"Miss, how did you come to Heiyang City? Had you informed us sooner, we would’ve prepared a grand banquet and welcomed you properly!"
The branch family elder stepped forward to receive her, his demeanor trembling with reverence at Tina’s unexpected arrival.
Yet the young lady remained gentle, offering a faintly apologetic smile.
"I’m sorry. I only wished to bring my friends through the nobility’s exclusive teleportation channel. Is that acceptable?"
"Y-yes! Of course, of course!"
Relief washed over the elder. As long as this formidable presence left peacefully, she could dismantle the channel and carry it off for all he cared.
"Is Uncle not here?"
Tina still wished to pay respects to the branch head, but the elder shook his head.
"The family head is abroad in a neighboring kingdom and hasn’t returned. If Miss insists, I can summon him immediately."
"Oh, no need. Thank you, Elder, for the channel. Just send us to these coordinates."
Tina produced her phone.
The elder glanced at the screen.
"Black Forest, huh… Monsters there have been restless. Blackstream Kingdom issued a Level 2 Beast Tide warning. I’m afraid—"
"It’s fine. We’ll manage."
Tina’s calm words gave him pause. He glanced skyward—and understanding dawned.
"I see. My apologies for overstepping. This way, Miss, and the other three."
He personally guided them through the estate’s vast courtyard into a basement.
There stood a cerulean teleportation portal.
"..."
Sasha’s eyes widened.
Such flawless stability… How many Zhimumeng Insects were consumed to forge this spatial channel? The cost was unimaginable. Merely stepping through likely exceeded her entire payment.
"Thank you for your help, Elder."
Tina gave a slight nod. Though titled "Elder," the man appeared barely past twenty—clearly sustained youth from profound cultivation.
"Coordinates locked. The passage takes roughly three minutes. Please proceed calmly."
His consideration warmed her. Three minutes! Roland’s "budget gate" took half an hour—the gap was worlds apart.
After a final thanks, Tina led them inside.
A cerulean sky stretched endlessly.
Sasha looked up, awestruck.
She’d thought she’d entered another world.
But this was merely the channel’s interior.
"It’s designed to ease claustrophobia and boredom—so they embedded a miniature world inside."
"Ah…"
Sasha froze. They crafted an entire pocket realm… just for aesthetics?
How extravagantly wasteful.
"Same as loading screens in games—tips and art to pass time," Xue Die remarked calmly.
Her composure made Sasha feel like the odd one out.
Was she the only one here from humble beginnings?
Were they all secretly heiresses?!
As the thought struck, Xue Die gently took her hand.
"Don’t stare around. Stay close."
"Ah… sorry."
Sasha whispered an apology—just as Agnes claimed her other hand.
"Stray from the path, and you’ll get lost. Stay with me."
"..."
Sasha’s petite hands were held firmly. Short as she was, a slight tug from either side would stretch her like a tug-of-war rope.
And they *were* tugging.
"Miss Xue Die, please release little Sasha. You’ll hurt her."
"If so, why doesn’t Miss Agnes let go?"
Xue Die refused to yield, sparking Agnes’s competitive streak.
"Shouldn’t you focus on the game? One-handed play isn’t easy."
"Against a novice like Thuke? One finger suffices."
The gaming prodigy pulled Sasha closer. Agnes matched her.
Trapped between them, Sasha wore a helpless expression.
(Though honestly, their strength couldn’t possibly hurt her.)
"What are you *doing*?!"
Tina dashed back and grabbed Sasha’s ankles.
"You’ll hurt her! Let go!"
*No—YOU’RE the one hurting her!*
Is this drawing and quartering?!
Sasha recalled two rich girls once fighting over a doll—one arm, one leg—until their father witnessed the unruly scene…
...
...Only to buy each a whole cartload of dolls afterward.
*Damn rich people!!*
Sasha gritted her teeth, old bitterness flaring.
...
"Um… Ladies? Shouldn’t we exit now?"
She’d long stopped faking sweet "older sister" talk. They were already utterly smitten with her.
*Sigh~* Bearing beauty and charm beyond her years—and universally disarming.
...
After the playful tug-of-war over Sasha, they finally emerged.
Blackstream Kingdom
Northern Border
Black Forest
No station existed here—only a lone blue door standing in the clearing.
"What is this?"
Sasha turned, bewildered. Agnes explained smoothly:
"The return anchor of the exclusive channel. Open it ourselves, and we go back."
"The gate can *do* that?!"
Truth was, Sasha never followed such news. She’d always believed these luxuries were forever out of reach.
No wonder she felt like a wide-eyed country bumpkin today.
