Chương 138: The Sudden Attack

Distorted light and shadow flickered before my eyes, and the air was filled with the decaying aura unique to the void.

Inside a small, illusory bubble, a dark figure was reaping the ferocious lives that kept emerging from the shadows with an almost elegant demeanor.

There was no pity or emotion in Ji Ying's dark red eyes. With each swing of her arm, the black blade on the side of her arm armor would draw a cold arc, precisely slicing through the shells of the juvenile Void Beasts that pounced on her, completely shattering their fragile cores.

Compared to the somewhat clumsy battle during his last hasty transformation, Ji Ying now clearly felt that he had a much better grasp of the powerful force originating from the Void Realm.

She could even keenly detect the faint energy fluctuations within the virtual beast's body the instant of each attack, and then cut in from a tricky angle, completely severing its life force while directly stripping and absorbing the tiny energy core from its body.

This new fighting style allows her to fight against these juvenile minions who can't even withstand a single blow from her, with almost no unnecessary consumption of energy, and even—a faint feeling of "replenishment".

When the last ethereal beast, emitting a piercing shriek, charged at her in a desperate attempt to resist, was cleanly and decisively beheaded by her with a single strike, Ji Ying finally let out a long, heavy sigh of relief.

The resentment and irritation that had been building up in her chest from her conversation with Luo Hongyu, almost suffocating her, seemed to dissipate considerably with this cathartic release.

Yes, venting.

After her unpleasant encounter with Luo Hongyu and her forced departure from that suffocating apartment building, she felt unable to calm down. It was as if a huge rock was lodged in her chest, a heavy and unbearable pressure.

Just then, a system notification sounded in my mind: a small-scale virtual infiltration has occurred in the nearby area.

So, naturally, she quietly transformed herself in a secluded corner and used these unfortunate virtual beasts that had run into the line of fire as perfect "punching bags".

After all the negative emotions in one's heart have been released in a satisfying "massacre," what follows is a deeper hesitation and doubt.

Should I tell Xiao Li what Luo Hongyu said?

If I decide to tell her, how can I minimize the potential harm?

Ji Ying leaned against a wall, her head slightly lowered, her deep, dark red eyes flashing with complex light.

She knew very well that deep down, Xiao Li had never truly let go of the broken relationship between her and her father.

If she had truly been completely disappointed in that man and had let go of him, she wouldn't have unconsciously revealed that undisguised resistance and pain every time she mentioned the word "father."

She wouldn't choose to escape every time the man came home; she'd rather wander outside like a homeless stray cat than share a room with him.

The reason she did this was precisely because—she still cared, still cherished, and subconsciously held onto a faint hope for that already broken family bond, a hope that even she herself might not have realized.

Even though she no longer yearns for the unconditional love and care from her parents like other ordinary girls, at least— Deep down, she must have wanted to have some kind of equal exchange and communication with that man, with the "father" who gave her life, right?

This deep-seated, unacknowledged longing, intertwined with repeated disappointments and hurts in reality, ultimately shaped her current contradictory personality: sensitive, fragile, yet feigning strength.

How important is the companionship of family to a person's growth? Perhaps few people in this world understand this better than Lin Che.

Whether it was living with her father after her mother's early death in her previous life, or living under the same roof with Su Yuqing after her father's early death, or having a complete family again after her rebirth, all these experiences have given her a profound understanding and insight into the word "family" that far surpasses that of ordinary people.

Although they are all trying their best to care for and love Xiaoli in their own ways, to some extent, they have indeed replaced the "family" in her heart.

She seems to have accepted this fact and feels a long-lost warmth and peace of mind in this "new home".

but-- Since her blood relative—the man named Luo Hongyu—has now taken the initiative to show a willingness to repair this already broken relationship and has also revealed a seemingly sincere attitude of "repentance."

So, this might really be a precious opportunity for Xiaoli to step out of the heavy shadows of the past and make up for the regret of missing family affection deep in her heart.

