Chapter 4: Friendship Worth Fifteen Pizzas

With a crashing sound, the aftermath of a single strike left behind the incomplete corpses of Magu and Mashu, just as Ye Xingchen had hoped. The metal sword he gripped shattered inch by inch under the overload of Nightshadow energy, leaving only the hilt in his hand. In truth, he could have preserved the sword, but Mashu’s words had truly infuriated him; thus, he hadn’t bothered with subtle control. If he hadn’t loved his mother deeply, why would he have struggled all these years for her revenge?

With the deaths of the two, a childhood knot in Ye Xingchen’s heart was unraveled. His mind suddenly broadened, and some of the perplexities he had long harbored were resolved. His state of mind broke through to a new realm, and his self-created Nightshadow Star Technique advanced to its seventh level.

“Hm?” Upon reaching this new realm, Ye Xingchen vaguely sensed he was being watched. He quickly looked in the direction of the feeling, but saw only the tranquil forest. “Could I have sensed wrong?” he wondered. Apart from that fleeting moment, there was now no trace of it. Perhaps he was simply too tense lately.

“Xingchen? Is something wrong?” The speaker had shoulder-length emerald hair and captivating golden eyes. Her exquisite features complemented her regal, doll-like face perfectly. Her slender figure and translucent snowy skin radiated a formidable charm.

From behind her emerged a small, pure-white fox, not a single hair out of place. Oddly enough, this adorable creature had nine tails—truly a legendary Celestial Nine-Tailed Fox. With a few leaps, it landed on Nightshadow’s shoulder, affectionately nuzzled her, and gently brushed Ye Xingchen’s face with its soft, plush tail.

“It’s nothing! Perhaps I was mistaken. C.C., Little White, thank you both for everything.” At the appearance of the woman and the fox, a smile bloomed on Ye Xingchen’s face, gentle as a glacier thawing—a smile that came from the heart.

If not for C.C. and Little White’s companionship all this time, Ye Xingchen might have become nothing more than a vengeance-driven avenger, blinded by hatred. With his heart unburdened, Nightshadow was quick to thank them both sincerely.

“Heh, there’s no need for thanks between us! In fact, I should thank you even more.” For C.C., who possessed immortality, life had long been a soulless existence. As a child, her undying nature had caused her to be branded a witch, and she suffered countless wounds because of it.

Amid such hardship, she met a woman who changed her life, and later, someone she was willing to give everything for. The two exchanged a smile, their bond forged through years of danger and survival, making them each willing to die for the other. More often than not, it was C.C. using her immortality to shield Ye Xingchen from attacks, which always left him feeling guilty.

He’d tried to talk to her about it, but C.C. always turned him away with a gentle smile. This only deepened Ye Xingchen’s affection and concern for her. Noticing the tenderness in his gaze, C.C. grew a little flustered, yet warmth blossomed in her heart.

“Now that your goal is accomplished, what do you plan to do?” In the past, Ye Xingchen had focused all his strength on escaping the Demon King’s pursuit, then later on revenge. Now, with his vengeance fulfilled, he couldn’t help but feel lost. What would he do next? C.C. voiced the question that had been lingering in both their hearts.

“Who knows! I really have no idea what to do now. Maybe I’ll just find a peaceful place and live happily with you two. Maybe I’ll even have a few children with you!” Ye Xingchen shook his head, sounding every bit the sage who’d seen through the world, and took the opportunity to tease C.C.

At his words, a blush rose on C.C.’s flawless cheeks.

“Ouch! That hurts!” Before C.C. could reply, Ye Xingchen sucked in a sharp breath. Little White, who had just been quietly perched on his shoulder, suddenly turned and bit his ear with her snowy teeth. He scooped Little White from his shoulder into his arms, smiling wryly. “Little White, I didn’t provoke you, so why bite me?”

“Hmph!” Little White snorted in a distinctly human way, her front paws restlessly scratching at Nightshadow’s chest, behaving much like a child throwing a tantrum.

“This little one must be jealous! You shouldn’t say things like that—Little White is a very sensitive girl,” C.C. said with a knowing smile, though Ye Xingchen hadn’t a clue why Little White was upset.

“Woo woo! Woo woo woo!” At C.C.’s words, Little White’s cute body trembled, and she protested with a series of whimpers, her white fur tinged with a blush, as if truly embarrassed by C.C.’s explanation.

“Huh?” Even as clever as Ye Xingchen was, he couldn’t have imagined this. After so many years together, he cared for Little White almost as deeply as he did for C.C.—she was one of his only two friends. But if C.C. was right, did that mean he should…? He glanced oddly at C.C. and Little White, suspecting the two were keeping something from him.

“Are you two hiding something from me? If you are, I’ll be truly heartbroken!” Ye Xingchen feigned great sorrow, putting on a show of tears.

“Xingchen, this is a secret between girls. Even you can’t know! Right, Little White?” C.C., who seldom refused Ye Xingchen’s requests, winked playfully at Little White.

“Woo woo!” Little White nodded emphatically, her adorable little head bobbing.

“If you really want to know, ask Little White yourself. If she doesn’t want to tell you, there’s nothing I can do,” C.C. suddenly hinted, suggesting what Ye Xingchen should do.

“Little White?” Ye Xingchen’s eyes lit up as he cradled the fox, stroking her silky fur and coaxing, “Come on, tell me. I’ll make you some treats when we get home, how about it?”

Clearly displeased with C.C.’s willingness to hint at Ye Xingchen, Little White shot her a glare, then shook her head vigorously at Ye Xingchen, expressing her unwavering resolve not to betray her secret, not for wealth or force.

“What a pity! Well then, C.C., how about some pizza? If you tell me, I’ll make you pizza when we get home.”

“Even so, Little White is my good friend. I won’t betray her for a mere pizza!” C.C. replied, unmoved.

“Two pizzas!”

“I’m a person who values friendship…”

“Five pizzas!”

“No matter what you say, I can’t…”

“Fifteen pizzas!”

“All right, I’ll tell you!” At first, C.C. kept refusing, but as Ye Xingchen raised the stakes, she finally caved at fifteen pizzas, choosing to betray her friend for the sake of food.

“Woo woo woo woo!” Little White immediately began to struggle violently in Ye Xingchen’s arms. She hadn’t expected C.C.’s so-called loyalty to be worth only fifteen pizzas, and tried desperately to break free and stop C.C. from speaking.

Seeing the tears welling up in Little White’s eyes, Ye Xingchen hurriedly stopped C.C., saying, “Wait, wait! Don’t say it! I’ll wait until Little White wants to tell me herself.”