Hearing Bai Yuling’s words, Yan Qi’s lips curled up in a barely noticeable smile. Then, she deliberately feigned surprise and asked Bai Yuling beside her:
“Auntie Bai, is it really that surprising that I’ve become an Awakened even stronger than you?”
Hearing this, Bai Yuling nodded and replied:
“Yes, I am quite surprised by this. After all, becoming an Awakened is a very dangerous thing.”
“A dangerous thing? I didn’t feel that at all.”
Upon hearing Bai Yuling’s words, Yan Qi asked a question to which she already knew the answer.
Hearing this, Bai Yuling recalled the information she had previously learned from the renowned Awakened known as Daoyan the Empress. She knew that Yan Qi had become an Awakened not by devouring Monster Cores, but by cultivating the Dao Method created by Daoyan the Empress. She looked at Yan Qi and replied:
“Of course you wouldn’t feel it. The method you used to become an Awakened, Xiao Qi, is completely different from the method I used.”
Hearing this, Yan Qi first deliberately put on an expression of sudden understanding, then followed it with a look of confusion, and said to Bai Yuling:
“So that’s why I didn’t sense any danger, because the methods are different. But then, Auntie Bai, why didn’t you use the Dao Method created by Sister Daoyan to become an Awakened, instead insisting on using other dangerous methods?”
Upon hearing Yan Qi’s words, Bai Yuling immediately showed an exasperated expression. She sighed before explaining to Yan Qi:
“Because I had already become an Awakened through other, riskier methods before your Sister Daoyan created the Dao Method that allows ordinary people to transform into Awakened.”
“Oh, I see. So that’s why you didn’t use Sister Daoyan’s method, Auntie Bai.”
After hearing Bai Yuling’s explanation, Yan Qi continued her act, pretending to understand.
After a moment, as if thinking of something, Yan Qi asked Bai Yuling another question:
“Oh, right, Auntie Bai. Since Sister Daoyan has already created a Dao Method that allows ordinary people to become Awakened, could you abandon your original, dangerous method and start cultivating Sister Daoyan’s Dao Method instead?”
Hearing Yan Qi’s question, Bai Yuling couldn’t help but lower her head in thought. After a while, she replied to Yan Qi in an apologetic tone:
“Regarding that question, Xiao Qi, until my superior makes a final decision, I definitely cannot cultivate the Dao Method created by your Sister Daoyan.”
“Why?”
Recalling how she herself became an Awakened, Bai Yuling quickly replied to Yan Qi:
“Because my superiors, my colleagues, and I still don’t know all the advantages and disadvantages of cultivating the Dao Method. We naturally can’t start practicing it blindly; who knows what might happen.”
“I see. So, Auntie Bai, if your superior does make the final decision and allows you to cultivate the Dao Method, will you learn it right away?”
After understanding why Bai Yuling couldn’t cultivate the Dao Method now, Yan Qi asked her this follow-up question.
Hearing this, Bai Yuling didn’t take much time to think this time and quickly replied:
“If my superior really decides that we should cultivate the Dao Method, I will definitely learn it immediately. After all, I don’t want to end up like those colleagues of mine who descended into madness and became terrifying monsters.”
“Become terrifying monsters? Is that a side effect of the other method you mentioned for becoming an Awakened?”
Although she knew exactly what Bai Yuling meant by ‘monsters,’ Yan Qi continued pretending ignorance to maintain her innocent, clueless act.
“As for that, it’s not something a child like you should be concerned about right now, Xiao Qi.”
“I am not a child anymore! After this summer vacation, I’ll be a proper university student, a mature adult!”
Being treated like a child – though she actually was one, just more mature-minded than others – Yan Qi, this time, wasn’t putting on an act. She was genuinely annoyed as she said this to Bai Yuling.
Hearing this, Bai Yuling couldn’t help but smile. Then, she said to Yan Qi:
“Alright, alright, alright. Xiao Qi, you are no longer a child but a responsible adult. Is that better, now that your Auntie Bai has said so?”
“Hmm, that’s more like it.”
Watching Yan Qi sit in the passenger seat with her arms crossed, nose in the air, putting on an adorable “I forgive you” expression, Bai Yuling couldn’t hold back a laugh.
After a moment, she managed to control herself and said to Yan Qi, who still hadn’t fastened her seatbelt:
“Okay, enough of this. Xiao Qi, fasten your seatbelt. I’m taking you home now.”
Hearing Bai Yuling’s words, Yan Qi quickly lowered her nose, bowed her head, and swiftly fastened her seatbelt.
Seeing that Yan Qi had fastened her seatbelt, Bai Yuling said nothing more. She started the car’s engine, pressed the accelerator, and drove Yan Qi towards her home.
After about ten minutes of driving, Bai Yuling successfully arrived at Yan Qi’s home. Without wasting any time, she quickly escorted Yan Qi to her doorstep and rang the doorbell.
Hearing the doorbell, Yan Zhenyi and Li Caifeng, who had received a call from Bai Yuling in the afternoon informing them that their daughter had somehow been involved in another case related to supernatural powers (but not yet knowing their daughter had become an Awakened), hurried over to open their front door. They welcomed both Yan Qi and Bai Yuling, who were standing outside, into their home.
“Xiao Qi, are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?”
Held tightly in her mother’s embrace, being meticulously checked over for any injuries, Yan Qi felt a bit overwhelmed by such maternal concern. She quickly replied to her mother:
“Mom, I’m fine. I’m not hurt anywhere.”
“Really? You’re not lying to your mom, are you?”
“Of course it’s true! If you don’t believe me, you can ask Auntie Bai.”
Seeing Yan Qi point a finger at her, Bai Yuling stepped forward and said to Li Caifeng:
“Caifeng, Xiao Qi didn’t sustain any injuries during this incident. You can rest assured.”
Hearing this from her good friend, and understanding that she would never deceive her about such matters, Li Caifeng finally breathed a sigh of relief and said:
“Yuling, since you say so, then I am relieved.”