“Lei Mang, do you think we really need to help them?”
Lan Xi and Lei Mang stood together atop the Magic Management Bureau Building.
Not far off, transport planes were air-dropping specialists and equipment, cleaning up the mess left behind by Di Huo.
“What do you think? I actually see potential in a few of them. It’d be best if they could survive the coming storm, so we need to provide them with some protection.”
Lan Xi shook her head.
“This isn’t our mission. I’ve already submitted the data to the Group. We should retreat.”
“Then why ask me?”
“Because I’ve discovered the movements of Codename Sirius. We can offer them shielding against psychic attacks.”
“If we let the enemy manipulate minds unchecked, the entire Magic Control Bureau’s combat effectiveness will collapse. Of course, in the long run, this might benefit the Group’s plans.”
Lei Mang gazed at the approaching sandstorm in the distance, pondering for a moment.
“We can still give them a final hand, pull out the ones I’m interested in. As for the rest, it doesn’t matter.”
“What about Ciyue?” Lan Xi asked last.
“She’s not on our side. For the Group, Ciyue and Luo Xi can only be one or the other. Ciyue’s on her own.”
***
Ah, the familiar hospital ward again.
But this time, there were many more people around.
“You don’t need to worry about me so much… I just pushed myself too hard and got a little weak.”
“Miss Ciyue, what are you saying? If Bai Lingluo hadn’t saved you, you wouldn’t be here!” Chen Lisi frowned nearby.
“Yeah, how could you go to such a dangerous place alone without telling us…” Kong Ling said with concern.
“Kong Ling, enough.” Bai Lingluo cut her off.
“Sister Ciyue must have her reasons. That place was too dangerous. She didn’t want any of you to sacrifice yourselves for nothing. By going alone to handle Di Huo, Ciyue actually protected all of you.”
Bai Lingluo turned her head and looked at the weakly fallen Ciyue, her eyes filled with pity.
She whispered to her, “Sister Ciyue, only I have the right to scold you. Why did you do this without telling me? We could have worked together. I’m strong too—trust me…”
Ciyue had little strength left to argue.
“Can you all… just let me rest for a bit? You should rest too. Don’t worry so much about me; I’m fine.”
Some, tired themselves, left the room to rest.
Ying Xian approached instead.
“Sister Ciyue, at that moment… were you prepared not to return?”
“Yes.” Ciyue did not lie.
Upon hearing the answer, Ying Xian turned and muttered softly, “Fool.”
She then left the room as well.
Under Bai Lingluo’s gaze, Ciyue could only smile helplessly.
Passing by Miao Ke’er lingering at the door, Ying Xian said to her, “Let’s go. Sister Ciyue will be fine.”
Miao Ke’er looked sadly at Ciyue once before turning away.
The room was left with only Bai Lingluo.
“Sister Ciyue.”
Seeing no one else in the room, Bai Lingluo lay down beside her. She turned to look closely into Ciyue’s eyes.
Ciyue could see Bai Lingluo’s cheeks flushed red.
“That kiss… I will always remember it.”
Bai Lingluo reached out, entwining her fingers with Ciyue’s.
“This might sound selfish, Sister Ciyue, but could you give me one more kiss?”
Ciyue hesitated, but Bai Lingluo wouldn’t take no for an answer. She pressed Ciyue’s hands to the bed and moved herself on top of her.
Ciyue couldn’t move, staring as Bai Lingluo leaned in closer.
She felt the warmth between their fingers, her breath, the touch of her hair falling—she could only surrender entirely.
All for a lie, accepting everything from this girl, Ciyue wondered if it was worth it.
Just as their lips were about to meet, the door opened.
“Bai Lingluo? What are you doing?”
Luo Xi looked on in shock.
Bai Lingluo quickly slid off the bed and wiped the sweat from her brow.
“I was just checking on Miss Ciyue closely, that’s all.”
Luo Xi came closer to Ciyue.
“Luo Xi, do you know everything about me…?” Ciyue asked.
She nodded.
“I’m sorry.”
Bai Lingluo took Ciyue’s hand in hers.
“You have nothing to apologize for. You’ve done well.”
“No, cough… Luo Xi, you must be very disappointed?”
Luo Xi grabbed Ciyue’s other hand and squeezed it hard.
“Next time, don’t do something so foolish again,” Luo Xi said.
Bai Lingluo defended her.
“That’s not foolish at all! If Sister Ciyue hadn’t done it, we’d all be dead!”
“You don’t understand.”
“I understand Sister Ciyue best. She might seem naive on the surface, but inside she knows exactly what she’s doing. She chose to sacrifice herself for everyone else—that’s the most noble thing!”
Luo Xi scoffed.
“That kind of thing is the most selfish. To bear others’ love but disregard your own life—when these risks could be shared, yet you choose to carry them alone without caring about anyone else’s feelings!”
Bai Lingluo countered, “Luo Xi, how can you think that way!? Losing one’s life to protect others is often not a choice! Either both die, or you leave your loved ones behind and face death alone. It’s a necessary sacrifice…”
Luo Xi shook her head.
“You don’t understand.”
“No, I do understand…” Bai Lingluo couldn’t hold back her emotions and began to cry.
“My sister Bai Lingyi was just like Sister Ciyue. To protect me when I was still a child, she disobeyed orders and faced enemies far stronger than herself alone.”
“She even saved your brother, Mr. Luo Zhizhou! Without people like her, you’d never see your brother again!”
Luo Xi clenched her teeth; Ciyue could feel the pressure of her grip tighten.
“Don’t mention that person! He’s a hopeless fool! Sister Ciyue, I told you before about him, that man—I hate him with all my heart! I’d rather… he die on the battlefield!”
“Luo Xi, you’re the cruelest one here! Mr. Luo Zhizhou is a good friend of Sister Ciyue, and yet you speak so coldly of her friend, who is also your brother! Why are you so heartless toward him?”
Ciyue met Luo Xi’s resentful gaze…
“Ciyue, do you even know him? That man!?” Luo Xi asked.
How was this supposed to end…
“You two, calm down. There’s no need to fight over me…”
“You haven’t answered my question! Ciyue!” Luo Xi was relentless.
Bai Lingluo shielded Ciyue, protecting her from Luo Xi’s furious gaze.
“I’m sorry, Luo Xi. I lied to you.”
Luo Xi finally couldn’t hold back her sorrow and buried her face in her hands, sobbing again in front of Ciyue.
“This shouldn’t have happened…”
Heartbroken, Luo Xi stormed out.
“Sister Ciyue, what exactly is your relationship with Luo Xi and Mr. Luo Zhizhou? You should tell me,” Bai Lingluo asked at last.
“I’m sorry… I can’t say.” Ciyue chose to bury it all.
“If that’s the case, Sister Ciyue, I won’t blame you. Everyone has their reasons, and I’m sure you carry a lot in your heart. It’s okay; when you’re sad, you can come to me. I’ll… leave now.”
Bai Lingluo left gently, softly closing the door behind her.
Only Ciyue remained.
Once again, engulfed by emptiness, Ciyue felt helpless.
Outside, the strong wind battered the window. A sandstorm was arriving, darkening the sky.
Ciyue closed her eyes.
[If only the Extradimensional Beasts had never descended, how much better it would be…]