It was eight in the morning, and the sun had already risen high in the sky. Bai Cha lay in bed with her eyes open, staring quietly at the ceiling. She still hadn't quite adjusted to the sudden holiday.
"Knock, knock, knock." A gentle knock at the door.
"Good morning, my Master." Lucifer gently pushed the door open and walked in, drawing back the curtains of the floor-to-ceiling window.
The floor-to-ceiling window on the second floor was large. The bright light outside, along with the flowers in the maze-like, neatly arranged flowerbeds, illuminated the entire bedroom.
Bai Cha lay in bed, her brain frozen for a full three seconds before she slowly sat up.
Oh, right. She wasn't alone at home anymore. The feeling was strange, unfamiliar, but not unpleasant.
"It seems you still need some time to adjust, my Master." Lucifer walked over and handed Bai Cha the glass of water he was holding. "The water temperature is exactly thirty degrees. It's best not to drink cold water right after waking up to avoid irritating your gastrointestinal tract."
"Uh... thank you." Bai Cha blinked, taking the glass of water somewhat awkwardly.
The water temperature was just right, neither cold nor hot, feeling almost unreal, like a dream. She usually preferred cold water, or even ice water; the intense stimulation would both wake her up and remind her that she was alive.
"This is my duty, Master. There's no need to thank me." Lucifer smiled faintly. While Bai Cha was drinking, he had already fetched the clothes and shoes Bai Cha usually wore and laid them out by the bed. He stood quietly nearby, waiting. Despite being a butler for the first day, he performed all his actions with fluid grace, indicating he had done his homework the previous night.
"General Gong has shared his mailbox with me. If there's anything important, you can just give me instructions." Lucifer watched Bai Cha finish the water and take the glass, then bowed slightly with a smile. "Young Master Mo is expected to visit at nine o'clock today, so you might need to get ready in advance. It's currently seven thirty-two. Your toiletries have been prepared in the bathroom. Once you've finished, you can come to the dining room. I've prepared breakfast for you."
Handing her water and clothes was one thing, but why were her toiletries and breakfast already laid out? If she were a man, would he have helped her dress?
Bai Cha felt a pang of embarrassment. She thought Lucifer was a real "cripple-maker," and besides, it was one thing for Lucifer to be like this, but why was Gong Yuechen so matter-of-fact about it too?
"You... have quite good adaptability." Bai Cha sighed. She felt like she was the only one who wasn't used to being taken care of.
"Master, you don't need to worry about becoming complacent. I believe that with your learning and adaptation abilities, there's no need to worry about such things." As if sensing Bai Cha's concern, Lucifer smiled gently. He walked in front of Bai Cha, placed his hand on his chest, and knelt on one knee, his voice softening to a near-reverent tone. "Once resonance occurs, a dragon will never leave its Master. When you and I resonated, we established a contract.
I will never leave you, my Master. Everyone else will leave, but I will always be behind you. I am entirely obedient to you."
Indeed, this was the truth. Even if a Master passed away, there were no instances of dragons resonating with anyone else. They would only grow old, die alone, and then fall into reincarnation, returning to a fetal state.
"So you will never disobey my orders, is that right?" Bai Cha murmured, as if making a decision. Bai Cha's gaze became firm.
"Yes, my Master, I am your most loyal pawn." Lucifer took Bai Cha's right hand and gently kissed the back of it. "Until you fall."
After all, their contract stipulated that he, Lucifer, would serve Bai Cha as his Master, and upon Bai Cha's fall, he would take her soul. In return, he would do everything for his food.
"Then, Lucifer, I command you: everyone else can betray and leave, but you, never." Bai Cha's voice was indifferent yet firm. "My second command is, after I die, you are to take my place and continue to fulfill my duties."
Duties? To protect this country?
Lucifer clearly hadn't expected Bai Cha to issue such a command, but he quickly recovered and bowed his head to respond, "Yes, my Master."
Breakfast was sumptuous, a nutritious meal composed of optimally balanced foods. Not only did it taste excellent, but its presentation was also extremely beautiful, leaving no room for criticism.
However, during breakfast, Lucifer stopped Bai Cha's habit of gobbling down her food in just a few bites, insisting that Bai Cha eat slowly when she was idle, stating it was to prevent damage to her digestive system.
Bai Cha felt a little embarrassed. She felt like her dragon was a bit like someone else's fussy mother, no, more like a full-time, live-in nanny.
Sighing softly, Bai Cha tidied herself up and went to the reception room. Mo Ziye and Michael had already been invited in by Lucifer. As soon as Bai Cha entered, she saw Mo Ziye sprawled on the sofa, looking bored and almost asleep, with Michael slumped on the back of the sofa.
Children, after all. She remembered Mo Ziye was only sixteen this year.
As she thought this, Mo Ziye saw Bai Cha enter and immediately became excited. He quickly got up from the sofa and looked at Bai Cha.
The fireplace in the room was still burning, and the warm yellow light softened Bai Cha's frosty expression, making her appear incredibly gentle. Mo Ziye froze in place as soon as he stood up.
"So beautiful." Mo Ziye's voice was soft, a stunned exclamation.
Bai Cha: "..."
Lucifer: "?"
"Cough, cough." Michael tugged at Mo Ziye's sleeve and, looking at the awkward atmosphere that was almost unbearable, reminded Mo Ziye in his ear, "Buddy, we're here as guests. Stay calm."
