Chapter 72
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Chapter 72: Flow of the Heart
After everything had collapsed and reconstructed itself, Bai Yan returned to reality.
He furrowed his brow and suppressed the instinctive urge to take a deep breath. Standing in the restaurant’s restroom, he was still clutching his phone.
Calmly, he pressed the flush button and washed his hands.
“Wow.”
Upon exiting the restroom, the surrounding noise immediately enveloped him as he entered the bustling restaurant filled with people coming and going.
He chose a window seat and waited. Shortly after, a waiter approached to take his order.
“Let me see. I’ll have a chicken rice bowl, an eel rice bowl, a bowl of seafood soup, some fried shrimp, and shredded potatoes.”
“That comes to 78 yuan. Would you like any beer?”
“No, thank you,” he replied.
“This place remains as affordable as ever.” Bai Yan smiled as he ordered a meal for two, continuing to wait for his expected company.
Ten minutes later, a black luxury sedan pulled up outside the window.
Alan stepped out with a grave expression, appearing deeply absorbed in thought.
Seeing his demeanor, it was clear he was still contemplating earlier events, causing Bai Yan to smile inadvertently.
He hadn’t anticipated another passenger would exit the vehicle.
Alongside Alan emerged a familiar girl in blue. After a moment’s surprise, Bai Yan recognized Holly, who wasn’t wearing her usual rabbit-ear hoodie with a pocket.
Did you use “disguise”? Walking about like an ordinary person.
“Seems I should order another meal,” Bai Yan muttered. The eel rice was meant for Alan, but Holly’s preferences remained unknown.
“Excuse me, how many people are dining?”
“We already have an order placed.”
The pair entered the restaurant. Alan naturally took the seat beside Bai Yan, while Holly sat across from them, placing a small bag on the table with a smile.
“How did you two end up coming together?” Bai Yan inquired.
Alan snapped from his reverie and smiled. “I was originally bringing you the key, but she found out and insisted on delivering it herself.”
“Your team colleagues are quite enthusiastic.”
He added that this little rabbit was quite sociable and outgoing, mentioning his surprise at the name “Violent maniac.”
Holly smiled softly as she retrieved two keys from her purse and slid them across the table.
“Here you go, the elder has provided the house key. As for the car key, he’ll give it to you after you complete your driving test.”
Though Bai Yan knew how to drive in his past life, he had never bothered getting a license in this one, believing he couldn’t afford a car.
He nodded appreciatively while accepting the room key. “Thank you, Senior Holly.”
“Oh, I’d like to order vegetable noodles and vegetarian dumplings. My treat today!” Her dining choices were rather rabbit-like.
Holly clearly delighted in Bai Yan addressing her as “senior.” Despite her youthful appearance, as a half-human, half-animal being, she aged remarkably quickly and might have been even younger than she looked. Nevertheless, she placed great importance on hierarchy and seniority.
“Respecting order surpasses mere politeness. It’s wonderful being treated as a guest!”
Bai Yan examined the key in his hand. “Finally, a new home. It hasn’t been easy – my previous place was impossibly small.”
“Indeed. He could lift his foot from the bed and reach the next door,” Alan exaggerated. “Then a fifty-year-old lady reported him for harassment.”
Bai Yan retorted, “I could wake you with a kick from several kilometers away.”
Holly suddenly remembered something and earnestly suggested, “By the way, Little Bai, would you like to learn about ‘Flow of the Heart’ in the future? I’m quite skilled at achieving that state.”
Flow of the Heart?
Bai Yan paused briefly before asking, “I’ve heard the term ‘Flow of the Heart,’ but haven’t studied the transcendent being’s materials in detail, so I’m unclear about its specific meaning.”
In truth, he knew of “Flow of the Heart” from a master in Core Operators.
Before Holly could respond, Alan began explaining: “The ‘Flow of the Heart’ represents a crucial branch of modern ceremonial practices.”
“The tattooed pictographic characters on the skin resemble ‘Secret Runes,’ inscribed through enduring enchantments preserved by arcane techniques.”
“‘Flow of the Heart,’ also known as ‘Heart Fighting Flow’ or ‘Nine Streams of Heart Fighting,’ is a personal ritual activated through specific martial arts postures, movements, and vocal language. Nine schools have existed since its founding decades ago.”
Holly nodded and continued, “It’s because of ‘Flow of the Heart’ that we can combat natural-born monsters. Have you seen the Babel Tower video? That white-haired hunter was a ‘monster’ by bloodline… We extraordinary people need ‘Flow of the Heart’ for close combat.”
“Flow of the Heart teaches that meditation and exercise connect us to the world through a refined heart, awakening our soul’s inner power… True strength comes from within, not brute force.”
