That evening, when Xia De returned home, Leia was still carefully examining and reading Professor Manning's letter for him. She found enjoyment in it and even took notes. The academic discussion between a history professor and a folklore professor was probably also helpful for Dorothy's Detective story writing.
Of course, after Xia De returned home, Leia left the study. His Majesty the Princess held Xia De's hand, asking him to show her "something that can fly and glow," but in the end, Xia De couldn't get the stone slab from the basement. However, he did have a very pleasant night.
Of course, it was in the bedroom.
When Xia De awoke in his own bed on Sunday morning, the girl with pretty golden long hair was sleeping soundly.
Xia De carefully got out of bed. After opening the door, he immediately saw two terrifying lights shining from the living room sofa in the darkness. He then instantly realized they were Mia's eyes glowing.
"Meow~"
It let out a low meow, a sound that made one's heart flutter, and it made Xia De, standing at the bedroom door, almost imagine the aggrieved expression this cat was showing in the darkness at that moment.
Xia De tiptoed to the sofa and picked up the cat in the darkness. Mia rubbed against Xia De's chest, and when Xia De looked down at it, the cat also looked up at Xia De.
The way the cat's face tilted up made it look even cuter. Sometimes Xia De even thought that Mia should be the prettiest cat in this world.
After washing up and changing clothes, he then carefully rolled up the finished paper in the study, placed it in a paper tube, and then transformed it into a toy to put into his pocket.
He pulled open the drawer and took out the time key, which had cracks on its surface:
"It's time to depart again."
He originally intended to leave Mia at home, as he would only be gone for three seconds. But this time, the cat unusually tugged at Xia De's sleeve with its paw. When Xia De looked at it, the cat even "meowed~" again.
Although Xia De didn't understand cat language, he guessed that the cat also wanted to "go out" with Xia De.
"Hmm, alright, but you can't run around."
So Xia De found a towel and covered Mia, who was obediently squatting on the tea table. After solemnly putting the cat-shaped doll into his pocket, he tiptoed to the side bedroom door, afraid of waking the sleeping girl:
"May the World Tree bless me in time."
He said in a low voice, then smugly thought his hoarse voice sounded like a snake hissing.
Click~
The time key turned, and the white mist door, like silk floss, made Xia De smile. He was already accustomed to such adventures and enjoyed them. Stepping forward, he formally entered the white mist door, and "Her" voice was always so charming:
【Outsider, you have stepped into the Time Corridor.】
【A message from the ancient god "Father of Infinite Trees":】
【Fifth Epoch 5177, Spring, Broken Islands, Lost Lake.】
【Event: The Witch who seeks eternal beauty.】
【Duration: Thirty minutes (2/3).】
【You have gained additional Knowledge.】
【The figure of the Father of Infinite Trees continues to watch you.】
【The trial given to you by the ancient god of time will continue.】
【Help mortals obtain the secret of eternal beauty from the mouth of a god.】
【The Father of Infinite Trees will grant you rewards: Ritual - moonlight water, Ritual - Sunlight Fire.】
Without hesitation, he continued to step forward in the white mist, and the great curtain of white mist before his eyes immediately drew open. As the thick mist receded like water to both sides of his vision, what was revealed to Xia De was the Great Lake under the night sky, and the thin mist swirling above the lake water.
The air in the deep forest near the lake smelled completely different from his warm and comfortable home, and the surrounding thin mist was a "sedative" with extraordinary power. Prolonged exposure to the mist would cause abnormal fatigue, leading to a sudden collapse and long, deep sleep. Even Witches and Ring術士 with resistance would experience mental stagnation and spiritual sluggishness from prolonged exposure to this mist. Therefore, Xia De was still very concerned about the health of Witch Emperor Violet Marshall and her companions:
"fifth epoch, Broken Islands, Lost Lake."
He silently recited the time and place in his heart, his ears already hearing strange rustling sounds from the bushes behind him. Xia De was too lazy to guess what he would eventually encounter if he stayed still by the lake. He bent slightly and ran forward in small steps, then suddenly leaped onto the mist-shrouded lake surface with a powerful bound:
"Oh!"
An extremely cold current shot directly from his feet throughout his body. Even though he was prepared, Xia De still shivered from the cold. He wondered if it was just an illusion, but he felt that compared to the last time, the chill this time seemed less unbearable.
"Have I adapted to this cold, or is it because I have divinity this time?"
Shivering, he quickly ran forward a dozen steps on the silent, mist-covered water, then lightly tiptoed and leaped into the air:
"Red Butterfly Avatar!"
