ABFMV Chapter 16 Part 1

The question left Xu Linlang momentarily speechless.

The reason she’d saved Qiye back then was simply because she hadn’t wanted him to die—there was never any ulterior motive. Naturally, she’d never thought about wanting anything in return from him.

So when Qiye asked her that, she had no idea how to answer. At last, she waved her hand dismissively. “I don’t need any repayment.”

But Qiye was stubborn. “Then think of one now.”

Linlang thought carefully. “Then… you have to treat me better in the future. And you can’t kill me.”

She emphasized those last four words.

Qiye’s hands paused, his eyes lifting to hers. “Why would I ever kill you?”

All he wanted was to protect her—how could he possibly harm her? Had she been shaken from seeing him slaughter that beast? No, that couldn’t be it—she had been unconscious at the time.

Feigning casualness, she said, “Well, people always say life is unpredictable. You never know—someday we might end up on opposite sides. Who can say?”

Qiye finished applying the healing herbs and spoke with deep solemnity. “Even if we do stand on opposite sides someday, I will never hurt you.”

It wasn’t just reassurance—it was a vow.

What he didn’t say aloud was that if anyone else dared to hurt her, he would kill them without hesitation.

“I would never kill you, so that doesn’t count as repayment. Think of something else.”

Linlang propped her chin on her hand. “Then… if you ever have the power, I want you to protect the Xu family. I don’t want anything to happen to them.”

“That’s all?” Qiye asked.

She nodded. “That’s all.”

It sounded simple, but in reality, it was anything but. Still, if she wanted to survive in this world, she had to keep her family safe.

“Alright. I promise you.”

Hearing that, Linlang’s lips curved slightly. She held out her pinky. “Then we have to make a pinky swear.”

Qiye looked at her in puzzlement—clearly, he didn’t know what that was.

She didn’t explain. Instead, she hooked her pinky around his. “Pinky swear, hang it high, no changes for a hundred years. Whoever breaks it is a puppy.”

Qiye’s finger tightened gently around hers. His voice was low. “Mm. Whoever breaks it is a puppy.”

When their fingers slipped apart, he slowly pulled his hand back. “I’ll take you back.”

“No, no, I haven’t found my cat yet!” Linlang shook her head furiously. “Besides, in your current form, you really can’t be seen by other people, right?”

Expression calm, Qiye said, “That little white cat is mine. I’ll send it to your room later.”

“You raised it?” she blurted, startled.

Then it clicked. She had first met the cat at the beast arena, and the game lore did mention Qiye had once been abused there. Thinking about it like that, it wasn’t strange at all that the cat belonged to him.

Qiye leaned closer, his face lowering toward hers. “So. Should I take you back now?”

They were so close she could see every exquisite detail of his features. For a moment, she felt dazed, as if dreaming, her soul floating free.

She realized she was staring blankly at him—then gave a tiny nod.

Qiye smiled faintly, his voice soft in her ear. “Hold tight to me.”

Before she could react, he half-lifted her. She toppled into his arms, her chin resting neatly at his shoulder.

Then his great wings spread open, and with a powerful leap, he shot upward, kicking up wind and dust.

Linlang clung to him instinctively, arms wrapped around his slender neck. The sudden lurch of flight was like a free-fall ride back in the modern world. Her heart nearly flew into her throat.

Qiye was impossibly fast. In the span of a few breaths, they were already at the edge of the barrier.

He descended smoothly, setting her on a wooden post before drawing in his wings.

A white radiance glowed around him, bathing the bushes in an otherworldly mist, lighting up the night.

Then slowly, the light faded, leaving stillness behind.

A black-haired boy now stood before her.

His skin was pale, his dark hair falling across his brow, his handsome features given an almost fragile, sickly beauty.

He wore a white shirt, his slim neck exposed, faint blue veins visible beneath the skin.

The moment Linlang looked straight at him, a line from a novel flashed through her mind: Extreme beauty can be a weapon that wounds.

Her heartbeat stumbled. She quickly turned away, not daring to keep staring.

But Qiye stepped forward and pulled her gently into his arms, holding her like a kitten. “I’ll take you back to the dorms.”

Flustered at the intimacy, Linlang protested, “But people will see you—”

This was the form he had before his bloodline awakened. She had seen it in the game CG archive.

This very face had once been on the military’s wanted list. If he appeared like this now, he’d be reported and arrested before they even made it past the barrier.

Yet Qiye kept walking, unbothered. “It’s fine.”

Linlang searched his expression for a clue, but there was nothing to read. If he was certain, then maybe it really was fine.

“You weren’t afraid of how I looked before,” he said, more a statement than a question.

Tilting her head, she replied, “It wasn’t scary. Why should I be afraid?”

Qiye went silent for a moment. “Those traits prove I’m not human.”

“Half-blood, that’s all. Not some parasite or mutation. Now that would scare me.” Linlang brushed it off casually.

After all, she’d played the game. Hybrids didn’t bother her in the least—and Qiye’s form was stunning, not monstrous. What was there to fear?

Peering curiously at his back, she added, “But wings that big disappearing in an instant—that’s really something.”