I Want to Know More About You

The night was deep. Outside the Barbecue Shop, Lin Yue, who had just eaten until her mouth was slick with grease, was now slowly rubbing her belly.

"So full~"

For the sake of preserving the last shreds of her lady-like image, she held back from burping in front of Zhu Li and Chen Xi.

"Who told you to eat so much? Like a starving ghost reincarnating."

Holding her cola, Chen Xi silently threw out a jab.

"It's not my fault the barbecue was too good." Lin Yue retorted, circling around to Zhu Li's side, trying to find agreement. "You think so too, right, Zhu Li?"

This was a lie. The real reason was that she'd become somewhat rich in a certain sense—money refreshed the moment she died, so of course she had cash now.

Zhu Li didn't type anything, just nodded in agreement.

"Enough about that." Tossing away her drink casually, Chen Xi asked, "Zhu Li, did you send a message to the Countermeasure Bureau about the Evil Flower appearing?"

The red-haired girl heard this and made an OK gesture.

This kind of cross-Federation supernatural criminal organization wasn't something for low-Rank Transcendents like them, at the first or second Rank, to handle.

It was best to just toss the problem to the Spark Federation.

Since they were near the school's Barbecue Shop anyway, the two chose to send Lin Yue back to campus first.

Taking the backpack holding the Chainsaw Cleaver, the blonde girl stood at the school gate and waved goodbye to them excitedly.

"Bye~"

She'd finally survived a second night. For her, this was a major technical breakthrough.

The moment Lin Yue left, the atmosphere turned much quieter.

On the street, only a few scattered drunks looking for a drink remained.

Chen Xi opened her phone to check the time—it was already one in the morning.

The black-haired girl habitually operated her phone. "Where do you live? I'll call a cab to take you back."

Zhu Li didn't respond. Instead, she silently stopped Chen Xi's right hand, then picked up her phone, which had already been typed on, and started text-to-speech.

"I fly faster than a car. I'll take you."

Zhu Li's eyes were teasing, and the voice continued playing. "Rare that I guessed what you were going to say."

Chen Xi thought it over and didn't refuse. "Okay."

Twenty-plus years of habitual thinking had made her subconsciously overlook the convenience of abilities.

Maybe once Lin Yue advanced in Rank and had enough mana, she could be this extravagant and take her flying through the sky and earth.

Seeing her agree, Zhu Li led her into a hidden street alley.

Flames extended behind her, forming wings like a Crimson Flame Butterfly.

Zhu Li stepped forward and hugged her from behind.

"Uh..." With Zhu Li's arms wrapped around her chest, the unaccustomed Chen Xi let out a soft grunt.

Seeing this, Zhu Li quickly let go and looked at her with confusion.

Even without writing, after this time together, Chen Xi could read her meaning.

[What's wrong? Uncomfortable?]

"No." Chen Xi's expression was awkward.

A girl's body was much more sensitive than a guy's. She hadn't fully adjusted yet, and under Zhu Li's bear hug, it was natural to lose composure.

She took a moment to steady her breath, then said, "Go ahead and hug."

Hearing this, Zhu Li's movements became much gentler, looking as if she was just leaning against Chen Xi's back.

Once sure everything was fine, Zhu Li lifted off from the spot with Chen Xi.

High in the sky, Chen Xi looked down at this unfamiliar world.

"This is my first time seeing the world from this perspective. It's so strange."

And, a little hot...

Although Zhu Li was consciously controlling the temperature, in the middle of summer, no matter how she adjusted the heat, fine beads of sweat kept forming on Chen Xi's forehead.

The observant girl noticed her "discomfort" and sped up her flight.

"We're here."

Having used up most of her mana, the two finally reached their destination.

For convenience, Zhu Li simply landed on the rooftop.

These old residential buildings usually only had eight floors anyway, and she remembered clearly that Chen Xi's home was on the sixth floor.

Chen Xi finally returned to her little nest, which she hadn't seen all day. She looked back at Zhu Li, who was still standing at the door and hadn't come in.

"Want a glass of milk?"

Zhu Li waved her hand, but then stepped closer to Chen Xi's side.

She handed over a crumpled, wrinkled sticker, and before Chen Xi could say anything, turned and walked away from the doorway.

Chen Xi smoothed the sticker flat; it still carried a trace of warmth.

[After you settle that matter of yours, can you spare one last day just for me? I want to know more about what kind of person it is who's going to kill me.]

Nothing gets past that observant Zhu Li...

Chen Xi was silent for a moment, then took a deep breath and shouted toward the stairwell.

"Fine!!!"

Zhu Li, standing on the fourth step, heard the reply, a faint blush coloring her cheeks as she hurried down the stairs.

Listening to the sound of footsteps fading below, confirming she'd been heard, Chen Xi slammed the door shut.

What a full and wonderful day—if only Wu Xin hadn't shown up.

"I thought you'd tell her the truth."

The white-haired woman was half-reclining on the sofa, legs crossed in a relaxed pose.

"Not planning to ask them for help? I'll give you time, you know."

"You came just to say that?" Chen Xi was perfectly composed, not even activating her Berserk ability.

Wu Xin's face fell into a pitiful expression, her tone aggrieved: "You've changed so much. Just a day ago, little Xi wouldn't dare talk back to me."

Chen Xi shot her a sharp glare. "Don't call me that."

"Alright, alright, I'll get to business then."

Wu Xin dropped her playful facade. "Three days from now, when the typhoon hits, let's end this at the teaching building."

"My Ascension Ritual has already locked onto you and Lin Yue, so I can't swap targets anymore."

Chen Xi weighed her words. "Why tell me this?"

"Because it's part of my Ascension Ritual too."

A wine glass filled with red liquid had somehow appeared in Wu Xin's hand.

"The more you know, the greater the reward when I kill you."

That brimming smile returned to her face.

"The Legend I wield, the 'Faceless One,' is actually extremely weak at the first stage compared to other top-tier Legends."

"But once I ascend to the second stage, all my abilities will undergo earth-shattering changes."

"With a bit of preparation, going toe-to-toe with a third-stage Transcendent isn't just a pipe dream."

Wu Xin stared at her with solemn intensity.

"So, the fate of the world rests on your shoulders, little Xi. Don't let me kill you."

"Heh." Chen Xi let out a scoff.

"Don't worry. I'll tear the Snow Woman's face right off your body."

"No need to be so harsh." Wu Xin chuckled softly, then dissolved into strands of silk that scattered in all directions.

"Chen Xi."

Her ethereal voice echoed through the room.

"Let's end this slaughter in the cruelest, most terrifying, most primal way possible."