A few days later, the atmosphere on the town’s city wall was suffocatingly tense.
Di Leike stood atop the high wall, resting her hand on the cold stone bricks as she looked down at the massive royal soldier formation outside the gate.
Five hundred soldiers clad in silver armor stood in perfect formation under the scorching sun, spears in hand, their presence imposing.
Yet the massive city gate remained tightly shut, blocking the formation from entry with no sign of opening to let them in.
“City Lord Di Leike!”
From below, the commanding officer, Lei Meng, looked up at Di Leike’s smug face on the wall and pounded his fist in anger.
“We have traveled a great distance on His Majesty’s orders to assist you in vanquishing the evil witch. Why are you keeping the gates closed? Are you harboring ill intentions and plotting rebellion?”
Di Leike’s smile didn’t waver.
She leaned half her body out and called down loudly:
“Oh, if it isn’t Lord Lei Meng personally leading the troops! A misunderstanding, a complete misunderstanding! It’s not that I’m unwilling to open the gates, but my humble little town simply can’t accommodate so many soldiers.”
She paused and pointed behind her at the town.
“Lord Lei Meng, you must know that our remote town has a very small population. If these five hundred soldiers come in, not only would lodging and rest be a problem, but if they happen to clash with the townsfolk and His Majesty lays the blame on me, this lowly city lord wouldn’t be able to bear that responsibility!”
“Absurd!”
Lei Meng cursed and pointed at the gate.
“We are the Royal Dragon-Eagle Knights, an elite force under the crown, disciplined strictly. How could we possibly clash with the townsfolk? Just open the gate and let us enter to rest. Tomorrow morning, we’ll set out to vanquish the witch.”
Di Leike sighed and spread her hands, putting on a pained expression.
“Lord Lei Meng says it so lightly!”
These five hundred people entering the city—how do we handle their food, drink, and waste?
Our town is in a remote border region, having to fend off enemy nations and guard against bandit raids.
With all that, our grain stores are already limited.
How can we afford to feed five hundred mouths?
“Besides, that witch is full of tricks. If she sneaks in with the soldiers while they’re entering, this little town would turn into a living hell. For your safety, my lord, it’s better to keep the gate closed.”
“You!”
Lei Meng’s face flushed red with rage, veins bulging on his forehead, his hand already on the sword at his hip.
Just as he was about to lose his temper, a lazy yet icy voice came from behind, cutting him off.
“Enough.”
He Lipu, the royal mage in a white robe, slowly stepped out from the ranks.
He held a staff with a sapphire embedded in it, his eyes indifferent as he looked up at Di Leike on the wall.
“City Lord Di Leike.”
He Lipu’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried an undeniable pressure.
“Since you have concerns, let Lei Meng and I go in alone. These five hundred soldiers will remain outside the city. How about that?”
“Lord He Lipu?”
Lei Meng was taken aback.
He Lipu turned around and snorted lightly.
“Since he doesn’t want our soldiers inside, then they won’t enter. After all, our target is only that witch.”
“Issue the order: all troops, rest on the spot. Lei Meng and I will go inside, learn the details from Di Leike, discuss the plan, and then decide what to do.”
In his view, Di Leike was nothing but a cowardly petty official, terrified out of her wits by two fledgling witches, so much so that she didn’t even dare open the gate.
As for those two so-called “witches,” even if they had some tricks, before a true royal archmage, they were nothing more than slightly tougher ants—crushed with a flick of a finger.
“Yes.”
Lei Meng bowed in acknowledgment, then turned and commanded the soldiers.
“All Royal Dragon-Eagle Knights, rest on the spot!”
The city gate opened, and he and He Lipu entered one after the other.
—
Meanwhile, Luo Xiaosu was leisurely having a picnic on the grass, completely unaware of the looming danger.
She lay lazily on a spread-out checkered picnic blanket, sunlight streaming through the thick leaves and casting dappled light on her.
“So comfy, meow…”
She squinted, stretched her limbs comfortably, and let out a satisfied sound.
Then she propped herself up, reached into the basket beside her, and took out a bunch of grapes.
She peeled a glistening fruit and was about to eat it.
“Sister, ah—”
A soft, sugary voice suddenly sounded in her ear.
Aiweila had somehow come close, kneeling beside Luo Xiaosu with her hands on the blanket, her big, clear eyes fixed on Luo Xiaosu, her mouth wide open like a kitten waiting to be fed.
“You little glutton, if you want some, peel it yourself.”
Luo Xiaosu smiled helplessly.
Even as she complained, her hands kept moving, bringing the peeled grape to Aiweila’s lips.
“Nom!“
Aiweila swallowed the grape in one bite but didn’t let go immediately.
Her lips tightly wrapped around Luo Xiaosu’s fingertip, the warmth of her mouth delivering a soft, moist sensation.
Then a delicate, slick little tongue lightly licked the pad of the finger, with a hint of teasing, licking off the lingering juice.
“Hey!”
Luo Xiaosu’s cheeks instantly flushed crimson.
She yanked her hand back as if shocked, looking at her wet fingertip in a fluster.
Half annoyed and half embarrassed, she gave Aiweila’s little head a gentle tap.
“Really, Aiweila! How can you lick your sister’s finger, meow?”
Her voice trembled, carrying a hint of a coquettish tone she hadn’t even noticed.
“Mmph…“
Aiweila swallowed the grape and licked her lips, still savoring the taste.
She hugged her head and stared at Luo Xiaosu with an innocent look, but a glint of mischief flickered in her eyes.
“Because there was grape juice on sister’s finger. Can’t waste it, right?”
As she spoke, she leaned in again.
“Anyway, no licking fingers, or I won’t feed you next time.”
Luo Xiaosu felt her heart beating abnormally fast.
She tried to put on a stern face to maintain her big-sister authority.
“I know, I know…”
Aiweila drew out her voice, rubbing gently against Luo Xiaosu’s arm like a spoiled child.
Then the next second, she looked up again, her big watery eyes once more fixed on Luo Xiaosu, full of anticipation.
“Sister, I want some more.”
Seeing Aiweila’s eager expression, Luo Xiaosu felt like facepalming.
‘Help…’
‘Where did my pure, adorable Aiweila, who used to stick to me like glue, go?’
‘How did she suddenly become such a sneaky little demon who loves to tease her sister?’
And the worst part was…
Luo Xiaosu looked at Aiweila’s obedient, expectant face, and her hand uncontrollably reached for the grape bunch again.
‘Damn it, I actually fall for this!’