Chapter 17: Meeting

“Belmont.”

A faint black light flashed through the woods.

When it faded, Xi Ya stepped out.

“Finally transformed back.”

He hadn’t expected the effects of reverting to be the exact opposite of transforming into Duoluolisi.

Becoming Duoluolisi meant releasing mana, a flashbang.

Turning back was like a black hole, frantically absorbing ambient mana particles.

But was the absorption a bit too weak?

It felt like a gale-force inhale, yet when he checked, it only restored half his mana?

If he had an ordinary person’s mana pool, he might have been satisfied.

But he was Xi Ya—his mana bar was already shorter than others, and he only got half back?

That was way too little.

He seriously suspected the Demon God had skimmed ninety percent of that mana too.

Leaning one hand against a tree, he replayed the recent experience.

He felt completely drained.

Today, he’d finally managed to snag a chance to grind some levels.

Before he could even get started, he was forced to transform.

In that half-strength state, he had to fight the Shadow Demon.

He didn’t even win that fight, and his experience points were stuck right before leveling up.

The whole thing was pure torture.

Bottom line: he was still too weak—whether as himself or as Duoluolisi.

Sure, Duoluolisi’s stats were high, but she was just a fresh Level 1 Swordsman.

She had nothing except normal attacks, let alone Sword Qi.

That was a long way off.

And as for his original body… anyone who saw it would just shake their head.

But the most unbearable part was Feili’s appearance.

Why did a Feili always spawn nearby whenever he transformed?

Was this a transformation—or a Feili Summon Device?

That Feili’s aluminum-copper radar had locked onto Duoluolisi for good.

He felt that if he transformed in the Demon Realm, she’d punch through the plane to find him.

Earlier, he’d thought he could just disappear on her.

But now he realized: how could he never transform again?

Forget it.

He needed to find a place to regroup with them.

Where should he wait?

He let go of the tree and pondered.

Originally, he’d planned to run ahead of them.

But Duoluolisi had exhausted herself and couldn’t run anymore.

His original body had terrible stamina and was slow.

He couldn’t catch up at all.

He’d head toward the gorge exit first.

If he stayed here too long and missed them, that would be bad.

“Xi Ya?”

“Xi Ya?”

Dailina called out several times.

No response.

“No answer…”

She bent over, catching her breath.

Ever since parting from Duoluolisi, she’d been calling Xi Ya’s name the whole way.

“It’s a dead end ahead~”

Feili pointed out.

Dailina looked up—there was no road in front of them.

They’d reached a cliff face.

“We can’t find Xi Ya at all here. Should we go look over there?”

Dailina straightened up, ready to head deeper into the woods.

“Dailina, we can’t keep searching.”

Feili suddenly stopped her.

“Why?”

Dailina turned to Feili, confused.

“If we waste more time here, we’ll miss the deadline for tomorrow’s commission submission.”

“But Xi Ya…”

Dailina took a small step forward.

“That Duoluolisi girl’s commission was probably to clear this forest. It’s safe now, so Xi Ya shouldn’t be in any danger.”

Feili walked over beside Dailina, trying to comfort her.

“He might have already left the woods and gone back to the Academy ahead of us.”

“Really?”

“Mm. Xi Ya isn’t that easy to kill. Maybe we’ll run into him at the gorge exit.”

Feili didn’t think Xi Ya would die here.

The Demon God was attached to him; there was no way it would let him die so easily.

“I understand. Let’s head back. I hope Xi Ya is really okay.”

Dailina bit her lower lip.

She remembered Xi Ya pushing her out of the Teleportation Array, and guilt welled up.

She glanced back at the dark woods once more, then reluctantly followed Feili.

“Let’s go.”

The two walked out of the forest.

Dailina pushed aside a bush blocking the path.

When she looked up, she spotted a familiar black-haired boy sitting by the gorge entrance.

“Xi Ya!”

She ran over immediately, checking him all over, trying to confirm he had no wounds.

“Dailina… ah, no need. I’m not hurt this time.”

Seeing her start the usual inspection, Xi Ya quickly waved his hands.

Ever since that trip to the Ancient Ruins, Dailina always insisted on checking him for injuries.

“Really? That’s good, you’re not hurt.”

Relieved, Dailina let out a sigh.

Feili walked over.

She wasn’t surprised they’d met Xi Ya at the gorge exit just as she’d predicted.

After so many rebirths, she was used to this sort of thing.

Her intuition had always been spot-on.

“Finally found you~ Xi Ya.”

Feili came up to him, looking down.

“Were you waiting here for us on purpose?”

Xi Ya saw her smile and knew she was testing him.

But he’d already prepared an excuse.

“Yeah. I was about to leave, but then a female classmate came out from inside. She said you were looking for me in the woods and suggested I wait here.”

He pushed himself up, mentally ready for the next question.

“Oh? You met that girl? Which way did she go?”

Feili’s antenna twitched, and she craned her neck toward the gorge entrance.

Xi Ya was flooded with question marks.

‘That’s what you focus on?’

‘You automatically filter out anything related to Duoluolisi, don’t you?’

“I don’t know. I was tired, so I just sat here resting. I didn’t notice where she went.”

Xi Ya answered flatly.

“Is that so~ Such a pretty lady, and you didn’t even pay attention? I don’t buy it~”

Feili turned back and stared at him.

Xi Ya didn’t want to talk to her anymore.

“Since we’re all together, how do we get back? It seems pretty far from the city.”

Dailina looked out at the endless grassland, a bit lost.

Feili was about to say she and Dailina should head back first to submit the commission.

But then she saw Xi Ya pointing into the distance.

“Looks like a carriage coming this way. It seems to be going the same direction. Why don’t we ask if they can give us a ride to the city?”

Both followed his gaze.

A carriage was heading toward them.

“Great! Let’s go over.”

Dailina happily trotted a few steps toward the carriage, then turned to signal them.

Feili’s eyes widened slightly.

She’d been worrying about how to persuade Dailina to leave Xi Ya behind, and how they would make it back in time.

Now this.

She followed them.

It seemed luck was on her side this life.

But behind her, Xi Ya had a bad feeling.

Judging by Feili’s reaction, she had no idea about this carriage at all.

‘Does that mean she’s never hitched a ride in all her lives?’

‘Did she always just run all the way back?’