Since handing over the mobile phone matters to Kelly and the others, Mu Lin had once again become a hands-off boss. Xiaolapizi, on the other hand, had been completely monopolized by Meizi and the girls. Their excessive affection was so overwhelming that even this centuries-old demon found it hard to endure. He was constantly trying to avoid them. If it weren’t for the girls’ cuteness and the fact that floating stones—his essential food source—were here, he probably would have fled long ago.
Indeed, Xiaolapizi was chased around so much that it caused chaos everywhere. As a guardian spirit for someone’s family for hundreds of years, he was supposed to maintain a solemn demeanor all day long. But now, playing around with Meizi and the others, he seemed to be enjoying himself quite a bit.
With the little girls no longer clinging to him, Mu Lin finally had more free time for his own research. After Meizi and the others went to school, he and Xiaolapizi began studying the demon’s pocket dimension.
Xiaolapizi’s pocket dimension was innate, opening up as his body matured and growing gradually larger as he absorbed more energy. Mu Lin wanted to study this dimension for two reasons: one, he wanted to create one for himself—it would be far more convenient than storage bags or rings; and two, he believed that many Taoist techniques involved pocket dimensions, such as the Five Ghosts Transportation Art, storage techniques, teleportation, and escape techniques.
At his current level, Mu Lin couldn’t perform teleportation yet, so he relied on escape techniques instead. While using these techniques, he always felt like he was moving through another space, albeit for a very brief moment. The differences between escape techniques were mostly in the materials used to cast them, with little variation in effectiveness—mainly differing in the number of talismans required. Despite repeated attempts, Mu Lin made little progress. He could only sigh at the lack of advanced experimental equipment and began thinking about expanding his lab again. Anyone who truly understood such things would surely be amazed at how advanced this laboratory was.
The acquisition of the mobile phone manufacturing plant was nearly complete, now awaiting technicians from Bell Labs to make appropriate improvements to the production equipment. As Kelly had said, the upper echelons of New York society had indeed shown full support, and all applications for installing mobile signal transmitters had been finalized. They were now just waiting for the factory equipment upgrades to finish before starting production.
One day, Mu Lin received a call from Professor Wang at the clinic. He said a French patient had arrived with a strange illness that none of them could diagnose. The situation had already caused serious repercussions in Washington, with some people taking the opportunity to harass the clinic. They requested Mu Lin to come to Washington to treat the patient and handle the aftermath of the incident.
After receiving the call, Mu Lin felt a pang of guilt for having neglected the clinic for so long. He had never really taken it seriously, leaving everything to the old doctors who had been running back and forth tirelessly. This time, the matter seemed serious. Although Professor Wang and the others were vague on the phone, Mu Lin could sense their inner anxiety through their tone.
After saying goodbye to Kelly and the others, Mu Lin set off for Washington with Xiaolapizi. Perhaps having had enough fun with Meizi and the girls, Xiaolapizi threatened Mu Lin that if he were left behind as a babysitter again, he would run away from home. Reluctantly, Mu Lin had to bring the little creature along. He was somewhat unwilling because bringing such an adorable creature would inevitably draw public attention and curious gazes—something that went against his low-key principles.
There weren’t many passengers in first class that day, but the flight attendants kept changing. Mu Lin knew they claimed to be serving him, but in reality, they were there to sneak peeks at Xiaolapizi. This made the burly man sitting next to him envious of Mu Lin’s “good fortune.”
Although Xiaolapizi had lived in Europe and the Americas for a long time, he rarely appeared in public. In the past, he had to avoid cultivators from the Han race who might try to eliminate him, and he also worried about consuming too much floating stone energy by being too active. Therefore, he had mostly lived in seclusion. The floating stones Mu Lin gave him finally freed him from these concerns.
