Chapter Twelve: You Have Disappointed Me Deeply (Please Favorite and Keep Reading)

“Xiao Yan, you’re far too kind, still defending her even now,” Dai Yeliu scolded Bai Nanyan with a mixture of frustration and disappointment.

“Stop it,” Bai Nanyan tugged at Dai Yeliu’s sleeve, her eyes pleading.

“No way,” Dai Yeliu insisted, growing more convinced that Bai Nanyan was the one being wronged.

She pushed Bai Nanyan aside and turned to Gu Sihui with a firm command, “You’re not leaving until you apologize to Xiao Yan.”

Gu Sihui looked utterly baffled.

“Are you out of your mind?” Gu Sihui shrugged off Dai Yeliu’s hand, anger flaring. “I thought you were reasonable, but it turns out you’re just as sick as the rest! Remember, I was the first to lend you a hand just now!”

“Yes, I’m grateful you didn’t abandon me in the crisis,” Dai Yeliu admitted candidly, then shifted her tone. “But that doesn’t erase the fact that you deliberately tried to attack Xiao Yan, does it?”

“When did I ever lay a hand on her?” Gu Sihui’s eyes reddened with anger and hurt. “I was scared too; my reaching out was an instinctive cry for help, alright?”

“So you’re saying Xiao Yan was looking for trouble herself? That she threw herself into the beast’s jaws to frame you?” Dai Yeliu sneered harshly. “Only an idiot would do something like that. Xiao Yan is no fool—there’s no way she’d do such a thing!”

Bai Nanyan: …

Though defended, she didn’t feel happy—how strange.

What irritated Bai Nanyan further was Gu Sihui’s immediate retort without hesitation—

“She’s the fool, can’t you see that?”

—

“Before I intervened, the beast was already dead.”

Zhu Mosheng’s voice cut through the bickering.

Dai Yeliu glanced sideways. Zhu Mosheng was half-kneeling, one hand resting on the severed head of the beast, seemingly examining it.

Gu Sihui shuddered. “Already dead?”

She suddenly felt like a schoolchild caught in the act after tattling, buoyed by newfound evidence. Excited, she declared, “Did you hear that? She framed me on purpose! Otherwise, why would the beast die precisely when she showed up?”

A flicker of doubt crossed Dai Yeliu’s eyes as she looked suspiciously at Bai Nanyan.

“I absolutely never did that!” Bai Nanyan replied instantly, her surprise genuine.

Dai Yeliu found herself perplexed. “So… who’s telling the truth here?”

—

By then, Zhu Mosheng had finished examining the beast’s body. Standing up, his cold gaze swept over Gu Sihui and Bai Nanyan.

“Before I took action, someone shattered its mental space with psychic power. The beast was already dead then.”

His tone was calm but made Bai Nanyan’s face pale bit by bit.

—

Since the Purple Mist descended a century ago, its toxins have regressed beastmen into soulless creatures driven only by slaughter.

Countless sacrifices were made to protect the few remaining living beings.

Eventually, it was discovered that female psychic power was the most effective defense against the mist.

This rarity and value explain why females are so precious.

For males to enhance their abilities, they must enter the mist and hunt beasts to harvest the crystal cores from their brains.

To remain unaffected within the mist, a female’s psychic power serves as an anchor.

To protect females, Yuta binds a terminal system onto the left wrist of each female; the stronger the psychic power, the more vibrant the terminal’s color.

Females with stronger psychic power attract more suitors among the male beastmen.

At this moment, the exquisite bracelet on Bai Nanyan’s wrist glowed with a vivid purple-blue hue.

Gu Sihui’s bracelet, however, was a dull black-gray.

Bai Nanyan’s psychic power was evidently stronger than Gu Sihui’s.

—

Dai Yeliu looked at Bai Nanyan with disappointment. “Xiao Yan, you…”

“No, it’s not like that.” Bai Nanyan grew anxious. Having tasted the bitter feeling of being falsely accused and unable to defend herself, she instinctively grasped Dai Yeliu’s hand and pleaded, “It wasn’t me, truly. I never did such a thing!”

“That’s enough. The facts are right before my eyes; I’m not blind!” Dai Yeliu pulled her hand free and strode decisively toward Gu Sihui. “Sorry, I misjudged you earlier. My concern clouded my judgment.”

“Hmph, apologies don’t mean anything. If they did, why have police?” Gu Sihui sneered sarcastically. “The damage is done. Some people think just mouthing words obligates others to forgive.”

Gu Sihui expected Dai Yeliu to be angry, but to her surprise, Dai Yeliu silently produced a small bottle of pale purple serum from her pocket.

“This is a psychic aid serum; it enhances psychic power,” Dai Yeliu explained, handing it over. “My master prepared it for my advancement. Now, I’m giving it to you… as an apology.”

Gu Sihui, stunned by such sincerity, hesitated briefly before her heart softened, and she accepted it with both hands.

—

“Well, well, well, seeing your sincerity, I forgive you,” Gu Sihui said with a pleased smile, holding the serum without a trace of grudging.

Dai Yeliu sighed in relief but when she turned back to Bai Nanyan, her gaze turned cold again. “Xiao Yan, you’ve really disappointed me.”

At the same time, a cold voice echoed in Bai Nanyan’s mind from the system: [Detected affection level for target Dai Yeliu is dropping. Please take immediate remedial action or face a three-day minor penalty.]

Bai Nanyan paused, annoyed: [If it weren’t for you killing the beast, why would she treat me like this? Are you punishing me for your mistake?]

[The system can only assist in completing tasks and cannot directly interfere with the world’s events.] it replied. [Please reflect on yourself instead of blaming the system without cause.]

Bai Nanyan: …

[Not you? Then who?] Her suspicious gaze fell on Gu Sihui, but noticing her dull bracelet, she quickly withdrew her eyes—there was no way it was this useless one.

[Unknown to the system, but Dai Yeliu’s current affection level toward you is below 20. Please remedy immediately.] the system advised.

[...How am I supposed to fix this?] Bai Nanyan asked irritably. [What’s the punishment?]

[Acne outbreak for three days.] the system responded.

Bai Nanyan: …!!!

—

For the sake of her appearance, just as Bai Nanyan was about to try to win Dai Yeliu back, the end time for the level-five exam arrived, and the teachers monitoring outside began entering one by one.

Dai Yeliu immediately spotted Cui Wenmin at the front.

“Master…”

Having pretended to be strong all along, Dai Yeliu’s suppressed fear of near death finally surged forth, her eyes reddening as she called out plaintively.

Cui Wenmin looked at her, relieved to see her unharmed and moving. She shook her head silently, signaling her to compose herself quickly.

Behind Cui Wenmin stood a young man dressed in elegant robes who showed no such restraint, casually strolling over to the alchemy tables of Dai Yeliu and Gu Sihui, his sharp gaze landing on Gu Sihui.

“I heard you made a bet with my uncle?” he said with a sly smile.