Why have Huang Jiutian and Qin Xiaoxia been so tight since they were kids?

The reason is actually quite interesting.

Perhaps due to some influence from his "upbringing," Qin Xiaoxia was an excellent storyteller (and story-fabricator).

Don’t be fooled by his young age back then. Whenever Qin Xiaoxia "started a tale" during a school break, a circle of classmates would gather to listen intently, showing up more punctually than they ever did for class.

And as his deskmate, Huang Jiutian was his first audience member.

Some people just have that kind of talent. Like master storytellers, even a bland tale sounds different when it comes from their lips.

Whenever Qin Xiaoxia’s stories reached their climax, Huang Jiutian and all the other kids listening would get goosebumps.

At this moment, Huang Jiutian had a strange feeling, as if he had been transported back to his childhood, back to the feeling of listening to his classmate Qin Xiaoxia tell stories.

Just one sentence, before the story had even unfolded, was enough for his body to receive some kind of signal.

In reality, this was no illusion on Huang Jiutian’s part.

Even now, a part of Qin Xiaoxia’s Magic Power remained a mystery to him, its owner. It fluctuated with his mental state and could easily influence the emotions of ordinary people.

"Jiutian, come sit over here."

Qin Xiaoxia patted the empty spot on the sofa next to him.

"What I’m about to tell you might change the course of your entire life!"

Regardless of what his own future held, Qin Xiaoxia had already hit the confirm button on "Project Dawn Revival" last night.

Dawn was an organization, and fighting alone was never its creed.

Thus, persuading Huang Jiutian, his closest friend since childhood, to join was an excellent choice from the standpoint of both trust and emotion.

...

Huang Jiutian, who had been unbearably sleepy just moments before, was now wide awake.

He walked over, sat down at the edge of the sofa, and joked in a deliberately relaxed tone.

"You again, trying to pull a fast one on me? For a second there, the act you and Doudou put on was pretty convincing..."

Hearing this, Doudou, who was munching on a fried dough stick off to the side, let out a "Tch~" in his direction.

"Foolish Earthling~"

WHACK! A fist came down from on high, landing on Doudou’s head with a crisp thud. The latter winced and hissed in pain, not daring to interrupt again.

Doudou’s little interruption helped Huang Jiutian relax considerably.

With the "external factor" dealt with, Qin Xiaoxia looked at Huang Jiutian seriously and asked.

"Jiutian, do you believe in Supernatural Power? Yes, you heard me right. Exactly the kind you’re thinking of."

Before Huang Jiutian could even ask what he meant by "Supernatural Power," Qin Xiaoxia had already clarified.

"Of course not!"

Huang Jiutian gave his answer almost without thinking.

"And your reason is?"

"Reason?"

Huang Jiutian stared at Qin XiaXia as if he were an idiot.

"Does that even need a reason? How about you give *me* a reason to believe?"

In Qin Xiaoxia’s view, simply revealing his Magic Power at this moment, while providing direct proof, would be the inferior move.

His "backstory" needed Magic Power to serve as the final, decisive hammer blow.

Over the long years, the people of Dawn had developed a whole "theory of recruitment."

One of its core tenets was: "There is a world of difference between using evidence to persuade someone and persuading them first before revealing the evidence."

This was precisely the genius of the Dawn band of swindlers.

It was just like their countless successes throughout history.

If you present the so-called "evidence" from the very beginning, the interaction will inevitably start with an attempt to verify it.

For "evidence" that is already on shaky ground, this is a dangerous path to take.

But if you can use your silver tongue to sway them until they are moved or even convinced, *then* presenting the "evidence" will, in most cases, directly cement it as "fact."

Qin Xiaoxia believed that even in this day and age, it was an exceptionally brilliant tactic!

And since he possessed real Magic Power, he could skip many of the intermediate steps.

"Don’t be so absolute. In my opinion, this world is full of mysterious things. There’s even a wondrous power in language itself."

Huang Jiutian chuckled, waiting for Qin Xiaoxia to continue his spiel.

