On the streets after the rain, the air was still heavy with damp mist, and sunlight filtered through the clouds onto the cobblestone path, reflecting a warm glow.
Su Ling had changed into a fresh dress, and her mood seemed much lighter as she followed Tii with brisk steps.
Tii linked arms with her and said with a smile, “By the way, Su Ling, let’s go buy some bread. I heard the bakery up ahead is especially delicious.”
Su Ling nodded and turned to look at Sista. “Your Highness, will you come with us?”
Sista frowned, her tone indifferent. “I’m not hungry.”
Seeing Tii and Su Ling so close, the Blood Princess was quite annoyed. However, her innate arrogance prevented her from losing face by dragging the girl back, so she could only glare at Tii with a fierce gaze.
Tii arched an eyebrow, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. “Then Your Highness can wait for us here. While you’re at it, help us carry these things.”
She pointed at the shopping bags in Sista’s hands, her tone carrying a hint of provocation.
Sista’s face instantly darkened, her gaze cold as ice. “Are you ordering me?”
Tii gave a cunning smile. “How could I? I just thought that since Your Highness doesn’t want to go, you could help us carry the bags. It’s not like you have anything else to do, anyway.”
Sista’s fingers tightened slightly, the handles of the shopping bags making a faint rubbing sound in her grip.
Her gaze swept between Tii and Su Ling before finally landing on Su Ling.
Su Ling felt a bit uneasy and whispered, “Your Highness… how about we all go together?”
Sista was silent for a moment before finally saying coldly, “No need. You two go.”
Tii pulled Su Ling along as they turned to leave, saying as they walked, “Then we’ll be back soon. Don’t wander off, Your Highness.”
Sista stood in place, watching their figures gradually distance themselves as a strange irritability welled up in her heart.
She looked down at the shopping bags in her hands, her lips twitching slightly. ‘Truly… a hassle.’
—
People came and went on the street. Sista stood in front of a shop waiting, her gaze coldly scanning the surroundings.
Her black veil covered most of her face, leaving only a pair of icy eyes visible, making her appear exceptionally mysterious.
It was precisely this mystery that caught the attention of several robbers nearby.
To hide her identity, she had already disguised herself: her black hair was dyed the blonde common in Ansels, and her eyes had turned an ordinary blue. Even the faint red at the corners of her eyes had been deliberately faded.
“Hey, look at that woman. She’s dressed quite richly and wearing a veil; she looks like a noble lady,” a burly man said in a low voice, greed flashing in his eyes.
“Indeed. She looks weak and she’s all alone. It’s the perfect time to strike,” another thin man said, licking his lips and flashing a sinister smile.
Sista didn’t notice them.
Her thoughts were still lingering on the scene from earlier—how to separate those two and make Su Ling belong only to her.
Right then, the robbers had already quietly approached.
The leader of the men lunged out, grabbing her wrist and threatening in a low voice, “Miss, come with us. Don’t make a sound, or things will get ugly for you.”
Sista was slightly stunned, then she looked up.
Her gaze was frigid, devoid of any fear. Instead, it carried a heart-stopping chill.
“Are you… looking for death?”
The voice sounded as if it had come from the depths of hell.
The man was momentarily shaken by her gaze, but he quickly regained his composure and sneered, “Quite the temper, but you’re all alone right now.”
The corners of Sista’s lips curved upward slightly. “Is that so?”
She flicked her wrist lightly.
In the next instant, the man felt a massive force surge through him. His wrist felt as if it were being crushed by iron pliers, causing an agonizing pain.
Before he could react—
*Bang!*
Sista kicked him in the knee.
The man screamed as he collapsed to his knees.
“Who… who are you?!”
The thin man looked at her in horror, the dagger in his hand trembling slightly.
Sista did not answer.
Her figure blurred, and she appeared before him in a flash.
With a flick of her finger—
The dagger flew out of his hand instantly.
Immediately after, she pressed a palm against the man’s chest.
*Bang!*
The man flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily onto the ground.
The pedestrians on the street scattered in terror.
In the blink of an eye, only she and the fallen robbers remained.
Sista looked at them coldly. “With just this much, you dared to make a move against me?”
The burly man clutched his wrist, his face filled with terror. “Who… who exactly are you?”
She didn’t answer, simply stating indifferently, “Get out. Don’t let me see you again.”
As the robbers were about to flee—
Suddenly, a flurry of hurried footsteps came from the other end of the street.
Sista glanced to the side.
A group of men dressed in black short coats with daggers at their waists walked over quickly.
Their steps were orderly, and their aura was sharp.
The leader was a tall man with a thin scar across his face.
He glanced at the robbers on the ground, then turned to Sista, his tone respectful. “My lady, are you all right?”
Sista gave him a cold look and didn’t answer.
The man didn’t mind. He turned and shouted harshly at the robbers, “You’ve got some nerve, causing trouble on Flame Society territory?”
At the mention of the words “Flame Society,” the robbers’ faces turned deathly pale.
“Big brother! We were wrong! We didn’t know this was Flame Society territory, please spare us!”
The man sneered and waved his hand.
The people behind him immediately stepped forward and surrounded the robbers.
In the next instant, fists and feet rained down, followed by one scream after another.
Sista stood to the side, watching coldly as if none of it concerned her.
She lightly tapped the handle of her shopping bag, her expression showing a hint of impatience.
After the scarred man finished, he turned back to her, his tone still respectful.
“My lady, we are from the Flame Society, and we are responsible for the security of this block. We are truly sorry for the fright you just received.”
Sista narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Flame Society?”