The vampire's head slowly turned around, and its closed eyes suddenly opened, shooting out a scarlet light. Li Lingling and Su Bingyan didn't even have time to react before the vampire was in front of them. Its two sharp claws reached out and grabbed the two girls' throats. With a tightening of its fingers, it lifted the two girls up and pressed them against the cabin wall.
Su Bingyan and Li Lingling wore expressions of extreme pain. The vampire's power made them feel suffocated at the same time. The powerful dark force directly imprisoned the two women's bodies, and they couldn't even lift a little finger.
"I thank you for killing me again, so that I can gain my true power." The young vampire said slowly, his scarlet eyes shining with a fanatical, excited, and cruel light. "Beautiful prey, you now belong to me alone, the great Earl James, no, the Marquis James. I said that as long as I am reborn, my power will grow to another level. Here, no one will be my match."
A hand suddenly patted his shoulder silently, and a faint voice rang out: "Great Marquis James, would killing you again make you Duke James?"
Chapter 409 The Little Girl's Heart
"I'm sorry, Xiaorou, I didn't mean it. Lingyun and I are just ordinary colleagues. I misspoke just now. Please forgive me." Xia Lan lowered her head, biting her lip as she apologized to Xiaorou. Her face was red, and she looked as aggrieved as a child who had done something wrong, and then she denied her true feelings against her will.
She knew Xiao Rou wouldn't be foolish enough to believe she didn't like Ling Yun, but she still had to confess her feelings and admit her mistakes, even though Xia Lan didn't know what she had done wrong. This wasn't about explaining herself, but about giving the other person a way out, and herself a way out too. At least her best friend, with whom she'd shared life and death, wouldn't turn against her because they both liked the same man. This was a skill in interpersonal relationships, and Xia Lan had long since learned when to be tolerant and when to say what.
"Xia Lan, you didn't say anything wrong, why apologize? I was just asking casually. I think there's no need for us to hide anything from each other." Xiao Rou sighed and said softly, unconsciously pursing her lips and smiling bitterly, "Many girls like him. Even if I'm worried and jealous, it's useless. What's mine will always be mine, and what's not mine won't be mine no matter how hard I try."
“You’re not right to say that, Xiao Rou.” Xia Lan shook her head. She had always been proactive and positive since she was a child, and her style of doing things and her thoughts were naturally different from Xiao Rou’s. “Everything has to be fought for. If you don’t fight for it, how can it be yours? The same goes for matters of the heart. Since Ling Yun likes you, you should cherish it and not let him be taken away by someone else. You have to be careful. I like him too. I’m your rival in love.”
"You want him? I'll give him to you, how about that?" Xiaorou rolled her eyes at her and said with a half-smile.
"Great!" Xia Lan put her arm around her shoulder and said with a big smile, "No wonder we sisters are so close. Xiao Rou, you are so generous. I admire you. Well then, I will accept this man. I want him."
"You really don't hold back! I never would have guessed. I've never seen you like this before. What's that line again? I heard a girl from Jinghua University say it." Xiaorou said in surprise, looking at Xia Lan who had a smug look on her face.
Xia Lan snorted angrily, "You're such a gossip! Forget it, you're so powerful, I wouldn't dare take your man. Otherwise, if you unleash your power, I can't beat you. Tell me, what's your strength now? Are you even stronger than the instructor?"
"Aren't you already at the level of an instructor? You're a genius." Xiao Rou smiled slightly. She had long seen through Xia Lan's strength. After the baptism of the Hong Kong battle, the young team leader had finally grown rapidly and showed signs of breaking through to the level of a lieutenant. As long as he trained hard for a while longer, it would be just around the corner for him to rise to the level of an instructor.
“That’s still not as good as you.” Xia Lan said dejectedly, and sighed deeply. “I’ve been recognized as a genius by the Xia family since I was a child. Even among the younger generation of the Superpower Headquarters, I’m the most outstanding. I’m not bragging, but I have indeed been smart since I was a child. I’m competitive and I consider myself to have perseverance. I can handle all the tasks of the Superpower Headquarters with ease. Everyone praises me for being outstanding and a well-deserved genius. To be honest, I’ve always been complacent and thought that I had reached the top of this world and was the most promising superpower user.”
