Chapter 811: Lan Qi's Pain is Unbearable!

Chapter 811: Lan Qi's Pain is Unbearable!

"So, that's how it is."

"That's the situation."

In the mansion's dining room, a towering chandelier hung from the high ceiling, its hundreds of sparkling crystals refracting dazzling light. The polished marble floor reflected the silhouettes of three people sitting side by side at the table, their slightly swaying figures revealing not a single calm mind among them.

After more than ten minutes of explanation...

Lan Qi sat between Talia and Sigrid, recounting the story to them.

"The Dimension Bishop just happened to accept the important task of finding a bride for you, and he thought that you and I would be a perfect match, so he wanted to give us a surprise and introduced me to you?"

Sigrid listened to Lan Qi's story with a serious expression, slightly softening her previous anger.

"That kid, Toriato..."

Talia clenched her teeth, muttering to herself.

If Toriato had simply sent her a girl who resembled Sigrid, she might have thanked her old demon friend.

But the problem was that this woman wasn't a gift for her; she was intended to be Lan Qi's wife, and that was unforgivable.

"I was thinking that neither the allies nor the Dimensional Branch could find a fake bride, so I asked Tata to help me as a backup. But today, right after I returned from the Shadow World, while I was contacting Toriato, he was arrested. This is a serious handover mistake. I didn't receive you well, and I didn't inform Tata in advance; it's all my fault."

Lan Qi nodded heavily, offering a sincere apology to the two women.

He placed his hands on the edge of the table, which was made of finely crafted walnut wood, and the surface was covered with a spotless lace tablecloth, its intricate patterns resembling frost on a winter day.

"Why was he arrested?"

Sigrid listened to Lan Qi's words and understood the situation a little better, but she still had doubts.

This Dimension Bishop seemed a bit unreliable.

She had never heard of a Cardinal Bishop being arrested by the local special services department.

"Did he drive you here?"

Lan Qi looked at Sigrid.

According to the time Sigrid had spent in the Shadow World, it was impossible for her to find his home in Saint Crethine Academy so quickly without a guide. She would have gotten hopelessly lost.

"Yes."

Sigrid admitted, her blood pressure rising.

She hadn't expected Lan Qi to be able to multitask even while apologizing.

"Then it's likely that Toriato was mistaken for an enemy spy monitoring Professor Randall by the Imperial Special Operations Unit. Now, with the empire at the brink of crisis, everyone is on high alert. The Imperial Special Operations Unit has been keeping a close eye on me, and my life has been difficult. Now that you're here, I feel bad for you."

Lan Qi's expression was complex as he explained the severity of the situation in the southern continent to Sigrid.

"I see."

Sigrid listened to Lan Qi's words, and her heart softened a little.

"It's okay if life is difficult; I don't mind."

She had just come from the northern continent and wasn't yet fully aware of the war atmosphere.

Sigrid carefully considered the situation and realized that it was indeed dangerous. In Lan Qi's current situation, it was necessary for them to play their parts well with Tata, or any slip-up could be extremely dangerous.

"You still 'don't mind'? There's already a woman in this house. Go back to the Church of Rebirth; I'll accompany him through the hardships."

Talia found the whole situation absurd and laughed.

"Didn't you hear what he just said? You're the 'backup' option, so you were the second choice. I'm his first choice, and I should be the lady of this house."

Sigrid's tone was commanding, like a queen issuing an order, as she looked at Talia.

She wasn't content with just controlling what was in front of her; she wanted to conquer everything within her sight.

"Why don't you stop misunderstanding? If not for the issues with our bodies, there wouldn't be any need for other fake bride options."

On the left, Talia sat elegantly, her slender figure accentuated by a beige silk dress. A few strands of hair casually draped over her ears, and she wore a faint smile on her face. But her golden eyes shot a sharp gaze towards the other side, ready to see through her opponent.

"His body is fine, and he never had any problems with me. If there's an issue, it's your problem, isn't it?"

On the right, Sigrid had transformed from her previous liveliness. Her silvery laughter, like a bell, reverberated throughout the dining room, but her smile was like a carefully arranged mask, unable to conceal her domineering nature.

