Chapter 33 Preparation Time (2) Ker, could you be the female lead...?
A flash of light, and Xia Ying's team returned to the wasteland hall, covered in dust and dirt.
"Beep! Wilderness Mission #29: [Escape from Eden] is complete."
Although they successfully completed their mission, Qiongqi's anger remained unabated.
She forcefully shoved the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Blade back into its sheath and grabbed the demon hound by the collar.
"Cerberus! How can you not even do this simple thing right? Are you sleepwalking today?!"
"...?"
The usually volatile and easily provoked demon dog looked at her blankly this time, seemingly unable to understand the meaning behind her words.
Seeing this strange phenomenon, Qiongqi was greatly alarmed. She unconsciously let go of her hand and turned to see the reactions of her other companions.
Although Fenrir remained calm, his eyes widened by about two pixels, and he looked quite surprised.
Xia Ying had a hesitant expression, as if she knew something.
Qiongqi asked, "Xia Ying, what's wrong with Cerberus? Did he eat something bad?"
“No, that’s not it…” Xia Ying said worriedly, “Miss Qiongqi, do you know what the practical assessment requirements are for passing the [Circular Domain Internship]?”
“I know,” Qiongqi replied. “We, the Wild Feast Ring, are going to be competing with the Shadow Scale Ring’s interns in the same wilderness mission, but I can imagine it will probably turn into a huge free-for-all.”
"Shadow Scale Ring?" Xia Ying exclaimed in surprise, "Isn't that the ring domain where Fenrir is located?"
Qiongqi replied without hesitation, "Fenrir is quite strong, but the outcome is still uncertain."
Fenrir calmly uttered the provocative words: "You're the one who'll die."
The cat and dog were brimming with fighting spirit, seemingly eager to settle their differences right there and then.
Yes, they were warmongers to begin with.
Xia Ying then pointed to herself: "What if it's a battle against the Crimson Crown Ring that I'm in?"
Qiongqi looked at Xia Ying and considered for a moment.
"In a simple physical fight, you can't beat me, but lately you seem to be becoming more and more of a troublesome enemy... You're so cute... but you're also difficult to deal with..."
She scratched her head, looking a little troubled.
"I'm not confident I can defeat you without hurting you. Rather, I think it's safer to kill you from the start."
"Wow! You think so?" Xia Ying couldn't help but feel smug. "Then I really am a lot stronger than when I first boarded the Charon Train!"
She turned with great interest to another abyssal creature that had nearly killed her in the [entrance exam]: "What does Fenrir think? If it were an unavoidable, life-or-death situation of hostility, would he attack me?"
Fenrir fell silent. Judging from his furrowed brow, Xia Ying guessed that he was thinking and making a decision very seriously, even somewhat difficultly.
After a long silence, he finally spoke.
"……meeting."
His gaze flickered slightly before slowly moving upwards and landing on Xia Ying's face.
She winked at him, showing no sign of anger whatsoever.
“It seems even Fenrir thinks I’m a formidable opponent.” Xia Ying nudged the dazed Cerberus with her elbow. “Cerberus, look, that’s how everyone sees me. And in reality, this is just a test.”
He stopped speaking, and then the teleportation array suddenly lit up, swallowing Cerberus's figure.
Xia Ying immediately followed and used teleportation magic to catch up.
Lady Qiongqi, who witnessed the whole thing, tried to sort out the situation: "Cerberus is acting strangely today. Cerberus ran away, and then Xia Ying chased after Cerberus... Raising a dog is really hard work. If it were me, I wouldn't be so willful."
She then looked at the silent Frostwolf: "And you? What's wrong with you again?"
"..." Fenrir asked, "Why were you able to hurt Xia Ying?"
"Because I am a creature of the abyss, isn't it only natural for creatures of the abyss to be honest about their desires?"
She answered.
"The abyssal creature 'Qiongqi' exists because of its fighting spirit and its thirst for ever-growing stronger. Of course, I like Xia Ying very much, but when it conflicts with my most fundamental desires, I will be true to myself. Aren't you the same, Fenrir?"
Fenrir said, "But Cerberus will choose Summer Firefly."
"Do you think it's because that guy has more virtues of sacrifice and dedication?"
Qiongqi couldn't help but burst into laughter.
Cerberus's desire lies in Xia Ying herself.
These words shattered Fenrir's chaotic doubts, but more confusion followed.
Why did the powerful and brutal Cerberus become so different from the one he once was?
What happened to him after he defected from the Underworld Court?
How did he find Xia Ying from that dark, complex, and insatiable desire?
Has your emptiness been filled?
Have your insatiable killing urges finally subsided?
The Cerberus in his memory could not answer him, and Fenrir searched in vain for answers in the illusion, only to see his own chaotic and illusory reflection in it.
At that very moment, the deep, still well of desire in Fenrir's heart suddenly surged violently.
That was the deepest.
Hatred and jealousy.
#####
After Cerberus fled in panic, Xia Ying subconsciously chased after him, but when she left the teleportation array, she realized that she actually had no idea where he had gone.
She looked up at the bustling streets and shops, muttering to herself, "I came to Twilight Square without even thinking..."
So, could it be that Kernel actually came here?
Xia Ying pondered.
Looking back now, from the moment I boarded the Charon train, I and Kel often had to face separation.
They did spend time together, mainly in the temporary apartment in Twilight Square...
