Self-awareness

“You again?”

Li Luo’s brow furrowed, her face darkening with displeasure.

“I haven’t settled the score from last time, and do you even know what you’re protecting?”

“None of your business!”

Rand shouted back at Li Luo.

“Hmph, obstinate!”

Li Luo wasted no more words.

With Li Yin absent, she would show no mercy.

Anyone who got in her way would be killed.

With a mere thought from Li Luo, the ice spear vanished in a blur, followed by a sharp whistle of air!

With a single thought, she sent it flying, tearing through the air with a high-pitched shriek.

Radiating a terrifying aura, the ice spear hurtled toward Rand.

Even knowing he could do nothing, he still stood his ground without hesitation.

He had no reason, except that he didn’t want to lose her.

Even if they had to leave, he wished they could go together.

In that instant, his mind seemed to freeze time, and everything around him slowed.

Rand recalled many things at that moment.

“Mom! Look, I made you a wreath!”

“You’ll look so beautiful wearing it!”

“Mom! I tried baking cookies this time!”

“Taste them!”

“Mom! How do I look in this new shirt?”

“Mom…”

Memories of his childhood spun before his eyes like a revolving lantern.

She had always accepted everything he did with a smile.

She was the sun, giving him light, illuminating his life.

She was the most beautiful existence in the world.

“If I could be reborn, I’d want to be loved by you again…”

Rand murmured.

The ice spear was now only three meters away, and in the next second, it would pierce through his chest.

But things didn’t go as he expected.

Slap—

A splash of hot black liquid struck Rand’s face.

To his astonishment, the monster swung all its remaining tentacles with its last strength, shielding him.

Though the tentacles couldn’t stop the ice spear, they barely altered its trajectory, making it fly over Rand’s head.

With a loud crash, the tentacles collapsed again, and black liquid gushed from the broken holes, flooding the ground at Rand’s feet.

At that moment, the monster lost its life.

As if moving mechanically, Rand turned his head stiffly and stared in disbelief at the monster’s corpse, pierced by two ice spears and motionless.

“No… no… no, no, no, no…”

He repeated the same word like a madman.

Thud.

Kneeling in the black liquid, Rand’s eyes had lost all their color.

“Aaaah!!!”

His roar was filled with despair and sorrow, drowning out even the torrential rain.

It was impossible to tell whether it was rain or tears streaming down his cheeks.

Meanwhile, atop a hill outside the town, a figure in a black robe gazed in that direction, playing with a blood-red orb in their hand and letting out a cackling laugh.

“Looks like… not bad…”

In the blink of an eye, Li Luo returned to the inn.

Let someone else handle the cleanup.

As for that rude boy, he seemed nearly insane anyway, so she simply ignored him.

Sometimes living was more painful than dying.

He deserved it.

“Yinyin, I’m back!”

Li Luo rushed excitedly to Li Yin, who was sitting on the bed, and burrowed into her arms like a cat seeking affection, rubbing her head against her.

“…”

Why are you always like a child?

You’re a dragon who has lived for over a thousand years.

Act like one!

You’re more like a pet cat…

Despite the internal complaints, Li Yin didn’t refuse.

Instead, she went along with Li Luo’s wishes and stroked her head.

“So, how did it go?”

Li Yin asked softly, lowering her head.

“I handled it easily! Compliment me~”

“Yes, yes, Luoluo is the best.”

Good like an idiot, Li Yin thought.

But Li Luo, unaware of her true thoughts, giggled foolishly.

Immersed in their own world, they completely forgot there was another person in the room.

Watching the affectionate pair, Ai Li couldn’t bear to interrupt.

From their earlier conversation, the monster had already been eliminated.

So she quietly retreated outside the room and continued observing through the crack in the door.

“The sisters really are a couple.”

“So sweet.”

“When will I get to be like that…”

Ai Li muttered.

The next day.

“Sisters Li Yin, Li Luo, you’ve become famous in town!”

Ai Li burst into their room early in the morning.

Even though she had been woken up, drowsiness still dominated her mind.

Li Yin slowly sat up, her eyes blank.

Huh?

Who’s calling me?

Rubbing her eyes, her vision gradually cleared, and Li Yin noticed Ai Li by the bed.

“Eh… it’s Ai Li.”

“What did you say?”

Li Yin’s voice was still groggy, as if she had caught Li Luo’s lazy bug and didn’t want to wake up early anymore.

“Sister Li Yin, word spread about you defeating the sea monster yesterday.”

“You’re famous now!”

“Huh?”

Li Yin was dumbfounded after hearing that.

Wait, what?

I’m famous after just one sleep?

Which little darling with a screw loose spread this?

“Hmm?”

“Sister Li Yin, you don’t seem happy?”

Ai Li asked, puzzled.

Ah… of course not!

I just want to live quietly until the egg hatches!

Being famous will only draw more attention!

I’ve already had too much trouble lately.

I almost think I’m a jinx!

“No, of course not.”

“I’m definitely happy to be famous, ahaha…”

Despite her deep reluctance, she couldn’t say it out loud.

“Hmm, I feel like sister Li Yin is acting weird.”

Ai Li put her hands on her hips, tilted her head, puffed out her cheeks, and frowned slightly, as if trying to see through Li Yin.

“Oh, breakfast is ready.”

“Wake up sister Li Luo and eat together,” Ai Li said before leaving.

“Ha—”

Li Yin sighed as the person left, then turned her gaze to the bed, where something was curled up under the covers.

She lifted the blanket to reveal a white-haired sloth.

“Heehee~ Yinyin~ Just give in to me~”

Muttering in her sleep, the sloth stuck out its tongue and licked Li Yin’s thigh.

“…”

Li Yin’s face darkened instantly.

A large vein popped on her forehead, and the air around them seemed to freeze.

She reached out with an iron hand and directly grabbed the sloth’s cheek.

“Ahh! It hurts!!”

Li Luo, who had been dreaming sweetly just a second ago, instantly woke up.

“Where’s my Yinyin?”

“Where’s my big, beautiful Yinyin?”

Li Luo frantically groped the blanket in front of her, almost in tears.

Seeing her like that, Li Yin was both annoyed and amused.

Thump—

She punched Li Luo on the head.

“Stop pretending!”

“Get up and eat.”

“I’m going downstairs first.”

Seeming to lose patience, Li Yin got out of bed, put on her shoes, hoisted her basket on her back, and walked out.

“Hey?”

“I was wrong!”

“I won’t pretend anymore!”

“Yinyin, don’t walk so fast!”

“Wait for me!”

Li Luo hurriedly got out of bed and chased after her.

If I had known it would make Yinyin angry, I wouldn’t have acted up…

Li Luo, you’re a pig!