Of course, she was also very clear that behind this "opportunity" lay enormous risks that could not be ignored.

If Luo Hongyu's repentance is just a pretentious performance, if his purpose in approaching Xiao Li is not pure, then once Xiao Li opens her heart to him again and has expectations of him again, she will ultimately be betrayed and hurt once more.

That kind of blow would probably be devastating for her.

This dilemma—hoping that Xiaoli could find happiness and fulfillment while simultaneously fearing that she would be hurt again—clashed violently in Jiying's heart, plunging her into an even more intense conflict and struggle.

Ji Ying scratched her smooth black hair in frustration, feeling like her head was about to explode.

So, what is the right thing to do?

"well--" After agonizing for a long time, Ji Ying sighed heavily, then raised his hands and slapped his cheeks hard, trying to clear his mind of those chaotic thoughts for the time being.

If this action were placed on Lin Che's original face, it might have seemed unremarkable.

But at this moment, the petite girl "Jiying," with her playful side ponytail and daring hot pants and boots, unexpectedly exudes a charming and adorable aura when portrayed by her, with her slightly puffed-up cheeks due to distress.

Forget it! I don't want to think about it anymore!

After slapping his cheeks several times to force himself out of that obsessive thought, Ji Ying's eyes gradually became clear and firm.

That's right, there's no point in me overthinking things here.

Ultimately, the decision on this matter should be left to Xiaoli herself.

Moreover, she believes that Xiao Li is no longer the fragile little girl who couldn't bear anything.

She has the right to know the truth, and the ability to judge and choose how she should face the "father" who once brought her endless pain.

All I could do, and all I should do, was tell her everything I knew, including Luo Hongyu's statements, and then—silently support her from behind and respect any of her decisions.

This is the right choice.

After making this decision, the inner turmoil and hesitation in Jiying's heart finally eased a little.

She subconsciously straightened her short black jacket, which was slightly wrinkled from the fight, and her gaze fell on its excessively short hem.

Speaking of which—this outfit is still a bit too— The feeling of her waist and abdomen being completely exposed and chilly made her feel uncomfortable all over.

The moment this thought crossed her mind, a familiar black stream of light, constructed from ethereal energy, quietly appeared, following her intention.

The streams of light seemed to have a life of their own, starting from the hem of the jacket, rapidly extending downwards, expanding, and gradually solidifying into shape.

In just a few seconds, the short jacket that barely covered the upper body was replaced by a long black trench coat that reached the knees, with a simple yet stylish design.

The hem of her trench coat swayed gently in the breeze, making her long, slender legs, clad in black knee-high boots, appear even straighter and whiter.

After completing all this, Ji Ying nodded in satisfaction, stretched his body, and enjoyed the completely different wearing experience brought by this new "trench coat".

Well, although she still has that troublesome girlish figure, she looks much cooler now than before when her revealing outfit seemed "shameless".

Moreover, and most importantly, it made her feel more at ease and comfortable, at least her waist and abdomen, these key areas, were finally properly covered.

Even if Su Yuqing finds something to use against her and forces her to become a sex worker, this coat can still protect the itchy flesh on her waist and abdomen, right?

Now that she has relatively abundant energy, it's not an unbearable burden for her to occasionally "splurge" a little like this and change her look.

Just as she was feeling pleased and secretly delighted with her "new look" and was preparing to eliminate the remaining juvenile-level Void Beasts before returning home, a sudden change occurred.

Ji Ying's dark red pupils suddenly contracted, and a powerful magical energy wave, so strong that it made her heart tremble and filled with an aura of destruction, suddenly erupted from behind her without warning.

It was a dazzling beam of light, condensed to the extreme, seemingly capable of tearing the entire illusory bubble apart.

"boom!!!!!"

The next moment, a deafening roar, accompanied by a violent energy shockwave, instantly swept across the entire illusory bubble.

The billowing dust, like a surging tide, drifted everywhere, completely obscuring Ji Ying's petite figure.

>