Her slender fingers unconsciously fidgeted with the napkin, ready to place her hand on Lan Qi's collar at any moment.

"You two..."

Lan Qi felt like he had thorns on his back at this moment.

"Be quiet."

The two women spoke in unison, commanding him.

"... "

He stiffly maintained the upward curve of his lips, occasionally sipping the hot coffee in his cup. Whenever he tried to speak, his throat felt choked by the gaze of the two women, and he couldn't make a sound.

The silence in this cozy afternoon was particularly unbearable.

As the food cart was slowly pushed in, the little cat hid at the bottom of the cart, using telekinesis to place the dishes on the silver plates one by one. The delicate highball glasses were filled with deep red grape juice, and the clinking of the cutlery created a crisp, fragile sound. But all of this couldn't dispel the eerie atmosphere that permeated the dining room.

The first dish to be served was a creamy mushroom soup, its silky smooth texture and delicate green parsley garnish adorning the surface. The rich cream and fresh mushrooms blended perfectly, presenting a gift from nature.

Next was a plate of specialty foie gras with golden crispy bread. The pink foie gras was translucent and inviting, and the bread, after being baked, had a golden, crispy surface. Spreading the foie gras on the crispy bread was like placing a dazzling jewel.

The main course was a slow-cooked beef rib with truffle cheese. The beef rib, after hours of careful stewing in red wine, was extremely tender and juicy, with a rich bone marrow flavor. The surface was sprinkled with crushed black truffles, which complemented the melted cheese, emitting an evil temptation that even cats couldn't resist.

The side dish was a plate of asparagus with herb butter. The green asparagus resembled the new sprouts of early spring, exuding the scent of the earth. After being steamed, the asparagus was crisp and refreshing, and the herb butter added a rich, fragrant aroma.

There were many more dishes that Sidda liked, which the Cat Boss was preparing urgently. For now, they could only serve the regular dishes as planned.

The Cat Boss knew that if he let them continue talking, Lan Qi might really be in trouble.

"Cat Boss, is that you?"

"What's there to be afraid of? Cat Boss, you're my best friend."

Talia and Sigrid's gazes shifted to the bottom of the food cart, causing it to tremble.

The Cat Boss quickly placed the plates on the table.

"I, I still have things on the stove, meow!"

The food cart shot off like a bullet and headed towards the kitchen.

It was afraid that Tata and Sidda would both want it to take sides.

They were both its good friends.

It couldn't choose!

Before Lan Qi's pleading gaze could reach Cat Boss, he saw the latter disappear, leaving only an outstretched hand.

He now regretted it immensely.

This was a game he played poorly.

The support had spammed the signal to no end! As a result, the next second, he walked right into the face of the jungler.

The cutlery lay quietly on the tray, and he dared not touch it lightly.

The gazes of the two women upon Lan Qi were like two sharp blades, yearning for his favor, yet fearing the outcome of defeat.

"I think... considering the importance of the mission, the danger of the empire, and the trust of the organization, I need a reasonable and understanding lady who can cooperate with me in this act..."

Lan Qi's words were spoken softly, a gentle murmur.

He hoped the two of them would remain restrained.

"..."

Talia and Sigrid both fell silent for a moment.

They could hear the hidden meaning in Lan Qi's words.

At this moment, it wasn't appropriate for either of them to create a scene.

After all, it was a misunderstanding that had brought two brides-to-be to Professor Randall's home.

The culprit was Lanto.

If he hadn't been taken away by the Imperial Special Operations Unit, he could have explained the issue to them.

But at this moment, both of them were already sitting at home. If one of them forcefully expelled the other, it would only make her seem like a cruel woman.

Just then, the usually serene Sigrid suddenly made a move.

She picked up the silver soup spoon next to her, gently scooped a spoonful of creamy mushroom soup from the bowl in front of her, while her other hand supported the spoon from below to prevent any drips.

Her movements were natural and composed, making it seem like the most reasonable thing to do.

The soup in the spoon glistened under the light, emitting an enticing sheen, and a wisp of steam curled around her fingertips.

"Here, Lan Qi, taste this soup, be careful, it's hot."

Sigrid leaned forward slightly, bringing the spoon to Lan Qi's lips.

