Chapter 17: The Trouble Brought by Hua Qinmo

After her parents left, Qiao Xin carried Lei Miaomiao into the house.

Their plan to go out was ruined, but the training her eldest uncle had planned for her needed to start.

She introduced the two reformed cousins to Lei Miaomiao and then left the little one in their care.

To her surprise, all three followed her, so she took out three sets of machines and taught them how to prepare ingredients and use the cooking devices.

Xiao Muxuan and Xiao Muyu, the two brothers, learned earnestly; after Qiao Xin taught them once, she made what Lei Miaomiao wanted to eat and taught her how to operate the machine too. The little girl quickly learned to do it herself, much to Qiao Xin’s delight.

However, once the food was ready, Lei Miaomiao ate it on her own.

Qiao Xin then went to the courtyard to begin her training.

The two older cousins and the little one sat on the steps outside the door, watching her train, their expressions pitiful.

They took a bite, glanced over, sighed, and shook their heads in unison.

Before long, someone was perched on the wall, unable to bear watching any longer.

He Qing called out, “Cousin, you should start with basic physical training!”

Qiao Xin looked up, then glanced at the three sitting on the steps, falling silent.

Could she really say what she was doing was just physical training?

“Sis, Ya-Ya will run with you!” Lei Miaomiao finished eating, placed her small bowl next to Xiao Muxuan, and happily ran over.

With no choice, Qiao Xin ran with the little one, circling the courtyard a few times until she was out of breath and her legs wouldn’t lift.

Lei Miaomiao sighed beside her. “Sister, you’re so weak!”

Qiao Xin pinched her little face and warned, “You don’t want to eat anymore, do you?”

The little girl’s eyes widened in disbelief before quickly smiling, “Sister, you’re the strongest!”

Qiao Xin let her off the hook, then took out some materials to study while Lei Miaomiao opened her toddler version lightbrain to learn.

He Qing and the Xiao brothers quietly disappeared.

The morning passed quickly. After lunch, Qiao Xin planned to coax Lei Miaomiao to take a nap, but a sudden loud explosion shattered their drowsiness.

“Ahhh! Host, Hua Qinmo has gone mad! He’s coming toward you!” The terrified voice of Xiao i suddenly sounded. Before Qiao Xin could ask what was happening, she found herself in the Spirit Garden.

“Wow! What a beautiful place.” Lei Miaomiao was also swept in, reaching out to pick flowers.

Qiao Xin hugged her nervously. “Ya-Ya, don’t pick the flowers.”

Hua Qinmo’s exquisite face appeared, vines wrapped around Qiao Xin again, and he plucked a flower, handing it to Lei Miaomiao.

“The flower’s for you; the fragrance’s for me!”

Without another word, he snatched Lei Miaomiao away and threw her out of the Spirit Garden.

Xiao Muxuan and Xiao Muyu were stunned and quickly asked, “Little Bean, where’s Sister?”

Lei Miaomiao, holding the flower Hua Qinmo had given her, looked dazed.

Hearing their question, she stomped her foot angrily, “A pretty fairy took Sister!”

The Xiao brothers exchanged looks.

How could they expect much from a little one not even five years old?

“Brother Xuan, Brother Yu, hurry and save her!” He Qing jumped down from the wall but couldn’t get any closer.

The Xiao brothers glanced at him. “You think we don’t want to save her?”

It was simply impossible to approach!

A squad of mecha soldiers flew in. Lei Miaomiao immediately waved her small hand and shouted, “Brother!”

Lei Wuxie, noticing the direction the enemy fled, felt uneasy. Seeing Lei Miaomiao, he scanned and noticed Qiao Xin was missing. He sped over.

He first dropped the four of them at the He family courtyard, then immediately returned to the Xiao family courtyard.

Flames tinged with purple lightning spewed from the mecha, causing the vines to writhe and then burn away most of them.

Knowing his fire was formidable, the vines contracted and vanished, revealing a person entangled in vines and a greedy face.

“Miss Qiao!”

“I’m fine, but what about him?” Qiao Xin looked at the vines wrapped around him, unsure when he’d regain human form.

Lei Wuxie was silent; he truly didn’t know how to remove the vines.

His lightning fire was too dangerous to use so close.

Suddenly, reinforcements arrived, surrounding the Xiao family completely.

Xiao Linfeng jumped off a flying vehicle, looking tense and startling everyone around him.

“My dear, are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Uncle, don’t worry.” Qiao Xin comforted him since he couldn’t approach either.

“Strange, strange, the rage level of Experimental Subject 857 has dropped!” A researcher in another flying vehicle said in surprise, looking at the instruments.

“Old Wei, could it be that he came here knowing this place suppresses his rage?” someone asked.

Old Wei examined the data and the vines tightly wrapped around Qiao Xin, stroking his chin. “What if we let that little girl cooperate with our research?”

“Old Wei, Xiao Linfeng is here!” his assistant warned nervously.

“We’re not researching her, just having her cooperate a bit!” Old Wei’s expression shifted slightly.

“Then you should talk to Xiao Linfeng. Though he’s only a battalion commander, the Seventh Army general values him greatly.” The assistant revealed Xiao Linfeng’s connections.

The Seventh Army mainly guards the capital star. They should have sought their help. General Lin had already scolded them earlier; now going to Xiao Linfeng might provoke the general’s wrath.

“Hmph! Let’s go ask the little girl. If she can help cure that guy, it would benefit our research!” Old Wei ordered arrogantly.

“But Old Wei, it’s not about the little girl’s willingness; Subject 857 hates us! He’s already causing trouble at the research center despite just regaining some consciousness. If he fully recovers, he could blow up the whole place!” The assistant was helpless.

Old Wei ignored him and ordered the instruments brought down from the vehicle.

At their arrival, the now-agitated Hua Qinmo split two vines and lashed them at the newcomers.

Lei Wuxie, piloting the mecha, caught the vines and instantly burned them off.

The visitors were drenched in sweat but still approached him.

“857, since you’ve regained consciousness, you should know we only want to help you recover! If you keep resisting, no one but yourself will save you!” Old Wei earnestly persuaded.

“Hmph! Liars!” Hua Qinmo sneered coldly.

“Truly recovered! Any abnormalities detected?” Old Wei asked excitedly.

“No abnormalities…” The researchers were stunned.

Given his rage level, things should have worsened.

Old Wei focused on Qiao Xin. “Little girl, what’s your name? Would you like to come to our research institute?”

Qiao Xin blinked in confusion and looked at Xiao Linfeng, who immediately came to Old Wei’s side.

“Old Wei, my dear is already a reserve member under my name!”

“So what? She can just be on record at our institute. Look, she’s the only one who managed to calm Subject 857. I can even grant her honorary senior researcher status!” Old Wei was thrilled.