The three of them eventually left the office as if nothing had happened. However, the commotion they had caused had already spread. It was just out of respect for Ling Xiaoxiao’s standing that everyone in the base pretended not to know.
Everyone tactfully avoided asking why the little white-haired girl had screamed so loudly earlier and was now wearing a change of clothes. They all seemed to silently acknowledge what had just transpired.
Xue Ji could feel the meaningful looks from everyone. Admiration, shock, confusion, friendliness, wariness, concern—a mix of all these emotions washed over Xue Ji from the people around her.
To escape this awkward atmosphere, Xue Ji quickened her pace, grabbing Ling Xiaoxiao and Sha Ya by the hands and hurrying forward.
“Do you even know the way, dragging me along like this?” Ling Xiaoxiao didn’t resist, smiling as she watched Xue Ji’s flustered state.
“Let’s just go first. It doesn’t matter where we end up as long as you’re with us, right?” Xue Ji looked back, rather pleased with her own quick wit.
“Huh? What’s wrong with you?” Xue Ji noticed Ling Xiaoxiao spacing out and gave her sleeve a sharp tug.
“It’s nothing, let’s just go…” Ling Xiaoxiao replied instinctively.
‘As long as she has me, Little Ji doesn’t care where we go? Does that mean…’
That sentence held one meaning for Xue Ji, but an entirely different one for her.
In that case, she should just stay by my side forever.
“What nonsense are you talking about? You lead the way.” Xue Ji thought Ling Xiaoxiao was acting very strange today.
“So, what are we doing next?” Seeing Ling Xiaoxiao stand there dumbfounded and speechless, Xue Ji grew impatient and asked directly.
“Ability testing. You two… all three of you need a comprehensive evaluation of your abilities.” Ling Xiaoxiao didn’t elaborate further, observing their reactions.
Seeing that the other two weren’t particularly resistant, she continued, “Um, if possible, I’d like you to try your best to go all out.”
“Why?” Xue Ji and Sha Ya asked in unison.
As she reached this topic, her expression turned serious, no longer as “flippant” as before, completely different from the person Xue Ji knew.
“Because that way, you can better utilize your abilities to protect more people.” At this moment, her eyes held unparalleled determination.
Although Ling Xiaoxiao’s current mental state was worrying, she truly remembered Xue Ji’s entrustment to protect Huaxia for a thousand years as a Guardian. If not for the series of tragedies back then, if not for such intense obsession, perhaps Ling Xiaoxiao wouldn’t have become such a dangerous person.
‘Well, I can’t say that exactly. She’s only dangerous to me…’ Xue Ji thought, considering Ling Xiaoxiao’s erratic episodes were always directed at her.
A voice sounded from within her consciousness space.
“I’m sorry, Little Ji. I messed up a lot of things. I’m sorry to Xiaoxiao, and I’ve dragged you into this as well.”
‘Yes, it’s all your fault.’ Xue Ji, breaking from the expected script, went along with her words.
“Eh? Little Ji, you…”
‘But I don’t blame you. I can’t be sure what Xiaoxiao thinks, but I guess she’s busy bullying Sha Ya right now and hasn’t got time to settle scores with you yet~’
‘Sister Ji has been cast aside for someone new.’
“You really are something else…”
…
Sha Ya, unusually, didn’t pick a fight with Ling Xiaoxiao. She was even more proactive than Xue Ji, closely following Ling Xiaoxiao’s steps.
The two of them had pulled a few steps ahead of Xue Ji.
“Hey, Ling Xiaoxiao.” Sha Ya, walking behind her, suddenly called out.
Ling Xiaoxiao turned to look at her.
Sha Ya continued, “I’m being so cooperative. Is it too much to ask for a little reward?”
“Oh? What do you want?” Ling Xiaoxiao found this amusing. This little creature had been quite lively lately, and she was entertained to see what other messy thought processes Sha Ya had.
“I want you to teach me how to use a sword. I want to learn your most powerful sword technique.”
“Why?”
