Wangshu thought about it and agreed. The Huoshi Swarm King lineage, under normal circumstances, would definitely disguise themselves, blend in, and then strike when the opportunity arose, like a venomous snake.
But what did that have to do with the Swarm King herself?
Could an insect Emanator actually encounter a natural predator in a place like Cangcheng?
Speaking of which, did Propagation have natural predators? These things ate sunlight, heat, soil, grass... oh, and meat too.
"Are you very curious about the Propagation Swarm?"
Huoshi leaned in closer, her clear and sweet scent almost lingering on the tip of Wangshu's nose. His body instinctively leaned back, putting some distance between them.
The seemingly frail young girl narrowed her eyes, her thoughts unreadable. Wangshu sensibly leaned back in.
"Of course I'm curious. After all... I met you this morning."
He held his forehead. It would be hard not to be curious.
Huoshi seemed to automatically filter out that bit of emotion in his tone. The smile on her face remained unchanged as she extended a finger, pointing gently toward the ancient gates of the Book House.
"Sitting here just reading books is so boring~" Her tone was brisk, carrying a hint of coquettishness. "Why don't you... treat me to something to eat?"
Be a good boy and come out with me, or else... Wangshu mentally visualized a pitch-black pistol pressed against his forehead. Mn, now it feels normal.
"The honor is mine."
He smiled politely, completely forgetting Little Jingliu's warning to 'Guard Your Countenance'... Staying alive was more important.
*[Promising Future Chat Group]*
Asta: "Newbie, still alive?"
Wangshu: "The situation is rather complicated. I don't know how to explain it."
In the spacious restaurant, Wangshu sat in a comfortable high-backed chair. Watching the petite girl before him devouring his entire morning's sales revenue bite by bite with an utterly elegant posture, his vision blurred slightly for a moment.
Sister, you're really just eating!
Waiters kept bringing out new dishes. He didn't know how much time had passed, but as the plates stacked higher and higher, the crowd of onlookers grew larger.
Wangshu: "Young girl, three stacks of plates, surrounding onlookers.jpg"
Wangshu: "Close-up of fingers clutching money, trembling slightly.jpg"
Wangshu: "That's roughly the situation... Also, my money seems to be a bit insufficient."
Asta: "Where's your money? I just gave you the investment yesterday, didn't I?"
Wangshu: "It's in Little Jingliu's card. I only have this morning's sales revenue on hand."
Jingliu: "You put... all the money with me?"
Wangshu: "..."
Jingliu: "Sigh, alright, alright, Little Brother. I know you trust others easily, but you should have some sense of propriety in such matters. What if your future girlfriend finds out and gets angry?"
Wangshu: "Polite smile.jpg"
Sigh, this evil little brat, is he just that unwilling to listen to someone with experience? Money is something that should be kept in one's own hands, more or less.
Actually, there was another possibility, but she didn't think about it, nor did she dare to think about it.
Asta: "Although I don't know what the situation is, if you don't have the money to pay the bill, won't you be kept there to wash dishes?"
Wangshu: "...Is there no more dignified way to be saved?"
Wangshu: "We are the! Promising Future Chat Group, after all!"
Wangshu: "Fine, the moment I typed out the words 'Promising Future', I understood."
'Promising Future' just meant that the present wasn't working out.
Wangshu: "Can anyone provide me with a recording device? I haven't gone to buy a mobile phone yet."
As a new dish was brought over, Wangshu came back to his senses slightly.
"Who are you talking to? Tayzzyronth."
Huoshi paused her eating just a little bit. She took small bites of the delicacy, but her gaze remained fixed on Wangshu.
"No... oh, I suppose you could say that, but it's just a remnant."
Wangshu thought about it; he couldn't break free anyway, so he might as well bluff a bit. After all, he really was talking to a Propagation remnant.
Since the future Jingliu had indeed merged with it, and he was indeed communicating with the future Jingliu, rounding it up, Wangshu wasn't lying.
Huoshi paused eating for a moment, her smile brimming: "Check, please!"