After some time of absorbing energy and cultivation, Xiaolapizi’s fur changed from a brown-tinged white to completely snow-white. His eye color also changed from brown to deep black, making him even cuter. He had learned this through playing with Meizi and the others—whenever he showed even a hint of his new look, it would immediately attract the girls to pet him. At the moment, he pretended to be meditating with his eyes closed, just like Mu Lin.
When the plane landed in Washington, Mu Lin and Xiaolapizi hurriedly scrambled off the plane. Xiaolapizi’s once-pristine white fur was now smeared with lipstick marks, making him look like a leopard. Passersby couldn’t help but stare at the pitiful sight. Originally, when Mu Lin heard the announcement that the plane had arrived, he stood up and stretched lazily. He didn’t expect such an action to be contagious—Xiaolapizi also stood up in his seat, stretched, and yawned widely.
That was when the flight attendants, who had been preparing to guide them off the plane, let out delighted cries and rushed over to shower Xiaolapizi with affection, pushing Mu Lin himself aside. When Xiaolapizi followed Mu Lin toward the exit, the girls finally noticed him and hurriedly asked for his contact information, saying they wanted to visit Xiaolapizi.
Mu Lin dared not leave his contact details with these love-struck girls. On one hand, Xiaolapizi had threatened him, and on the other, he was simply too afraid. If a group of flamboyant beauties showed up at his clinic in Washington, no one would believe they were there to see Xiaolapizi—they would surely assume he had seduced them. His reputation as a playboy would spread worldwide in no time.
After getting into the clinic’s car that had come to pick him up, Mu Lin hastily ordered the driver to start the car, leaving the driver puzzled. He knew of Mu Lin’s influence in the U.S. and couldn’t imagine who could have caused Mu Lin to act so flustered.
Only after the car had left the airport did Mu Lin and Xiaolapizi finally let out a long sigh of relief. If it weren’t for the flight attendants needing to follow airport work regulations, they might have chased after them directly. Looking at Xiaolapizi, Mu Lin said unhappily, “All your fault! I told you not to be so cute. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have attracted all those fan girls. Next time, I’m definitely not bringing you!”
Since handing over the mobile phone business to Kelly and the others, Mu Lin once again became a hands-off boss.
The little rascal was monopolized by Mei Zi and her friends, whose doting affection made even this centuries-old demon feel overwhelmed, constantly trying to hide from them. If it weren’t for Mei Zi’s charm and the floating stones—his essential sustenance—he would have long since fled.
Now, the little rascal was chased around all day, causing quite a ruckus. Having served as a guardian deity for a family for centuries, he should have maintained a solemn demeanor at all times. But now, teasing Mei Zi and the others, he seemed to be enjoying himself.
With the girls no longer pestering him, Mu Lin had more free time to focus on his research. After Mei Zi and the others went to school, he and the little rascal began studying its dimensional pocket.
The little rascal’s dimensional pocket was an innate ability that opened as its body matured. As it absorbed more energy, the pocket gradually expanded.
Mu Lin wanted to study this ability for two reasons. First, he wanted to create one for himself—far more convenient than storage pouches or rings. Second, he believed many Taoist techniques involved dimensional pockets, such as the Five Ghosts Transporting Technique, storage spells, escape arts, and teleportation.
Currently, Mu Lin’s cultivation level wasn’t high enough for teleportation, so he could only use escape arts. During these escapes, he always felt as though he was moving through another dimension, albeit very briefly. The differences between escape arts lay only in the materials used, with little variation in effectiveness beyond the number of talismans required.
Despite his efforts, research yielded little progress. Mu Lin lamented the lack of advanced experimental equipment and once again contemplated expanding his lab. If an expert were to see it, they’d surely marvel at what was already the world’s most advanced laboratory.
The acquisition of the mobile phone manufacturer was nearly complete, awaiting only the Bell Labs technicians to modify the production equipment. As Kelly had predicted, New York’s elite fully supported the venture, and all permits for signal transmitter installations had been approved. Now, they only needed to finalize factory upgrades before production could begin.
