Following the resonance, due to the mutual influence of bloodlines and hearts, dragons and their resonated humans often share some similarities. Lucifer's eyes were almost identical to Bai Cha's, inheriting the beautiful peach blossom eyes of the Bai family.
However, precisely because of this similarity, Bai Cha dared not look closely at Lucifer's eyes. Lucifer's gaze was like hers, like Bai Ze's, and even more like his parents'. Bai Cha never felt so uneasy, even when looking in a mirror.
Subconsciously, Bai Cha wanted to withdraw her hand, but Lucifer seemed to have anticipated her movement, tightly gripping her wrist in his palm.
"Please do not move, my Master. The rain will fall on your wound," Lucifer sighed, a mixture of resignation and perhaps unwillingness. "Please allow me to tend to your wound."
Perhaps it was Lucifer's overly gentle tone, or perhaps it was that Lucifer, despite his anger, could not utter a single harsh word. Bai Cha's heart was filled with a jumble of emotions, crashing and colliding within her, filling her nostrils.
"Lucifer, I couldn't save anyone this time either." Bai Cha let out a long sigh, as if all her strength had drained away with it. She lowered her head, resting it on Lucifer's shoulder.
There was no grievance, no tears, no fragility or helplessness, only a pervasive sense of quiet suppression and numbness, and a trace of weariness.
At this moment, all the blame and anger that had settled in Lucifer's heart vanished like smoke. His chest felt heavy. He suddenly realized what had happened here, and now, Lucifer felt a pang of self-reproach.
Words of blame could be spoken at any time. Why had he chosen this moment, and why had he even let her get soaked in the rain?
Immediately, Lucifer thought of pulling Bai Cha to shelter from the rain, but Bai Cha pressed his shoulders, holding him in place.
"Lucifer, I don't distrust you. I also didn't know things would develop like this," Bai Cha's voice was somewhat muffled by the rain, but it carried no discernible fluctuation. "I am not omnipotent."
"I know. I lost my composure, my Master." Lucifer frowned slightly and put his arm around Bai Cha's shoulders. Bai Cha's body temperature was always low, but her rain-soaked clothes felt unusually cold against her skin. The temperature of her skin, felt through the thin fabric, also seemed a little too hot.
Why was she wearing so little? Had she not brought thicker clothes? If he wasn't here, his Master truly wouldn't take care of herself. What if she fell ill?
Lucifer was a little anxious and could only patiently persuade, "I lost my composure, my Master. We can talk about some things later. Let's go find shelter from the rain first."
"Rain will wash everything away, leaving not even ashes behind," Bai Cha murmured, lowering her head. When she looked up again, she had regained her usual cold demeanor. "Lucifer, you don't have to be so good to me. You owe me nothing."
You owe me nothing.
This sentence was like a fuse, like a spark landing in a barrel of gunpowder. No, perhaps it was more like a colossal rock crashing onto Lucifer's heart, making him almost suffocate.
"Master, do you think demon dragons are just devils, and therefore we can never have feelings, only pursue self-interest?" Lucifer pressed Bai Cha's shoulders, unable to hold back any longer, his voice rising slightly. "Bai Cha, my Master, look at me. Is it because I said I wanted to take your soul that you are so wary of me?"
"Bai Cha, my Master, put your hand on your heart. Since we resonated, have I ever wronged you? Have I ever harbored any intention of luring you to depravity?" Lucifer stared intently at Bai Cha's evasive eyes. "You helped Yun He overcome his fear, helped Meng Qinghuan resolve her inner turmoil, guided Mo Ziye's worldview, but what are you running away from?"
"Lucifer!" Bai Cha reprimanded, "You've overstepped!"
The world fell silent again, with only the pattering rain striking the ground, seeping into Bai Cha's hair and chilling her to the bone. Bai Cha finally felt the cold.
She suddenly awoke. Resonance not only shared strength and lifespan but also a portion of the most intense memories.
"Mom and Dad will always be with little Cha Cha."
"Little Bai, from now on, we'll be best girlfriends. Don't look so glum. I promise, I'll always be with you!"
"Don't worry, Little Bai. How could your big brother be so fragile? Don't worry, how could I bear to leave you?"
"I like Cha Cha the most."
"..."
Everything was a mirage, a reflection in the water. Bai Cha watched with her own eyes as the bright moon in that clear spring was shattered, muddied, and then dried up. In the end, she became an observer, watching everyone grow up. She had good relationships with everyone, yet she was a stranger to all of them.
She controlled her gaze, not letting it linger on anyone for more than five seconds, controlling her emotions to remain at a neutral level.
"What good would that do? I only care about the results. Since I hold this position, these are my responsibilities."
Bai Cha's voice was cold and firm. She calmly removed the stiff hand from her shoulder and looked directly at the demon before her, her eyes shimmering with proud light.
"Lucifer, do you think I am so fragile, so inclined to escape?" Bai Cha's slender hand felt the coolness of the rain falling into her palm, her expression carrying a hint of madness. "I have never evaded anything. Countless nights, I have recalled countless times in my heart, not out of longing or indulgence, but as training for myself. This makes me numb, makes me stronger."
"Everyone can be vulnerable, but I cannot. Whether it's bad or good, I only want results! I am the Shield of the Empire." Bai Cha wiped the rain from her face, looking at the ruins behind her. There was a struggle in her eyes, but more than that, there was resolve. "Someone has to step forward."
Lucifer: "…Master."
