Chapter 168

"Well done... What did I just do?"

Looking at the girl's somewhat excited figure, Shen Gonglin was a little confused. Girls' feelings are hard to fathom, and Kiana's feelings were even more complicated. She couldn't understand it at all.

Chapter Nine: Why is she everywhere?

"Is it okay now?"

"Wait a minute, almost done... It's almost done now, don't worry, I'll help you..."

"No, no, I don't need anyone's help with eating... It's so hot! It's burning me! Kiana, are you trying to kill me?!"

"Who told you to take such a big bite! I'm not going to take it from you. Come here, let me blow on it for you... Is that better now?"

"... It still hurts a little... but this bunny is so cute and tastes so good."

Under the cover of night, a campfire became the only light. Shen Gonglin and Kiana sat in front of the campfire, enjoying the food Kiana had brought back. The rabbit that had been quite cute before had now become a delicious meal. Shen Gonglin, who had played with it for quite a while, took a big bite with tears in his eyes. It was really delicious. He never expected Kiana to have such skills. She was quite amazing.

"Is it delicious? Now you understand why I made you collect so many seasonings. If you like it, eat more. We still have a long way to go tomorrow."

Kiana tore off a piece of rabbit meat and fed it to Shen Gonglin. Seeing him eat happily made Kiana happy too. The fragrant roasted rabbit meat was even more delicious with the barbecue seasoning sprinkled on it. Seeing that her skills hadn't deteriorated, Kiana that she had often solved her own food problems when she was wandering alone before, so raising Shen Gonglin was no problem for her at all. Anyway, this guy didn't eat much, and as long as she fed him more good food, he was easy to take care of.

"Mmm, Kiana, you're amazing... Damn it, why is it so hot? Kiana, blow on it for me!"

It's rare to have such an experience. Shen Gonglin finally got to enjoy the treatment of a male protagonist. How can you go outdoors without having a barbecue? Unfortunately, he was definitely not capable of doing it on his own. Luckily, Kiana was there, so she was able to fulfill a small wish of hers. Shen Gonglin was completely satisfied today.

"Why are you eating so fast? Here, let me help you... You don't seem to have any bad intentions, do you? Are you sure you're not flirting with me?"

The more she thought about it, the more something seemed off. Kiana's blue eyes shone brightly in the firelight. The girl looked at Shen Gonglin suspiciously, a feeling that he was making inappropriate advances, but she had no proof. Surely he wasn't? It was hard to say, after all, he was a lecherous brat with many girls liking him, and now the two of them were alone...

Kiana felt a sense of danger washing over her, and began to feel excited... no, she started to feel scared.

"Why would I tease you if I have nothing better to do? Never mind, I'll do it myself. Kiana, I want to eat this again tomorrow, so make it for me then."

Concentrating intently on the rabbit meat in his hands, the cuter the food, the tastier it is, so things like Bronya's and the headmistress's must be incredibly delicious. He wondered what they were doing now; they should be asleep by now, since it was so late. Because Kiana didn't want to reveal her whereabouts, Shen Gonglin could only act with her like this. They must be very worried about him and Kiana right now. It was really wrong of him to make those who cared about him worry.

"If I can catch it tomorrow, I'll let you eat it... You were just saying you didn't want me to roast the rabbit, that you wanted to raise it, how come you've changed your mind now?"

Kiana sucked her fingers and glared at Shen Gonglin with annoyance. What a fickle man... no, a boy. When she brought the rabbit back to prepare firewood, he treated it like a brother, and even gave it a name. But now he's turned into this. Tsk tsk, it's really astonishing.

"Who knew A Zhi would smell so good when he roasted it? It's all your fault for making it so delicious. I'm saving this hind leg for breakfast tomorrow... Hey! Kiana, give A Zhi's hind leg back to me!"

Shen Gonglin had a small appetite; he was full after eating only half a rabbit. He originally planned to save the rest for breakfast the next day, but Kiana snatched it away and devoured it in a flash. Shen Gonglin tried to take it back, but Kiana, taking advantage of her height and long legs, used her legs to block Shen Gonglin from getting close. He was full, but she wasn't. Because of her training regimen, Kiana had a very good appetite, and this little bit wasn't enough for her. Since he couldn't eat anymore, she would help him finish it.

