The weapon refiner is not doing her job properly

Chapter 174 Lei Family's Younger Brother
If Phoebe had focused even a little bit on her studies during those six years, she wouldn't be stuck in the average student class now, on the verge of being eliminated.

Uncharacteristically, Little Phoebe grinned, revealing two rows of teeth with obvious yellow-black stains. That disgusting smile made Su Ninglong subconsciously frown.

He spat on the ground, "Pah! You hothouse lamb raised by the Star Alliance, just keep sitting in your well and looking at the sky! We'll see."

Despite his fierce verbal attacks, his body betrayed him by moving away from Su Ninglong; he didn't dare to make a move.

The main reason is that we can't beat them.

This woman's fists could cause someone to toss and turn in bed for days with pain, yet there would be no visible marks on their body.

He didn't want to repeat that lesson.

Phoebe turned around decisively and hurriedly fled the scene.

Su Ninglong's eyes flickered as she keenly noticed that the direction he left in was neither the way to the classroom nor the way back to the dormitory.

She stood there, thoughtfully looking around the quiet alley.

Star Alliance Academy has tight security, with "sky eyes" monitoring the area around the clock. There is a brightly lit camera at the end of the alley.

Here, by sheer coincidence, is the entrance to a public restroom, which conveniently creates a blind spot, perfectly providing cover for Phoebe's extortion attempt.

Thinking back to the information provided by Bai Cai, Su Ninglong couldn't help but feel a complex and indescribable sense of melancholy.

Some people, after staying in a place for a long time, will regard that place as their place of belonging and home.

For others, resentment and hatred only grow stronger day by day, and they eventually only want to escape or even seek revenge.

Through that brief probing exchange, Su Ninglong was certain that Little Phoebe was truly determined to leave the Star Alliance, and would most likely choose a path filled with malice.

Looks like I'll have to treat that dutiful little guy, Bai Cai, to some of his favorite snacks when I get back.

Pulling herself back to reality, she turned her gaze back to the tearful little boy.

She crossed her arms over her chest, leaned slightly forward, and asked with a hint of scrutiny, "Little one, how did you end up in such a remote place all by yourself? I remember the preschool's activity area and classrooms aren't here, are they?"

This place is really a bit remote for such a young child.

The child wiped away tears with the back of his chubby hand, sobbing but speaking clearly: "I came to find my sister. Mom said she's in this school, and I begged the housekeeper to take me to the exam. But after I got to the school, I still couldn't find her..."

The child's voice was filled with grievance and disappointment.

Su Ninglong frowned slightly: "If your sister is indeed at school, you should go directly to the guide to help you find her. That's the safest and most effective way. Instead of wandering around the school like a headless fly."

The child clearly recognized Su Ninglong, raising his big, wet eyes to look at her with a tone of dependence and complaint: "I've already asked the guide! But he said he searched the entire system and there's no such person in the school."

"Can't find this person?" Su Ninglong thoughtfully stroked her chin. For even the guide to find no such person, either this person is in the highly confidential inner courtyard, or their identity belongs to the core group that requires strict protection, or this person is not even in the school.

"Who are you looking for? Give me their name."

The child sniffed and whispered, "My sister's name is Lei Qingya!"

Lei Qingya?!

Su Ninglong tentatively asked, "What's your name?"

The child, head held high and chest out, told Su Ninglong in a clear voice, "My name is Lei Tinghua."

Su Ninglong burst out laughing. This child was actually Lei Qingya's younger brother.

Su Ninglong could almost picture the "spectacular" expression on Lei's father's face when he learned that his youngest son possessed superpowers.

Both heirs of the Lei family may be born with a rebellious streak, with an inherent inclination to be uneasy and unable to properly inherit the family business.

Lei Qingya is the best example. In the past, she would rely on her family for some "funds". Now she has learned to make money work for her. If it weren't for her shopping spree, she would be a wealthy woman with considerable savings. She would not need to go back to inherit the family business at all.

The little guy in front of me, Lei Tinghua, has surpassed his teacher, becoming a Spirit Master right after enrolling in school.

On second thought, it seems that this Mr. Lei is not entirely inflexible. After learning that his son is a spiritualist, he chose to send the child to the Star Alliance. This open-mindedness is commendable.