Her voice was as sweet as honey, yet it held an underlying firmness that couldn't be refused.

Lan Qi's body stiffened.

He realized that he had to drink this spoonful of soup no matter what.

Lan Qi mechanically opened his mouth, allowing the warm soup to slide into his mouth.

The rich aroma of cream and the freshness of mushrooms blossomed on his tongue, but he was too anxious to savor the taste. He only felt a sense of unease.

He dared not look at Talia's expression at this moment, but he could feel the gaze from his left, almost burning a hole in his face.

And the instigator, Sigrid, seemed completely unaware.

Sigrid's gaze shifted past Lan Qi, glancing at Talia, a barely noticeable smile curling her lips, as if silently declaring something.

She nonchalantly used the same spoon she had just fed Lan Qi with to feed herself.

"..."

Talia clenched the napkin in her hand, her knuckles turning white from the force.

Her gaze grew increasingly gloomy, like a stormy sea surface that could churn up a massive wave at any moment.

The atmosphere at the table was like a lit fuse.

Talia wasn't going to back down.

She imitated Sigrid's actions, picking up the knife and fork beside her, and cut a small piece of foie gras with crispy bread for Lan Qi, bringing it to his face.

"Lan Qi, ah, let me feed you, Master."

Her voice was as smooth as velvet, but it made Lan Qi's heart flutter with unease.

Lan Qi's gaze shifted between the two women, trapped in a dilemma.

He saw Sigrid's gaze turn cold, like an icy spear revealing its sharpness, silently warning him not to accept Talia's feeding.

But Talia clearly had no intention of giving Lan Qi a chance to refuse.

Her index finger and thumb gently pinched Lan Qi's cheeks, making him open his mouth, and she took the opportunity to feed him a small piece of bread.

Lan Qi mechanically chewed the food in his mouth, the richness of the foie gras and the crispness of the bread spreading on his tongue, but he couldn't taste anything. He only felt Sigrid's gaze, almost freezing him into an ice sculpture.

Sigrid's provocation was like pouring oil on the fire, and Lan Qi became the sacrifice in this contest.

Talia wasn't going to let it go.

She picked up the napkin beside her, like a caring girlfriend or a mother, carefully wiping Lan Qi's mouth.

Her movements were gentle, as if cherishing her treasure.

Her long index finger occasionally brushed Lan Qi's lips, seemingly accidental, yet also flirtatious.

Each touch made Lan Qi's heart skip a beat, fearing that this subtle action would ignite Sigrid's anger.

The air seemed to freeze, making breathing difficult.

Sigrid clenched the napkin in her hand, her well-manicured nails almost digging into her palm.

Her gaze grew increasingly fierce, like a lioness whose territory had been invaded, ready to pounce and tear apart her opponent.

Talia, on the other hand, raised her chin defiantly, a victorious smile on her lips.

Her gaze swept past Sigrid, lingered on Lan Qi for a moment, then returned to Sigrid, silently declaring—

This is my man.

"..."

The two women's gazes clashed, ready to spark lightning, their battle intent growing stronger as they gripped their cutlery.

...

The next few minutes.

Sigrid and Talia seemed to be competing, taking turns feeding Lan Qi something every now and then.

The cutlery had become instruments of torture.

Lan Qi had almost tasted every dish on the table, but it all felt like chewing on wax.

Every minute, every second, felt like torture.

Lan Qi felt like he was nailed to the dining chair, unable to move, at the mercy of the two women.

Suddenly.

Lan Qi didn't even have time to breathe a sigh of relief.

He found two spoons appearing in front of him at the same time! The worst-case scenario had occurred.

One spoon held slow-cooked ribs, tender and juicy, while the other held asparagus with herbs, a vibrant green.

"No, sisters."

Lan Qi was completely stunned.

His eyes widened, shifting between the two spoons, his mind blank.

Being fed by the two of them was already torturous, and now they were both offering food to him at the same time. He had almost experienced the same torture as the fully automated merit machine at the Cathedral of Evil.

Just as the two of them had perfectly timed their actions, offering food to him simultaneously.

"Here, taste this."

