ใ
Finally, unable to watch any longer, Jiang Yao took the initiative to come downstairs and separate the two entangled figures.
At last, they could eat this meal.
Jiang Lingwei hadnโt prepared much, nothing extravagantโjust some ribs stewed simply in the pressure cooker, a stir-fry of eggs and tomatoes, and some spicy green peppers with dried tofu.
The flavor wasnโt anything that would blow someone away, but it was a notch above average.
Still, Jiang Cheng looked utterly famished. If not for his daughter being present, it seemed like he might even swallow the bowl itself.
โIs it really necessaryโฆ?โ
Having a smaller appetite and finishing first, Jiang Lingwei patted his back helplessly and said, โItโs just home cooking. If you want more, I can make it for you again. Eat slowly, donโt choke.โ
He groaned happily.
โThis is pure happiness, Lingwei. I feel like itโs been centuries since I last ate something this delicious.โ
Jiang Cheng mumbled with his mouth full, clutching the bowl tightly as if he wouldnโt let it go.
โThatโs hardly an exaggerationโฆ And since when did you start calling me โLingweiโโฆโ
Jiang Lingwei had a feeling that if the one patting Jiang Chengโs back wasnโt herself, Jiang Cheng would have already bared his teeth to defend his food.
At that moment, Jiang Yao had already put down her chopsticks and glanced at her phone.
Then she leaned over and called out, โMom, I want to go out for a bit.โ
โHm?โ
Jiang Lingwei looked up and asked, โHow long will you be gone?โ
โMaybe a little late,โ the girl said.
โXiaobai was taken to the pet store for grooming. Now they want me to pick him up, so I have to go.โ
โBโฆโ
Jiang Lingwei wanted to go with her at first, but recalling Xiaobaiโs true identity, she stopped herself and only nodded, saying, โโฆAlright, just come back early if you can. Contact me if anything happens. There was a dark invasion earlier today, so the streets might not be safe.โ
As expected of a daughter, even Jiang Cheng, who was ravenous just moments ago, raised his head and said with concern, โBe careful on the road.โ
Seeing that neither of them intended to stop her, Jiang Yao gave an โOKโ hand gesture and turned to leave.
Ten minutes later.
On the rooftop of a tall building, the transformed magical girl, Crystal, looked down from above at the city lights.
Despite all the destruction that had happened during the day, by nightfall the city was once again brightly lit.
People seemed unaffected. Aside from some streets still under repair, the food stalls and commercial areas were packed with customers again.
In fact, many of those streets had just been damaged earlier that day.
One had to admitโthe stone masonry team working with the local construction crews were incredibly fast.
This was the same guy who had complained to her for ages on WeChat about being exhausted and refusing to move anymore today, then posted a photo in his Moments looking every bit like he was commanding the world while wearing a red hatโhardly someone tired.
Beside her, Xiaobai carefully shifted its body to snuggle closer, silently watching the city below as well.
โSo beautiful,โ Xiaobai finally spoke after a long pause.
โIn my hometown, only the royal capital has a scene like this. But even then, it wouldnโt be such a vast and grand city.โ
โSo this is a world without magic? How wonderfulโฆโ
โHa ha.โ
Jiang Yao smiled and reached out to tap Xiaobaiโs head gently.
โMagic can do things like this too. But many things that require magic canโt be done by us. You, if you had a bit of scientific knowledge, would understand what it means to create a crystal out of thin air. If anythingโs truly mysterious, itโs magic itselfโit makes no sense at all.โ
โโฆIt means the possibility of manipulating antimatter, that energy can be converted into matter, and maybe even controlling entropyโฆโ
Xiaobai murmured softly.
โYeahโฆ huh?!โ
Jiang Yao turned in shock to look at the small white ball beside her.
โYou knew that?โ
โYeahโฆโ
Xiaobai lifted its head. Its tiny eyes were already brimming with tears, whiskers trembling as it said, โI havenโt told you my story yet, have Iโฆโ
โMm.โ
The girl gently picked up the white ball, placed it on her lap, and hugged it while looking out over the distant city.
โWe came here today for that, didnโt we? Only you and I can know what happened today, so tell me.โ
โOkay.โ
Then, Xiaobai told her a storyโa story so clichรฉ it would surely be scolded by readers if placed in a novel.
One day, in the fairy world of the Dragon Spine Mountains, an ancient fairy clan gave birth to a child.
His father was the clan leader. Because of his fondness for this child, he even went against popular opinion to name him after a certain ancestor considered a traitor.
So this child was named โBai IIโ (White the Second).
Of course, his father did not believe that ancestor was a traitor to the Light Fairies.
He always thought that the ancestor, who had written many magic books and held his own optimistic views on things, was a wise man who spent his life helping others and teaching apprentices.
