Gently Turning Down the Girl's Expectations
Zhou Qing took out a glass bottle, caught the Light Firefly that was more than five centimeters long, and put it inside, while the Light Firefly that was only three centimeters long was released.
"Give."
Zhou Qing handed the glowing glass bottle to Qingzhu Zhu and said, "This is your first time completing a mission, so you should personally deliver it to the client who will be handling the mission."
"Hmm." Taking the glass bottle that shimmered with a bright green halo, Qingzhu Zhu leaned closer to observe the Light Firefly. "Up close, the Light Firefly doesn't seem to be that pretty."
"Distance makes the heart grow fonder."
Zhou Qing didn't take it seriously.
Insects are a prime example of this statement.
"Let's go, it's time to return to Nuoding City. We were very lucky this time, to have encountered a suitable Light Firefly with over fifty years of cultivation so quickly."
Xiao Wu also strongly agrees with the saying "distance makes the heart grow fonder".
Insect-type Soul Beast are quite beautiful from a distance, especially butterflies, but upon closer inspection—
Oh ho!
The butterfly's scales and eyes are densely packed and layered, which is chilling.
"Thank you, Zhou Qing."
Qingzhu Zhu put the jar containing the Light Firefly into the small pouch at her waist—she didn't have Storage Soul Tool that could hold living beings.
"What?" Zhou Qing asked.
"Thank you for playing with me. I never knew before that the forest at night could be so beautiful, and that catching fireflies could be so fun." Qingzhu Zhu was very grateful.
In the family, you can't even see ordinary fireflies, because the servants clear away fallen leaves and trim weeds every day. There are no insects larger than ants in the garden, not even butterflies.
She also knew that there were many people in the world who would do anything to live a life like hers.
but.
Now she envies Commoner Soul Master like Zhou Qing, because they possess something she lacks—freedom and ease. Perhaps their lives are impoverished, but they are able to witness scenery that she has never seen in her luxurious manor.
The natural night view, the firefly dance, and the chirping of crickets echoing through the woods.
"You're welcome."
Zhou Qing led the way without turning his head, saying, "Employers come first."
Upon hearing this, Qingzhu Zhu's mood dipped slightly. After walking with Zhou Qing for a while, she asked softly, "Are we friends?"
Zhou Qing was speechless for a moment.
friend?
According to him, if you can get along well and don't dislike each other, you're friends; the definition is very simple.
But.
At this moment, he didn't want to have too much to do with Zhu Zhuqing.
He was equally confused.
However, being an adult at heart and aware of the art of language, he looked up at the sky, pointed to the Starry Sky dotted with countless stars that connected to form the Milky Way, and said, "Look up and see, every star shines on everyone living on this continent, and everyone who looks up can see the twinkling stars."
"I understand!" Qingzhu Zhu's face regained its smile.
"But some people are blind."
The spoilsport appeared again— Xiao Wu seemed possessed by a "nitpicker," her eyes gleaming with intense curiosity, "How can a blind person see stars?"
"I suddenly realize that letting you follow me was a huge mistake!" Zhou Qing was 100% certain that Xiao Wu's current state was definitely not due to his influence.
"What's with you being so strict with me? I'm only six years old!" Xiao Wu said speechlessly.
"Tch, you're making it sound like I'm not six years old."
Zhou Qing sneered.
Among the four, even Romantina, a twelve-year-old girl, completely lacked the innocence and purity that a twelve-year-old girl should have. Not to mention Zhou Qing, Tang San, and Xiao Wu, who are all six-year-old kids. Which one of them is truly six years old?
He and Tang San are Transmigrator!
Where is Xiao Wu?
It is the transformation of Hundred-Thousand-Year Soft Bone Charm Rabbit!
Although she is more childish than a three-year-old in some ways, how could I, having lived for so many years, really treat her like a six-year-old girl?
Only Qingzhu Zhu can be considered a precocious six-year-old child in the true sense!
And so, bickering along with Qingzhu Zhu and Mother Zhu, the two left the Nuoding Soul Hunting Forest, boarded a carriage, and, riding at breakneck speed, finally made it back to Nuoding City before the city's curfew and gates closed.
Nuoding Guild.
Qingzhu Zhu personally handed the glass bottle containing the Light Firefly to Alice, but the reward was deposited into Zhou Qing's Adventure Card. After all, Qingzhu Zhu was not a Soul Master and could not register as an adventurer, so Zhou Qing could only transfer her portion of the reward afterward.
Fortunately, the Nuoding Guild also provides a transfer service, which can transfer the Gold Soul Coin in Zhou Qing's Adventure Card to other people's Soul Card, but both parties need to be present.
Qingzhu Zhu naturally also has Soul Card.
Qingzhu Zhu felt an indescribable sense of satisfaction upon receiving her reward for completing a mission for the first time. Although the reward she received was only six hundred Gold Soul Coin, which was less than what she usually spent in a day, she could say that she had earned the money herself, and her sense of accomplishment was unparalleled.
Goodbye.
After giving Xiao Wu the hundred Gold Soul Coin, Zhou Qing waved goodbye to Qingzhu Zhu.
"Can you do missions with me again tomorrow?" Qingzhu Zhu's eyes were filled with anticipation, like the twinkling stars in the night sky: (*ω), no longer as calm and aloof as when she first met Zhou Qing.
"I'm actually a student, I have to go to class." Zhou Qing didn't turn around, afraid that he would soften his heart if he saw the girl's innocent eyes, so he politely declined.
"Oh well."
The girl's tone indeed revealed a hint of disappointment.
But Zhou Qing quickened his pace, as if afraid that if he returned to the academy too late, the gate to Dorm Seven would be closed and he wouldn't be able to get in.
Xiao Wu followed closely behind, noticing something was off about Zhou Qing, and asked curiously, "Is there something wrong with Qingzhu Zhu? Didn't you get along quite well with her before?"
"Well, she is, after all, of noble birth, and different from us," Zhou Qing said. "It's best not to have too much contact with her."
That's what she said, but Zhou Qing's heart was filled with extremely complicated feelings.
after all--
Through this mission, he discovered that Qingzhu Zhu was a simple and innocent child, far from the aloof and bitter-hatred character she was when she first appeared at the age of twelve in the original work.
But what can I change?
To intervene in the succession struggle of the Star Luo Empire in its current state is either to trap oneself or to fight a losing battle; there is no third possibility.
Development takes time...
"Can't nobles and commoners really be friends?" Xiao Wu asked after a moment of silence.
"Yes, but in most cases, we have to compromise with reality. In the end, either the nobles will give up their status, or the commoners will become nobles."
Zhou Qing sighed, "Until we have the power to change this world, this is all we can do."
"Don't use such profound language, I don't understand." Xiao Wu hoped Zhou Qing would speak more plainly.
"Okay, in a way you can understand, do you think wolves, tigers, and lions can be friends with sheep, cows, and rabbits?" Zhou Qing Youyou again and gave a more common example.