"The whole Magic City is so huge. Where are we supposed to find a shadow beast with Shadow Element abilities...?" Ai Tutu lay slumped over the table, looking as though she had nothing left to live for.
"Everyone else is in the same boat, so there's no need for us to rush," Mu Nujiao said.
"Thank you for bringing along a not-so-useful Healing Element mage like me," Ye Xin Xia said.
"Don't put yourself down like that, Xin Xia. You have no idea how many men see a Healing Element girl as their goddess! And you're so pretty, too..." Ai Tutu folded her arms across her chest, looking indignant on behalf of both Xin Xia and the Healing Element. There was even a hint of sour jealousy in her manner.
"Listen to what you're telling Xin Xia. You make her sound like a decorative vase." Mu Nujiao couldn't help snickering. How was that supposed to comfort anyone? "Xin Xia just needs to heal us when we get hurt."
"No, that's not-Xin Xia, that's not what I meant!" Ai Tutu's expression changed. She glared at Mu Nujiao and hurried to explain herself to Xin Xia.
"Don't worry. I definitely won't let you get hurt!" Ye Xin Xia was brimming with enthusiasm and hadn't taken Ai Tutu's words to heart.
"The Main Campus assessment?" Lu Ling appeared just then and asked.
"Yes. The academy wants us to capture a shadow beast that escaped from the military," Mu Nujiao nodded, giving him a sweet smile.
All told, they had been living together for almost a month, and had shed their reserve around one another.
"Could you give us pretty girls a few pointers, Pearl White King? Big Brother Lu Ling? Lu Ling?" Ai Tutu immediately sidled up, shamelessly begging for help, her whole body almost pressing against him.
Pearl... White King? Lu Ling felt awkward. Where had this girl dug up a title from two years ago?
"Ai Tutu, you'll scare my brother like that." Ye Xin Xia's voice cooled a little, though she kept smiling.
"It's fine. As for shadow beasts... they like beef." Lu Ling shook his head, then turned and left after dropping that remark.
Ye Xin Xia and the others stared at one another.
"Was that... a hint for us?"
"Obviously! Hurry up and look for beef warehouses!"
Very soon, Young Lady Mu put her searching skills to work and found all the warehouses in the Magic City that stockpiled large quantities of beef.
The second-floor balcony.
"Ling Ling."
"What?"
"The Black Vatican might be about to show up."
There was a brief pause on the phone before a voice came through again.
"Could you be more specific?"
It was no longer the voice of Ling Ling, who stood no taller than a meter and a half. In its place was a cool, capable, mature voice with an imposing presence.
"Senior Sister Leng Qing." A flicker of surprise crossed Lu Ling's eyes. He hadn't expected Leng Qing to take over the call so quickly. "Pearl Academy is holding its Main Campus assessment over the next few days. The Black Vatican might make a move on the Earth Sacred Spring."
"Understood. The Black Vatican has indeed been more active in the Magic City lately than before. The Magic Association's Enforcement Union has already stepped up its efforts," Leng Qing said. After a moment's silence, she asked, "Will you be contributing to this operation too?"
"Obviously. Five million for a gray-cloak, twenty million for a black-cloak, a hundred million for a blue-cloak..." Lu Ling counted carefully on his fingers, like an utterly stingy, unscrupulous merchant tallying a bill down to the last penny.
No sound came through the phone for a long while. Lu Ling vaguely seemed to hear an unfamiliar laugh, one that wasn't Ling Ling's.
"Looks like you're already a repeat offender. Stay in touch. I'll keep you updated with intelligence on the Black Vatican," Leng Qing said. Her voice had returned to its usual cool maturity, the kind that could most readily stir a young man's burning heart.
"All right. I'll contact you when necessary too."
"Mm. That's all for now."
The call ended.
Lu Ling turned to look beside him and smiled softly. "You heard everything?"
At this moment, she showed none of her usual gentle grace, only the resolve to plunge through boiling water and raging fire for this, for anything.
"Yes. Is there anything I can help with?" In the dim light, Ding Yumian looked like an assassin ready to act on orders at any moment.
"No need to be so serious." Lu Ling stepped forward and took her into his arms.
"Ah..."
The unexpected embrace instantly drained more than half the imposing air Ding Yumian had built up. Her picturesque face must have looked like the setting sun now, a faint pink gradually taking over.
"Have you awakened your third element?" Lu Ling asked.
"Mm... the Shadow Element." Ding Yumian came back to her senses but didn't break free of his embrace.
The two remained in that intimate position, embracing and talking.
"The Shadow Element..." More than a year had passed since Lu Ling began helping Ding Yumian control her Psychic Calamity Soul Body.
In other words, Ding Yumian had cultivated her Psychic Element at full speed during that time and had broken through to the Advanced Level long ago!
"I know cultivating your Psychic Element is as easy as eating and drinking for you." Lu Ling released her. Silver light flashed in his hand, and a pair of exquisite earrings and a necklace appeared in his palm.
"But your other elements should be just like an ordinary person's." He fixed Ding Yumian with a gaze that brooked no refusal and personally fastened the necklace around her neck.
"This is Star River Magic Equipment. It'll be enough for you to cultivate to the Advanced Level."
"It's so valuable." Ding Yumian didn't know how to refuse either; Lu Ling had forced her to wear it. She simply stared blankly at the person before her, unusual ripples stirring in her eyes.
"These earrings are defensive magic tools and energy-restoring magic equipment. When necessary, they can restore fifty percent of your magical energy and block one fatal blow." Lu Ling continued explaining as he put the earrings on Ding Yumian as well.
Hm? Her ears aren't pierced? Lu Ling couldn't help laughing inwardly. He had almost forgotten that Yu Mian, too, was a natural beauty who wore no makeup.
With that thought, he hardened his hand.
"That hurts..." Ding Yumian closed her eyes in pain and soon understood where the sting had come from.
"Who just goes and pierces someone else's ears like that?!" She puffed out her cheeks and lightly struck Lu Ling's chest with her little clenched fist.
"Now we're even." Lu Ling chuckled, splitting his attention to complete the Healing Element Star Map.
"That's not even remotely equal..." Before she finished complaining, she saw two butterflies wreathed in warm white light slowly fly out beside Lu Ling.
Healing Sprite!
The two butterflies gently fluttered their wings and flew to either side of Ding Yumian's hair, tenderly healing the wounds on her earlobes.
"You look quite pretty like this." With the butterflies beside her, Ding Yumian looked incomparably holy.
"It really hurt." She was still complaining.
There was probably no second person in the world so extravagant and strange as to use Healing Sprite to pierce ears.
Lu Ling gently tidied Ding Yumian's hair.
"It's not valuable at all. To me, you're more important." He was answering her earlier remark.
At his words, Ding Yumian's gaze shifted. She wanted to say something but couldn't get it out. Yet she could feel that every word the person before her spoke was utterly sincere.
One year.
Over this year, she had experienced many things she had never had in her earlier life: warmth, companionship... and family.
"If you want to help, of course I won't refuse," Lu Ling said. "You can help me protect Mu Nujiao and the other two. They might run into the Black Vatican during the Main Campus assessment."
"..."
"Your life is linked to Netherworld's. From now on, my life will be linked to yours too!" Ding Yumian suddenly raised her head, utterly resolute.
Lu Ling froze for a moment.
That determined look... it really was rare!
He finally understood just what kind of look his master saw in his eyes.
"All right." Lu Ling took her into his arms again.
"Don't forget to protect them."
"I won't forget!"