Bab 194: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [194] [100 PS]
Well, well, look at you! So dedicated, you've earned a little extra treat! 🎉
---
"You're a god. It's your inherent nature. Why should you measure yourself by the standards set by others?"
"I understand..."
Nahida lowered her head, her voice tinged with melancholy.
"But the previous god entrusted me with the responsibility of guiding Sumeru's people. I haven't been able to meet their expectations... It's my failure as a god."
"But—"
Luo Qing tried to interject, but Nahida cut him off.
"I'll keep learning through dreams here," she said, her tone determined.
"When the day comes that I can truly fulfill my duties as a god... then, Luo Qing, I'll take you on a walk through Sumeru City. Will that be alright?"
"..."
Luo Qing fell silent.
The constant emotional manipulation by the Akademiya's leadership was clearly taking its toll.
They'd been gaslighting Nahida so thoroughly she didn't even realize how deeply she'd been pitted against herself.
Just as he was considering a different approach, the scene around him began to change.
The darkness shattered, and Luo Qing found himself back in the Sanctuary of Surasthana.
"Why did it disconnect?"
Annoyed, he turned to the researcher nearby.
"The transmission device overloaded," the researcher explained, gesturing at the apparatus. The once-vivid green transmission tubes had turned a deep red.
"Overloaded?" Luo Qing frowned.
"Godly consciousness is immensely powerful. The Little Archon experienced a strong emotional fluctuation just now, and the transmission device couldn't handle the surge. That's why it overloaded," the researcher explained while beginning to dismantle the equipment.
"Can't we use it again today?"
Luo Qing's interest was piqued. If Nahida's emotional reaction indicated progress, this was the perfect time to strike while the iron was hot.
"It's not usable anymore."
The researcher shook his head.
"After being overloaded by divine mental energy, this device is probably fried."
He glanced at Luo Qing with a puzzled expression.
A mortal would typically suffer severe backlash from exposure to a god's emotional surge through the Akasha—losing their sanity, rolling their eyes back, or even wetting themselves.
Yet Luo Qing seemed perfectly fine.
"What are you staring at me for?" Luo Qing asked, noticing the odd look.
"N-Nothing."
The researcher quickly shook his head and continued packing up.
"We conduct these communication sessions twice a month. We'll inform you about the next one. For now, you may leave."
"..."
Luo Qing scrutinized the researcher for a moment. They didn't seem to be hiding anything.
Reluctantly, he turned to look at Nahida, still asleep within her containment device, then shook his head and left the Sanctuary.
---
The midday sun blazed overhead as Luo Qing stepped outside.
Remembering Makoto's request to come home early for lunch, he decided to head back.
But as he walked through the plaza near the Akademiya, he spotted someone familiar—Layla.
On the other side of the square, Layla also noticed Luo Qing.
Panicking, she glanced around desperately for a place to hide. However, the open plaza offered no cover, leaving her frozen in indecision.
Her anxious movements didn't escape Luo Qing's sharp eyes.
She wasn't this skittish last time we met. What happened?
Quickening his pace, Luo Qing intercepted her just as she tried to dart toward the Akademiya.
"Well, if it isn't Miss Layla! What a coincidence. Are you visiting the Akademiya too? Did you sleep well last night?"
"Uh... Hello, Mr. Luo Qing. I..."
Layla stammered, her gaze flitting everywhere but at him, her expression uneasy.
"Am I that scary today, Miss Layla?" Luo Qing asked, genuinely puzzled.
The previous night, he'd spent quite some time tickling her inner personality's soles.
Despite the effort it had taken to get her inner self to talk, Layla's dominant personality shouldn't have remembered anything. Had her inner self lied to him?
"N-No!"
Layla quickly shook her head but still hesitated, glancing at Luo Qing with a mix of guilt and nervousness.
"What's wrong, Miss Layla? Are you in trouble?"
"I..."
"Don't hesitate to tell me! As a Matra officer, it's my duty to help!" Luo Qing declared, grabbing her hand enthusiastically.
"Uh..."
After a long moment of hesitation, Layla finally seemed to make up her mind.
"Mr. Luo Qing, could you... let go of my hand first?"
"Oh, right. My bad, I got a little carried away," Luo Qing said, feigning embarrassment as he let go.
Though, in truth, he wouldn't have minded holding her hand a bit longer...
"Hmm..."
Layla rubbed her hand nervously before pulling a small piece of paper from her pouch.
"Someone left this on my desk last night..."
"A note?"
Luo Qing took the paper and unfolded it, reading the large characters scrawled across it:
"Beware of Luo Qing."