One day, Mu Lin received a call from Dr. Wang at the clinic. A patient from France had arrived with a bizarre condition that none of the doctors could diagnose. The situation had already caused a stir in Washington, with some people exploiting it to harass the clinic. Dr. Wang requested Mu Lin’s presence to treat the patient and handle the fallout.
The call filled Mu Lin with guilt for neglecting the clinic. He had never taken it seriously, leaving the work to the senior doctors. This time, however, the situation seemed grave. Though Dr. Wang was vague on the phone, Mu Lin could sense the urgency in his tone.
After informing Claire and the others, Mu Lin set off for Washington with the little rascal in tow. The little rascal, perhaps tired of playing with Mei Zi, had threatened to run away if left behind as a babysitter. Reluctantly, Mu Lin brought it along, knowing its adorable appearance would attract unwanted attention—contrary to his low-key principles.
The first-class cabin wasn’t crowded, but flight attendants kept coming by, ostensibly to serve Mu Lin but actually to gawk at the little rascal. A burly man in the next seat watched enviously, assuming Mu Lin was enjoying some romantic luck.
Though the little rascal had lived in Europe and the Americas, it rarely appeared in public. Previously, it had to guard against Chinese cultivators seeking to eliminate it while also conserving floating stone energy. Now, with Mu Lin’s supply, it no longer had such worries.
After absorbing and refining energy for some time, its fur had turned from brownish-white to pure snow-white, and its eyes had darkened from brown to deep black, enhancing its charm. Through playing with Mei Zi, it had learned that even a slight change in expression would invite affectionate petting from girls. Now, like Mu Lin, it pretended to rest with closed eyes.
Upon landing in Washington, Mu Lin and the little rascal scrambled off the plane in disarray. The little rascal’s pristine fur was now smeared with lipstick, resembling a leopard’s spots, drawing curious glances from passersby.
The chaos began when Mu Lin stood to stretch upon hearing the landing announcement. The little rascal mimicked him, yawning widely. This triggered squeals of delight from the flight attendants, who rushed over to fawn over it, pushing Mu Lin aside. As they disembarked, the attendants begged for Mu Lin’s contact details to visit the little rascal later.
Mu Lin dared not oblige—partly due to the little rascal’s threats, but mostly to avoid scandal. If a group of starstruck women showed up at his clinic, no one would believe they were there for the little rascal. Instead, rumors would spread that he was a playboy luring them in, tarnishing his reputation worldwide.
Once inside the clinic’s car, Mu Lin urgently told the driver to leave, leaving the man bewildered. The driver knew of Mu Lin’s influence in the U.S. and couldn’t imagine what—or who—could make him so flustered.
Only after leaving the airport did Mu Lin and the little rascal finally relax. Had the attendants not been bound by airport regulations, they might have chased them down. Mu Lin glared at the little rascal. “This is all your fault! Why did you have to be so cute? Now we’ve got a bunch of admirers. Next time, I’m leaving you behind!”
“You wouldn’t dare!” the little rascal retorted indignantly. “Do you think I enjoy this? If Mei Zi or Mei Fang were here, they’d never let me get this messy! Look at me—I look like a leopard now! Have I ever been this disheveled?”
It then threatened Mu Lin: “If you don’t take me next time, I’ll just ask Claire or Fanny to bring me. And I’ll teach Mei Fang and Mei Zi things you can’t!”
Since absorbing enough floating stone energy, the little rascal could now use telepathic speech. To an observer, it would seem as though its mouth was moving in response to Mu Lin.
Then he threatened Mu Lin again, “If you don’t bring me next time, I’ll just convince Kelly and Penny to take me instead! And I’ll teach Meifang and Meizi some things you don’t know!” Since absorbing enough floating stone energy, Xiaolapizi could now use the secret technique of transmitting voice into someone’s mind. However, if someone was nearby, they would see his mouth moving slightly, as if responding to Mu Lin.
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