The dark underside of the world, a realm belonging to magical girls and demons, remained as chaotic as ever today.Greedy Wolf Squad’s Vic, codenamed Ju Yu, was diligently maintaining the massive anti-materiel sniper rifle clutched in her hands.Just as she prepared to retreat to her room for a much-needed rest, a petite figure suddenly burst forth, nearly colliding with her.
However, with an agile movement, Vic deftly evaded the collision.She then smoothly sidestepped and embraced the smaller figure, preventing them from tumbling to the ground.
“Shasha, it’s quite late already… What has you in such a rush?”
She inquired patiently, devoid of any hint of anger.Shasha, or rather, the girl codenamed Witch from the Greedy Wolf Squad, flushed slightly, both from the sudden embrace and her recent sprint.Upon hearing Vic’s voice, she came to her senses, pulling out something resembling an invitation from her pocket.
“This afternoon, while I was walking and pondering what to eat, I suddenly encountered a demon.”
“Judging by your demeanor, did you lose the fight and flee? It seems you still require more training…”
A look of disdain crossed Vic’s face, yet her eyes meticulously scanned Shasha for any injuries, her hand already instinctively reaching towards her rifle.
“Uh… no, Vic, don’t be angry.He didn’t harm me; instead, he gave me this, an invitation from Lord Demon King to attend his wedding.”
“Oh? The Demon King? The leader of that flock of sheep huddling together for warmth?Isn’t this like a chicken asking a weasel to pay it a New Year’s visit?”
She scoffed, yet her expression betrayed none of the casualness her words implied.While magical girls were indeed the bane of demons, and their team was considered one of Huaxia’s strongest wild magical girl squads, having annihilated countless demon groups and individuals, they had also heard much about the Dawn Star Palace during their exploits.
This organization had emerged remarkably early, led by a high-risk demon now known as the Demon Lord or Demon King.According to the few witnesses who had encountered him, his demonic power was unfathomable, and he possessed a strange ability to achieve speeds beyond comprehension, akin to teleportation.Furthermore, he always seemed to have his defenses prepared even before an attack was launched.
According to some veteran magical girls, before the advent of this organization, demons, whether intelligent or not, were merely prey for magical girls.Now, however, any unprovoked attack on a demon affiliated with the Dawn Star Palace could provoke a coordinated and even institutionalized retaliation.
“I find it strange too.We even attacked one of their strongholds before… oh, that was the time we ran into those rookies.”
The girl codenamed Prison Guard also emerged, apparently having been out with Shasha, though moving at a slower pace.
“And look… don’t you find the bride somewhat familiar?”
Vic gazed at the photograph, pausing for a moment before a smile of intrigued amusement curved her lips.
That face was indeed far too familiar.During their tense confrontation with that group of novices, it had been this very girl, with her striking half-black, half-white hair, who had, at some unknown moment, circled behind her.Despite the opponent clearly being only a Level One, Vic had felt inexplicably suppressed in close combat, and it was only after she unleashed a full-powered blast that the novices swiftly retreated.
“Oh, now things are getting interesting.”
****
At the Night Watchmen’s base, a frigid white light enveloped the corridor.
Xiyin, Bai Jin, Bai Zhi, and Ling Ru had just concluded a lengthy tactical meeting, their faces etched with a touch of weariness.
“Why do rookies like us have to attend these high-level meetings every single day?”Bai Zhi complained, rubbing her temples, her usually lively tone sounding somewhat drained.”We only just finished our ability tests today, and before that, it was either being suspected or listening to all sorts of unreliable-sounding plans…”
Ling Ru kept her head down, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her clothes.
“At least… Sister Chen Ling’s message said that Sister Yueyue seems unharmed, and her mental state… is still quite stable.”
A faint, almost imperceptible trace of loss laced her voice.
“And… she even seems… somewhat… happy?”
This thought sent a subtle, sharp pang through her heart.While a wave of relief washed over her for Qi Yue’an’s safety, she couldn’t help but be seized by a creeping panic. ‘Had Qi Yue’an truly developed feelings for the man who had taken her away?”Would she… no longer need me because of this?’
“Hmph, that insignificant vixen certainly has some skill, managing to enchant the Demon Lord into holding a wedding.”
Bai Jin stood with her arms crossed, as always using arrogance to mask her emotions.However, Bai Zhi, who knew her well, could discern that beneath the feigned ferocity, lay the first signs of her tightly wound nerves finally relaxing after days of tension.
Xiyin led the way, her steps remaining steady, yet her slightly furrowed brows betrayed the turmoil within her.
“Outward calm does not equate to truth,”
Her voice was serene.
“Do not forget the information Chen Ling risked to send back—this wedding involves super-grade holy relics, and Lin Xiao’s intentions are far from simple.”
A deep-seated worry permeated her tone.Qi Yue’an’s choice would directly determine their future course, and Xiyin fervently hoped to avert the day they might be forced to clash with the young woman she once knew.
As they exited the base gates and stepped into the cool evening air, a figure leaning against a lamppost brought all four to an instant halt, their bodies tensing into a state of alert.
