Chapter 43: The Starlit Eye of Desire
“Trade?”
Bai Xuan blinked, momentarily thrown by Su Yue’s proposal. Yet what unsettled him more was how she’d managed to open this mind-to-mind conversation in the first place.
He hesitated, then asked, “Is this your Ability?”
“Something like that,” Su Yue replied, her tone airy as she lounged on the pale pink leather sofa. She slipped off her round-toed shoes, revealing slender feet wrapped in silk stockings, toes curling up against the edge of the cushion.
She went on, “But don’t worry. At most, I can only communicate telepathically for a short while. I can’t read your identity or anything like that.”
Bai Xuan narrowed his eyes. So, Su Yue’s Anomalous Ability wasn’t just a simple trick—it had layers.
He considered this, then pressed, “And why do you want to trade?”
“Because we both have something the other needs.” Su Yue’s lips curved in a knowing smile. “I can tell you have a lot on your mind. Besides, you and your people only arrived in Ninghang City recently. I’m guessing your organization is brand new? Whether it’s funding, manpower, or other resources, I can help. What do you think?”
“…”
Bai Xuan was silent for a while before he replied, his tone even. “What are you offering?”
“Would you… be willing to talk in person?” Su Yue’s voice softened to a whisper. “Telepathy doesn’t last long enough, and there’s too much I can’t explain like this.”
“Time. Place.”
“Let me think~” Su Yue tapped a finger to the collar at her throat, considering. After a moment, she grinned. “One hour from now, rooftop of the academy’s main building. How about it?”
“Alright.”
“See you then.”
As soon as she finished, Su Yue quickly deactivated the collar.
She bit her lower lip, a flicker of pain crossing her features.
But after a deep breath, a faint smile tugged at her lips, and she murmured, “Let’s hope this time, we can be friends, mysterious Mr. Slime Mask.”
——
Elsewhere, Bai Xuan had already returned home.
The first thing he did was submit his just-completed mission:
【World Quest: Skeleton Plague (Complete)】
【Mission Reward: Character Setting — Skeleton (Green)】
【Skeleton (Green): Blood and flesh stripped away, reduced to bone.】
“…?”
Bai Xuan stared at the new Character Setting, momentarily taken aback.
This… doesn’t seem very useful, does it?
“Well, who knows? Maybe it’ll come in handy someday,” he muttered, shaking his head as he prepared to leave for the academy.
He still didn’t know what Su Yue was really after, but her Anomalous Ability intrigued him. Since she’d reached out first, he had no reason not to go.
But before heading out—
Bai Xuan took out the small box Su Yue had given him earlier—the one that looked suspiciously like a ring box.
He opened it. Inside, a blue gemstone rested quietly.
Unlike ordinary gems, this sapphire shimmered with a faint, swirling trace of mana.
“What is this?”
Bai Xuan frowned, picking it up for a closer look.
“Master, that’s a magic stone,” Serene said from beside him.
“Magic stone?”
Bai Xuan raised his eyebrows. He’d heard of these before.
Just a single strand of mana was enough to activate the stored magical energy within, unleashing all sorts of spells.
But to those without magical talent, it was useless. Anomalous Abilities weren’t magic.
Besides, the price was outrageous—even a low-grade magic stone cost tens of thousands.
And the one Su Yue had given him… was clearly top-tier, easily worth hundreds of thousands, if not more.
“A real heiress, huh…”
Bai Xuan couldn’t help but mutter, then stood up to leave.
He glanced at Serene and Mare Alera and said, “I’m heading out. You two stay home and behave.”
“Of course, Master!” Serene replied.
Bai Xuan set off for the academy.
——
The campus was silent beneath the deep night, moonlight spilling over everything like frost. As soon as he stepped through the gate, Bai Xuan instinctively looked up at the rooftop of the eastern building—a lone figure stood at the edge, gazing down at him.
“Early, aren’t you…” he murmured, making his way up to the rooftop.
When he arrived, Su Yue was already waiting, a playful curve to her lips as she spotted him.
Moments later, the rooftop door creaked open, and Bai Xuan stepped out from the shadows, bathed in silver moonlight.
Su Yue greeted him, eyes sparkling with mischief.
“Mister Slime Mask, you really do know this school inside and out. Didn’t even hesitate—came straight to me~”
Bai Xuan’s voice remained calm. “What do you want to trade?”
“Ah~ Such a headache~” Su Yue sighed dramatically before continuing. “I’ve been targeted by the Extremist Organization—the same group you dealt with before, the one with the Three of Spades. But this time, they’ve sent someone even more dangerous. So… I need your help.”
“If you can pull it off, I’ll grant you one request—money, treasures, whatever you want.”
Bai Xuan didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he said, “Shouldn’t you go to the Investigation Bureau? They could protect you.”
“The Investigation Bureau?”
At those words, Su Yue’s expression darkened.
She folded her arms, her round-toed shoe tapping impatiently against the rooftop. “I would never go to the Investigation Bureau! Some of them are even worse than the Extremist Organization—chasing after Strength, they’ve already sold their humanity!”
“…”
Bai Xuan caught the bitterness in her words. Clearly, something had happened to her.
After a pause, he nodded toward the collar at her neck. “What’s that?”
“This?” Su Yue touched the collar, her smile tinged with melancholy. “It’s a piece of tech from the Ideal City—a certain woman’s handiwork. It helps me control my Ability, eases the strain on my mind.”
“She calls it—the Starlit Eye of Desire Suppression Device.”
“Starlit Eye of Desire… Suppression Device?”
Bai Xuan echoed the name, startled.
Shouldn’t it be called an ‘assist device’?
Why ‘suppression’?
And Su Yue’s Anomalous Ability… was called the ‘Starlit Eye of Desire’?
What a peculiar name…
“What’s wrong~?” Su Yue stepped closer, tilting her face up to his. “Curious about my collar? Is it because… it looks a little like a fetish collar?”
“…?”
Bai Xuan stiffened, but when he looked closer—she wasn’t wrong.
Though this one was more refined, brimming with high-tech features.
Ahem.
He cleared his throat, voice steady. “Alright. I accept the deal.”
The moment the words left his lips, a flurry of status prompts danced before his eyes:
【Mission Accepted—Guardian of the Mind】
【Mission Difficulty: D】
【Mission Location: Lakeside Villa, Ninghang City】
【Mission Description: Su Yue’s Anomalous Ability is coveted by the Extremist Organization. Help her escape their pursuit.】
【Mission Note: Two Extremist Organization members have arrived in Ninghang City.】
【Mission Reward: Character Setting—Mental Immunity (Purple)】
Huh?
Bai Xuan’s eyes widened at the prompts.
So just coming into direct contact with key figures could trigger a mission?
And the mission rewards were revealed up front!
Not bad~
“So—” Su Yue’s eyes arched in a crescent-moon smile as she turned to him. “What do you want, mysterious Mr. Slime Mask? If it’s mine, it’s yours.”
“I…”
Bai Xuan started to reply, but suddenly stopped.
Just a few meters away, a Spatial Rift silently tore open!
Out stepped a hulking man with six arms, a Four of Spades mask covering his face.
His voice was rough as gravel:
“Miss Su! This time, you’re not getting away!”