Chapter 219: Yu Xiaotang Gets Jealous: The Mind of a Cute Girl

Shen Yan was still supporting Luo Li, his arm resting on her shoulder, the two standing very close. Yu Xiaotang came running out from around the corner of the ruins, clutching half a candied hawthorn stick, the syrup nearly melted and dripping onto the back of her hand.

She had been smiling, about to shout, “I found a new talisman path!” But when she looked up and saw the scene before her, the words caught in her throat.

Her footsteps halted.

The smile on her face froze.

She blinked twice, forcing down the sudden surge of sourness welling up inside, then abruptly sprang forward, charging ahead and using her shoulder to forcefully push, wedging herself between Shen Yan and Luo Li.

Caught off guard, Shen Yan nearly stumbled.

Yu Xiaotang took the opportunity to wrap her arms around one of his arms, pressing her head against his shoulder: “Brother Shen Yan! Why are you only looking after her and not me? I ran through three streets just to find you!”

Her voice was bright and clear, but the tail end trembled slightly.

Shen Yan looked down at her. The little girl tilted her face up, her eyes shining so brightly they seemed to reflect light, but he knew—it was all forced.

He didn’t speak, gently pulling his hand free.

Yu Xiaotang’s heart tightened, about to let go, but instead of pushing her away, his hand came down to ruffle the top of her twin-tails.

“Alright, alright,” he said. “I’ll hold your hand too.”

His fingers brushed through her hair ties, the movement very gentle.

Yu Xiaotang’s nose stung, and she quickly turned her head, pretending to cough.

Shen Yan took her hand with one hand, while still lightly supporting Luo Li with the other, his tone steady: “You are both the most important people to me. Neither can be missing.”

The corner of Yu Xiaotang’s mouth lifted slightly, but she immediately muttered, “But you didn’t call for me earlier… I was the first to discover the anomaly in the spiritual flow!”

“Mm, you’re the vanguard,” Shen Yan nodded. “Next time, I’ll definitely send you a message first.”

“That’s more like it,” she huffed, stuffing the candied hawthorn into her mouth and crunching loudly. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Luo Li standing silently nearby, the tips of her ears slightly red.

Bubbles of resentment rose in her heart again.

Why?

Just the day before yesterday, when she stayed up late drawing talisman arrays, Shen Yan had praised her for being clever. Yesterday, when Pei Yue performed acupuncture needling on him, he was so moved. Today, when Luo Li burned a path through with fire, he rushed to support her. So why, when it came to her, didn’t he even give her a proper glance?

The more she thought about it, the more wronged she felt. She simply stood on tiptoe and shoved her face right in front of Shen Yan’s: “Look at me! I’m much cuter than them, right?”

Shen Yan froze.

Yu Xiaotang’s eyes were wide and round, her cheeks puffed out like a squirrel’s.

He couldn’t help but laugh: “Yes, yes, yes, the cutest.”

“Then from now on, you’re only allowed to hold my hand!” she pressed her advantage.

“No,” Shen Yan shook his head. “They need support too.”

“Then I need to be supported too!” she immediately reached out and hooked her arm around his other one. “Now I’m double-insured!”

Shen Yan was torn between laughter and tears, not daring to shake off either side, and could only stand there obediently as a human-shaped support.

Luo Li finally spoke up: “Are you done? He’s not your personal accessory.”

“He’s my brother!” Yu Xiaotang declared righteously.

“Who acknowledged you as a sister?” Luo Li sneered.

“I don’t need acknowledgment, I acknowledge myself!” Yu Xiaotang stuck out her tongue. “Besides, I was the first teammate he saved! By seniority, you should step aside!”

“Alright, alright,” Shen Yan cut in. “Stop arguing. Whose I am right now isn’t important. The key is—”

Before he could finish, Yu Xiaotang suddenly let go and took a step back.

Her expression changed.

Both hands swiftly drew three yellow talismans from the Cosmic Bag, slapping them onto the ground in a triangular formation.

The edges of the Talisman Paper glowed with faint golden rings, and the ground trembled slightly.

“Something’s off,” she said, her voice tense. “Something’s approaching, fast, and… it doesn’t feel like the Devil Clan.”

Shen Yan immediately released the two, his phone screen flashing as a green Code Interface automatically popped up.

The Data Stream scrolled rapidly.

【Detected unknown Energy Fluctuation】

【Source direction: Northwest ruins】

【Distance: Three hundred meters】

【Intensity rating: High-risk】

His eyes sharpened, and he whispered, “Stay alert, don’t separate.”

Yu Xiaotang had already positioned herself to his left, holding two new talismans in her right hand while her left quietly gripped the hem of his clothes.

Luo Li also took her place on his right, her cat ears perked up, the silver bell on her ankle chain emitting a faint chime.