"..."
Ding!
[+1 Frustration Value from Luo Qing]
Seriously?
Hadn't Layla's inner self said she wouldn't let the dominant personality know about her existence?
And now she was leaving notes?
As if to drive the point home, a smaller line of text beneath the bold warning read:
"If you don't believe me, check your soles."
"..."
Okay, Luo Qing had to admit, maybe he'd gone a little overboard last night.
It wasn't his fault Layla's inner self had such ticklish feet...
"I..."
Layla's voice trembled, sounding both hesitant and aggrieved.
"When I woke up this morning, my soles were so red..."
The note had terrified her at first. Fearing Luo Qing might have done something inappropriate, she had even checked her body.
But aside from the redness on her feet, there were no other suspicious marks.
"..."
Luo Qing froze, unsure how to respond.
In hindsight, he should've applied some ointment or at least pretended to heal her...
Taking a deep breath, Luo Qing straightened his expression and placed his hands firmly on Layla's shoulders. His tone was serious and sincere as their eyes met.
"Miss Layla, this is a traditional Liyue foot massage technique. It's great for relieving tension and improving sleep. Last night, I noticed you were utterly exhausted, so I decided to help you relax while you rested."
"Miss Layla... you're not mad at me, are you?"
"I..."
---
This bonus chapter is like an encore after a rousing performance—totally worth staying for, wouldn't you say? Oh, and don't worry, my lyre's got plenty more tunes to play next time!
But for now, it's time to take a bow. Thank you for the applause (and all that wonderful support). If you're feeling extra inspired, you know where to find me—[patreon.com/WiseTL]. Toss a coin, and who knows? Maybe the next bard will sing your praises!
Now, go forth, Traveler, and revel in the wonders of this world. Until next time! 🍃✨
Bab 195: This Trainee Fatui Harbinger is Too Unreliable [195] [200 PS]
Well, well, look at you! So dedicated, you've earned a little extra treat! 🎉
---
How could she possibly compete against a sly veteran like Luo Qing, who'd spent years navigating the treacherous politics of Snezhnaya?
Under the relentless assault of Luo Qing's earnest gaze and honeyed words, she quickly caved.
"R-Really, it was just a foot massage?"
"Absolutely. I swear on the Geo Archon's name—I didn't touch anything else!"
"..."
Staring into Luo Qing's sincere, almost dazzling eyes, Layla felt a little lost.
There were no signs that her body had been touched elsewhere, and Luo Qing's explanation sounded plausible.
But... he had touched her feet.
And then there was this mysterious note.
"What about this paper, then?"
"That's obviously someone trying to sow discord!" Luo Qing said, his expression righteous.
"Maybe it's the mysterious person you mentioned—the one who's been interfering with your life. They probably think I'll expose them and want to scare you into staying away from me!"
"Hmm..."
Layla began to think.
Luo Qing's theory wasn't entirely without merit.
After all, he was a Matra officer and had the badge—and the custom Akasha Terminal—to prove it.
"Then I..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Luo Qing cut her off.
"Miss Layla, you look like you're still tired. How about you head back home and take another nap?"
"Eh? But—"
"No buts! Napping is a key part of academic productivity!" Luo Qing declared confidently.
Before Layla could react, Luo Qing had already taken her by the hand, gently but firmly steering her back toward her house.
"This time, I'll stay hidden and keep watch. If that mysterious person thinks I've left, they might show themselves again."
"Ah..."
Not long after, Layla found herself back at home, half-willingly led by Luo Qing.
"Mr. Luo Qing, I'll just... rest my head on the desk for a bit, okay?"
Layla's voice was soft, her demeanor uncomfortable with how forward Luo Qing had been.
"No problem at all! You sleep; I've got everything under control!"
Thumping his chest with his fist, Luo Qing grinned warmly, radiating enthusiasm.
"Mm..."
With a slight nod, Layla leaned forward, resting her head on her desk.
Within seconds, she was fast asleep.
And just a few seconds after that, her head snapped back up again.
"Why'd she fall asleep so early today...?"
The inner Layla stared at the clock on the desk, puzzled. Turning her head, she caught sight of Luo Qing sitting casually on her bed.
"Good afternoon," Luo Qing said, narrowing his eyes in mock amusement.
"I told her to..."
"To get some rest? And yet, here I am, still here?"
"..."
"You didn't want her to know about your existence, right? You said it'd cause her emotional distress to learn about her inner persona. So why, pray tell, did you leave that little note for her?"
Luo Qing dangled the incriminating note between his fingers.
