"Xue’er, your backup was perfectly timed~"

After the battle ended, Qu Yi flashed a radiant smile and gave Han Xiangxue a thumbs-up.

Han Xiangxue removed her helmet, revealing a delicate, elf-like face. Her voice was cool and detached:

"City C’s surveillance coverage hits 95.71%. The moment trouble started here, I was already on my way."

Standing side by side, Qu Yi and Han Xiangxue looked like living embodiments of fire and ice.

Ye Thirteen, already gone, missed this striking contrast.

Qu Yi knew Han Xiangxue was always like this.

Without that icy demeanor, she wouldn’t be the famed campus queen and icy beauty of City C Demonhunter Girls’ Academy!

Yet Qu Yi remained utterly unaffected by Han Xiangxue’s frosty aura. She tossed the longsword to Han Xiangxue, winked at her, and said:

"I’ll leave the rest to you~ I’m outta here!"

With that, Qu Yi slipped away in a flash.

Catching the sword, Han Xiangxue watched Qu Yi’s lively, flame-like figure retreat. A rare, faint smile touched her delicate features—warm with affection.

She had few friends. Qu Yi was not only one of them but her closest.

Aloof since childhood, she’d grown even more distant after awakening her Demonhunter abilities. Only someone as socially awkward as Qu Yi could truly connect with her.

Soon, official support staff arrived to clean the battlefield and collect spoils.

Meanwhile, Qu Yi sprinted back to the park, breathless.

She arrived just as the Alliance Team’s advertisement finished playing.

Ye Thirteen stood where he was, cigarette in hand, watching her approach. He raised a hand with a grin:

"So the little hero’s back after saving the city?"

"Hmph! Obviously!"

"Wait—I’ve told you I’m not a kid anymore!"

Seeing Qu Yi still brimming with energy, Ye Thirteen smiled slightly.

He took the cigarette from his lips, reached out, and ruffled her hair.

"Yes, yes. The future female garrison commander is definitely no kid."

His tone dripped with fondness.

Though still young, Qu Yi truly had the courage and grit to stand on her own.

Sensing his approval, Qu Yi giggled sheepishly: "Hehehe~"

She’d changed back into City C Demonhunter Girls’ Academy’s simple, loose uniform jacket. Her practical single ponytail was now cute twin tails.

To strangers, the demon-slaying heroine from moments ago and this sweet-looking schoolgirl were impossible to reconcile.

Perhaps moved by witnessing her protective spirit, Ye Thirteen had been unusually doting all day, staying by her side until deep into the night.

Only then did Qu Yi return home.

Her cheerful smile faded. She slipped off her shoes stealthily and tiptoed toward her room.

But passing her grandfather’s study, she heard voices and froze.

"Elder Zhao, when will HQ send more experienced, battle-ready Demonhunters? My team is critically short-staffed!"

Qu Xuelin’s weary tone made Qu Yi’s faint smile vanish completely.

The call was on speaker—she heard the reply too.

The other voice sighed gently:

"Old Lin, it’s not that I won’t help. You know your situation can’t be fixed with dozens or even hundreds of Demonhunters. Too few? Useless. Too many? I can’t spare them."

Qu Xuelin pressed stubbornly: "I don’t care! Send whoever you can!"

A resigned sigh came through: "Fine. I’ll try."

Qu Xuelin continued slowly: "It’s not me being difficult… damn it, I’ve even sent my sixteen-year-old granddaughter into battle! Granted, only within the city."

The other man consoled him: "I know your struggle. Truth is, one expert of your caliber stationed there would help more than hundreds of Demonhunters."

"Easy to say! Where do I find someone who matches me?!" Qu Xuelin’s pride flared.

He hadn’t risen through connections—he earned his place with raw skill.

Across the Dragon Realm, fewer than ten dared claim superiority.

Otherwise, Southgate Garrison’s command wouldn’t be his.

Those stronger were either safeguarding national fortune at sealed posts or bound by sacred duties.

No wonder he scoffed. Suitable? Yes. Available? No.

Instead of anger, the voice chuckled: "Heh, you’ve been out of the loop! Others are tied up—but recently, one guy got forced out by those damn capitalists!"

"To bloodsuckers like them, anyone who doesn’t profit them is worthless—no matter their skill or merit!"

Qu Xuelin frowned: "And Alliance HQ just tolerates this culture?!"

A heavy sigh: "We want to act! But capital’s grip is too entrenched now. Elder Li was right: ‘Grateful the calamity lasted only ten years… yet tragic it was only ten.’ Ten years—too short to raise a generation. Under their influence, society’s values grow restless again. Alliance Teams now recruit polished pretty faces, not honest talent. Some guys are groomed more than girls! Truly… the times are changing for the worse."

Qu Xuelin snapped: "You let those bastards shit on your heads?!"

The reply flared back: "You think we enjoy it?! Change takes timing—we’ll strike when ready! Ugh, talking to you, you foul-mouthed mule, is pointless. Hanging up."

Qu Xuelin stared at the dead phone, frustrated.

But the man was both old comrade and current superior—complaints were useless.

He set the phone down calmly:

"Come back. Thinking of running now… a little late, isn’t it?"

Qu Yi, caught mid-escape after eavesdropping, froze. At her grandfather’s voice ringing beside her ear, her little face instantly crumpled.