Chapter 218: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [218]
"A Vitality Pill, packed with rich deoxyribose, capable of healing all your injuries~"
Luo Qing crouched in front of Layla, holding another big, black Vitality Pill and waving it teasingly in front of her.
Seeing her slightly curious expression, he added with a smirk, "Want another one? Just call me 'big brother' and I'll give it to you~"
"..."
[+1 Frustration from Layla.]
"Who'd want that..." Layla turned her head away.
Though she was intrigued by this so-called Vitality Pill, there was no way she'd stoop to calling Luo Qing "big brother" to get one.
After all, she was the proud, tsundere Inner Persona, not her weak and delicate Outer Persona.
"Fine, suit yourself."
Luo Qing huffed, putting the pill back into his system inventory. His gaze lingered on the snowy patches of skin visible through Layla's tattered clothes, and he couldn't help but ask, "What were you doing out here alone? Trying to get up close and personal with Hilichurls?"
"It's not like I wanted to be here…" Layla pouted, looking a little aggrieved.
"Who would've thought she'd pull an all-nighter to work on her thesis and then head out at dawn to collect materials! This is the wilderness, for crying out loud!"
"Fungi, Hilichurls, and even sketchy mercenaries with bad intentions... Ugh, it's ridiculous!"
The more Layla thought about it, the angrier she became.
Why do I have to share a body with such a clueless, naive girl?
And worse, she's already halfway to being conned by this scumbag in front of me.
"Didn't you say you'd make her aware of your existence? Just give her a heads-up," Luo Qing suggested casually.
"I want to," Layla murmured, "but it's the crucial period for her thesis review. If I tell her now, she'll get distracted. I'll wait until the review is over."
"Didn't expect you to care so much about her."
"I don't! We share a body, so of course I care about myself," Layla retorted with tsundere defiance.
"Heh."
Luo Qing chuckled but didn't press further. Rising to his feet, he glanced toward Sumeru City, then back at Layla.
"Let's go. It'll be dark soon, and you won't be able to find your way back if we don't head out now."
"Who's going back with you?"
Layla huffed and crossed her arms.
"I can make it back on my own. You go your way."
"Hey, I saved your life." Luo Qing reached out to poke her forehead lightly. "It's not too much to ask for a thank-you dinner, is it? I mean, I'm not saying you owe me your hand in marriage or anything."
Layla's tsundere energy was off the charts.
Compared to her, Luo Qing still preferred the soft, gentle, and more approachable Outer Persona.
At least the Outer Persona would blush shyly if he so much as touched her foot. Layla? She stayed prickly even after he saved her life.
"I'll repay you some other day—not today," Layla said, turning her head to avoid looking at Luo Qing.
If this had happened a few hours earlier, while the Outer Persona was asleep, she might have reluctantly invited him for dinner.
But not now.
The Outer Persona was close to waking up.
With Luo Qing's character, leaving them alone together at night could only lead to trouble.
He'd already touched her feet and patted her head before.
If they spent more time together, who knows where his hands might wander next?
Even if they shared the same body, some things still needed to be protected.
At least from Luo Qing!
"Are you sure you can make it back like this?"
Luo Qing glanced her over. Her clothes were torn in several places, exposing patches of snowy skin that hinted at all kinds of unspeakable scenarios.
"Mind your own business."
Layla stood up, and thanks to the Vitality Pill, she felt unusually energetic.
But that also meant her body was now ready for the Outer Persona to wake up.
"Oh no..."
Before she could finish her thought, her vision began to dim.
This was the telltale sign of the Outer Persona waking.
"You better not do anything indecent to her, or I'll make you pay..."
Layla glared at Luo Qing, but before she could finish her warning, her body went limp like a puppet with its strings cut and fell forward.
Right into Luo Qing's arms.
"Huh?" Luo Qing froze in place.
Everyone saw that, right?!
She fell into my arms on her own! I didn't do anything!
"Young people... Falling asleep wherever they please..." Luo Qing shook his head with a wry smile as he looked at the unconscious Layla in his arms.
The wilderness was completely deserted.
No one was around.
So... should I...?
As his mind started to wander into dangerous territory, the person in his arms stirred.
"Uh... Where am I...? Luo Qing... sir?!"
The Outer Persona, now awake, opened her eyes and immediately noticed her predicament.
Seeing herself cradled in Luo Qing's arms, she jolted awake and scrambled out of his embrace like a startled deer.
The sudden chill on her skin made her realize something was wrong.
Looking down, she saw her clothes were in tatters, with much of her pale, delicate skin exposed—particularly across her chest.
