Due to the restricted flow of traffic, the dense trees and unobstructed sunlight made the plants here appear vibrant and gleaming.
The benches by the roadside were spotless, with barely a speck of dust. Many people enjoyed sitting there, chatting and relaxing in the shade, while some claimed a seat with a beer in hand.
"Are these people alright?"
Zhao Lun inquired.
"Most of those resting here are locals, with a small number coming from elsewhere," Nicole replied.
"Some of them are also our people. They will keep an eye on these individuals," she added.
Nicole's training had not only continued but intensified. Her skills had expanded, enabling her to assist in many areas. She was also well-versed in the estate's security measures.
When Zhao Lun first met Nicole, his impression of her was that of a beautiful girl with an enviable appearance and long, slender legs—somewhat naïve, overall.
After some time working here, Nicole had rapidly transformed into a more capable and efficient individual.
She remained the same beautiful girl, yet after a few years, she seemed even younger.
More importantly, they had all evolved from beginners into professional elites, and from there, into career women with powerful presences that could make many men hesitate in their tracks.
Her beauty had only sharpened with her training, and her physique now matched classical standards of aesthetics.
Donning tight combat gear, armed with blades and firearms, her movements were light and silent, her elegance reminiscent of a warrior from a movie. Her demeanor exuded strength and grace, and her self-confidence radiated a stronger aura.
Each of the three women had distinct personalities, temperaments, and auras, which set them apart from one another.
Among them, Nicole was the most commanding. When seated still, her presence had a queenly quality.
"These are our people."
A projection displayed several figures, one of whom Zhao Lun recognized—the young man holding a beer.
"Good."
Zhao Lun was satisfied; he appreciated the thorough arrangements at his doorstep.
The road leading to his home could be considered the gateway, followed by magical defenses set up by the professors. As a result, very few outsiders ever entered.
This double-layered protection offered them added security.
Home was a sanctuary for the soul; a peaceful home brought peace of mind, and warmth among family members. Such a home could truly be called home, cherished by all who lived there.
Clearly, Zhao Lun was not the only one with this mindset—his household shared the same sentiments, and they were all in agreement with his arrangements.
No trouble occurred on the road, and the vehicle safely reached home, where Zhao Lun once again found himself in his sanctuary.
"Ah! The familiar scent of home, the most comforting air."
Zhao Lun stepped out of the car and inhaled deeply, his face alight with contentment.
Years had passed since his arrival in this world, and now, this place truly felt like home. He could not ignore the passage of time, and each return, he carefully observed the changes in his home.
"Woof! Woof!"
The familiar barking of the dogs made him feel even more at home. Every time he came back, they were always waiting by the door.
A few tall dogs ran toward him without a hint of aggression, wagging their tails excitedly and nuzzling him with their heads, tongues lightly licking him, evoking a strong sense of familiarity.
"You've grown taller! And smarter—no more foolishly trying to wash faces with that big tongue."
Zhao Lun patted their smooth fur, praising them.
"Woof... woof..."
Their tails wagged even faster, their heads nuzzling into his embrace.
Angela, Monica, and Hodal had also arrived, and they embraced him warmly.
"Long time no see."
The joy of reuniting after a long separation filled the air.
The ladies held Monica, while Hodal accompanied Zhao Lun as they walked towards the living room, catching up along the way.
"Let's go, Mulan has prepared the meal."
"It's been so long since I've had Mulan's cooking; I can already taste it."
It was already afternoon, and with no lunch yet, they were all hungry. As soon as the suggestion was made, no one hesitated—they proceeded to the dining room.
Mulan, a master chef now well-acquainted with them, sat at the table to dine with everyone.
She ate slowly, mostly watching others enjoy their meal. Seeing their satisfaction, her usually cold face softened into a smile.
After the delayed lunch, Zhao Lun did not rest but instead walked along the familiar estate path, inspecting the changes in the grounds.
Last time, a vampire-like creature had breached the estate's defenses, and after learning from that experience, new, specialized defenses had been put in place to counter such formidable beings.