Temporary apartments?
A lightbulb suddenly lit up in Xia Ying's mind, and she immediately went to the registration office where she had rented the temporary apartment.
The registration staff member was also a goblin, but Xia Ying couldn't quite tell the goblins of similar age apart and wasn't sure if this was the same goblin clerk from before... but that didn't matter.
Before she could speak, the goblin clerk looked up at her and said first, "Ah, you're that succubus who enrolled recently, aren't you?"
"Yes, it's me." Xia Ying paused for a moment. "Do you remember me?"
“Because succubi are rare, and I often hear about you from my colleagues at the Wilderness Hall office,” the goblin asked her. “What can I do for you?”
Xia Ying quickly asked, "I want to ask about the apartment I used to rent..."
“Ah, that house has been rented again,” the goblin said. “It was rented by that Mr. Demon Dog who was traveling with you. I told him that freshmen who haven’t completed their [Circle Internship] are not allowed to live outside the internship zone, but he insisted on doing so anyway.”
"Can I go in?!"
The goblin replied slowly, "That depends on whether they allow you to enter."
Xia Ying teleported to the temporary apartment without hesitation.
She opened her eyes and found herself standing in the small living room of room 1008 in building C.
Xia Ying walked towards the bedroom and, sure enough, saw a bulge the size of a dog under the covers.
She breathed a sigh of relief, climbed into bed as usual, and lay down beside the bulge.
“Ker.” She turned to the side, hugging the blanket, and chuckled softly. “Sometimes you’re like the leading lady.”
The blanket stirred slightly, but said nothing.
“Isn’t this a common plot in idol dramas? The heartbroken female lead runs away and hides somewhere, while her lover reminisces about the time they spent together and searches for her everywhere… But in the end, they almost always miss each other, which makes the audience anxious,” Xia Ying said. “But it won’t be like that with Ke’er, because I always know where Ke’er will be.”
The blanket was slightly pulled back, revealing a pair of red dog eyes in the darkness.
“Well then, Kel, I’ve thought about it carefully and come up with three solutions.”
Xia Ying patted the blanket reassuringly.
"The first method is, in situations where hostility is unavoidable, for Ker to switch out 'Shadow'..."
The red eyes inside the blanket instantly lit up, as red as fresh blood.
"I will absolutely not let you out! Don't even think about it!"
But the next second, Cerberus transformed back into human form, barked loudly at the air, and then turned to glare at Xia Ying.
Don't talk nonsense!
“Then let’s talk about the second method.” Xia Ying readily changed her mind. “If Ker’er really doesn’t want to, then he can just stay on the sidelines and let the other abyssal creatures do the work.”
“This won’t work either.” Cerberus frowned, seemingly recalling something. “The King of the Tomb Keepers abhors all abyssal creatures that break the rules. He will most likely require all interns to swear a blood oath of allegiance.”
"So that's why he set such harsh conditions when he said he wanted to end the [Circular Domain Internship] early?" Xia Ying pouted. "I don't like that guy."
Cerberus was troubled by his dilemma: "But if I refuse, I might not be able to pass the [Circular Realm Internship]."
"There's one last way." Xia Ying got up. "Ker, as long as I win, it'll be fine, right?"
Cerberus paused, then said, "But, if we're going to go all out..."
"I will do my best."
The human girl looked down at the demon hound, the shadow of her black hair obscuring her expression, but Cerberus could see the slight upturn of her lips.
"Cher, don't you believe I will win?"
####
When they returned to the dragon's lair, Fafnir was already there.
Xia Ying quickly tidied herself up, humming a song as she jumped into the pile of dolls.
The dragon naturally moved closer to her and removed a golden hairpin she had forgotten to take off.
"Are you happy today?"
Xia Ying nodded honestly: "I'm very happy."
The dragon didn't press further, but instead turned away and snapped its fingers casually.
With this simple action, dragon fire swept through the nest, and the layout of the dragon nest began to change.
The gold coins scattered everywhere quickly melted down and were recast into a smooth, flat golden floor. A magnificent and enormous cashmere carpet then fell down, covering the entire floor. After that, even more exquisite and expensive furniture appeared on the carpet, and even Xia Ying's bed was replaced. After the silk curtains slowly fell, the Dragon's Nest had been completely transformed into a luxurious bedroom that was no less than that of a real royal princess.
"..." Xia Ying took a moment to find her voice, "What is this?"
"The home furnishing set that I commissioned from the dwarves a while ago has only recently been completed."
“That’s not what I’m asking… Well, anyway, you’re very wealthy.” Xia Ying sighed. “Fafnir, although I’m starting to get used to living with you, I don’t think I’ll stay here for very long.”
The dragon lifted a strand of her hair and said lazily, "Is that so?"
Xia Ying didn't notice his expression and continued, "Thinking about it, it's a bit of a pity. Although I stayed in Crimson Crown Ring for a while, I haven't been to most of the areas yet..."
The dragon said, "Then I'll take you to see it."
Xia Ying turned to look at him: "Going tomorrow?"
"I'll go tomorrow."
"You're actually a pretty good dragon!" Xia Ying said excitedly. "You'll keep your word, won't you?"
Fafnir smiled slightly, a dark glint in his eyes.
"Of course, I mean what I say."
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Author's note: Dogs (regardless of which one): Good people (others) are bad dogs!
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