The three formed a triangular Formation, standing back-to-back in vigilance.

Wind swept ashes past as dust began to churn among the distant ruins.

The ground tremors grew increasingly noticeable.

“It’s not the patrol team,” Yu Xiaotang stared at the Talisman Array’s glowing rings. “Their spiritual waves are regular, but this… feels like a beast, yet not like a living thing.”

Shen Yan quickly tapped on his phone screen, inputting a Command.

【Initiate primary scanning Protocol】

【Attempting to analyze target structure】

The progress bar had just reached halfway when the System suddenly issued a Warning:

【Warning: Target Signal encrypted, unable to identify】

【Suggestion: Avoid contact or await reinforcements】

Reinforcements?

There was no time to wait.

Shen Yan looked up toward the northwest direction. Within the dust haze, a Dark Shadow faintly appeared, its Outline distorted, moving on all fours. But its movement didn’t resemble running—it was more like… gliding.

“Prepare for engagement,” he said.

Yu Xiaotang immediately pulled out five Talisman Papers and pressed them against her palm. Her fingertips twitched slightly as the talisman ink began to heat up.

“I’ll set up a suppression Formation, but it needs three seconds to charge,” she said. “Buy me time.”

“No problem,” Shen Yan nodded. “I’ll stop it within three seconds.”

His fingers slid across the screen, quickly writing a short Command.

【Generate interference Pulse】

【Target locked: Entity ahead】

Once the Program loaded, he raised his hand and pointed toward the Dark Shadow.

An invisible shockwave instantly erupted in the air.

Stones on the ground jumped half an inch, and the dust haze was forcibly torn open.

The Dark Shadow paused its movement.

But it didn’t fall. Instead, it raised its head and let out a low, rasping roar.

The sound didn’t resemble any known Demon Beast—it was more like metal grinding mixed with electrical static, grating enough to make one’s head throb.

“What the hell… what is this thing?” Yu Xiaotang shrank back slightly.

Shen Yan stared at the screen, his brow furrowed.

【Target life signature: None】

【Energy reaction: Machine-like】

【Movement pattern: Non-biological Driver】

“It’s not alive,” he said. “It’s a Puppet, but not made by the Devil Clan.”

“Then who made it?” Yu Xiaotang asked.

“Don’t know,” Shen Yan shook his head. “But that roar just now sounded like it was transmitting a Signal.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the Talisman Array’s glowing rings flickered twice before extinguishing completely.

Yu Xiaotang’s face paled. “Not good! It’s interfering with my Formation!”

Shen Yan immediately rewrote the Program.

【Switch to anti-interference mode】

【Increase detection frequency】

But before he could execute it, the Dark Shadow in the northwest suddenly accelerated, skimming the ground as it charged forward, leaving afterimages in its wake.

“It’s coming!” Yu Xiaotang shouted.

Shen Yan pulled her behind him, just as his phone popped up a new Notice:

【Warning: Target entering high-speed rush state】

【Estimated contact time: Two seconds】

He couldn’t think, instinctively pressing the pre-set defense program.

A translucent green light barrier instantly expanded.

Boom!

The Dark Shadow crashed into the barrier, erupting with blinding sparks.

The impact forced Shen Yan back three steps, his feet scraping two deep marks on the ground.

Yu Xiaotang rushed forward to support him: “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” He gasped for breath, “But this thing’s strength is considerable.”

The barrier remained, but its surface had begun to crack.

The Dark Shadow lay on the ground, slowly raising its head.

This time, they clearly saw its face.

No features, only a smooth metal faceplate, engraved with a bizarre symbol in the center—like a split eye, surrounded by Rune-like patterns.

“This mark…” Yu Xiaotang’s pupils contracted, “I’ve seen it in my family’s ancient texts! This is the Seal reversal pattern of the ‘Abyss’!”

“The Abyss?” Shen Yan frowned, “Wasn’t it already destroyed?”

“Theoretically.” Yu Xiaotang’s voice tightened, “But what if someone Restarted it?”

Shen Yan stared at the metal faceplate, suddenly noticing something.

The direction of the symbol’s patterns bore some resemblance to the Source Code Spiritual Root within his body.

“Wait…” he whispered, “It’s not coming for us.”

“What?” Yu Xiaotang was stunned.

“It’s coming for this.” Shen Yan raised his phone, the Code Interface on the Screen facing the Dark Shadow, “It’s sensing my Spiritual Root.”

As if responding to his words, the Dark Shadow suddenly raised one claw, pointing at his phone.

Then, it spoke.

The voice came from within the metal faceplate, intermittent, like some ancient recording being replayed:

“Find… core… Restart… Source… Code…”

(End of Chapter)