"My father is the clan head of the Nightingale Clan. Me, Xianer, and Xiwan are Neos. The true Nightingale Clan only has three members. Other Primordial families all have at least ten people." Yeping shook her head slightly as she explained.

"So you want me to go with you?"

"Each family must send two people to the tournament. But the rules forbid Neos from participating."

"I’m an inferior... Beast Kin!"

"Heh. But there’s no rule against inferior Beast Kin joining." She took a fierce gulp from the blood bag and grinned.

"But... I’m so weak." It was the truth. Last time I saw this woman unleash her power, she kicked a man clean in half. I doubted any Primordial would be much weaker.

"Hah. You won’t fight. Just fill a spot for me. I’ll handle it alone."

"...When does it start?" My male pride felt stung.

"Six months from now."

"Still some time..." A flicker of不甘 stirred unexpectedly.

*Creak... creak...* An old wooden door groaned open upstairs.

"Hm?" I frowned in confusion.

"That’s my father."

"Your dad? The legendary clan head of the Nightingale Clan?"

"How did you know my dad is a legendary Mimic?" Yeping asked, her voice tinged with surprise.

"Uh...?" I’d just guessed blindly.

"SSS Level legendary Mimic Yuetianlei. That’s why our family ranks so high."

What did a legendary Mimic truly look like? Would he burst in like a movie boss with explosive aura?

"Xiao Ying! You’re back and didn’t even greet me!" A middle-aged man descended from the second floor.

Ordinary. Utterly ordinary. Nothing like the storied, strongest legend I’d imagined—just a plain uncle. His only standout trait was a pair of gold-rimmed glasses, giving him a scholarly air.

"Dad, let me introduce—" She hadn’t finished when—

"Huh? Who are you, kid? What are you doing in my house? What’s your relationship with my daughter? Trying to hit on her? If you—" Yeping’s dad lunged forward in a flash, grabbing my collar and unleashing a barrage of accusations.

"Wait, Dad! Stop! It’s not what you think!" Yeping flushed with embarrassment and rushed to pull us apart.

Heh. Her face was slightly red. First time I’d seen her flustered.

"Yeah, Dad! It’s not like that!" I shouted after being yanked away.

"Who’s your dad? Don’t call me that, brat!" Yeping’s dad snapped, looking ready to slap me—but Yeping blocked him.

"...". She’d stopped him, but her glare at me could kill.

"Heh, sorry, sorry. Let’s all sit down and talk properly."

Finally, Yeping and I sat back on the sofa. Her dad perched between us, glaring sideways.

"Who are you, kid?"

"I’m your daughter’s... classmate." Under four murderous glares, I had no choice but to tell the truth.

"What’s your job? How much do you earn?" He adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses, asking something utterly random.

"Uh... I’m a student. No income yet."

"No income and you want to marry my daughter!?" He slammed the table, leaping up to point at me.

"Dad!?" Yeping gasped. This wasn’t going as planned at all.

"Not yet, but I’ll work—"

"Shut up!" Yeping yelled, pointing at me. Fine. I shut my mouth.

"Dad, what nonsense are you spouting? He’s here to replace Xiaowu."

"Huh? Not here to marry you?"

"Where did you get that idea!?"

"Oh, not marriage? Scared me half to death. Thought you’d abandon your old dad."

Speechless. He’s a legendary SSS Level Mimic, yet just a daughter-obsessed dad terrified of being left behind.

"Oh, I see. Kid... I suddenly like you a lot more."

"Heh..." All I could do was grin awkwardly.

"Kid, we’ve talked this long and I haven’t introduced myself. I’m Yuetianlei, Yeping’s father." His tone shifted instantly—from furious dad back to mild-mannered uncle.

"Pleasure, pleasure. I’m Li Xiaobai, your daughter’s college classmate..."

"Xiaobai, you’re a Beast Kin? Heard you’re replacing Xiaowu? Joining our Shadowless Abode?" He pushed his glasses up.

"Yes." I replied.

"Do you know what you’re signing up for?" His expression turned icy, deadly serious.

"I know. Going with Yeping to that ranking tournament, right?"

"Kid, what’s your ID number?"

"None."

"None?" He looked startled.

"Dad, he was modified by Xiaowu. He has Xiaowu’s bloodline—modified the day she vanished." Yeping explained beside me.

"...Xiaowu. Hm. She did have the power to create her own Neo." Yeping’s dad pondered, then answered.

"I won’t force you. You can refuse. This tournament is dangerous."

"Huh? I thought I wouldn’t fight?"

"Even if you don’t fight, a Beast Kin attending a Primordial gathering is dangerous enough."

"...". I stayed silent, closing my eyes to think.

Yeping said nothing either, just watching me, waiting for my decision.

"I’ll go." My voice was low.

"Sure?" he asked.

"Heh." I turned my head, rubbing the back of my neck. "Sure."

"Didn’t think you had guts, kid. Alright. I grant you permission to pursue my daughter." He adjusted his glasses again—he really loved those things.

"Really?"

"Dad! What are you saying!?" Yeping shouted. It had been going smoothly, then he went off-script again.

"Dad, stop talking. Go upstairs." She stood, dragging him toward the stairs.

"Kid, you’ve got a shot. But in this world..." Yeping shoved him upward as he coolly pushed his glasses. "You’re too weak."

With that, he was pushed upstairs.

"You idiot! What did you say?" Yeping stormed down moments later, fuming.

"What? I don’t understand?" Time to play dumb.

"You!" She pointed at me, looking ready to murder me.

Just then, the front door opened. Chen Xiwan and Ye Xianer walked in.

"Oh? Xiaobai, still chatting?" Xiwan smiled at me.

"Just finished."

"Done? Stay for dinner then."

"Can I?" I ignored Yeping’s death glare and kept talking to Xiwan.

"Why not? Just one more pair of chopsticks. Xianer, go play with your sister. I’ll cook."

"Oh~" Ye Xianer glanced at me shyly, slipping past to Yeping’s side—but Yeping ignored her, flipping through a magazine.

Ye Xianer turned on the kids’ TV channel, sitting on the middle sofa. She peeked at me again, still shy.

Such a timid little girl. Thankfully not a brat.

"Hey, you’re Xianer, right?" Bored, I chatted with her.

"Mm~"

"How old are you today, Xianer?" Standard kid-talk.

"I’m ten." Her voice was tiny, still shy.

"Oh~ so grown-up! Where do you go to school?"

"I... I’m in first grade at First Elementary."

"Oh~ so imp—" Before I finished, another magazine flew at me.

"Stop talking like that. It’s disgusting." Yeping yelled, then grabbed another magazine to read.

"...". I picked up the magazine, placing it back on the pile she’d thrown from. To Xianer: "See? Your sister’s scary."

"Yeah. Sister can be really mean sometimes." Ye Xianer whispered to me.

"Xianer!?" Yeping gasped, clearly shocked herself.

Hearing Yeping’s voice, Ye Xianer flinched, hugging a pillow as she scooted closer to me.

"Don’t worry, Xianer. Big brother will protect you." I said shamelessly.

"You!" Yeping reached for her dictionary again.

But Xiwan emerged from the kitchen. "Heh, stop fooling around. Dinner’s ready. Miss, please call the master down."

"Okay, Sister Wan." Yeping stood and headed upstairs. Calling that guy "master"? What a waste!

"Big brother... time to eat." Ye Xianer walked to the dining table, whispering to me as she passed.

"Xiaobai, eat before you go." Xiwan smiled warmly.

"Coming."

But at the table, I froze. Others had four dishes and a soup. We had four meat dishes and a meat soup!

Suddenly, I remembered—I wasn’t human anymore.