Chương 162: Growth After Tears and the Vow of Revenge

After an unknown amount of time, the immense grief that had been suppressed in Luo Bingli's chest, almost tearing her apart, was finally released in large part with her scalding tears.

The heartbreaking cries gradually subsided, but her body was still trembling slightly, and her sobs, thick with nasal resonance, echoed in the room.

She remained nestled tightly in Ji Ying's warm and soft embrace, drawing strength and comfort from it.

During this process, she could clearly feel that Xiaoying was gently stroking her back with an extremely gentle touch.

The arms that were wrapped around her remained in a steady and firm posture, giving her silent support and reliance.

And the gentle comforting words in my ears, like the warmest spring breeze, gradually soothed the surging pain deep in my heart.

Luo Bingli instinctively hugged him tighter, even slightly adjusting her posture, burying her face deeper into Ji Ying's embrace, feeling the warmth and presence that made her feel incredibly safe.

Ji Ying noticed the girl in his arms making a subtle movement that carried a hint of dependence, and his heart ached even more.

She called out softly, as gently as possible, "Xiao Li—are you feeling better?"

The petite body in her arms trembled slightly, and after a while, Luo Bingli's voice, thick with nasal resonance and slightly hoarse, came: "————Mm."

Then, she slightly raised her head from Ji Ying's embrace, her red and swollen eyes still showing a trace of confusion, and softly asked, "Xiao Ying, when did you find out about these things?"

"Xingshuang—she has always maintained contact with me." Jiying's voice was gentle and calm as she patted Luo Bingli's back softly, comforting her continuously.

"So, when she happened to meet Yuexi that night and learned from her that there was only one Crescent Moon-level magical girl left in Jiangchuan City, I already knew the gist of the matter."

"And a few days ago, on the night that Xingshuang was attacked by that bastard Jingjue's independent mirror image, I was already certain from Jingjue's own words that the disappearance of those magical girls was all his doing."

Ji Ying paused, a guilty expression on his face, his tone full of apology: "I'm so sorry for keeping this from you all and not telling you the truth right away."

Upon hearing this, Luo Bingli gently shook her head. She reached out and wiped away the remaining tears from the corners of her eyes. Her voice was hoarse but surprisingly calm: "No—I don't mean to blame you and Senior Xing Shuang for concealing this matter. Xiao Ying, you don't need to apologize."

"I just wanted to thank you and Senior Xing Shuang for taking care of us all this time."

"Keeping such a heavy burden on your mind for so long—it must be really tough for you, right?"

Ji Ying was slightly taken aback, not expecting that Xiao Li would be able to understand him after experiencing such a huge emotional shock.

She gently shook her head: "This is nothing to me. Compared to this, Xiao Li, are you—are you really alright?"

Upon hearing this question, Luo Bingli's body trembled slightly again uncontrollably. She subconsciously reached out and tightly gripped the front of Ji Ying's nightgown, as if only in this way could she feel at ease.

After a while, she spoke slowly in a very soft voice: "Actually—I had some vague suspicions before."

"What?" Ji Ying was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and didn't quite understand.

"I've always found it strange that no seniors have come to our aid," Luo Bingli explained in a low voice, her eyes filled with a belated realization and bitterness.

"Later, after learning about the existence of the Void Realm Apostle 'Mirror Lord' from you, Xiaoying, and knowing that he possessed such terrifying power—I couldn't help but wonder if there was any connection between these two things."

"I originally intended to wait until Senior Xing Shuang returned before asking her directly—" Her voice grew softer and softer until it was almost inaudible, yet it carried a heartbreaking sense of helplessness and bewilderment: "I just never imagined that the truth would be so serious, so cruel."

"Even Senior Xing Shuang—she was attacked by that bastard before—thankfully she's safe and sound—"' At this point, Luo Bingli unconsciously tightened her embrace of Ji Ying.

Thinking that he had also concealed part of the truth from the two girls beside him in this matter, although it was still out of a desire to protect them and not want them to worry too much about his damaged "Tears of the Star" — But at this moment, faced with Luo Bingli's genuine concern for the safety of "Star Frost", Ji Ying still felt an indescribable sense of guilt.

She reached out and gently touched Luo Bingli's smooth short hair, saying in a gentle voice, "It's okay, Xiaoli, don't worry too much about her. Xingshuang is very strong."

Besides, she should be back in a couple of days, and then you can have a proper talk with her.

Luo Bingli narrowed her beautiful eyes, like a cat being stroked, enjoying the gentle touch from Ji Ying's fingertips, and even slightly shook her head, actively cooperating with his movements.

Then, in a tone filled with deep longing and anticipation, she said softly, "I also have so much to say to Senior Xing Shuang—"

"The last time I saw my senior was when she accompanied us shopping at the mall, although it hasn't even been a week yet."

"But for some reason, it feels like... a very, very long time has passed."

"I miss her so much."

"Um----" The girl's voice was filled with longing and dependence on "Star Frost," which stirred up a bittersweet feeling in Ji Ying's heart.

