Go Back to Mars, Earth Isn't Suitable for You

Mind-reading—this really was the most terrifying kind of magic in the world.

Thoughts were the last private territory a person had. Everyone, more or less, thought about things they only dared let themselves know.

If those things got exposed, it would be social death.

Li Wei was human too, not some saint. His thoughts were far from pure.

Seeing a bare white arm and immediately thinking of an illegitimate child—that was practically an innate talent for someone from his country. He couldn't control it.

"Ahem!" Li Wei composed himself.

"Miss Seraphine." He carefully kept his distance from Seraphine, making sure she had no way to touch him again before asking, "What exactly did you come to see me for? Could you explain it clearly?"

"Oh, it's like this." Seraphine finally got to the point.

Only then did Li Wei learn that Seraphine had heard the songs echoing through his mind while he was fighting, and had come running over in one of her artistic fits.

"How did you know where I lived?"

"I followed you while asking around. There happened to be a fat uncle taking a walk nearby with a whole bunch of keys hanging from his waist. I asked him about you, and he told me you lived here."

There was still un-dried sweat on Seraphine's forehead, and several damp strands of hair clung to her face. To catch up with Li Wei, this delicate young lady had truly given it her all.

But Li Wei was not touched. He merely sensed that something was off. "Wait. You could hear those songs back then? Doesn't that mean..."

"Even without physical contact, you can read minds from a distance?"

Fortunately, Seraphine answered, "I can, but I can't control that ability freely at all. So right now, I can't 'hear' what you're thinking. And usually, I can only sense other people's emotions—I can't hear clear, complete thoughts."

That was a relief. Li Wei relaxed a little.

After a brief conversation, he finally understood the purpose of Seraphine's visit—there was no other purpose. She had simply come to talk about music.

"No time!" Li Wei rejected her without hesitation.

I'm being hunted here, and you came to talk music with me?

Do you even know what kind of situation I'm in now?

Had this girl lived in an ivory tower her entire life without ever leaving home?

Uh, wait.

It seemed she really had barely ever gone out.

"Miss Seraphine, I have a lot of trouble to deal with. You'd better stop following me." Li Wei had already lost any interest in chatting with this greenhouse flower.

The Iron Fist Gang's pursuers could arrive at any moment. He needed to get out of here quickly.

"Go home. If you really want to talk about music, this isn't the time." After giving her one final piece of advice, Li Wei turned, picked up his luggage, and hurried downstairs.

He moved so quickly that Seraphine could not stop him in time.

Still, she hurried after him for several steps and called out, "Mr. Li Wei, I know you're in trouble right now—but I have a way to help you!"

"You?" Li Wei halted.

He was somewhat doubtful. "Do you really know what kind of trouble I've gotten myself into?"

"That fat man?"

"Yes." Li Wei became a little more hopeful.

If Seraphine knew fat Aubrey's identity and knew what consequences would follow after offending him, then she had not become completely disconnected from the real world.

Then perhaps when she said, "I have a way to help you," she truly did have one.

Li Wei was thinking this when Seraphine said worriedly:

"Mr. Li Wei, you beat that fat man into such a state, insulted him, and took his money. He'll definitely call the Enforcers to arrest you."

Li Wei: "..."

Perhaps Seraphine had learned Garen's skill. The moment she opened her mouth, she left him speechless.

"The Enforcers must be looking everywhere for you now. But it's okay—my father has a decent relationship with the Enforcers. You don't need to run. I'll ask him to find a way to bail you out."

"Then we can properly apologize to him. If we can obtain his forgiveness, it should be fine."

"Enough!" Li Wei finally could not listen anymore. "You want me to apologize to him and beg for his forgiveness? Do you know who he is?"

"Um... no."

Another stretch of silence followed.

"Seraphine?" He rubbed his forehead helplessly.

"Yes?" Seraphine blinked her large, watery eyes.

"How long has it been since you last went outside?"

"Well... six or seven years, I think?"

Li Wei: "..."

This time, he completely gave up.

This girl had clearly snuck out in a fit of excitement. She had not consulted her parents before coming—otherwise, she would not have been unaware of who Aubrey was.

And she expected to use her family's influence to settle this for him?

What a joke. It would be a miracle if Mr. Ervin did not accuse him of abducting his daughter, let alone help him.

"Go back to Mars. Earth isn't suitable for you." Li Wei turned to leave.

"Hey! Wait for me, Mr. Li Wei!" Seraphine held up her gold-embroidered princess dress and hurried after him in little high-heeled leather boots.

Seeing Li Wei about to get away, she could only persistently call after him, "Mr. Li Wei, I'm sorry for coming to you without understanding the situation. But please believe me—if you just ask, no matter what the situation is, I'll definitely do my best to help you."

Li Wei remained unmoved.

If this overly naive young lady could just stay farther away from him, that would already be the greatest help she could give him.

But Janna quietly poked her head out of his pocket and spoke to him through her thoughts:

"Mr. Summoner, I suggest you speak with Miss Seraphine."

"Huh? Why?"

"Because she is a mage."

"I know she's a mage." Of course Li Wei knew Seraphine was a mage. She was one in the game.

"But so what? She said she can't even control her own abilities right now. With that frail body and innocent mind of hers, she probably wouldn't be able to help at all in a real fight—"

"Uh, wait."

As he spoke, Li Wei suddenly realized something.

Perhaps Janna did not mean for Seraphine to help him fight.

"That's right." Janna explained, "Miss Seraphine is not merely a mage. She is a gifted genius mage with extraordinary aptitude, someone who naturally awakened magical power without any training."

"Her spiritual power is naturally incredibly strong."

"How strong?" Li Wei asked with interest.

He could not help recalling that, in Runeterra, those lucky people who naturally awakened magic without training and possessed innate magical abilities were indeed heaven-blessed prodigies with limitless potential.

Although Seraphine still could not control her gifts and was weak beyond belief in combat, she was already a genuine mage with magical power within her, capable of wielding magic.

And as a transcendent being, a mage could provide transcendent Faith Power.

"If Miss Seraphine can also become our companion, then at the very least, she can provide us with..."

"Faith Power equivalent to that of a thousand ordinary people."

"That much?" Li Wei could not help feeling tempted.

Although Seraphine's awakening alone was certainly not as meaningful as the awakening of a thousand people.

But Li Wei was currently beset by trouble and struggling to get started. What he lacked most was practical strength. If he could bring Seraphine into the fold as well, many of his current problems could be eased.

"However..." Li Wei looked at Seraphine with a complicated expression.

Her face was delicate and smooth, untouched by wind and rain.

Her hands were soft and slender, and had never touched a hammer or wrench.

Her feet were wrapped in expensive silk stockings and leather boots, and had never truly set foot on the ground.

Could he really pull a young lady born in the clouds back down to earth and make her a like-minded companion?

It was like trying to sell combs to a monk.

"Mr. Li Wei?" Seraphine still looked at him expectantly.

"Come with me." Li Wei decided to give it a try after all. "Let's have a proper talk."