The villagers cheered and laughed with their cups raised high. The long table was filled with delicious food as the celebration party continued as planned.
Hati sat beside Lin Shu, rambling about their upcoming arrangements.
“We’ll be taking a carriage later—the flying kind.”
“That way, we can bypass many obstacles on the road.”
“We might even see the Magic Spirit Towers!”
…
Although Hati’s voice buzzed incessantly in her ear, Lin Shu’s mind was completely filled with another person’s face: Sefina’s.
Thinking about what Sefina had just done to her, she shook her head violently.
‘Wait, don’t think about those things in front of Hati!’
“Lin Shu, what’s wrong? I feel like you’re a bit distracted…” Hati muttered. “Your face is red, you know.”
“Ah, is it?” Lin Shu instinctively placed both hands against her cheeks.
“Is it because my feelings are causing you trouble?” Hati’s ears drooped anxiously.
Just as Lin Shu was about to deny it, Hati spoke first.
“Well, I wasn’t being thoughtful enough. I shouldn’t have kissed you in front of so many people; it must have put pressure on you. But I promise I’ll be more careful from now on! I’ll wait until you’re willing…”
“No, I’m thinking about other things,” Lin Shu interrupted her.
“Hmm? What are you thinking about?”
Lin Shu silently turned her head, searching for Sefina’s figure.
In the venue, her gaze swept past the other villagers and immediately captured Sefina in a corner of the room. She was currently in the form of “Sophia.”
“Sophia” sat quietly at the corner of the long table. Various foods were laid out before her, but she didn’t seem to have the slightest appetite. Several angel nuns stood behind her, staring at her wordlessly.
Regardless of everything else, Sefina had disguised herself as a human and pursued her here for her sake. When Lin Shu had cast the sleep spell to make Sefina leave, it was because she didn’t want the other woman to risk herself by following her. After all, the Sacred Race and the Demonic Race were enemies. If a demon were discovered intruding into the Sacred Race’s territory, the consequences would be unimaginable.
But if she insisted on making Sefina go back, how was that any different from when Sefina had hidden things from her and faced Hati’s team alone? Both were instances of acting willfully without considering the person they cared about—never once thinking about the internal agony the other party would feel.
Besides, Lin Shu wouldn’t truly be at ease, either…
As if sensing her gaze, Sefina suddenly raised her head and looked over. The moment their eyes met, Lin Shu hurriedly looked away.
“Are you looking at Sophia?” Hati’s voice rang in her ear, sounding a bit displeased. “Were you thinking about her just now, too?”
Hati wrapped an arm around Lin Shu’s shoulder and then shot a provocative glance back at her. The gentle smile on Sophia’s face lost its warmth instantly, leaving only a facade of formal politeness.
“Hati, I was thinking…” Lin Shu spoke slowly. “I was thinking, would it be better to let Sophia travel with us?”
Lin Shu had made up her mind: she would test Hati’s attitude first. Only she knew “Sophia’s” true identity; as long as it wasn’t exposed, there shouldn’t be a major issue. She would let Sefina join the team first to put her mind at ease.
However, doing this meant she would have to deceive Hati…
A mixture of bitterness and guilt surged in Lin Shu’s heart.
“Huh?” Hati turned her head sharply. “Why?”
“Don’t you think she’s a dangerous element? Are you going to leave a hidden threat like her here?” Lin Shu countered.
“It really isn’t great, but Lin Shu, why has your attitude toward her changed so much? You were clearly very wary of her before!”
Lin Shu gave an awkward smile. “Is… is that so? Maybe it’s because I talked to her just now. Her experience is very similar to mine… I felt a sense of empathy. Besides, if she follows us to other places, she might be able to recover her lost memories.”
Hati narrowed her eyes, her green gaze staring behind Lin Shu.
Footsteps approached from behind. Sophia, dressed in a white gown, walked over with a pleasing smile on her face.
“Lin Shu said she wants to take you with us. Do you have any thoughts on that?” Hati asked as usual, looking huffy and quite dissatisfied.
Sophia’s eyes lit up. “Really?”
“What’s that for? You look like you really want to follow us.”
“You are my saviors. I… I naturally hope to repay you.” She asked weakly, “Then… where do you plan to go?”
“This time, we are going to the center of the Sacred Race kingdom.”
“Will Lin Shu be going too?”
“That’s none of your business. The details aren’t convenient to tell you.”
“Oh… alright.”
“Can you really not remember anything at all? Not even a few memory fragments?” Hati stared intently at Sophia.
Sophia shook her head gently.
Hati curled her lip. “Fine, I won’t force you. We’ll pass through several human settlements on the way. I suggest you get off halfway through the journey.”
Lin Shu quietly winked at Sophia. It meant she should know when to stop; this was the maximum concession she could win for her at the moment.
Sophia lowered her eyes and remained silent for a few seconds. “Yes, that is also an option. Regardless, thank you very much,” Sophia said softly, touching the long hair at the side of her face as if embarrassed.
Hati turned her face away. “You should thank Lin Shu. She’s the one who suggested taking you along.”
“Thank you, Lin Shu,” Sophia said, taking the opportunity to sit down right next to her.
At an angle Hati couldn’t see, her hand quietly covered Lin Shu’s palm, which was resting at her side.
Lin Shu was slightly startled. She looked up and met “Sophia’s” pure and harmless smile.
“Even though I can’t help much, I once worked under a succubus. If you need it, I can serve you.”
Hati bared her teeth in dissatisfaction. “Just what on earth did you learn while you were with the Demonic Race?!”
“My former Master would drain the essence of humans; she especially loved doing *that* kind of thing.”
*That* kind of thing.
A scene from the wardrobe flashed through Lin Shu’s mind instantly.
Seeing Lin Shu’s face turn red with a look of shock, Sefina chuckled inwardly. ‘Is she thinking: “Why are you so experienced?”‘
In reality, it was just information she had found in her family’s universal library within a biological encyclopedia.
However, she still pretended to shrink her shoulders. “I watched a lot while standing beside her. I can do it very well too…”
“Cough!!” Hati coughed loudly and forcefully. “If you’re going to a human settlement, then throw away those demonic ways!”
“Is… is it a bad thing?” Sophia lowered her head weakly. “But I saw my former Master and her lovers, and they all seemed very happy.”
“Happiness isn’t the point! The point is that you should only do it with someone you like!”
Right after saying that, Hati grabbed Lin Shu’s other hand. She gripped it firmly, as if hinting at something.
Lin Shu was pinned to her seat. To her right were Sefina’s cool fingertips, and to her left was Hati’s warm palm. One on the left and one on the right, one cold and one hot—the two of them had her sandwiched between them, with no intention of letting go.
Lin Shu tried to struggle. “Um… can you let go of me first? I want to eat something.”