"Ah, cough, cough! Sorry, sorry! Miss Bai, good, good morning!" Mo Ziye snapped back to his senses, his face blushing furiously, and he quickly bowed in greeting.
Bai Cha sighed softly and sat opposite Mo Ziye. Lucifer thoughtfully poured Bai Cha a cup of tea and then stood behind her, looking every bit the diligent butler.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Our resonances are all normal friendly relationships. How has our Lord Lucifer now stooped to being someone's servant?" Michael couldn't help but tease as he looked at Lucifer's humble and gentle demeanor, his eyelids twitching.
Michael knew how proud Lucifer was. Who would have thought that the Lucifer who fought one against three and refused to yield to death would now be working as a servant on Earth?
"Not a servant, but a butler," Lucifer corrected gently. "It is my honor to share the Master's worries."
Michael: "..."
Michael felt Lucifer's pretense was giving him eye pain. Was it really necessary for a meal? He almost believed his nonsense.
"Alright, back to business. Why are you really here?" Bai Cha raised her right hand to stop the impending argument, picked up the cup of black tea in front of her, and took a gentle sip. "It's not just because you simply want to go to school with me, is it?"
"Uh, that is one of the reasons, yes." Mo Ziye scratched his head somewhat awkwardly. "Actually, there are two other things. You know, our Jun Yao has a two-year program for first-year students, one year per semester. Normally, after resonance, there's a one-year adjustment period before attending school. But I saw the notice that you'll directly be a transfer student for the second semester of the first year.
And every semester opening, there's an assessment. I want to team up with you."
"The mid-term assessment? You mean the Carnival?" Bai Cha frowned. "I recall the mid-term assessment isn't a solo event where rankings are directly generated? Where does the idea of teaming up come from?"
The mid-term assessment was euphemistically called the "Jun Yao Carnival" by Jun Yao. In reality, it was a free-for-all battle held on a super large map with a chaotic combination of terrains. The students who lasted until the end were assessed based on the number of enemies they defeated and the ten special instructors.
Generally, the stronger the participant, the higher the ranking, and the easier it was to score. The greater the strength difference, the further up the ranks. The most difficult part was from the mid-tier downwards, where the subtle differences in strength often left the special instructors in a frenzy.
"Cooperation is possible," Mo Ziye said, taking out a stack of materials. He was well-prepared. "The Carnival only allows the host to fight. You can act alone or in teams. In the end, it's a fair competition, leading to higher scores. But we can join forces first and then have a fair one-on-one battle later."
"Because the Carnival is a free-for-all, everyone is an enemy. And the higher the score, the better the resources. Jun Yao advocates for the privileges of the strong, which is why I came to find you," Mo Ziye analyzed seriously with Bai Cha. "Although the first semester of the first year is just the basics, it involves the fundamental use of Dragon Power. But Little Bai hasn't learned anything and will be at a disadvantage.
Furthermore, the Carnival only allows severe injuries, not kills. Firearms are not allowed, and the more powerful the dragon, the harder it is to control its strength. But the Carnival is in five days."
He kept calling her "Little Bai," quite familiarly. Bai Cha raised an eyebrow and remained silent.
Mo Ziye was right. Her control over Dragon Power was indeed awkward and unfamiliar. At least for now, she preferred using technology and her existing abilities.
But, so what? Her blood was her strength. Although that Blood Fiend power had heavenly aspects, it was no less powerful than Dragon Power.
"Tell me about the other thing," Bai Cha smiled, looking absentminded as she drank her tea.
"Ah? Wait, you haven't agreed to it yet." Michael was taken aback. He felt Mo Ziye's points were valid, so why was this young girl still so unyielding? Thinking of this, Michael added, "In the first semester of the first year, everyone has learned basic skills: acceleration, aura control, Dragon Calamity control, including the materialization of Dragon Power weapons. You haven't learned any of them."
"Hmm, Gong Yuechen told me the general situation a couple of days ago." Bai Cha smiled nonchalantly. "First-year freshmen who don't team up with their dragons have an average level lower than C-class evil dragons. But I can defeat A-class evil dragons by myself, so what threat do those people pose to me? Why should I cooperate with you?"
Michael was speechless. He had initially held a peculiar attitude towards Lucifer's choice, but now it seemed that like master, like dragon. These two were truly one more arrogant than the other. httpδ:/m.kuAisugg.nět
Looking at Bai Cha's disdainful glance just now, Michael suddenly felt his teeth itch.
"But..." Mo Ziye was about to say something when Bai Cha raised her hand to stop him.
"It's your first time negotiating cooperation, so I can teach you how," Bai Cha said with a light smile, gently placing the white porcelain cup with golden threads on the tray. She leaned back on the sofa, her stunningly beautiful face appearing even more captivating with her proud smile, possessing a soul-stirring power.
"I'll only teach you once," Bai Cha said, leaning back on the sofa and curling her lips. "When you negotiate cooperation with others, first, you need to have enough chips to impress them, not just state the pros and cons to the other party. Second, you need to know their weaknesses and needs, understand?
I naturally know that firearms are not allowed, but that's a minor issue. I don't rely on it, so there's no need for us to join forces."
"No, that's not it. Each student has a different ranking and points assigned in the first semester. The more points accumulated, the easier it is to stand out. The stronger the individual, the higher the points, which can even lead to being attacked by everyone!" Mo Ziye said anxiously, handing Bai Cha a stack of documents. "But, you're a freshman, yet you have the highest points!"