Chapter 56: with translation of chapter title

cotton candy

The Light Sprite's wings that were flapping on its back gradually fell down, sticking to its spine, and it glanced at the blue egg rolling around on the expanse of clouds.

It shut its eyes tight, as if making some decision, the whole Light Sprite glowed with a layer of golden light in Fu Guang's palm.

The golden halo above its head blazed bright.

The golden sprite was like a small sun, warm and cozy held in the palm.

A slightly cool hand patted the halo about to merge into the "sun," "What are you doing?"

Fu Guang interrupted the Light Sprite's sacrifice-like act, her ethereal voice like a crescent moon shining: "Just a simple temporary mark, shouldn't need source power."

Fu Guang didn't expect the Light Sprite to keep its promise so faithfully; although she couldn't understand what the little sprite was doing, she couldn't possibly mistake the aura of source power.

In her eyes, the source power belonging to the Sentinel smelled like a soft sweet taste, like a bite that entwines lips and tongue, soft and fluffy, sweet-sweet, soft and puffy.

The Light Sprite's half-body turned into light mist, leaving only a pair of eyes; it seemed dazed, blinking blink-blink.

Fu Guang reached out to pull the Light Sprite from the light mist; the sprite's flowing light mist paused for a moment, then the next instant the sprite's tiny palm pressed against Fu Guang's palm.

It glanced at Fu Guang, pulled its wings forward from behind, and forcefully plucked the sharpest flight feather at the tip.

One could see the little sprite was in pain; it handed the feather to Fu Guang, continuously blowing on it for itself.

Fu Guang smelled the sweet-sweet source power surging; the feather at the little sprite's wing tip slowly grew, though the sprite's radiant body dimmed considerably.

The feather fell into Fu Guang's hand, instantly lengthening into a golden quill, light and airy.

Fu Guang examined the flight feather closely; the wings were the little sprite's most important part, this feather should be its token after the promise, allowing the Sentinel to obey her command without her needing to give anything.

She lifted her gaze to the little sprite; they had agreed it was a contract, naturally it wouldn't change.

She reached out; a drop of blue water rose and merged into the pale golden Light Sprite. Blue light enveloped it, gradually condensing beneath its eyes into a blue tear-shaped mole.

As time passed, the moment that tear mole completely disappeared was when their contract ended.

The familiar big fish appeared for an instant in the cloud layer then vanished.

Fu Guang patted the seemingly scenery-watching but actually secretly earnestly eating Xiao Lan.

With a warning in its eyes, the blue egg rolled over to Fu Guang's side, nuzzling affectionately, indicating it was confident it wouldn't let the Sentinel discover it.

Holding the blue egg in her arms, Fu Guang's figure faded lightly in the mental landscape.

Although this contract had some mistakes, the eventual result was still as expected.

Fu Guang opened her eyes; her hand remained held by the Sentinel in that posture, she didn't withdraw it but poked the jade-colored mask, warm yet stiff, her fingertips a bit sore.

She nonchalantly took her hand back from the Sentinel, completed a task, Fu Guang's mood was good.

Gazing at the Sentinel's straight nose bridge, smooth jawline, and the blue tear mole half-covered by the jade mask, she asked, "Is wearing the mask a custom of your homeland?"

The Sentinel also just opened his eyes; a blue flickered across his pale gold irises, his voice slightly hoarse: "No."

Fu Guang stretched the golden flight feather to the length of her forearm, then rose to tinker with the room's mechanism lock, "Do you mind if I use it as a pen?"

"Whatever." The Sentinel followed closely, his tall figure looming over Fu Guang.

Fu Guang didn't look back, her movements slowed.

After a moment, she turned back, dissatisfied, looking at the Sentinel and said, "Sorry, move aside, you're blocking the light."

Xi Guang said nothing, condensing a light ball in his hand and handing it to Fu Guang; the room instantly brightened, but it flashed in Fu Guang's eyes.

Fu Guang pinched her fingertips, smiling with her lips but not her eyes, and said, "Sentinel, lower the brightness."

As long as she wasn't in danger, Fu Guang had high standards for quality of life, unwilling to suffer any loss, colloquially called being spoiled.

Being able to tolerate bright light doesn't mean she wants to act in bright light in daily life.

She leaned against the console, arms crossed, watching Xi Guang's movements, she didn't want the coming year to be a miserable state.

Hiring people was meant to make her life easier, not to create trouble for herself; if nothing else works, she could only assign Xi Guang as an enforcer.

Xi Guang obeyed, judging from that expressionless face whether the light was within Fu Guang's most comfortable range.

The Light Sprite appeared, snatching the light ball from Xi Guang's hands, holding a light ball about its size, quickly adjusting by intuition to what it deemed the optimal focal point, then bringing it before Fu Guang.

The light ball was somewhat dim, but it could still illuminate objects.

Just right, Fu Guang took it and placed it on the console, then turned and typed away with a clatter.

Machinery, current, and elemental forces all operated; at a certain point, Fu Guang flicked out a water-element.

"Bang." The door burst open instantly, echoing throughout the villa.

"So fast, done?" At the turn of the hallway by the door, five people stood.

Chan Yi, Shu Tong, Liu Yun, Ting Zhu, and Qing Feng.

Hearing the sound, they all turned back to look.

Leading the way was Fu Guang; behind her, the tall Sentinel followed step for step, and on her shoulder sat a Light Sprite cradling a light ball.

The child has grown up.

Chan Yi wondered why that phrase came to mind.

Contracting the Sentinel, rising to prominence, rushing to the battlefield—every guide follows this process; after completing it, the survivors will prop up the tottering federation.

She looked at the tall, graceful girl—superior talent, notable potential, outstanding intellect, and adept handling—such a child would naturally head for the top.

As long as no one harms her.

She gathered her thoughts and walked back to the living room with Fu Guang.

Ting Zhu's steps were slow, lagging to align with Xi Guang; in an instant he reached for the light ball in the Light Sprite's hand, but Xi Guang raised an arm to block, their bones clashing with a "clang."

Their eyes met, as if sparks flew.

"Take it outside." Fu Guang said without turning back, her tone grim: "Break something, and get out to live elsewhere."

"Sir, is this done?" Liu Yun hadn't sensed the incoming mental power, hence his doubt.

Shu Tong glanced at her clueless brother and explained to Fu Guang, "It's a temporary contract; it won't link into the mental network."

Everyone says there is a mental network, so why does Shu Tong need to say it to her face?

On one hand, Shu Tong also sensed the threat of the S-rank Sentinel—not a martial one, but rather the worry that the hesitant adult might despise them.

After all, she and her brother are only A-rank; there's too little they can do for the adult.

Fu Guang settled into her rocking chair, gesturing for the snow‑bird siblings with droopy brows and downcast eyes to come over.

"What are you thinking about?" she said, waving her hand; the two siblings' spiritual forms appeared out of nowhere and landed on the rocking chair's back.

Chirp. The two snow‑white birds were plump, like little white snowballs.

Fu Guang stroked each snow‑bird's little head, and the siblings instantly felt refreshed.

"Senior Qing Feng, has the bloodthirsty vine been dealt with?" Qing Feng is the main force tasked with resolving the lingering issues of the bloodthirsty vine on this return; aside from the first day, he has been busy and they have never met.

"There are some troubles; I need your help." Qing Feng's azure eyes turned toward Fu Guang as he spoke.