His gaze lingered on the other items in the room, the objects arranged with a careful precision that felt almost deliberate, as if each one had its own story to tell.
In the second display case near the door, a large violet conch shell glimmered under the light."You can ask this conch to judge whether you should do something," Tao Hu's voice dropped to a near whisper, her eyes glinting with something deeper, more provocative. "Its judgment is almost always correct."
"A magic conch..." Yarrow murmured, leaning in closer, his gaze following Tao Hu's fingers as they traced the edge of the display.
The next case held a red bow tie, neatly positioned in the center."This tie..." Tao Hu's smile was playful, almost teasing. "It can change your voice. But beware—using it will always result in a murder occurring nearby." The words carried an undeniable heaviness, but there was something in the way her eyes sparkled, an almost intimate knowing.
A gleaming, cold-looking sword stood in the next display."This sword," Lawrence spoke with a low rumble, "forces the target to catch the blade with their bare hands. One hundred percent of the time." He paused, letting the tension build. "Although... it doesn't seem to have any offensive effects." The suggestion of power lingered in the air, thick and tantalizing.
Next was a bell tied with a soft blue ribbon."The effect of this bell," Tao Hu explained with a soft laugh, "is that if you encounter a difficult problem, wearing it and doing a set of exercises will immediately give you a solution." She glanced at Yarrow, her gaze slow and deliberate. "But I think the real problem here isn't the bell, but what you choose to solve."
Then there was an umbrella."This is an umbrella that, when opened, will form a rain cloud above your head and begin to pour." Tao Hu's voice dropped again, almost flirtatious. "A little unexpected, wouldn't you say? Just like some things in life."
And then there was a basketball."This... well, after bouncing it twice, it can improve your dancing skills." Yarrow raised an eyebrow, his lips curling slightly. "Strange, right?" Tao Hu chuckled, glancing over at him.
"Where did all of this come from, some other dimension?" Yarrow couldn't help but ask, his curiosity piqued beyond control. He turned toward Lawrence."Excuse me, President, where did you get all of these?"
Lawrence took a step forward, the air growing heavier around him."Do you know about the Myriad Secrets Realm?" His voice was thick, layered with some hidden promise.
"The Myriad Secrets Realm?" Yarrow and Tao Hu exchanged a look, the mystery hanging between them.
"Never heard of it," Tao Hu replied, her eyes narrowing.
Lawrence strode closer to the display case holding a red Poké Ball, stroking the glass slowly, deliberately. "It's a secret realm located within the ruins of the Cadore family. This realm doesn't offer gold or silver jewelry, but rather... these kinds of ordinary-looking magical items."
"Some of them have baffling effects, while others come with terrible consequences," Lawrence continued, his voice now lowering even further, as if sharing something far more intimate. "But some... some have extraordinary powers. I've been collecting them for years."
Yarrow found himself intrigued. It wasn't just the objects themselves, but the mystery Lawrence carried—there was something almost seductive about it. How could a place like this exist without anyone knowing?
"I've been trying to get my hands on as many as possible," Lawrence went on. "But the Myriad Secrets Realm is now controlled by a large family. They restrict the number of entries and personnel. Only those who pay a steep annual fee are allowed to enter—and even then, only two people at a time for a limited four-day period." His fingers brushed against the display case, his touch lingering on the glass.
"Despite having access every year and sending treasure hunters, most items are so cryptic, so hidden in their effects, that it's impossible to know their true power unless you test them." Lawrence's gaze flicked to Tao Hu. "But Miss Tao Hu has a rare ability to see the potential in these objects immediately." He met Yarrow's eyes, a silent understanding passing between them. "I would like to ask you both for a favor."
Yarrow knew exactly what Lawrence wanted without him needing to say another word.
"You want us to enter the secret realm and retrieve treasures for you," he said, his voice almost bored, though his curiosity burned.
Lawrence nodded, his expression serious, but the hint of something darker—something far more tempting—lingered in his eyes. "This is a request, and I will reward you generously. You will receive more than just money. Whatever treasures you collect from the realm, you may keep. Just leave me the one or two that I need."
Yarrow considered this, his mind racing. The idea of treasure, of mysteries from other realms... it sounded too good to pass up. But then his gaze fell on Tao Hu.
"What do you think? Tao Hu?" he asked, his voice a little softer now.
