Chapter 62
Both Lin An’an and Feng Wu believed that Xia Yuanhan had hidden the records of his cooperation and dealings with the X Galaxy somewhere inside the main palace.
Those records were the kind of thing that could easily expose him, yet he needed them in order to maintain—or rather guarantee—that the people of the X Galaxy would continue working with him. That meant he couldn’t simply destroy them.
As long as they could get hold of that evidence, they would be able to expose every one of Xia Yuanhan’s crimes to the public.
So Lin An’an and Feng Wu had to find a way to obtain those records, and the prerequisite for that was obvious: they had to get inside the heavily guarded main palace.
Breaking through the palace’s new defense system would take time. Making any real progress in just a few short hours was almost impossible.
Feng Wu quietly used his ability to probe the defense system’s inner programming. After figuring out the pattern of the guards’ shift changes, the two of them returned to the side residence.
The evening banquet began soon after.
Lin An’an and Feng Wu returned to the main hall ahead of Modexin and the others. Modexin came back together with Yu Jin, and when he saw them, he let out a nearly imperceptible sigh of relief.
Yu Jin seemed to know that pressing too hard would be counterproductive, so he smilingly took the initiative to leave.
The dinner banquet was far more casual than the noon banquet. All the dishes were laid out across four long tables, and everyone could help themselves.
While they were eating, Modexin briefly filled them in on what had happened that afternoon.
“Yu Jin kept trying, overtly and subtly, to steer me into agreeing to cooperate with him,” Modexin said. “He looks amiable, but in reality he’s extremely controlling and not very patient. I’d guess that in the next few days, he’ll force me to make a choice.”
Feng Wu nodded. “Then go along with what he wants.”
Modexin frowned lightly. “He mentioned a spiritual contract. If I agree to cooperate, that contract is definitely unavoidable.”
“There’s a way to forcibly erase a spiritual contract,” Feng Wu said. “Yu Jin’s spiritual power is weaker than mine. I can forcibly remove his contract mark without him noticing.”
“But doing that will affect you.” Modexin clearly disapproved. “Boss, the backlash from erasing a contract mark may not sound like much, but it’s not trivial either. In your current situation, you can’t afford any damage to your spiritual power.”
Lin An’an, however, said, “No. If it really comes to signing a spiritual contract, I actually think it’s more likely Xia Yuanhan will personally sign it with you instead of having Yu Jin do it.”
Both Feng Wu and Modexin paused.
“Xia Yuanhan’s need for control is even stronger than Yu Jin’s. If Yu Jin signs the contract with Brother Mo, then by extension the First Legion also falls under Yu Jin’s control. Xia Yuanhan would never allow one person to simultaneously hold both the First and Second Legions in his grasp.”
Modexin frowned. “That makes sense… but if Xia Yuanhan is the one who signs it, then we don’t know anything about how strong his spiritual power is.”
“But if Xia Yuanhan signs the contract with you, then we actually don’t need to worry.” Lin An’an curved his lips in a smile. “Did you forget? He and I share the same father. To a certain extent, our spiritual power comes from the same source.”
“Spiritual powers with the same source, if you use a few small tricks, can erase spiritual contracts more safely.” Lin An’an said, “Safer, more concealed, and absolutely impossible for Xia Yuanhan to detect.”
Modexin’s eyes lit up. “You’re right!”
Lin An’an lifted a brow. “And besides… Xia Yuanhan would never imagine that apart from our father, whom he controls, and our elder brother, whom he keeps under surveillance, there’s still one more blood relative of his in this world—me.”
After all, in his second brother’s eyes, this useless little brother had long since died in Sin Star’s poisonous mist forest.
The dinner banquet ended quickly. Once the tables were cleared away, the hall moved on to the final event of the birthday celebration—a ball.
Just like the afternoon entertainment, the ball was not mandatory.
Those who wanted to dance stayed on the first floor. Those who didn’t, or those who wanted to rest midway, could use the entire second floor of the hall, which had been set aside as a rest area.
As the acting commander of the First Legion, Modexin was considered prime prey in the eyes of many. The moment the ball began, someone came over to invite him to dance.
When Modexin saw Yu Jin already making his way toward him, he considered it for a moment, then decisively accepted the dance invitation.
Lin An’an and Feng Wu, meanwhile, excused themselves on the grounds that they didn’t know how to dance and headed to the second floor of the hall.
There were not many people on the second floor. Besides the shared lounge area, there were also a number of private rest rooms.
After finding an empty room and stepping inside, Lin An’an and Feng Wu activated the invisibility function on their wristbands and slipped back out. Their target was the balcony with the angel statue.
That balcony stood out on the entire second floor because it was the only one with two imperial guards stationed beside the blackout curtains.
The curtains were not drawn completely shut. A tiny gap had been left at either side, and the two guards stood to the left and right of the curtains, their eyes rarely straying from those narrow openings.
Many of the people present clearly knew that the person on that balcony was the so-called “guest of honor” of today’s birthday banquet.
During the day, Xia Changluo had left so quickly that no one even had time to react. Since he had not immediately withdrawn after the evening banquet, some people naturally seized the opportunity to try to speak with him and close the distance between them.
The now-invisible Lin An’an and Feng Wu watched as a middle-aged man tried to walk a few steps toward the balcony. The two guards at the entrance immediately locked their eyes on him.
The man looked distinctly unnerved under their stare, but unwilling to let such a rare chance slip by, he stiffened his resolve and pressed forward, two glasses of sweet wine in hand.
Before he could even reach the blackout curtains, one of the guards stretched out a hand to stop him. “Apologies. His Highness has instructed that he wishes to be alone. Please return.”
The middle-aged man could only leave in frustration.
Lin An’an frowned slightly.