Suppressing her thoughts, Su Ninglong looked at Lei Tinghua, who was staring at her expectantly, and asked, "Don't you have your sister's contact information? Like her phone number or something?"

The little guy pouted sadly and shook his head like a rattle: "No, Dad said I can't let my sister contact me, because he's afraid she'll corrupt me."

His big eyes were filled with confusion and sadness. Mom clearly said his sister was a great hero saving the universe! Why was Dad saying bad things about his sister?

"It's okay." Su Ninglong rubbed his little head and comforted him. "I know where she is. I'll take you to find her. But before that, you need to contact the guide and tell him that you're coming with me, so he won't worry."

"Mmm!" Lei Tinghua burst into laughter through her tears, as if she could already see her sister's figure. "That's great! I'm going to go find my sister with Sister Su."

Children's happiness is so simple and pure.

Su Ninglong took Lei Tinghua's little hand and led him through the campus, heading straight for Yang Zhu's courtyard.

Upon arrival, she directly and concisely informed Lei Qingya: "Your younger brother, Lei Tinghua, is with me. Come and claim him immediately."

Lei Qingya was clearly surprised when she received the news, and she rushed over almost immediately.

When she rushed into Yang Zhu's courtyard, water droplets were still dripping from her temples, her fair cheeks were covered in moisture, and a towel was draped around her neck. Clearly, she had just taken a bath and hadn't even had time to dry her face before arriving.

Her gaze immediately fell upon the chubby little boy sitting on a small stool, happily munching on a piece of jerky.

Although they don't meet often in real life, the numerous photos her mother sent made her instantly recognize this "little troublemaker."

"Sister!" As soon as Lei Tinghua saw Lei Qingya, he immediately threw the jerky aside, screamed with delight, and ran towards the tall figure like a small cannonball.

His admiration for Su Ninglong instantly soared to its peak. The older sister who even the guide couldn't find, Su-jiejie found her in no time. Su-jiejie was indeed omnipotent! Just as the little guy was about to rush into his arms with his hands covered in grease and bits of dried meat, Lei Qingya reacted quickly, extending a slender finger and precisely tapping his smooth, full forehead, forcefully stopping his momentum.

Lei Qingya looked at her younger brother's chubby little hands, which were covered in oil, and frowned in disgust: "Stop! Your hands are filthy. Go wash your hands first."

Lei Tinghua's name sounds like "obedient," and he truly lives up to his name.

He wasn't annoyed when his sister tapped his forehead; instead, he immediately and obediently replied, "Oh!" Without hesitation, he turned around and ran off to wash his hands with his short legs.

He not only washed his little hands carefully, but also rubbed his little face, which had some oil on it, thoroughly.

Only after she had cleaned herself up and looked neat and tidy did she skip and hop back to Lei Qingya, tilting her little face up, opening her arms, and asking in the most enthusiastic voice, "Sister, hug me!"

Faced with Lei Tinghua's shameless yet affectionate manner, Lei Qingya's last bit of resistance crumbled instantly.

This familiar expression bears a striking resemblance to Su Ninglong's appearance when she was a child.

She sighed helplessly, but finally bent down and picked up the little white, doughy creature.

When her younger brother's small face, with its uniquely sweet, milky scent, affectionately pressed against the crook of her neck, the instant their delicate skin touched, an indescribable warmth quietly flowed through Lei Qingya's heart.

It was a primal bond deep within her blood that stirred a strange yet tender flutter in her heart within a few breaths.

When the warm face pressed against his, and their skin touched, Lei Qingya felt the connection between them, and a few moments of excitement flashed through his heart.

This tender moment didn't last long, as Lei Qingya's keen senses immediately detected the active spiritual energy within the child in her arms.

Her expression hardened, and she stepped back slightly, scrutinizing her younger brother with surprise: "You... are you a student of the Star Alliance now?"

“Yes!” Lei Tinghua proudly puffed out her little chest and unconsciously sniffed.

Mom wasn't lying; my sister smelled wonderful, a sweet and clean gardenia scent.

He secretly glanced at Su Ninglong, who was standing quietly beside him, and silently added in his mind that Su-jie's scent seemed more special, like large clusters of blooming ginger flowers, with a clear and warm fragrance that could be smelled from afar.

