Practice More If You're Bad!

Luo Bai had thought a conflict might break out next, but he hadn't expected Professor X to apologize so quickly.

But... if anyone else had been in Professor X's position, they probably would have admitted fault even faster.

After all, Professor X—no, all the members of the X-Men—were currently crammed onto a stone step. Below them was an unfathomable abyss stretching thousands of feet into the sky.

After experiencing ten whole minutes of free-falling just now, Professor X truly had no desire to try it again.

Heaven knew how terrifying that had been. For one brief moment, he had even figured out how to divide up his inheritance.

Of course, that was only one reason.

The other was that Luo Bai had been featured in the news. He was wildly popular now, with his fame soaring ever higher.

If the X-Men made a move here, they would undoubtedly make the front-page headlines within half a day.

If the media wrote something like, "Mutant X-Men provoke superhero Soul Mage," then all of Professor X's previous efforts would go to waste.

With those two reasons combined, Professor X did not dare offend Luo Bai lightly.

So he chose the friendliest approach and apologized first.

Seeing his sincere attitude, Luo Bai made no further move and calmly told them to leave. "I believe you've all seen Lorna's attitude, so please return."

Professor X knew he would not be able to take Polaris away today, but there were still a few things he had to warn them about.

"Mage Luo Bai, Polaris's identity is very special. For now, she is still a 'wanted criminal.' The Association and the Special Services Bureau will inevitably send people to arrest her. If it truly comes to that, what will you do?" Professor X asked.

Although he often used his powers to invade other people's minds, Luo Bai had also made it clear that Professor X was kind and gentle by nature.

So his words were entirely meant as a well-intentioned warning.

Luo Bai did not answer his question, merely asking in return, "What crime did Polaris commit?"

Professor X's expression darkened as he answered solemnly, "She is a Mutant. She may pose a threat to society."

She was a Mutant... and she might pose a threat.

Hearing that answer, Luo Bai gave a soft laugh and continued, "Charles, do you think that accusation is reasonable?"

Professor X barely hesitated before answering firmly, "Of course it isn't. Lorna has never harmed anyone."

"Then why do you treat her as a 'criminal'?" Luo Bai asked.

"I have never considered Lorna a criminal!" Professor X hurriedly denied it.

Luo Bai smiled and asked back, "Then why did you bring all the X-Men?"

The X-Men were an organization founded to protect world peace.

Their deployment meant that world peace might be threatened.

To bring Polaris back, Professor X had brought nearly every member of the X-Men. Did that not explain everything?

Thinking of this, Professor X fell silent.

Seeing his silence, Luo Bai continued, "If you truly don't believe Polaris committed a crime, then what you should do is stop those people from hunting her down, not take her back with you."

"You just asked what I would do if people from the Association came looking for her. Actually, I want to ask you, Charles: if Polaris returned with you and they came demanding her afterward, would you hand her over or not?"

Luo Bai's words and question struck straight at the heart of the matter.

At that point, Professor X understood.

"I understand what you mean. Mr. Luo Bai, I am deeply sorry for disturbing you today. If the X-Men, or I, acted or spoke improperly in any way, I hope you can forgive us," Professor X said sincerely.

It seemed he had thought things through and intended to return.

Although the two sides had indeed had an unpleasant exchange earlier, Professor X's attitude had been good enough that Luo Bai did not intend to pursue the matter.

"I hope there won't be a next time," Luo Bai reminded him.

As his words fell, the surrounding scene returned to normal.

When the bottomless void beneath their feet turned back into tiled flooring, Professor X and the others finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"I don't think there will be a next time. After all, disturbing you too often would indeed be inappropriate," Professor X replied.

After speaking, he looked toward the X-Men behind him and said gently, "Let's go back."

With that, they left together with the X-Men.

Before leaving, Jean Grey unexpectedly turned back and glanced at Luo Bai.

The meaning behind that glance was unclear.

After Professor X's group had left, Luo Bai sat back down on the sofa.

Polaris looked flustered, her gaze shifting as though she were worried about something.

Luo Bai could not help comforting her. "Lorna, it's fine. They've already left."

As soon as he finished speaking, Polaris suddenly explained, "Mage Luo Bai, I didn't do it on purpose just now. You're not going to lock me in a dark room, are you???"

A dark room?

Only after she reminded him did Luo Bai recall that he really had said something like that before.

So Lorna had been worrying about that?

Come on, seriously?

He had only said it casually, yet Polaris still remembered it now?

This girl's memory was far too good.

Thinking that, Luo Bai sighed and reassured her, "Of course not. You were acting in self-defense. I understand."

"Thank you, Mage Luo Bai," Polaris said.

Her tone was calm and completely flat, without the slightest hint of happiness. Her expression remained solemn, as though something else was still weighing on her mind.

Before Luo Bai could ask, Polaris could no longer hold it in herself.

She suddenly raised her head and looked at Luo Bai apologetically. "Mage Luo Bai, I'm sorry. I've caused you trouble."

Luo Bai understood why she was apologizing, but he had not taken the matter to heart at all, so he replied casually, "If you were trouble, I wouldn't have kept you on as house staff."

He had known Polaris's identity and circumstances from the start. He had chosen to keep her because he simply did not care.

But Polaris still felt guilty and uneasy, so she could not help saying, "What Professor X said just now wasn't entirely wrong. I'm a wanted 'criminal,' and those people will come looking for me sooner or later. Mage Luo Bai, I know you probably don't like trouble. But I may still cause you trouble later."

Her identity meant her life was destined to be anything but peaceful, and anyone close to her would be dragged into it.

On the surface, Luo Bai and Polaris seemed to have an employer-employee relationship.

But after spending this time together, Luo Bai was not merely an "employer" to Polaris. He was also a friend.

She worried that her identity would keep causing Luo Bai trouble, so she began considering leaving.

In that short span of time, Polaris thought of many things and even staged an entire emotional drama in her mind.

However, Luo Bai did not really understand her concerns.

After all, he had already made it clear that he did not care about trouble, yet Polaris was still saying this.

It made Luo Bai unable to resist teasing, "Don't tell me you're planning to break the agreement and run away? We agreed on three months, but you've only worked one month and already want to run?"

"Of course not," Polaris hurriedly explained. "Professor X is actually quite reasonable. I'm only worried that people from the Association will come later. It may not be so easy to handle then."

Luo Bai replied casually, "Then when they come next time, just go outside and deal with them all. Don't let me know about it."

"Me?" Polaris froze. After a moment, she could not help replying, "But... I can't beat them."

Luo Bai shrugged and answered seriously, "Practice more if you're bad."

Bad??

Huh?

Me???!

I have the power to control magnetic fields!!! I'm bad? Me?!

Well... I really am kind of bad...