"Aaaah!" At that moment, Bai Xin was being dragged through the sky by Cold Night Feather, whose back sprouted giant green energy wings, screaming at the top of her lungs.
Pedestrians on the street gaped up in astonishment. But the pair flew too fast for anyone to see what was screaming. Rumor later spread of a bizarre urban legend: "The Screaming Ghost Girl of the Sky."
How did things come to this? Let's rewind a few minutes.
Bai Xin stared intently at Cold Night Feather's supremely confident face. After a long moment without understanding, she finally spoke, though deeply suspicious:
"What are we waiting for? Let's go already!" Bai Xin dashed out the door with her small black crossbody bag. Cold Night Feather followed, gazing at her with a trace of pity.
*(I hope this kid doesn't puke up everything she just ate... Hmm, but since the spiritual items were fully absorbed, she can't throw them up anyway.)*
They arrived in the courtyard of the villa inherited by Bai Xin from her late parents. Bai Xin curiously eyed Cold Night Feather, who carried nothing, tilting her head. "Hey! How are we getting to school?"
Cold Night Feather grinned eerily. The air around her warped violently—a sign of massive magical energy drawn from the atmosphere. Within ten seconds, six massive pale green energy wings sprouted from her back.
This was an application of the Elemental Mastery skill, exclusive to Tianren Mirror masters. Its main purpose was enhancing elemental control; flight was just a bonus. Actually, the level above Tianren Mirror could fly by riding air currents, but that method was far more energy-draining and slower than the nearly cost-free Elemental Mastery.
Bai Xin, blissfully unaware of danger, gaped at the dazzling wings, squealing in excitement. Cold Night Feather chuckled, grabbed the hyperactive girl's shoulders, and asked, "Which direction is your school? What's a distinctive feature?"
Bai Xin pondered carefully, then pointed southwest. "Straight line, it's this way! And as for features, there's a huge clock tower atop our main school building!"
Cold Night Feather nodded. Wrapping her arms around Bai Xin's waist, she blasted straight up into the sky at supersonic speed. At high altitude, she broke the sound barrier!
After a moment, the massive sonic boom and Bai Xin's delayed scream of terror finally reached the ground.
A pale blue, honeycomb-patterned translucent Seal Barrier enveloped Cold Night Feather and Bai Xin, who was clutched in her arms, eyes squeezed shut, wailing hysterically. This barrier shielded Bai Xin from supersonic winds. If alone, Cold Night Feather wouldn't use it—she'd fly bare-bodied, her physique honed by magic and martial arts, more than capable of withstanding the elements.
So why was Bai Xin still screaming? First, despite being strengthened by Cold Night Feather's pastries and the Mystic Necklace, Bai Xin was still weak. To her eyes, supersonic flight was a dizzying, kaleidoscopic blur—utterly incomprehensible. Right after takeoff, the disorienting spectacle made her wisely shut her eyes.
However, even with her eyes shut, one thing persisted: the crushing G-forces of high-speed flight, capable of turning an ordinary person to pulp.
Of course, even at partial speed, Cold Night Feather flew supersonically. By rights, Bai Xin's "frail" body couldn't handle such G-forces. But Cold Night Feather had adjusted them to the exact limit Bai Xin could endure—enough to strain her, but not injure.
So Bai Xin felt utterly wretched. The sensation of her entire body being crushed was far from pleasant. Combined with the dizziness, she couldn't help but scream.
Fortunately, the school was close to Bai Xin's home—a ten-minute bus ride. At supersonic speed, it took only seconds.
Cold Night Feather landed gently with Bai Xin in her arms. Despite the high-speed descent, not a single crack marred the ground—a testament to her terrifying control over her power.
This bizarre duo, descending from the sky, instantly drew the attention of Third High students—in uniforms, walking, cycling, or stepping out of cars. First, Cold Night Feather's stunning beauty was impossible to overlook. Second, the thunderous roar of their landing.
Cold Night Feather patted Bai Xin's shoulder. Bai Xin was leaning on a green trash can, trying to vomit but failing. "Well, I'll go report to that so-called mentor first," Cold Night Feather said calmly. "We'll meet up later."
Without waiting for a reply from the pitiful-looking girl, Cold Night Feather strode toward the school. The bustling crowd parted like the Red Sea, curiously eyeing the white-haired beauty.