With people standing guard at the entrance and the curtains drawn, it would be difficult for them to get in from here without attracting the attention of the two guards.
As he was thinking, Feng Wu suddenly caught hold of his hand and brought him to the balcony directly next to the one where Xia Changluo was staying.
The balconies on the second floor were not packed close together. Although the two were adjacent, they were in fact separated by more than ten meters.
Lin An’an glanced over thoughtfully. “Brother Wolf, are you planning to slip over from this side?”
“Yes.” Feng Wu nodded and said softly, “Hold on to me tightly.”
Before he had even finished speaking, the boy had already pounced into his arms, wrapping both arms tightly around his neck. Then he gave a light hop, winding his long legs around Feng Wu’s waist as well.
The posture looked exactly like a koala clinging to a tree trunk.
“Brother Wolf, I’m holding on tight,” Lin An’an whispered by his ear.
In the dim moonlight, Lin An’an’s sharp eyes caught sight of the familiar flush climbing over Feng Wu’s ears once more.
He blinked, suddenly tempted to lean over and blow lightly on that reddened ear.
But Feng Wu gave him no chance. One arm wrapped around the slim waist in his arms, then with a push of his legs, he leapt lightly off the balcony.
Even carrying someone, Feng Wu’s movements remained astonishingly nimble. Using the small decorative protrusions on the wall as footholds, he quickly climbed over to the neighboring balcony.
There were two people on that balcony. Apart from Xia Changluo, bundled in a thick coat, Uncle Lu was also there.
Feng Wu landed soundlessly, unnoticed by either man—not even by Uncle Lu, who stood only a step away.
Uncle Lu held a glass of water in one hand and reached out with the other, offering a few pills to Xia Changluo. “Your Highness, it’s time to take your medicine.”
Xia Changluo turned around, accepted the pills, and swallowed them with the warm water Uncle Lu passed him.
Uncle Lu adjusted the sleeve that had slipped loose and said softly, “Your Highness, the air is chilly at night. Perhaps… you should go back early and rest?”
“Uncle Lu, today is my birthday.” Xia Changluo shook his head. “It’s been so long since I’ve breathed the outside air like this. Just let me indulge myself for once tonight.”
Uncle Lu sighed and tucked a small hand warmer into Xia Changluo’s hands. “Then at least don’t stand too long. I moved the sofa over here for you. If you get tired, just sit down.”
Xia Changluo smiled. “All right.”
He turned his gaze back toward the garden beyond the balcony.
The night was quiet. The moonlight was somewhat dim tonight, a gentle silver-white drifting over the garden like a hazy veil.
Who was the one who had sent him that message? Would that person really come? Or had it all just been some sort of prank?
Xia Changluo couldn’t stop thinking about it. His health was poor, and if he stood too long, he would start to feel dizzy and short of breath.
Time passed little by little. In the end, Xia Changluo gave a faint sigh in his heart and, with Uncle Lu’s help, sat down on the sofa behind him.
At that very moment, he suddenly felt a hand settle lightly on his shoulder.
Xia Changluo’s heart lurched.
Uncle Lu had been standing to his left the whole time, both hands resting on his arm. So the hand on his right shoulder—
Was it him?
Xia Changluo pressed his lips together and kept his expression unchanged. To Uncle Lu, he said, “Uncle Lu, I’m a little hungry. I’d like something to eat.”
“Of course.” Uncle Lu looked a little pleased. “What would Your Highness like?”
“Caramel pudding,” Xia Changluo said.
Uncle Lu nodded. “I’ll go get it right away.”
Xia Changluo had specifically taken note earlier—caramel pudding had not been among tonight’s desserts. If Uncle Lu wanted to bring him some, he would have to go to the kitchen and ask the chefs to make it fresh.
The movement of the curtains caught the guards’ attention. “What is it?”
Uncle Lu said calmly, “His Highness is hungry. I’m going to fetch him something to eat.”
The guard, however, did not lower his guard. He sent one man after Uncle Lu, leaving the other still stationed outside the balcony.
The hand on Xia Changluo’s shoulder fell away, but he still didn’t dare to speak. He could only tilt his head slightly and, based on instinct, look toward where the person ought to be standing.
“You can speak. I’ve blocked off this balcony with spiritual power. The people outside won’t be able to hear our conversation.”
The voice was unfamiliar. Xia Changluo guessed that the speaker had deliberately altered it.
Feng Wu said, “Do you want to know about Xia Lin?”
Xia Changluo sank back onto the sofa, his back to the curtains, wary. “Who are you?”
But Feng Wu didn’t answer. Instead, he repeated the question.
“Yuanhan said A’Lin had contracted a rare illness and was sent away for treatment.” Xia Changluo lowered his eyes slightly. “Are you saying that isn’t true?”
Feng Wu countered, “Do you really believe Xia Yuanhan’s version of events?”
Xia Changluo’s fingers, resting on his knees, curled slightly.
After a long silence, he said quietly, “I don’t. I don’t believe Xia Yuanhan. But I can’t just believe you either.”
“A person who doesn’t even dare tell me his identity,” Xia Changluo’s eyes darkened, “how am I supposed to trust you? And how can I know whether what you’re telling me is the truth? How can I know whether A’Lin’s real situation is what you claim it is?”
“It doesn’t matter if you don’t trust me,” Feng Wu said. “Because there’s someone you absolutely will trust.”
Xia Changluo gave a light laugh, just about to say that was impossible, when a familiar voice suddenly sounded beside him.
“Big Brother, it’s me.”



![After Waking Up I Inherited the Earth [Interstellar] After Waking Up I Inherited the Earth [Interstellar]](https://i1.wp.com/panda-translations.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/20220822190944_300_420.jpg?resize=151,215)