“Alright, we’ve eaten grapes and soaked up the sun. Time to head back.”
Luo Xiaosu clapped her hands and stood up, pulling Aiweila to her feet from the grass.
Aiweila licked the corner of her mouth, still savoring the lingering sweetness.
“Mm, okay! What are we having for dinner tonight, Sister?”
She nodded obediently and let Luo Xiaosu take her hand.
The way back seemed longer than the trip there.
The scenery shifted from an open meadow to sparse forest, and the light gradually dimmed.
Luo Xiaosu’s steps slowed involuntarily.
She frowned.
A suffocating pressure was closing in from all around.
“Sister?”
Aiweila noticed her unease and tightened her grip on Luo Xiaosu’s hand, her voice tinged with worry.
“Shh, don’t be scared. Big Sister is here.”
Luo Xiaosu lowered her voice.
Her other hand had already reached inside her robes, fingertips brushing against the wand.
Her gaze swept the area warily.
The forest was eerily silent—even the chirping of insects had vanished.
Just then, a mocking voice rang out from ahead.
“Heh heh, having fun, ladies?”
Helip stepped out from behind a tree.
Behind him stood Lei Meng and five hundred Royal Dragon Eagle Knights.
Luo Xiaosu’s pupils contracted.
She was certain she didn’t know him, but it was obvious he wasn’t here on friendly terms.
“Who are you?”
She instinctively shielded Aiweila behind her, her voice icy.
“Royal Mage Helip. By order of His Majesty the King, I have come to exterminate the witches attacking the towns.”
He paused, sizing up Luo Xiaosu and Aiweila.
“I suppose the so-called witches are the two of you.”
Luo Xiaosu frowned, gripping the wand hidden in her robes tighter. She snorted coldly.
“I never attacked any town. They were the ones who provoked us.”
She tried to explain, hoping to avoid a fight—though the hope was slim.
Heh, I don’t care who started it.
Since His Majesty personally assigned the mission, I have no choice but to carry it out.
However…
“If you hand over that Protective Gem, I might consider making your death less painful.”
At the words “Protective Gem,” Luo Xiaosu froze.
She didn’t have anything called a Protective Gem.
“I don’t have any Protective Gem.”
“Hmph, still lying even with death at your door. Hand it over, or else!”
Lei Meng stepped forward, raising his sword and pointing it at Luo Xiaosu in threat.
“I said I don’t have it!”
Seeing that Luo Xiaosu showed no intention of surrendering the gem, Helip stopped talking and simply raised his wand.
The sapphire at its tip glowed.
“Winter’s Breath, heed my call—Ice Cone Spell!”
As he chanted, the moisture in the air instantly condensed into dozens of razor-sharp ice cones, hurtling toward Luo Xiaosu and Aiweila like a rain of arrows.
“Magic Barrier!”
Luo Xiaosu reacted quickly.
With a low cry, a translucent, milky-white barrier materialized before her.
Clink, clink, clink!
The ice cones shattered against the barrier, scattering into a blizzard of icy fragments.
Seeing her cast the Magic Barrier, Helip stared at her intently.
His breathing quickened, and a hint of greed flickered in his eyes.
“You do have the Protective Gem! Hand it over now!”
Hearing his words, Luo Xiaosu felt a surge of confusion.
What Protective Gem?
Is he talking about the Magic Barrier?
Before she could think further, the next wave of attacks came.
“Lei Meng, have the knights advance and surround her! Her magic power can’t last much longer!”
Helip kept launching offensive spells while shouting to Lei Meng behind him.
“As you command! Royal Dragon Eagle Knights, surround those witches!”
With Lei Meng’s order, the soldiers behind him split into two groups, flanking around to encircle Luo Xiaosu and Aiweila.
Luo Xiaosu’s heart sank.
Ice cones in front, soldiers blocking the rear.
She might win in a direct fight, but she felt something lurking in the shadows, watching them.
‘Damn it, where did he hear I have a Protective Gem…’
‘Wait. Since he wants the Protective Gem so badly, I’ll just give it to him.’
A brilliant idea flashed through Luo Xiaosu’s mind.
She let go of Aiweila’s hand and reached into her robes.
In an instant, a transparent bead coalesced in her palm.
“You want the Protective Gem, right? Order them to back off! Otherwise, I’ll smash it!”
Luo Xiaosu raised the bead high.
Under the sunlight, it refracted a rainbow of colors, shimmering brightly.
Helip’s movements came to an abrupt halt.
He immediately gestured for the soldiers who were about to charge to freeze in place.
“You wouldn’t dare!”
Panic flickered in his eyes.
He instinctively clenched his fist, afraid Luo Xiaosu would actually shatter the bead.
“I’ve stopped the soldiers. Give me the Protective Gem!”
Luo Xiaosu inwardly rejoiced, but her face remained resolute.
“First, have them all withdraw and let us leave. Then I’ll consider handing over the Protective Gem.”
“You…! Damn it!”
Helip gritted his teeth but ultimately decided to accept her terms.
“Lei Meng, order the soldiers to withdraw!”
“But, sir…”
Lei Meng frowned, looking troubled.
“What if this is a trick…”
“Even if it is a trick, it won’t amount to anything against absolute power!”
Helip turned to Lei Meng, his face brimming with confidence.
“Now, do as I say. Have the soldiers withdraw.”
“Yes…”
Lei Meng dared not argue further.
Though he was nominally the commander of this expedition, real authority lay with this Royal Mage, who possessed absolute power.
He waved his hand, signaling the soldiers to retreat.
Seeing the soldiers fall back behind Helip, Luo Xiaosu’s lips curled slightly.
‘Perfect!’
“Here! Take your Protective Gem!”
With all her strength, she hurled the bead straight at Helip’s forehead.
Helip’s eyes flooded with ecstasy and greed.
He instinctively reached out and caught the bead.
But as he examined it closely, he realized it was just an ordinary glass bead—no trace of magic power.
“Damn it! This is an ordinary bead!”
Helip slammed the bead to the ground.
It shattered into pieces.
The next moment, he looked up and caught sight of Luo Xiaosu pulling Aiweila by the hand and darting into the dense forest—along with a fleeting smirk on her face.
“You! Are! Dead!”
Helip’s roar shook the leaves from the surrounding trees.
His once composed face twisted with rage.
“After them! Now!”
Helip shot forward in pursuit, moving with a speed that defied his frail mage appearance.
Lei Meng and the soldiers snapped out of their stupor and chased after him.