How could he be a traitor simply because a few manuscripts were found under ruins?
What power could the darkness have offered him? He was already a magic grandmaster.
Or was it power? Wealth?
If so, the records wouldnโt show so many stories of him helping others and traveling far and wide.
Influenced by his father, young Bai II also admired the unknown wise ancestor deeply.
But it didnโt work out.
โMagic power: Level Three!โ
That day, seeing the number on the test stone tablet, Bai II was filled with pain.
No matter how hard he tried, his talent just wasnโt enough.
Normally, someone his age with this level of magic power would be considered passable.
But what about the cost behind it?
As the clan leaderโs son, Bai II enjoyed the best resources, the most practice materials, countless magic cultivation tomes, and spellbooks to choose from. Yet, after all that, he was only on par with an ordinary fairy.
And visibly, the gap would only widen from here.
Everyone was optimistic and kind-hearted Light Fairies, so no one openly looked down on him.
His friends and family seriously considered his future, suggesting he try making magical equipment or become a blacksmith.
That made Bai II even more miserable.
No one mocked him, but no one respected him either.
The fairiesโ kindness meant they wouldnโt kick someone when they were down, but they wouldnโt praise him without reason either.
Bai II couldnโt take it anymore. After bidding farewell to his parents, he left home, wielding two magical twin blades.
He fought a dark magic dragon of the fairy world, barely surviving with half his life.
He left behind the nickname โThe Wandering Twin Bladesโ as his rite of passage and part of his name.
Still, Bai II was in pain.
Those two magical twin blades were treasures from his father. Even with such weapons, he almost died.
Too weak. So weak.
No one said it, but Bai II could feel the pity in everyoneโs eyes.
A kind of pity born from disdain.
While he was nursing his wounds, a series of events involving the ruins and a teleportation gate occurred, revealing a new worldโthe human worldโto all fairies.
At this time, in his pain, he began reading books brought back by fairies who had visited the human world.
Gradually, an idea formed in Bai IIโs mind.
Maybe that ancestor wasnโt a traitor nor dead, but had used an unstable teleportation array to go to the human world?
He read many human books and many records about that ancestor.
The more he read, the more obsessed he becameโpractically โpossessedโ by magic standards.
He even dreamed of the ancestor at nightโa fairy shaped like a little ball, with a white beard, chuckling softly.
Thus, Tangula Aifeiyale Snide, from the Dragon Spine Mountains, known as the Wandering Twin Blades of the Jianghu, Bai II, resolved to come to the human world to find traces of his ancestor!
โโAnd thatโs the story. Itโs over nowโฆโ
Xiaobaiโs voice was low.
โSo now you understand why Iโm so unreliable. Yes, I only learned some contract magic and various miscellaneous spells.โ
โI was supposed to be a strong, dependable fairy coming to Mudong City. At least, not too weak. Because every fairy coming to the human world has to pass a test.โ
โI couldnโt pass the test, so Iโฆ Iโฆโ
Xiaobai said painfully, โI cheated. I took the place of the fairy who was supposed to come here.โ
โIโm sorry. Iโm really sorryโฆ Iโm uselessโฆ I thought this was just a small city, and that nothing big would happen hereโฆโ
โAlright, alright.โ
Jiang Yao held the little ball to stop it from trembling any further.
โStop crying, or my socks will be soaked.โ
โCrystalโฆโ
โListen, Xiaobai, I donโt care about that.โ
Jiang Yao squeezed the soft, warm body of the fairyโmuch better to hold than an ordinary pillow.
She then looked up at the night sky. The white moonlight bathed her face. Not as bright as the sun, but also not glaring.
โIn the past, I wanted to be a magical girl not to protect others or be a hero.โ
โI just wanted to do it for myself.โ
She turned Xiaobai to face her, looking into its eyes as she said, โIโm not as good as Opal. Sheโs the real magical girl. Even though sheโs scared, she bravely stands up. If anyone deserves your apologies, itโs her.โ
โAs for me, Iโm just an unreliable selfish brat, which suits you perfectly. If a serious, responsible me showed up, I wouldnโt be able to handle it.โ
โDSโฆโ
Xiaobaiโs tears streamed down wildly as it whimpered and suddenly threw itself into Jiang Yaoโs embrace.
โWaaah!!!โ
โStop cryingโฆโ
โWuuuuuu!!!โ
โStop crying!โ โWaaahโฆโ
โXiaobai! Want a kick?!โ โIโm not crying anymore, heheโฆโ
ใCurrently Available Informationใ
Most dark and light fairies like to eat potato chips after coming to the human world, especially dark fairies who have a particular fondness for Crying Potato Chips.
They say the Crying Potato Chipsโ packaging is filled with lots of air, making them extremely evil~