Chapter 25: She Has Requisitioned This Villa

“Tang Yan, eat this.”

Yu Yan spoke calmly. “I’ll give you and your daughter ten minutes. Bring only what you absolutely cannot part with.” After today, unless something unexpected happens, you won’t be coming back to this house.

The words Yu Yan left unsaid, Tang Yan understood in his heart.

He himself could adjust—wherever his daughter was, that was home. But for Tang Siqi, it was different. This house carried her happiest memories. Tang Yan made no pretense with Yu Yan—he was already prepared to pledge his life to her.

In this moment, any polite words would be meaningless; better to repay her with actions in the future.

Tang Yan took the spatial Illusory Lotus Root Yu Yan handed him and, without hesitation, put it into his mouth.

A rush of spiritual energy surged forth. Tang Yan quickly sat down cross-legged. Refining the Illusory Lotus Root’s space would take some time. Yu Yan casually sat on the sofa, while Tang Siqi, ever considerate, poured her a glass of water. “Auntie, have some water.” Yu Yan wanted to soften her expression, to offer Tang Siqi a reassuring smile.

She knew Tang Siqi must have been frightened by her own harsh demeanor.

But thinking of the torment her own daughter was about to face, she simply could not manage a smile. “Thank you.”

“Mama, are you worried about me?”

Yun Duo’er nestled softly into Yu Yan’s arms, wrapping her arms gently around her waist. “Don’t worry, Mama. I’ll be fine. I still have to take care of you, so there’s no way I’ll allow myself to be as weak as before.”

She knew she was her mother’s only vulnerability.

She didn’t know why, but overnight, her mother’s temperament had changed, becoming resolute, ruthless, and powerful. In the dungeons, Yu Yan dispatched even the most formidable monsters with cunning, never once hesitating. But one thing had never changed.

Her mother loved her—deeply, fiercely.

If she was injured, her mother would suffer a thousand times more pain than she herself would. Countless times, when she was about to be hurt, or even just at risk, her mother’s heart would be thrown into chaos, exposing fatal flaws. The injuries her mother sustained in those days—most were because of this… Yet this weakness was not something she could simply abandon.

If she died, her mother would be devastated—so much so she might wish for death herself.

So, she resolved to make this vulnerability into her greatest strength.

She would become steel and iron, so her mother would never have to worry about her being hurt again.

A tear fell onto Yun Duo’er’s face—then another, and another.

Yu Yan’s heart ached unbearably. She hugged her daughter for a long while, then wiped away the tears of weakness from the corner of her eyes. “Mama understands. Duo’er is a good girl. I won’t hold you back. Go on and refine the Unicorn Rhinoceros meat.”

Yu Yan managed a smile for Yun Duo’er. “Mama believes in you, my Duo’er. You’ll get through this.”

“Mm!” Yun Duo’er nodded vigorously, her eyes filled with determination.

“Boss, we’re ready.”

Over twenty minutes later, Tang Yan appeared before Yu Yan, holding his daughter’s hand.

Yu Yan had saved his life, and now given him and his daughter the most precious tool for surviving the dungeons. For a favor so immense, she could have demanded anything of them—could have had them serve her unquestioningly in return.

But she hadn’t.

On the contrary, when she saw how his daughter couldn’t part with their family photo, she even generously gifted him a portable spatial treasure.

Even if Tang Yan didn’t know the Illusory Lotus Root she’d given him was of the highest celestial grade, he wasn’t a fool. Something that could hold so much could never be ordinary.

If before he’d been willing to give his life out of calculation, hoping Yu Yan would protect him and his daughter in the future, now, his respect was wholehearted.

Even if she never gave him another benefit, even if his promised earth-grade Blood Crystal vanished, he would still acknowledge her as his boss. For as long as he drew breath, he would be the most loyal hound to Yu Yan and her daughter.

Loyalty unto death, without regret.

Yu Yan glanced at Tang Yan but said nothing, turning to head outside.

She’d never trusted words of loyalty. In three years in the dungeon world, she’d seen too many betrayals between parents and children, too many loving couples stabbing each other in the back. Perhaps Tang Yan was truly loyal now, but who could say about the future?

But if he ever did betray her, it would depend on whether he had the courage or the skill to do so.

Night was falling.

Yu Yan’s group of four avoided the ever-present dungeon entrances as they searched for a place to settle, but after a long while, they still hadn’t found anywhere suitable. The more people there were, the more dungeons appeared—so Yu Yan decided to avoid the towns.

In the distance, a villa flickered with firelight.

Yu Yan’s eyes lit up. “Let’s go there.”

Tang Yan had no objections. He shifted his daughter’s weight.

Tang Siqi was frail, and after walking for so long, she was exhausted. Tang Yan carried her on his back, and before long, she was sound asleep. In contrast, Yun Duo’er, after a full day’s journey, was still bright-eyed and energetic.

Tang Yan felt his resolve to “train” his daughter harden once more.

“Duo’er, when we get there, don’t make a sound—no noise at all. If Mama mentions the Golden Spirit, just summon it for me. Understood?” Not far from the villa, Yu Yan’s mind moved, and an invisible force of spirit enveloped Yun Duo’er.

In an instant, Yun Duo’er and the Golden Spirit on her arm vanished without a trace.

Moments later, a vine identical to the Golden Spirit appeared around Yu Yan’s wrist.

“All right, Mama,” Yun Duo’er replied obediently.

She didn’t know what her mother was planning, but she trusted Yu Yan completely.

Tang Yan ignored it all. Whatever the boss did was reasonable. So what if Yun Duo’er suddenly disappeared and the Golden Spirit now adorned Yu Yan’s wrist? After everything today, Tang Yan felt that even if the boss claimed to be a goddess, he’d believe it without hesitation.

“Tang Yan, break down the door.”

Apologies, but tonight, this villa is requisitioned.

Since the arrival of the dungeon world, the strong ruled and the weak possessing valuable things only invited disaster. Normally, Yu Yan disdained bullying the weak, but these were extraordinary times.

This villa, secluded on the outskirts, was perfectly situated—no dungeons within a kilometer, and only an E-grade one beyond that.

Compared to the dungeon clusters in town, it was the ideal place to refine spiritual items.

For her daughter, Yu Yan’s principles could be set aside in an instant. At worst, after her daughter finished refining, she’d compensate the villa’s owner handsomely—consider it a rental fee. In fact, she’d probably get the worse end of the deal.

After all, in this new world, a villa was worthless, while anything from her space could spark a frenzy.