The person stood tall and well-built, clad in fitted dark casual wear—it was none other than the “Wrath” Executor, Li Yan, who had once collaborated with them during the school’s rule anomaly incident, only to “betray” them at a crucial moment, leading to Qi Yue’an’s capture.
He appeared to have been waiting for a long time.Upon seeing them, he offered a smile that was less enthusiastic than it was openly frank, raising a hand in greeting.
“Yo, ladies, looking quite busy, aren’t we?”
Xiyin instinctively stepped half a pace forward, shielding her companions behind her, her gaze sharp.
“Executor Li Yan? What a rare sight.So, has the Dawn Star Palace finally decided to eliminate us, the inconvenient witnesses?”
Her tone was laced with icy detachment and undisguised wariness.
Li Yan spread his hands, an innocent expression on his face.
“Oh dear, Miss Starling~ no need to be so fiery.I’m off duty right now, acting in a private capacity.We got along quite well during our last collaboration, didn’t we? Why such a cold shoulder now?”
His gaze swept over the three companions behind Xiyin, each displaying a different demeanor, before settling back on Xiyin, his expression a touch exaggeratedly wronged.
“Besides, if I were truly here to silence you, would they only send me, and to a place like this?You shouldn’t wrongly accuse good people so casually.”
Xiyin pressed her lips together, her vigilance undiminished, though her tone now carried a hint of deliberate sarcasm.
“So, Executor Li Yan… to what do we owe the honor of your visit?”
From his pocket, Li Yan produced four elegant envelopes, each subtly emanating faint magical fluctuations, and extended them towards the group.
“Here, delivering invitations.Our boss… His Majesty the Demon King, is marrying Miss Qi Yue’an, and the wedding invitations, with the time and place, are all right here.”
Bai Zhi accepted one curiously, flipping through it.
“Wow, they really went all out… And this paper is so unique.”
Ling Ru stared intently at the invitation meant for her, her fists clenching and unclenching, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her.
Bai Jin, however, snatched an invitation, letting out a dismissive scoff.
“We’ll go…”
Xiyin did not take hers, simply looking directly at Li Yan.
“What is the meaning of this?”
Li Yan sighed, appearing somewhat helpless.
“Miss Starling, can you please stop always thinking I’m part of some conspiracy?This is a very simple invitation.Boss said that Miss Qi Yue’an doesn’t have many friends in the Palace, and you few… are among the few people she cared about in the past.Her parents are ordinary people and cannot be invited, so you would essentially be her ‘maiden family’ support group.”
“He also hopes that on the wedding day, people familiar to her will be present, to make her happier.”
He paused, then added.
“Of course, whether you come or not is entirely up to you.We guarantee your freedom to come and go.”
Xiyin remained silent for a moment, her gaze scrutinizing Li Yan’s eyes—frank, yet undeniably complex—before she finally reached out and accepted the invitation.
“I will consider it.”
Her tone remained uninflected.
Li Yan, as if having completed a crucial mission, let out a breath of relief, his face once again sporting that slightly roguish smile.
“That’s more like it.Don’t worry, even though you call our Dawn Star Palace a ‘demon’s den,’ we still understand basic hospitality.There will absolutely be no ‘Feast at Hong Gate’ at the wedding.”
He deliberately leaned closer, lowering his voice as he spoke to Xiyin.
“And besides, Miss Starling, you’re too tightly wound.Try trusting the people around you a little more; don’t shoulder all the responsibility yourself.”
Xiyin’s eyebrow twitched, and her face instantly frosted over.
“No need to trouble yourself, Executor Li Yan.I have my own considerations, and there’s nothing more to say to a… traitor like you.”
She deliberately emphasized the last two words.
“Oh dear, I’m genuinely worried about you, yet you’re still so cold.”
Li Yan chuckled, completely unfazed by the barbs in Xiyin’s words.
“In any case, it’s your decision.”
Observing the tense yet strangely harmless interaction between the two, Bai Zhi, standing nearby, blinked, then secretly nudged Bai Jin with her arm, whispering softly.
“Sis, don’t you think… they’re like that kind of…”
Bai Jin looked utterly perplexed.
“What kind? The kind who’ll start fighting at the drop of a hat?”
Bai Zhi merely smiled, saying nothing.Ling Ru, too, momentarily pulled away from her tumultuous thoughts, watching Xiyin’s ear tips, faintly flushed from her inability to retort effectively, and Li Yan’s face, alight with a playful smile.A slight upward curve appeared at the corner of her lips.
Finally, Li Yan waved a hand.
“Alright, invitations delivered, mission accomplished.Ladies, I’ll see you at the wedding… or not, it’s up to you… I’m off!”
With that, he turned sharply, his figure quickly vanishing at the end of the street.
Xiyin clutched the uniquely textured invitation in her hand, feeling the varied gazes of her companions behind her.She took a deep breath, then tucked the invitation away.
“Let’s head back.Now that we have a legitimate means of entry, our plans will need to change.”
She stated, her voice returning to its usual calm, yet the apprehension regarding the wedding in her heart only intensified, refusing to dissipate.