On the steps of the Rain Curtain.
Wu Xiaomi didn’t say a word, only letting out faint sobs.
The Witch stayed silent as well.
It wasn’t until Wu Xiaomi had cried herself out, numbly hugging her tail in a daze.
“Are you here… to take me away?” Wu Xiaomi asked in a small voice.
“No.”
“But I… I don’t have anything left to give you…”
“We’re not talking business today.”
The Witch wove a blanket from vines and covered Wu Xiaomi with it, shielding her from the wind.
“Then you…”
“End-of-life care for a VIP client.”
“……”
Should I be impressed by the Company of the Witch’s after-sales service quality?
The Witch said, “These days, it’s not easy to find a premium leek like you.”
“……”
Wu Xiaomi took back her earlier praise and decided on a one-star review.
She puffed up her cheeks, raised her fingertips in protest, and cast Blooming Flowers, making the vines wrapped around her bloom.
The Witch was half amused, half exasperated by the girl’s way of venting.
“You still dare to use Lingyuan? Are you really in such a hurry to die?”
“A little more won’t matter!”
As soon as she finished, a warm rush flooded her nose.
Ah, a nosebleed…
Her head suddenly spun, her body lost balance, and she slumped sideways onto the Witch’s lap.
“Damn…”
She tried to get up, but the Witch pressed her cheek, “Sleep. Enough fuss.”
“Not sleeping.”
Wu Xiaomi still pushed herself up:
“Let’s make a deal.”
“…You still want to trade?”
“Help me… turn into me… the old me, and say goodbye to Xiaozhi for me.”
She really didn’t want Xiaozhi to end up posting missing person notices everywhere.
“We don’t offer that service here.” The Witch refused on the spot.
Wu Xiaomi was speechless with frustration.
She wanted to argue more, but the Witch was already standing up.
“I’ll come collect your corpse, don’t worry.”
The Witch opened her umbrella and left, the owl on her shoulder flying away as well, vanishing into the rain.
“Who wants you… to collect my corpse…”
……
On the streets of Xilin City, a conspicuous group of young people, all sharply dressed, strutted down the avenue.
“How can anyone be this dirt poor? How does an Academy like this even survive?”
“How could they not be poor? Their buildings haven’t been renovated in centuries. Even with the Blessing of the Spirit of Abundance slowing down the weathering, there’s no way they could hold up this long.”
“Alright, you two, keep it down. We’re just staying in the countryside for a few days. Don’t let them hear you, or they’ll say us city folks have no manners.”
Xilin Academy was located deep in the Manggu Mountains, hard to reach and cut off from the world.
Whether in academics or environment, it was nothing special, naturally placing it at the bottom of the Academy pecking order.
Of course, as reasonably intelligent humans, they only gossiped behind people’s backs, never openly showing disrespect.
“Why is the Lianyi Association being held here? Why not at our school… Ugh, I can even smell cow dung!”
“They say it was the investor’s decision, that big tycoon Wilson. He’s from Xilin City, so he wanted the other schools to experience the ancient charm of his hometown.”
“Ancient, sure, but where’s the charm?”
These students came from various Academies, usually at odds, but today they were united in their misery.
No one liked this godforsaken place.
“Just put up with it for a few days, it’ll be over soon.”
“The Lianyi Association is tomorrow, right?”
“Yeah, tomorrow night and then we can leave.”
……
Nanalia raised her Ceremonial Staff. As the inheritor of Abundance, she had the keenest sense for Manggu.
“The leak is here. Let’s set up the barrier.”
She was standing right where Wu Xiaomi and Bai Xiaozhi had been attacked.
The phantom of the Illusory Art Building.
“I’ll set the barrier, don’t worry.”
Qiao Wanwan took a deep blue crystal from her pack, held it up, and let it float into the air.
It was a Sanctified Source Crystal— though this one belonged to the Spirit of Rainfall.
Thick humidity instantly filled the area, transforming into four misty white walls, sealing the surroundings.
“The Academy is right next door, so make sure your barrier is solid. Don’t let the Evil Will Entity get out and hurt the students.”