"What kind of name is A Zhi? This barbecue tastes best when eaten right away. If you leave it until tomorrow, it won't be as good. I'm sure you, Shen Gonglin, wouldn't want A Zhi to become unappetizing, so I've taken care of it for you. If you want to eat it, I'll catch some more for you tomorrow. Now go wash your hands and get ready for bed. We have to travel tomorrow."

Kiana finished A Zhi's hind leg in no time. It has to be said that Shen Gonglin's naming skills are really terrible. After eating A Zhi's hind leg... Kiana felt like she had eaten a person. Having solved her hunger problem, Kiana clapped her hands and prepared to sleep. Sleeping after eating is truly one of life's great pleasures.

After all, there's no TV or game console here, Kiana really doesn't know what else to do besides sleep.

"Well, you promised, so you have to catch it for me when I want to eat it tomorrow... Here, this is your sleeping bag. Sleeping outdoors... I miss Mei's little bed so much."

Shen Gonglin opened her backpack, took out her sleeping bag, crawled inside, and stretched. She had also brought two sleeping bags with her when she was gathering supplies. This guy may not be good at everything else, but he can't be careless even in the wild.

"I also want to... Wait a minute, why would you miss Mei's little bed? It's like you slept in Mei's bed... You didn't actually sleep in her bed, did you? Shen Gonglin, explain yourself! When did this happen? Why don't I know anything about it!"

Why did this guy bring two sleeping bags? Doesn't he know that the more luggage he has, the heavier the burden? The two of them could just share one sleeping bag. What a spoiled idiot. With their relationship, what's wrong with sharing one sleeping bag? Seeing Shen Gonglin crawl into her sleeping bag, Kiana pouted and also lay down in her own sleeping bag. It would be so nice to have the sky as a blanket and the ground as a bed. But what was this guy saying just now?

Why would he miss Mei's little bed? Could it be that he slept in Mei's bed? Did he not realize when he had been cheated on? No, he, Shen Gonglin, had to get this straight!

That's right, we have to make him explain himself!

The Herrscher was also inwardly clamoring, while Kiana was speechless, wondering why she was everywhere.

Chapter Ten: Kiana's Countermeasures

As night fell, the campfire had unknowingly gone out, leaving only the faint sound of its embers burning. The surroundings were now completely dark. Shen Gonglin was fast asleep, oblivious to everything, but the girl on the other side slowly clenched her fists. Two voices intertwined in her mind: one of the Second Herrscher, and the other of someone she didn't want to see or deal with for the time being. Her head ached, and her body... felt so painful.

Slowly curling up, Kiana woke up in a cold sweat. The Herrscher was constantly seizing every opportunity to regain control of her body, and this nightmare was also a means for her to break through her mental defenses. This time she was lucky to be unharmed, but what about next time? If she didn't make it through next time, would the Herrscher come back with a vengeance?

Calm down, Kiana. You need to clear your mind now.

Ignoring the voices in her head, Kiana looked up at the sky. The sky was pitch black, without a single ray of light, just like her current state of mind. Just then, the thick dark clouds suddenly dispersed, and a ray of bright moonlight shone directly onto the earth. Kiana's eyes seemed to be illuminated by this moonlight. She slowly climbed out of her sleeping bag, hugged her knees, and looked at the moonlight. How come she had never noticed before? This moonlight is so beautiful.

Kiana climbed onto a nearby rock, her steps light. Standing in the night, she gazed up at the moonlight. Her loose braids cascaded over her shoulders, giving her a unique beauty. Kiana's expression was serene, but beneath this nonchalant facade, the Herrscher was still trying to bewitch her. Kiana just found it noisy; this guy was such a chatterbox.

[Do you like the beautiful scenery right now? It's a pity that everything will eventually be destroyed by you. If it doesn't work this time, there will be another time, Kiana. You and I both know it's only a matter of time. When you can't resist using Honkai energy, I will seize the opportunity.]

