Chapter 10: Let’s Go Buy Clothes

While Lingling Lan was happily devouring her ice cream, Xinghui made an excuse about wanting to get some fresh air and slipped out of the café.
She wandered aimlessly until she found herself in an empty alley nearby.

The place was deserted. At this distance, Lingling Lan definitely wouldn’t notice.
Xinghui pulled out her iPhone 28 Pro, tapped the screen lightly, and a huge holographic display appeared before her.

Before long, a call request appeared on the screen, labeled “Captain.”

“Miss Verena, I’m supposed to be on vacation here. What’s so urgent?”

The tall young woman who appeared under the contact name “Captain” was nothing short of stunning.
Her long, silky pink hair was combed perfectly straight, her eyes as deep as ocean blue holes, her ivory-pale face both lovely and dignified, and her figure flawless.
Even the delicate flutter of her lashes and her crescent-shaped brows added to her perfection.

Her real name was Verena Seraphim—the very “Captain” Lingling Lan often mentioned with awe.
Once a fellow Hero of the Era alongside Lingling Lan, she had since retired and taken a post as an instructor for new recruits in the Ranger Association.

“I’m just checking in on you, little Xinghui. How are things going with Miss Lingling Lan? You’ve recovered, right?”

“Of course I’m fine. As for Lingling Lan… she’s just like an ordinary girl. Honestly, I’m starting to doubt she’s even different from us.”

Xinghui remembered every void creature she’d slain, both in her past life and this one.
Whether humanoid or nothing more than a writhing mass of tentacles, they all shared one trait: utterly inhuman.
Cruel. Bloodthirsty. Pure evil.

“That kid doesn’t have a bad heart. It’s you I worry about—you’ve caused me plenty of trouble,” Verena scolded.
“I had to block your promotion.”

“What? Why?!”

Promotion meant a raise. A step closer to Sword Immortal. More money too.
This wasn’t fair! Captain, you old—(censored).

“You keep stirring up trouble—even stormed a courthouse. Those old geezers might be senile, but I’m not.
With your attitude, who knows what kind of disaster you’d cause if you climbed higher.
Just take the bonus and be happy.”

At the Association, Xinghui’s current position was “Independent Swordmaster.”
It meant no unit assignments, freedom to act alone. Sure, the pay wasn’t great, but it kept her fed.
Most days, she just stayed home and played games.

Verena’s meaning was clear: Xinghui still had issues, and this cushy idle post was best for her.

But Xinghui didn’t see it that way.
She was destined to become a Sword Immortal one day!
If she just sat around doing nothing, how would she ever get there?

“Anyway, your promotion’s on hold. I’ll reconsider based on your performance.
Oh, and one more thing about Lingling Lan. I’ll say it outright—she’s still an Outer God’s dependent. You know that, don’t you?”

“I know.”

“Then you know what must be done if something happens.” Verena’s tone grew grave.

“……”

“I trust you, and I trust her. But still—we need contingency plans. Our duty is to all humanity.”

“I’ll remember. But… I really don’t think she’ll betray us.” Xinghui couldn’t bring herself to promise otherwise.

“Lingling Lan isn’t one of us anymore, no matter what she once was. If she ever threatens humanity, I believe you’ll do what must be done.”

“…Got it. Enough heavy talk.”

“Good. Go enjoy yourself.”

The call ended.
Xinghui sighed and trudged back toward the café.
Just the thought of one day standing against Lingling Lan as enemies made her chest feel heavy.

No—Sword Immortals must learn to cut off emotion. Against an enemy, there can be no hesitation!

And yet…

All she could do was pray that day never came.

Meanwhile.

“Xingling-sis, nooo~”

“Be good. Let big sis take a closer look at these kitty ears. So cute, I just wanna squish them~”

The sight that greeted Xinghui on her return nearly made her drop her sword.
Lingling Lan sat in the same chair as Wilf, grinning like a perverted fangirl while tugging at the little girl’s sky-blue cat ears.

Wilf was slumped half over the table, face pale and expression shattered, clearly terrified.

“Save me, Xinghui-senpai…”

“What are you doing, Xingling?! Little Fu’s not actually a catgirl!”

“Huh? But they look so soft… Eh, eh?!”

Lingling Lan accidentally yanked one ear clean off.
Panicked, she almost started first aid before realizing there was no blood.

“Oh, so they’re fake clips. I thought I’d found a real catgirl.”
Disappointed, she scooped Wilf into her arms and plopped her onto her lap.

“But a little blue-haired cutie like this is still adorable! From now on, call me Sister Ling, okay? None of that ‘Xingling-sis’ stuff Xinghui came up with—it sounds so tacky.”

“Can you be serious for once?! And what’s wrong with ‘Xingling-sis’? I’m a naming genius—don’t underestimate me.”

“It’s tacky. Makes me sound like some dumb country bumpkin.”

Lingling Lan chuckled, remembering how Xinghui had once named a houseplant “Emerald Blossom.”

“If there’s another you in a parallel universe, I bet she’d love that name.”

After a round of bickering that was more childish than serious, the three finally decided on their next move: clothes shopping.

Actually, it was Lingling Lan’s idea. She insisted on buying Xinghui a new outfit.
Hmph—after all the advantages Xinghui had taken before, it was time for Lingling Lan to strike back.

She wasn’t fond of dressing herself up like a mannequin, but when it came to styling others, she was a natural.
Back when she’d been a healer hero, she’d picked up plenty of fashion tips from the “Rose Swordswoman.”
That was why she didn’t need Xinghui’s help now.

“Fine, let’s go. A true Sword Immortal never fears a challenge! I’ll see what kind of tricks you’ve got.”

Xinghui agreed without hesitation.

“Um… I think I’ll skip this one…” Wilf mumbled timidly.
But both Xinghui and Lingling Lan turned to her in unison.

“Of course we’re all going together! A cute girl like Little Fu needs to be dressed up even more!”

“Eep!”

And so, the two older girls each grabbed one of her soft little hands and dragged her toward the shop.