“But,” Xia Lan looked at Xiao Rou, her expression growing increasingly somber, “after seeing you and Ling Yun, I realized how far behind I am. Even though I’m improving quickly, the gap between us is still widening. Seeing your growth, sometimes I even find you terrifying. I really don’t know how I can keep up with you and Ling Yun. You do like Ling Yun, but I also genuinely consider you a good friend. However, seeing you progress so rapidly, I feel like a burden, and the sense of loss in my heart is always…”
She couldn't continue. Xia Lan was unwilling to be second to anyone, not only because she was the apple of her family's eye, but also because she was the pride of the Superpower Headquarters. From childhood to adulthood, she had always maintained the most outstanding achievements. Xia Lan was proud, and this pride stemmed from her strength and the recognition of those around her. However, with the sudden appearance of Ling Yun and Xiao Rou, people stronger than her appeared, and not just by a little bit, but with a despair-inducing strength. The proud girl felt like she had fallen from the sky to the ground, and even felt lost.
This sense of loss wasn't jealousy, because Ling Yun was the person Xia Lan loved, and Xiao Rou was a sister she had shared life and death with, and Xia Lan wasn't one to be sentimental. She couldn't feel jealousy towards these two people; her sense of loss stemmed from her own excellence being overshadowed. It wasn't that she lacked brilliance, but rather that having two shining stars around her made it difficult to see her own unique characteristics.
If it were any other two people, Xia Lan would never have revealed these feelings hidden deep in her heart. A young girl has her own dignity and pride, but when facing Ling Yun and Xiao Rou, there is no need to deliberately maintain this reserve.
Xiao Rou was calm and collected, and having experienced the same thing as Xia Lan, she naturally saw things clearly. She smiled and patted Xia Lan's shoulder: "Why are you so sentimental? This is not like you, Team Leader Xia. Show some spirit, like the you I saw in Hong Kong, that's the real you."
"And I know you're disappointed. Actually, you're still the most outstanding. Even Lingyun and I aren't as talented or hardworking as you. That's just how it is; there's no way to change it," Xiaorou said earnestly.
Xia Lan widened her phoenix eyes in surprise: "Your talent is not as good as mine? Your hard work is not as good as mine? Then why are you better than me?"
"Do you think Ling Yun and I are as talented as Chief Instructor Tang?" Xiao Rou didn't answer, but asked in return.
"I'm afraid we can't catch up. Someone like Chief Instructor Tang is a once-in-a-century genius. Oh, I understand what you mean," Xia Lan said after thinking for a moment. Tang Tiejin took over the Superpower Headquarters twenty years ago, but he was already thirty years old at that time and was not a super strong person. This means that Xiao Rou and Ling Yun are only twenty years old now, yet they are much stronger than Tang Tiejin, who was the head of the Superpower Headquarters at the time.
It's so easy to talk to smart people. Xiao Rou said, "It's not that I'm afraid, it's that I'm definitely not as smart as you. Ling Yun and I are definitely not as smart as Chief Instructor Tang, and we can't even compare to you. However, cultivation is not something that can make you a super strong person just by having talent and hard work. You also need opportunities. Often, the early stages of cultivation rely on hard work and talent, while the later stages rely on opportunities. Without opportunities, it will be very, very difficult to make further progress."
Xia Lan understood that Xiao Rou and Ling Yun had different experiences than hers, which was why they had progressed so quickly. Thinking of this, she felt much more at ease. But then, she became curious about their experiences and asked, "What kind of experiences did you have? Can you tell me about them?"
Xiao Rou casually said, "There was nothing special about it. I just entered an ancient barrier in the sea while rescuing you, and then I encountered some strange things." As she spoke, she gave a general account of what happened in the underwater barrier.
