Chapter 888 - 430: Forward Strides
Zoe was like a lively and elegant white fish, frolicking in the pond.
A few proactive responses from Li Ang couldn’t catch her for a while, the young girl seemed elusive, almost intentionally teasing, sometimes diving to tug his leg, sometimes using her small feet to push against his chest and belly.
Finally, when she was caught off guard, he managed to hold her exquisitely carved beautiful foot, catching the fish.
Yet once in his grasp, the fish ceased to struggle, its warm body heat transmitted through the cool pond water.
The two nestled together and moved onto the lawn.
The pristine world turned the grassland into a natural carpet, their two burning hearts incredibly close.
"Li Ang must have brought me here on purpose, right?"
Zoe’s fingertips twisted the grass, a gentle breeze caressed her face, and the meaning behind her words was clear.
This place was very much like Satus Island, the entire breeding ground had many places to unleash power freely. Even the training room on the Eternal Summer had long been equipped with exercise tools, not necessarily requiring an outdoor venue.
Coming here seemed to indicate he had some thoughts he wanted to express.
"Yes."
Li Ang embraced Zoe, who was as docile as a little cat: "I want to say, at this point where we’ve arrived, my thoughts have changed."
The young girl’s red pupils were like a tranquil red lake, gazing at him.
Li Ang also looked directly at the exquisite visage and the stunning body capable of enchanting anyone: "Building a strong Sky Cavalry might no longer be the only, necessary goal."
Zoe tilted her head: "Has Li Ang given up on being the strongest Sky Knight?"
"I..."
Choked by her words, Li Ang laughed: "First, the goal was never to be the strongest Sky Knight, second, although the desire for the Sky Cavalry to be strong was stronger than the personal desire to be first, it wasn’t to be first."
"You can be first." Zoe kissed him.
"Hmm, with you here, maybe I truly can."
These months of adventures, although thrilling and turbulent, actually differed greatly in rhythm and form compared to the major struggles within the team’s competition.
Li Ang reminisced about past battles, his mind envisioning the elegance Zoe could display on the battlefield.
"However, more importantly, I’ve realized that a life like this right now is really good."
Partners... carrying many of their aspirations, his heart was filled with peace, yet occasionally stirred by the pictures of troublesome scenarios the young girls suddenly created.
He shook his head to clear away the negative images: "Before, aspirations such as aiding The Soul Apex or building a powerful Sky Cavalry were difficult to articulate the fundamental reasons.
"But now I’ve realized, perhaps doing some things, pursuing certain things, is just for some type of life. As the days of traveling passed, it seemed to gradually surface.
"So I said perhaps I can stop chasing the earliest goals, that a peaceful and happy existence could continue, as long as such a life could perpetuate."
"Of course it must last forever!" Li Ang barely finished speaking before Zoe immediately replied.
She was always so resolute, always charging forward.
No, she too would feel confused and sad.
The trembling gaze of the young girl indicated she was not calm.
Li Ang’s understanding of her was no longer as shallow as at the first.
However, she had the ability to find the key point amidst many complicated matters.
Move forward, Child of the World, for I am right here.
"This place is so much like Satus Island, coming here, I just wanted to say, I’m so glad to have met you—"
Before Li Ang could finish, Zoe had already propped up her body, the touch of her lips replacing all surplus words.
With a radiant smile resurfacing as she propped up her body again, Zoe’s face displayed a smile never seen before.
"What was interrupted that day, let’s continue."
Her usual exuberant self was entirely absent as if she had stepped into a new world, seeing a brand-new future.
"Before Li Ang leaves, it’s a necessity."
Humans, whether beast, Demon, or even the strongest of entities, even Divine Spirits, possess a clarity and courage, a pure heart, despite existing in a troublesome world filled with chaos.
But humans also possess a tendency and nature to be more depraved and chaotic than these natural creatures, creations born of magic power, the essence cradled by heaven and earth, the sublimation of creation’s prime condensed into supreme beings.
These two truths, on this clouded grassland, the two exposed to each other through concrete actions.
The two vanished for a day.
...
The next day, the Lotus of Reincarnation became even bigger, and the Spiritual Line was already flowing like a star river above the Eternal Summer. With a telescope’s aid, one can also see Zultin Marsh, that isle shrouded in a poisonous haze.
Li Ang had to resolve the last things aboard the ship.
In these days, he had conversed with everyone individually, now only one remained—
"Have you enjoyed your time on the ship these days?"
Li Ang successfully intercepted in front of Othella with an Acceleration Technique.
"Ahhhh!"
Originally walking in the volcanic cave, the beast-eared maiden jumped in place, seemingly unable to control her power, directly burrowing into the ground upon landing.