"Imagine this: you have the tip of a thumbtack stuck under your big toenail, and then you kick a wall as hard as you can..."

"HISS~"

Huang Jiutian subconsciously sucked in a breath.

Just imagining the scene made his toe begin to throb with pain.

"See? You felt something, right? I think the principle behind a Curse is pretty similar to this."

"That’s a huge stretch!"

Huang Jiutian protested.

"Hmm, okay. How about the explosion and fire in the Qingzhen river channel? Do you really believe that was from methane gas built up at the bottom of the river?"

At the mention of this, Huang Jiutian couldn’t help but recall what several patients in the hospital ward had said that day.

He also remembered the Winding Loach River being quarantined for two days afterward.

According to nearby residents, the riverbed had been burned so intensely that it had nearly crystallized—clearly not something a methane explosion could have caused.

"But you can’t just jump to the conclusion that it was caused by Supernatural Power! Maybe the government lied, but it could have been for military reasons or something else classified!"

Huang Jiutian’s rebuttal was quick.

"Hmm, good point. Then let’s talk about something closer to you. Do you think a world war will break out anytime soon? I mean the kind that would reach our homeland."

The question was so ridiculous that Huang Jiutian figured anyone with a normal IQ would know the answer.

"What kind of bullshit is that? A financial war, I could believe that a little. But a world war? Heh. Do you think the world’s major powers have gone insane?"

"Well said!"

Qin Xiaoxia clapped.

"My classmate Jiutian’s intelligence is right where it should be."

Huang Jiutian’s brow twitched at the remark, but Qin Xiaoxia’s next sentence left him completely stunned.

"Then, my dear intelligent Huang, would you mind telling me: do you have any rational explanation for what your company—and in fact all the major engineering and construction groups you know—have been so busy with lately? You’ve signed a non-disclosure agreement, haven’t you?"

This time, Huang Jiutian was speechless. In fact, this very question had been one of the most discussed topics in his design department lately.

"If you can’t answer, don’t sweat it. Let’s go back to earlier, when Doudou and I were observing the beer bottle on the coffee table."

"Weren’t you curious about that? Let me tell you, Doudou and I weren’t trying to mess with you. To put it bluntly, messing with you is less tempting than sleeping in."

Huang Jiutian was so busy being led around by Qin Xiaoxia’s rapidly shifting topics that he barely had time to think, but his brow twitched again at that remark.

"It contained neither a Demon God nor the Black Pearl, but a dangerous monster from another world. Believe it or not?"

"Hahahaha...."

Huang Jiutian burst out laughing.

"Now that’s even more ridiculous! You already opened the bottle... uh..."

As he spoke, despite his disbelief, Huang Jiutian subconsciously glanced around with suspicion. After all, Qin Xiaoxia’s smiling expression hadn’t changed from beginning to end, which was pretty unsettling in its own right.

He didn’t even realize that his own reactions were already undermining the position he had taken at the start.

"Fine, I admit it’s unbelievable from your perspective."

Seeing Huang Jiutian putting up a brave front, Qin Xiaoxia decided not to press the details. Instead, he asked a question that seemed completely unrelated to everything they had discussed so far.

"Jiutian, what kind of family do you think would brand a child’s hand with a mark like this?"

Qin Xiaoxia once again extended his right hand, opening his palm to reveal the brand on it.

The burning sun seemed to radiate light as it throbbed in the center of his palm.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP~~

Huang Jiutian didn’t know what was happening to him. His heart was pounding heavier and faster, and an incredible thought felt like it was about to burst forth from his mind.

’Was the Old Qin from his memory a psychopath or an abuser?’

Ab~so~lute~ly~ NOT!

PS: Thank you to reader Tian Taibai for the 1000-coin donation, reader Ye Xuchen for the 200-coin donation, and readers Qiu Mo Xiyang, Zhenshi Shenshu, and Prince Xiaohan o Miao for the 100-coin donations~

Also, thank you, everyone, for your votes and recommendations. I have to write up a change request for my day job, so the second Chapter will be out a bit late. Best to check for it tomorrow morning~