Lei Qingya's brows furrowed even more. The awakening of superpowers is by no means accidental; it usually requires a specific "trigger point."

She asked softly, "Tell me, when did you discover you had this special ability?"

“Mom said I had it when I was a year and a half old,” Lei Tinghua answered matter-of-factly, his little face full of pride. “It must be because I inherited your amazing talent, sister.” He felt he had found the most reasonable explanation.

“Talent is one aspect,” Su Ninglong, who had been observing silently, suddenly spoke up. Her voice was calm yet insightful. “But his soul is exceptionally solid, and the strength of his soul energy far exceeds that of ordinary children, even surpassing that of many adults. This level is not simply innate.”

She paused, then turned her thoughtful gaze to Lei Qingya, "Perhaps, during your mother's pregnancy, she took something special?"

In a flash, a previously overlooked detail became crystal clear. Lei Qingya froze on the spot as if he had been frozen in place, his throat feeling as if it were being choked by an invisible hand. After a long while, he managed to squeeze out a sentence: "I gave my mother a few of the longevity pills you gave me before."

The floodgates of memory opened, and Su Ninglong began to worry about their lifespans because Zou Shuyi and Xingyuan had no intention of embarking on the path of cultivation.

She was determined to work on improving their physical health and extend their lifespan as much as possible.

To this end, she even ventured into the field of elixirs, which she was not particularly good at, and painstakingly devised several mild longevity elixir formulas.

Each of the sugar-coated pills was personally tested by her to ensure its mild and safe properties before being handed over to her friend.

With extreme caution in mind, Su Ninglong first had several close and physically strong partners, such as Shen Zhaoming and Lian Xinyi, try the product.

After taking it, their bodies naturally expelled some long-accumulated, insignificant "toxins" without any adverse reactions.

After confirming its safety and gentleness, Su Ninglong handed the pills to Zou Shuyi and Xingyuan with peace of mind, instructing them to take one or two pills every now and then, treating them as a special kind of "candy".

As the only personally instructed disciple, Lei Qingya naturally received more favorable treatment.

She could eat as much as she wanted, even though the pills had little effect on her body, which had already embarked on the path of cultivation, they could still serve as a snack to satisfy her cravings.

Moreover, the taste of this elixir is truly exceptional, possessing a delicate tea aroma and a warm, comforting rice fragrance that sets it apart from ordinary fruit candies on the market, resulting in a unique flavor.

That's why Lei Qingya felt that good things should be shared with the closest people, so he casually took a few and gave them to his mother who was far away at home.

Now, if we calculate the time carefully, the day when Lei's mother took those sugar pills was probably exactly the early stages of her pregnancy with Lei Tinghua.

After hearing Lei Qingya's calculations, Su Ninglong's expression turned strange. "So, by some twist of fate, your Lei family has lost another heir?"

After all, a gifted spiritualist doesn't seem like the type to settle down and go back to being a "crown prince."

"Stop talking." Lei Qingya interrupted almost through gritted teeth, his face contorted with rage, clearly regretting his words.

From now on, no matter how good or tempting the things Su Ninglong gives her are, she will absolutely, absolutely, absolutely never give them to anyone again.

Who would have thought that a few tiny sugar pills would trigger a series of unexpected chain reactions?

Suppressing her regret, Lei Qingya took a deep breath, gently put her younger brother down, and squatted down to earnestly instruct him: "I need to call Mom first. Remember, don't wander around at school anymore. If you still can't find me, just come here to find Sister Su, or ask someone to guide you here, understand?"

Lei Tinghua nodded blankly, and after being put down by Lei Qingya, he picked up the jerky and continued chewing.

Seeing Lei Tinghua like this, Su Ninglong vaguely saw herself at the age of four, innocent and adorable, everything she did back then exuded a pure and innocent charm.

It's a pity that time is a cruel mistress.

"Time waits for no one." She sighed, feeling nostalgic.

As a child, I felt like I had the most lenient pass in the world.

Back then, even if she jumped around on the table and made crooked dance steps, she would only receive kind laughter and encouraging applause from the adults.

That feeling of being unrestrained and completely accepted is the brightest background color of childhood.