“I want to get stronger, and then get back at you.” Sha Ya didn’t hold out much hope; Ling Xiaoxiao’s words earlier seemed hypocritical to her, so she was deliberately making a difficult request. In Sha Ya’s view, teaching combat to one’s rival was utterly foolish.
“Okay.” Contrary to Sha Ya’s expectations, Ling Xiaoxiao agreed almost without hesitation.
“Eh? You… Wait, I also want my debt cleared!” Seeing Ling Xiaoxiao so agreeable, Sha Ya decided to push her luck like the Wolf King she was.
“Fine. Debt cleared, one million. Enough?” Ling Xiaoxiao’s eyes showed a hint of impatience as she placed a hand on Sha Ya’s shoulder.
Feeling the subtle pressure on her shoulder, Sha Ya knew when to stop and cheerfully said, “Enough, enough! Thank you, Ling Xiaoxiao, you’re a good person!”
‘And who are you, giving me a ‘good person card’ too?’
“Wait, what did you call me?”
“Ling… Xiaoxiao?”
“Change that to ‘Master’. Where’s your awareness as a maid?” Ling Xiaoxiao put both hands on Sha Ya’s shoulders, looking like she wouldn’t give up until she got her way.
“Mas…ter…” Sha Ya forced the two words out with difficulty. But the sound that came out was as faint as a mosquito’s buzz. Xue Ji, further back, thought Ling Xiaoxiao was bullying Sha Ya, but why would Sha Ya react like this if she were being bullied?
“Louder. I can’t hear you.”
Xue Ji came to Ling Xiaoxiao’s side, about to speak, but Ling Xiaoxiao pressed her index finger to Xue Ji’s lips, signaling her to be quiet.
They saw Sha Ya’s body trembling as she opened her mouth and said, “Master!”
“Too quiet! And you want to be a maid?”
Sha Ya trembled even more violently, her face red to the tips of her ears. Clenching her fists tightly, she took a deep breath.
“Maaasteeer!!” It was as long and drawn-out as a wolf’s howl, as fierce as a tiger’s roar. This shout was clearly heard by everyone in the training room at the end of the corridor.
They saw doors opening one after another, people peeking out towards Ling Xiaoxiao’s group. Exclamations of surprise rose and fell, accompanied by the sound of many people sucking in sharp breaths.
Sha Ya was socially obliterated…
Ling Xiaoxiao was utterly delighted.
Driven by intense shame, Sha Ya broke free from Ling Xiaoxiao’s grasp and ran back towards Xue Ji.
“Wahh, A Ji, Ling Xiaoxiao is bullying me~” she cried, burying her head in Xue Ji’s chest.
“Ling Xiaoxiao, don’t go too far!” Xue Ji warned in a reproachful tone.
Ling Xiaoxiao pointed at herself in disbelief, looking at Sha Ya, then at Xue Ji’s impatient face, ultimately swallowing the words on the tip of her tongue.
‘She really is a vixen, damn it!’
Meanwhile, Xue Ji comforted Sha Ya in her arms.
“Sha Ya, stop crying, okay?” She rubbed Sha Ya’s furry head, but today she wasn’t as gentle as before. It was less of a rub and more of a scrub, even pulling out a few strands of Sha Ya’s wolf fur.
Sha Ya’s sobbing didn’t stop; Xue Ji’s comfort was ineffective.
An inexplicable fury shot straight to the top of Xue Ji’s head. Irritated, she pressed down on Sha Ya’s head and yelled, “Stop crying! It’s so annoying!”
This even startled Ling Xiaoxiao.
Ignoring the onlookers, Xue Ji pulled both of them into the training room.
Inside the high-tech training room, the people who had been watching the drama by the door all used their various skills to scramble back to their own training areas. By the time Xue Ji opened the door, everyone was pretending nothing had happened.
After that day, rumors began circulating within the special operations team about Ling Xiaoxiao playing the field and two-timing. Xue Ji was rumored to be a terrifying figure whose edge even Ling Xiaoxiao had to avoid. As for Sha Ya, everyone just knew she and Ling Xiaoxiao were into some… intense play.