"Then... should we set off now?" Azhui asked, tentatively looking at Su Bai.
Su Bai nodded enthusiastically.
"Yeah! The sooner we finish, the sooner we can come back. What if Qilin gets home from work and finds me gone? She'll be mad!"
"And if she thinks I haven't been listening to her and refuses to take me to Snack Street, I'll be doomed!"
Watching him fret over food like a child, Azhui finally couldn't help laughing.
Honestly, what had she been arguing with a "child" about just now...?
The livestream chat started buzzing again:
['The One Who Exploded Morgana's Head': Hehe, you're going to avenge me. I won't blame you~]
['Seeking Sponsorship': Qilin's the one taking care of Su Bai, so why does it feel like Qilin's the one being teased?]
['Seeking Sponsorship': It hasn't even been a day, and Qilin's practically become Su Bai's shape already.]
['Thirty-Thousand-Year-Old Aunt': Mm, agreed.]
['The Fox Yan Who Knows How to Flirt': +1]
['Silly White Sweet': +1]
['Silly White Sweet': Huh... I clicked it by accident.]
['Silly White Sweet': Also, why is my name so weird?!]
['The Fox Yan Who Knows How to Flirt': Judging by your reaction, I'd say the name the livestream gave you... is pretty accurate.]
['Silly White Sweet': Sister Yan! That's so mean!]
['The Fox Yan Who Knows How to Flirt': Hmm? Are you... Zhixin?]
['Silly White Sweet': Mm-hmm! It's me, Sister Yan~]
['Thirty-Thousand-Year-Old Aunt': All right, little Zhixin, we'll chat later. The little guy and Azhui are about to leave.]
['Silly White Sweet': Yes, Teacher!]
Azhui spread her wings, ready to take off, but suddenly paused.
She glanced back at Su Bai, whose eyes were clear and whose face said, "I'm ready," then let out a soft sigh.
Then she turned around and, quite naturally—
took his hand.
Su Bai looked a little puzzled when Azhui took his hand, but he didn't ask. He obediently followed her to the balcony.
The livestream chat instantly erupted:
['The One Who Exploded Morgana's Head': !!!]
['The One Who Exploded Morgana's Head': Miss Angel, what are you planning to do?!]
['The One Who Exploded Morgana's Head': He's still just a kid!!!]
['The Fox Yan Who Knows How to Flirt': Pfft, who would've thought, little Azhui? You've got quite a knack for stealing someone's man~]
Seeing Angel Yan's comment, Qilin was even more distraught.
Qilin (inner thoughts): There's a cuckold! There's a cuckold!!!
Azhui: ...Why did that sound so familiar?
['Silly White Sweet': !!!]
['Silly White Sweet': W-what is Azhui doing?!]
['Seeking Sponsorship': What else? Can't you see the "wronged party" up there already wailing~]
['Seeking Sponsorship': Miss Qilin's a police officer, but right now she's like a helpless husband~]
['Silly White Sweet': H-helpless husband!!!]
['The One Who Exploded Morgana's Head': Aaaah! Yamete—!]
['The Fox Yan Who Knows How to Flirt': Mm~ I never knew you were like this, little Azhui~]
['Little Milk Sha' (helplessly): All right, Yan, stop teasing Miss Qilin.]
['The One Who Exploded Morgana's Head': Huh?]
['Little Milk Sha': Azhui only took Su Bai's hand because he doesn't have wings and would have trouble getting around. She's planning to take him flying with her.]
['The One Who Exploded Morgana's Head': I see... so that's what it is...]
['Thirty-Thousand-Year-Old Aunt': But doesn't Su Bai have Space Ability? If Azhui just gives him directions, he can take her there with a series of space jumps, right?]
['The One Who Exploded Morgana's Head': !!!]
['Little Milk Sha': ...]
Hexi's comment instantly sent Qilin, who had just started to calm down, spiraling again.
Keisha could only look on helplessly.
Her best friend really never passed up a chance to have some fun...
Azhui gently tightened her grip on Su Bai's hand.
"Hold on tight."
As soon as she spoke, her white wings unfurled—
A rush of air swept over them, blowing Su Bai's hair back. He instinctively shut his eyes, then quickly opened them again, curiously gazing down at the city growing smaller beneath his feet.
"Wow—we're flying!"
There wasn't a trace of fear in his voice, only pure wonder and excitement, like a child riding a roller coaster for the first time.
Azhui glanced at him, the corners of her lips lifting without her realizing it.
He had such an incredible ability, yet he was thrilled by something as simple as flying.
He really was... adorably contradictory.
She slowed down a little to make their ascent smoother.
Su Bai soon got used to the high-altitude air currents. He even started looking around, trying to make out the neighborhood where Qilin lived.
Above the clouds, the sunlight fell unobstructed, gilding her wings with a soft golden glow.
Azhui carried Su Bai toward outer space.
The chat kept scrolling:
['Seeking Sponsorship': This view while flying... I'm so jealous!]
['The Fox Yan Who Knows How to Flirt': Little Azhui's pretty gentle, huh? She's flying so steadily~]
['Thirty-Thousand-Year-Old Aunt': She's taking a "child" out with her. She can't exactly rush off like she's on a mission.]
['The One Who Exploded Morgana's Head': It's so spectacular... so beautiful...]
After they left Earth, Azhui began to speed up.
That was because Xiao Xue had promptly reminded Su Bai to cover his body with a spatial membrane, canceling out the air resistance and pressure changes during flight.
With that, Azhui no longer needed to slow down to accommodate him.
Within minutes, they had reached Pluto's orbit and quietly hidden behind a massive asteroid.
Not far ahead, the Taotie vanguard fleet floated silently in the asteroid belt.
Three menacing Firepower Ships gleamed with cold metallic light beneath the stars.
Azhui glanced at Su Bai, her tone casual but tinged with seriousness.
"The Taotie vanguard fleet they sent to scout is just ahead. What do you plan to do?"
After a pause, she added:
"Would you like me to help?"
Su Bai carefully watched the three warships and the patrol soldiers occasionally crossing their decks, then shook his head.
"No need. I can handle it."
He turned and gave Azhui a bright smile.
"Thanks, Azhui."
Hearing his thanks, Azhui's lips curved into a small smile.
She said nothing more, simply watching Su Bai and waiting for his next move.
She wasn't the only one. Everyone in the livestream was holding their breath in anticipation.
At that moment, aboard a warship in the Taotie vanguard fleet.
"Duhé, how long do you think it'll take us to conquer this Pre-Nuclear Civilization?" asked a Taotie soldier on patrol, a heavy energy gun in hand.
His companion, the one he'd called Duhe, thought for a moment, then grinned, baring a mouth full of metallic teeth.
"Going by past experience... less than a month."
"Hahaha! Once the mission's done, I wonder what kind of reward My God Karl will grant us!"
Their laughter sounded especially jarring in the cold vacuum of space, yet it brimmed with near-fanatical anticipation.
Suddenly, Morse stopped in his tracks.
"Huh? That's strange. Why did it suddenly get so much colder?"
"Now that you mention it, I feel it too..."
Before you continue