The moment the call connected, a soft yet somewhat distant voice came through:
“President, is there something? I’m in the middle of cultivation and can’t focus.”
“Wu Wang Wo, do you have time to go to A City for a mission recently?”
Yin Xing’s tone softened a bit, trying to accommodate Wu Wang Wo’s nature.
“The mission isn’t particularly complicated. Mainly, assist Blood Butterfly in protecting A City’s safety and respond to possible witch attacks.”
“I’m about to break through to S-Rank, so I don’t plan to go out on missions for now. I don’t want to be distracted.”
Wu Wang Wo’s reply was crisp and decisive, without any hesitation.
The sense of distance in her tone became even stronger.
“With Lady Blood Butterfly in A City, that should be enough. There’s no need for my extra assistance.”
Yin Xing rubbed her aching head, a trace of helplessness flashing in her eyes.
She turned to glance at Guan Xing beside her, who was humming a tune with a leisurely expression.
The corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
She had no choice but to follow Guan Xing’s words and slowly spoke, her tone carrying some uncertainty:
“What if I said that Lark seems to be over there? Guan Xing observed that Lark’s aura appeared within the scope of A City.”
Inside a secluded martial arts dojo in A City, the crisp sounds of blades clashing came to an abrupt halt, as if the very air had frozen.
The dojo was simply furnished, with neat rows of weapon racks, several sharp longswords hanging on the walls, and faint blade marks covering the floor—traces left from years of cultivation.
The girl holding the longsword abruptly stopped her movement.
The blade halted midair, trembling slightly.
Her fingers gripping the hilt tightened, knuckles turning white, and the veins on the back of her hand bulged slightly.
Her originally calm eyes instantly rippled with layers of waves, as if a pebble had been thrown in, breaking all the stillness.
Even her breathing became rapid, her chest rising and falling.
“Lark?”
The girl’s voice trembled slightly, shedding its usual distance and calm, gaining a hint of barely noticeable urgency and disbelief.
She gripped the hilt tightly, her fingers quivering, her tone carrying a plea and urgency.
“President, can you guarantee that what you said is true? Is she really in A City? You’re not lying to me, right?”
Hearing the drastic change in her tone, a knowing smile flashed in Yin Xing’s eyes.
She glanced again at Guan Xing, who was still humming a tune without any proper posture, and said slowly, her tone calm and objective:
“This is Guan Xing’s original words. She observed Lark’s aura appearing in A City. Whether it’s true or not, and whether you believe it, is up to you. I’m just telling you this news. As for whether to go to A City, it’s your own decision.”
The other end of the communication fell into a long silence.
Only the girl’s slightly rapid breathing and the faint sound of the longsword trembling could be heard.
After a while, the silence was broken.
After a moment, Wu Wang Wo spoke again, her tone having returned to calm.
“Alright, I’ll take it. Thank you, President. Whether this news is true or not, I have to go to A City. Even if it’s just to take a look, I’m willing.”
Ending the call, Wu Wang Wo slowly closed her eyes and took a deep breath, trying to calm the surging emotions inside her.
Her chest rose and fell slightly, her fingertips still tightly gripping the hilt, and even her palms were covered in fine beads of sweat.
When she opened her eyes again, all emotions had been concealed, leaving only determination and a trace of barely noticeable anticipation.
She raised her hand, grasping the hilt of the longsword.
With a slight flick of her wrist, the blade cut a smooth and sharp arc through the air, accompanied by a whistling wind sound, and precisely slid back into its sheath with a crisp click.
The sound echoed in the silent dojo, lingering for a long time.
The girl was extremely cute, with curved eyebrows that seemed to hold a pool of spring water.
Her eyelashes were long and thick, like two small fans, casting a faint shadow under her eyelids when she looked down, making her appear exceptionally gentle.
Her skin was fair and delicate, with a faint pink blush.
Her nose was small and straight, her lips a light cherry pink.
When the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, two shallow dimples appeared.
Between her brows and eyes, there was a natural gentle and virtuous temperament.
She looked soft and easy to get along with, making people want to approach her.
But when she lifted her eyes, they revealed a tenacity different from ordinary people.
Her gaze was clear and firm, hiding an indestructible strength.
That blend of gentleness and fortitude created a unique charm.
She raised her hand and gently covered her chest, her fingertips trembling slightly.
A deeper blush crept across her cheeks, spreading to her ears.
Her voice was soft but full of devotion and joy, low as if talking to herself:
“You’re still alive. How wonderful, truly wonderful, Teacher… This time, I won’t let you disappear again.”
“Wu Wang Wo? You actually know that child?”
Hearing this familiar name, Ye Ning’s eyes widened slightly.
Her long eyelashes blinked gently, her face full of surprise.
She tilted her head slightly, her gaze drifting into the distance.
A gentle smile gradually lifted the corners of her mouth, and her tone softened as she said slowly:
“That child… I met her by chance due to some unexpected events back then. Her abilities were very special, and at that time, she had a severe self-destructive tendency.”
“But you understand, right? Those who can become magical girls are essentially good kids. It’s just that sometimes they are trapped by fate.”
“I often accompanied her afterward, slowly guiding her, and she gradually got better.”
“And, oh,”
As if remembering something happy, her eyes sparkled, and the pride in her voice grew stronger, her tone rising.
“She even took the initiative to recognize me as her teacher! I taught her all her blade techniques!”
But this pride didn’t last long.
The smile on the girl’s face gradually faded, the light in her eyes dimmed little by little.
Her mood suddenly fell, and her tone became aggrieved and sorrowful.
Even her shoulders drooped slightly:
“Speaking of which, my blade techniques were taught to me by my sister. But now, my sister is also…”
She sighed softly, her tone full of dejection and worry.
Her fingertips pressed slightly, bending the bamboo skewer.
“Wu Wang Wo, that child, her personality is already quite stubborn. Knowing about my death, she will probably be sad for a long time…”
Saying that, Ye Ning sadly picked up the sugar-coated hawthorn in her hand and took a big, sad bite.
She chewed quickly.
After finishing that skewer, she immediately reached out sadly to grab another from the plate beside her.
Slap!
A crisp sound rang out. Ye Ning’s little hand reaching for the sugar-coated hawthorn was gently slapped away by a warm hand.
The force wasn’t heavy, but it was enough to stop her movement.
“Tsk.”
Ye Ning’s hand paused.
The sadness on her face instantly froze, then collapsed.
Her feigned melancholy was completely ruined.
She abruptly turned her head and glared fiercely at Hua Niao beside her.
Hua Niao’s face showed a forced smile.
“You’ve already exceeded the limit by having an extra skewer today, Ningning. If you’re disobedient again and try to sneak another sugar-coated hawthorn, you’ll be punished.”
As she spoke, she lightly tapped Ye Ning’s forehead with her fingertip.
Ye Ning shrank her neck at the tap.
The grievance and dissatisfaction in her heart surged up.
She could only lift her head and blurt out a nonsensical threat to Hua Niao:
“One day, I will rule the world!”
Hua Niao nodded solemnly at this, unable to hide the smile in her eyes.
Her tone carried a hint of teasing and mockery:
“Mm-hmm… Finally, you look a bit like a proper villain. You have some of the aura of a witch.”
Encouraged by the praise, Ye Ning instantly perked up.
She threw her arms up and shouted, her tone full of longing and determination, her eyes sparkling brightly, completely forgetting her earlier dejection:
“And then! I’ll make everyone in the world eat only sugar-coated hawthorns! Every day they can eat sweet sugar-coated hawthorns, as much as they want, and no one can stop me!”
“Hey, are you a child?”