It looked as though her clothes had been slashed with a blade... or torn by hand.
She glanced at Luo Qing, then at her chest, and seemed to piece something together.
Covering herself instinctively, she backed away several steps before stumbling over a rock and falling to the ground.
"Luo Qing, sir... You... You didn't... Oh, it hurts!"
Tears welled up in Layla's eyes as she whimpered, but before she could finish accusing him, Luo Qing flicked her forehead.
"What kind of nonsense is rattling around in that little head of yours?"
He poked her forehead again, and Layla, now sitting on the grass in a duck-like posture, covered her head with both hands to shield herself.
"L-Luo Qing, sir! Stop poking me... It hurts..."
"What were you thinking? You were sleepwalking and ended up attracting a bunch of Hilichurls. If I hadn't saved you, you'd be their dinner by now."
"Hi-Hilichurls?"
Layla finally noticed the field littered with Hilichurl corpses, all impaled by golden rock spines.
"So... that's what happened..."
Feeling guilty, she lowered her head and muttered softly, "Luo Qing, sir... Could I trouble you to... turn around for a moment?"
"What for?"
"Nothing... Just turn around, please."
"..."
"Fine."
Not knowing what she was up to, Luo Qing shrugged and turned around.
"Call me when you're done."
"Mm..."
Layla nodded softly.
The moment Luo Qing wasn't looking, she quickly lifted her skirt to inspect her body.
Luo Qing wouldn't have... done anything, would he?
---
T/N: Is this what happens when I get better at translating the original intent of the writing, holy shit how much have we missed? or maybe this is new? im going crazy
stellaris HSR got bonked again :((, off to the hub the scribble one (will be reuploaded there this week will put in end of chapter when it has been)
Greetings, esteemed reader.
Your presence throughout this chapter's journey is deeply appreciated. In Liyue, we hold that every tale, much like the enduring stone, gains strength through the appreciation of those who encounter it.
Should you wish to support WiseTL's dedicated endeavors in bringing these narratives to you, you may consider visiting:
[patreon.com/WiseTL].
Even the most modest contribution serves as a cornerstone, fortifying the foundation upon which future stories are built.
With sincere regards,
Zhongli
(who let this old man here?)
Chapter 219: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [219]
After returning to Sumeru City with Layla, Luo Qing reluctantly turned down her invitation to dinner and went back to his own home.
Primarily because Theresa had already returned, and if he stayed out all night, she'd likely banish him from the bed for days.
With Rosalyne and the others still in the desert, the house was as it had been—occupied only by Theresa and Makoto.
When Luo Qing opened the door, he found the two women sitting in the living room, knitting.
"Welcome back," Makoto said, glancing up briefly before returning to her task.
"Dinner's ready. Go wash up, and let's eat."
With that, Makoto placed her ball of yarn down, set indoor shoes by Luo Qing's feet, and moved behind him to help him take off his coat.
The entire routine was fluid, practiced, and incredibly natural.
"Uh…"
Luo Qing glanced at the food on the table, then at Makoto.
Say what you want, but this woman...
She's really good at this.
So domestic. So perfect.
---
At the dinner table, Theresa was in high spirits. Having been "conquered" not long ago, she couldn't contain her happiness, constantly serving food onto Luo Qing's plate.
Makoto, sitting nearby, took it all in with a knowing smile, though she said nothing.
As an Inazuman, Makoto was pragmatic by nature. If Luo Qing said he wanted five wives, she wouldn't agree outright.
But if he bumped the number to ten, she might entertain the idea of settling for five.
Of course, one thing was non-negotiable: the position of primary wife belonged to her.
No debate.
Mid-meal, Makoto suddenly turned to Luo Qing.
"How's the progress on Bu'er?"
"Huh?" Luo Qing blinked, confused.
Progress? What progress?
"What do you mean by progress?"
"Wait, you haven't started yet?" Makoto frowned, seemingly puzzled. "That doesn't add up…"
"You haven't even explained what you're talking about," Luo Qing said, his expression darkening.
If there's one thing he hated, it was people being cryptic—unless that person was him.
"Ah... never mind," Makoto waved it off, trying to deflect. "Just eat."
She had merely wanted to gauge how much longer it would be before Bu'er arrived so she could prepare accordingly. But if Luo Qing hadn't even thought about it, then there wasn't much to discuss.
However, Luo Qing wasn't going to let her off the hook so easily. He feigned a serious expression and said firmly, "Talk."
"..."
