“I’ve been waiting for you all for some time. When I learned that Lin Qi would be supporting Mian Yang, it truly filled me with heartfelt joy.”
Yes, the same routine repeated.
‘This time, the Luyuan heroes, Miao Miao and Mao, won’t arrive until tomorrow either.’
Listening to Mian Yang Wang’s repetitive pleasantries, Yao Xing looked at the desk before her.
The corner was spotless, not a speck of dust, and the desktop held no clutter—everything was neatly arranged.
Upon closer inspection, the Mian Yang royal palace was considerably different from Lin Qi’s as well.
Though both were small kingdoms, the Mian Yang palace’s decor carried an inexplicably noble visual effect.
“Hero?”
Hearing the king’s call, Yao Xing’s gaze quickly swept past the surrounding distractions and refocused on Mian Yang Wang.
Seeing this, Mian Yang Wang paused, realizing that his polite talk no longer held the attention of the Lin Qi hero.
So he hurriedly abandoned further rhetoric and got straight to the point: “Let’s get to the main issue. Mian Yang—”
Yao Xing raised her hand, nodding an apology.
“I’m sorry, but I have some suggestions and plans. Would you allow me to speak?”
Hearing her interruption, Mian Yang Wang glanced at his assistant beside him, then shifted his attention back to Yao Xing and nodded his permission.
Yao Xing lifted her fingers and spoke the words she had prepared for a long time, one by one: “First, we will head to the front lines soon to assist Mian Yang’s two heroes.”
“Second, I hope you will permit us to take charge of handling the reception of the Luyuan heroes.”
“Third, if possible, I hope you will allow the council hall to cease activities and also seal off the palace from all traffic.”
Hearing these three key points again, though Yao Xing had successfully gotten them to agree last time, this time everyone else was new to it.
Such sudden demands would only lead to confusion and doubt.
Not only did the ministers and guards show defensive postures, but even the smile on Mian Yang Wang’s face vanished in an instant.
Yao Xing nodded, knowing she was in the wrong, so she quickly added the most concise and believable lie: “I suggest this because, on our way to Mian Yang, we unexpectedly caught sight of a demon general and a demonfolk.”
“What? A demon general!” The crowd jolted in shock, leaping to their feet, eyes fixed on Yao Xing.
Yao Xing paid attention only to the system prompt….
(No warning displayed. Lie detection effective.)
She smiled.
“That demon general and the demonfolk seemed inseparable. Because of the distance, we could only vaguely make them out. The demonfolk appeared to master illusion magic, able to transform into human form at will. Therefore, we can’t avoid an infiltration by the demonfolk.”
“The council, which handles all of Mian Yang’s policies, will definitely be the primary target. So it’s best to stop losses in time and cease all activities.”
“Furthermore, I suggest we completely seal off Mian Yang’s borders, forbidding any trade or travel in or out for a short time. That way, we can prevent the demonfolk’s invasion.”
This….
Mian Yang Wang listened intently throughout.
He said nothing, only hesitantly tapped his fingers on the desk, listening to the whispers behind him from his assistant and ministers.
He then looked back at Yao Xing, whose face was full of seriousness, and at Xu, who was observing Yao Xing, and at the bewildered Anuo beside him.
Tap, tap, tap….
Mian Yang Wang knocked on the desk, as if making a decision, and looked seriously at Yao Xing.
Yao Xing didn’t avoid his gaze.
She stared back solemnly, waiting for his decision.
“What would the losses be?”
“The economy will be temporarily hindered, but it can ensure the survival of the kingdom.”
Mian Yang Wang blinked, shifting his gaze to the desktop, still lightly tapping his fingers.
Time passed, and the crisis at the front lines could strike any moment.
Rather than gamble, it was better to trust someone.
“Alright, I’ll take your word for it!”
He looked at his assistant and ordered, “Notify Mian Yang: effective immediately, close the borders for entry and exit. No one is allowed passage!”
Seeing that this had succeeded, Yao Xing nodded and smiled, but the unease in her heart was still hard to dispel.
She looked at Anuo, who still didn’t understand the situation, and at Xu, who had been silent for a long time.
She stood up.
“Let’s go. We need to protect the heroes at the front lines.”
….
On the way to the front, even before leaving the city gates, the unease in her heart kept growing.
Yao Xing’s steps grew heavier and heavier.
The time until they would encounter the demon general Zi Luan was constantly shrinking.
