Third Flora (her shadow) is very beautiful, and she also smells delightful. The overwhelming beauty of the butterflies filled the sky, captivating everyone’s hearts for quite a while before they gradually detected the fragrance. Even Xiao Qing didn’t notice it at first; the scent was faint, making one involuntarily relax.
The butterflies fluttered gracefully, their wings radiant and adorned with shimmering scales that fell like fine snowflakes. The hidden fragrance added a brilliant touch.
Even though everyone only saw the moment when millions of butterflies spread their wings, their minds were momentarily dazed before reluctantly returning to reality. Checking the system messages, they realized their sanity had decreased a few points, and there was a notification about weakened willpower debuffs.
Similar to how Little Darling naturally exudes intimidation, anyone who sees it loses some sanity. Third Flora’s beauty and fragrance come at a price—starting with a deduction of 3 sanity points and a 10-minute debuff on willpower.
All they could say was, “Truly a child raised by Xu Yintang.”
Lost in thought, poking around in the pot with her chopsticks, Tiantian couldn’t control her gaze, drawn to the beautiful butterflies flying around Xu Yintang. After a while of futile attempts to grab something, she finally realized and exclaimed, “My meat!”.
Xu Yintang savored the delicious, tender beef, calmly remarking, “Whoever grabs it, it’s theirs.”
It’s been a few days since his dear teammates imparted the lesson: from just one hotpot session, he’d managed to scoop up beef balls, black tiger prawns, and snow crab legs from under their chopsticks.
And he only managed to salvage a piece of beef that would’ve otherwise overcooked.
Puffing her cheeks in protest, Tiantian, under the dual charm of her dad and Third Flora’s beauty, fell short of words and simply urged them to hurry with the birthday cake: “Time’s running out, just half an hour left.”
What’s in half an hour?
It’s the instance. This would be their final meal in this instance; in half an hour, they’d bid farewell to this enjoyable vacation and return to the busy routine.
Tiantian felt a bit reluctant for the first time in an instance, a faint sense of melancholy lingering.
“If only we could team up again,” she murmured. This group of teammates was the best she’d encountered so far, reliable and enjoyable, making her experience in this instance many times more delightful than any previous ones.
If she could team up with these teammates again, even on a deserted island survival scenario… it would likely be fun.
Xiao Qing wheeled out the cake cart and, hearing Tiantian’s murmurs, smiled and said, “Then you’ll need to quickly reach Class C instances; in Class C, you can team up with friends, and then we can all play together.”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“Ktja rffwr rb ojg jkjs…” Kljcaljc rlutfv. “Pcmievlcu atlr lcrajcmf, P’v cffv ja ifjra akb D jrrfrrwfcar ab ufa ab J.”
“Zf abb,” Lejtej mjimeijafv tfg lcrajcmf gfmbgvr, “P’w pera bcf C jrrfrrwfca bg akb D jrrfrrwfcar jkjs.”
Ktfs kfgf vlrmerrlcu atf lcrajcmf vloolmeias equgjvf geifr rewwjglhfv ys wjcs fzqfgar bc atf obgew, jqqilmjyif ab atf wjpbglas bo qijsfgr.
According to these experts’ observations, the game evaluates the appropriate instance difficulty for players based on their overall performance in the instances. Then, through a series of criteria that sounded impressive, they quantified the assessment standards and grading.
– D assessment (nothing but dead weight) = -2 points,
– C assessment (no particular achievements) = -1 point,
– B assessment (some contribution or doing their best) = 3 points,
– A assessment (exceeding oneself or carrying the entire team) = 5 points.
Based on the assessment scores, typically within the difficulty range from D to A, players accumulate 10-15 points in the lower-level instances to unlock the next difficulty level. Moreover, upon clearing any A-level instance, a new instance randomly refreshes within the range of D to A.
Additionally, transitioning from an E-level instance to a D-level instance only requires 3-5 points. However, performing poorly or exhibiting negative gameplay, accruing -10 points, could lead to a demotion to a lower difficulty level instance, even lying flat on E-level, a complete washout…
In summary, no one has seen those.
The unlocking rules for difficulty levels above A haven’t been summarized by the experts. However, most players don’t really need them. The difficulty range where players are concentrated is mainly B-C. Those who manage to reach A-level instances in one go are already considered half-pros.
Except for a very few thrill-seekers, players generally appreciate this difficulty assessment mechanism. It gradually progresses while allowing for regression, ensuring they aren’t suddenly thrown into instances completely beyond their abilities. Even in the most challenging situations, they can gamble their lives, and who knows, they might just turn a bicycle into a motorcycle.
“Just two Bs, easy peasy,” Xiao Qing ruffled Tiantian’s hair, encouraging her. Watching Third Flora’s butterflies flying back and forth, he turned to Xu Yintang and said, “Third Flora is quite punctual, I was worried it might not make it.”
He’d been worrying since last night; the instance was about to end, and there was still no sign of Third Flora. He was afraid his prediction of separation might come true, anxious until he finally saw Third Flora fly out. His mood soared as if he’d given birth to a plump child; he found Third Flora increasingly endearing.
Although the next moment, the jarring buzz of Third Flora’s wings gave him a splitting headache. At this moment, he could even clearly hear the rustling sounds within Xu Yintang’s shadow, as if wings were rubbing and trembling, conjuring a bizarre image of countless butterflies crowded and stacked in his mind.
However, that didn’t deter Xiao Qing from lighting the candles on the cake, and organizing everyone to sing a birthday song for Third Flora.