"Ughhh~"
Othella poked her head out from the ground with her soot-covered round ears. She seemed scared, with her phantom body not fully formed, covered in grime.
"Are you alright?"
Li Ang reached out his hand to her.
The young girl shrank back, half her body in the dirt, looking like she didn’t want to come out, as if she were diving.
At this point, Li Ang was pretty sure he’d done something to frighten her, but he couldn’t figure out what.
As he tentatively approached, the girl burrowed further into the soil.
Are you a groundhog? Li Ang couldn’t help but joke to himself.
Othella glanced around, seemingly looking for a third person, as if being alone would lead to some consequence.
Are you some young girl blocked by bullies?
Wait a minute; is it...
Li Ang suddenly flashed with realization about the situation.
If she can move through barriers, then she can go anywhere. The ship’s conventional structure is meaningless before her.
It would be easy for her to see things she shouldn’t...
Even if he didn’t know who with, but such a situation could be troublesome for everyone.
His face darkened instantly.
"Ugh! I’m so, so sorry!"
Othella said, trembling all over, "Even though I’m not very familiar with the captain yet, I know that freeloading, eating and drinking for free, and riding the ship for free come with a cost... sob sob..."
The young girl’s voice became increasingly pitiful, finally resigning and softly crying.
What sort of person have I become in her eyes? Li Ang covered his face in silence.
But he couldn’t just leave her crying, and, indeed, it was his increasingly outrageous behavior the past few days that led to this.
"Uh, there’s nothing on our ship that forces anyone to do anything. We met in Lupus, have a connection with the Star Soul, and you also have ties with the Star Soul we’re looking for, so we’re traveling together. You’re the blood relative of my friend, so there’s no question of charging you."
Li Ang retreated two steps, using a wind cushion to hover above the charred ground.
"I’m looking for you mainly because tomorrow night or the morning of the day after, I’ll temporarily leave the Star Flower Travel Corps for a while, and wanted to talk to you about it."
After Li Ang spoke, Othella still kept her head down, but as he sent non-aggressive signals, he saw her react.
She quietly raised her head, her lips quivering, still scared, not afraid of Li Ang’s reaction to her words, but more so fearing what might happen if she didn’t speak.
In such a state, Li Ang had little choice but to start as gently as possible.
"Before heading to Chester Castle, where the Durger Clan is, the Star Flower Travel Corps is obliged to look after your safety. Since we are temporarily traveling together, I consider you a travel companion.
Please look at Meimei and Meluna on the ship; originally, they weren’t part of the Star Flower Travel Corps either."
Othella was somewhat familiar with Meimei; compared to others, that girl had a significantly different aura. Thinking for a moment, she nodded slightly, unsure of the reason.
"Chester Island is in the Gorasis Sky Realm. After I leave, the Eternal Summer will head first to Thousand Tower City there, as arranged. Once the members settle there, whether Anadasu sends you to Chester Island or Farina finds a passenger ship for you, I’ve already asked them, and you can act accordingly."
Li Ang noticed Othella shudder when he mentioned Anadasu.
Hmm, that Little Wolf seems to epitomize being tamed, sticking closer than an annoying Golden Canary, definitely holding a high chance for a half-ghost girl to mistakenly encounter.
"I, I understand."
Judging by Othella’s expression change, she clearly leaned toward the latter option.
"This matter is, in fact, one we should pay attention to. I’m looking for you mainly to ask for help with Hedaya’s situation."
"Hmm?"
Halfway through this sentence, the girl started getting anxious again, prompting Li Ang to speak quickly.
"The newly born Star Soul may not appear as a mature woman as you knew before; she could manifest like Anna or even Livi, undergoing a process from youthful mind to recovery of memory and knowledge, and her body likewise.
"After she’s reborn, while Anna will certainly help care for her, interacting with more people will also benefit her. Your powers are of the same source, so you are closer.
"Hence, I’m asking you to treat her like a child and help care a lot for her."
Othella didn’t expect Li Ang’s request to be about such a matter; naturally, she was willing.
"Sure, sure!"
The blue-haired maiden nodded eagerly, "I’ll definitely take good care of her."
"Now I’m relieved. This is a task only you can do well."
Li Ang said with a wide smile.
"Wh-what do you mean?"
Othella instinctively denied herself, but she indeed wished to repay the Molten Mountain Star Soul, quickly changing her tune: "I’ll do my best since I’ve raised Anala and Alex before; I do know a bit about caring for kids..."
Disregarding the completely shattered image, Li Ang was actually here to encourage and support Othella.
Not worried that she wouldn’t look after Hedaya, as she herself mentioned, he wanted to provide support and affirmation, letting her have something to rely on, certainly benefiting the Star Flower Travel Corps after his departure.
Now, as long as he’s not utterly seen as a freak, he would be content.