But then, as if suddenly remembering something, Luo Bingli raised her head slightly to look at Jiying and said softly, "But speaking of which, sometimes I feel—Xiaoying, you and Senior Xingshuang are quite similar in some ways, aren't you?"

"They are both so strong, so gentle, and so reassuring."

"Moreover, the tone of your voice and the way you comfort people sometimes give me a feeling that is somewhat similar."

"!!!"

When Ji Ying heard Luo Bingli's sudden comment, his heart skipped a beat, and he instinctively wanted to deny it.

She prayed frantically in her heart that Xiao Li and Yu Qing would never make a fatal request later, such as "I want Xiao Ying and Senior Xing Shuang to meet together," which could kill her on the spot.

Trying to maintain a calm expression, she replied in a somewhat helpless tone, "I can't be happy at all by praising me like that, Xiao Li."

"Hehe, really?" Luo Bingli let out a very soft laugh, and the corners of her lips curled up slightly.

Compared to her before, or even compared to the one who was still grieving and crying because of the fate of her seniors not long ago, Luo Bingli now seems to be more open-minded after this cathartic emotional outpouring.

She's more like an ordinary, adorable girl who finds her friends' embarrassment amusing.

It seems that his clumsy words of comfort and the warm embrace had indeed helped her open up to him more after venting all her negative emotions.

Looking at the faint smile of relief and ease on Luo Bingli's face, Ji Ying felt a pang of sadness. She sighed softly and thought to herself: —If only—if it weren't for this cruel thing, if only she could have laughed happily like this sooner—how wonderful that would have been.

A brief silence fell over the room, filled with a complex and subtle atmosphere.

After a long silence, Luo Bingli spoke again, breaking the stillness.

This time, Ji Ying could clearly sense that the sadness and hesitation in her words had quietly faded away, replaced by an unprecedented firmness and determination.

"Xiaoying————" Luo Bingli raised her head, her black eyes, which appeared even clearer and brighter because of the tears, seemed to be burning with an incomparably bright flame.

She asked, enunciating each word clearly, "Tomorrow, Miss Xingxian is planning to discuss with us—the battle plan against that bastard Jingjue, right?"

Seeing the unwavering determination in her eyes, Ji Ying vaguely guessed what was going on. She hesitated for a moment, then tentatively asked, "Xiao Li, what's wrong with you—"

"If possible—" Luo Bingli interrupted Ji Ying, her voice soft but resolute, "Please let me do my part too!"

"I will avenge my missing predecessors!"

Looking at the girl in his arms, whose cheeks were slightly flushed with excitement and anger, and the flames in her eyes that seemed to burn everything to ashes, Ji Ying felt a surge of indescribable emotions.

She neither immediately agreed nor directly refused. After a moment of silence, she asked, "Xiao Li, do you remember what I said to you when we first 'met'?"

"First time meeting you—" Luo Bingli was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, and fell into a brief moment of confusion.

But she quickly realized that Xiaoying was not referring to their first encounter as "Lin Che" and "Luo Bingli," but rather—the scene when she first saw the heavily armored knight named "Jiying," who was entirely covered in black armor.

And—the words that the other party said to me after negotiating with the smiling apostle of the Void Realm, Mirror Lord, were full of admonition.

Ultimately, becoming strong yourself is the most important thing, isn't it?

She subconsciously repeated the sentence softly, then looked up at Jiying in confusion, asking, "Jiying, what are you trying to say by saying this to me?"

Ji Ying shook his head slightly, his voice still calm: "It means exactly what it says, Xiao Li."

"Whether it's you or Yuqing, what you need to do most right now is to do everything you can to improve your strength."

At the very least—one must reach the Crescent level as soon as possible to barely have the ability to protect oneself.

"Therefore, after meeting with Miss Xingxian tomorrow, I will take the initiative to tell her that the two of you are not strong enough to participate in this operation to suppress Jingjue."

"Leave the matter of dealing with that guy Jingjue to me, Xingxian, and — Xingshuang. The three of us will handle it."

Upon hearing Ji Ying's words, the flame that had just ignited in Luo Bingli's eyes dimmed uncontrollably for a moment, as if she had been doused with a bucket of cold water.

But just moments later, the flames reignited, burning even brighter and more tenaciously than before.

She raised her head, stubbornly meeting Ji Ying's gaze, her voice filled with unwavering determination: "Xiao Ying, I know I'm still very weak right now, and I'm nothing compared to you."

"But I assure you, I will absolutely not hold you back, nor will I do anything that is beyond my capabilities."

"I will obediently follow your and Senior Xing Shuang's instructions and will absolutely not be a burden to you!"

"In return, please make sure I participate in this operation, even if it's just to clear out the outer fry."

"No matter what, I must do my part for those missing predecessors—for killing that bastard, Jing Jue!"

Ji Ying gazed silently at the stubborn girl in his arms, her small face tilted up, looking at him with an almost pleading gaze. He felt the unwavering determination in her words and struggled with a difficult decision in his heart.

Should I say yes? Or—steal my heart and refuse her outright to protect her?

Finally, after gazing into those clear eyes, filled with both expectation and resolve, for a long time, she still— He nodded slightly.

"Understood, I promise you."