The Villain Is Too Popular

Three days after the final assessment, in the medical bay of the Ember Base.

"Ugh..."

Chen Kong struggled to open his eyes, his vision filled with blinding white light. He instinctively tried to raise his hand to shield his eyes but found his body submerged in a light blue nutrient solution, covered in various tubes and instruments.

"Doctor, Chen Kong is awake!"

A nurse from the medical team, seeing Chen Kong finally awaken after three days of unconsciousness, immediately called the attending doctor.

After a thorough examination, they determined that Chen Kong had not only completely passed the danger period but also, for some unknown reason, had not suffered any lingering internal injuries.

It was as if the person wheeled into the medical bay with comminuted fractures and severely damaged organs wasn't him at all. However, they weren't too surprised by this monstrous recovery ability.

After all, no matter how ordinary Chen Kong seemed, he was still one of the Children of Stars. Privately, the medical team referred to the Children of Stars as little monsters. Their bodies were incredibly tough, almost inhuman.

Even so, the medical team dared not be careless. After conducting a more detailed and comprehensive examination on Chen Kong, they unanimously agreed that Chen Kong was out of danger and could be moved from the intensive care unit to a regular recovery room.

Upon hearing this news, Chen Kong immediately breathed a sigh of relief. After all, he was currently naked and confined in a nutrient pod, being observed by a group of people.

Although they all said it was for his own good, for Chen Kong, who was already twelve and had some concept of gender, this situation was somewhat too awkward. After all, among those observing him, there were quite a few nurse sisters!

Half a day later, Chen Kong, dressed in a white hospital gown, arrived at the Children of Stars' exclusive training ground, supported by a nurse. As a patient recovering from a serious illness, Chen Kong should have stayed longer in the infirmary.

However, through the nurses' mouths, Chen Kong had already learned that eleven Children of Stars had obtained their own Star Essences. Out of curiosity about the combination of 'Star Essence' and 'Star Core,' Chen Kong had actively requested to visit the training ground.

"Eh? Your injury healed so quickly?"

As soon as Chen Kong entered the indoor training ground, Jing Liuli, who had been loafing around at the edge of the training ground, immediately noticed him. Seeing that it was Jing Liuli, whom he rarely saw on weekdays, speaking to him, Chen Kong immediately said with some restraint, "Yeah, I just woke up this morning."

Hearing this, Jing Liuli uncharacteristically gave up slacking off and sat up directly from the ground. "Since you only woke up this morning, why didn't you sleep more in the recovery room?"

"You know, I tried to apply for sick leave from the medical team several times, but those annoying guys not only kept refusing me, but then they even threatened that if I dared to bother them again, they'd tell Instructor Yun Meng about my sick leave, which made me scared to go even when I was genuinely sick later."

"So, why didn't you cherish such a good opportunity to slack off? You're so strange."

Chen Kong awkwardly scratched his cheek, completely at a loss for how to answer Jing Liuli. After all, no matter how you looked at it, she, who constantly tried to find ways to slack off, was the stranger one.

Just as Chen Kong was about to say something, he suddenly noticed that Jing Liuli was very peculiar at this moment. Even though Jing Liuli was fluently speaking to him, her eyes were completely closed, and a glistening trail of drool hung from the corner of her mouth, clearly indicating she was sound asleep.

As Chen Kong was filled with doubts, a familiar voice came from behind him. "That's Liuli's Star Essence, Daydream. Its basic effect allows her to maintain deep sleep while conscious. The cultivation method is to sleep more and dream more."

"Although I don't want to say it, this Star Essence, to some extent, enhances her ability to be lazy, because outsiders have no idea whether she's slacking off or cultivating."

Chen Kong turned in the direction of the voice and found that his sister, Chen Xing, had appeared behind him at some point, and he had been completely unaware. Due to his long-standing fear of Chen Xing, Chen Kong instinctively lowered his head upon seeing her, appearing very meek. Seeing him like this, Chen Xing reflexively wanted to scold him a bit.

But remembering Chen Kong's performance a few days ago, Chen Xing ultimately held back the words she was about to say. And, uncharacteristically, she said gently, "Be confident, Kong. You are no longer the good-for-nothing despised by everyone."

"After all, if it weren't for you back then, Lin and I wouldn't have been able to wound that guy."

Even so, a person's personality is difficult to change in a short time. Therefore, even with Chen Xing's affirmation, Chen Kong still couldn't feel confident. Chen Xing could only shake her head helplessly, then extended her hand towards Jing Liuli.

