This was the Cursed Children’s first al in the Valley. After the frantic overnight transfer, followed by excitent and brief chaos upon reaching their new ho, they gathered around a massive dining table atop the open platform. The staff from the Special Affairs Bureau had already prepared steaming hot buns, rice porridge, and soup. It wasn’t exactly a grand feast, given the hurried circumstances, but a warm breakfast was more than enough to ease everyone’s hearts.
Yu Sheng sat at one end of the long table (and it was indeed very long). Foxy was seated to his right, while Irene perched atop the table itself. The youngest Cursed Children lined up neatly along the table’s sides, arranged according to their usual seats back at the Orphanage. Each child already had a small tray placed before them, and now the “Guardians” and Bureau staff busily brought over large steaming pots and bamboo stears, carefully distributing food to everyone.
For the young Cursed Children, the experience was both novel and delightful. The wide-open Valley was unlike anything they’d seen at their old, crowded Orphanage or the bustling city streets. Eating together with adults at one gigantic table under an open sky was sothing they’d never imagined before. Even the normally well-behaved, disciplined kids from the Fairy Tale group couldn’t help but chatter excitedly.
Of course, it wasn’t just the Cursed Children who found it extraordinary; even the Special Affairs Bureau personnel felt amazed. If nothing else, none of them had ever seen a dining table fifty ters long before.
Little Red Riding Hood finished helping serve the kids and then sat down beside Yu Sheng, muttering softly, “Honestly, don’t you think this table’s a bit excessive?”
Yu Sheng replied sheepishly, “I just wanted the first al here to feel special—a sort of ceremony, you know? So everyone could gather at one big table.”
“Yes, it’s very ceremonial—but did you even consider those poor people serving the food?” Little Red Riding Hood grumbled. Then she got up, grabbed a piping-hot stead bun, blew on it vigorously, and bit down, imdiately exclaiming, “Ah hot hot hot!”
“It just ca out of the stear; of course it’s hot.” Yu Sheng couldn’t help chuckling. Little Red Riding Hood usually kept a serious, mature expression, but after spending more ti together, he’d realized that this responsible Guardian of so many younger siblings also had a playful side. “Slow down a little.”
Little Red Riding Hood continued puffing out breaths, glancing across the table at Foxy, who was enthusiastically devouring two stead buns at once. “I saw her eating so fast, I thought they’d already cooled down.”
“…She’s a cultivator. She literally eats grilled at by sandwiching a piece of charcoal between pork slices—you’re really using her as a reference?”
“…Okay, my mistake.”
Yu Sheng laughed helplessly, but was quickly interrupted by his phone ringing. Pulling it out, he saw Bai Li Qing’s na flashing on the screen.
Upon answering, the director’s cool, clear voice imdiately sounded in his ear: “Open a Door connecting directly to the underground parking lot of the Special Affairs Bureau. The Council’s personnel assigned to the Orphanage have arrived.”
“Ah… right, got it.”
Maybe it was because of the long, exhausting night, but Yu Sheng took a mont to recall exactly what she was talking about. Hurriedly agreeing, he stood to open the Door. As he hung up (double-checking this ti), he couldn’t help murmuring softly to Irene, “Is it just , or did Bai Li Qing sound a little cheerful just now?”
Irene tugged at Yu Sheng’s hair and scoffed, “Obviously. It’s half-past five in the morning, and for once, she finally got to call you off-hours and boss you around. Usually, you’re the one making Special Affairs Bureau personnel jump from their desks in a panic every ti you report sothing. Now she’s the one waking you up and making you work. If it were , I’d be openly laughing at you right now.”
Yu Sheng frowned slightly, “Is it really that dramatic?”
“That’s what my Spiritual Intuition says.”
Clearly, Irene and Yu Sheng shared at least one trait: their Spiritual Intuition rarely focused on serious business.
anwhile, Yu Sheng reached into the empty air, smoothly creating a Door—sothing he’d beco remarkably good at through constant practice. Connecting to the Bureau was now second nature, and since it was only for a few people, the Door didn’t need to be large. In a blink, the ethereal gate appeared, and with a slight push, he opened it wide.
The Cursed Children curiously turned their heads toward the commotion. Yu Sheng smiled broadly and called out cheerfully, “Look who’s here!”
One of the little ones nearest to him jumped from their seat excitedly: “It’s Teacher Su!”
Familiar faces erged onto the platform one by one. These teachers, sent by the Council, had watched over the Orphanage’s children for years. They smiled warmly, having received ergency instructions from their superiors at dawn and quickly rushed over.
