"This is my duty."

Uncle Xia held a lamp and accompanied Xu Xingguang along the dimly lit corridor. He explained to Xu Xingguang, "This house doesn’t have good lighting. Even during the day, with the curtains drawn, it’s still quite dark. I’m holding the lamp to make it easier for Miss Xu to have a look around."

"Alright."

They first toured the first floor, and upon finishing, stood on the platform that connected to the second floor and the basement. Uncle Xia told Xu Xingguang, "The basement is the Pilot’s activity area. Generally speaking, without his permission, we can’t enter."

However, considering Xu Xingguang’s special status, Uncle Xia did not dare to stop her, so he said, "If Miss Xu wants to visit, then you will have to go alone."

Xu Xingguang didn’t wish to make things difficult, so she understandingly said, "I’ll wait until he recovers and there’s an opportunity to go."

She would be staying on Divine Concealment Island for a while, until the investigation work at the research institute was completed before returning to the mainland.

"Alright." Xiahou secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He took Xu Xingguang around the second floor and noticed her eyes fixed on the door at the end of the hallway. He informed her, "Behind that door is the corridor leading to the East Wing and the building at the back. That place is where the Old Helmsman and his father used to live. If Miss Xu wants to take a look, you’re welcome to do so."

"It’s just that no one lives there anymore, and staying too long might not be too comfortable."

Though the servants cleaned there daily, an uninhabited house had an uncertain aura to it.

Even Uncle Xia himself would not usually go there alone.

Xu Xingguang stared at the door that isolated the corridor from the two other buildings, and she became quite interested. "Uncle Xia, if you’re not busy, why don’t you accompany me to take a look?"

"I’m not busy, so let’s go now."

Uncle Xia opened the door, leading Xu Xingguang through the corridor, saying as they walked, "There’s not much to see here. All the furniture was crafted during the Old Helmsman’s father’s time. To accommodate people living here, it would need significant refurbishment."

"But now, no one comes to stay here. Even for family banquets, everyone just eats on the first floor and then leaves. The liveliest time on the island each year is around the festival days, yet those children who come from far away would rather stay in the staff dormitory than here."

As for the reasons, Uncle Xia did not need to spell them out, and Xu Xingguang understood them as well.

After a brief tour of the East Wing, lunchtime arrived.

Uncle Xia intended to go back, but seeing Xu Xingguang still eager to explore, he said, "There’s nothing special in the building at the back, just some old photos hanging there."

Uncle Xia informed Xu Xingguang, "In the last few months before the Old Helmsman’s father passed away, he locked himself in that house, staring at the photos. The Old Helmsman thought those things were ominous, and generally, he doesn’t allow us to enter."

Uncle Xia said this hoping to dampen Xu Xingguang’s curiosity.

But Xu Xingguang, on the contrary, grew intensely curious about it.

"Old photos, huh? Then I really want to see them."

Although Uncle Xia was slightly resigned, he could only accompany Xu Xingguang to view those old photos.

The building at the back was dimly lit and damp, making it even more eerie and terrifying. The sound of Xu Xingguang and Uncle Xia’s footsteps on the first floor echoed all the way up to the third floor.

Despite his age, Uncle Xia still felt a chill in his heart.

But Xu Xingguang’s steps showed no signs of hesitation; she was very brave.

Uncle Xia admired Xu Xingguang somewhat.

Though the girl was young, she was indeed bold.

Well, a girl daring enough to date their Young Helmsman couldn’t possibly be a timid little rabbit.

"We’re here." Xu Xingguang spotted the photos Uncle Xia had mentioned.

The photos lined the entire hallway on the first floor, extending all the way to the derelict garden at the corridor’s end. There weren’t many photos, one hanging every meter or so, depicting people and scenery that, over time, had become blurred and distorted.

Many photos were faint, and Xu Xingguang examined each old photo one by one, finally pausing before a picture of a plant.

Seeing Xu Xingguang stop, Uncle Xia curiously glanced at the photo, unable to identify what it depicted. "Miss Xu, is there something wrong with this photo?"

Xu Xingguang said, "It’s a Star-Yun Worm."

"What is that?" Uncle Xia was utterly confused, having never heard of it before.

Xu Xingguang shook her head, explaining, "The Star-Yun Worm is a creature resembling a grassy plant in appearance, with the ability to mutate."

But what Xu Xingguang didn’t tell Uncle Xia was that among the many ferocious genes of the Corpse Centipede, there were Star-Yun Worm genes.

Strictly speaking, the Star-Yun Worm was an indispensable element in cultivating a Corpse Centipede, for it alone possessed the potential for transformation!