Sigrid's tone was nonchalant, but her gaze was as cold as ice, warning the saint not to accept Tata's food.

"No, you should try this first."

Talia's tone also ignored Sigrid, focusing solely on Lan Qi.

"I..."

Lan Qi felt his heart about to leap out of his chest.

"Listen to me."

Sigrid repeated.

"Don't listen to outsiders. I'm your family. Uncle Noe said that the Wilfort family is my home."

Talia spoke in her usual monotone.

"That's only because you have nowhere else to go, right? They're just pitying you."

Sigrid's words were equally aggressive.

Lanqi's emerald eyes darted between the two as they passed him food, and for a moment, they were tinged with a hint of panic.

Making a choice meant death.

But not making a choice meant that the two tiger-like sisters would wear him out, and that was also death.

Just then, the kitchen door found the courage to open on its own again.

Cat Boss trembled as he pushed the food cart over, continuing to serve them.

"Cat Boss!"

Lanqi spotted his savior and called out weakly, "I'm sorry, Cat Boss, but I feel a bit unwell in my chest. Do you have any drinks that can warm my body?"

Lanqi looked at Cat Boss, his eyes welling up with tears, as he held up the glass in his shaking hand.

His voice sounded pained and hoarse, like a wounded beast trying to hide its ailment.

"Yes, please wait a moment."

Cat Boss nodded and used telekinesis to take the empty glass from Lanqi's hand. He then walked over to the distant liquor cabinet and prepared a drink for Lanqi according to his request.

Next.

Lanqi looked like someone with a physical and mental disability. His trembling hands struggled to hold the cutlery, and he let out a whimper.

He wanted to bluff his way through and avoid this difficulty.

"It's, it's my old problem."

Lanqi explained.

"I can vouch for Lanqi, he had a sudden illness the first time he ate at the Infernal Corridor Academy..."

Cat Boss quickly spoke up for Lanqi.

He knew that Lanqi was truly out of options, which was why he had to resort to pretending to be disabled.

The sins committed at the Infernal Corridor Academy years ago had finally caught up with him.

"Wuu..."

Lanqi was so moved that he wanted to hug Cat Boss.

Only the cat was his eternal friend.

"Cat Boss, don't interrupt."

Talia and Sigrid spoke at the same time, breaking Lanqi's train of thought.

Cat Boss's mouth turned into a frown, and he dared not move.

He quietly continued serving the food.

Sigrid grabbed Lanqi's right hand, her palm against his, and closed her eyes in thought for a moment.

"Your breath is normal, and your body is fine. It seems your old problem has gotten better."

Sigrid diagnosed him.

As one of the top martial artists, they were now connected through their breath, and she couldn't help but sense Lanqi's physical condition.

Talia also silently took Lanqi's other hand.

"Your magical power is also calm; you're just trembling."

The two of them, one on each side, held his hands.

Lanqi wanted to eat on his own, but now he didn't even have a hand to use.

The two eight-rank girls were on a different level of strength compared to him.

With their hands locked with his, they slowly interlocked their fingers, trapping his hands and rendering him unable to move.

Only the spoon in front of him awaited his final decision.

Lanqi's expression changed a dozen times in an instant, and he couldn't help but feel that he had learned about the pain that even the Black Sun Tyrant had never experienced from this emotional crisis.

"Heh, haha..."

The two couldn't tell if he was crying or laughing.

He seemed to be going crazy.

"You all like to play like this, right? Treating me like a child, fine!"

Lanqi leaned back in his chair, looking exasperated, and shouted, "Whoever wants to be my mother can feed me!"

He was also unusually angry, giving up resistance and waiting to be fed.

As his words fell.

Both Talia and Sigrid hesitated.

Cat Boss poked his ears out from behind the food cart.

He was as nervous as Lanqi, listening to Lanqi's extreme actions.

This time, Lanqi seemed to be completely out of options.

Lanqi started to resist, dragging them both into an explosion.

Whoever fed him would be his mother, voluntarily giving up the position of his bride-to-be.

Talia and Sigrid reluctantly withdrew their spoons.

Neither had started eating on their own, nor had they let go of Lanqi's hand.

It was as if they couldn't let go of their grudges.