"However, if you wish to follow me like this, I will notify you next time." Bai Cha reached out and gently stroked Lucifer's cheek, smiling softly. "But don't overthink things in the future. I'm not as complicated as you imagine."
Lucifer's throat bobbed. He swallowed hard, looking at the girl before him in astonishment. Her aura was still so restrained yet astonishing. Pure yet bewitching, capricious yet reserved, proud yet gentle. Why did these contradictory qualities converge in one person?
Forcing herself to recall, inducing resistance through pain?
This madwoman, she was indeed different. Lucifer felt his heart pounding fiercely, a trace of blood-redness suppressed in his eyes. It was an extremely complex emotion, but the overwhelmingly dominant one was the craving for a soul, for food.
He had never desired a person's soul so much, making him want to protect it whole yet also devour it bit by bit.
When he obtained her soul, tasted its sweetness, it would surely be the most wonderful moment!
He was hungry.
"Heh."
Lucifer's thin lips curved into a smile, a hint of excitement and bloodthirst in it. He took Bai Cha's hand, knelt on one knee, and lightly kissed the back of her hand, a standard knight's salute.
"It is my honor, my Master. Please allow me to guard your back and clear your obstacles."
Perhaps this way, the time to obtain this soul would be greatly extended, but it would all be worth it, wouldn't it? The hungrier one was, the more delicious the main course would be!
When Lucifer and Bai Cha appeared before everyone, dripping wet, the crowd was stunned for a long time. As good-looking as the two were, being drenched like drowned rats made even the most attractive people appear somewhat disheveled.
A small, fluffy, pale gold figure immediately pounced over. Not caring about Bai Cha's wet clothes, it clung to her like an octopus.
"Xiao Bai, Xiao Bai! You're finally back! I was so worried about you!" Hearing the tone, Bai Cha knew it was Mo Ziye again. He was still hugging her enthusiastically, as if he could chatter endlessly upon seeing her.
"Xiao Bai, do you know, I was so scared when I returned and found the hospital bed empty! How could you run out alone? Lucifer is your butler, yet he didn't watch you properly! I'll watch you next time, okay!"
"Xiao Bai, Xiao Bai, are you cold? Why are you soaked? I happen to have brought dry clothes… uh, they're a bit short for you, though. How about you make do?"
"Xiao Bai, are you hungry! Let's go eat. I'll have Michael book a restaurant right now. Whatever you want to eat!"
"…"
Sometimes, Bai Cha had to admire Mo Ziye's expressiveness. He could really talk, and he had such a cute and innocent boyish face, like a Samoyed, always nudging you, with a healing smile that made it impossible to refuse sometimes.
"Stop fooling around, let's go back." Bai Cha patted Mo Ziye's shoulder helplessly. In the end, it was Lucifer who forcibly peeled Mo Ziye off Bai Cha that he stopped.
However, they couldn't resist Mo Ziye's enthusiasm, and everyone directly found a restaurant and booked a private room.
Bai Cha changed into Mo Ziye's white suit. Bai Cha was over 1.7 meters tall, half a head taller than Mo Ziye. The suit became a three-quarter length on Bai Cha, but fortunately, it was neat and gave Bai Cha a unique, elegant, and proud noble air.
Of course, the biggest credit went to the suit itself. High-quality materials paired with gold thread – who wouldn't look noble in such an expensive outfit? It was evident that the Mo family was indeed wealthy now.
A dinner party, divided into two factions, replayed the scene from Bai Cha's dormitory. One faction was as quiet as if nothing were happening, silently eating their meals, while the other was chattering like a party, talking the whole time without eating much.
Cang Liu and Yun He were naturally quiet. Mo Ziye's side, however, was lively. Meng Qinghuan was also a boisterous person, and with Michael, who loved to join in the fun, they monopolized the conversation throughout the meal.
Bai Cha was somewhat special, as Mo Ziye always liked to involve her in his conversations, forcing Bai Cha to pause and respond from time to time while eating.
"Xiao Bai, you're really amazing, managing to fix things that we can't! Can you take me with you next time?"
Bai Cha: "No."
You're too weak; you'll be a burden.
Bai Cha was too embarrassed to say the latter half.
"Ah? Really? Then does Xiao Bai have to undertake such dangerous missions? Can't they be assigned to others?"
Bai Cha: "No."
You know it's dangerous, and others can't handle it, right?
Bai Cha muttered silently.
"Xiao Bai, you seem so capable, just like the protagonists in TV dramas, doing everything perfectly. Sigh, I envy you so much."
Bai Cha: "…"
Bai Cha put down her cutlery and sighed heavily, finally showing a hint of impatience.
She looked at Mo Ziye somewhat speechlessly and said helplessly, "Eat properly. Don't praise me so highly. The filter you use when you look at me is too strong."
Mo Ziye described her as flawless in every aspect, making even herself unable to listen. Did he know the term "killing with kindness"?
Mo Ziye blinked his eyes and said earnestly, "No, it's not a filter. I really think Bai Cha is amazing. Her combat skills are top-notch, her learning is top-notch, and her reaction abilities, even as a normal person, were superior to Dragon Knights.
I'm already sixteen, and besides some small achievements in research, you've surpassed me by leaps and bounds in everything else. I feel like the protagonists in TV dramas are people as perfect as you. In the future, when I read novels, I'll be able to imagine your face."
Bai Cha: "…"
"Perfect? What's your misunderstanding of perfect?" Bai Cha tapped her teacup lightly with her fingertips, a flicker of displeasure in her eyes. "Mo Ziye, you haven't met my father, have you?"