“My lord, are you really going to hunt down those two witches… I mean, witches?”
Kaixi looked at Di Leike in horror, his voice trembling.
The scene at the city gate lingered in his mind.
“Hunt them down? Hah, Kaixi, you make it sound so serious. I’m just going to clean out two reckless little mice, and… take back what belongs to me.”
Di Leike picked up the wine glass again and gently swirled it in his hand.
He watched the red wine slosh in the cup, the greed in his eyes completely undisguised.
He took a sip of the wine, his tone indifferent, as if discussing something very ordinary.
“Weren’t you saying you couldn’t even block the witch’s first fireball? Why didn’t she keep attacking, but turned and left instead?”
“This… Kaixi froze; he couldn’t understand that question either.”
“Let me tell you. Because she was already exhausted. That composed demeanor was just a bluff to scare you idiots away.”
Kaixi suddenly understood, but he still felt something was off, as if he had forgotten something.
“But my lord, since the witch has already left, why must we risk our lives to go deep into the forest to catch her? What if…”
“What if… Di Leike cut him off, his voice suddenly turning cold.”
“Kaixi, let me ask you. If you’re walking down the road and suddenly someone appears, stabs you, and runs away. Would you let him go and wait for him to heal up and come back to kill you?”
“This… I wouldn’t, my lord. Exactly. I’m doing this just to prevent the witch from taking revenge suddenly.”
“Moreover, why did those bandits actively provoke the witch? If they had people killed, they could just run away. Why go out of their way to lure you into attacking the witch?”
“Your meaning is… Because they’ve set their sights on something more valuable than life.”
Di Leike turned around, a gleam of excitement flashing in his eyes, like a hunter spotting prey.
“What can drive desperate outlaws to take risks, besides the identity of the witch, is the things in her hands. For example… countless gold and silver treasures.”
“Alright, go quickly and bring our ‘honored guest’ over.”
—
Another morning dawned, a ray of sunlight continued to stream through the window, scattering specks of light on the floor.
“Sister… don’t… Aiweila sat up in bed, her voice carrying a hint of a sob.”
She took deep, ragged breaths, her chest heaving violently.
The screams from the dream seemed to still echo in her ears—those soldiers with greatswords and shields shouting and charging, trying to capture her sister.
“Sister! Aiweila cried out in surprise, instinctively turning her head to look beside her.”
“Good thing. Luo Xiaosu was right there. She was sleeping with her arm as a pillow, a few strands of hair sticking to her cheek, trembling gently with her even breaths.”
Seeing that familiar figure, Aiweila’s anxious heart finally settled back into her stomach.
She sniffled, feeling the coolness on her face.
She raised her hand to touch it, and tears had unknowingly slid from her eyes, leaving two streaks on her cheeks.
Wiping away the tears, Aiweila lay down again, wrapped her arms around Luo Xiaosu’s waist, buried her face in her chest, and nuzzled gently.
Feeling the tickling sensation on her chest, Luo Xiaosu let out a soft sigh in her sleep, then stretched, and blearily rubbed her sleepy eyes, her voice thick with a nasal tone.
“Mmm… is it morning already? Sister… The motion of rubbing her eyes paused, and Luo Xiaosu’s drowsy consciousness cleared by half at the sound of that childish, aggrieved voice.”
She looked down and saw Aiweila in her arms, now staring at her with big eyes, looking pitifully, with traces of tears still not wiped away at the corners of her eyes.
“What’s wrong? She reached out and gently stroked Aiweila’s head, her tone full of tenderness and concern.”
“Mm… I dreamed that sister… was captured by bad people…”
Aiweila propped herself up, her small hands tightly gripping one of Luo Xiaosu’s arms.
“Had a nightmare? Don’t be scared. I’m fine, aren’t I? Luo Xiaosu reached out and smoothed her sweat-dampened hair, pushing the messy strands away from her forehead.”
“Silly. She chuckled lightly, her tone carrying a hint of ease and playfulness.”
“Sister told you, sister is really strong, so there’s no need to worry about me.”
She softly “mm”ed, and Aiweila slowly leaned into Luo Xiaosu’s arms.
Suddenly, an untimely sound broke the tranquility.
Growl— Aiweila’s small face instantly flushed red.
She shyly covered her stomach and burrowed deeper into Luo Xiaosu’s arms, as if that would hide her from sight.
“Pfft… Are you hungry? Let sister make some food for you.”
Luo Xiaosu couldn’t help but laugh.
She released her arms around her, stood up, and stretched lazily.
“Aiweila, go back to sleep for a while. Once I’ve made breakfast, I’ll call you to get up.”
Reluctantly watching Luo Xiaosu leave the room, Aiweila lay back down, wrapped herself in the blanket, and sniffing the lingering scent of Luo Xiaosu on the bed, slowly drifted into a dream.
After washing up, Luo Xiaosu went to the kitchen.
She opened the cupboard and frowned at the meager stock inside.
“I really need to go to town again, huh? But… Recalling everything that happened yesterday, Luo Xiaosu decided not to bring Aiweila this time.”
She skillfully handled the ingredients, built a fire, and roasted the food in the pot.
As the temperature rose, a fragrance mixed with the sweet and sour scent of wild fruits spread through the air.
While waiting for the food to cook, Luo Xiaosu leaned against the stove, her mind constantly thinking.
‘How could she help Aiweila gain control of her own magic power?’
‘Or, directly build a tall tower like in the original story, letting Aiweila live inside forever to prevent her from interacting with others?’
After thinking for a long time and still not finding a solution, Luo Xiaosu’s attention returned to the food in the pot.
“Oh no! It’s burned! It’s burned! She quickly extinguished the fire and looked pained at the blackened lump in the pot that could barely be recognized as a steak.”
She sighed, put the remaining steak on a plate, cut a small piece, and put it in her mouth to taste.
“Ptooey! What entered her mouth was the completely charred part. When she bit down, it made a ‘crack’ sound, like chewing on a chunk of charcoal. An intense bitter taste instantly spread through her mouth, completely masking the steak’s umami.”
After just one taste, Luo Xiaosu immediately spat everything out of her mouth.
Looking at the only remaining steak, Luo Xiaosu hesitated.
‘Throw it away? But all that’s left at home are some wild fruits and bread, and Aiweila is still growing…’
She gritted her teeth, picked up a knife, and slowly cut off the burnt parts bit by bit.
“Uh… this should… be okay now. She consoled herself, plated the breakfast, and set it on the table. Then she turned and went back to the room to call Aiweila to get up.”
—
“Sister, why does today’s breakfast feel weird?”
“Don’t talk, just keep eating.”
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