“That’s right—it’s your beloved Teacher Su, along with Teacher Li and Teacher Sun, bringing along your favorite winter-break howork…” One of the teachers cheerfully teased, patting the camping trailer he had pulled through. He revealed a load of materials, letting the children know that even if they were “camping” out here in the Valley, there would be no escaping their daily studies.
Imdiately, groans and playful protests filled the air along the giant dining table, mingled with laughter from the adults.
“Glad I don’t have to join in this…” Little Red Riding Hood whispered smugly.
Yet, no sooner had she spoken than Teacher Su approached, placing a large bag on the table in front of her. “Your horoom teacher asked to give you this—absence from school is no excuse not to do howork. Here are your monthly mock exams too. Finish them and I’ll deliver them back for grading.”
Little Red Riding Hood fell into stunned silence: “…”
“Snow White, Long Haired Girl, and the rest of you over there—stop laughing. This pushcart here belongs to you. Before we set out, the Council specially contacted each of your teachers at school. They sent along your assignnts and even the test papers for the end-of-month mock exams.”
Laughter imdiately filled the air around the long table.
Yu Sheng couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight, though he soon reminded everyone gently, “Eat first, eat first! You Cursed Children were awakened at half-past two this morning. You’re just now getting a hot al. After you finish eating, you need rest—the howork and extra lessons can wait. You folks co and eat too; just a few extra chopsticks is all. Once you’re done, I’ll show you around the place.”
By the ti everyone finished their breakfast, and Yu Sheng had shown the Council’s workers around the periter of the camp, the sun had already risen high in the sky, and it was past nine o’clock in the morning.
Right on schedule, the second wave of construction workers dispatched by the Special Affairs Bureau entered the Valley, relieving the exhausted first shift that had worked tirelessly from the night before. The workers imdiately resud finishing touches on the settlent, preparing for other planned construction projects.
The settlent itself was nearly complete.
Standing atop a small rise near the Portal Platform, Yu Sheng gazed at the neat and brand-new “camp.” Senior mbers of Fairy Tale were being guided by the master craftsn, getting familiar with the facilities and accepting the keys for critical equipnt like generators and water pumps. Under the clear, blue sky, the white prefab housing glead brilliantly. Hardened pathways stretched wide and orderly, while teenage Cursed Children, alongside their teachers, carried bundles of daily necessities through winding lanes between houses. The King led his team of Knights through the camp, tirelessly rounding up younger children to ensure they got so rest. Occasionally, adults would pause, trying earnestly to explain to a puzzled child why they needed to sleep even though it was broad daylight…
Admittedly, the settlent wasn’t grand or particularly beautiful. Yet, it radiated a reassuring comfort, fully eting all the needs of a thriving orphanage. Perhaps a few inconveniences remained, but it was clear Little Red Riding Hood and the others were already growing fond of their new ho.
As for Yu Sheng, no one was happier than him.
Linked directly with the Valley, Yu Sheng felt a subtle but powerful shift in the atmosphere around him. Beneath the perpetually clear sky, it was as if a simple yet vibrant “town” had sprung to life. This newfound vitality quietly nourished the land, and Yu Sheng realized he deeply enjoyed this vitality, the changes in the Valley, and this feeling of being nourished. It made him sense his existence more strongly than even the beating of his own heart.
He didn’t quite understand this sensation, but the warmth it brought convinced him it was a good thing.
Afterward, Yu Sheng shifted his gaze toward the area near the Portal Platform.
Newly built pump stations and generator rooms stood between the camp and the Portal Platform, workers diligently extending pipes and electrical lines to another construction site nearby.
This developnt was part of an earlier agreent Yu Sheng and Bai Li Qing had reached: Hotel would grant the Special Affairs Bureau access to the Valley and its crash site for research. In return, the Special Affairs Bureau would finance and execute a series of construction projects here—including setting up reliable utilities and even building an advanced vegetable greenhouse.
The nightmare leakage incident at the Orphanage had been unexpected, yet now everything seed to be swiftly improving and settling back onto the right path.
With a sense of relief and joy, Yu Sheng returned to Wutong Road No. 66, intending to enjoy a long-overdue nap before the Special Affairs Bureau inevitably called him again to open the Door.
Foxy lent him a fluffy tail for comfort, while Irene promised that her steel-rebar-and-stone body wouldn’t unexpectedly leap onto the bed this ti. The room temperature was perfect, and with the curtains drawn, the dimness was just right. Yu Sheng thought there couldn’t possibly be a better setting for a good, restful sleep.
Holding onto the warm, comforting Fox tail, Yu Sheng happily closed his eyes.
When he opened them again—oh, great. Black Forest.
And from sowhere nearby ca the unmistakable wailing of an infant.
Yu Sheng muttered softly to himself, “…Damn it.”
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