Just as Cold Night Feather reached the gate, she noticed three girls approaching Bai Xin with ill intent. She left a tiny magic-formed detection bug that flew to Bai Xin's side, then continued toward the teaching building.
"Well, well! If it isn't our useless flower vase?" sneered the leader, a tall girl with dyed blonde hair, mocking Bai Xin, who looked weak and unsteady.
Beside her stood two girls with malicious grins—one tall and skinny, the other short and chubby. Cold Night Feather, on her way to the teaching building, sighed. This was a typical bullying scene, common even in Freya Continent's schools.
Bai Xin's face paled slightly at the sight of the three girls, but she steeled herself. "Uh, good morning... Lin Mi," she said to the blonde leader.
Lin Mi chuckled darkly, her narrow eyes narrowing like a fox's. She eyed the extraordinary Mystic Necklace on Bai Xin's chest and reached out to snatch it.
"Oh? Where'd you get such a fancy necklace? Stolen it, maybe? I think I have one just like it!"
Bai Xin's expression darkened. The trio: Lin Mi the leader, Wu Xia the chubby one, and Li Zhijun the tall thin one—infamous delinquents. Lin Mi's father was a B-Rank Ability User in the city, often away but with vast connections. Rumor had it he was a trusted aide to an A-Rank Ability User backed by an S-Rank patron—making him untouchable.
Thus, with Lin Mi's father's influence, the trio ruled this third-rate school. At just 17, Lin Mi had inherited her father's fire ability, nearing B-Rank—making her utterly lawless.
As their classmate, Bai Xin was bullied for her pretty face, which Lin Mi envied—or so students believed. Why else target her? Bai Xin had endured much, but as students, they never went too far. Now, Bai Xin knew Lin Mi was after her necklace—typical of her two-year high school ordeal.
Passersby students were accustomed to this. Even freshmen knew of the pretty senior constantly bullied. None dared intervene; kind seniors pulled them back, explaining Lin Mi's connections, and they backed down. It was simply too reckless to risk offending Lin Mi—for a pretty girl—given her powerful father and top-tier strength at Third High.
In the past, Bai Xin would silently watch Lin Mi take her things, endure a few taunts, and let her strut away. But today, inexplicably, she slapped away Lin Mi's hand and shouted:
"This necklace is mine! No one's taking it!"
After speaking, she instantly regretted it. Wasn't this asking for trouble? Last times she'd defied them, Lin Mi's lackeys had beaten her badly. Bai Xin glanced nervously at Lin Mi, whose face darkened with surprise. Sure enough, Wu Xia swung a fist at her.
"Hmph! You ungrateful wretch! Guess we'll just beat you down and take it!" Wu Xia's ability was simple: physical enhancement. This punch would have hospitalized the old Bai Xin. Then Lin Mi would feign sympathy, pay some compensation, and call it a day.
Yes, if it were the past.
As Cold Night Feather walked, she wore a breathtaking smile that made every onlooker catch their breath. With the Mystic Necklace and spiritual pastries enhancing her, Bai Xin could easily handle all three girls without breaking a sweat—in Cold Night Feather's estimation.
So even with little combat experience and unable to fully utilize her strength, Bai Xin could easily handle students far weaker than her.
For Bai Xin, this time felt different—she wasn't utterly powerless. Wu Xia's fist, which once seemed to arrive in a flash, now crawled like a snail. Bai Xin could even see the bulging veins and trembling fat on it!
A surge of confidence made Bai Xin throw a wild punch that slammed into Wu Xia's fist. Bai Xin's faster, fiercer blow met Wu Xia's chubby fist. The fat on Wu Xia's arm visibly rippled from wrist to shoulder. She shrieked and flew backward, her right arm twisted grotesquely—clearly broken.
The students erupted. Bai Xin was the school's infamous "flower vase"—no abilities, zero talent for martial arts. At Third High, she was synonymous with "useless." Yet now, she'd sent flying Wu Xia, a C-Rank Ability User with pure physical enhancement, known for her strength—and emerged unscathed?
Lin Mi stared at Bai Xin, dumbfounded. "Impossible!" she muttered.
Bai Xin looked dazed, staring at her delicate pink fist as if she hadn't thrown that earth-shattering punch.
Meanwhile, Cold Night Feather, nearing the teaching building, smiled even wider.
