Cheng Mo went to the newly established Butterfly Mansion outpost.
Kochou Shinobu was directing the members of the Kakushi to move medicinal ingredients.
She wore her usual smile, but a hint of imperceptible fatigue seemed to hide in her eyes.
Seeing Cheng Mo, she greeted him with a smile: "Mr. Cheng Mo, what brings you here today?"
"Shinobu, I will be leaving for a while."
Cheng Mo said.
Kochou Shinobu's smile faltered slightly, and a flicker of surprise crossed her purple eyes: "Leaving again? This time it seems very sudden."
Her gaze deepened somewhat: "And, I seem to have rarely seen you come to the Butterfly Mansion for guidance recently. Have you encountered some difficulty? Perhaps I can help?"
Kochou Shinobu's tone remained gentle, yet carried a hint of disappointment.
She vaguely felt that Cheng Mo was conducting some important research, but was excluding her.
Cheng Mo's expression was calm, having already prepared his excuse: "It's about verifying the characteristics and extraction methods of blood diseases, which requires focused concentration and a rather special environment, making it inconvenient to conduct at the Butterfly Mansion."
He skillfully steered the conversation towards a seemingly reasonable and professional direction, and also made a promise: "Once there are definite results, I will bring them to the Butterfly Mansion immediately."
Kochou Shinobu watched him for a moment, and the smile on her face brightened again: "I see, then I look forward to good news from you, Mr. Cheng Mo."
She did not press further, but skillfully hid all her emotions.
Cheng Mo returned to the underground laboratory in Asakusa.
The air felt even more stagnant than usual.
Only the faint glimmers of various medicinal liquids gently swaying in glass containers illuminated a few faces with varying expressions.
Cheng Mo finished checking the last sealed document, placed it in a specially made metal box, and fastened the latch.
"I'm leaving this to you all here. The research direction and data should proceed as planned."
He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the few people in the laboratory.
"Please rest assured, Mr. Cheng Mo, I wish you all the best."
Tamayo gently put down the glass test tube in her hand, turning elegantly, her purple eyes as calm as water.
"Furthermore, regarding your sister's blood disease, based on the existing samples and previous theoretical breakthroughs, I already have some new ideas and conjectures. I believe that by the next time we meet, there should be more concrete results."
Cheng Mo nodded, saying no more.
In the field of blood and cells, Tamayo's centuries of research were far beyond what he could achieve with his advanced knowledge and special abilities.
He trusted Tamayo's capabilities.
At this moment, Himura Ruri eagerly stepped forward.
The girl nervously clasped her hands in front of her chest, looking up at Cheng Mo, her eyes full of dependence and pleading: "Mr. Cheng Mo, please... please take me with you! I, I can help, whether it's taking care of your daily life or doing odd jobs, I can definitely be useful!"
Her words were fast and urgent, as if afraid that she would be rejected a second too late.
Almost simultaneously, another clear, cold voice rang out.
Kamiya Kawayuki also stood up from her seat, her ice-blue eyes filled with determination.
"Lord Cheng Mo, although my power has not fully recovered, it is already sufficient for battle. Please allow me to follow you and protect your safety."
Her posture was respectful; this was her oath of loyalty, and she believed it was only right.
Cheng Mo's gaze swept over the two, seeming to have anticipated this.
"No."
His refusal was swift and decisive, without the slightest hesitation, leaving the two girls stunned.
He first looked at Himura Ruri, his voice softening slightly: "Ruri, your father is here, and his condition requires your constant attention. You are the closest person to him."
"Furthermore, Tamayo's research also needs an assistant. Stay here, take good care of your father, and learn well from Tamayo. This is your most important task right now."
Himura Ruri opened her mouth, wanting to retort, but found that every word of Cheng Mo's struck her weak spot.
She finally lowered her head, her voice a little muffled: "Yes... I understand."
Cheng Mo's gaze turned to Kamiya Kawayuki: "Kawayuki, your current task is to recover your strength as quickly as possible. The environment here is most suitable for you. My homeland has no demons or dangers, and you cannot go out during the day, so following me would not be very effective."
He emphasized his tone: "Moreover, the safety of the laboratory and Tamayo is equally crucial. I need you to stay here and ensure the absolute security of this place. This is an order."
Upon hearing this, a flicker of emotion crossed Kamiya Kawayuki's ice-blue eyes.
Immediately, she knelt on one knee without hesitation, lowering her head to accept the order: "As you command, I will not fail your trust!"
Guarding the laboratory and researchers important to her benefactor was also a crucial mission.
In the corner, Yushiro, who had been listening with his ears perked up, couldn't help but mutter softly: "Hmph... saying such grand things... just don't die out there..."
His voice was very soft, but in the quiet laboratory, it sounded exceptionally clear.
Tamayo immediately turned her head, giving him a warning glare.
Yushiro immediately fell silent. He pouted, pretending to lower his head to arrange the equipment.
Cheng Mo seemed not to have heard this awkward "blessing." He picked up the metal box at his feet and took one last look at everyone in the laboratory.
His gaze briefly lingered on Himura Ruri's somewhat disappointed face and Kamiya Kawayuki's respectful posture, then he turned and walked towards the stairs leading to the upper floor.
Asakusa under the night sky remained bustling.
Neon lights flickered, and voices boomed.
Cheng Mo, like a drop of water merging into a river, calmly walked through the bustling crowd, out of place with the surrounding prosperity and liveliness.
His steps were steady, his goal clear, as he walked towards the increasingly sparse lights at the edge of the city.
Tall buildings and grand houses were gradually replaced by low warehouses and old buildings, and the noise was gradually swallowed by the silence of the night.
Finally, he stopped under a disused railway bridge.
Here, there was only the faint light from distant streetlights.
In his mind, the phantom of the myriad realms compass clearly appeared, and the return countdown on it was flashing the final numbers... 3... 2... 1... [Return]
The moment his thought landed, the myriad realms compass suddenly erupted with a soft yet magnificent light.
Cheng Mo felt a difference; this return journey experience seemed extremely clear and profound.
The space around him was completely permeated and reconfigured.
The ground beneath his feet, the surrounding scenery, and even himself, began to rapidly transform from solid entities into countless tiny, shimmering particles.
Like stardust scattered by the wind, they quickly faded and dissipated into the invisible void.
Countless blurry light and distorted color blocks flashed across the edge of his perception.
That was the torrent of spacetime transformation.