Chapter 21: The Price of Power and Disobedience

The ground-shaking impact of Bai Li’s attack resonated far beyond the construction site, causing unsuspecting onlookers to mistake the tremors for an earthquake.

Such a display of power clearly surpassed the capabilities of an E-rank ability user; at the very least, a D-rank was required to unleash such force.

Naturally, the recoil from such a devastating strike proved immensely powerful, causing the shovel clutched in Bai Li’s hand to snap into several pieces under the strain of an unbearable force. Indeed, it was remarkable that the tool had endured as long as it did, breaking only then.

‘It seems I’ll have to address my choice of weapon first, won’t I?’

Casting the now-useless shovel aside, Bai Li’s thoughts turned to the critical matter of weaponry.

The recent skirmish had unequivocally demonstrated that virtually no weapon could endure the sheer magnitude of her strength. Upon closer inspection, the metal handle of the shattered shovel revealed severe deformation where she had gripped it, a testament not to the force of impact, but solely to the crushing power of her hold.

While she possessed the ability to conjure weapons with magic, much like Lin Xi, her innate magical aptitude simply wasn’t as profound. The vast discrepancy between her magical talent and her raw physical strength meant that any weapon she might forge would inevitably succumb to her destructive power almost immediately.

Consequently, she had always striven to restrain her power, often resorting to direct fisticuffs and kicks, given that her own body, in many respects, surpassed the durability of most conventional weapons.

Regarding the technique she’d adopted, which mimicked that of Branch Chief Yu Menghua, Bai Li found it remarkably effective. It not only enabled her to unleash considerable power with minimal effort but also provided a convenient explanation for her formidable abilities.

“Bai Li!”

Just as Bai Li was midway through her contemplation, Lin Xi suddenly launched herself at her, clinging to her like a koala embracing a tree trunk.

“Bai Li, you’re so powerful!”

Lin Xi exclaimed, then began rubbing her cheek against Bai Li’s.

The sudden, close proximity of Lin Xi’s face utterly derailed Bai Li’s train of thought, pushing her to the brink of losing consciousness. Yet, with a surge of willpower, she managed to steel herself and remain lucid.

“That anomalous beast (TL Note: A mythical beast or creature with extraordinary powers, often translated as ‘supernatural beast’ or ‘anomalous beast’ in web novels.) must be thoroughly dead now, right?”

“Hmm? It should be… right?”

Prompted by Bai Li’s question, Lin Xi recalled the necessity of thoroughly verifying the anomalous beast’s condition this time. She immediately channeled her magic, elevating her perceptive abilities to their absolute peak.

The subsequent scan revealed that the surrounding concrete had entirely lost its anomalous activity, a definitive sign of the ability’s influence having dissipated. Furthermore, the original body of the anomalous beast, which Bai Li had pulverized into a fine dust, registered no discernible life signs.

“Yes, it’s as dead as can be, unless that anomalous beast has somehow spontaneously acquired a C-rank stealth ability.”

With Lin Xi’s heightened perceptive capabilities, even a stealth ability of an equivalent rank would betray a faint trace to her senses; to completely obliterate all evidence would demand at least a low C-rank ability. However, C-rank abilities were hardly commonplace. If the anomalous beast had indeed been C-rank, then Branch Chief Yu Menghua herself would have been required to make an appearance.

“Is that right? So, where exactly is the support you mentioned earlier?”

“Uh… it appears they’re still en route.”

“…”

Upon realizing that the patrolling Weichangzhe (TL Note: Members of the Weichangzhe Organization.) had still not arrived even after several minutes, Bai Li couldn’t help but ponder, ‘Have they been indulging in too much idleness and shirking their duties, truly degenerating into mere cannon fodder?’

“…You two…”

Suddenly, another voice, one that struck both women as faintly familiar, resonated from a short distance away.

Turning their heads, they beheld a young woman with light blue hair, her teeth gritted and her features contorted into a mask of apparent fury as she glared at them.

“Ah, you’re…”

Upon seeing the girl, Lin Xi appeared to suddenly recall the presence of a third individual at the scene.

“My apologies, I was so preoccupied with Bai Li and handling the anomalous beast that I completely forgot you were still here.”

Lin Xi offered an apologetic expression, conveying her sense of helplessness.

