The sun shone brightly at noon.
The plush, comfortable sofa, the exquisite dining table engraved with classical patterns, and the immense floor-to-ceiling windows, spotlessly clean. In the center, arranged in circles, were dishes from various countries, a dazzling array. This grand dining hall was the most high-end buffet restaurant in Country Z, impeccable from its exterior to its cuisine.
"Master, you mentioned last night that you wanted pasta and that you prefer soup noodles. Therefore, I have prepared Hui Mian for you, made with high-quality high-gluten flour, supplemented with broth and various side dishes, all personally overseen by me. The texture and nutrition are excellent, so you can rest assured." Lucifer gently placed the noodles from the platter before Bai Cha and arranged chopsticks for her. "I have also prepared a fruit and vegetable salad for you."
"Thank you," Bai Cha returned to her senses, shifting inward to signal Lucifer to sit down. "Sit with me; there's no need to be so formal."
"It is my duty, my master," Lucifer replied with a smile, elegantly taking a seat beside Bai Cha and obediently arranging her tableware.
Bai Cha was still unaccustomed to suddenly having such a deferential "subordinate."
However, refusal was futile.
Lucifer had clearly stated that since he intended to take Bai Cha's soul, he should offer something of equivalent value according to the contract. He also took the opportunity to express his displeasure at Bai Cha's nonchalance regarding the fate of her soul, so Bai Cha had no choice but to let him have his way.
"Hey, Little Bai, you're comfortable, but I'm miserable!" Meng Qinghuan grumbled, leaning in. Across the dining table, two little girls were glaring, expectantly watching the tray in Meng Qinghuan's hands.
"Did you explain things clearly to Yun He?" Bai Cha asked, looking at Yun He. Yun He's pupils remained a fiery red; the fleeting azure from that night was nowhere to be seen.
These two girls, one dark and one fair, both had crimson eyes and wore serious expressions, giving them a surprising resemblance.
"Yes, I explained clearly. Children are smart, though they can be a bit demanding. She's always pestering me to teach her combat skills," Meng Qinghuan sighed, using her chopsticks to poke at the chicken leg on her plate, looking deeply aggrieved. "I'm already swamped with work and sleep-deprived. Now I have another little troublemaker..."
Yun He raised her head and glared defiantly at Meng Qinghuan. "It's because I want to be by Miss Bai's side as soon as possible!"
"Then you can forget about that," Meng Qinghuan retorted, revealing a row of neat white teeth. "I'm your master, and you can only be mine~"
"I'll bring you on the next mission," Bai Cha said calmly. "And Yun He, just call me by my name. 'Miss Bai' sounds strange."
Yun He, who had been bristling at Meng Qinghuan, immediately became obedient upon hearing Bai Cha speak. She harbored an instinctive fear of this person.
"Thrice!" Meng Qinghuan raised her head, holding up three fingers in a bargaining manner.
This time, Bai Cha didn't even look up, implicitly agreeing.
"Deal! Yay~" Meng Qinghuan's mood instantly improved, her previous distressed demeanor vanishing. She happily gnawed on her chicken leg, even finding Yun He more agreeable.
Watching Meng Qinghuan's cheerful demeanor, Mo Ziye looked a bit confused. "But you still have to do missions; it's not like you're on vacation. Why are you so happy?"
"That's different. Having a powerful figure leading you and doing things yourself are two different feelings. With Little Bai leading, I can slack off~" Meng Qinghuan beamed. "Following the boss means good food~"
"Ah? Is that so..." Mo Ziye blinked, not understanding and not knowing what to say.
In reality, Meng Qinghuan was very strong. She ranked in the top three in the Jun Yao Hall of Fame. It wasn't that Meng Qinghuan couldn't defeat the top two, but her most outstanding abilities were in support and control.
Moreover, Bai Cha's second designated heir was Meng Qinghuan.
"Bai Cha, what did you say to Cang Liu? You even gave him a small knife," Mo Ziye, unable to grasp Meng Qinghuan's point, changed the subject. "You're not trying to instigate him into doing something bad, are you? If he really kills someone, he'll be repatriated."
"He won't," Bai Cha replied casually while eating and thinking about something else. "If I take him as my shadow, no one will be able to touch him."
"Ah! What!?" Mo Ziye, startled, jumped up. If Michael hadn't been passing by with a plate at that moment and quickly reached out to steady the water cup, Mo Ziye's cup would likely have made intimate contact with the floor.
This commotion drew the attention of more than half the people in the cafeteria, and whispers erupted.
Startled by Mo Ziye's sudden movement, Bai Cha's partially formed mission plan was interrupted. She momentarily forgot what came next and looked at Mo Ziye with a hint of exasperation, waving him to sit down.
Seeing Mo Ziye's shocked expression, Bai Cha knew she had likely stumbled upon another blind spot in his knowledge. She tapped the table helplessly. "Calm down. Why are you so jumpy?"
"But, but, but! There were more than ten people! You already killed several last night," Mo Ziye quickly sat down, his face pale. It was evident he was somewhat frightened, and his voice was strained. "Little, Little Bai, this isn't good. You're too bloodthirsty. This is bad."
Looking at Mo Ziye like this, Bai Cha felt a touch of helplessness. Perhaps she had overestimated the extent to which the so-called "faction of light" had disseminated knowledge about combat.
