NOVEL WEB 29: Changing Tactics
For the school, the reason given for the absence was “internship.” Of course, for roommates aware of the situation, the truth behind why Yuan Xiaoning hadn’t returned to school was self-evident.
[Take care of your health.]
This was the unified message sent by her two roommates.
Yuan Xiaoning thought to herself, what’s the use of you sending this to me? Is that body something I can take care of as I wish? Isn’t it all dependent on Bai Ling’s mood?
All she could do was eat more, sleep more. Only when well-fed and well-rested would she have the energy to endure.
So she first got up to eat, then paced back and forth in the corridor for a while, before climbing back into bed and sleeping straight through until evening.
Until Bai Ling came to call her:
“It’s time to go.”
Queen’s Boulevard wasn’t that far from the city center. This time they properly called a taxi, not taking an unlicensed cab. The driver drove very steadily, arriving before midnight.
The security guards at the door were the same two as last time. Seeing Bai Ling and Yuan Xiaoning, they enthusiastically greeted them.
“This way, ladies.”
“The boss has been waiting for a long time.”
The two security guards were at the outer gate, preventing uninformed ordinary people from barging in. The guards of the core area were the two sisters from last time, only letting in the boss’s guests.
“Xiaoning, you’re here again~”
Seeing her from afar at the corridor entrance, A-Lan and Tingting came over to greet her.
Yuan Xiaoning sat outside for a while as Bai Ling went in alone.
“Xiaoning, why have you been coming so infrequently lately, only once a week?”
“I have to attend school,” the blonde girl said, “I’m still a college student, you know.”
“So how did it go after you went back last time,” A-Lan asked impatiently, “Did you try the method I taught you?”
Yuan Xiaoning silently looked at her and nodded.
“How was it? What was the result?” A-Lan and Tingting both looked at her expectantly.
“The result was,” the blonde girl pouted, looking very uncomfortable, “I got it worse than usual.”
“This, how could that be?” A-Lan was stunned, “It shouldn’t be like that.”
Based on her life experience, it should have worked every time.
“How would I know,” Yuan Xiaoning shrugged her delicate shoulders, “Maybe she’s just rebellious, full of contradictions.”
She felt her own approach wasn’t problematic, so the issue must be with Bai Ling herself.
“Rebellious, I see.”
A-Lan, true to her extensive experience, quickly thought of a new approach: “Since she likes to do the opposite, you should also do the opposite. Two negatives make a positive.”
This is called adapting to the situation.
After listening for a while, Yuan Xiaoning had an epiphany, feeling inspired for next week’s weekly task.
“Alright, I’ve noted it down,” the blonde girl stood up and said, “I’ll go in to find Bai Ling now. We’ll chat more next time when there’s a chance.”
In the VIP room, Luo Zhoucheng, whom they hadn’t seen for a long time, was also somewhat different from before. His complexion had improved, but his spirit seemed a bit worse.
The improved complexion was because he had quit smoking. The diminished spirit was because he discovered that Tianhai City’s waters ran deep, and he wasn’t as confident as before.
“He still asked for a few people,” as soon as Bai Ling entered, Luo Zhoucheng said directly, “Two late Level 2, one early Level 3. They’re the strongest I could find.”
After a pause, he added: “I told those three that this job is very difficult, with a high probability of life-threatening danger, but the client’s offer was too high.”
Bai Ling listened quietly, sat down and took a sip of tea, then asked: “Is that all you said?”
“I also told the client that these three people aren’t enough to complete the task. He said it’s no problem, he’ll figure something out himself,” Luo Zhoucheng said.
“Very good.” Bai Ling curled her lips.
Since he said that, it’s most likely that he plans to act himself, because the forces behind that guy haven’t yet entered Tianhai City at this point in time.
They won’t arrive until after Tianhai Tower collapses.
“I understand. Also, help me investigate a company,” she said, “Cloud Sea Game Company. They used to run factories, now they’re making games.”
“No problem, I’ll ask around for you,” Luo Zhoucheng readily agreed, then pushed some documents on the table, “This is the intelligence on those three people. You might need it.”
Intelligence on Level 2 and Level 3 ability users? Would she need it?
Bai Ling didn’t respond. Just then, Yuan Xiaoning came in.
“How’s your chat going?”
“Yuan Xiaoning,” Bai Ling called her, “This weekend’s enemies include two late Level 2 and one early Level 3. Are you interested in a sparring match?”
She handed over the information as she spoke.
Yuan Xiaoning took it and quickly scanned it. Two elemental systems and one mental system. The elemental systems were fire and mist users, the mental system was support.
Calculating in her mind, the early Level 3 fire user was countered by her element, the late Level 2 mist user was purely a liability to the team and also suppressed by her higher-level same element, and the support only counted as half a person.
Although her spiritual energy intensity was only mid Level 3, with the perfect skill set provided by the system, and her core skills enhanced twice, calling her peak Level 3 wouldn’t be an exaggeration.
“Sure, no problem,” Yuan Xiaoning put her hands on her hips, “I can handle them easily.”
Luo Zhoucheng’s eyelid twitched, feeling a bit awkward.
With his limited knowledge, he really couldn’t imagine what a huge gap in strength would be like. Whether there was intelligence or not made no difference.
“Let’s go,” Bai Ling stood up and said, “It’s time to head back.”
“So early today? Alright then.”
Yuan Xiaoning patted her skirt and waved to Luo Zhoucheng: “Thanks, uncle. We’ll be going now. Sweet dreams.”
Luo Zhoucheng sat in his chair for a while, watching intently as the two girls left.
The white-haired girl was truly dangerous, with such a cold personality. Fortunately, her wife was easy-going, approachable, and very polite.
That’s what he thought.
Passing through the front hall, Yuan Xiaoning also said goodbye to the two sisters.
“Remember the method I taught you,” A-Lan instructed her, “Try it when you get the chance.”
“Mm-hmm, I know. No problem.”
Walking out of the bar, Bai Ling asked her: “What method did they teach you this time? Another life pro tip?”
“That’s right,” Yuan Xiaoning said righteously, “A life pro tip!”
Last time she hadn’t done proper research. This time, knowing the other party’s characteristics, knowing both herself and her opponent, it would definitely work.
They left the hotel earlier than last time, around 10 o’clock. Queen’s Boulevard was still mostly empty, with only a few vehicles passing by sporadically.
The hotel nearby still had its lights on.
Yuan Xiaoning looked around, her gaze finally falling on the hotel’s sign. Suddenly realizing something, she inexplicably clenched her thighs.
This was the Dragon King’s intuition.
“Bai Ling, tonight, we’re not… going to stay at a hotel again, are we?”
“What else?” Bai Ling said coolly, “The school dormitory’s curfew is 10:30. Do you think there’s any car that could get us back in half an hour?”
“Hmm… a Pagani Huayra?” Yuan Xiaoning looked up at her.
“Good suggestion, but we don’t have one, and there’s a speed limit on city roads.”
“…”