She paid the money, which made Wangshu heave a sigh of relief inside. At least he wouldn't have to wash dishes.
Someone had definitely taken screenshots of the scene here and posted them to their social circle, but Huoshi didn't seem to care. As she left, she even grabbed a baguette, gnawing on it like a little hamster... After finishing it in three seconds, she began to suck her fingers.
Walking on the street, the sunlight was just right. Wangshu was still holding the first volume of Chronicles of Exotic Insects Across the Worlds. He felt the atmosphere was truly subtle—it didn't feel like a kidnapping, nor did it feel like a walk with a friend.
"If it were Calamity-Breeding, she would like you very much."
Huoshi suddenly thought of that Swarm King who most resembled the Swarm Imperator.
"Thanks, but I guess... I probably wouldn't like her."
"I know. After all, the Swarm Imperator is already dead, and you won't be the Swarm Imperator either."
Her tone was flat.
Wangshu was stunned for a moment. Right, after the future Jingliu merged with the Propagation remnants, didn't these Swarm Kings go looking for her? How do these Swarm Kings identify their targets?
Huoshi narrowed her eyes. "After all, He wouldn't call me Huoshi, nor would He accept a name like Calamity-Breeding. These are all titles given to us by others."
Huoshi, Mirage Moth, Calamity-Breeding—these were all names given by humans. Rather than names, they were more like characteristics, which held little significance to the Swarm.
Wangshu finally couldn't hold back and asked the question that had been hovering for a long time: "So, what exactly do you plan to do by finding me?"
Currently, Cangcheng only had one boss, and that was Rahu and Shuhu... twin bosses. Having an extra Swarm King appear out of thin air was truly unnecessary.
Hearing this, Huoshi turned around, her clear eyes glancing about. "Can I reserve the first child you produce?"
Wangshu: ...
He opened his mouth, wanting to speak but stopping, not making a sound for a long time.
*[Promising Future Chat Group]*
Wangshu: "@Jingliu, Senior, can I reserve the first child you produce?"
Jingliu thought that little brat Wangshu needed help again, but she read it several times in a row, eventually rubbing her eyes in disbelief.
Only then did she send a somewhat incredulous: "?"
Did this little brat know what he was saying?
Asta: "Are... are you confessing your love?"
Oh, so words like that could really be a confession? Wangshu came back to his senses slightly. Looking at Huoshi's innocent face, he tentatively repeated:
"Can I understand that sentence of yours as a confession?"
A trace of confusion flashed across Huoshi's small face. It took a long time before she used human culture to connect reserving a child with a confession of love.
"I mean, the first child you produce will likely inherit a portion of the original Propagation power. If used as food, there is a high probability it can complete me. We can make a trade."
She tried hard to express it in more humanized language.
Huoshi could barely understand it... After all, the power of Propagation was also linked to romance and reproduction. It was just that the powerhouses capable of merging with Propagation remnants were usually not affected by such minor issues.
Wangshu: ...
Then why don't you just eat me directly?
Of course, he didn't voice this question.
He subtly perceived that a certain misunderstanding had arisen between the two. Huoshi seemed to think... that his strength was already that of a powerful individual.
Silence stretched between the two for a long time. Finally, Huoshi smiled again, her cheeks blooming like flowers. Especially after just eating, her cheeks seemed exceptionally rosy:
"Of course, if you are willing to become my husband, I would certainly accept it with pleasure. Our child might become the descendant closest to Him."
She thought about this future and it seemed acceptable. After all, the Huoshi Swarm King lineage had always practiced shedding their claws and armor to reveal tender skin and faces, gaining the pity and sympathy of others, and then... Never mind! Don't pry into Swarm matters.
Wangshu's cheek twitched. "Let's go back to the child issue."
Huoshi naturally skipped over the previous topic as well. "Then, what do you want as payment for the reservation? I can go find it for you."
"I hope that after you fully understand and control that power, the first offspring you conceive can be handed over to me."
She looked at Wangshu earnestly with beautiful eyes, awaiting his quote.
________________________________________
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