If Ling Yun were here, he would definitely just brush it off with a few words and say nothing. But Xiao Rou felt it was no big deal. Anyway, there were no secrets, so she could just tell it as an interesting anecdote. Why couldn't she speak frankly? Besides, Xia Lan and the Superpower Headquarters were the closest people to her, so Xiao Rou didn't hesitate at all to tell him.
She spoke casually, but Xia Lan was already dumbfounded. The encounters during her trip to Hong Kong had left a deep impression and brought Xia Lan countless benefits. Being able to witness the battle between berserkers, vampires, and high-level experts from the vegetable garden was itself a tremendous opportunity, which was also the main reason why Xia Lan broke through quickly after being abandoned by Lu.
She assumed that Lingyun and Xiaorou's experiences were similar to those they encountered in Hong Kong, but she didn't expect that the world Xiaorou described was far beyond her imagination. The bizarre and fantastical underwater world, the sentient spirits, and the perilous trials of the four halls were all things that Xia Lan could not even imagine. The world of superhumans had deviated too much from the lives of normal people, but Lingyun and Xiaorou's experiences deviated even more from the world of superhumans. It was no longer a normal experience; it even had a magical quality to it.
If Xiao Rou hadn't been speaking so earnestly, and if Xia Lan hadn't known her to be honest, she would have already dismissed Xiao Rou's words as mere ramblings. Anyone who heard such a bizarre experience would probably have thought it was nonsense, but Xia Lan knew it was all true. Xiao Rou wasn't lying. Conversely, without such an experience, there wouldn't be the Xiao Rou and Ling Yun we know today.
Before they knew it, two more girls had joined them: Yuqi and Xia Zhen. The two girls had only intended to talk to Xiaorou and inquire about Lingyun's whereabouts, but after hearing Xiaorou's story, they became completely engrossed, just like Xia Lan.
After Yuqi's latent superpower genes were awakened by Lingyun in Hong Kong, she was taken back to the mainland by Li Zhongqi, who was eager to return to the superpower headquarters in China. The obstacles and difficulties that Yang's Group faced in Hong Kong were cleared up, Yuqi's father was recovering steadily, and the business was back on track. So she could leave with peace of mind.
Of course, the main reason was that she wanted to get closer to Ling Yun. Since Ling Yun was also an employee of the Superpower Headquarters, so was she. Wouldn't the two of them be able to spend every day together in the future? Thinking of this, Yuqi's heart immediately flew to the Superpower Headquarters. The chairman of the board of directors of Yang's Group was far less important to the girl than seeing Ling Yun.
Xia Zhen and Yu Qi were college classmates, and Xia Zhen had entered the Superpower Headquarters a few years earlier, so she took good care of Yu Qi. The two girls, who were close in age and equally stunningly beautiful, quickly became friends.
Hearing that her sister had been kidnapped by an unknown powerful figure from the Superpower Bureau, Xia Zhen was extremely anxious. So she went to the United States with the Superpower Headquarters. Although Yuqi was just a newcomer on probation, Tang Tiejin brought along other probationary superpower users for the purpose of training and broadening their horizons. Superpower users who have never experienced the smoke of war and battles cannot grow up. Even if they do grow up, they will have all sorts of problems.
Not long after arriving in America, Xia Lan returned safely. Xia Zhen was both surprised and delighted. Upon asking, she learned that Ling Yun had rescued her sister. The young girl's heart was filled with mixed emotions—bitterness, longing, and a complex mix of other feelings. Ever since confessing her feelings to Ling Yun at the Superpowers Headquarters, Xia Zhen's heart had been tied to him. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, before they could even reciprocate their feelings, Ling Yun had already caused quite a stir at the Superpowers Headquarters.
When Ling Yun left the headquarters of supernatural abilities, Xia Zhen saw him holding hands with Xiao Rou. She was struck dumb, her heart shattered. She could never forget that scene; every time she thought of it, her hands trembled and tears streamed down her face. She couldn't forget Ling Yun, couldn't forget the wonderful days she spent with him. She missed him, yet she couldn't help but hate him, hating him to the extreme that she even wanted to kill him. But when she hated him so much, her heart softened involuntarily. The young girl wanted Ling Yun to be well, yet she also hoped he would change his mind. She struggled and shifted between these contradictions and emotions time and time again. When her heart ached, she would train diligently through the night, hoping to forget the pain in her heart. But each time she tormented herself, Xia Zhen's heart was filled with longing for Ling Yun, ultimately transforming into a bittersweet memory.
