After guessing that Xiaoxi and Ye Xinglan were sent by The Association to investigate her, Qiuli didn’t get angry. She remained as calm as ever.
“At this point, there’s no point in hiding it anymore, Xiaoxi. Didn’t you want to know why I became a Corpse Collector? It’s simple—I was forced into it.”
“So Song of Parting isn’t some kind of saint, either. The only reason she’s willing to help me is because of that. She really is… a very kind person.”
Xiaoxi nodded. She had always suspected that Qiuli had deliberately left out part of the story. As expected, her guess was right, but still…
“But is this really something that needs to be hidden?”
If anything, telling everyone she was coerced would make it easier to gain their understanding.
From what she knew, the Magic Girls of the North Blossom City Association were all wary of Qiuli because she was a Corpse Collector.
Xiaoxi couldn’t understand why Qiuli would keep this from everyone.
“Actually, Song of Parting asked me to… or rather, it was the Tianqi Church’s request. As a condition for letting me go, I have to keep everything about that night strictly confidential.”
Qiuli made a ‘shh’ gesture. “But you’ve already seen it for yourselves, so there’s nothing I can do now.”
Xiaoxi frowned. Why would Tianqi Church go to such lengths to hide the fact that someone tried to steal from them?
And about Wange Yue, Tianqi Church flat-out refused to let The Association get involved, which forced the Astrologer to send them to investigate secretly.
She couldn’t shake the feeling that something was being intentionally hidden.
But the problem was, Tianqi Church wasn’t just some small organization.
North Blossom City was also under their control, and since both sides were Six Seat members, it was unlikely that the Astrologer could just confront them directly.
“I did go see Song of Parting the day she was attacked, but only because I was worried about her health. She’d been too busy lately, but the church kept piling activities on her.”
“What happened to Song of Parting has nothing to do with Lizi. You’re looking for the wrong person.”
A voice interrupted them, unexpectedly firm. The newcomer’s eyes swept over Xiaoxi and Ye Xinglan coldly.
“Too bad those two still managed to get away in the end. Are you alright, Lizi? I heard you got hurt earlier?”
Ye Xinglan watched the Silverflame Dragon Princess warily as she spoke with Qiuli, while Xiaoxi, ever the gossip, perked up her ears.
Silver Bell was actually showing concern for someone? Since when had this girl changed so much?
After a brief exchange, Ye Xinglan noticed the Silverflame Dragon Princess was standing not far off, her gaze locked on them. She didn’t make any other move—just stood there quietly, watching.
“Xiaoxi, you don’t think the Silverflame Dragon Princess has it in for me, do you? She’s not going to come over and cause trouble, is she?”
Though she hadn’t crossed paths with the Silverflame Dragon Princess as often as with Eternal Star, Ye Xinglan knew firsthand how terrifying this brick-throwing Magic Girl could be.
Instinctively, she believed the Silverflame Dragon Princess must have a terrible temper—fiery and quick to anger—and was probably harboring a grudge against her, the Blood Moon Witch.
Maybe she was just holding back out of respect for the Astrologer.
Just like Xiaoxi. Ye Xinglan’s eyes dimmed a little.
“Don’t worry. The Silverflame Dragon Princess just looks scary, but she’s actually very nice… Xingge Senior told me that before.”
Xiaoxi didn’t feel nervous at all. She knew exactly what it meant when Silver Bell stared at someone like that.
The girl was trying to work up the courage to come over and talk.
As expected, soon the Silverflame Dragon Princess slowly walked over, looming over Xiaoxi.
Just as Ye Xinglan was about to step between them, she finally spoke.
“Sirius, right?”
“Xingge asked me to look after you as much as I can. If you need anything, just come find me.”
That sly woman! Xiaoxi instantly pictured Muxingge in her mind and immediately guessed her intention.
Even after begging her again and again not to tell anyone about her being Eternal Star, that woman still pulled this stunt!
“No need, but thank you for your kindness, Senior~”
Still, you can’t just expect Silver Bell to figure things out on her own. You know exactly what kind of person she is. Hmph…
Sure enough, after being rejected by Xiaoxi, the Silverflame Dragon Princess stared at her expressionlessly for a full ten seconds, then turned on her heel and left without a word, soon vanishing from their sight.
It’s all over, it’s all over… Unable to come up with a reply and left fleeing in defeat, Silver Bell was filled with despair.
Not only did Little Red Riding Hood reject her, now even Sirius turned her down so fast.
As expected, the problem must be her approach, right?
The thing Xingge asked her to do was going to fall apart! Should she start thinking now about how to apologize to Xingge? Uuuuu….
Ye Xinglan frowned as she watched the Silverflame Dragon Princess leave, feeling that her attitude was pretty poor.
She didn’t even bother replying—just left straight away. Was it really because she had a problem with her, the Blood Moon Witch?
After the incident in Summersea City, Ye Xinglan had spent a while worrying about how others saw her because of her identity, which was why Xiaoxi had found her searching for things about herself online late at night.
With time, Ye Xinglan had gradually let it go, but what she saw earlier in the Mirror Space brought those anxieties back to the surface.
After the two members of the Divine Summon Order fled, the day’s business was considered settled.
The Astrologer sought them out, saying that since Ye Xinglan’s identity was so special, the two of them should just take a short break until The Association figured out what the Divine Summon Order was up to in North Blossom City.
A break should have been a happy thing, but both girls were so preoccupied that they couldn’t get into the mood—especially after Xiaoxi soon received a message from Old Mom.
“Xiaoxi, your little sister will be coming home the day after tomorrow. If you don’t have anything going on, why don’t you bring your girlfriend home as well?”
Xiaoxi sucked in a cold breath.
Disaster never comes alone. Maybe she really should talk to Xinglan about her fear of the Blood Moon Witch before going home to see Old Mom?
Why did she have to reach out right at this moment!
But how could she explain it so it made sense? She couldn’t exactly tell Ye Xinglan that she was terrified of her, could she?
The mood on the way home was definitely off. The two of them sat side by side in a nearly empty subway car, not talking for a long time.
The usually chatty little rich girl was unusually quiet today.
After a lot of hesitation, Xiaoxi finally decided to just be direct.
After all, now that Ye Xinglan had unexpectedly found out, there was no point in beating around the bush anymore.
“Um, Xinglan, I’m sorry…”
She had only just started, carefully choosing her words, when Ye Xinglan interrupted her.
“Why are you apologizing to me?”
“Huh?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, Xiaoxi. So you don’t need to apologize. The one who should really be apologizing is me… for being the Blood Moon Witch, right?”
Ye Xinglan clenched the hem of her dress.
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