A pale hand lifted slightly, and a green light flashed.
In an instant, the filth and blood from the recent battle surged toward Xia Lan’s body, her palm like a hole devouring it all.
The previously messy morgue quickly returned to its original state, leaving only a few squirming chunks of flesh repairing the broken gaps in the floor.
“Stop bickering. Clean up this place, and then let’s leave.”
Xia Lan looked around the morgue.
At this moment, the doubts in her heart only grew.
‘Too strange.’
If Annie’s actions weren’t aimed at Se Nie, then what was her real purpose…
‘Calm down, Xia Lan, think calmly.’
‘Without a doubt, Annie knew about the spies I planted around her.’
‘Was her kidnapping of Brother just a diversion to get my attention?’
‘Brother was just the unlucky one chosen—actually, anyone would have worked. The important thing was to lure me here…’
“Oh, by the way, can I change back now?”
Bai Jia looked down at his current appearance.
“I can’t stay like this forever, right? How am I going to explain this to Grandma? Though I do look pretty good.”
“Just think of your original form and it’ll be fine. For any other questions, like your specific abilities, you can ask your AI,” Xia Lan said.
“Anyway, Bai Jia, remember to lie back in the hospital bed. Luo Xiao, you’ll come home with me later. Grandma must be getting anxious by now.”
Hearing this, Bai Jia focused his mind.
The ornate outfit on his body dissolved into pink mist that merged into his skin, and his youthful figure re-emerged.
“Ah, much more comfortable like this. I didn’t realize earlier, but transforming into a magical girl actually shrunk me a bit. I knew my height couldn’t be only up to your chin, Luo Xiao.”
Bai Jia stretched.
Perhaps because he had awakened the power of Se Nie, his body seemed to be enveloped in a light pink halo, constantly emitting an unusual alluring fragrance.
His skin was delicate, and his curves soft.
If he were placed among a crowd now, most people would probably think he was a soft, fragrant little lady.
“…Bai Jia, I feel like you’ll get scolded by Grandma looking like this,” Luo Xiao said helplessly.
“Really? I feel fantastic!”
Bai Jia showed a confident smile.
“The power of Se Nie is amazing! I’m so hyped right now! Hahahaha…”
[Master, aren’t you embarrassed?]
“Embarrassed? Why would I be embarrassed?”
“…Never mind.”
Looking at his friend like this, Luo Xiao sighed inwardly.
‘I hope Bai Jia won’t regret this later.’
After finishing up at the scene, Xia Lan brought Bai Jia back to the hospital room.
Fortunately, no nurse had checked in and noticed anything unusual.
After telling Bai Jia to sleep well tonight and promising to bring him osmanthus cake tomorrow, Luo Xiao followed Xia Lan back to the orphanage.
The night streets were sparsely populated.
Restaurants along the road emitted rich aromas.
Dim yellow streetlights stood here and there like migratory birds.
The curtain of night was like a tranquil lake, shimmering with starlight, reflected in the eyes of the two.
A gentle breeze blew, and Xia Lan’s hair drifted in the wind like willow catkins, like dancing gossamer.
“Thank you for today, Miss Na Gou.”
Walking side by side, as if feeling a bit awkward, Luo Xiao began, “If it weren’t for you, I can’t imagine what would have happened to Bai Jia…”
“No, you shouldn’t apologize to me. I am partly responsible for Bai Jia being involved in this matter. I just didn’t expect him to be the magical girl Se Nie,” Xia Lan shook her head, a hint of apology in her smile.
“I didn’t expect it either. I grew up with him, and suddenly finding out my own buddy is a magical girl…”
Luo Xiao suddenly chuckled.
“No, just thinking about that punk Bai Jia being the Se Nie magical girl is hilarious. No wonder he’s so into lewd stuff.”
Luo Xiao paused, his gaze fixed on Xia Lan’s profile.
Her face was so beautiful, so serene, like the moon reflected on a deep forest lake, like the cicada cries in a night maple grove.
He recalled the moment during the battle when Miss Na Gou’s face had seemed like a rotting corpse, her whole body as if crawling out of hell.
‘Which side is the real her?’
“Miss Na Gou, have you been experiencing battles of that level all these years?”
“Not really. Most of the time it’s quite easy.”
The girl’s smile was as gentle as ever.
Moonlight fell upon her, casting a large swath of white floating light.
“I see…”
Luo Xiao paused.
“Um, Miss Na Gou,”
“What is it?”
“What kind of person is your true form?”
Luo Xiao tried to stay calm, but Xia Lan could see the curiosity and nervousness in his eyes.
“After all, you see, the magical girl Se Nie is Bai Jia, so I want to know what your original form is like too.”
“Hmm… my true form,” Xia Lan lowered her head as if thinking.
“It’s a very ordinary, boring person.”
“Boring?”
Luo Xiao was puzzled.
“Why would Miss Na Gou describe herself like that?”
“Because I’m really not good at talking,” Xia Lan waved her hand.
“Or do you want to hear that my true form is actually an ugly monster? I didn’t expect you to be this mean…”
“No, no,” Luo Xiao said quickly.
“Hmph, a girl’s true face is very important, you know. Don’t ask such rude questions next time.”
Xia Lan gently tugged Luo Xiao’s ear as if teasing a child.
“Got it…”
“Oh, by the way, Luo Xiao, I need to tell you something very important.”
Suddenly, Xia Lan’s expression turned serious.
“Huh? What?”
“About Bai Jia, or the magical girl Se Nie,” Xia Lan said.
“At first glance, the name Se Nie seems to relate only to lust, but it’s not just that. Se Nie—the emphasis is on Nie, not Se. Its ability is related to Desire.”
“An ability related to desire…”
Luo Xiao murmured.
“Therefore, I hope that as Bai Jia’s childhood friend, you will always pay attention to his mental state. If his condition goes wrong, it’s hard to say what he might do under the influence of Se Nie!”
Listening to Xia Lan’s explanation, Luo Xiao also realized the gravity of the situation.
“Like a heart demon in novels?”
“Not exactly, but you can think of it that way.”
“Okay, I’ll keep an eye on him. After all, he’s my good friend,” Luo Xiao nodded solemnly.
Accompanied by the evening breeze, the two walked through the dark alley and returned to the orphanage.
At that moment, Grandma was still sitting at the door waiting.
Seeing Xia Lan and Luo Xiao return, she naturally couldn’t help scolding them.
Well, actually, only Luo Xiao got scolded.
Grandma couldn’t bear to scold Xia Lan, a gentle-natured beauty.