Were there still other people aboard this ship?
And in a situation like this, someone was carrying a speaker into battle?
Just as everyone was wondering.
A white figure suddenly shot out like an arrow released from its bow!
"Rain falls a thousand times"
In an instant, the singing reached the Inner Core Master. What came with it were scarlet flames and a sharp greatsword!
Blazing fire encircled the girl as she spun through the air. The red greatsword became a scythe of death, slashing down upon the Inner Core Master with thunderous force!
His sturdy armor was torn apart, and the branches and leaves on his body were effortlessly severed.
Flames swallowed the enemy, turning into a fireball that shot skyward and smashed into the distant ceiling.
Landing lightly in her boots, Lin Shuang casually flicked the ponytail behind her head and the bangs over her forehead.
Her blue eyes met Tingyun's curious yet wary gaze.
Volume One: Chapter Nineteen: I Really Want to Pet Tingyun's Tail
"No footprints of come-and-go"
The song flowed melodiously from the greatsword wreathed in flames.
Hearing singing in such a tune at such an inappropriate moment, even Tingyun, worldly as she was, failed to react for a moment.
Just as Lin Shuang and Tingyun were sizing each other up, the system—which had been practically nonexistent for more than half the day—finally appeared.
New target detected: Tingyun of the Sky-Faring Commission of the Xianzhou Luofu Target: Tingyun Favorability: 45 (Wary) Relationship: None Mission: Save the beauty like a hero and win her heart. A cliché, but a classic—one must give it a try. Reward: Randomly draw one card based on favorability and the relationship established.
"Who are you?! If you do not wish to offend an Emanator, retreat now, and I can pretend nothing just happened."
The Inner Core Master, howling in pain as he tried to dispel the flames clinging to his body, questioned Lin Shuang's sudden appearance.
His words pulled Lin Shuang's attention away from the system and back to reality.
"Is that so? Then have the Emanator come speak to me himself."
As Lin Shuang spoke, she gave the Inner Core Master of Abundant Doses a radiant smile.
Behind that smile, Acheron slowly emerged from the passageway.
The expression beneath the Inner Core Master's mask tightened as he barked fiercely despite his inner weakness.
"Hmph, you had better think this through! If you interfere today, the ones you offend will not be just Abundant Doses!"
He could suppress the people from those merchant groups alone, but that girl's earlier slash was definitely not something he could withstand by himself.
What was more, the blue-haired woman approaching from behind gave him an extremely dangerous feeling.
Today, he feared there was more danger than safety.
"Do you think I do not know what Abundant Doses is plotting?"
With her sword in hand, Lin Shuang could not help stealing a few more glances at Tingyun's fluffy ears and tail. Then, with one swift step, she leaped into the air and charged straight at the Inner Core Master amid roaring flames.
The Inner Core Master tried to resist, gathering a powerful attack between his palms as his body shifted.
But the flames clung to him like a parasite on the bone.
To Tingyun, the Inner Core Master was difficult to keep up with. To Lin Shuang, he was merely an elite monster with nimble movements.
In midair, Lin Shuang shattered the Inner Core Master's attack with a slash. She then flipped and drove a kick straight into his head, stomping him viciously into the wall once more.
Then, while still airborne, Lin Shuang was about to reach out with her left hand to grab him when she glanced at her ring finger. The greatsword then shifted from her right hand to her left.
Only then did she use her right hand to seize the armor on the Inner Core Master's head and slam him toward the ground with all her strength!
Boom—!
The violent impact sent intense tremors through the entire starskiff.
Standing at the entrance to the passageway, Acheron saw Lin Shuang's movements and reactions in that split second. She could not help touching the ring finger of her left hand, a faint smile appearing on her face.
As for the Inner Core Master,
Although he possessed some of the power of Abundance, he was no superhuman. The ferocious impact still shattered his organs and left the inside of his body a complete mess.
Lin Shuang landed lightly on the ground. The greatsword in her left hand traced a flourish before plunging straight down into the Inner Core Master's body, pinning him directly to the floor.
The raging flames engulfed him. The recovery granted by Abundance could not keep pace with the flames' destructive power.
The other members of Abundant Doses had not even reacted before their leader was cut down beneath her sword.
The people of the Minghuo Merchant Group were instantly invigorated! Abundant Doses, on the other hand, began retreating step by step.
Lin Shuang pulled out her sword and casually cut down the few troublesome Abundance abominations. The remaining enemies no longer posed a threat.
"Not yet for the story on the last page"
Lin Shuang had not sheathed her sword, so the song continued playing automatically.
The Minghuo Merchant Group, who had already largely seized the initiative in battle, listened to the music coming from the greatsword.
For a moment, they found it somewhat funny.
"What kind of idea is embedding a speaker into a weapon?"
"Keep it down! Powerful people always have their quirks. It is just a built-in speaker—maybe it is meant to boost morale."
"Thinking about such a pretty swordswoman deliberately putting a speaker in her weapon just to look cool... hehehe... that is so cute."