Of course, whether she had genuinely overlooked the other girl due to her engagement with the anomalous beast remained to be verified. After all, she typically had to consider the safety of other civilians even amidst battle, making it highly probable that her oversight was entirely intentional.

Indeed, it was more likely that she had acted intentionally, for…

“By the way, Bai Li, that technique you just employed—it was Branch Chief Yu Menghua’s move, wasn’t it? Though it felt subtly different.”

Without bothering to acknowledge Tian Yuxin any further, Lin Xi simply continued her conversation with Bai Li, drifting onto other topics.

This seemingly innocent, almost ‘natural black’ (TL Note: A Chinese slang term, ‘tianran hei,’ referring to someone who appears innocent but is actually cunning or manipulative.) behavior from Lin Xi caused a flicker of surprise in Bai Li. However, the mental filter she applied to Lin Xi was exceptionally thick, leading her to immediately rationalize the situation: perhaps Tian Yuxin hadn’t fled immediately, choosing instead to merely observe without offering assistance, or any number of other self-concocted reasons.

The full truth remained elusive, yet it was highly probable that even if Bai Li were to discover the unvarnished facts, she would remain utterly unfazed; at most, she would experience a momentary shock before her affection for Lin Xi deepened further.

“Yes, I certainly drew inspiration from it,” Bai Li confirmed. “However, given our fundamental differences in various aspects, and my use of a shovel—an implement far removed from a sword—I had to implement some slight modifications.”

“Just as I thought! Ever since we were younger, Bai Li has always been able to grasp the essence of most things with a single glance, and it appears her abilities are no exception.”

“You two…”

Witnessing the pair once again disregard her presence so readily, Tian Yuxin found herself consumed by a surge of extreme fury.

“Stop ignoring me! Look at me!”

Tian Yuxin’s outburst sounded akin to the whimper of a defeated cur.

“What difference does it make if we don’t look at you?” Bai Li retorted, her voice cutting. “You shouldn’t have been here in the first place. While I am still an intern myself, the employee handbook explicitly states that Weichangzhe (TL Note: Members of the Weichangzhe Organization.) personnel are strictly forbidden from leaving their posts without explicit authorization, save for extraordinary circumstances.”

This time, it was not Lin Xi who engaged Tian Yuxin in conversation, but Bai Li.

To Bai Li’s knowledge, while the Weichangzhe (TL Note: Members of the Weichangzhe Organization.) might not adhere to a rigid, unyielding discipline of absolute obedience, certain rules and directives were nonetheless expected to be followed. Tian Yuxin’s current presence at this location was a direct consequence of her unauthorized abandonment of her assigned post.

Even an intern… no, precisely *because* she was an intern, such an egregious act of defiance—disregarding her instructor’s directives and acting unilaterally—would inevitably result in a severe reprimand.

“It is solely thanks to our timely arrival that severe consequences were averted, and you yourself were spared from harm,” Bai Li continued, her gaze unwavering. “Yet, despite this, you now turn your dissatisfaction upon us?”

“Ugh…”

“Indeed, it is you who are currently in a precarious position, isn’t it? Should your instructor arrive here, how precisely do you intend to explain your presence?”

Bai Li effectively turned the tables, directing the full weight of her scrutiny onto Tian Yuxin. The latter, acutely aware of her precarious predicament, began to frantically consider fleeing the scene and concealing any evidence of her unauthorized presence.

It was crucial to remember that she, too, was currently an intern, and every action undertaken by an intern directly influenced their evaluations and, ultimately, their prospects for full-time employment. Her audacious act of venturing alone to seek out an anomalous beast would undoubtedly leave an exceptionally poor impression, carrying profoundly significant repercussions.

However, it was already far too late. The support Lin Xi had spoken of prioritized locating the nearest Weichangzhe (TL Note: Members of the Weichangzhe Organization.) personnel, and without a doubt, the individual closest to this location was none other than Tian Yuxin’s own Weichangzhe (TL Note: Members of the Weichangzhe Organization.) instructor, whom she had abandoned.

Just then, a Weichangzhe (TL Note: Members of the Weichangzhe Organization.) agent descended nearby, their gaze immediately locking onto Tian Yuxin, who had just begun to make her desperate dash for escape.

“You… why are you here?”

“I don’t wish to be here either.”