The way things had turned out left Ling Xiaoxiao utterly speechless. How exactly did it end up like this?
Where on earth did Xiaoji get this insane level of endurance?
Once Xue Ji got into the zone, her strength was simply terrifying.
As for Shaya, she was still wrapped up like a mummy in bandages, so this time she managed to escape unscathed.
“Good thing I’m healing slowly, or I’d be done for,” she muttered, huddled in the corner with a shifty gaze.
If she had the choice, though, she’d still rather recover faster.
“If you’ve got nothing to do, then get out. Don’t just—”
Meanwhile, Ling Xiaoxiao had already put some distance between them without anyone noticing, one hand pressed over her chest as she offered an apologetic smile.
“I’m still not fully healed, so I’ll let you off easy this time.”
With that, she pulled her nightgown out of the wardrobe and slipped it on. Even though they were all girls, and their relationships were messy and complicated to say the least, Ling Xiaoxiao still held onto some inexplicable sense of modesty.
Suddenly feeling a surge of heat racing through her meridians, she quickly sat down cross-legged right there on the floor, trying to suppress the fire burning within her.
There was clearly some kind of alluring aura wafting toward her.
In the corner, Shaya had initially been pretending to cover her eyes, leaving only a tiny slit to peek through, but now she’d given up the act entirely.
“Hehe, look at you now, you little brat.” Not only was she watching, but she was also teasing her with a grin.
“I hate you the most.”
And with that—
Ow. The movement tugged at her wounds. “Hiss! That hurts, that hurts.”
She twitched around on the spot in a rather bizarre manner, as if trying to tame her own limbs.
“You sure hold a grudge.” Ling Xiaoxiao had already stood up, her expression cool and detached, as if nothing had just happened.
“Hmph! If Xiaoji weren’t here, I’d have fallen out with you ages ago.” Shaya crossed her arms and shot her a defiant glare.
“Still not satisfied?” Ling Xiaoxiao’s tone softened, almost as if she were yielding, but then she abruptly shifted gears. “I wonder if injuring a Chongming Bird so badly will raise the danger rating of those Cloud Wolves?”
“Hey, why do you always have to be so twisted? Can’t you just say something nice for once?”
If she had the strength to back it up, Shaya would’ve loved to put this sharp-tongued woman in her place.
“Twisted, am I?” Ling Xiaoxiao nodded slightly. “Maybe so. But I won’t back down, little fox.”
“I told you, I’m a wolf!” Shaya stomped her foot in frustration, but with her injuries, she had no choice but to swallow her anger.
Ling Xiaoxiao let out a quiet laugh and opened the door.
Just before she stepped out, she said casually, “The contract is void. You don’t have to come anymore.”
Even though most of the time Shaya didn’t really do much around Ling Xiaoxiao’s place—and had the audacity to keep provoking her regardless—she—
Hearing that, Shaya’s temper flared right back up. She shoved the nearly closed door open and shot back, “Don’t bother pretending with me. I’ll pay you back myself!”
“Heh, fine.”
“Wait, there’s one more thing…”
“Hm?”
“I… I’m sorry.” Shaya’s tone softened, carrying a hint of regret.
“I brought this on myself. You don’t need to worry about it.” Ling Xiaoxiao gave a self-deprecating smile and walked away.
The next day, the group—along with Eva, who had come over—sat down for breakfast at the mountain villa.
Everyone was strangely quiet, which left Eva thoroughly confused. Her gaze darted back and forth between them.
Lilith was the most obvious of all—she deliberately kept her distance from Xue Ji, her cheeks flushing unprompted every now and then.
The odd atmosphere had Eva completely baffled.
She was probably wondering how the people who were at each other’s throats just yesterday had all turned so shy today.
What on earth happened last night?
While she was lost in thought, Xue Ji patted her head and said, “Eat your meal properly. Don’t go overthinking things.”
“Still, it’s worth thinking about. Eva’s so cute—can’t have some big bad wolf taking advantage of her, you know?” Ling Xiaoxiao’s words carried a pointed undertone.
“Hey! Who’re you calling a big bad wolf?!” Shaya shot up from her seat and slammed the table in anger.
An egg flew into the air and landed right on Xue Ji’s head.
Thud.
“Ouch!” Xue Ji had once again become an innocent victim.
“Not you! Who told you to slam my table?!” Ling Xiaoxiao shot a glare at the fool.
“Oh.” Shaya outwardly complied, but inwardly she was muttering: “Thirty years east, thirty years west—mark my words, one day I’ll make you my personal maid!”
“Pfft.” Lilith couldn’t help but laugh. “What an idiot~”
Xue Ji looked at them, and the words and actions from yesterday came flooding back into her mind, the memories playing out vividly before her eyes.
Before she knew it, her gaze had fixed itself on Lilith.
Lilith felt her eyes on her, and both of their cheeks turned a deep shade of crimson.
“Stop staring, you worthless, idiot, perverted, lecherous, scumbag Sage!”
“Ah, I wasn’t—”
Before Xue Ji could even make an excuse, Lilith hurled a steamed bun at her—but Shaya, quick as a flash, caught it midair.
“Hehehe, don’t waste food now~” Shaya munched on the bun while thoroughly enjoying Lilith’s flustered expression.
“Eat, eat, eat—hope you choke on it!”
Lilith threw another steamed bun at her, and from there, things spiraled completely out of control.
Ling Xiaoxiao, surprisingly, didn’t get angry. Instead, she turned to Xue Ji and said, “So noisy.”
Xue Ji caught a bun just before it smacked her in the face and smiled. “Not bad, though, is it?”
Ling Xiaoxiao took a sip of her porridge, elegantly caught a flying bun, and let out a quiet chuckle.