The two of them were silently competing, but the result was that they couldn't exert their strength, and they were both frustrated.

Now, they had been stopped and extinguished.

The only thing they didn't want to let go of was Lanqi's hand.

It seemed that whoever let go would be the ultimate loser.

But if they didn't let go, Lanqi couldn't eat, and someone had to feed him.

The logic chain came to a halt here.

The more they thought about it, the angrier they became.

"..."

Lanqi felt the two of them quiet down.

For the time being, he felt that his bomb-defusing efforts had passed a critical point.

Next, he would comfort them both.

Slowly, he would make them both happy.

He would avoid stepping on their triggers.

He wouldn't let them argue with each other.

Then, he would find a way to separate them after lunch and talk to them individually.

This long lunch would finally come to a peaceful end!

As Lanqi indulged in his pleasant fantasy.

Suddenly.

Talia seemed unable to hold back her temper.

She stood up, causing the chair to creak.

"Such a big boy, and you still want to be fed like a baby? Fine, I'll continue feeding you."

Talia hugged Lanqi's head, her cheeks flushing, her words directed at Lanqi but also challenging Sigrid.

Today, she was determined to win, even if it meant playing a little shameful game with Lanqi.

This was a declaration of war.

Could this little girl pull it off?

"..."

Lanqi's brain stopped working.

His eyes turned white.

He felt like he had fallen into an illusion, from the origin of the universe to the birth of the first life underwater, from gravity to the equation of energy and mass, all the knowledge in the world flashed through his mind.

Cat Boss was also stunned, his mouth hanging open.

Originally, Lanqi's self-destructive threat was effective against Sigrid and Xiubeilian's interrogation tactics, as they wouldn't be too abstract.

Only Talia wouldn't indulge Lanqi.

She was even more abstract than Lanqi.

As Lanqi disconnected, the conflict between Sigrid and Talia erupted.

"Who do you think you are? Why do you dare to take my man?"

Sigrid's tone rose a few notches as she stood up.

"Your man? Don't make me laugh."

Talia didn't back down, her tone dripping with sarcasm and disdain,

"He's clearly closest to me, can't you see that?!"

"Don't be so delusional!"

Sigrid's palm trembled as she clenched her fist, ready to strike at any moment,

"Holy Son, tell her about our oath in the North Continent! You're supposed to marry me when you reach the sixth rank, and this position of bride-to-be is rightfully mine!"

"Lanqi, don't listen to her! We've done so much together, you can't separate from me in this life!"

Talia's voice was sweet and enchanting as she hugged Lanqi tighter.

"You shameless cheater...! Get off of him."

Sigrid's face was covered in black lines.

"I'm telling you to let him go."

She grabbed Talia's wrist and ordered.

"Why should I let go of my baby? You're being too controlling! This is my home!"

Talia felt her wrist being clamped like a steel vise, unable to resist the other's strength, but she struggled to hold onto her Lanqi.

"He's not your baby."

Sigrid was afraid of hurting Lanqi, so she didn't use her full strength.

"He's mine, and he's been mine for life!"

Talia shouted.

"What a joke..."

Sigrid's laughter trembled.

"Look how comfortably he's lying on my chest. I'll tell you, I've let him sleep like this before."

Talia deliberately puffed out her chest and declared to Sigrid.

"Let him go, this is your last warning."

Sigrid was at her wit's end.

"Are you planning to fight me?"

Talia was prepared to use her spells to battle a formidable opponent.

This little girl better not cry and call for her mother later.

She could teach this wild girl a lesson using the same methods she used to discipline Karen.

She would show this wildcat how to be a proper woman.

"Wait until I pin you down and make you cry out in pain. I was planning to give you some face, but now I'm not so sure."

Sigrid had also made up her mind.

Setting aside the Holy Son, she was increasingly eager to conquer this gray cat who had provoked her.

It was about time to make her feel the absolute difference in power and understand the hierarchy between females.

"Meow, meow, meow! Don't fight!"

Cat Boss was bristling all over, fearing that the house would be torn apart by these two irrational individuals.

When Tata and Sidda fought, not even a soundproof barrier could withstand it!

"Ahh..."

Lanqi's brain began to buzz.

