“Is this… Southern Ridge?”
Being dragged out of the shop by Bai Shuanglian, Ling Xiaoyou was about to ask something, but then she noticed that the environment outside was completely different from when she entered New Sea City.
If the entrance to New Sea City was a dim alley, then this place was a desolate wilderness rarely visited by people.
Ling Xiaoyou looked at the lush trees around, then glanced back at the shop door set in an abandoned cabin in the woods that looked completely out of place.
She wanted to complain a little, but after thinking about it, she was too lazy to bother.
“Are we leaving just like this? Aren’t we going to ask for more specific details?”
Ling Xiaoyou looked at Bai Shuanglian, asking in confusion.
In her view, unless it was an unexpected event, it was best to be fully prepared before doing anything—like gathering information or tools.
“No need. Since senior said so, she probably can’t tell us anything else.”
Bai Shuanglian shook her head, explaining.
“Oh.”
Ling Xiaoyou nodded obediently, then looked at Bai Shuanglian, lowered her head, then looked again, and lowered her head once more.
Seeing the little ghost looking like she wanted to ask something but didn’t know how to start, Bai Shuanglian chuckled softly, rubbed her little head, and said, “What’s wrong? Do you have something you want to ask?”
“Um…”
Ling Xiaoyou looked at Bai Shuanglian, hesitated for a moment, then followed her heart and asked, “Bai Shuanglian, why did you choose to help us Spirits? This really has nothing to do with you, right?”
Although the whole thing was a bit confusing, Ling Xiaoyou understood that the two of them were now going to wipe out the Blood Banquet Cult’s nest in Southern Ridge.
Honestly, Ling Xiaoyou was really happy that Bai Shuanglian was willing to help her and the missing Spirits.
With her own strength, she couldn’t even think about defeating those Devils, let alone investigating the missing Spirits.
So with Bai Shuanglian’s help, things became much easier for Ling Xiaoyou.
But if it meant putting Bai Shuanglian in danger, then she’d rather Bai Shuanglian not help.
After all, according to what that Old Lady said, this was very dangerous and had nothing to do with Bai Shuanglian. If anything went wrong, she could lose her life.
Ling Xiaoyou didn’t want Bai Shuanglian to die, nor did she want her to be in danger.
“Are you worried about me?”
Hearing Ling Xiaoyou’s words, Bai Shuanglian’s lips curled up slightly, clearly pleased.
“Hmph, of course not… Fine, I guess I am a little worried about you.”
Ling Xiaoyou reflexively tried to act tsundere, but after thinking about it, her face flushed and she admitted it.
“Thank you. I’m really happy that you care about me.”
Bai Shuanglian hugged Ling Xiaoyou, rubbing her little head with her chin.
“Hmph! Don’t get the wrong idea! I just… I just don’t want you to die! You’re my archenemy, only I can defeat you!”
Ling Xiaoyou blushed slightly.
“Alright, alright, I get it.”
Bai Shuanglian smiled and then explained, “The reason I chose to help is actually simple.”
“Part of it is to find out what the Devils are planning.”
“But mostly, it’s for you, Xiaoyou.”
Ling Xiaoyou was stunned.
“For… me?”
“Yes.”
Bai Shuanglian nodded.
“After all, didn’t you promise others to help? So it’s only natural for me to help you, right?”
Ling Xiaoyou nodded blankly. Bai Shuanglian’s words seemed right, but also felt a bit strange.
It was as if there was a missing link in this logic chain.
She did promise others to help, but it didn’t have much to do with Bai Shuanglian, did it?
Bai Shuanglian wasn’t anyone special to her, at most an archenemy.
And for such dangerous things, even friends would hesitate, yet Bai Shuanglian agreed without hesitation.
If Ling Xiaoyou had more experience with feelings, she would understand that when you truly care about someone, no matter how dangerous the road ahead, you won’t be afraid.
Unfortunately, she’s just a cute little Pen Fairy, with emotional experience limited to manga and novels, completely clueless about these things.
“Wait for me… Eh, what are you two doing?”
Ling Xiaoyou was lost in thought when suddenly the voice of that Middle Schooler Princess Syndrome girl came.
She was startled, quickly broke free from Bai Shuanglian’s embrace, and looked back.
The Middle Schooler Princess Syndrome girl was looking at them in confusion, as if curious about what they had just been doing.
“You saw wrong. We weren’t doing anything just now.”
Ling Xiaoyou coughed lightly and lied without blushing.
Then she quickly changed the topic.
“Anyway, why did you chase after us and call out? Do you need something?”
“Nothing? But didn’t you two just hug…”
The Middle Schooler Princess Syndrome girl ignored Ling Xiaoyou’s attempt to change the subject. She was very curious about what the two had been doing.
But her words stopped abruptly, because she saw Bai Shuanglian looking at her coldly, as if she were looking at a dead thing, without any emotion.
The Middle Schooler Princess Syndrome girl didn’t realize she had become a third wheel, interrupting Bai Shuanglian and Ling Xiaoyou.
She only knew that Bai Shuanglian’s gaze was scary, like when her sister returned from the battlefield.
She shivered, not wanting to dig deeper into what they were doing, and quickly followed Ling Xiaoyou’s words to change the topic:
“Of course I came to find you! Aren’t you going to take me with you?”
At this, Ling Xiaoyou was stunned, surprised.
“Why would we bring you along?”
“Huh? Of course because…”
The Middle Schooler Princess Syndrome girl stopped, realizing that she had no connection to these two, and it did make sense… there was no reason for them to bring her.
But she also wanted to investigate the Devils!
It was rare to have such a chance; she couldn’t just give it up!
She quickly thought, then came up with a reason she thought was pretty good.
“Of course because Southern Ridge is my turf, quack!”
At this, Ling Xiaoyou was speechless. She expected something, but not this quack.
She waved her little hand.
“Middle Schooler little sister, the Qing Dynasty has been dead for ages. What do you mean your turf? It’s all the nation’s now!”
Ling Xiaoyou’s attitude, treating her like a kid, immediately made the Middle Schooler Princess Syndrome girl angry.
“Who are you calling little sister, you little shrimp!”
Since crossing over, Ling Xiaoyou’s short height had always been a sore spot.
Now, being called out by the Middle Schooler Princess Syndrome girl, she naturally got mad.
“Who are you calling little shrimp, you Middle Schooler Princess Syndrome!”
As the two were about to start fighting, Bai Shuanglian shook her head helplessly, cast a spell, and her powerful magic bound the Middle Schooler Princess Syndrome girl, who was about to attack.
Seeing this, Ling Xiaoyou was very pleased, stuck out her tongue, made a face, and said,
“Ha, still want to hit me? Come on, quack! Why aren’t you coming, quack!”
The Middle Schooler Princess Syndrome girl was furious, wanting to punch Ling Xiaoyou’s smug little face, but she was bound and could only move her eyes.
“Unfair! Why can she move?”
She glared at Bai Shuanglian with her eyes.
But Bai Shuanglian just glanced at her and said,
“She and I are friends.”
In other words, you’re a stranger, of course I’m siding with my friend.
The Middle Schooler Princess Syndrome girl was stunned, then saw Ling Xiaoyou waving at her.
“Bye-bye, Middle Schooler Princess Syndrome, we’re off to destroy Devils!”
With that, she dragged Bai Shuanglian and walked toward the City District.