The Herrscher's voice seemed to echo. If Kiana didn't use Honkai energy and fight, she would indeed have little chance. But that was impossible. Since she had this ability, Kiana wouldn't just stand by and watch disaster happen before her eyes. She just needed to wait patiently.

"I won't let that happen, Kiana. You should go back to the Hyperion as soon as possible to seek help from the headmistress and the others. It's too dangerous for you and Shen Gonglin to be out there. Schicksal must have already started searching for you two."

Kiana felt like she was just an observer, watching a two-person drama unfold in her mind. She took a deep breath, choosing to ignore the other voice, and as for the Herrscher, she now knew how to deal with her.

[Taking advantage of the situation? You try it. I've already found out. You've been eyeing Shen Gonglin all along, haven't you? If you dare to seize control of this body, I'll sleep with him right now. I want to see who can't hold out longer.]

You can't admit defeat in front of Herrscher, not even in a verbal battle. Even though you know it doesn't have any real effect, it's good if you can make the Herrscher unhappy. Kiana has already discovered that the Herrscher will behave better as long as you get closer to Shen Gonglin. Kiana doesn't know the specific reason, but the Herrscher seems to be quite afraid of Shen Gonglin, or rather, quite afraid of other things.

For example, the fear of being cheated on.

[No!]

[No!]

This time, the two voices in her mind were in sync. Hearing those unanimous voices, Kiana's lips twitched. Heh, all she could think of now was "heh." One by one, they were both eyeing their own pigs, weren't they? Talking about taking over her body and destroying the world, talking about keeping their minds from being invaded by the Herrscher. Actually, they were both afraid of being cuckolded.

Then I'll just show them what I'm capable of. There's no other way. This is Kiana's revenge on them. They're both bastards, bastards, go to hell!

Kiana jumped down from the height and looked at the carefree, fast-sleeping Shen Gonglin. She pouted. She was suffering so much here, but he was sleeping so well. What a little rascal. There was no reason for him to be so comfortable. He had been so considerate in saving her before, but after saving her, he just ignored her? He really did change after winning her over.

Kiana picked up her sleeping bag and relit the campfire. Watching the sleeping bag burn in the fire, Kiana smiled with satisfaction. Burn, burn, let it burn brightly. Anyway, she wouldn't need it anymore. Providing a final bit of warmth, that must be the sleeping bag's wish.

Kiana burned her sleeping bag and sneaked over to Shen Gonglin. Two voices were still chattering in her mind, one threatening her and the other reciting the Valkyrie Code of Conduct to her. Who cared about them at a time like this? Kiana had never been a good student and had never been afraid of threats. If she didn't dare to do what she wanted because of something like this, then she wouldn't be herself.

In short, Shen Gonglin is definitely going to sleep tonight!

Although it might be a bit cramped for two people, Shen Gonglin, please bear with it.

Perhaps because she was too familiar with Kiana's scent, Shen Gonglin remained fast asleep without any reaction. This girl was very peaceful when she slept, so Kiana wasn't worried. She quietly opened Shen Gonglin's sleeping bag and crawled inside. The sleeping bag had enough space, and since Shen Gonglin was petite enough, Kiana didn't feel cramped at all and felt quite warm inside. At that moment, the two voices in her head stopped abruptly, and the girl opened her mouth and yawned contentedly. Finally, she could get a good night's sleep.

The girl stretched out her arms and used the nearby Shen Gonglin as a large pillow, then closed her eyes. She was right; as long as she was close to Shen Gonglin, there would be no problem. Kiana also fell into a deep sleep under the firelight, but the two consciousnesses hidden in her mind began to stir slightly.

This feeling... seems pretty good.

Through Kiana's body, the Herrscher of the Void and Fu Hua could also feel the same way she did, which was an important reason why the two of them became quiet. They missed this feeling so much; it had been so long since they had felt this way. If they could, they really wished they could hug her with their own bodies, but unfortunately, it would probably be difficult to do so now.

[How dare she threaten me! Once I get my body back, I'll destroy everything she cherishes!]

[Okay, okay, I know... Actually, you're enjoying it right now, aren't you?]

[No!]

