Na'er's eyes suddenly lit up at the sight. She swiftly opened a can of her favorite Wangzai milk, then held it out to Bai Zhicen with both hands, fawning shamelessly.
Then she turned to An Lan, her little face full of disdain, and loudly defended Bai Zhicen. "Who are you looking down on? My Xiao Bai is invincible under heaven! Give her at most half a year, and she'll become a Three-Word Battle Armor Master—faster than the time you set!"
Bai Zhicen looked at Na'er, whose acting was impeccable, then at An Lan, whose expression remained calm. The corner of her mouth twitched. She silently grumbled to herself, Are these two little brats turning into spirits? They're singing the same tune, teaming up to gang up on me.
"Fine, I'll take the bet."
She steeled herself, took the "King's Wangzai" Na'er offered, and downed it in one go. Then she looked at An Lan. "It's only becoming a Three-Word Battle Armor Master, right? I'll definitely do it within half a year!"
Her competitive spirit blazed to life. She quickly calculated in her head: become a Level 7 Mecha Designer in three months, then use the remaining three months to upgrade her Two-Word Battle Armor to Three-Word Battle Armor. Come to think of it, it wasn't impossible.
But just as Bai Zhicen was brimming with ambition, dreaming of working a miracle in six months, Bai Haoze poured a bucket of cold water over her. "You can do it if you want, but I never said I would."
She had designed both of their Battle Armors herself. To become a Three-Word Battle Armor Master, she first had to become a Level 7 Mecha Designer before she'd be capable of designing the upgrade blueprints for Three-Word Battle Armor.
What was more, their Battle Armors had to suit their Martial Souls and accommodate the use of their Martial Soul Fusion Skill. Their designs were far more difficult than ordinary Three-Word Battle Armor.
Back when she'd designed their Two-Word Battle Armor, she'd revised the plans more than a dozen times, spending nearly four months before she finally settled on them.
Six months? She wasn't even a Level 7 Mecha Designer yet. Even if she already were, that wouldn't be enough time to perfect the blueprints. Become a Three-Word Battle Armor Master, my ass!
Hearing Bai Haoze, Na'er's disdainful expression only grew. She planted her hands on her hips and stuck out her chin as she loudly argued, "My Xiao Bai can handle Three-Word Battle Armor all by herself and become a Three-Word Battle Armor Master!"
"No, I can't!" Bai Zhicen hurriedly shook her head.
Seeing Na'er open her little mouth to argue some more, Bai Zhicen quickly opened a can of Wangzai and shoved it into her hands without further ado. "All right, all right, I give up, okay? Close your mouth and drink your milk."
This Bear Child was cutest when she wasn't talking.
Na'er happily took a big gulp of Wangzai. Her rosy little lips pursed, then she let out a tiny, milky burp and said with solemnity, "Xiao Bai, next time you open Wangzai for me, remember to hand it to me with both hands."
An Lan and Na'er stopped putting pressure on Bai Zhicen, but Na'er felt that since she'd offered Bai Zhicen the Wangzai with both hands, Bai Zhicen should also hand it back to her with both hands.
Bai Zhicen's mouth twitched again. She snatched the Wangzai from Na'er, then handed it back to her with both hands.
Only then did Na'er smile in satisfaction. She hugged her snacks and started eating, saying no more.
The trip back was just like the journey to Shrek City. The Amethyst Phoenix sped along without a hitch.
"Kids, we've arrived in Shangling City," Le Lingzhao reminded them from the cockpit.
Curious, Na'er went over to the window and looked outside.
The sky hadn't quite darkened yet. Twilight spilled over layer upon layer of buildings, and the warm orange sunset slanted across the streets. The clouds were tinged with soft, lingering colors.
The afterglow streamed across the staggered high-rises and crisscrossing avenues. The whole city lay submerged in the tranquil dusk.
An Lan had been sitting for a long time, so he stood and stretched.
Starting tomorrow, his days would be packed with cultivation and courses in secondary professions. But with two stunning teachers—the Azure-Eyed and Jade-Eyed sisters—and the little silver-haired girl keeping him company, life wouldn't be dull.
His gaze fell on Na'er's back as she conscientiously picked up the trash. He wondered which secondary profession he should have her study.
And there was the Phantom Sea Spirit Kun, dozing all day in his Sea of Consciousness. It was so intelligent, yet it spent every day slacking off. He wasn't about to keep a lazy spirit.
The next day, Yuanen Zhentian kept his word and brought Yuanen Tiandang's family over to pay a visit.
Since the matter concerned the Demon Plane, An Lan and Yuanen Yehui were too young to be involved.
While the adults discussed the "Demon Plane countermeasure plan" in the reception room and set up the "Anti-Demon Counterattack Alliance," An Lan took Yuanen Yehui and Na'er to wander around the Spirit Pagoda.
In the afternoon, Yuanen Yehui spotted her father and mother walking toward her from a distance. Thinking they'd come to take her home, she scratched her head and turned to say goodbye to An Lan.
"Huihui." Yehui hurried over and bent down, gently pulling her daughter into her arms.
Yuanen Yehui snuggled in her mother's embrace and looked up. "Mom, are we going home?"
A trace of unmistakable guilt flashed through Yehui's eyes. She gently stroked her daughter's hair and spoke softly. "Huihui, your father and I have to go take care of something very important. We might not be back for several days. Would you rather go home and wait, or stay here and play with your friends for a few days?"
She and her husband were heading to Shengtian City, where the Angel Family lived, to try to resolve the hidden danger of the Demon Gate within her. The trip wasn't particularly dangerous, but it wasn't suitable for bringing a child along.
Over the years, because she bore an Evil Martial Soul, she had deliberately cut off contact with the members of the Yuanen Family and stayed in her little courtyard, rarely going out.
Yuanen Yehui had likewise had little contact with the rest of the family as she grew up.
Although her grandfather, Yuanen Zhentian, looked out for her, the family had suffered an undeserved calamity because of her this time. She was always worried that some family members might take their resentment out on her daughter.
If anything like that happened while she and her husband were away, her father-in-law, as clan leader, would be caught between both sides when handling it.
After thinking it over, she decided to ask her daughter what she wanted. If she was willing to stay at the Spirit Pagoda, that would be best.
A mist instantly welled in Yuanen Yehui's red eyes. She hugged her mother tightly around the waist and pleaded softly, "Mom, can I go with you? I don't want to be apart from you."
"No, Huihui. You have to be good." Yehui gently patted her back and comforted her in a soft voice. "But don't be scared. Your dad and I will be back to keep you company very soon. It'll only be a few days."
"All right, then." Yuanen Yehui was reluctant, but she was very sensible and didn't keep begging to go. She tilted her little head and thought seriously before answering, "Then I'll stay here. I don't want to be home alone."
To her, a home without her parents felt unfamiliar, and her grandfather was too stern. So she'd rather stay with An Lan.
"Good." Yehui's worried heart finally settled. She had been deeply concerned that, with her and her husband away, her daughter might be mistreated if she went home.
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