“Anyway, no matter what happened between you and Luo Youyou, from now on, don’t touch her anymore.”
Li Yun sighed.
“That way, you still have a slim chance to quit, and a small hope to hold on to in the future.”
“This is terrifying, isn’t it?!” Zhizhi exclaimed.
Is she even human, or some new type of biochemical weapon?
“Listen to me. Don’t touch Youyou anymore, if you don’t want to fall into an irreversible abyss.”
“B-but—”
“It’s fine. I’ll help you draft a recovery plan and stick by you through this difficult time. Trust me…”
“Are you that Jiedusuo Instructor?”
Zhizhi couldn’t help but scoff.
She had wanted to say this for a while—wasn’t Li Yun exaggerating a bit too much?
Now that she thought about it, there were doubts everywhere.
When asked why Youyou was so terrifying, Li Yun refused to say, only insisting that anyone infected by Luo Youyou would suffer terribly and must quit immediately.
Once her mind settled, Zhizhi reverted to her usual arrogant brat self.
“Li Yun, I just don’t buy this. I want to taste Luo Youyou for myself, so you don’t need to trouble yourself helping me.”
“What?!”
Li Yun suddenly stood up with a bang and shouted, “I’ve told you, don’t touch Luo Youyou! Don’t touch Luo Youyou! Don’t touch Luo Youyou! Why do you insist on doing it? Zhizhi, even though you usually act like that, you’re not a child anymore. Why won’t you listen?”
“Then you tell me—what exactly happened between you and Luo Youyou?”
That shut her up. Li Yun awkwardly averted her gaze.
Zhizhi pressed on, “Although I find it unlikely… could it be that you’re trying to warn me off a rival?”
When she said this, Li Yun felt as if a giant red spotlight was shining right on her face, making her break into a cold sweat.
“N-no, I’m doing all this for your own good! This comes from my own experience as someone who’s been through it!”
“Ha! Then I just have to try this Luo Youyou and see what kind of magic makes you warn me like this.”
Zhizhi also stood up, her aura no less imposing despite not having Li Yun’s two lumps of chest meat.
“Let me guess the consequences: I’ll be completely infected by Luo Youyou, brainwashed day and night, even while working and sleeping? Or will I become frail and itchy to death because I can’t see her?”
“I don’t believe it!”
“For Magical Girls, nothing is impossible!”
With that, Zhizhi saw Li Yun puff up her cheeks like a water balloon about to explode, probably on the verge of tears.
She gave up and shouted, “Ahhh, whatever! Fine, you want to kill yourself, go ahead! I just don’t believe… you’ll get anything good out of it!” Li Yun stormed out.
“Don’t worry, I won’t get infected by Luo Youyou, and there’s no way I’ll fall for her.”
Zhizhi’s voice came from behind.
“…Suit yourself!”
Phew, what a false alarm—just scared herself for nothing.
Watching Li Yun’s retreating figure, Zhizhi smiled smugly.
So, this Luo Youyou who was talked up to be so terrifying was just demonized by some Magical Girl who liked her.
“Next time… I’ll definitely make her kneel and admit defeat! And… I absolutely will never fall for her!”
Zhizhi was certain of the last point and could finally relax and prepare to challenge Luo Youyou.
***
Two days later—
Northwest, Ban Yin City.
“So lively…”
Luo You was still a bit out of place in this city.
This was a first-tier city, close to the provincial capital, so the economy was very good.
Luxury cars on the streets weren’t rare—just a random brick thrown could be worth over a million, or at least a hundred thousand.
The banquet hosted by the Smuggling Faction was to be held in the city’s largest and most luxurious hotel.
The entire hotel had been reserved, with expenses far beyond ordinary imagination.
But Luo You was in no hurry to go there.
She observed the situation first.
After all, it was a banquet organized by outsiders.
Proper caution was necessary.
Without first understanding whether their intentions were good or bad, it would be easy to fall into a trap.
“Oh? Why do I feel like I just saw someone familiar?”
While observing the guests arriving for the banquet, Luo You suddenly spotted… a wild, steaming Magical Girl radiating a sweet scent!
Broken-Winged Butterfly!
“How strange. She actually came to a place like this? What’s the matter?”
She was dressed in full regalia, wearing an elegant gown.
Though rumors now surrounded her, tarnishing the radiant beauty beneath, her charm remained undiminished, utterly captivating.
Watching her, Luo You recalled that exquisite sensation of countless tendrils crawling over her body.
“Did the Smuggling Faction invite her? That’s quite thoughtful.”
Luo You’s impression of the Smuggling Faction rose significantly.
It seemed this banquet wasn’t just about eating and drinking—it also offered the chance to enjoy a Magical Girl’s exquisite hair service.
At that moment—
Broken-Winged Butterfly, who had just entered the venue, suddenly shivered, trembling slightly.
What was going on?
[That bitch Ellera can’t really have come, can she?]
Broken-Winged Butterfly thought darkly.
If she saw her, she would kill her on the spot!
Since the last forced Sister Rice Bowl incident, Bailing Wu had been absent-minded and distracted, even staring at herself in the mirror for a long time while showering.
So pitiful—such a pure girl, but due to that bitch’s forced intrusion, she ended up like this.
Broken-Winged Butterfly worried that if things continued, Bailing Wu might become a magical resentful woman like herself.
“Hello, Ms. Broken-Winged Butterfly, this way please.”
A waiter approached.
“Mm.”
Broken-Winged Butterfly nodded.
Too many political and business heavyweights had come to this banquet, many of whom she had to treat carefully.
It was not even comparable to that Kuiju who was now nearly two and a half meters tall with the Kufengtou.
Among them, the leader of the Irregular Organization was also present.
Many powerful overseas figures had also gathered here.
Every minute, the amount of money involved in the deals being made was astronomical.
This was definitely not just a simple wedding banquet! Broken-Winged Butterfly thought.
[Did Manjusaka send me because she sensed something?]
Broken-Winged Butterfly was filled with unease.
The Jiehai Tide was not yet over.
It had only paused briefly due to Ellera’s activity.
The high-level battles invisible to the naked eye were still fiercely ongoing.
Each player was strategizing, and some pawns were striving to become players themselves.
The seemingly peaceful scene was in fact a chaotic mess beneath.
Manjusaka’s intentions were the hardest to discern.
She was respected by all Magical Girls for her ability to grasp the whole situation, Broken-Winged Butterfly included.
Otherwise, knowing Ellera might come, she would never have attended.
“Ms. Broken-Winged Butterfly, long time no see.”
“You’ve had some troubles recently. We’ve actually been helping clear your negative news.”
“Regarding Border Customs’ affairs, you guys have recently needed a batch of raw materials for building sea defenses, right? I have a suggestion…”
Broken-Winged Butterfly’s arrival enlivened the atmosphere.
After all, she was a Magical Girl.
It was always beneficial to flatter her, but you wouldn’t want to make an enemy either.
However, Broken-Winged Butterfly knew that everyone here was waiting for one main figure—
“.Hmm?”
Broken-Winged Butterfly suddenly turned to the entrance.
There, a white figure drew the attention of everyone present.