Chapter Eleven: Happy Qixi Festival

In the desert, Shen Gonglin and Kiana were heading in the direction they had previously chosen. Shen Gonglin was usually a restless person, but today he was unusually quiet. Following behind Kiana, Shen Gonglin rested his chin on his hand, deep in thought. No matter how he thought about it, something felt off. He felt like there was something suspicious that he hadn't grasped, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. This feeling was truly perplexing.

"What's wrong? Are you still upset about what happened this morning? I already said I don't care, why are you so hung up on it? It's not like we haven't slept together before."

Unlike the taciturn Shen Gonglin, Kiana seemed exceptionally energetic today. She carried her backpack and led the way. Sky City should be in this direction. This morning, Shen Gonglin led her astray and they ended up taking a long detour. Now, they had finally found their way back. The girl glanced back at Shen Gonglin and could tell at a glance that he was still brooding over what happened this morning. What was there to brood over? She hadn't taken it to heart at all.

"The past is the past. Besides, in the past, we would at most lie down on the sofa and fall asleep together. This time, we slept in the same sleeping bag. I didn't even know I had a sleepwalking problem... Kiana, did I really sleepwalk in the middle of the night and crawl into your sleeping bag? Am I that bad?"

Shen Gonglin was deep in thought. How did she develop sleepwalking in addition to her fear of heights, fainting from blood, and spicy food? When she opened her eyes in the morning and saw Kiana's sleeping face, Shen Gonglin's mentality collapsed a bit. At first, she thought Kiana had fallen asleep in her sleeping bag, but the girl swore that she had fallen asleep in Kiana's sleeping bag. She wouldn't lie about something like that, would she?

"Yeah, yeah, it was really too much. I did want to fight back, but you're so strong I couldn't resist at all. In the end, I saw that your sleeping bag was blown away by the wind, so I had no choice but to let you sleep with me. It's okay, don't worry about it. Given our current situation, we have to share the good times and the bad."

Kiana lied without batting an eye, completely and earnestly spouting nonsense. What else could she possibly say? That she burned her sleeping bag because she was afraid to sleep alone due to nightmares and came to sleep with Shen Gonglin? After all, Kiana is a girl, and girls have some sense of pride, so Shen Gonglin should be able to accept this little lie, right? Besides, it was clearly wrong of him to bring two sleeping bags. Given their current relationship, what's wrong with sharing a sleeping bag?

Even creating a child on the spot wouldn't be a problem, right? Kiana feels it's perfectly feasible if the environment weren't wrong. That way, she could probably make those two consciousnesses in her head die instantly from anger. Maybe she could defeat the Herrscher in that way.

You dare!

[Kiana, calm down. Now is not the time to think about these things. The Valkyrie Code states that we must be in a state of combat readiness...]

See? Just thinking about them makes me want to explode. If I actually did it, the consequences would be... tsk tsk.

"I'm strong? Is it only in my dreams that my potential is unleashed...? I'm so sorry, Kiana, I'll be more careful in the future. Also, I'm really sorry for leading us the wrong way this morning. We walked for so long for nothing. I never thought I would get the way wrong."

Having been fooled by Kiana's explanation, Shen Gonglin generally believed Kiana's story. Perhaps she had gotten up to go to the bathroom at night and sleepwalked into Kiana's sleeping bag. Also, because Shen Gonglin was distracted in the morning and took the wrong turn, Kiana didn't blame her. This girl is really nice.

"It's alright, it's alright. We just went the wrong way, there's nothing to apologize for. Besides, we're not in a hurry, we can take our time. It's just that we only have one sleeping bag left now, so we'll probably have to sleep together from now on."

Kiana waved her hand dismissively, not caring at all. She had already gotten such a great deal, so what did it matter if she took the wrong turn? Taking this opportunity, Kiana revealed the "painful" truth: from now on, she would only be able to sleep with Shen Gonglin. How tragic!

"Huh? But the weather isn't that cold right now, I think it should be fine even without a sleeping bag tonight..."

Shen Gonglin scratched her cheek and said, "If I have to sleep with Kiana every day... that girl's sleeping posture isn't very good. Shen Gonglin would rather sleep alone."

