Because they did not meet often, Tail could not handle the light on Nero for a moment and immediately thought about running away.
As for why he could see blooming light on Nero, he was not very clear either. At least on other people, he could not see this kind of situation.
It must be because Nero is very special, or maybe something happened recently that made Nero achieve some kind of big leap in improvement.
Of course, this was only Tail's guess.
If he told this guess to Nero, then Nero would probably realize where the problem was.
After all, because of the existence of Secretary Tong, he had already entered a state where he could grow stronger even while lying down.
On the other hand, under Secretary Tong's suggestion, he collected the broken pillar fragments that he smashed that day in the mirror world of Jietuoke.
As a result, when he touched those fragments, along with a burst of rosy light, those fragments were all absorbed by him.
After that, there were no bad side effects. It was just that his senses became much sharper, his body became better, and he also became better looking.
According to Secretary Tong, Nero's body was molded from the same material, and it would take some time to fully absorb it.
But this was not important. Nero did not care much about this.
Back to Tail's attempt to escape, he failed.
Because when he struggled hard, a hand was placed on his head.
Tail froze at once, then his whole body shook. Even though he had no body, he felt as if his whole being was tingling, and he let out a very sweet "Oh wow~".
When Huohuo heard that sound from Tail, her face was full of shocked disbelief. Her ears, which had been drooping gently, stood upright.
Her eyes, which usually looked tired because she often stayed up late, became bright and full of spirit. A faint blush also appeared on her slightly pale little face.
The little fox girl was just short of blurting out on the spot, "Say it! Where did you hide Lord Tail?"
And Lord Tail, after reacting, also turned red in the face.
But now when he looked at Nero again, he was not that dazzling anymore.
Facts proved that even a Heliobus could not escape Nero's "Divine Hand."
This unique skill was comparable to "whoever he touches becomes stupid."
After rubbing Lord Tail twice, Nero let him go.
The feeling was not very good. There was not much solid sensation when touching him.
Lord Tail quickly slipped back to Huohuo's side.
"Actually, Qingque is treating us to a meal." Nero warmly invited, "Let's go together!"
"Eh..." Huohuo took two steps back, looking a bit timid. "I still have work..."
"Sister Xueyi said you can go with us. I asked her!" Nero said while taking out his phone. On it was the chat record with Xueyi.
Considering that Huohuo might shrink back because Nero was too enthusiastic, Xueyi specially sent a permission proof.
Tail also circled around Huohuo twice and said, "Go, go, go! Someone is treating you to food and you are not going?"
Although that was what he said, what Tail truly hoped for was not to get a free meal, but for Huohuo to go out and have some fun with these three little kids in front of them.
Tail knew very well that because of him, Huohuo did not have many friends. Right now, he wished that Huohuo could spend more time with these three little kids.
When it comes to raising a child, it is probably this kind of mindset.
Tail belonged to the type who scolds fiercely with his mouth, yet worries like an old father in his heart.
Although Nero was very dazzling and had made him lose face, just because he was willing to take Huohuo out to play, Tail actually had a very good impression of him.
"Th-then... okay." Huohuo nodded.
After that, the four of them went together to Jinyan Alley and found Qingque, who was playing cards by the roadside while waiting.
They saw Qingque push her little hand forward and say, "Hu!"
Then she turned around, waved at the four little ones walking over, and when everyone got close, Qingque grabbed Nero's hand and said, "My luck suddenly got better this round. I guessed you were about to arrive! Let's go, let's eat!"
The five of them chatted and laughed as they headed to the restaurant. After ordering, they sat around a big table, talking and laughing. That carefree atmosphere could truly make others envious.
Nero lay on the table, quietly listening to everyone talk. Yanqing talked for a while about how this sword was this and that, and then about how the General was this and that.
Bailu complained that the Alchemy Commission always controlled her, and said that ever since Nero came, they did not control her as much, and told Nero to come find her more often.
Qingque pulled Nero and started talking about mysticism, telling him to play cards with her in the future and that they would definitely become unbeatable in the world. Even Huohuo became much more cheerful.
Inside a shop in the distance, Jing Yuan gently put down his phone.
He lowered his head and looked at the photo he had just taken. The five little ones were sitting together, smiling brightly, everyone surrounding Nero and tugging at him.
Because of Nero's existence, the young and outstanding juniors of the Xianzhou interacted more with each other.
If the relationship among the five were compared to a mechanism, then Nero was the most crucial axle inside it.
Under white hair, golden eyes looked at this photo, as if sinking into some kind of memory.
'Dan Feng, Yingxing, Jingliu... Baiheng...'
The figures of old friends flashed one by one in his mind like slides.
Back then, the five of them were also like this. The wild craftsman raised his head and drank boldly.
The Dragon Lord was silent and reserved but also smiling. The Sword Champion and the fox girl both stood under the sunlight.
Looking at it now, that scene was still so clear in memory, as if it was not long ago, making one want to say, once upon a time.
The white lion gently closed his golden eyes, raised his hand to save the photo, and a faint smile curved on the lips that showed no trace of time. Today he suddenly wanted to drink a small cup.
At this moment, in the restaurant, everything the five little ones ordered had been served.
Qingque picked up a slice of meat from her bowl and suddenly dropped it into Nero's bowl, muttering, "Eat, Nero! Eat more meat so you can grow!"
Nero's face fell as he wailed, "You clearly know I am not used to eating this and you still throw it to me!"
The others burst into laughter.
Jing Yuan stood up, carrying a small bottle of liquor, and left.
He thought that in the future he would watch over these children more, at least not let them end up like the five of them.
———
[The Real World]
Siberian Duck started doing the new main quest.
Although because of Nero, the dreams Dan Heng had became strange, the performance given in the game did not change.
———
[Xianzhou Luofu, Shackling Prison]
"...Do you remember me?"
"I remember. Of five people, three must pay the price. You are not one of them, Jing Yuan."