Should vampires attempt to breach the estate in the same manner, they would be met with overwhelming firepower that would reduce them to a sieve.
The estate's temperature was much lower than the outside, warm like spring, with vibrant plants exuding a strong vitality.
The plants around had returned to normal, with the rare species relocated. Even without the temperature-regulating plants, the temperature remained unchanged.
The feng shui modifications had now truly shown their effect. Not only did they maintain the temperature, but they also regulated the air quality, making life in this environment incomparable in terms of quality.
Leaving the estate, they went to the seaside. Since the fishman attack, Zhao Lun had developed a habit of visiting here whenever he was home, checking the area whenever he had a spare moment.
He had a strong sense that the fishmen's appearance here was no accident, and they might appear again in the vicinity—he just wasn't sure when.
The sky was shrouded in mist, the air thick with energetic forces that Zhao Lun recognized. This energy, spilling from an unknown dimension, was subtly transforming the environment.
This influx of energy confirmed to Zhao Lun that the fishmen would appear here, especially in this season, where the likelihood seemed higher. However, it seemed they would not return for another two or three years.
From the high vantage point, looking back at the estate, Zhao Lun saw an energy shield surrounding it. This shield absorbed the surplus energy and quietly altered the surroundings.
Zhao Lun no longer found this phenomenon shocking. Instead, he calmly observed the constant flow of energy, carefully sensing the changes it brought.
Thanks to the shield's regulation, the plants had grown even better.
"No wonder you all enjoy staying at home."
Nicole and the others typically spent their time in the estate, rarely staying away for long. Even when they traveled, they returned as soon as possible.
"The flowers you've planted are beautiful too."
The flowers planted last year had been replaced with tulips and hyacinths, and a few windmills could be seen near the beach.
Windmills, green meadows, hyacinths, and tulips—everything looked reminiscent of a scene from a windmill country.
It was easy to guess this was Maria's creation, as she had recently taken up gardening to beautify the estate.
The landscape was picturesque, and any girl who saw it for the first time would be enchanted by its beauty. Even Penelope, seeing it for the first time, was captivated.
"It's so beautiful."
Penelope, recovering from her earlier mood, ran towards the windmill, eager to experience the scene up close.
Not far from the windmill, the scenery shifted drastically. The area now seemed like a desolate, barren wasteland compared to the beautiful view nearby.
Entering the area, they were immediately greeted by a foul, damp air that made them gag. The others, following him, covered their noses, though the stench was impossible to block out.
"How did it come to this?"
Zhao Lun, performing a quick sleight of hand, produced white masks for everyone and then inquired with Monica.
Upon observing the terrain, Zhao Lun communicated with his neural interface and quickly recognized the location. If he was not mistaken, this was the small hill where he and Maria once went to pick wild fruit—now completely changed.
The transformation was so drastic that without recognizing the basic landmarks, he would not have believed this was the same wild fruit grove.
In past years, the vegetation had been lush, and the fruit trees should have borne some slender fruit. Some shady areas might have had scorpions.
Now, everything had changed. The small hill was gone, the trees withered and decayed, as if time had ravaged them.
The ground was littered with broken stones that resembled black soil. Stepping on them felt like sinking into soft mud.
The small insects that once scurried about were nowhere to be seen.
Decayed, lifeless, and desolate—life had vanished.
Seeing such a dreadful environment filled Zhao Lun with an inexplicable sorrow. Had the hill that once brought him joy been destroyed? As he continued forward, a dense iron fence blocked his path.
The fence surrounded the area, with steel wires between the bars, leaving no gaps. It was also reinforced with electrified wires, ensuring that anyone or anything that touched it would be shocked by high voltage.
"What is this?" Zhao Lun asked in confusion.
Maria had said that inside there was a black hole only visible to witches.
"It's dangerous inside. The fence is to contain the creatures and prevent anyone from accidentally entering," Monica explained.
At this point, Monica's tone turned unusually serious.
There were always some things witches dealt with that left them helpless. This was one of those situations.
Faced with this, all they could do was take this measure.