Tonight would be the moment that decided life or death.
If they advanced to attack the demonfolk Xi Ke, the demon general would definitely appear, and Xin Ge’er would certainly be ambushed.
Then…
‘Why not prepare in advance?’
Yao Xing looked at Anuo beside her.
“The front lines might be full of danger. Can you stay in an underground hideout and be ready to support at any time?”
Anuo nodded and left.
Only Yao Xing and the silent Xu remained.
Yao Xing walked on, deep in thought: ‘If the cause of our deaths was taking the initiative to attack Xi Ke, then what if… why not just lie low?’
‘Right! If none of us fight, then Xin Ge’er won’t be attacked by the disguised Xi Ke!’
This was the best choice for now.
Instead of constantly trying to find a strategy to attack, why not have everyone stay indoors?
Why not all lie low together?
Now, even Mian Yang was sealed off from entry and exit.
So as long as the heroes at the front didn’t die, the situation would improve.
No one would be tricked by Xi Ke’s disguise and die, nor would they be caught off guard by the demon general Zi Luan’s sudden assault.
“That’s right—I should have done this from the start—”
“……”
Xu had been observing her for a long time until Yao Xing involuntarily muttered this whisper, and only then did Xu show a reaction.
“Yao Xing, do you know something?”
Hearing Xu’s sudden question, Yao Xing froze for a moment, unsure how to answer as she looked at him.
“On our way to Mian Yang, we clearly didn’t encounter any demon general, nor did we see any demonfolk. Where did you get your evidence?”
[Warning: You will be suspected]
Seeing this warning appear for the second time.
Yao Xing understood.
Her strange behavior and words were inevitably too odd for a traveling companion, and she should even be suspected of being unusual.
‘As expected, I’m being suspected…’
But Xu didn’t call her out on the spot.
Instead, he asked after the fact.
That was a kind of consideration, or perhaps his observation.
Yao Xing raised her eyes and looked again at Xu, who was staring at her intently.
His hand was already clenched into a fist, and the sound of doubt echoed louder in his ears.
[Warning: You will be suspected]
“What exactly are you trying to do?”
Yao Xing blinked and shook her head helplessly.
“I’m not trying to do anything. This is just the safest suggestion. Even if no demon general appears, it will protect Mian Yang to the highest degree.”
After hearing this, Xu merely pressed on coldly: “You were so certain earlier. You undoubtedly confirmed that Mian Yang would be invaded by the demonfolk.”
‘Having been through an invasion once, of course I’m certain…’
Yao Xing blinked her big eyes and could only say innocently and wronged, “If I didn’t say that, how could Mian Yang Wang have agreed to the lockdown?”
“……”
Seeing that Xu didn’t pursue the matter further, Yao Xing just nodded with a smile, trying to diffuse the awkwardness.
A feeling of loneliness and isolation rose from her heart—an accumulated emotion of helplessness and powerlessness.
Clearly, Xu and Yao Xing had been together for three lifetimes, yet only Yao Xing retained the memories.
Xu didn’t remember a thing.
To avoid his death, Yao Xing was forced to deceive and test him, hiding the truth, hiding the future that was to come.
‘Ah… what a painful feeling…’
Having just come back from despair, before she could catch her breath, the emotion had already returned and enveloped her whole body.
Yao Xing’s eyes fell to her own footsteps.
Her lips were tightly bitten, each step carrying a bitter heartache.
‘I wish… someone could help me solve this problem…’
….
At the Mian Yang front lines.
This time, to avoid distracting Xin Ge’er, Yao Xing chose to quietly arrive at the military camp and sit down silently there.
Looking at the two people before her, Yao Xing said nothing, just scratched her itchy arm.
Xu, due to his earlier sudden interrogation, also felt the atmosphere awkward, so he sat beside Yao Xing, silent.
On the battlefield, the combat synergy between Xin Ge’er and Jia Sha was like a single entity.
Their long spears should have clashed when used together, but they seemed to ignore this, amplifying the damage each inflicted.
The mindless wave of monsters, charging with no strategy, met the fate of moths thrown into a juicer—instantly chopped into chunks.
Yao Xing watched their fighting backs.
Though she didn’t want to interrupt, she called Xu and joined the battle to help.
…..
After a long time, until nightfall.
“Not bad, heroes of Lin Qi. You always stay calm in danger!”
Xin Ge’er said, drinking some water during a break, sincerely praising them.