Actually, his sleeping posture is recognized as the worst in the Valkyrie dormitory. This guy even dares to complain about Kiana. Everyone knows that Shen Gonglin is the one with the worst sleeping posture.

"Do you think I'd let you sleep in a sleeping bag at night? Don't you know how weak your body is? If you get sick, won't I be the one taking care of you? So don't even think about it. You have to sleep in a sleeping bag tonight. There's no room for discussion."

Kiana decisively refused Shen Gonglin's request. Since she was now acting alongside him, she naturally had to take on the responsibility of caring for him. If it were Mei or Bronya, they would definitely take good care of Shen Gonglin. Kiana herself would not be able to forgive herself if Shen Gonglin got sick in her care.

"No, what I mean is Kiana, you're in good health, so we can do this: I'll sleep in the sleeping bag, and you can find a spot to sleep in... Hey, I was just kidding, I was just joking, don't hit me!"

Shen Gonglin covered his head and ran away, while Kiana followed behind him with a dark face, clenching her little fists. She had been wrong to think he was the one, Shen Gonglin was undoubtedly a dog.

"Damn it, where are they going? We locked onto this direction, but according to the trajectory calculation, it should be here... Could it be that Shen Gonglin is leading the way? She's a complete idiot when it comes to directions, doesn't she know how much trouble this causes? It's been several weeks already, where are those two...?"

At the Anti-Entropy branch, Theresa, Tesla, and others are integrating the clues they've recently gathered. Over this period, a lot of scattered information about Shen Gonglin and Kiana has been coming in from various channels, and they have to sift through it to find the real and valuable information. They finally managed to get their location, but after searching, they found nothing again. This feeling is terrible.

"Ms. Theresa, and Dr. Tesla, please calm down. At least we haven't come away empty-handed. This intelligence proves one thing."

Einstein maintained her leisurely pace; she picked up the intelligence and placed it on the table. It was from a reliable source and had always been accurate.

Chapter Twelve needs to grow taller.

"You mean this information broker who goes by the pseudonym Gray Serpent?"

Tesla and Theresa also came over. In the information compiled by Einstein, this name was mentioned in every document. Indeed, the information gathered was disorganized, but only the information obtained through this channel was worth considering. It included both physical descriptions and photos, as if Kiana and the others' whereabouts had always been under the control of this Gray Serpent.

"Yes, according to the investigation, this Gray Serpent is an information broker in Sky City. He has a technology that allows him to monitor the entire city's network and then filter out useful information to sell to interested buyers. He posted this photo directly on the internet. Besides us, the people of Schicksal must have also discovered it. He is using this method to attract buyers. He is proving to us that he has traces of Kiana and Shen Gonglin."

The last photo was placed on the table. It showed a person wearing a strange mask, whose gender was unclear. All that could be seen was the tall and thin figure, which made the person seem almost inhuman.

"Schicksal knows too... It seems we have no time to waste. Let's follow the previous route to find Shen Gonglin and Kiana, and at the same time move towards Sky City, preparing for the possibility of encountering Schicksal's forces. Let's make preparations and set off tomorrow."

Taking a deep breath, Theresa gave the order. Apart from Tesla grimacing in displeasure, no one else objected. She was just a rebel against Schicksal, so why did it seem like she was commanding the Anti-Entropy people?

Outside the airport, Bronya and Mei stood gazing at the distant scenery. Bronya's expression was calm, revealing no emotional fluctuations, while Mei's face clearly showed worry. Why hadn't Shen Gonglin and Kiana contacted them yet? They had clearly resumed their operations, but they still hadn't reached out. Didn't they know how worried they were?

"Don't worry, Mei- neechan. With Shen Gonglin by Kiana's side, they'll be fine."

This is where the advantage of being a "three-no" girl (meaning someone who is expressionless, emotionless, and seemingly devoid of emotion) becomes apparent. The girl puts away her phone; it shows her contact with Wendy. The other girl is also worried about what's happening here. The impact of the Herrscher of the Void incident has now spread globally. After comforting the girl on the other end of the phone, Bronya looks up slightly at Mei. Originally, there were four of them together, but now it's just the two of them. The two who were most likely to cause trouble have disappeared, but Bronya knows that they will eventually reunite.