Tao Hu grinned, her eyes glimmering with excitement. "If Yarrow wants us to go, then we'll go. I trust you." She stepped closer, her voice dropping lower. "But... is there any danger? You're not sending us into a trap, right?"
Yarrow opened his mouth to respond, but then thought better of it and turned to Lawrence. "There shouldn't be anything too dangerous, right?"
Lawrence reassured him, but there was an edge to his words, a promise that wasn't entirely about safety. "Rest assured, the obstacles are manageable. I've sent low-level mages and even ordinary people before, and they all returned safely. As for the obstacles themselves, we have detailed countermeasures. Your safety is guaranteed."
Yarrow studied Lawrence's face for a long moment, considering. Finally, he nodded. "Alright, we'll give it a try." He turned to Tao Hu, then back to Lawrence, his voice still calm but carrying an unmistakable edge of excitement. "The Myriad Secrets Realm, huh? Sounds like it might be worth the risk."
"You're not joking, are you?" Serena's voice was low, almost a whisper, as she moved closer to Yarrow. Her breath brushed against his ear, a hint of disbelief in her words. "The Myriad Secrets Realm? The realm of infinite possibilities?"
She pressed herself closer, her body almost touching his, as if she couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Yes, the Myriad Secrets Realm," Yarrow replied with a slow, measured tone, trying to maintain some space between them. "The president of the Willow Gold Exchange is sponsoring us to go in and search for treasure. It's about half a month away. He just needs two specific treasures, anything else we find is ours."
Serena's eyes widened, excitement flashing in them as she leaned even closer, her chest grazing his arm. "This is too good to be true, right? The chance to actually go there!" she exclaimed, her voice thick with excitement.
Yarrow took a small step back, feeling the intensity of her proximity. He studied her expression, noting how different she seemed. "What's going on? You're more excited than I've ever seen you. Want to come along?"
Serena blinked, quickly pulling herself back into a more controlled posture, but her lips still quirked up in an almost mischievous smile. "Cough, no, not exactly. It's just... I've read so much about the Myriad Secrets Realm. It's a place full of mystery, danger, and unimaginable treasures. The environment is unpredictable, always shifting, and the items inside are... legendary. But it's that unpredictability, the unknown, that makes it so alluring."
She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and fixed her gaze on Yarrow with intensity. "When you go in, take some shadow recording crystals with you. Snap as many photos as you can of the treasures. I'll need them for my research."
Yarrow raised his phone, the faint glint of mischief in his eyes. "Don't worry. I've got a magic item for that. I can take thousands of photos if I need to."
Serena smiled, though there was a certain edge to her look. "Good. You know how important this is for my work."
"Is Tao Hu going with you this time?" Ji Xiaofei's voice broke through, her curiosity piqued as she turned to Tao Hu.
Tao Hu grinned, her eyes sparkling. "Yeah, I finally get to go on a real treasure hunt!"
Later that evening, Yarrow entered his room, exhausted from the day's events. As he pulled back the covers of his bed, he froze. There, lying in the center of the sheets, was Tao Hu.
"Why are you here again?" Yarrow's voice was a mix of confusion and something else, something deeper that he couldn't quite place.
Tao Hu turned to face him, her smile seductive and playful. "Dual cultivation, remember? Let's continue tonight." Her voice was low, almost a purr, as she beckoned him toward her.
Before he could respond, she pulled him down onto the bed, her body pressing against his as she entwined their hands. "I'm still nervous about the treasure hunt. Wonder how much I can improve my cultivation if I dual cultivate with you during this time."
Yarrow smirked, though the words he was about to say were tempered with a hint of amusement. "Simple dual cultivation won't do much for your cultivation."
Tao Hu's pout was teasing, her lips parting just enough to catch his attention. "I said we should take it slow," she whispered, a playful glint in her eyes.
Yarrow couldn't help but feel a rush of frustration mixed with desire. She was so close, her body warm against his, yet she pulled away at the last second, leaving him wanting more.
"Good night, Yarrow," she murmured in his ear, her breath warm, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Good night," he replied, though his mind was elsewhere, distracted by the proximity of her body.
At that very moment, a pop-up window appeared in front of Yarrow's eyes:
[A perfect date with Tao Hu has been completed. Reward: Affection Coin x30 has been credited!]
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