Bai Yan remained silent, finding it ironic that someone with innate divine powers would say such things.
Holly raised her left hand, smiling as she formed a claw gesture.
“Heavenly Martial Arts: Dragon Claw.”
“Heavenly Martial Arts” represented one of the nine Flow of the Heart schools.
Blue scales emerged from her left wrist, emanating an almost tangible aura of power.
“‘Flow of the Heart’ is a structured ‘personal ritual’ where we simulate certain ‘symbols’ through various postures and movements.”
Alan continued his scientific explanation:
“Rituals existed before civilization, perhaps emerging with the universe itself. Spell history spans millennia. The ‘Secret Rune,’ requiring no casting process, is a recent convenience. ‘Flow of the Heart’ emerged only decades ago as a novel concept.”
Bai Yan nodded thoughtfully. “I understand that combat between humans and extraordinary beings has grown increasingly fast-paced in this era of modern weapons. The emergence of castless ‘Secret Runes’ was inevitable.”
Alan smiled. “Indeed. Centuries ago, many extraordinary beings fell to firearms – lengthy incantations couldn’t match a trigger pull.”
“People recognized times had changed, and extraordinary individuals needed to adapt.”
Studying Holly’s scaled dragon claw, Bai Yan continued, “Thus, ‘Flow of the Heart’ was invented to enhance physical strength, addressing the vulnerability of extraordinary beings as ‘glass cannons.'”
So the Otherworlds’ extraordinary powers had evolved alongside time’s passage.
Alan suddenly fell silent, seemingly lost in contemplation.
“If… hypothetically… ancient gods from past eras returned… what would we do?”
Holly blinked in confusion, while Bai Yan understood Alan was pondering the Babel Tower situation.
“Don’t overthink it, Alan. We’re all just individuals.”
Alan absently nodded. “My apologies, but I have other commitments today and can’t accompany you to view the new house.”
—
After dinner, Bai Yan traveled alone to his new residence.
He stepped from the taxi amid the bustling crowd.
“Thank you, driver.”
The new house stood in central Tatsumi City, its surroundings vastly different from his former apartment’s aged, busy environment.
Outside stretched the beautiful Tatsumi City garden, near a popular commercial walkway called “Papa.”
The neighborhood, while not matching Platinum Zone’s aristocracy, housed either wealthy or noble residents, comprising Tatsumi City’s second-tier affluent and minor aristocratic society.
Most maintained connections to the upper class and served them. Night Watcher’s position was similar, when one considered it.
These upper-middle-class individuals, while wealthier than average citizens but lacking private security forces, welcomed Night Watchers as neighbors.
“Seventeenth floor – I’ve never lived this high before.”
Bai Yan navigated the crowded street, reached the building, and took the elevator up.
Soon, he arrived home.
Carrying only a large suitcase, Bai Yan inserted one of the identical keys, opened the door, and stepped inside.
The scent of a new home greeted him!
The 140-square-meter space contained three bedrooms, two living rooms, and two bathrooms. White wallpaper adorned the walls, complemented by carefully selected fine furnishings.
Standing before the French windows, Bai Yan gazed directly at the forty-hectare Tatsumi City Garden.
“Well, well, the good times have arrived.”
After entering with his luggage, Bai Yan set it down and stretched out on the couch.
“Power Possession – Recollection of Mysterious Magician.”
Closing his eyes, he began sensing for surveillance devices, thoroughly ruling out their presence.
“Excellent.”
Satisfied with his new home, Bai Yan stretched lazily before moving to the master bedroom. There, he reclined on the plush white bed and began ordering delivery on his phone.
The new space felt vast, and he wanted to fill it with amenities, like a small refrigerator stocked with cola.
At this moment, Bai Yan experienced a nouveau riche’s basic satisfaction, surpassing even his acquisition of Babel Tower!
To celebrate the move, he specially ordered two pounds of garlic-seasoned lobster!
“If not for ‘that thing,’ I might have truly become a model Demon Hunt Agency employee.”
Still maintaining caution, he avoided mentioning ‘Babel Tower’ within his new home.
Feeling the bed’s softness, Bai Yan checked his phone for “Babel Tower’s” status.
His brow furrowed as he sat upright.
The fifth level of the “Black Star Event” had unlocked automatically!
A game tip appeared: “Complete Level 5 of the ‘Black Star Event’ within the designated time limit.”
“Ah, now I understand.”
Bai Yan quickly grasped the cause and effect. The “fifth level” related to the Augustus family, with “Psychic Dancer” and “Nightsaber’s” actions triggering its early opening.
He remained silent momentarily.
“Dancer, if your father truly is Mr. ‘Mystery’… I’ll have ‘Nightsaber’ conclude this matter.”
