That is……
Luo Xiao slowed his steps, standing still before that mucous membrane, feeling that familiar and dear presence.
The little maggot on his shoulder tilted its head, signaling that this was the destination.
After a moment of thought, Luo Xiao extended his palm.
The mucous membrane was like the surface of a lake, gently swallowing his arm, as if sinking into a mirror made of foam.
His vision swept past a stretch of dark green, and a magnificent palace hall appeared before Luo Xiao’s eyes.
“My god……”
Looking at the grand hall that seemed to exist only in books, the famous <Rhapsody on the Epang Palace> couldn’t help but surface in Luo Xiao’s mind.
Surely even the palace that the First Emperor intended to build, as described in those poems, could not compare to the majesty and luxury of this place.
For a high school student who had not yet seen much of the world, the scene here was still too overwhelming.
Oh right, Miss Na Gou.
Luo Xiao snapped back to his senses and turned to survey the surroundings, hoping to see a familiar figure.
Before long, in an inconspicuous corner of the hall, dark green mucus seeped out from the ground, forming a puddle of slime.
Slowly, slowly, the surface of the slime bulged into winding, undulating peaks.
As the liquid receded, the still-unconscious Xia Lan lay quietly there, fair skin, serene expression, like Sleeping Beauty from a fairy tale.
“Miss Na Gou!”
Luo Xiao’s heart skipped a beat.
He hurried to Xia Lan’s side and saw her chest still rising and falling faintly.
Luo Xiao breathed a sigh of relief.
He gently lifted Xia Lan’s head from behind, as if handling fragile, exquisite glass, his expression full of worry:
“Miss Na Gou, wake up.”
Her appearance showed no wounds.
Was it because of the formidable recovery ability that came with being a magical girl?
Then why was Miss Na Gou still unconscious?
Was it overexertion, or perhaps……
Just as Luo Xiao was speculating inwardly, the little maggot on his shoulder swayed its body, trying its utmost to convey its thoughts to Luo Xiao.
“Hm? Little one, are you……”
Luo Xiao thought for a moment.
“Do you want me to go fight?”
The maggot shook its head.
“Then do you want me to go find something?”
It shook even harder, seeming to grow impatient.
“Oh, do you want me to carry Miss Na Gou out of here?”
At this, the little maggot nodded happily, like a cute little monkey seeing its companion finally get it.
Luo Xiao nodded.
Indeed, Miss Na Gou’s condition was clearly not good right now.
If something could leave her unconscious like this, was it the work of other magical girls?
The dangers here were too great.
If they encountered more powerful enemies, both he and Miss Na Gou would likely be done for.
Thinking this, Luo Xiao carefully moved to lift Xia Lan’s soft body onto his back.
Her pale, delicate skin pressed against his slightly rough skin, the soft, supple texture and warm body heat making Luo Xiao blush slightly.
This was Miss Na Gou’s body.
So soft, like a little cotton padded jacket.
He wondered what kind of person would one day win Miss Na Gou’s heart.
Just then, Luo Xiao’s gaze glanced at what lay atop the stairs.
At the top of thousands of steps, a faintly visible golden throne.
Countless punk-colored pipes were inserted into the throne’s base, like a person beyond cure, ancient and decaying.
In that instant, Luo Xiao’s body froze.
His eyes were deeply seared toward the direction of the throne.
From up there, it seemed as though some voice was softly calling to him by his ear, telling him to come, come——
Luo Xiao’s mind had no time to react before it was seized by this voice.
His brain now contained only one thing: walk toward that golden throne.
His original muscle coordination changed its direction of exertion.
He set down Xia Lan from his arms, slowly stood up, and like the most devout believer, began to stride up the stairs leading to the throne.
The little maggot immediately realized something was wrong.
It twisted its body, desperately trying to wake Luo Xiao, its small, milk-white form slapping against his cheek, but to no avail.
It was just a pitiful, powerless maggot.
What could it possibly do?
Pat.
Pat.
Step by step, Luo Xiao drew closer to the throne.
When he had spent an unknown amount of time and stood before the golden throne, the throne that had looked so tiny from afar was now like a massive giant.
Luo Xiao’s body was like that of a child who had not yet grown, his chin barely level with the throne’s seat.
The golden laurel wreath faced Luo Xiao’s gaze.
Hello.
It was as if someone was greeting Luo Xiao.
He reached out both hands, as if cradling the most precious gem in the world, and lifted the laurel wreath up.
The chaotic power that had previously backlashed against Natasha was now nowhere to be seen, as if there had never been any defensive measures at all.
The laurel wreath had simply been placed on the throne, quietly, as if waiting for something.
After lifting the laurel wreath, Luo Xiao’s eyes instantly regained clarity.
“What’s going on? Why am I here?”
He was dumbfounded.
He immediately surveyed his surroundings and realized he had somehow climbed the stairs without knowing why.
Looking down from beside the throne, he felt as though he were standing at a mountain peak, and his fear of heights almost kicked in.
Hadn’t he just been about to carry Miss Na Gou and run? Why……
Looking at the magnificent laurel wreath in his hands, Luo Xiao’s breathing grew heavy.
In that instant, whether it was Luo Xiao’s imagination or not, the golden throne—no, the entire hall—seemed to emit a faint, muffled rumble, like a giant hammer striking steel, accompanied by the roar of thunder.
A foreboding guess surged in Luo Xiao’s heart.
And the next moment, his guess came true.
RUMBLE!!!
Not just this magnificent hall, but the stone maze outside, the entire imperial palace, were all trembling violently!
Lime and debris scattered and rained down from the towering ceiling, striking his brow, reminding Luo Xiao of a horrifying message—this place was going to collapse!
“Oh no! Miss Na Gou!”
Luo Xiao’s heart leapt to his throat in an instant.
He became a blur as he ran down the stairs, so bedraggled it was as if a ferocious predator had stolen his food.
Stumbling and staggering, the seemingly endless staircase was crossed in mere seconds.
Slinging the unconscious Xia Lan onto his back in one motion, Luo Xiao ran out the hall’s entrance——
But it was already too late.
The stone corridor collapsed with a deafening crash.
Countless rocks fell in the instant Luo Xiao tried to escape, crushing against his body.
Realizing he couldn’t get out, almost by instinct, Luo Xiao placed Xia Lan from his back into his arms and held her tightly, using his own body to block the falling stones.
The falling rocks smashed Luo Xiao’s back to a bloody pulp.
The pain stimulated his nerves, but he endured the piercing agony, desperately channeling Na Gou’s power to repair his injuries.
But the speed of recovery was far slower than the rate of injury.
The collapse of the entire corridor completely buried the immobilized Luo Xiao.
Blood flowed from the cracks between the stones.
He could only use his body in the final moment to protect Xia Lan in his arms from harm.
This time, he was probably really going to die……
At least he could save Miss Na Gou.
That made it worth it.
It’s just too bad, Bai Jia.
It seems I can’t go back.
After this, you have to live well.
Among the piled stones, Luo Xiao’s consciousness gradually faded——
……
“Huh?”
Inside the orphanage, Bai Jia’s heart suddenly clenched.
The kettle in his hand fell to the ground.
“What’s wrong, Jiajia?” Grandma asked.
Looking at the shattered kettle on the ground, Bai Jia unconsciously looked out the window.
“Luo Xiao……”
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