Yuki Uesugi's plan failed on this ordinary night.

Actually, it wasn't a serious plan at all. She just wanted to talk to her big brother, Mingde Zong, about recent events. Unfortunately, Mingde Zong was on the phone in his room. Yuki Uesugi planned to go later, but she fell asleep on her bed because she was too tired.

In fact, if Yuki Uesugi could have persisted a little longer tonight and let Mingde Zong know what she and Mizuo Koga were up to, perhaps the future after this moment would have had a different outcome.

However, in this world, there aren't that many "ifs".

There are no gods, no demons. Everyone can only rely on themselves to survive.

Normally, Mingde Zong would have noticed the unusual behavior of Yuki Uesugi and Mizuo Koga, but...

Lately, he was in a special state.

For example, the phone call that kept Yuki Uesugi outside the door.

Let's go back to earlier.

When that call came in, the number displayed on the screen immediately put Mingde Zong on alert.

That number meant something complex to Mingde Zong - the name, the identity, the significance of Bixian Yan.

Hesitating, thinking, and then making a judgment, Mingde Zong intentionally ignored the person at the door. He picked up his phone, stood in the middle of the room, and answered the call.

"Good evening, Mingde."

The voice that came through the phone was one that Mingde Zong was once very familiar with.

He didn't respond to it.

"How are you enjoying Kyoto?"

Mingde Zong still didn't respond.

The other person seemed unconcerned about Mingde Zong's silence, as if they were talking face to face and not worrying about whether someone was listening on the other end of the phone.

"I am very concerned about your physical condition, after all, your body is important for what's to come."

"Unfortunately, old man, I'm not doing well at all."

Mingde Zong finally spoke, but his mocking tone was just a cover for his own lack of confidence.

At this point in the conversation, Yuki Uesugi arrived at Mingde Zong's door.

She lightly knocked on the door, catching Mingde Zong's attention. They exchanged a glance, and then Yuki Uesugi understood and left.

Without any verbal communication, Mingde Zong simply assumed that Yuki Uesugi had come to him for nothing important. Besides, at this moment, most of his attention and thoughts were focused on this overseas call.

"Mingtuo should have arrived in Kyoto by now. I will send you the time and location of the experiment to your phone."

Bixian Yan didn't care about Mingde Zong's mockery and continued with their usual tone, conveying the information.

"Well then, we'll see each other then."

Finally, disregarding Mingde Zong's reaction, Bixian Yan unilaterally hung up the phone.

This seemingly casual phone call may not have meant much to others, but for Mingde Zong, it was an undeniable threat that he couldn't escape.

The more one stays by Bixian Yan's side, the more they understand him, and the more they realize how difficult it is to defeat him as an enemy.

Bixian Yan's threat is less, but it is more.