Chapter Thirty-One: Let’s Change It
Did they leave? Did they leave correctly?
Yuan Xiaoling didn’t know, because she was being carried by Bai Ling, her head buried down as her little mouth stuck to Bai Ling’s ear, unable to see the surroundings clearly.
Bai Ling’s steps paused slightly, sensing a bit of confusion in direction.
My bad, I got distracted.
Yuan Xiaoling silently muttered in her heart and continued singing wholeheartedly:
”Cherry blossoms in the hands of lovers, smiling while strolling through spring colors. Planted are, one by one, the dazzling youth~”
The guidance from the wind chimes became clear again, and Bai Ling started walking. Though her steps were slow, each step moved steadily toward the gates of Four Squares Academy.
All the old illusions, detestable voices, and bloody smells were all blocked outside by the girl’s fragrant and soft body.
They hadn’t exchanged a single word; one was focused on singing, the other on listening, as if walking quietly along a mountain path lined with nameless weeds swaying gently in the breeze after the rain.
After some time, the gate of the courtyard was within reach.
”Stealthily, longing, that is the scent of our love~”
Having finished the last line of the song, Yuan Xiaoling had just caught her breath when she suddenly noticed a woman’s silhouette at the entrance of the yard.
Li Yuehong… no, it was Inner Stone of the Mind.
”What’s wrong?”
Bai Ling wanted to ask what happened, but due to her mouth being stuffed with Dabeitù, her speech was muffled.
”It’s nothing,” Yuan Xiaoling miraculously understood her meaning, “just a small issue.”
Then she used another tiny hand to cover Bai Ling’s ears instead of her own cherry lips.
”You’ve escaped,” she heard Inner Stone of the Mind say, “but was it all worth it?”
Yuan Xiaoling almost laughed, “Why stay inside? Should we just stick around for your company?”
”Remaining in the spiritual world, the greatest pain you face is nothing more than things you’ve already experienced. But once you go out, back into human society, you’ll face countless unknown calculations.”
Yuan Xiaoling hesitated, then pouted her little mouth, “Sounds like you’re making it seem like life only has bad things. Is there no good stuff out there?”
There’s good food, fun stuff, and even Limei Ning… cough, anyway, can you do that here?
Inner Stone of the Mind stopped trying to persuade her, the woman’s shadow dissipating to both sides.
”We will meet again.”
”Thanks for the invite, but we don’t want to see you again,” Yuan Xiaoling patted Bai Ling’s head, “Alright, let’s keep going.”
It seemed Inner Stone of the Mind did not attempt to block them anymore, Bai Ling walked forward steadily, stepping over the gates of Four Squares Academy.
Taking this moment, Yuan Xiaoling pulled her collar up again.
After passing through the courtyard gates and walking about a hundred meters towards the foot of the mountain, several people anxiously waited beside a camouflage off-road vehicle.
”Uh, I wonder if Miss Yuan will come back,” Wu Bian was just muttering when he looked up and saw two beautiful girls, surprising him so much he nearly fell over, “You’re back!”
Luo Zhou Cheng secretly wiped a cold sweat, revealing a relieved smile.
What a relief, finally saved, no need to die together.
Li Li leaned on the car window, dumbfounded, “There were footprints, it wasn’t an illusion… how did you manage?”
Indeed, how did they manage. Bai Ling was also curious how Yuan Xiaoling knew the method of singing, and how she thought to use Dabeitù to shield her five senses.
But now, she didn’t feel like asking at all, just wanting to enjoy the comfort of surviving this ordeal.
If only there was a couples’ hotel at the foot of the mountain, unfortunately, it was a barren mountain range, not even a convenience store.
Similarly uninterested in asking was Xiao Su sitting in the back seat. She didn’t quite understand what happened, but seeing everyone safe, she happily clapped her hands, like an uninformed audience member at the edge of a sports field.
”Let’s go back first,” Yuan Xiaoling got into the car, “Li Li, inform your people. You should know what happened, anything unclear, just ask.”
”…Oh.”
Today, apart from Li Li, Xiao Su, and the party involved Dai Hengzhu, all others from the Tianhai Countermeasures Group office were dispatched.
Luo Xing was leading a few people conducting exchanges at the Municipal Building of Tianhai City, explaining the importance and contributions of his department.
”Our countermeasures group has been established for a year. Previously, we worked with the Chamber of Commerce, achieving remarkable success in standardizing the code of conduct for Spiritual Energy Manipulators in Tianhai City. Now, facing the foreseeable increasing threats and conflicts, we need to work together under Director Dai’s leadership to build a harmonious and mutually beneficial new era for ordinary people and Spiritual Energy Manipulators in Tianhai City.”