"It's nothing, really," Makoto admitted, her cheeks reddening slightly. "I just wanted to know when you're bringing Bu'er back so I can plan a proper welcome."
"..."
Luo Qing froze for a moment.
"Bu'er, as she once existed, is long gone. The current Bu'er is just a five-hundred-year-old loli," he said.
"I know that," Makoto replied with confidence, straightening her posture. Her movements caused a certain pair of snowy white assets to jiggle slightly.
"But don't think I don't know what you're planning," she said with a huff.
"You're going to use that resurrection artifact on her, aren't you? To bring her back and add her to your collection."
"..."
[+1 Frustration from Luo Qing.]
Why'd she have to say that out loud?
Was it wrong to be curious about what a white-haired, green-eyed beauty might look like in person?
Huh? A scumbag?
Didn't we establish ages ago that I'm a scumbag?
"It's not like I've had the chance yet…" Luo Qing mumbled, his voice weakening.
"Hmph, I knew it!" Makoto declared triumphantly.
She was just about to lecture him from her moral high ground when Luo Qing's expression suddenly shifted.
He turned toward the window, his golden eyes gleaming faintly.
"Who's there?!"
In a flash, he was at the window, peering out into the gap in the curtains.
But to his surprise, there was no one outside—only an empty Void Terminal left on the windowsill.
"What's wrong, my lord?" Makoto, preferring to stay out of sight, sent Theresa to check on him.
"I thought I saw someone spying on us," Luo Qing said, his brow furrowed.
He trusted his instincts—someone had definitely been there.
But how had they escaped, even after he used Time Zero?
If anyone had seen Makoto without her simulation mask, it could have catastrophic consequences.
As the current and former Archon of Inazuma, her identity would send shockwaves through all of Sumeru, especially to certain ambitious individuals.
Someone like the Doctor at the Pureglass Workshop would be utterly terrified.
With a thought, Luo Qing pulled a random Emotion Tool Card from his system inventory.
In an instant, the names of everyone within a several-dozen-meter radius appeared in his system backend.
[Please select a target for the Cat Song Card: Theresa, Raiden Makoto, Azar, Gil Daan... Alhaitham...]
Thanks to his enhanced abilities, Luo Qing's mental power allowed him to scan a wide area.
Seeing a certain familiar name, Luo Qing didn't need to think twice.
It was definitely him.
"I'll give you three seconds to come out. If you don't, don't blame me for being rude," Luo Qing called out, his voice sharp.
"Three... two... one."
Three seconds passed quickly, but the only response was the gentle nighttime breeze.
"Fine. Have it your way," Luo Qing said with a smirk, activating the Meow Song Card.
---
Meanwhile, on a branch of the sacred tree above Luo Qing's residence, Alhaitham lay calmly, watching the scene below through his Void Terminal.
He had originally been investigating Grand Sage Azar but had stumbled upon the curious enigma that was Luo Qing.
Deciding to change his focus, he began discreetly observing Luo Qing's activities, hoping to uncover some useful clues.
Finding Luo Qing's residence through the Void System was easy enough since it was assigned by the Akademiya.
After being spotted during a previous encounter, Alhaitham had learned his lesson.
This time, he used the Void Terminal to observe remotely, confident it would keep him undetected.
As Luo Qing shouted, demanding he come out, Alhaitham couldn't help but smirk.
What is he, a child? Does he really think I'll just show myself because he said so?
His disdainful thoughts were short-lived.
Moments later, an inexplicable urge welled up inside him.
He felt an overwhelming compulsion... to sing.
To sing "meow, meow, meow."
"We'll learn to meow together—"
Before he could stop himself, the words spilled from his lips.
In the quiet of the night, his voice rang out like a beacon, unmistakable and impossible to ignore.
"Damn it…" Alhaitham's brow furrowed as he realized this was Luo Qing's way of flushing him out.
Suppressing the urge to burst into a full song, he leapt up, preparing to retreat along his pre-planned escape route.
But before he could take more than a few steps, a voice rang out behind him.
"Gotcha, little darling~"
---
T/N: Darling? Luo Qing confirmed bi?
Greetings, esteemed reader.
Your presence throughout this chapter's journey is deeply appreciated. In Liyue, we hold that every tale, much like the enduring stone, gains strength through the appreciation of those who encounter it.
Should you wish to support WiseTL's dedicated endeavors in bringing these narratives to you, you may consider visiting:
[patreon.com/WiseTL].
Even the most modest contribution serves as a cornerstone, fortifying the foundation upon which future stories are built.
With sincere regards,
Zhongli
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