"Ziye, do you know what 'red blade' is?" Bai Cha asked in a gentle tone, as if teaching a child. "When dealing with dragons, based on their strength and color, three rare ores have been researched: crimson, cerulean, and gold foil.
Crimson is often used in cold weapons, cerulean can trigger small-scale explosions, so it's often used in firearms for the military, and gold foil is the most stable and frequently used for communication. Do you know this?"
"Uh, I think I've heard of it," Mo Ziye scratched his head, looking puzzled. "But what does that have to do with Cang Liu?"
"Weapons containing these ores are most effective only against dragons; they are largely useless against humans. So, Cang Liu using that dagger will only deal a fatal blow to their dragons, perhaps putting them into a dormant or weakened state for half a year or a year," Bai Cha explained. "As long as he doesn't directly twist their heads off, they won't die."
"Oh, I see. So Little Bai doesn't intend to take lives," Mo Ziye finally understood and patted his chest happily. "Little Bai is indeed a gentle person."
"Pfft!"
Meng Qinghuan couldn't help herself and sprayed out a mouthful of cola. Not just Meng Qinghuan, but everyone else's expressions were somewhat peculiar.
Indeed, no lives were taken, but if a dragon went dormant, it wouldn't be able to participate in combat for six months. Its courses would inevitably fall behind, its strength would significantly decrease, and it would suffer disadvantages or early elimination in the next carnival. Consequently, its resources would also decline.
Moreover, these people had just narrowly escaped death. How could that be described as gentle? Was this the legendary "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"?
Even Michael couldn't help but turn his face away. He hadn't expected his host's bottom line to have shifted to the point where anything less than taking a life was considered gentle. Was this the power of love?
"Don't celebrate too soon. Stabbing the heart might not be fatal, but piercing the brain through the eye is also irrecoverable," Bai Cha sighed, finding Mo Ziye's blindly adoring remarks somewhat unbearable. "It still depends on his choice, but he's much smarter than you."
"So, if he doesn't kill those people, you won't take him, and if he does kill them, you also won't take him..." Mo Ziye was becoming quite dizzy.
Bai Cha remained silent, giving up on trying to enlighten Mo Ziye. She felt there was a reason why Mo Ziye and Lang Mo got along; such intelligence was truly rare.
She was generally a person of few words. Typically, by the time she accomplished something, those around her would understand the situation, so she rarely offered explanations.
However, Bai Cha hadn't expected that even after explaining to this extent, Mo Ziye still wouldn't understand.
After a long silence, it was finally Lucifer who broke the tranquility of their meal with a tablet.
"Master, the campus network news is out." Lucifer handed the tablet to Bai Cha, who took it and browsed through it.
[Shocking! Medical Prodigy!? Thirteen people stabbed dozens of times, each blow avoiding vital points? The perpetrator left only serious injuries to the heart but no fatalities? Is the assailant related to the medical profession?]
[Mysterious Figure Delivers Justice!? Thirteen people punished by a mysterious individual? Who is this person who committed such a frenzied act?]
[...]
"Xiao Yun, the head of the news department..." Bai Cha thought for a long time, finally offering a deadpan compliment, "Very professional..."
"Why does Bai Cha compliment people without any emotion in her tone?" Mo Ziye grumbled. "Why is it 'mysterious figure'? Dodging vital points? What's going on?"
"Cough, in a way, it seems he has a talent for interrogation," Meng Qinghuan mused, stroking her chin with satisfaction. She then looked towards Mo Ziye. "Good performance, Little Cang~"
"Ah? Teacher, who are you talking to?" Mo Ziye asked, looking curiously at Meng Qinghuan's gaze. Just as he was about to say something, he felt a chill run down his spine.
It wasn't a sense of crisis but an actual chill!
Startled, Mo Ziye quickly jumped up. Turning around, he saw that Cang Liu was indeed standing behind him.
"Cang Liu! Why are you so quiet! You scared me!" Mo Ziye complained, patting his chest.
Cang Liu remained silent. Merfolk skin was always like this, pale with a bluish tint, appearing sickly but not thin, giving him a strangely ethereal beauty. His deep jade eyes seemed like a calm ocean reflecting the entire sky's colors. Cang Liu stared continuously at Bai Cha without saying a word.
Merfolk were truly favored by the heavens. On land, people had distinctions of beauty and ugliness, but Bai Cha had been to the Sea Kingdom. The merfolk there were all exquisitely beautiful, with a sickly complexion but well-proportioned bodies, possessing a contradictory and unhealthy beauty. They were the children of the sea, born to merge with it.
Cang Liu extended the dagger in his hand. His fingers were well-defined, and his translucent nails seemed to be colored with pearl. The dagger he held was already coated in a layer of frost.
"Master," Cang Liu suddenly called out.
Lucifer: "?"
Someone else is stealing my job?
"Pfft."
"Cough, cough, cough!"
This time, not only Meng Qinghuan and the others, but even Bai Cha almost choked. She looked at Cang Liu with a bewildered expression, her peach blossom eyes filled with surprise and helplessness, almost losing their sparkle.
What was happening these days? One after another, people were rushing to become someone else's servant? What year was it? The feudal era ended centuries ago. Thousands of years have passed, and you guys are still doing this?!
"Change your address!" Bai Cha's forehead veins throbbed.
"Miss Bai," Cang Liu lowered his head. For some reason, Bai Cha saw a hint of a smile on Cang Liu's face.
Is this kid doing this on purpose?