Ning Xi No.6, who had been tightly bound, was finally delivered safely to S City that afternoon.
Coincidentally, a certain battle had just drawn to a close at that exact moment.
“Miss Motes, what a coincidence, it’s been a while. Are you here to pick someone up too?”
Shen Moleng was holding the completely unconscious Edma in her arms, her expression already calm and serene, making it impossible to connect her with how she had looked just moments before.
Looking at the black-haired youth in front of her, Shen Moleng hesitated for a moment before replying sluggishly, “You could say that. Are you here for the same reason?”
Zhen Yi nodded, her eyes fixed on the distant sky, as if she could see what she was waiting for through the layers of clouds.
“I’m leaving.”
Shen Moleng had intended to slip away without a word, but since Zhen Yi greeted her first, it would have been too rude to ignore her.
It didn’t seem quite right to just carry little Edma away like this, especially since she’d seen her.
It was too late to rewind the process now—she already had the memory.
What a hassle…
Although her mind tangled with all sorts of thoughts in an instant, Shen Moleng was already quietly moving her steps away, not wanting to deal with this boring girl.
Zhen Yi, who had already noticed Edma, didn’t make any extra moves.
After all, she knew very well that with her own strength, there was no way she could capture King Edma Dragon alone.
Even if Edma was now just a golden-haired loli with her magic sealed.
Zhen Yi could maybe take on Edma, but winning would still be extremely difficult.
As for Motes, who had managed to capture Edma without so much as a ripple, she could easily crush her.
Back when they hunted the Monster King together, she didn’t have such terrifying strength, did she?
‘Did she really keep getting stronger nonstop while I was slacking off this whole year? What a frightening woman.’
After Shen Moleng’s presence completely vanished from the area, the plane carrying Ning Xi No.6 landed soon after.
Combat Division staff rolled out the poor, black-wrapped bundle on a small cart.
To prevent her from escaping or seducing the escorts, they had wrapped every inch of Ning Xi’s skin tightly with magic-blocking material.
Now Ning Xi could barely breathe, but as soon as she sensed herself being moved, she began to struggle desperately, making a bit of a commotion against the cart frame.
She didn’t want to go to that damned place.
Those lunatics in white coats forced her to watch Combat Division propaganda videos 24/7, constantly brainwashing her with the idea of “I am loyal to the Combat Division.”
This kind of torment didn’t hurt her body, but it made her suffer unbearably.
Because sometimes, she really did feel like a stranger was growing inside her—a lapdog of the Combat Division.
“Alright, take her to the Research Institute. I’ll provide escort.”
Zhen Yi vigilantly spread her magic senses around like radar, sweeping for any suspicious presence.
S City didn’t have that silver-haired witch everyone feared, so it wasn’t as peaceful as B City.
Those superhuman types were quite a headache.
***
Without using the Handheld Console, Su Mu once again entered the Second-Layer Dreamscape in her sleep.
Awake.
When she gathered more magic near her head before sleeping, she could remain clear-headed within the dream.
The moment she opened her eyes, she found herself sitting on the familiar sofa at home.
Its faded purple fabric was dusty, but surprisingly comfortable to sit on.
Most of the time, though, it was occupied by her completely unreliable mother.
In her own Dream World, Su Mu could see everything around her clearly.
But she didn’t need to interact—just seeing something would make memories of it surface in her mind.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t left many happy memories here.
After a short rest, Su Mu got up and pushed open the heavy security door.
As she stepped over the threshold, she faintly felt a weary gaze on her back from the sofa.
Just a familiar illusion, she knew.
Every time she turned around, that woman was still lying there, dead drunk.
Thinking of this, Su Mu unconsciously clenched her fist.
‘Why is she always drinking? Dad just isn’t coming home, it’s not like he’s dead…’
Su Mu couldn’t help but recall Luo Linglan’s father, how he drank himself into oblivion after his spouse died, and what became of him in the end.
The more she thought about it, the more restless she became.
Enough already.
She pushed open the door, and the dazzling sunlight made Su Mu squint, shielding her forehead with her hand.
“Diligence, love of learning, pursuit of truth, and sincerity.”
The melodious school bell echoed, making Su Mu instinctively quicken her pace.
But when she reached the security booth at the entrance, her body tensed involuntarily.
It was here that she’d been stopped before.
She’d been away from this place for a long time, but the middle-schooler Su Mu still lived in her heart, subtly influencing her actions.
But now, she could walk right in without fear—
As Su Mu stepped through the gate, a strange sense of dread enveloped her heart.
By the time she came to her senses, she was already back outside the entrance.
“All students must obey school rules and strive to be excellent middle schoolers!”
The sign listing the school rules next to the school motto suddenly seemed glaring.
Su Mu read it carefully.
She could vaguely remember a few of the rules, and couldn’t help but marvel at how her subconscious had memorized them all.
She still remembered some parts, especially the section about hairstyles.
[Hairstyles must not be eccentric; boys’ hair cannot touch their shoulders; girls must tie up their hair…]
‘Wait, I think I get it.’
Looking at the densely packed school rules, Su Mu suddenly had a bad feeling.
“Those who violate school rules may not enter!”
She couldn’t get in.
But since she’d already reached the entrance, Su Mu had no reason to retreat.
Helpless, she could only clumsily try to tie up her hair.
Though Tang Nai had taught her by hand a few times, when the hairband and hair crossed, her fingers still fumbled for a long time before she found the right spot.
By the time she finally got her tangled hair in order, the second school bell was ringing urgently.
That was the warning bell.
This bell, which had never left an impression in her memory, now sounded like a drumbeat, urging everyone still outside the classroom, making Su Mu inexplicably anxious.
She was going to be late.
She hurriedly stepped toward the gate again, but was once more sent back by that invisible force.
Her body returned to the front of the school rules sign.
This time, her vision was filled entirely by the iron plate covered in text, as if it was intentionally reminding her to pay attention to these rules.
[“Please wear school uniform to enter.”]
‘So that’s it. But where am I supposed to get a uniform? Maybe I can use the Handheld Console to modify one.’
As Su Mu’s gaze moved downward, a line of striking red text suddenly appeared in the center of her vision.
“Anyone late by more than 5 minutes will have a Disciplinary Record.”
It had been about two minutes since the bell rang, and the noise from the classroom had already been replaced by the teacher’s stern voice.
If she didn’t hurry, she would get a Disciplinary Record.
And as for the details of a Disciplinary Record, Su Mu still remembered them word for word—even the chipped period at the end of the sentence.
[“Serious offenders will have their parents called to the school for counseling.”]