“Let’s raise our glasses in joy!” Xiao Qing lifted his juice cup. “Wishing a happy birthday to the beautiful and lovely Third Flora!”
Tiantian chimed in immediately, “Congratulations to sugar daddy on getting a precious daughter! Wishing Third Flora becomes even more beautiful as she grows!”
After saying that, she glanced at Third Flora and confirmed with Xu Yintang, “It’s a girl, right?”
“Partly,” Xu Yintang smiled and clinked glasses with teammates, enjoying his last glass of ice-cold cola in the instance. “You can say so.”
These offspring hardly have any gender distinctions; Little Darling and Second Treasure are all referred to conveniently as brothers by him. Third Flora’s gender is even more enigmatic; within its shadow, there are millions of butterflies. Should he differentiate them one by one and create a pie chart with three parts male, four parts female, and three parts non-binary gender for Third Flora?
Better to let it be. Little Darling and Second Treasure think Third Flora is their brother, so it is. The teammates believe Third Flora is their sister, so she is.
And as for Xu Yintang himself?
Due to his maternal instinct that’s too accurate for the offspring’s state, Third Flora in his impression could only be depicted as three parts male, four parts female, and three parts non-binary gender in a pie chart.
“Then congratulations to sugar daddy on getting a precious daughter,” Third Flora thought that the pretty little Third Flora should be a girl. “Resembling dad, Third Flora being so good-looking must have taken after our sugar daddy.”
Old Wang clinked glasses with Xu Yintang, jokingly said with a smile, “With two pairs of little cotton pants, it’s time for a little cotton jacket.”
After finishing the cola and blowing out the candles, Old Wang picked up the cake knife to start slicing the cake for everyone, “You know what, the cake looks quite nice; there are butterflies on top.”
“Well, obviously,” Xiao Qing boasted, “Just look at who picked it.”
When selecting the cake design, he specifically chose a style resembling a beautiful little garden with a profusion of flowers based on Third Flora’s name. The cake decorator placed a few plastic butterflies as decoration between the flowers for visual coordination. Those laser-cut, semi-transparent plastic butterflies, coated with iridescent glitter, bore a slight resemblance to the fluttering Third Flora around Xu Yintang.
This cake wasn’t just visually appealing but also delicious; the cream had an airy, sweet taste without being overly rich. The fluffy and moist cake, layered with fresh cream, brought forth a mouthful of happiness.
Old Wang also cut a slice for Mr. Feierman, who seemed to have aged ten years in just a few days, eating the cake absentmindedly. Hearing the demons’ chatter about leaving soon, his heart was a mix of emotions. The previously terrifying Feir seedling had suddenly become a strange monster’s little snack, as light as a bizarre and irrational dream.
Seeing the butterflies approaching, he hastily dodged and evaded, as if avoiding a flood or ferocious beast. But the more he dodged, the closer they fluttered around him. The feeling of fear, like sweet floral nectar, lured the butterflies closer to feed.
Similar to its two brothers, Third Flora was unyielding. Even the most delicious cake couldn’t compete with honey filled with fear. A few butterflies silently landed in Mr. Feierman’s shadow, savoring the first taste of this delicious fear. Meanwhile, more butterflies flapped their wings, supporting Third Flora as she fought wits and courageously restrained tears while clinging to her mother’s clothes alongside Second Treasure.
Second Treasure wagged its tail, glaring at Third Flora, discontent everywhere. It knew this cunning younger brother intentionally transformed into a form that could stick with Mom anytime, seeking favoritism!
It even twisted the projection to look as flamboyant and deliberately pleasing to Mom as possible, intentionally irritating the poor Second Treasure, who hadn’t even grown fur yet due to its delayed development!
Third Flora’s butterflies fluttered, whether intentionally or unintentionally, circling Second Treasure. The vibrant and beautiful lights under the wings directly entered Second Treasure’s eyes, gracefully radiant, too attractive to ignore.
But it infuriated Second Treasure even more!
It pressed against Mom even harder, against Third Flora’s provocation—no matter how beautiful Third Flora’s form was, it could only huddle in Mom’s shadow. The butterflies, as lovely and dreamlike as they were, at most could kiss mom’s cheek. But Second Treasure! Mom’s most beloved offspring! It could stick to mom’s warm embrace and enjoy the joyous snuggles that Third Flora would never get to experience!
Snuggling is the ultimate soul of the offspring!
Feeling it had gained an upper hand in this competition for attention, Second Treasure emitted a scornful, self-proclaimed elegant smirk, elevating its chin arrogantly. Third Flora imagined the ecstasy Second Treasure described, resisted it for a while, but eventually burst into tears.
Xu Yintang lifted the proudly smug Second Treasure from his clothes, glanced at Third Flora, who was bawling in his shadow and ultimately chose to isolate them together in the pet space for a calm-down session. He sighed, relaxed, and gently patted the obedient Little Darling.
Ah, the eldest one is always the easiest to handle.
Little Darling: Can’t move, can’t move QAQ
Author’s Note –
The cub’s big battle is about to begin
The battle between Second Treasure and Third Flora unexpectedly benefits Little Darling!
What gender and pronouns? Third Flora is only mother’s child !!
Yeah Third Flora doesn’t give a f about pronouns. Awwww Second Treasure being jealous and snuggling closer to his mama
Diversity win! This man’s fucked up eldritch monster children have incomprehensible gender identities! 🎉
Genuinely obsessed with pie chart gender as a concept. Incredible vibes.
Perfect child: multi-gender, big-bad bad guy devourer, and smells nice…lmao! ❤️❤️❤️
Third Flora!! 🥰🥰
Thank you for your translation 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