Upon hearing this, Yao Xing just smiled modestly.
After all, she had gone through the exact same process in her previous life.
Surely she wouldn’t run away this time, would she?
But the difference from her previous life was that Jia Sha actually took the initiative to talk to Xu this time, seeming to admire Xu’s physical condition.
Looking at them, Yao Xing couldn’t help but recall Xu’s earlier questioning, and then think of the demon general they would soon face.
‘Xi Ke will definitely ambush one side. I have to keep an eye on them and never let anyone be alone.’
“What are you thinking about?”
A playful question startled Yao Xing, whose nerves were already tense.
She quickly turned her head to look—it was Xin Ge’er watching her.
“Nothing much, just daydreaming.”
“Oh? I heard from the soldiers that you told Mian Yang Wang a demon general would come, and a demonfolk who can disguise as humans. Is that true?”
The news had spread so quickly that the two heroes already knew.
But that saved her the trouble of explaining.
“Yes, that’s right. It’s true.”
As soon as Yao Xing’s three affirmations fell, Xu’s gaze turned noticeably strange toward her.
Xin Ge’er said nothing, just nodded in understanding.
“Then, will you come with me to the river? I want to get some water.”
Yao Xing panicked instantly: “No, no, absolutely not! If you—ahem—I can lend you water! Don’t go off alone.”
Pfft….
Xin Ge’er couldn’t help but laugh at her fluster.
Embarrassed, Yao Xing knew she had been teased.
She could only shake her head helplessly and sit down silently.
The military camp was filled with the rusty smell of monster blood.
The outskirts were almost littered with monster corpses.
Even the food they were roasting now was edible meat cut from monsters, carefully selected by Jia Sha.
But the taste was so bitter it was hard to swallow, and the skin was so tough it hurt the teeth.
“……”
The atmosphere was too relaxed.
No one seemed to feel the impending arrival of the demon general.
Only Yao Xing was tense.
She had to save Xin Ge’er, Jia Sha, and Xu from the demon general Zi Luan and the demonfolk Xi Ke.
‘I cannot fail!’
“You’re frowning. Are you really daydreaming?”
Xin Ge’er asked again, leaving Yao Xing at a loss for how to answer.
“Is it that you haven’t adapted to life in this world yet?”
This sentence reminded Yao Xing that all heroes were people from their original worlds.
Seeing Yao Xing’s expression, Xin Ge’er asked curiously, “What was the world like before you were summoned?”
“Just… so-so?”
“What kind of life did you live every day?”
Yao Xing scratched her head and answered honestly, with some embarrassment, “Eat, sleep, play games…”
And so, Yao Xing and Xin Ge’er finally found a topic.
They talked a lot about past memories, including their longing for their parents, their thoughts on this transmigration, and their plans for the future.
After talking so much, Yao Xing’s heart was truly cleared for the first time.
When Yao Xing looked at Xin Ge’er now, her eyes were no longer the eyes full of despair all day.
She had finally found someone like a kindred spirit.
“I’m actually really lonely…”
Yao Xing said this sentence for the first time on her own initiative.
“Don’t you have Xu by your side? He’s been protecting you all along.”
Hearing this, Yao Xing couldn’t help but recall the question from that afternoon.
Though Xu’s question was perfectly reasonable—indeed, he should have asked it long ago….
But when she was actually suspected, especially by Xu, whom she had always wanted to protect, Yao Xing really broke down, truly feeling helpless and lonely.
“No… my loneliness… isn’t that…”
“Then do you miss your parents?”
“No.”
“Do you miss your old life?”
“Not that either.”
Seeing Yao Xing open her mouth but not knowing how to say it, Xin Ge’er stopped trying to pry.
Xin Ge’er simply said, “You’re lonely, is it because of your System?”
(!!!)
At that single sentence, Yao Xing’s pupils dilated.
She was clearly struck at a sore spot as she looked at Xin Ge’er.
Xin Ge’er smiled.
“Then how about letting me experience you?”
With that, Xin Ge’er placed her hand on Yao Xing’s forehead.
In less than a moment, Xin Ge’er withdrew her hand.
“I’ve got it. Don’t worry.”
Saying that, Xin Ge’er stood up and headed toward Jia Sha.
Jia Sha looked at Xin Ge’er in confusion.
Xin Ge’er smiled and ran back to Yao Xing: “Your System, it’s the Affection System, right?”
Yao Xing stood still, deeply shocked.
“You—”