"I know... Bronya, you really trust Shen Gonglin. That guy is the most unreliable one. Now that Kiana is with him, it's definitely Kiana takes care of him. Why do you have so much confidence in Shen Gonglin?"

Bronya's words of comfort brought a wry smile to Mei's face. She thought that with Shen Gonglin Mei Kiana's side, there was nothing to worry about. But Mei was actually worried about Shen Gonglin. She wondered what state he was in now, and if Kiana lost control again, would he be able to subdue her? Besides, Shen Gonglin had been spoiled rotten by Mei, and now he was wandering around with Kiana. It must be very hard for him.

"Because Shen Gonglin has never let Bronya down, no matter what... except when he puts the food he doesn't like on Bronya's plate during meals, he has always been very reliable."

Bronya answered earnestly. She had always placed the utmost trust in Shen Gonglin. Otherwise, she wouldn't have entrusted everything to him when her brain chip burned out. No matter the situation, she could confidently entrust herself to Shen Gonglin. After his long treatment, her legs no longer needed the exoskeleton armor. The danger that would have burned her brain was also averted under his protection. Therefore, Bronya couldn't find a reason not to trust him. Although Shen Gonglin was willful, Bronya trusted him unconditionally, which could be seen from the fact that she was completely unguarded around him in her brain.

This Bronya trusts Shen Gonglin implicitly.

"...I've wanted to say this for a while now, Bronya, you're spoiling Shen Gonglin a bit too much. To ensure a balanced diet, I've added all sorts of vegetables to the dishes, specifically to strengthen Shen Gonglin's physique. You can't keep indulging him like this, Bronya, do you understand? From now on, don't make him eat the vegetables he doesn't like anymore."

When Mei talked about Mei Shen Gonglin, the gloom on her face seemed to dissipate a little. Shen Gonglin had such power. Bronya trusted him, and Mei trusted him too. It could be said that everyone in St. Freya trusted Shen Gonglin. But if that guy were a little more obedient, it would be even better.

"Even without Bronya, he would have tricked Kiana into eating it for him. The Class President has always turned a blind eye to this situation. Otherwise, he would have saved it until Himeko came back and fed all the vegetables to her when she was drunk. Otherwise, the maid would have voluntarily eaten it for Shen Gonglin. He has many ways to deal with it, so it's better for Bronya to eat it for him. Bronya also needs to grow."

The expressionless, emotionless loli revealed all of Shen Gonglin's accomplices. Mei's lips twitched as she listened. So, she was the only one who wasn't Shen Gonglin's accomplice. She woke up to find herself surrounded by enemies. What were they doing? Didn't they know they were spoiling Shen Gonglin? His current willful and reckless behavior was all their fault. Honestly, didn't they know this would harm Shen Gonglin in the future?

"... Phew, never mind, I'll handle these things later. The Class President, she seemed to be the most serious and honest one, but I didn't expect her to... This time too, it seems honest people can't be trusted. Also, Bronya, don't worry, I always strictly follow the nutritional balance when making meals, so you can rest assured about growing up."

After talking with Bronya for a while, Mei felt much better. She gently patted Bronya's shoulder. She didn't expect Bronya to care about such things.

"Mei- neechan, Bronya didn't mean that. What Bronya meant was, is there any way to make this place grow? Relying solely on physical development, Bronya feels that it takes too long and the chances aren't very high."

The emotionless loli pointed to her chest. She didn't need to worry about her height for now; what she was thinking about was this area, something Bronya was quite troubled by. The methods she found online didn't seem to be very effective.

Chapter Thirteen: Laugh at your mother

Why would she ask that question? Bronya, has she reached the age where she starts worrying about these things? Although she's Valkyrie, her primary identity is still that of a young and lovely girl, so it's not surprising that she's worried about this kind of thing.

Suppressing her strange feelings, Mei adopted the demeanor of a caring older sister. In fact, this was the role she had always played in the dormitory, taking care of her two troubled younger sisters—it was her duty.