"Liuli, give me another Sweet Dream candy."

"No!" Liuli hugged her pillow tightly and said angrily, "You haven't given me the sweets you owe me from yesterday, and now you want more from me? I won't give them to you."

Seeing that Liuli not only wasn't obedient but also dared to provoke her, Chen Xing sneered, then grabbed Liuli by the collar and shook her vigorously.

Tap, tap, tap...

Under Chen Xing's shaking, colorful candies quickly poured out of Liuli's pajama pocket. These uniquely shaped candies refracted rainbow-like halos under the sunlight, looking very tempting. Chen Xing bent down, picked up one of them, then stuffed the remaining candies back into Jing Liuli's pajama pocket.

"Just one. Counting the few from the past two days, I'll pay you back with the organization's after-dinner desserts later."

"Liar!" Liuli sat up, pouting, "Didn't you lose all your after-dinner desserts to Tendo?! What are you going to pay me back with?!"

"..." Chen Xing's face stiffened, and the air suddenly solidified. According to her bet with Tendo, her after-dinner desserts for the next three months belonged to Tendo. She really had no after-dinner desserts to offer. Thinking of this, Chen Xing uncharacteristically showed an embarrassed expression, at a loss for how to reply.

Fortunately, Chen Kong, who was nearby, was quick-witted and immediately tried to smooth things over. "Sister Liuli, use my after-dinner desserts."

Upon hearing this, Liuli's previously closed eyes suddenly opened, and she said, eyes gleaming, "One month!"

"Liuli, don't be too excessive. I just took a few of your Sweet Dream candies, and you're asking for a month's worth of my brother's after-dinner desserts? Do you think this is a fair trade?"

"A week at most, otherwise I'll figure out how to pay you back what I owe you myself."

Under Chen Xing's intimidating presence, Jing Liuli finally relented. "Fine, fine, a week it is, but let me say this first, you can't snatch my Sweet Dream candies like this anymore in the future."

"No problem."

Just as Chen Xing and Jing Liuli finalized their future candy exchange, the otherwise calm training ground suddenly experienced a massive tremor. The unexpected earthquake caused Chen Kong, whose injuries hadn't fully healed, to stumble and almost fall to the ground. Fortunately, the nurse beside him was quick and immediately supported him.

The earthquake came quickly and passed quickly. After all the commotion subsided, Chen Kong asked, still shaken, "Sis, what was that just now? Did someone suddenly attack the base?"

Facing Chen Kong's question, Chen Xing remained silent, seemingly reluctant to answer. Jing Liuli, however, had no such reservations and said casually, "It's nothing. It's probably just Tendo experimenting with his Star Essence again. Totally normal."

"Huh?"

Hearing Jing Liuli's words, Chen Kong was stunned. He truly couldn't imagine what kind of exaggerated Star Essence research could cause such immense commotion.

"Is Tendo's Star Essence very powerful? Otherwise, why would it cause such a big stir?"

Hearing Chen Kong's question, Jing Liuli's face showed a strange expression, as if wondering why Chen Kong would ask such a thing. Before Jing Liuli could speak, Chen Xing was one step ahead and provided the answer.

"Kong, it's never the Star Essence that's strong; it's Tendo."

"Because if it weren't for Tendo, I really can't imagine who could develop that kind of Star Essence to this extent."

Upon hearing this, Chen Kong immediately looked curious, wondering what Tendo was doing to create such a massive disturbance. Seeing his expression, Chen Xing immediately said, "Let's go. Since you want to see, I'll let you see."

"Anyway, Tendo doesn't care if people know the effects of his Star Essence."

"Because three days ago, he said that only the weak constantly worry about being targeted and live cautiously. A true strong person... must have the confidence of being unrivaled, above and below the heavens."

"Therefore, even if his Star Essence ability becomes common knowledge, he won't care at all."

"Because he, Tendo Simei, fears no challenge from anyone."

Chen Kong's mouth opened slightly, and Tendo's arrogant tone when he said those words naturally came to mind.

"Those words... they really fit Tendo Ge's personality."

Hearing this, Chen Xing snorted, clearly not wanting to dwell on the topic.

After all, she had once naively believed that as long as she obtained a Star Essence, she could quickly narrow the gap between herself and Tendo and completely catch up to that guy.

But the cruel reality of three days ago had once again slapped her in the face. Because after obtaining a Star Essence, the gap between her and Tendo not only hadn't narrowed but had actually... grown even wider.