The leaders below nodded in agreement.
At this point, Luo Xing’s phone buzzed, he reluctantly picked it up.
”What is it, Li Li? I’m in a meeting right now. Is there something Director Dai wants me to relay?”
After listening for about a minute, Luo Xing’s expression changed several times.
”What?! Director Dai betrayed humanity??!!”
Li Li told the truth, but how to explain it was her own business.
The off-road vehicle dropped them off outside the hotel, Yuan Xiaoling kindly waved and helped call them a cab.
”The place of Four Squares Academy, you definitely can’t go back to. Negotiate with the municipal government people, borrow a new office location. Hopefully, the data you stored can be downloaded from the cloud server, if not, well, it doesn’t matter anyway since there’s nothing really useful.”
Li Li thanked her, and left with Xiao Su, their hearts heavy with complex feelings.
Honestly, at this point, they didn’t even know what they were supposed to do next, or what they could even accomplish.
Hmmmm, send out a notice, remind the citizens of Tianhai City not to approach the barren mountain where Four Squares Academy is located, and if they happen to encounter some kind of “ghosts”, don’t panic too much, because panicking won’t help. In short, prepare mentally.
Compared to the powerless countermeasures group, Bai Ling had an idea as soon as she got out of the car.
Have someone set up a fence at the base of the barren mountain, find something that can create a strong magnetic field, and electrify it heavily.
After giving these instructions, she returned to the room with Yuan Xiaoling.
”Can this lock Inner Stone of the Mind inside?” Yuan Xiaoling asked.
Bai Ling shook her head, “Of course not, but it can weaken its outward extending power, reducing the probability and intensity of ghost appearances.”
In the future, an average of seven to eight random spawns per day, mainly second-tier, rare third-tier elites, would suffice. This phase was unavoidable anyway.
”Do you have a real way to deal with it?” Yuan Xiaoling placed the file bag on the bedside cabinet, “Is it hidden in here?”
Bai Ling leaned against the pillow, half-lying down, “Maybe, we’ll see. Let’s rest for now.”
Escaping from the vortex of life and death, self and chaos, could only be described as lucky. Honestly, before Yuan Xiaoling came in, she felt even more powerless than when she was at the blood donation center under Tianhai Bridge in her previous life.
”So you just rushed in to save me without hesitation?” she asked.
Yuan Xiaoling crossed her arms and humphed, “That’s right, underestimated me, huh? Let me tell you, I’m a pro healer player, played support in Dota, cats in League, songstress in Million Arthur, co-op with Xin Hai in Genshin Impact, supported White Dew in Honkai Star Rail, Paladin in Shadowverse.”
”And back then, you died too quickly under the overpass, didn’t hold on long enough for me to get there, otherwise, I would’ve revived you too.”
Actually, it wouldn’t have worked, but boasting never hurt anyone, right?
Bai Ling smiled faintly, sat up, pressed the young girl’s fragrant shoulders, and gently pushed her down.
”Thank you,” she said earnestly, “thank you.”
Yuan Xiaoling looked up at her, blinking innocently, “Could you get off me while you’re thanking me?”
It feels like you’re about to do something, which is kinda nerve-wracking.
Bai Ling smiled knowingly, “So I said thank you twice.”
”One is for saving my life, what’s the other?” Yuan Xiaoling activated her sharp mind, “Pre-thank for hospitality?”
She suddenly stiffened her little face, tightly closing her legs.
It turns out!
But… why does it feel so gentle?
Like the final few shells in artificial rainmaking, accompanied by a few drizzling raindrops, landing weakly on the ground.
Yuan Xiaoling hesitated for a while, finally couldn’t resist, and cautiously asked, “Bai Ling, did today’s incident make you a bit tired?”
Bai Ling paused slightly, “Yes, very tired. Why?”
Mainly mental exhaustion, wrestling with Inner Stone of the Mind on the consciousness level, keeping her nerves taut to avoid losing herself.
”Is it permanent damage or…” Yuan Xiaoling carefully observed her, “Should we find a Chinese medicine doctor?”
Limei Ning is worried about you, but doesn’t want to hurt your pride.
Bai Ling shrugged, understanding, “Alright.”
She originally wanted to repay Limei Ning, but Limei Ning seemed not to prefer gentle treatment.
Sorry, worrying you was her mistake, she’ll change it.
Three consecutive attacks rapidly stacking melee critical rhythm, conquering adding hard attack.
”Eh? That’s not what I meant… Ah!”
Though she suffered, discovering Bai Ling still had so much vitality made Limei Ning feel reassured, wailing softly.
——————-Volume Four: The Crown Not Crown (Part 1), Complete——————-
