Xiaoxi opened her eyes. Everywhere she looked was nothing but scorched earth.
All around were broken walls and ruins.
For a moment, Xiaoxi’s mind was dazed—she couldn’t tell if this was the destroyed Summersea City or a battlefield from the Great Chaos Era.
She could only vaguely recall that a fierce battle had just taken place.
As for the opponent… Xiaoxi looked around in confusion and saw the Blood Moon Witch slowly walking toward her.
The Blood Moon Witch held a blood-red scythe in her left hand, taller than a person.
Her right hand was wrapped in black and red crystal, forming a savage beast’s claw.
She took step after step toward Xiaoxi.
Black sludge dripped from her plain black dress, leaving a sizzling, corroded path behind her.
Her breath grew rapid with fear. The silhouette of the Blood Moon Witch loomed in Xiaoxi’s eyes like a nightmare…
That’s right, battle—she had to stand up and fight! She’d faced this same battle countless times already—there was nothing to fear!
But as the Blood Moon Witch advanced at her unhurried pace, Xiaoxi desperately tried to get up, yet her body felt weighed down like it was filled with lead, refusing to obey.
Even her right hand, clutching her Magical Wand, couldn’t rise at all.
Ah… Had she lost? Did she lose to the Blood Moon Witch? No, she couldn’t let the people down—she didn’t want… to die here.
But just as despair set in, the Blood Moon Witch approaching her suddenly released her transformation, revealing a face Xiaoxi couldn’t be more familiar with.
“Xinglan… it’s… me.”
Xiaoxi remembered now. The Great Chaos Era had long since ended—she didn’t need to fight Night Xinglan anymore!
But her throat was terribly dry. She managed to squeeze out a few hoarse words.
“I know it’s you, Xiaoxi,” Night Xinglan’s expression was cold as frost.
“You hid it from me for so long—you should have known this day would come. Don’t you think so, Eternal Star?”
“I didn’t mean to deceive you… I didn’t know before that you were…”
“Heh, what a pathetic excuse. You still claim you didn’t lie to me? If I hadn’t discovered it myself, how much longer would you have kept it from me?”
Before Xiaoxi could continue to defend herself, Night Xinglan’s tentacle had already coiled around her neck and began tightening.
Seeing that unfamiliar, gloomy expression on Night Xinglan’s face, memories of all their days together flashed through Xiaoxi’s mind.
Xiaoxi forced herself to speak through the pain of not being able to breathe, squeezing out her words one by one.
“Xinglan… all those days… do you truly not remember?”
“All those days? All those… Heh, and you still dare to mention the past? If I’d known you were Eternal Star from the start, I never would have been with you!”
“Eternal Star… Killing you outright is too cheap for you. I hate liars the most. As the price for deceiving me, you can die slowly, bit by bit, in pain!”
The tentacle suddenly tightened. Night Xinglan spoke in an icy voice.
“Do you have anything left to say?”
“No… nothing left to say.”
Xiaoxi lowered her eyes. The last thing she saw before her consciousness faded was the Blood Moon Witch, after transforming, stepping barefoot directly on her face…
……
“Haa… haa… haa…”
Xiaoxi suddenly opened her eyes, her back already drenched in cold sweat.
She gasped for breath like someone who had just escaped drowning.
So it was just a dream just now? What a jumbled, messy dream… And at the end, when Night Xinglan stepped on her, she actually felt a bit excited?!
But the heavy sensation around her neck hadn’t disappeared.
Still lost in her dream, Xiaoxi reached up and touched something slick and slippery, which gave her a start.
But she quickly realized it was just Night Xinglan’s tentacle draped over her after she’d fallen asleep.
Her movement still woke Night Xinglan. The little rich lady sleepily snuggled up, rubbing her head against Xiaoxi.
The difference from the murderous version in the dream couldn’t be starker.
Still shaken, Xiaoxi took a deep breath.
“What’s wrong, Xiaoxi? Did you have a nightmare? You’re all sweaty.”
“Mm… I dreamed that a terrible monster was chasing me. I… was a little scared.”
“Tch, what are you afraid of? I’m here~”
Night Xinglan snorted disdainfully, but then realized her tone wasn’t exactly comforting, so she gently patted Xiaoxi’s back.
“Don’t be scared, baby. I’m here. I’m the Blood Moon Witch, remember? No matter what monster’s chasing you, I’ll beat it up for you!”
Lying in Night Xinglan’s arms, Xiaoxi felt a swirl of emotions—she couldn’t tell if she should feel at ease or guilty.
But she hadn’t lain quietly for long when Night Xinglan suddenly showed her true nature, hugging her tight and speaking mysteriously.
“Xiaoxi, have you slept enough?”
Xiaoxi: “…”
“Um, can I really not call you Mom?”
“…Hurry up and go to sleep! If you keep this up, we’ll sleep in separate beds next time!”
———
Just like that, a peaceful week passed.
During this time, apart from Night Xinglan being summoned to the Association for two physical examinations, neither the Council nor the Astrologer contacted Xiaoxi again.
Xiaoxi didn’t idle either. She found Fox Momomo and other channels to collect information on the other Five Seats of the Council.
Compared to fleeing with Night Xinglan if things went south, she preferred to visit these Council big shots and have a proper talk.
Summer faded into autumn, and even the late heat of the season quickly lost its hold.
The weather cooled rapidly, and the incident of the Blood Moon Witch’s appearance in Summersea City gradually faded from attention.
Reconstruction of the Resident District on Southern Avenue also progressed in an orderly fashion.
Just when life had gotten so calm that Xiaoxi thought the Council big shots had forgotten about them, the Astrologer finally contacted her.
When Xiaoxi went to the Association, she already knew that no matter the outcome, things would be settled today.
Before, the Astrologer always met her at the Black Market.
This time, calling her to the Association meant the Astrologer wasn’t meeting as a private individual, but as one of the Six Seats to speak with her.
In Miss L’s Office, Xiaoxi saw the Astrologer via video call—the Astrologer herself had already returned to North Blossom City.
From the Astrologer’s mouth, Xiaoxi learned that the other two Seats couldn’t be persuaded, and she thought the negotiations had failed.
She’d even prepared to go visit them in person, but unexpectedly, the Astrologer suddenly changed the subject.
“There’s still no perfect solution, but there are plenty of delaying tactics, like stalling for time.”
Xiaoxi was stunned. She thought the resourceful Six Seats big shot would have some clever plan—so the plan was just to stall?
“Don’t underestimate stalling—it’s a great way to avoid falling out with anyone and not hurt your own interests.”
The Astrologer shrugged. “The Council wants to implant a monitor in Night Xinglan. Do you know why they haven’t done anything recently? It’s because Night Xinglan’s last two medical reports didn’t pass.”
I see.
Seeing the Astrologer wink, Xiaoxi instantly knew she’d done something behind the scenes.
“But this trick can’t last forever. Coincidentally, there’s an opportunity now that can drag things out even longer, Xiaoxi.”
“You two, come to North Blossom City—how about it?”