Looking at the lifelike image in the photo, Sodlan felt countless complex emotions well up inside.
“I’m sorry. I wasn’t able to wait for your return in the Human Race.”
Time quickly reached 5:00 AM the next day.
Zhu Qiu dragged herself out of bed, her head hanging low.
Anyone with eyes could tell she had barely slept that night.
However, none of that mattered; what mattered was the upcoming magic circle.
Last night, halfway through her study, she suddenly realized she hadn’t determined where the house would be moved.
She had no choice but to call Zhu Xiaxia in the middle of the night.
“Mother, I want to discuss something with you…”
The response from the other end of the line was brief and intermittent.
“Alright, sorry to bother you. Go back to sleep.”
Zhu Xiaxia’s rejection was completely within Zhu Qiu’s expectations.
After all, having a member of the Human Race live in the Dragon Territory would not only affect the dignity of the Dragon Race, but there was also no guarantee for their safety.
“Don’t hang up. I meant there’s no need to discuss it.”
“Exactly. No need to discuss it means you don’t agree.”
“Am I really that kind of person in my daughter’s heart?”
“Uh… Zhu Xiaxia, can you speak clearly?”
Zhu Qiu said, feeling a bit speechless.
“Oh, you shouldn’t think that way. As your mother, I naturally support you unconditionally. There’s nothing to discuss because I don’t need convincing; Mother is willing to help you.”
‘Unconditional support? Willing to help me?’
She felt like she had heard those words somewhere before.
Moreover, when she had heard them back then, they had been spoken in a tender, loli-like voice.
Despite Zhu Xiaxia’s agreement, Zhu Qiu remained a bit suspicious.
Shouldn’t she have rambled on with a bunch of useless chatter before finally presenting her conditions?
To think she agreed so readily this time… Zhu Qiu felt like she might be summoned to the Dragon Race Imperial Palace for a scolding.
But at this point, she couldn’t worry about that anymore.
Zhu Qiu pulled herself together and stated her request to Zhu Xiaxia.
The gist of it was that she hoped to obtain a piece of land in the Dragon Territory to settle down and live.
Zhu Xiaxia agreed.
“However, I want to ask, what do you need this land for?”
“I see. I should have guessed… but do you know how to move it?”
“I suppose. I’ll just use the Magic from the book. I’ll wing it; what else can I do?”
“Do you know the specific method?”
“I guess this is it.”
Zhu Qiu’s answer was very vague.
In truth, she was unsure.
This was her first time attempting to teleport something so large.
If she failed, she would just try again; after a few attempts, she was bound to succeed.
“Let Mother teach you. Do you see the **[Large-scale Teleportation Magic Circle]** in the last section of the Space-type chapter? Before the sun rises, quickly set it up according to the pattern. Leave the rest to me.”
Zhu Xiaxia rolled over in bed, tightly hugging the Zhu Huohuo doll she had made.
Like a child, she acted spoiled while nestled in the doll’s embrace.
“It’s still early. Mother is going back to sleep. I’ll allow you to have a crush on me. Goodnight, have a good night.”
“Oh, I’m going to faint from my daughter’s cuteness.”
She ended the call before Zhu Qiu could respond.
“Thank you…”
Well, Zhu Xiaxia was acting crazy as usual, but she still had to thank her for being willing to help.
Because the magic circle’s range was massive — large enough to include the road near her house — Zhu Qiu wandered around the home, trying to find something long and sharp enough to draw lines on the pavement.
However, after searching for a long time, she found nothing.
Her father was sleeping, and she felt bad about disturbing him.
Left with no other choice, she had to use that move.
“HOLY SWORD! I SUMMON YOU!”
She stepped out of the house.
The street was empty, allowing her to set up the magic circle in peace.
During her previous studies, Zhu Qiu had already mastered the Space-type chapter and had memorized the magic circle’s design beforehand to ensure no mistakes.
First, she infused Magic Power into her drawing tool — the Holy Sword — and then drew the lines according to the pattern, letting the Magic Power flow into the ground along with the sword’s movements.
After working for quite a while, the magic circle was finally complete.
“That should do it.”
She wiped away non-existent beads of sweat from her forehead and stood on the road in front of her door to admire her masterpiece.
If her father knew the house could be saved, he would be incredibly surprised.
“Except… Zhu Qiu looked at the Holy Sword in her hand. She wondered how the Sword Spirit felt just now. Surely she wouldn’t blame her?”
With the task finished, she went back inside to catch some more sleep.
Once in her room, Zhu Qiu lay back down and casually placed the Holy Sword on the nightstand.
Just as she was about to close her eyes, the Sword Spirit quietly appeared and crawled under the covers.
“Sword Spirit, stop it. I want to sleep a bit more.”
“Hmph… I — I want a hug.”
“Stop joking around, Sword Spirit. I know you’ve always been serious.”
“Ugh… I want a hug!”
“Go to sleep, go to sleep.”
Seeing Zhu Qiu reject her twice in a row, the Sword Spirit pouted and began to throw a tantrum.
“Mama doesn’t like me anymore! Waaaah — !”
Zhu Qiu froze.
‘Does the Sword Spirit have a mother too?’
“Don’t cry, don’t cry. I’ll always be with you.”
“Waaaah… then can Mama say she likes me?”
The Sword Spirit was already shedding tears like small pearls.
She climbed on top of Zhu Qiu, lying against her unremarkable chest.
Zhu Qiu grew even more confused.
Was the Sword Spirit asking her that?
“Sword Spirit, what’s wrong with you today? Do you miss your mother?”
Zhu Qiu asked tentatively.
“I miss Mama. I miss Mama every day. So, can Mama say she likes me?”
Zhu Qiu seemed to understand.
The Sword Spirit was treating her like her mother.
“Sword Spirit, I’m not your mother. But we are brothers-in-arms who have faced life and death together. Brothers don’t use the word ‘like’ to express themselves.”
She gently patted the Sword Spirit’s small head.
“I don’t care! Mama is Mama! Hurry up and say you like me! Say you like me! Waaaah — !”
“This…” Zhu Qiu fell silent.
‘Has the Sword Spirit been possessed? Why has she become like this?’
“I’m your brother, really. I’m not your mother.”
“Waaaah! Mama doesn’t want me anymore! Waaaah!”
“Huh?”
The Sword Spirit began to wail loudly, becoming a completely different person from before.
“Don’t cry, Sword Spirit. Wake up and clear your head. I’m really your brother.”
“Waaaah!” The Sword Spirit continued to cry.
“You can’t keep crying like this!”
Since her father was in the next room, it would be troublesome if he were woken up now.