The next morning.
After his usual workout, Ouyang Ge sat by the school playground.
Silently, he wiped the sweat from his brow with a towel. Last night’s incident left him deeply embarrassed. Age-wise, he was a full decade younger than Firld. In his heart, he’d always seen her as his second older sister—a figure he respected.
“Seriously, this is just so awkward…”
Setting the towel aside, Ouyang Ge sighed. But overthinking wouldn’t change anything. Life had to go on.
Slowing his pace home, he arrived later than usual at Firld’s rented house. As always, she was still asleep at this hour.
—Plenty of time for breakfast.
The clean kitchen filled with cooking sounds. Aroma from the simmering food drifted through the air. Simple, nutritious breakfasts were set on the table. Ouyang Ge clapped his hands, satisfied with the two plates.
“Next up…”
Unfastening the ill-fitting apron, he stood before Firld’s bedroom door. He didn’t barge in—this was her private space.
“So embarrassing…”
Stuck between entering or not, he stood frozen for five minutes.
But Firld had a bad habit—she couldn’t wake herself up.
Every morning, Ouyang Ge had to rouse her. Without him, she’d sleep until night like a dead log.
“Screw it. Here goes nothing.”
Bracing for a scolding, he turned the doorknob and pushed open the door. Instantly, he spun around and slammed it shut.
“Is this heaven’s test? Why now!”
Inside, he’d glimpsed a naked, beautiful girl—completely uncovered.
Swallowing hard, he knew gentle methods wouldn’t work. Calming his racing heart, he pushed the door open again.
“I can’t see anything, I can’t see anything…”
Forcing his gaze to the ceiling, he crept to the bed. A faint, sweet scent filled his nose, unsettling him.
Logically, with nearly forty years of life experience from two lifetimes, he should’ve had self-control. Yet here he was, reacting like a virgin…
No time to dwell. The breakfast would get cold, and Firld’s school time was tight.
Slipping his hands under her back, Ouyang Ge heaved her up.
“Wah!!!”
Firld yelped, tumbling to the floor on the other side.
“Wake up! You’re late!”
“Why so rough?!” Her head popped up, rubbing her sore scalp. Then she froze. “Wait—late? What time?!”
“7:15. You have fifteen minutes.”
Seeing her fully awake, Ouyang Ge put on his usual blank expression.
“Crap, crap, crap!!!”
Ignoring whether she wore underwear, Firld dashed into the bathroom at lightning speed.
“Haa…”
This was the normal Firld. Watching her scramble, Ouyang Ge finally relaxed.
She finished washing and dressing in a flash. Without a word, she grabbed her bag and the packed breakfast, then bolted out the door…
“Bye! Guard the house well!”
“Got it, bye…”
The word died in his throat as Firld vanished.
And just like that, the morning passed. But Ouyang Ge still had much to do.
He entered Firld’s room, tidied the messy blankets and pillows, then opened the wardrobe.
Inside hung women’s undergarments, but he wasn’t a pervert. His target wasn’t these. Reaching in, he pulled a hidden handle…
The wardrobe slid aside, revealing—a hidden armory…
“No change. Still here.”
Stepping inside, Ouyang Ge smiled at the walls lined with weapons. Daggers, long swords, pistols, assault rifles—the arsenal was diverse.
But his favorites were the twin pistols mounted prominently.
“We meet again…”
Gently, his slender fingers caressed the metal barrels like precious artifacts.
“Partners…”
Memories flooded back. These bayonet-equipped pistols had followed him through life and death. Even at the end, before his death, they were his most trusted weapons. And…
He raised his right hand. The Reaper Tattoo lay dormant on his knuckles.
—Also Ouyang Ge’s only magic launcher.
Yes, deemed physically useless with zero magic aptitude, he’d once possessed magic. Not now, but he had. An anomaly beyond conventional theory. More accurately, a curse. Unlike normal users, each spell cost him dearly.
“What am I thinking? Too early for this.”
Shaking his head, he banished the unrealistic thoughts.
Taking the pistols from their stand, he fetched gun oil and tools from a glass cabinet.
After disassembly, the all-black pistols lay in pieces.
“You’ve been through a lot, my beautiful ladies,” he murmured, examining the worn parts. That’s why he maintained them secretly, without Firld knowing.
Thus, until lunchtime, Ouyang Ge stayed in the small armory. The disassembled pistols were reassembled. But after adjustments, they were different.
“Done. If all goes well, Master should have a mission soon. I still can’t help her directly yet…”
Watching the hidden door close, Ouyang Ge sighed with regret.
But the time for him to truly unleash his strength was drawing near.
