Poetry flows gently, blossoming with each step, now exhibiting a different charm amidst the white clouds and clear breezes, yet heaven and earth seemed like paradise and hell.
The gods in heaven were at ease, while below, chaos reigned.
Moans and wails echoed in the desolate mountain village, yet the houses, buildings, flowers, and grasses within this village were completely unharmed.
They were covered in a layer of golden light, as if kissed by the gods, sacred.
The flowers bloomed on the paths, it was time to return slowly.
This voice was clearly very soft, yet everyone on the ground heard this gentle, melodious, yet life-snatching sound.
"Wait, wait a moment! Miss Bai!" those below roared at the divine beings in the sky, begging for mercy, "We know we were wrong, please spare us! Someone made us do it!"
"That's right! I have old folks and young children to care for, Miss Bai is a protector, right? We are also citizens of Country Z!"
A lamentation arose from those below, begging for forgiveness from those in the sky.
The heavenly beings were indifferent, finding it amusing.
"Oh? When you aimed cannons at me just now, why didn't you look like this?" Bai Cha sneered.
These people had used even more advanced artillery than last time, likely seeing that the previous artillery had killed Shadow's people and thus resorting to the same tactic.
Indeed, these cannons, directed at Bai Cha when she was weak and defenseless, could have killed her. However, Bai Cha was prepared this time, and for these people to try the same trick again was almost no different from acting foolishly.
"But these weapons didn't hurt you! So, you can also forgive us, right!" someone shouted upwards, "You didn't cause any losses, and it is us who are suffering heavy casualties now!"
"Exactly! You are the protector, how can you attack your people!"
They tried to struggle, but found themselves unable to move. The ground was already covered in flourishing plants, growing from underground, from their bodies, everyone becoming fertilizer for the flowers, without exception, leaving nothing but fear.
"Another group of cannon fodder," Bai Cha felt some regret as she sensed the feedback from the Tumi flowers. All living beings within a three-hundred-mile radius had been parasitized by the Tumi flowers, yet there was no trace of the Guangming Elders.
They were indeed clever, never showing themselves.
"Protector? That was my former title," Bai Cha snorted, her expression arrogant. This arrogance and contempt were so natural and casual, as if she was born to be this way. "Now, you might as well call me God."
"Those who wish to slay a god must be prepared to bear the wrath of the divine, just as a dragon slayer must be prepared to be eaten by the dragon."
Yun Yi and the others sat on the aircraft, watching the rebels turn to ashes. When they snapped back to reality, their clothes were already soaked with sweat. They looked at each other, their gaze towards Yun Ling finally filled with recognition.
Born as a human, don't be so stubborn.
When a person is only slightly stronger than you, you might still have the urge to rebel. But when the gap between that person and you is like that between an ant and a god, how could anyone truly be willing to rebel?
"Yun He." Bai Cha turned her head, not looking at Meng Qinghuan, whose expression was somewhat stiff, and extending her hand towards Yun He while hovering in the air, "Let's go, it's time for the baptism."
"Yes, Miss Bai." Yun He's expression remained unchanged. She did not show any surprise at Bai Cha's actions, grasping the hand Bai Cha extended, feeling a sense of nervousness and joy.
She had never been held by Bai Cha so gently and openly. Descending from the sky with flowers blooming at her steps, even the most lavish wedding had not moved her heart as much as this moment.
"Cruel?" Bai Cha walked downwards with Yun He, looking at Yun He with a hint of a sigh, "Such large-scale destruction can be considered a massacre, aren't you surprised?"
"Nothing that Miss Bai does surprises me." Yun He paused, then looked up, her resolute gaze filled with trust. "They wanted to kill Miss Bai first, and Miss is merely acting in self-defense. Moreover, even if I didn't know the cause and effect, I believe Miss Bai's actions always have a reason."
These eyes were so pure, too trusting, and too enthusiastic, even containing calmness and rationality. It was hard to imagine such an ardent gaze being spoken under such rational circumstances.
Bai Cha's earlier statement about calling herself a god was just a joke, meant to retort to those annoying insects. But seeing Yun He truly looking at her as if she were a god, Bai Cha felt a little unaccustomed.
"To be certain of my reasons without knowing the cause and effect? That involves too much subjectivity." Bai Cha's lips curved slightly upwards. Although there was a hint of accusation, it was evident that Bai Cha was in a very good mood.
"Perhaps Miss never disappoints us, so I've become accustomed to it." Yun He was still very happy. Being with Bai Cha was when she felt most at ease. "I like Miss very much."
She used "us." In that instant, countless faces flashed through Bai Cha's mind like a revolving lantern. It seemed true; everyone indeed looked at her with such eyes, just like Yun He.
Trust, and even faith.
"I like you all very much too."
Yun He's eyes widened in surprise as she looked at Bai Cha. This was the first time she had heard Bai Cha express her emotions so directly. In their hearts, Bai Cha was absolutely rational, always indifferent and composed, and this queenly demeanor truly captivated them.
But now, as Bai Cha expressed her feelings, Yun He realized that Bai Cha was even more captivating at this moment.
Bai Cha saw Yun He suddenly turn her head and cover her face with her other hand, looking confused. "What's wrong?"
"No, nothing." Yun He quickly composed herself and turned back, but her face was flushed with an indelible blush. Bai Cha could even see excitement in Yun He's eyes. "Ahem, I'm a little... excited."
Is that so?
Bai Cha blinked, not understanding. She had merely spoken the truth, why would she be excited? Of course, she liked them; otherwise, she wouldn't have willingly become their leader.