The sound of their voices made his brain tremble.

"Ahhh!"

Lanqi let out a piercing scream.

It was as if he had experienced a Soul Rift and it was expanding at that moment.

When faced with emotional upheaval, he would recall his most painful memories, causing him agony and hallucinations. All he could do was force himself to cry or laugh through these few seconds.

Cat Boss looked at Lanqi in astonishment.

He seemed to have gone a little crazy.

It was unclear if he was pretending or genuinely breaking down.

Cat Boss's eyelids twitched.

It seemed that Teacher Lan had resorted to acting crazy.

He had never seen Lanqi being pushed to the point of using his unique tricks.

"Is it a Soul Rift episode?"

Talia noticed Lanqi's state and immediately shifted her attention to Lanqi, anxiously stroking Lanqi's forehead.

Sigrid was also unsure what had happened.

She only knew that Lanqi had just experienced the pain of the Black Sun Tyrant in the Shadow World.

Throughout the Shadow World, Lanqi's understanding of the Black Sun Tyrant had been steadily increasing.

This process made her empathize with him, realizing that Lanqi had been enduring a difficult time in the Shadow World, going through a tempering process and gaining new insights.

Lanqi gradually lost consciousness and was gently placed on a chair by Talia, leaning against the backrest.

"You two are... Kaliyera... Sigrid...?"

Lanqi's vision was blurry through his half-closed eyes, his pupils dilated.

"You two should stop fighting. You're the best family..."

He mumbled in a dreamlike state.

Until his voice faded away.

"..."

Both Talia and Sigrid were taken aback by his words.

They exchanged complex glances before looking away.

It seemed that not only she had mistaken someone, but even Lanqi had misidentified this woman.

With this thought, it became difficult to stay angry with the woman before her.

Recalling the Shadow World of Bloodmoon Abyss, if Sigrid or Kaliyera had feelings for Lanqi, it wasn't entirely incomprehensible.

Both women had a thousand thoughts racing through their minds.

Even if the other person wasn't the original, but someone incredibly similar, they didn't want to clash with them. If possible, they wanted to get along, understand each other better, and continue the pleasant conversation they had, relishing the warmth they thought they could never experience again in the Shadow World.

The silence lasted for a long time, with both women holding one of Lanqi's hands.

If they continued fighting like this, Lanqi might not be able to continue his mission in the Kreitine Empire.

Finally.

"I say, why don't we try living together as three? After all, it's not a problem for Professor Landeri to have two fake brides."

Sigrid compromised, stating that they were both fake brides.

She wouldn't make such a concession for any other woman.

But today was strange; this cheating gray cat had become gentle, and it reminded her of her dear Kaliyera, and she couldn't resist her scent.

"As long as we don't touch him in unnecessary situations, we can live harmoniously and not ruin our relationship, right?"

Talia asked tentatively.

She felt like she might have gone crazy to respond to the other's words.

When this arrogant little wolf stopped charging at her, it was too reminiscent of her beloved Sigrid.

"Yes, let's get along, it's good for him and for us. Can you agree to this?"

"No problem."

The two women shook hands and signed the West-Talia Non-Aggression Agreement.

"Since it's come to this, let's eat first."

Talia's calm gaze returned to the dining table; she was actually starving.

"Mhm, thank you for the hospitality."

Sigrid was slightly surprised by the other's capacity.

They were arguing just a moment ago, and now she was inviting her to eat together.

She couldn't be petty about it.

"It's fine."

The atmosphere at the dining table gradually became harmonious.

In the distance, at the kitchen door.

The black cat's head poked out again.

"Meow?"

Could they really reconcile?

Cat Boss heaved a sigh of relief.

He didn't know why, but somehow, the house had been miraculously stabilized.

The house didn't explode.

It was too surreal; Talia had managed to reach an agreement with Sigrid.

This time, Teacher Lan had turned the situation around, and his confidence would likely soar.

But...

Could they really live together as three...? Although the upcoming period might be filled with various dangers for Teacher Lan and his two brides under the same roof.

As long as no one disrupted this hard-earned balance within the household, with Teacher Lan's abilities, perhaps they could truly make it work!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end