I am the old, fiery-faced man from the senior department.

The tail feels smooth and soft when wrapped around, and the slender tail can wrap around many times.

Compared to himself, his tail was more proactive in wrapping around him. Once the two tails touched, they would stick together tightly within three breaths, inseparable even if they wanted to.

The day tail will rub against the evening tail in response to its owner's breathing, especially the tip of the day tail. It will curl up the downy hair at the end of the evening tail and bury itself in it, gently stroking the tip of her tail until the evening tail responds.

Despite being a little brat, he's so skilled at touching each other's tails.

Should we say he's exceptionally talented or...?

Wait, what are you thinking... Xi, how can you fall so low? Don't forget who you are!

Xi suddenly came to her senses, shook her head, and wiped away all the distracting thoughts in her mind.

Let it go this time, but there can't be a next time!

"Sir, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

The umbrella was opened again to shield them from the scorching sun. The two were so close that Xi could see the sweat on his forehead.

It's still too hot outside.

"It's nothing. Go back quickly."

Xi wanted to go into the painting to calm herself down.

Returning to the Forty-Three Mountain Fires, Ink Rain

"Sir... phew..."

Lying on the straw mat, Bai Zhou was holding her own tail, a satisfied smile on her face as she drifted off to sleep.

"..."

Xi sat on the bed, hugging her knees, her expression complicated.

I... I think I've corrupted the kid...

After returning, Xi ran into a painting to observe the scenery and reflect on herself, trying to adjust her mindset to face the daytime.

but……

After thinking it over, Xi was shocked to realize that she was the one who started this mess.

hateful!

It's all the fault of that scribe!

I deliberately provoked her into eating so much spicy food!

Otherwise, why would she embarrass herself in front of the brat and wrap his tail so tightly around her?

"Ugh."

A sigh flashed by, and Xi rallied her spirits once more.

"No matter what happened before, we can't do that again."

They safely delivered the little devil to Yongning, letting him leave with his family, while they continued on their own paths.

That's it! No more changing my mind!

Having made up her mind, Xi stopped thinking about it, lifted the covers, crawled into bed, and started to sleep.

■

The journey continues.

But the various situations encountered on the road seemed to be getting worse and worse.

"Gah—!"

When they rested in the shade of a tree during their journey, the radish and green cabbage, which had been freed from their circling rings, surrounded Bai Zhou, rubbing their big heads against his clothes while pitifully raising their feet to show him.

"Oh dear, is this... a burn?"

Bai Zhou was surprised and pinched the front leg of the radish.

Although the ink-drawn creature is a life form created from ink, it can still be injured.

The radish and cabbage now have burnt and scalded appearances on their four legs and even their skin.

"How could this be..."

Just running on the ground, with their patience, the ants shouldn't get burned by the ground.

"Sir, what should we do?"

During the day, he gently stroked the heads of the two yaks to comfort them, while turning his head to ask Xi, who was staring blankly in the car, for a solution.

"Are you injured?"

Xi was very surprised after hearing Bai Zhou's account.

Logically speaking, this shouldn't have happened.

Xi got up and got out of the car, intending to check on the condition of the ants.

"It is indeed a burn."

Xi glanced at the injured skin of the vegetables, then took out her brush and ink to repair the wounds one by one.

But she was also puzzled and did not know how the bites were injured.

Although the weather has been getting increasingly hot lately, with the sun scorching everything around, the ground hasn't reached the point where you could lay a raw egg and get a cooked one. There haven't been any large-scale Originium Arts activations nearby either.

How did this injury come about?

Suddenly, Xi gazed intently into the distance.

"gentlemen?"

Seeing Xi's serious expression, Bai Zhou also looked over.

"Wildfire! Wildfire!"

The mountain in the daytime view was ablaze with several patches of orange-red amidst its verdant green, while thick black clouds surged and rose, and flocks of birds took flight from the forest and scattered in all directions.

"Sir, sir, what do we do? There's a wildfire!"

Bai Zhou roughly understood why the bites were injured.

They had just arrived here from the foot of that mountain. The perceptive A-Yao probably sensed the fire and heat, and combined with the unique structure of the ink of the Mo-Liang, that's why they showed signs of burns.

"..."

Xi didn't want to deal with this situation. After all, it was just a wildfire. Let it burn; it would eventually go out on its own.

Moreover, it takes a lot of effort to extinguish a wildfire of this size.

"us……"

"gentlemen."

The trusting call of daylight rang in her ears, and the words that Xi was about to say got stuck in her throat.

"Sir, please help those poor lives."

He glanced at the daylight, his face filled with anxiety. He was probably worried about the wild beasts that had lost their homes and were trapped in the flames, waiting to die.

The weak boy lacked the ability to extinguish the raging wildfire and could only place his hopes on a more powerful artist.

"...Tsk."

They're just wild beasts that have nothing to do with you. You can't even take care of your own safety, so why would you care about their lives?

Even if you save them, they won't feel anything for you; they won't even know you exist. What's the point of what you've done?

What an innocent and silly little brat.

"Step back!"

Xi drew her sword and aimed it at the mountain, which was already engulfed in flames.

To extinguish the fire, a lot of rain is needed.

Rain, only torrential rain.

Xi Gao raised his sword, then brought it down heavily, and heavy ink shadows surged into the sky, turning into dark clouds.

With a second swing of the sword, the blade swept across, accompanied by flashes of lightning and thunder.

With the third swing of the sword, the blade shattered into ink, and a torrential downpour ensued.

After doing all this, Xi looked at Bai Zhou again.

"Sir, how are you feeling? Let's go and rest, sir."

Bai Zhou released Luo Bo and Qing Cai and ran towards Xi when Xi swung her sword for the third time, and also helped her up when she looked over.

Xi leaned against Bai Zhou and raised her hand to tap his head.

Are you satisfied now, you brat? He even knew to come and take care of her right away; at least he's sensible.

"Sir, please slow down."

Bai Zhou helped Xi to sit down in the car.

"Leave once the fire is out."

As someone who stays at home, this really took a lot of effort for her, and it will take her a long time to recover.

"Ah."

During the day, Bai looked at Xi with concern, and the two yaks also ran over to check on their master's condition.

The torrential rain temporarily suppressed the heat of the land, and the wind that blew in turned into a refreshing breeze, making people feel comfortable.

"Sir, thank you. It's so wonderful to have met you."

Bai Zhou never imagined that Xi would actually agree to such an impolite request.

Even though this matter had nothing to do with her, as long as she said one word, Bai Zhou would obediently leave no matter what.

But she agreed.

Don't overthink it.