"It’s okay, Sister. My brother and I can get back on our own with the Flying Device. But you’re looking for Si Xie—don’t you need my brother and me to stay and help? We can help search, too."

There’s strength in numbers, and Jiang Tang was very eager to help.

Jiang Yunnuan had been about to suggest just that. Seeing Jiang Tang bring it up herself, she reached out and pinched her soft cheek.

"I do! But you and Jiang Wang should head back to Central City first. Get him unbound from the foster care center, and then you can help me search the Twelve Star Zones in Central City. If you find any clues about Si Xie, contact me immediately."

That Teleportation Gate was random. Si Xie could have been sent to any corner of the world, so she couldn’t gather everyone in one place.

Jiang Tang nodded and promised solemnly.

"Okay, Sister. My brother and I will search for him diligently. On top of that, I’ll contact our other brothers and ask them to keep an eye out when they’re on the move. We’ll definitely find Brother-in-law Si Xie."

"Mm, be careful on your way. I’ll come find you when I get back to Central City."

After giving them one more reminder, Jiang Yunnuan gave them a large amount of fruit and Energy Liquid.

The Flying Device was fully automated. Once bound to a Light Brain and the route was set, it could be operated entirely through the Light Brain. Plus, there were countless bases along the way.

If it malfunctioned, they could send a landing request to the nearest base, and a rescue team would be dispatched to meet them.

Therefore, Jiang Yunnuan wasn’t worried about their safety.

The Flying Device took off, and in the blink of an eye, the Mist Forest was out of sight.

Jiang Tang pulled her gaze back and looked at the fruit on the seat. She suddenly noticed a small cloth pouch. Opening it, she found twenty Crystal Cores inside. She jumped in surprise and immediately turned to Jiang Wang.

"Brother, that’s so many Crystal Cores! Sister must have given them to us. Should we turn back and return them to her?"

That day in the forest, Jiang Yunnuan had given them Crystal Core Plants and ore. Today, she had given them all the Star Coins and Crystal Cores from robbing that group of people. And now, she had given them another twenty.

Having never seen so many Crystal Cores in her entire life, Jiang Tang was thoroughly startled.

Jiang Wang took the pouch, looked inside, and pursed his lips in silence for a moment before speaking slowly.

"No need. Since Sister gave them to us, let’s just keep them. When we get back to Central City, we can sell them to recruit people to help find Brother-in-law Si Xie."

’This silly girl still can’t see it,’ he thought. ’Sister has a secret she doesn’t want us to know. It’s inconvenient for her to have us around, so she sent us back first. But she feels bad about it, so she’s compensating us with Crystal Cores. If we go back to return the Crystal Cores now, it will only make things more difficult for her. Only by accepting them will she be at ease.’

*

「At the base.」

After seeing the siblings off, Jiang Yunnuan turned around and saw the man who had been following them from a distance.

She hadn’t wanted to deal with him, but then she remembered the Crystal Cores that belonged to him, so she had no choice but to walk over.

Seeing her approach, the white-haired, beast-eared man’s throat bobbed. His gaze was cautious, and a flicker of hope appeared in his eyes.

But in the next second, that faint hope was mercilessly shattered.

She pulled out a small cloth pouch and shoved it into his hand, her voice cold and resolute.

"This is yours."

His palm felt as if it had been scalded. He flinched, and the pouch fell to the ground with a CLATTER.

Jiang Yunnuan frowned and looked up at him, annoyed, only to see his eyes filled with heartbreak and sorrow.

"First, the Contract Termination. Then, kicking me from the group. And now, returning my things... Are you really trying to cut me out of your life completely?"

He clenched his fists and spoke slowly, his sentence punctuated by pauses, the end of his words trembling.

Seeing him like this, Jiang Yunnuan couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness. But with Si Xie’s whereabouts unknown, she couldn’t afford to be soft-hearted.

"Think whatever you want!"

She turned to leave, but her arm was suddenly grabbed. He pulled hard, yanking her into his arms and holding her from behind.

Seeing this, Fu Yuan, who was standing nearby, knitted his brows and started walking toward the pair.

Ming Ye glanced at him before indifferently looking away.

"Jiang Yunnuan, in your heart, Si Xie is more important than me, isn’t he?"

He buried his head in the crook of her neck, his voice muffled. Hearing it felt inexplicably oppressive, and Jiang Yunnuan grew annoyed.

She had told him many times that they were all the same to her, but he never seemed to believe it.

"Even if I said no, you wouldn’t believe me, so why even ask? Besides, we don’t even know where he is right now. What more do you want?"

The moment she finished speaking, her hand was suddenly taken. She looked up and saw Fu Yuan had walked over. His deep, dark-blue eyes, both gentle and distant, were fixed on Jun Yao.