"Hmph... Better she freak out than end up in your hands..."
Inner Layla muttered sulkily.
She knew her dominant persona all too well—a pure, innocent soul who poured her entire being into academics, completely clueless about emotions or relationships.
There was no way she'd let that side of her fall for a scoundrel like Luo Qing.
"What's that supposed to mean, 'in my hands'?" Luo Qing asked, clearly offended.
"Do I look like a bad guy to you?"
"Do you even need to ask?"
Inner Layla huffed, her gaze dropping to the bracelet on Luo Qing's wrist.
"That bracelet you're wearing—let me guess. A girl gave it to you, right?"
"..."
Luo Qing froze.
How did she nail that on the first try?
Well, she wasn't entirely wrong...
"What's wrong? Got nothing to say now?"
Seeing Luo Qing momentarily speechless, Layla smirked triumphantly.
"You're right..." Luo Qing admitted with a slight nod.
"But she doesn't know, so it's not like it'll stop me from deepening my bond with her, right?"
"..."
Ding!
[+1 Frustration Value from Layla]
"You're such a scumbag," Layla said flatly, utterly baffled by Luo Qing's audacity.
Who could be this shameless and still hold their head high?
"And you're not worried I'll tell her?"
"Go ahead." Luo Qing shrugged. "I have nothing to hide."
"..."
Layla fell silent.
She had never encountered anyone this brazen in her life.
Was he really a Matra officer?!
---
After bickering with Inner Layla for a while, Luo Qing decided to leave.
Her hostility was too intense, and given that both personas shared the same body, he couldn't exactly go all out against her inner self.
After trading a few more jabs, Luo Qing walked back to his home, hoping to catch lunch.
Sure enough, his timing was impeccable.
As he stepped into the dining room, he found Makoto and Rosalyne already seated at the table, enjoying a spread of Inazuman dishes.
"Look who finally decided to come home," Makoto said, glancing at him with a teasing smile.
"Well, I didn't have much going on," Luo Qing replied as he slid into his seat.
But before he could pick up his chopsticks, Makoto leaned closer and sniffed him.
"You smell like another woman!"
"..."
"Are you part bloodhound or something?"
"Hmph. None of your business."
Makoto pouted, but her expression betrayed a playful smirk.
"Let me guess—it's that Layla girl again, isn't it?"
"..."
Luo Qing's silence spoke volumes.
How were all these girls so good at guessing?
"Why the long face?" Makoto teased, poking his shoulder.
"I'm not saying I'll stop you."
"Wait... really?"
Luo Qing blinked in surprise.
Makoto was this chill about the idea of him building a harem?
But wait a second...
We haven't even done anything together! Why does she act like she's the main wife here?!
"Of course." Makoto crossed her arms and leaned back smugly.
"I know everything about you. There's no point in trying to stop you."
"Uh..." Luo Qing opened his mouth to explain himself but was quickly cut off.
"Do you have plans this afternoon?" Makoto asked, poking his forehead.
"No, why?" Luo Qing asked, confused.
Makoto suddenly pulled a flyer from her sleeve, a sly grin on her face.
"There's a performance at the Grand Bazaar this evening. Come with me?"
"Huh?"
Luo Qing took the flyer from her.
It was an advertisement for a show at Zubayr Theater, scheduled for sunset today.
"You—"
"I can't just sit around at home like some caged bird, can I?" Makoto said, standing up and leaning close to him.
"I've let you run around all this time. Don't you think it's about time you took me out for once?"
"..."
Luo Qing sighed. There was no denying it now—Makoto fully saw herself as his primary wife.
What kind of future had she foreseen to make her act this way?!
"But you—"
"Relax." Makoto grinned. "I'll wear that imitation mask you gave to Rosalyne. No one will recognize me."
"..."
"Fine." Luo Qing sighed, resigned.
"Great! Then it's settled, lo—cough, cough!"
Makoto cut herself off, quickly covering her mouth.
"I'll go upstairs to change!"
---
This bonus chapter is like an encore after a rousing performance—totally worth staying for, wouldn't you say? Oh, and don't worry, my lyre's got plenty more tunes to play next time!
But for now, it's time to take a bow. Thank you for the applause (and all that wonderful support). If you're feeling extra inspired, you know where to find me—[patreon.com/WiseTL]. Toss a coin, and who knows? Maybe the next bard will sing your praises!
Now, go forth, Traveler, and revel in the wonders of this world. Until next time! 🍃✨
Status Power Mingguan
200+ Peringkat
Power 
238 Power
stone 
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