"Shut up! Though... she really is kind of cute."
Some of those fighting together huddled together and whispered quietly, occasionally stealing glances at Lin Shuang.
Lin Shuang had a slender figure and a youthful face. At a closer look, many of the merchant group members immediately wore indulgent smiles.
But Lin Shuang's enhanced senses were incredibly sharp. She heard every bit of their chatter, including their reactions!
Her cheeks flushed scarlet in an instant. She wanted nothing more than to hoist the entire ship on her shoulders and flee this planet.
Fortunately, the flames concealed her, so no one else saw clearly.
Only Acheron saw Lin Shuang's reaction through the flames. She found it rather amusing, while also thinking the embarrassed Lin Shuang was quite adorable.
If not for her temperament, Acheron might have felt the urge to tease her.
After more than ten days together, Acheron and Lin Shuang had grown accustomed to having music accompany their battles.
But now that it suddenly played in front of so many outsiders, Lin Shuang's sense of embarrassment instantly exploded.
Bang—
The greatsword scattered into flames, and the song abruptly stopped.
Yet Lin Shuang did not immediately disperse the flames around her.
Watching this, Tingyun assumed Lin Shuang was still on guard against Abundant Doses. Holding her folding fan, she gently stirred up a breeze and approached Lin Shuang with a smile.
Her eyes widened as she watched the flames quietly part around her, feeling no heat from them. Both fascinated and grateful, she bowed.
"This humble one is Tingyun. On behalf of the Minghuo Merchant Group, I thank you both for your tremendous assistance."
The fluffy tail behind her swayed back and forth, while her furry ears twitched gently with her tone. It was clear that she was in a very good mood.
"I'm Lin Shuang. She's my companion, Acheron."
Standing before Tingyun, Lin Shuang studied the Fox Tribe woman. She was very beautiful.
Her smiling face possessed endless charm, the kind that inspired fondness at a single glance.
While Lin Shuang observed Tingyun, Tingyun was also observing the two people who had suddenly entered the battle.
She did not know Lin Shuang, but the name Acheron...
Tingyun lightly fanned herself and gave Acheron an expression of perfectly measured surprise.
"Miss Acheron... could you be the Galaxy Ranger Acheron, who travels the galaxy alone? This humble one is truly fortunate today. Not only did I encounter Benefactor Lin and escape death in desperate circumstances, I also get to meet the famed Miss Acheron in person."
As she said this, Tingyun shifted slightly. Her fluffy, soft tail brushed against the back of Lin Shuang's hand as if by accident, gently rubbing against it.
Soft, warm fur brushed over the back of her hand, making Lin Shuang's heart itch. She could not help wanting to reach out and pet it a few times.
Volume One: Chapter Twenty: Acheron: I Don't Want to Interrupt You
The moment Tingyun called her benefactor, the system promptly reacted:
Target: Tingyun Favorability: 75 (Friendly and Curious) Relationship: Benefactor
She probably considers you a Galaxy Ranger as well. In any case, her favorability shot up all at once. You got lucky.
Reward: One green card draw
It was actually a green card draw.
Seeing the reward, even Lin Shuang was startled for a moment. Was it because of the favorability?
She had thought it would only be one lowest-tier card draw.
She wondered whether changes in their relationship would provide more opportunities for card draws later.
Acheron's favorability, for example, had been steadily increasing during this time and had recently reached 85.
Target: Acheron Favorability: 85 (Trust and Favoritism) Relationship: Married in name only
Go on, keep fooling her. The higher you raise her favorability, the worse it will be when your lie falls apart.
Reward: A new reward can only be issued after the relationship stabilizes.
In any case, even though Acheron's favorability had risen all the way, Lin Shuang had not received another card draw. Judging by the system's description, it was probably related to her taking a shortcut.
As for Tingyun, Lin Shuang did not know whether changing their relationship would bring new card draws. Everything still needed to be tested.
"Benefactor, Benefactor~ You keep staring at this humble one's tail. Even if you are my benefactor, this humble one will still be embarrassed."
The soft tail lightly slapped the back of Lin Shuang's hand, snapping her out of it.
She looked at Tingyun in slight surprise, only to see her face filled with amusement and just the right amount of shyness.
By then, Acheron had already walked to Lin Shuang's side. Her gaze toward Lin Shuang seemed as calm as ever.
"Is it pretty?"
The unexpected question from Acheron nearly made Lin Shuang choke.
"It is. Cough... not as pretty as you."
A nearly imperceptible change appeared in Acheron's expression, though she still said,
"I did not expect that when you said you wanted to go to the Xianzhou, it was because you were curious about the Foxfolk."
"Not that curious..."
For some reason, Lin Shuang felt that Acheron seemed just a little jealous?
The feeling made Lin Shuang reflect. Had she gotten too carried away from watching Acheron's favorability rise every day?
Still, thoughts were one thing. Lin Shuang walked over to Acheron and stood pressed close beside her.
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