, pale as a ghost, rushed to escort Young Master Hua out.

Yi Qing stepped up beside Ye Shisan, watching the polished yet worldly heir exit the villa. She whispered, “Ye Shisan, we need to head back to Touxiang Village.”

Hua Jian stepped into the car, just as Lu Zhengwu arrived in a rush— having received a call from Zhao Liang and hurrying home. Their eyes met briefly through the car window.

As Lu Zhengwu strode into the villa, Uncle Ma was already bowing at the door.

“Old Ma, was that a Hua clan member leaving?”

“Boss Lu, it was Young Master Hua.”

“What?! Why’s he here? Our Lu family could never hope to associate with such a powerful house!”

“He came to see Mr. Ye.”

Uncle Ma ushered Lu Zhengwu inside, just as Ye Thirteen and Yi Qing were heading out, with Fang Ling trailing behind, reluctant to part.

Lu Zhengwu said, “Mr. Ye, leaving already? I told Old Ma to prep extra dishes for dinner—thought we could share a drink or two!”

“Uncle Lu, I’ve got something urgent to take care of. Let’s save that meal for another time.”

“Well, if you’ve got business, I won’t hold you. Old Ma, grab one of my cars from the garage. From now on, it’s for Mr. Ye to use.”

Fang Ling pouted on the side, like a girl of seventeen or eighteen. “Brother Ye, when’re you coming back? Uncle said he’s entrusted me to you—you have to take responsibility!”

Lu Zhengwu was baffled. “What the heck, Fang Ling? I’m not dead yet!”

“Hmph! Didn’t you say you were handing me over to Brother Ye?”

“Bah! I meant Mr. Ye’s well-traveled and wise—he could teach you how to behave and get along in the world! Besides… you—you—how could I hand you over like this? What are you even thinking?”

Watching the two bicker, Ye Shisan felt a quiet warmth—a taste of family life.

Uncle Ma pulled up a Mercedes S-Class AMG, parking smoothly at the front steps. He handed the keys to Yi Qing, and Ye Thirteen took his usual seat—the passenger side.

Fang Ling leaned on the window, her voice soft and pleading. “Brother Ye, you have to come back, okay?”

Ye Shisan gave a faint smile. “Whether I return or not, I’ve got one thing to say.”

“What is it?”

“No matter what, be yourself.”

“Be myself? But I already am myself!”

“Heh... you’ll understand someday.”

Yi Qing hit the gas, and the car eased out of the Lu villa.

As they exited the residential district, they passed a line of security guards standing stiffly at the gate. A man in a sharp suit was pacing nearby, smiling obsequiously into his phone while barking furiously at the guards:

“Who gave you the nerve? You just let someone from the Hua clan stroll in like that?”

“This is Qin Family property! If word gets out, it won’t just be you— even I won’t be able to clean up the mess!”

“You think you can mess with the Qin family? Can’t even handle the Hua family! Idiots!”

The electronic window slid shut, and the clear glass shifted to a smoky amber tint. Ye Shisan turned his head, gazing forward.

Luxury cars had their perks— once the windows closed, the outside world vanished into silence. In that hush, Yi Qing asked, “Ye Shisan, those words you said to Fang Ling… you saw her Heart Demon again, didn’t you?”

Ye Shisan nodded. “Same as yours, a flower. But yours, I couldn’t name. Hers was a clivia.”

“Clivia…” Yi Qing mused. “There’s a legend. A princess secretly loved a prince. But when she learned he had fallen for a commoner’s daughter, jealousy consumed her. She snitched to the king. The girl was executed. The prince, upon learning the truth, detested the princess.”

“Over time, the princess withered away. One day, she could no longer move— only gaze at the prince’s retreating figure. Eventually, her body turned to soil, her clothes to leaves and stems, and she became a clivia. In her final breath, flowers bloomed across her body. Even as a flower, she faced the castle, loving him still.”

Ye Shisan shook his head. “Is it really worth it?”

“For a woman, anything for love is worth it. You told Fang Ling to be herself. Maybe she will.”

“I just don’t want her following her parents’ path.”

Yi Qing glanced at him, uncertain what he meant.

“Remember what Fang Ling said in the lab? Suiren’s computational power lags Nuwa by generations, but she felt Nuwa was just a shell, while Suiren had a soul. Why would she feel that?”

Yi Qing slowed the car, eyes wide. “You’re saying… Suiren was built so massive, but inside, it’s not just circuitry? It’s…”

Ye Shisan’s face held sorrow. “I’m not sure, but I sense its core is alive… Maybe her dad’s early death, her mom’s odd disappearance—there’s a reason. I just hope she doesn’t break if she learns the truth.”

Only now did Yi Qing understand why Ye Shisan had grown silent in the lab. If Fang Ling is still bound by flesh, still lost in her fractured sense of identity, then one day, when she learns the truth… she’ll shatter.

The air inside the car grew heavy. Yi Qing switched topics. “So, what’s your take on that Young Master Hua?”

“Let him wait. I’ve got no time for anyone else right now. Let’s head back to Touxiang Village first... By the way, what did You Long’er say?”

“Not her. It was Vanilla who called…”

Before the words had even finished, Yi Qing’s phone buzzed wildly again.

She picked up, and Vanilla’s sobbing voice came through instantly:

“Sister Yi Qing, please hurry back with Uncle Shisan! Sister Long’er… she… she…”