Chapter 40: Where on earth is my big, soft, cute, lovable Xi Er?!

"A splendid strike! The victor is 【Cold Noodle Little Azure Dragon】——as well as two spectators who temporarily joined the fight!"

"Spectators? Can't you give us a nickname too?" San Yue Qi felt speechless, wanting to roll her eyes.

Xing tilted his head: "Then… Cold Noodle Little Pink Dragon?"

"Ugh… forget it, the taste is terrible." San Yue Qi became even more speechless; as she raised her hand to her forehead, she suddenly saw a figure slowly walking toward the venue entrance: "Ah! Look, Sang Bo is over there!"

Xing clenched his fists: "We need to think of a way to beat him up!"

The three quickly ran out, blocking Sang Bo at the entrance of the battle arena before he could leave.

Upon seeing the three from the train crew, Sang Bo immediately switched to a fawning smile, rubbing his hands together like a fly: "Uh… hi! It's you guys, I wondered why a few people were following behind, thinking I might have run into bandits, and couldn't help but walk faster; if I'd known it was you, I would have opened my arms to greet you."

"Don't give me that; you clearly ran because you saw we were nervous!" San Yue Qi felt quite annoyed inside.

"Me? I don't feel guilty at all… Hahaha… I, Sang Bo, have always been clear‑conscience; goodness, did I unintentionally do something to offend all my good friends?"

"Besides, I've been secretly looking out for you all! Do you know how long the Iron Guard has been watching you? I barely found a chance to save someone…" Sang Bo grew more aggrieved as he spoke, putting on a pitiful expression, which only left San Yue Qi bewildered.

But Dan Heng wasn't so easily fooled: "Even so, there's no need to knock us out, right? Aren't you hiding something—like a secret you don't want us to know?"

It must be the passage between the upper and lower levels, right?

Jin Ke Si recalled how she and Wei had once gone to the upper district to steal things, relying on an extremely concealed sewer pipe. Sang Bo's ability to freely enter and exit the completely sealed upper‑lower districts must also rely on these hidden passages.

Such passages are considered a wealth code in Zaun; mastering any one of them is tantamount to holding the right to sell high‑end goods from the upper district, so Sang Bo must have done plenty of buying‑low‑selling‑high business.

She pulled the pin on a chewer's grenade at her waist, took out a small Hextech crystal shard from inside, and through its blue‑glowing light she seemed to see the little girl trembling behind Wei.

…All of these stories originated from that theft.

"Are there still passages to the upper city?" Xi Er Ke suddenly asked.

"Yes, of course there are, but you wouldn't want to go there dressed in that outfit, would you?" Jin Ke Si laughed, pointing at Xi Er Ke's coat, and couldn't help imagining him crawling into the sewer, which felt a bit creepy.

"Of course not."

Xi Er Ke slowly rose and walked to Jin Ke Si's side, pushing back the hair that shaded her right eye: "Jin Ke Si, you are the most special to me…… You are indeed our hope, but weapons from the upper city are also important."

"I've recently taken a liking to the saying—'Dignity lies only on the blade's edge'…… and what I want in this life is the respect of the upper‑city people."

Xi Er Ke said with interest: "Before that, I must master all passages to the upper city, stockpile enough weapons, and if the day comes when we have to fight…… I'll make those who have never shed blood know pain."

——

Dan Heng's gaze toward Sang Bo grew sharper, he stared fixedly at his eyes…… as if trying to see into his heart.

"Ugh!! Okay, okay!" Sang Bo hurriedly interrupted Dan Heng's imagination, his mouth loosening considerably: "I'll help you, holding nothing back, free of charge! Just please, brother, don't go spreading rumors everywhere! How about this: I'll first introduce you to 【Earth Fire】—if you want to find something underground, just ask them!"

"Why do we need to meet Earth Fire?" Xing recalled that Na Ta Sha had also mentioned this organization before.

"Listening to Little Brother Dan Heng say you're looking for a 【Star Core】—something that sounds powerful just by its name—【Earth Fire】 might have clues."

Dan Heng frowned: "Didn't you say you get the clue only after winning the championship in the battle club?"

Noticing the trio's ill‑intentioned gazes, Sang Bo broke into a nervous laugh: "Uh, uh… haha, yeah, if you win the championship you'll gain fame, and Earth Fire will be willing to see you—no problem."

Dan Heng: "……"

Sang Bo knew further talk was useless, quickly put on an apologetic smile and led the few to look for Earth Fire people, but after searching several places he found not a soul.

While he was puzzled, Sang Bo suddenly noticed a large crowd gathered on a high platform.

Upon approaching, he saw that the ones facing off were Bu Luo Ni Ya, together with some weapon‑wielding, fierce‑looking miners.

Sang Bo panicked: "Hey ladies and gents, don't just stand by! This absolutely must not blow up……!"

San Yue Qi crossed her arms, wearing a smug, schadenfreude‑filled expression: "Hearing you say that, I actually kind of want to see you get what's coming."

"We'd better not attract too much attention, but we can't just leave that kid unattended," Dan Heng said.

"Ah Qi is right, let's go rest," Xing also agreed.

"Uh, let's just say it as a joke—don't take everything I say seriously." San Yue Qi spread her small hands: "Actually I agree with Dan Heng's opinion; we can't just stand by while a cute girl gets bullied."

But before anyone could act, the scene changed dramatically: a few miners gathered together, furious: "You're so arrogant—don't blame me for not holding back!"

The next second, the trigger was pulled—only a "bang" was heard—as a bullet shot straight toward Bu Luo Ni Ya's chest!

Bu Luo Ni Ya's face grew solemn; at the moment the bullet fired, she instinctively stepped back, and in that critical instant countless azure‑blue rays flickered, as if trying to slice the whole space into fragments!

The bullet that had just been smoking now had turned into several segments lying on the ground.

The next second, a blue sphere of light appeared out of nowhere, and a beautiful girl wielding a sickle leapt down from midair. Her appearance was accompanied by countless drifting butterflies and a blinding, welding‑like light that made eyes widen.

"Sister Bu Luo Ni Ya! Look quick—I've appeared!"

Seeing her own isotopic counterpart, Xi Er became excited and shook Bu Luo Ni Ya's shoulders.

…However, Bu Luo Ni Ya had not yet recovered from the shock.

Is this really Xi Er?!

Blue hair, butterflies, the iconic large sickle, sexy shorts—this mature look carries a dash of sprightliness, and within that sprightliness hides a touch of cuteness…… it's, it's just too gorgeous!

Bu Luo Ni Ya grabbed Xi Er's soft little cheek with one hand and pointed at the handsome girl on the light screen with the other: "Quick! Quick, change me!"