“Then what about you, A Xing? You think about everyone else, but who the hell is thinking about you?”
Xiaoxi avoided Muxingge’s gaze.
“I don’t think being considerate is a problem. After all, the people I care about are the only ones worth worrying about. What’s so bad about giving in a little for the people I care about?”
“You really are…”
Muxingge was both frustrated and exasperated. She slammed her fist on the table with a “crack.”
Xiaoxi’s shoulders shrank… As expected, people like Muxingge just aren’t suited for debate competitions—she can’t out-argue Bao Hongwen.
“In any case, don’t you dare mention this to Xinglan. I promise I’ll find a way to deal with my own matters. And make sure to tell L as well.”
“Alright, I don’t really have a place to meddle in you lovebirds’ family affairs,” Muxingge shook her head,
“But those in the midst of things are often confused. As an outsider, I’ll just remind you—A Xing, your idea of being considerate is only what you think is best for Ye Xinglan, but that doesn’t mean she feels the same.”
“Oh right, I called you over today because there’s something else I want to show you.”
Muxingge deliberately changed the topic. She got up, found a file, and handed it to Xiaoxi.
“This is the Association’s latest results for the rank evaluation.”
Xiaoxi took the file. The results were for Xiao Keke, and in the rank assessment column was a glaring, bold “C-rank.”
Xiaoxi was stunned. She knew this little brat improved quickly, but she originally thought Keke would at most reach C- Level before hitting a bottleneck for a while.
Who could have guessed that Keke would skip right past C- Level and jump to C-rank?
This brat has only been with the Association as a rookie Magic Girl for a few months?
At this rate, her speed of progress is unprecedented… Oh, no, not as fast as mine, of course.
“You’re sure there’s no mistake with these results, Xingge?”
“Absolutely none. When they finished testing, the staff on site suspected the equipment was malfunctioning and did another test. Same result—if nothing else, at least Xiaohongmao’s magic reserves are definitely up to C-rank standard.”
“If all goes well, she’ll soon awaken her own weapon and skills. Really, isn’t it just like your little sister, A Xing? Maybe your whole family’s genes are made to be Magic Girls.”
Xiaoxi couldn’t decide whether to laugh or cry. She didn’t know if this was good or bad.
Logically, she should be proud her little sister was making a name for herself, but why did the brat have to be so talented in becoming a Magic Girl!
Looks like there’s no hope of persuading her to switch careers now.
A true Heavenly Prodigy—Elders from every Clan will be falling over themselves to recruit her. Who could talk about retiring to a quiet life!
“No, I don’t know why Keke improves so fast, but it definitely has nothing to do with me. We’re actually not blood—er, sisters.”
“We’re a reconstituted family. It’s a bit complicated. We’ve been a family since Keke was very little, but we’re actually half-sisters, no blood relation.”
Xiaoxi scratched her head, “Maybe it’s just that brat is really gifted, sigh…”
This was the first time Muxingge had ever heard Xiaoxi mention her family situation on her own.
This girl always kept all personal information tightly sealed before.
“Don’t worry, A Xing.” Muxingge patted Xiaoxi’s shoulder, “Being a Magic Girl isn’t nearly as dangerous as it was during the Great Chaos Era. Besides, she’s your little sister. I’ll look after her.”
“But you really were tough on her. So, when you first trained her as Eternal Star, was it just to torment her and make her quit being a Magic Girl?”
“If Xiaohongmao finds out who you really are, her dreams might be shattered. She’s mentioned Eternal Star more than once—you know, she really likes you… No, to be precise, she likes Eternal Star. Every time I hear her talk about her big sister, she just sounds super annoyed.”
Xiaoxi clutched her chest… Damn it, why can’t you just chat without stabbing me for no reason!
Muxingge and Xiaoxi chatted for a while, but since Muxingge had promised to return her to Ye Xinglan before dinner, she didn’t detain Xiaoxi for long. She’d vented her anger already, after all.
Next time this idiot annoys her, she’ll tie Xiaoxi to a chair and play “Eternal Star’s Sweet Confession to Blood Moon Witch” at 360-degree surround sound!
Before Xiaoxi left, Muxingge asked one last question.
“A Xing, when are you going to tell Ye Xinglan who you really are? You can’t keep it from her forever, can you?”
“I wish I could keep it from her forever… Do you think if I confessed now, she’d hate me?”
“Probably not? I mean, you only fought her for a few years, went all out on her a few times, insulted her in public speeches, and finally stabbed her through the kidney with a sword… Okay, I’ll shut up, I won’t say any more.”
Muxingge hadn’t even listed everything. From her memory, with all that happened, the two shouldn’t just be rivals—they ought to never want to see each other again. Who knew they’d end up in love!
“Wait, A Xing, but the stuff you did to the Blood Moon Witch—she’s basically done the same to you, hasn’t she? Why don’t you hate her?”
Xiaoxi smiled, “Because I know the Blood Moon Witch is just a pitiful girl controlled by the Divine Summon Order. I don’t hate what she’s done. But do you think she’d see it the same way?”
Of course not. Precisely because Xiaoxi and Ye Xinglan spend every day together, no one knows better than Xiaoxi just how much Ye Xinglan hates Eternal Star.
Before, when she heard Ye Xinglan say things like wanting to kill Eternal Star, Xiaoxi just laughed it off.
But now that she knows Ye Xinglan is the Blood Moon Witch, when she hears it again… all she can feel is a little fear.
“…You’re something else, A Xing. You’re not just a goody-two-shoes, you’re like a Saintess from a post-apocalyptic story. You’re scared of the Blood Moon Witch, but you don’t hate her. No wonder you’re stuck in this romance.”
Muxingge suddenly felt that these lovebirds had more than a few obstacles in their relationship.
Xiaoxi needed to learn how to let go of her fear of the Blood Moon Witch, and Ye Xinglan needed to let go of her hatred of Eternal Star…
“Don’t be so pessimistic, Xingge,” Xiaoxi shrugged,
“I’ve still got plenty of time to spend with Xinglan. Time will smooth out a lot of things. Sooner or later, Xinglan will be able to accept Eternal Star.”
———
At that moment, inside a sunless cave.
Shandie came back from outside carrying a large bag of supplies.
Her wings glowed faintly, barely illuminating the cave, and revealing Black Rose and a child wearing the Shenshi’s ceremonial robe inside.
Rats in the gutter… Even though she knew the two were her companions, Shandie couldn’t help but think of that phrase.
Their getups were exactly the sort to lurk in the shadows and scheme like villains.
“Your injury should be about healed, right, Black Rose?”