Chapter 477 - 476: Tang Luo Ke’s Whereabouts

Tang!

Yu Zhizhi had always wanted to know his whereabouts. Ever since he vanished from Greenfield City, the Valoran Empire had been searching for him, even forming an alliance with the Deep Sea Empire for that purpose.

But the world that was initially thought most likely to have "absorbed" Tang Luo Ke showed no sign of him.

Whenever Yu Zhizhi had a spare moment, she would check Tang Luo Ke’s favorability rating to confirm he was still alive.

Her pace quickened, her heart filled with anticipation at the thought of hearing news about Tang Luo Ke.

She entered the bedchamber, which was brightly lit.

Outside the Holy Tower, a storm raged, making the world feel exceptionally quiet.

Before the coffee table, the Duke was scrutinizing a map. Beside it lay an official document that had just been signed.

"Duke."

Yu Zhizhi approached him. She glanced at the map on the table—it seemed to be the same one she had seen last time.

She hadn’t looked at it closely back then, though.

"Sit," the Duke said, leaning back.

Yu Zhizhi sat down on a soft cushion.

When she looked up, her gaze met the Duke’s. He looked as if he had just emerged from a bath. His ink-blue hair was slightly curled, and his loose blue robe was tied only at the waist, its open collar offering a tantalizing glimpse of what lay beneath.

Yu Zhizhi didn’t dare let her eyes wander. She averted her gaze slightly. "Tang... Lord Locke, where is he?"

’The little rabbit really is concerned about Tang Luo Ke.’

The Duke pushed the map in front of him forward. "Here."

Yu Zhizhi looked over.

The Duke also gazed at the map, which was drawn with Spiritual Energy. "We detected K’s aura last night. Chixing has named this place Weilan. We’re trying to figure out how to contact him."

"There is something I need your help with," the Duke said slowly. "K’s situation is special. The team we’re sending to find him needs someone who can control his Berserk state."

"You mean—" Yu Zhizhi was a little surprised. "I can go too?"

’Is he asking me to join the team to find Tang?’

The Duke said, "You don’t have to go."

No one knew the situation on Tang Luo Ke’s side; it was a very dangerous mission. The Duke would not let the little female before him put herself in harm’s way.

"Noel will join the team. He may need to communicate with you frequently regarding the matter of Beast Bone purification."

"Noel..." Yu Zhizhi murmured. ’So it’s him.’

"You just need to cooperate with him."

"I understand," Yu Zhizhi said with a soft nod.

’So that’s what it was about.’

Back in Greenfield City, she had shown Noel the manuscript left by the Bright Moon Priest. He had understood most of it almost immediately.

The corners of Yu Zhizhi’s lips turned up slightly at the thought that there was finally news of Tang Luo Ke.

She stared at the map in front of her. Faint blue Spiritual Energy hovered over it, tracing a network of lines and meticulously marking every region.

Yu Zhizhi studied it for a long while before it suddenly struck her as familiar.

’Is it just because the map is drawn with Spiritual Energy that it looks so dreamlike?’

Based on its layout, she felt certain she had seen it before.

It seemed to resemble a map from her memory.

’Could it be—’

Yu Zhizhi’s heart suddenly gave a heavy THUMP. ’Is Tang Luo Ke’s current location... my world?!’

’It can’t be such a coincidence...’

She couldn’t be sure if this map depicted the Earth she was on before she transmigrated.

The outlined shape was just similar; there were no names written on the map.

Yu Zhizhi glanced at the map a few more times, and her racing heart gradually calmed down.

"What’s wrong?" The Duke noticed the little rabbit’s odd reaction.

Yu Zhizhi said in a small voice, "Nothing... I’m just a little curious."

The Duke closed the official document.

His gaze fell upon the little rabbit’s delicate, porcelain-white face. The sound of the storm grew more turbulent, yet inside the Holy Tower, it was utterly tranquil.

"The Mermaid cub—" the Duke mentioned Sui Sui out of the blue. "How is it?"

Er.

Yu Zhizhi froze for a second. "It, uh, wasn’t seriously ill. It’s almost better."

"Mmm..." The Duke took a sip of tea. "In that case, stay the night and keep Yu Meng company."

"But..." Yu Zhizhi hesitated.

She had planned to stay at the Holy Tower during the day and return to the warship at night. She had promised Sui Sui she would video call it tonight.

"I have to video call Sui Sui," Yu Zhizhi said softly.

The Duke lifted an eyelid. "You can make video calls from the Holy Tower."

’Is the little rabbit going to video call the Mermaid cub, or is she going to video call *that fish*?’

The Duke continued, "Yu Meng can only stay for a few more days before returning to the Imperial City. Its next round of trials is about to begin."

"...Alright then, I’ll stay tonight." As soon as Yu Zhizhi heard that Little Amon was leaving soon, she agreed at once.

Outside the door, Billy entered with a tray.

He placed the freshly brewed milk tea on the coffee table.

"Ms. Zhi Zhi, please enjoy."

"Thank you."

Yu Zhizhi had been about to get up and go find Little Amon in the next room.

But Mr. Billy had brought milk tea, which seemed to be a signal for her to stay a little longer.

Yu Zhizhi poured a small cup for herself.

She took a shallow sip. The rich, milky fragrance filled her mouth, followed by the aroma of tea.

’—So delicious.’

Yu Zhizhi’s eyes brightened, and she lowered her head to continue drinking in small sips.

The Duke, sitting opposite her, watched the little rabbit happily sipping from the small teacup she held in both hands, a fleck of milk foam clinging to her lip.

A hint of softness appeared in his deep, cold, golden vertical pupils.

Here in Silan City, during a raging storm, for a fleeting moment it was as if he were back in the Imperial City, back in his own manor—

just a normal day for them in the study.

The Duke finally couldn’t hold back. In a daze, Yu Zhizhi thought she heard him sigh. She had just looked up when she saw the man opposite her had leaned forward at some point. With his hands tucked into his sleeves, he stared intently at her, the damp, slightly curled strands of long hair at the side of his face looking as if they had just been caught in the rain.

Yu Zhizhi stared blankly, clutching her teacup. She looked at the Duke in confusion. ’Wh-what’s wrong?’

’Why is he suddenly staring at me?’

The Duke raised a hand, his thumb gently wiping the trace of milk from the corner of her lips. Before the little female could react, his palm cupped the nape of her neck and pulled her toward him.

A light, fleeting kiss landed beside Yu Zhizhi’s lips.

The Duke’s scent washed over her. Her whole body tensed as her heart began to beat faster and faster.

Soon, she heard the Duke’s low chuckle.

"What are you nervous about?"

He pulled the little female into his lap, embracing her face-to-face.

The moment he smelled the little rabbit’s natural scent, an immense sense of peace settled over him. It was an addictive fragrance he had lusted after countless times in his thoughts.

He craved physical contact with her so desperately.

Yu Zhizhi remained quietly and obediently in his arms.

She didn’t struggle.

Hearing the Duke’s chuckle, her tension slowly eased.

The Duke held her in his favorite position.

Yu Zhizhi’s rabbit ears twitched. She buried her face in his chest. After a moment, she whispered, "I still have to go see Little Amon..."

"No rush." The Duke stroked her ear. With his other hand, he gently toyed with the little female’s round, fluffy tail. His voice held a bewitching tone. "Keep me company first."