NOVEL NEXT Ch. 18
Warmth
Let's turn back the clock to two hours ago.
Yinhua stepped out of the bathroom, freshly bathed, only to find Liqin facing her with a beaming smile.
"The guest rooms at this inn are a bit tight, so tonight you'll sleep with me." — Liqin spoke as though she'd just succeeded in a mischievous scheme.
"Sleep... together...?"
Yinhua sounded a bit tense.
Actually, it was nothing for two girls to sleep together, but after that incident with Aili, Yinhua felt a bit constrained.
"Where did Aili go?"
"Uh... She went to investigate the route for tomorrow's schedule."
"I see. It must be so tiring for her to stay by my side. I've always relied on her, and not long ago I even did something so awful to her. Ah, I really..."
Yinhua pinched at the hem of her skirt, looking a little guilty.
"Don't worry. To her, these things probably don't mean much."
Liqin removed the long hood she used to hide her identity, hung it on the coat rack, and casually flicked her waterfall-like golden hair, sending a faint fragrance wafting over.
'Her hair is so well maintained...' Yinhua couldn't help but admire internally.
She remembered Liqin's hair being just past her shoulders when they were little.
"Hmm? Little Yin, are you staring at me?"
"I was just thinking your hair is so well taken care of."
There was a hint of envy in Yinhua's tone.
"Of course. Father can teach us plenty of royal etiquette, always demanding that we be flawless, nagging every day about this and that. But after hearing it so much, you just get used to it."
Liqin actually wanted to say that the shampoo she used came from the purest water sources extracted by magic, but since magic was a forbidden subject for Yinhua, she obediently shut her mouth and responded vaguely.
"By the way, Big sis Liqin, what level is your strength at right now?"
"Hmm, probably around level six."
"That's amazing. You're so young and about to break through the boundary."
Yinhua sounded astonished.
In this world, ability rankings went from Level One to Level Nine. At Level Seven, one mastered their own living spirit weapon, so there was a huge difference between Six and Seven—breaking through from Six to Seven was called a boundary breakthrough. Above Seven was Eight, then Nine, and then Sage, with levels above Sage still unknown.
A human at Level Six would already be a national general.
At Level Seven, they could serve as a Protector of a small nation.
At Level Eight, even in Wanhua, they could be a great general.
At Level Nine, one was at the pinnacle of this world.
As for Sages, on the map, their territories were marked at the national level.
Currently, the world's strongest powers were the Seven Great Sages, among whom humans held only one spot each among the races.
Aili's strength was at the Sage level, but she was not counted among the Seven Great Sages.
Those above the Sage level had only appeared several hundred years ago during the War for the Heavens—so who could that person have been?
"Actually, I've been at Level Six for a while now. Just as Master said, the gap between Six and Seven is truly a chasm."
"Even the Sage herself says so?"
When Yinhua mentioned the Sage, stars sparkled in her eyes. That was the goal she admired all her life.
Liqin's master was the guardian deity of Wanhua, the Sage of Water, one of the nine standing at the pinnacle of the world.
"She told me not to rush, believing my talent was more than enough, so you don't need to worry either. Ah, ah, I'm so sleepy."
Saying this, Liqin stripped off her princess formal dress right in front of Yinhua, revealing her perfect figure.
"W-What are you doing?"
Yinhua cried out hurriedly.
"Huh? Changing into pajamas. You'd rather I sleep in this dress, little Yin?"
"You... go change in the bathroom."
"Huh???? Could it be she's not confident about her figure? Flat-chested girls can survive just fine!"
Yinhua sat on the edge of the bed, so nervous she could barely breathe.
"Ah, ah, it's all because of Aili—I'm so on edge, I hope Big sis Liqin doesn't misunderstand..."
.........................
"I'm done changing!"
Liqin suddenly burst out of the bathroom with a shout.
"Ah!"
Liqin's loud voice startled Yinhua into a small squeal of "ah".
"Little Yin, you're as cute as ever."
"Really..."
"Like a little animal, come here and let me snuggle you."
"No..."
"Ehehehe, you have no right to resist, you know."
With a click, Liqin turned off the light and emitted a beastly growl.
"Little white rabbit, here I come..."
"Go away..."
The two rolled and tumbled on the bed for a while, hair and clothes a bit disheveled, but both were very happy.
Liqin couldn't help but think, 'When was the last time we did this...?'
When Yinhua was ten, she was found to have no magical ability. To avoid disgracing the royal family, she was expelled.
Before she left, her father asked what she wanted; she only took Aili with her.
Come to think of it, the two hadn't seen each other for six years.
At first, if it weren't for Yinhua's distinctive long silvery-gray hair and cherry blossom eyes, Liqin might not have recognized her.
Did the king genuinely want to give Little Yin another chance with this Spirit Selection?
Or is it...?
Thinking of a certain possibility, Liqin clenched her fist.
"What's wrong...?"
Yinhua looked at Liqin. Ever since earlier, her sister had seemed a bit off, which made Yinhua uncomfortable.
Liqin looked at Yinhua's innocent face, reached out her hand to touch it, then hugged her tightly.
"You really are an angel..."
"Am I only missing a pair of wings?"
"Pfft, hahaha."
The cheerful atmosphere swept away the previous awkwardness, Liqin hugging Yinhua.
"And then we could do a barbecue."
"Big sis..."
Before Yinhua could finish, Liqin covered her mouth and pressed her down.
"Quiet, someone's outside."
"Mmm, mmmm."
A shadow flitted past, then the window lock clicked open.
Liqin gripped a short dagger she'd hidden in her pajamas, staring motionlessly at the window.
Then................
"What are you two doing?"
It was Aili who appeared...
-------------= Clacky's Corner -------------=
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