In the hazy mist, the clusters of Red Butterfly, shimmering with crimson light, seemed to dye the mist red. The fluttering butterflies tried their best to fly towards Lake Heart Island, and at the same time, on Lake Heart Island's edge by the bonfire, Schultz Teresa, a tenth-grade student from Serex Higher Medical College, maintained a kneeling posture, her hands resting on her legs.
She suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze reflecting the illusory firelight, and within the firelight, tiny Red Butterfly were flapping their wings.
Teresa pushed up her glasses, turned to the Great Witch holding a small book beside her, and whispered:
"Aunt, he has appeared."
The ruler of Witten, the Great Witch of the Witch Council, Witch Emperor Violet Marshall, was at this moment drinking tea and reading a book. Hearing Teresa's words, she handed her teacup and book to the maids on her left and right, then held the hand extended by a third maid and stood up. She waved for the maids to attend to their own duties, and she herself walked towards the lake, squinting her eyes and indeed seeing tiny red lights flickering in the distance on the lake surface:
"Finally back."
Her voice was a little hoarse, and her mental state was also somewhat poor. A rope flew out from behind her, like a shot arrow, flying towards the blurred red light. The rope only flew less than halfway before falling into the silent water in the mist, but Teresa, who had thrown the rope, still felt that the rope had tied something.
Three maids in black and white maid dresses cast spells with her, pulling the rope towards the shore with force. The rope rapidly contracted, and after the dark chain at its end appeared, the Witches were almost simultaneously attracted by the runes on the chain. Only after Violet Marshall coughed did they suddenly snap out of it, looking at the man in the black coat, whom they had "pulled" up from the lake.
Schultz Teresa, wearing glasses, had the illusion that she was "fishing," but fishing couldn't catch a man.
"Long time no see, Violet Marshall, long time no see, Teresa! Long time no see, ladies!"
Because Xia De didn't know the specific names of the six maidens, he uniformly greeted them as "ladies." They either lowered their heads to avoid Xia De, or smiled and turned away, ignoring him, or looked at him with beaming smiles.
Violet Marshall patted Xia De's shoulder, and while feeling that chilling coldness, she said with a smile:
"Long time no see. Alright, stop charming my maids. Last time you left in a hurry, there were still many things unclear. Fortunately, you indeed appeared again."
Saying that, she pointed to the vigorously burning bonfire. Xia De then walked over with Violet Marshall, and then the Witch Emperor, Xia De, and Teresa sat together by the bonfire. Xia De first stretched out his hands to warm them by the fire, then put his hand into the inner pocket of his coat and found Mia's doll.
He covered the doll with a small handkerchief, and when the handkerchief was removed, Mia appeared on the shore of Lake Heart Island in Lost Lake.
"Meow~"
Upon arriving in an unfamiliar environment, the cat habitually first intimidated its surroundings, then rubbed against Xia De's chest, and finally jumped onto his lap and lay down, its big eyes watching the bonfire in front of it.
"Is that your pet?"
Violet Marshall looked at the cat, the firelight illuminating the faces of the three:
"It looks very special."
"No, it can't be considered my pet, at least not yet. How is it special?"
Xia De's gaze sharpened.
【You're here again.】
"Very pretty."
In the light of the bonfire, the orange part of Mia's fur on her back looked particularly bright. Violet Marshall reached out to pet the cat, but Mia blocked her with an outstretched paw.
The Witch Emperor looked at the small paw in surprise, and instead of getting angry, she laughed:
"What an interesting cat. I also keep many pets in my palace, but I have to admit, not even those Bottled Curly-tailed Triple Cats, which are thirty times more expensive per gram than gold, can compare to this cat's beauty. How much gold did you buy it with?"
She was very interested.
"Oh, how can Mia's value be measured in gold?"
Xia De asked, puffing out his chest. In truth, he couldn't answer the question; he hadn't been able to buy the cat yet.
"Yes, gold is not omnipotent. Sometimes, you also need gems, diamonds, real estate, precious relic, and Knowledge."
Violet Marshall nodded in agreement:
"If I had met this cat before you, I would be willing to exchange a countdom for it."
"A countdom? Your Majesty, a real princess used her own body and couldn't get this cat from me. It is indeed cute, and not just its appearance, Mia was once—"
"Cough cough."
Teresa pushed up her glasses. Seeing both of them looking at her, she quietly reminded:
"Violet His Majesty, sir, I admit this cat is pretty, but shouldn't we discuss serious matters first?"
"Meow~"
While Xia De wasn't paying attention, the early-rising cat opened its mouth wide and yawned. Its small head rested on its front paws, quietly watching the flickering bonfire. Its tail wagged back and forth, occasionally rubbing against Xia De's arm. This cat was in a very good mood right now.