As the two landed, Yun He suddenly heard strange sounds. Just as she was about to warn Bai Cha, explosions erupted all around them, as if the land had suddenly experienced a "tsunami," with soil kicked up several meters high, and flames and various liquids spewing out.
The explosions were too violent. The blood sea surrounding Bai Cha retracted, forming a blood cocoon to protect the two. Yun He could only hear a series of roars from outside, which subsided after two to three minutes.
The explosions were so fierce that Yun Ling and the others in the sky were greatly startled. Bai Cha had just landed, and the village had started a fireworks display. Yun Ling swallowed hard and saw Lucifer still calmly controlling the aircraft.
"You, aren't you Bai, Miss Bai's subordinate? What, what should we do? Should we go help?" Yun Ling's heart was in turmoil at this moment. According to his nature, he would have fled by now, but the poison was still in his stomach, and he dared not leave. He could only ask Lucifer with a mournful face.
"Miss has it under control." Lucifer replied calmly. Even when facing insignificant people, he was gentle and courteous, though distant. As he spoke, his gaze fell on Meng Qinghuan, who had already disappeared, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Miss Bai, I was careless." Yun He, breaking out in a cold sweat, quickly knelt to apologize, but Bai Cha pulled her up.
Yun He was truly terrified. If Bai Cha hadn't come with her this time, she would have been in grave danger, just like Cang Liu. Even with her quick reflexes, she would have been seriously injured.
"No need. Your 'Eagle Speed' is already perfected. Without me, you could have escaped successfully." Bai Cha patted Yun He's back. The blood cocoon peeled away layer by layer, revealing the light, and the Thousand-Hand Guanyin was within sight.
These explosions should have continued for a while longer. It was Meng Qinghuan who revealed himself and suppressed all the explosions. Seeing Meng Qinghuan looking somewhat disheveled, Yun He was somewhat surprised.
Today, it seemed there were too many things beyond her comprehension: Bai Cha's emotional confession, and Meng Qinghuan's disheveled appearance.
Her master, who had always been frivolous and lively, always gave the impression of casual conversation and being in control of everything. But now, his monastic robe was disheveled, and his face was somewhat displeased, clearly indicating that controlling such a large-scale explosion was not easy.
"How do you feel?" Bai Cha suddenly said something that Yun He found a bit inexplicable. Following Bai Cha's gaze, she realized Bai Cha was speaking to Meng Qinghuan.
"Aren't you quite merciful?"
With these words, Bai Cha pulled Yun He into the "Cloud Concealing Mist."
Now all dangers were eliminated. However, to everyone's surprise, after Bai Cha shattered the cursed crystal stone according to Yun Yi's explanation, Yun He directly sat down in meditation and did not wake up for half a month. This forced Bai Cha to directly remove the patch of land Yun He was sitting on and carry her onto the aircraft.
"So, what exactly is going on?" Bai Cha's face darkened. Fortunately, the world competition had no matches for Shadow this month; otherwise, Yun He would have directly forfeited.
However, Yun Yi and the others present were extremely excited, their gazes towards Yun He so intense that they wished they could stick their eyeballs onto her. They were practically bowing and calling her "daddy," which made Bai Cha feel disgusted.
"This is an unparalleled genius! I heard that true celestial cranes need to comprehend the Great Dao of heaven and earth for eighty-one days."
Upon hearing this, Bai Cha exploded.
Eighty-one days! The world competition would be over by then! Was this a joke!
Bai Cha silently took out her phone and made a call: "Hello, Thorn. There's an opening in the world competition... Yes, there was an accident... Yes, come over."
Under Bai Cha's supervision, Yun Yi ceded the position of clan leader to Yun Ling, and then signed various contractual clauses with Bai Cha. Only then did Bai Cha let these people leave.
"Miss Bai, Miss Bai, what about the antidote?" Yun Ling, seeing Bai Cha about to leave, quickly followed. Heavens, he knew how wronged he felt when signing the ownership agreement just now, wasn't it all for this small antidote!
As Bai Cha boarded the aircraft, she remembered that she had fed them something. She turned around and waved dismissively, "That's just an ordinary traditional Chinese medicine pill, to regulate the stomach."
Yun Ling: "..."
So he had been worried for nothing?
Watching the aircraft raise dust and fly further and further away, Yun Ling's face turned green.
Returning to the resting area, Bai Cha glanced at the competition schedule and went back to her room. Lucifer, following closely behind, settled Yun He into her own room.
Meng Qinghuan, head lowered, quietly followed behind Bai Cha, not daring to speak.
Bai Cha entered the room without closing the door. Meng Qinghuan quietly squeezed in and closed the door. Bai Cha remained silent, turned her chair towards the floor-to-ceiling window on the balcony, and lit a stick of calming incense.
One stick, two sticks, Meng Qinghuan's heart also hung in suspense.
Following this, Meng Qinghuan heard the words that Xiang Nan had already said to him echo in his ears once more.
"Meng Qinghuan, is love that important? More important than loyalty?"
Bai Cha's back was to him, she did not look back, but Meng Qinghuan's hands and feet turned cold, and he dared not look up.
"Aren't you soft-hearted? You're afraid of provoking conflict between the two factions, aren't you." Sensing the third stick of incense burn out, Bai Cha finally suppressed her anger and turned around.
She didn't know how long it had been since she had reprimanded Meng Qinghuan like this. The last time was several years ago, when Bai Cha had admonished him to pull himself together and not tarnish his father's painstaking efforts.