“Relax, relax! Evil Will Entities are as afraid of water as rabid dogs— they wouldn’t dare crash into the barrier.”
“Even so, this time the seal’s breach was deliberate sabotage. You need to stay alert. Be careful of enemy interference.”
“Just focus on repairs. If enemies come, I’ll handle them.” Qiao Wanwan leaned back-to-back with Nanalia, “It’s not our first time working together. Let’s start.”
……
With Nanalia and Qiao Wanwan out, there was no one to guide her today.
Wu Xiaomi practiced a little in the dance studio, then started slacking off.
Rain Prayer Technique and Siren Dance were highly compatible, so she had already finished blending the choreography days ago.
Plus, Wu Xiaomi’s muscle memory was pretty good; she’d already gotten the moves down pat.
Once she had some results, laziness started creeping in.
“Why’d you stop practicing?”
A lazy voice drifted from the dance studio’s lounge area.
It was Lulutina. She was bored in the Milk-White Space and had come here for a little vacation.
But Wu Xiaomi thought she was the same wherever she went.
She just clung to her pineapple plushie all day, endlessly scrolling.
Honestly, she was even lazier than Wu Xiaomi.
“You don’t get it! I’m boosting Sister Xiaozhi’s traffic and popularity!” Every time Wu Xiaomi showed disdain, this bratty loli would start spouting nonsense, “Even the best UP needs promotion! Someone like me, an Operations Officer, is just as important!”
Sure, sure, you’re amazing.
“Are you practicing or not?”
Really didn’t feel like it…
Laziness.
“If you’re not, let’s go shopping! I found a stinky tofu stall at the school gate’s snack street—super awesome!”
“Soup-filled or grilled?”
Which kind?
“The soup-filled kind! They use the local specialty, Ultimate Soulbreaker Pepper, then pour in broth and sear it with Dragon’s Breath— super spicy! Super fragrant! Super intense!”
Sounds… amazing!
Wu Xiaomi swallowed hungrily.
She’d been on a bland diet under Xiaozhi and Nanalia’s watch these days, eating food that tasted like water. Hearing about something this good… she couldn’t resist!
“There’s a dessert shop next door run by a Polar Snow Demon. After the spicy stuff, you get a huge bowl of shaved ice— feels like jumping from a volcano straight into a snowfield… hiss—”
Just thinking about it felt great!
But these words couldn’t reach Xiaozhi, or she’d get dragged by the ear for a scolding.
Stuff like, “Your body’s like this and you’re still eating cold stuff?” “Do you want to recover or not?” “blablabla—”…
“Shh!” Wu Xiaomi motioned for Lulutina to keep quiet.
Lower your voice, let’s sneak out. Don’t let Xiaozhi hear.
Lulutina grinned knowingly.
Got it!
Let’s go~
……
“So many people!”
Faced with the overwhelming crowd at the snack street, the two girls could only stand dumbfounded at the edge, at a loss.
It was terrifying.
Where did all these people come from?
“Huh, their uniforms aren’t like ours.”
True.
“Oh, right, the Lianyi Association is tomorrow. Looks like our ‘Friend School’ has arrived.” Lulutina suddenly realized.
Wu Xiaomi curiously looked at the newcomers.
Compared to Xilin City’s students, these people were indeed taller, fairer, and clearly better nourished.
No wonder Xilin Academy couldn’t beat them.
Still, Wu Xiaomi had no intention of sticking up for Xilin Academy.
Right now, she just wanted to try the stinky tofu Lulutina had raved about.
“Let’s give up, no chance today.” Lulutina looked at the crowd and shook her head in surrender.
No.
I want it today.
“Alright, alright, I’ll squeeze in with you.”
Lulutina didn’t know exactly how Wu Xiaomi’s health was, but she knew she was a patient, so she took the lead, clearing a path in front,
“Make way, make way! I’ve got COVID, I’ve got the plague! Cough, cough—let me through, I want to eat stinky tofu before I die!”
“……”
Lulutina shouted as she went, deliberately coughing loudly, pretending to be at death’s door.
Wu Xiaomi followed behind in silent disbelief.
What kind of shameless genius move was this?
Utterly ridiculous— so ridiculous it’s out of this world.