Xia Zhen thought to herself that she would never forget Ling Yun in her entire life. She was a stubborn woman, and when she loved someone, she loved him with a passion that was like a sword drawn. But she wanted Ling Yun to be happy. She didn't want to see him, not in her entire life. Yet, as if possessed, she embarked on a journey to America with the headquarters of superpowers. Xia Zhen didn't know why. She just followed her feelings. Her reason for going was to save her sister, but she knew that was only part of it. Her real purpose was to see Ling Yun one last time, even if it was just for a moment. The young girl would be content.
Human beings are naturally prone to infatuation, and this sorrow has nothing to do with the wind or the moon.
Before Xia Lan went to Hong Kong, Xia Zhen tearfully approached her sister, begging her to take good care of Ling Yun. The young girl had thought about it for days and nights, but ultimately, her heartache for Ling Yun prevailed. She felt she couldn't take care of her beloved herself, nor could she, so she entrusted him to her sister. Xia Lan was heartbroken. She hadn't expected Xia Zhen to be so devoted to Ling Yun. Although Xia Lan also liked Ling Yun, her devotion paled in comparison to Xia Zhen's.
By the end, Xia Zhen's eyes were brimming with tears. Finally, unable to hold back her sobs, she cried out to Xia Lan, revealing the deepest conflict in her heart: "Sister, I've been so good to Ling Yun, I've taken such good care of him, why doesn't he like me? Why doesn't he like me? Why does he like someone else? What have I done to wrong him? What do I do that makes me unworthy of him?! Tell me, tell me, tell me!"
As she spoke, Xia Zhen threw herself into Xia Lan's arms and burst into tears.
Xia Lan simply hugged her cousin tightly, letting Xia Zhen's tears fall. Xia Zhen just needed to vent, she knew, but she couldn't answer Xia Zhen's questions either. Many questions in this world have answers, but feelings don't.
Chapter 410 How Many People Actually Like You
Before leaving, Xia Lan was very worried about Xia Zhen's emotions. She was worried that without her care, Xia Zhen would become emotionally unstable. Of course, this was also related to the fact that Xia Zhen had not experienced any hardships. The young girl's life had been too smooth. She was a favored daughter of heaven and worked hard. Everything had gone smoothly for her. Under such circumstances, experiencing some setbacks in her love life might actually be a good thing for her.
However, Xia Lan clearly underestimated Xia Zhen's resilience. Since her outburst with her sister, Xia Zhen's mood has obviously improved, and she has started chatting and laughing with those around her. It seems that she has already emerged from Ling Yun's shadow. Those who know her well are very comforted by this. Xia Lan and Xia Zhen are the two sisters who are invaluable treasures of the Superpower Headquarters, and everyone is reluctant to see these two outstanding girls suffer any harm.
Only Xia Lan understood her younger sister. She hadn't truly forgotten Ling Yun, and her feelings hadn't changed. She had simply learned to hide her sorrow and grieve alone. Ling Yun had simply gone from the sea surface to the seabed, a place only Xia Zhen could reach, watch over, and savor. Such enduring memories only became captivating and fragrant when recalled.
Xia Lan felt a pang of bitterness. This meant that Xia Zhen had matured, but she would rather her younger sister hadn't matured and remained as innocent and carefree as before. But now, everything was different, and people had to move on.
She couldn't force Ling Yun to turn back and be good to her sister, because Ling Yun himself had done nothing wrong, and he had never shown even the slightest bit of affection for Xia Zhen. This young man might be confused or hesitant, but he had a very firm grasp on the direction of his own emotions. He had no improper thoughts in the face of several beautiful girls, which was rare even in the world of supernatural beings.