"Xiao Ai, wake up. It's time to get off. We're here."
Qin Yi nudged Xu Ai, who had "fallen asleep" against her chest. At the same time, the train's announcement sounded, signaling their arrival.
Xu Ai opened her eyes groggily and snuggled closer before finally lifting her head from Qin Yi's warm, soft embrace.
"Are we there?"
"Don't rush. Wait a moment..."
Seeing Xu Ai stand up dazedly and try to squeeze into the crowd, Qin Yi hurriedly grabbed her.
With a slap, Xu Ai plopped back down in her seat.
"Oh, right."
There were still a lot of people around. It was better to wait until most of them had left before getting off.
It was November, and the weather was starting to turn chilly.
The defensive facilities in City 0551 were now mostly complete. Only some basic infrastructure remained, so Ruthless Councilor still needed to stay there for a while. Xu Ai and the others, however, no longer had to, so they had returned.
Once most of the crowd had dispersed, Xu Ai got off the train with Qin Yi and the others.
"Qingling, Xiao Ai, over here!"
Xu Xin and Liu Ting waved their signs and called out, immediately catching Xu Ai's attention.
She hadn't seen Xu Xin and Liu Ting for several days and had missed them dearly. Her gaze immediately turned toward Liu Ting.
"Coming!"
"Xiao Ai!!!"
Liu Ting beat everyone to it, rushing over and hugging Xu Ai!
"Uh, it's been a while, Tingting."
Xu Ai smiled awkwardly. Actually, she'd wanted to hug her own sister first.
Liu Ting held Xu Ai around the waist for a while before letting go. Then she hugged her aunt, but released her after only a moment.
Liu Qingling was speechless. Liu Ting had hugged Xu Ai for over ten seconds, but her own hug had lasted... two or three? She'd raised this girl for nothing!
As Liu Qingling's niece, Liu Ting was naturally close with the Willow Leaf Squad. She gave each of them a big hug, especially Ye Yu, Qin Yi, and Gu Zizhen.
She hugged them for almost as long as she'd hugged Xu Ai, while her hugs for Yu Fei and Jun Xia were about as brief as the one for Liu Qingling. As for the reason, just look at their measurements.
As soon as Liu Ting let go, Xu Ai threw herself into Xu Xin's arms. Xu Xin's embrace was much more comfortable than Liu Ting's, after all, Xu Xin was much more... Ahem.
Besides Xu Xin and Liu Ting, Xu Gang had come too.
He'd waited for quite a while for Xu Ai to finish hugging everyone. The moment she was free, he grinned and opened his arms, waiting for her to jump into them.
But Xu Ai wasn't interested in male creatures. Her brother was no exception.
She gave Xu Gang's shoulder a quick pat as a greeting, and his smiling mouth immediately drooped.
"Who would've thought? In just about two months, you've gone from a rookie who'd only just become a Martial Artist to an Elementary War God."
Liu Ting said with a smile. That's right, it was October now, two months since Xu Ai and the others had gone to the Wilderness Zone. She'd fully reached the Elementary War God Level, and then some!
"I wasn't a rookie who'd only just become a Martial Artist. When I passed the practical exam and became one, I was already at the War General Level."
Xu Ai protested.
"It doesn't matter how strong you were back then. All I know is, if the military hadn't told us, you would've kept us in the dark!"
Xu Gang was still disgruntled when he thought about it. As Xu Ai's very, very, very closest brother—or so he thought—he hadn't even been the first to hear the news! That was just too much!
Xu Ai smiled awkwardly.
"Ahem. What's a surprise supposed to be? See? Wasn't this a big surprise?"
"Heh."
Xu Gang turned away with an expression that said, "I'm mad. I'm not talking to you."
Xu Xin opened her mouth, looking somewhat resentfully at Xu Gang.
Darn it! Xu Gang had said everything she wanted to say and even done all the expressions and gestures. What was a big sister supposed to do now?
As expected of the big brother. When it came to acting all tsundere and being a doting sibling, she, the little sister, had to admit defeat!
Xu Ai patted Xu Gang on the shoulder and said a few words to placate him. The doting brother immediately brightened up and forgave her.
A doting brother really was easy to fool!
Watching Xu Gang beam, Xu Xin couldn't help rolling her eyes at him. Then she smiled at Liu Qingling and the others.
"Qingling, thank you all for looking after my little sister. I've reserved a private room at the HR Alliance Mall. Let's have lunch together."
"Sounds good."
Everyone nodded. It was already past eleven, close to noon, so they might as well have a meal before heading home.
Xu Xin smiled and turned around. Seeing Xu Gang still standing there, she couldn't help giving him a tap.
"Let's go."
With that, Xu Xin led the way, and Xu Ai followed with Liu Qingling and the others.
"Hey, wait for me!"
They took a fast car reserved for Martial Artists and traveled along a dedicated Martial Artist lane. Before long, the group arrived at the HR Alliance Mall.
Once they entered the private room, Xu Xin passed the menu around. After everyone had ordered, she added a few more dishes and asked the server to prepare them.
Feeling their gazes repeatedly falling on her, Xu Xin looked helplessly at Xu Ai, who had her head lowered.
"You've looked at me so many times. What's wrong?"
"Um, Sis..."
Xu Ai couldn't hold it in any longer. Leaning close to her ear, she whispered:
"Were you swaying your hips when you walked just now?"
"???"
Xu Xin was utterly baffled. After thinking it over, she finally understood what Xu Ai meant and couldn't help rolling her eyes at her.
"What do you mean, swaying my hips? It's called a catwalk, and I wasn't swaying my hips!"
"You're not a model. Why are you doing a catwalk?"
Xu Ai pouted. Xu Xin wasn't actually swaying her hips, but whenever she watched her walk, Xu Ai just couldn't stop her gaze from drifting downward.
"By the way, Sis, you never used to walk like that. Why did you suddenly start?"
Xu Xin's old stride hadn't been wide and bold like Long Xing's, but it hadn't been so alluring either...
"What? Does it look bad?"
Xu Xin leaned close to Xu Ai's ear and whispered, "Tingting and Auntie said men like sexy beauties, so they insisted I practice. After walking like that for a while, I got used to it without realizing."
Listening to Xu Xin explain, then seeing the eager look in her eyes, how could Xu Ai not understand what was going on?
Damn you, Luo Feng!!!
But her sister's hip-swaying—Ahem! Her catwalk really did look good~(ˉ﹃ˉ)
"Xiao Ai, you're going to the Elite Training Camp next, right?"
Ye Yu put a piece of meat in Xu Ai's bowl and asked.
With Xu Ai's talent, it seemed perfectly natural for her to go to the Elite Training Camp.
"No, no..."
Xu Ai shook her head over and over. She wasn't going to the Elite Training Camp! Why would she go?
Ye Yu sighed, though after thinking about it, she figured it might be better if Xu Ai didn't go.
"Really? That makes sense. With Ruthless Councilor around, you don't need to go to the Elite Training Camp to earn resources."
In fact, with Xu Ai's strength and her tenfold Force Amplitude, she wouldn't need to earn anything. The moment she entered, they'd surely invest resources in her.
But those resources definitely wouldn't include Vegetation Spirits. They weren't of much use to Xu Ai now that she was already at the War God Level.
And the Gravity Chamber... Forget it. She might as well train at home...
They finished the meal quickly. After all, they'd been away from home for nearly two months, and everyone wanted to get back as soon as possible.
After saying goodbye, the group went their separate ways.
Xu Ai naturally went home too. She had to visit the Xu Family Old Residence, after all. Her family hadn't approved of her taking part in the battle for City 0551...
Before you continue