In the girl’s pupils, the black‑robed figure called End flickered back at her, along with a hellish scene. The metallic stink of blood made Bai Xin gag, but she forced it down. Right now, she was staring down life and death.
(Damn it. If only I didn’t send Cold Night Feather away...) The light blade in her hand was flicked aside. As the green‑glowing edge drew closer, she shut her eyes like she’d accepted fate. (In the end, someone like me isn’t much use in this world... Maybe only Lin Mi, Li Xiao Xiao, Ouyang Meng, and Wang Lin would be sad. And Cold Night Feather... I’m sorry. I’m probably not the one you’re searching for—the supposed owner of the Mystic Necklace.)
So how did it come to this? Let’s rewind to the very beginning. The moment Bai Xin sent Cold Night Feather away.
“Heh heh heh, Cold Night Feather’s gone. Time for my shopping spree!” Bai Xin let out a shameless cackle. She tugged her baseball cap low, pulled out a mask she’d prepped, and put it on. She looked exactly like Watch Dogs’ Aiden Pearce—minus the coat.
Under wary stares, Bai Xin slipped into a bookstore. A few passersby were already debating whether to call the cops. She looked way too suspicious. Some even feared this weird girl might scream and hurl her backpack.
The curtain pushed in, and the door chime rang crisp. The black‑haired young man behind the counter jolted awake and put on a professional smile. “Welcome, what can I—oh crap, it’s you.” It was a tiny shop. Usually students came by in the daytime. Almost no one wandered in at dusk.
Seeing the girl in a gray hoodie, cap, and mask, he didn’t assume robber or terrorist. He just looked like he knew her—and swore.
“Heh heh heh, Brother Li Ming, did you get the stuff I asked for?” Bai Xin glanced around. The empty store held no one else. She pulled down her mask and gave him a you‑know‑what grin, rubbing her hands.
Acting guilty, the young man peeked out the window. No one was watching. He got up, shut the door, flipped the Open sign to Closed, and locked it.
“So why does a bookstore need a café‑style sign anyway? Looks dumb,” Bai Xin scoffed.
Li Ming shot her a frosty look. “What would a simple‑minded brat like you know? It’s called class.”
Bai Xin just rolled her eyes at him.
“Hmph. Do you still want your stuff or not?” Li Ming sneered.
Bai Xin fell silent.
“Come on,” Li Ming said, rubbing his temples. He led her to a door behind the counter and pushed it open. Bai Xin snickered and followed.
They crossed a short corridor and went upstairs. Li Ming opened a room. Classic bachelor pad—smelly socks and clothes everywhere. Empty snack bags and cola cans cluttered the desk.
“I swear, your doghouse is as messy as ever.” Bai Xin’s petite nose twitched, and she choked a little on the musty stink. Sharp‑eyed, she spotted a few very suspicious tissue balls on the wood floor by the desk. Bai Xin, not exactly a pure little angel, grinned, tapped Li Ming’s shoulder, and pointed.
“Aiya, aiya. I get it, Brother Li Ming, being single is lonely. But pace yourself, okay? Don’t, you know, break your wrist!”
Li Ming followed her finger, his face changed, and he coughed hard. Then he put on a vicious act. “Hmph, you little brat dare make fun of me? Heh heh heh! You’ve got no chest and no butt, but your face is decent. Maybe I should just deal with you right here. No one would know. Scream all you want—no one will hear!”
He pretended to pounce.
Bai Xin rolled her eyes and sidestepped the fake lunge. “Yeah, right. You’ve been saying that since I was eight. I’m used to it.” She grinned. “Also, I’m a B‑rank Ability User now! You can’t beat me, hehehe.”
She wasn’t fearless just because of her B‑rank power. Back when she was still useless, she’d hang out here all the time. Li Ming had been the big brother next door since she was little, treating her like family. After her parents died and she moved, they stayed close. Bai Xin already saw Li Ming as a real brother, and she knew it.
Li Ming said nothing. He hurried over, scooped the tissue balls into the trash, and muttered perfunctorily, “Yeah, yeah, Bai Xin’s the best.”
“Don’t brush me off like that!” Bai Xin snapped. “That’s exactly the tone you used to coax me when I was a kid. What’s with that?”
Li Ming rolled his eyes right back. He pulled a black plastic‑wrapped package from a drawer and handed it over. “Here. Your stuff.”
Bai Xin happily took the mystery bundle. This was what she’d told Cold Night Feather she was coming to buy. The difference? She’d already had Li Ming buy it in advance.
She tore it open—and wow. A pile of doujins and eroge. Who knew our Bai Xin had such unique tastes... maybe “Dirty Xin” fits better.
Li Ming’s mouth twitched. “Never thought a girl would like stuff this filthy. But listen. If you get busted, don’t you dare say I bought it. Buying this for a minor could get me arrested.”
Drooling a little, Bai Xin stuffed the eroge haul into her backpack. She nodded. “Got it, got it. I won’t rat you out. Relax.”
But Li Ming didn’t look relieved. He stared out the window, face solemn. “Then head home, quick. It’s getting dark. A girl out alone... running into something unclean wouldn’t be good.” The way he said “unclean” seemed to mean something else.
Bai Xin didn’t take it to heart. She laughed. “Wow, you’re not even letting me hang out? So heartless.”
Li Ming’s mouth twitched. He said nothing. He just sighed.
