Chapter 77: 76. Dancing in Your Palm

76. Dancing in Your Palm

Aelafia’s small hands cradled the Silver Heart Sword, offering it to Li Ang.

Beside them, Lancelot and Dorothy both made strange, meaningful noises. The young lady bit her lower lip, her voice sounding as if it were squeezed from her throat: "G-giving this? What is that supposed to mean?"

Li Ang reached out and grasped the hilt.

He immediately sensed the spirituality within the short sword, which felt like countless sharp edges; it embodied the highly aggressive magic power shaped by a Blade-Wielder.

As for the Silver Heart acting as the energy core, it was a rare source of power, and the magic it drew in was primarily inclined toward creating and shaping metallic substances—which was why only Aelafia would specifically collect it.

The Silver Heart further increased the short sword's offensive power, but Li Ang could also sense a layer of gentle force within the blade, restraining its destructiveness, as if Aelafia did not want Li Ang to be harmed by these sharp edges while using it.

Li Ang held the Silver Heart Sword and performed spiritual manipulation, forming silver blades made of pure magic substance around him; they spewed magic power, looking like flowing silver restrained in mid-air.

Aelafia chuckled: "Only a spiritual controller like you could unleash its power like this."

When ordinary people injected magic into the sword, it would only create a ring of floating blades like the multi-edged sword Lancelot used, the only difference being that they had become pure magic substances capable of destroying any natural matter.

But by manipulating his spirituality, Li Ang could exert abilities similar to Aelafia’s, freely controlling the number and attack patterns of the silver blades.

Li Ang swung the light short sword as if it were a staff, and the silver light quickly shot into the distance, piercing the wind wall of the airspace and vanishing from sight.

A few breaths later, the airflow ejected when the wind wall repaired itself finally reached the ship where the four of them were.

The wind wall was formed by a massive accumulation of wind elements; if it weren't for pure magic substance, nothing could touch it. And as for breaking it completely, such power did not currently exist in the world.

Li Ang used it to test the power of the summoned silver blades, and judging by the results, it was very impressive.

Aelafia raised her delicate little hand again, solidifying the silver pure magic substance at Li Ang’s waist to form a matching scabbard.

"Thank you, Aelafia. This is a great help to me right now," Li Ang said solemnly.

"It’s just an investment in the version of you that I want to see."

Afterward, Li Ang asked her why she had left her station temporarily.

"I made a run to the Sablume Airspace. A rare magic disaster brought in a Tier 9 large-scale magic beast. You know how chaotic it is over there; with all sorts of factions gathering, the Order Sandstorm Group can't keep it under control."

Among the four calm airspaces, the Sablume Airspace was the place where local forces were the most chaotic.

After a few more words of casual chat, it was time to say goodbye.

"I'm off. If we're late with the Empire's issues, who knows if those small-fry will drop the ball again. Li Ang, I will remember your reminder."

"Goodbye."

The young lady lifted her delicate chin: "Also, every time you say my name, it sounds like a mouthful for you. Just call me Aefi."

Having said that, she flew away rapidly to the side.

Watching Aelafia and Lancelot leave on that imperial ship, Dorothy’s small boat slowly passed through the shipping lane, crossing those vessels temporarily docked at the entrance, and sailed into the Floss Airspace.

Witnessing this familiar scenery, Li Ang felt a wave of relaxation wash over him.

This day had been thrilling, and the key was that he hadn't slept at all! Not even counting the day, he hadn't really slept back on Satus Island either.

As soon as he relaxed, Li Ang let out a huge yawn.

"Do you have a lounge chair or something on this ship?" Li Ang asked Dorothy.

The half-elf girl curled her lip and said nothing.

Li Ang turned and walked into the cabin: "Then I'll just find a corner to lie down in; I really can't take it anymore."

"Wait, no, you can just sleep in my bed," Dorothy chased after him: "I'm not ignoring you; I'm just angry at myself."

"Angry about what?"

"Others can give you such great help, but I can only watch."

"You’ve already joined my group; do you think I let just anyone in? Mastering your own power, saving me some worry, and becoming independent sooner—that is the greatest help you can give me."

Dorothy nodded repeatedly and added: "That young lady is really good to you, isn't she? Such a powerful weapon—I bet all my private savings wouldn't be enough to buy it."

Her estimation of the price was correct; high-tier equipment sold for even more in peaceful places. In the four airspaces, it was often a case of having a price but no market; even if a sucker were willing to pay the asking price, they might not be able to buy what they wanted.

"We might cooperate again in the future, so she’s helping me out in advance."

"That proud Persian cat acts like she's staking her claim. Yet, while she looks like a Persian cat, she's actually as fierce as a leopardess or a tigress. Damn it, by comparison, I'm a truly useless young lady."

"Why are you using such a proud tone?"

"My tone was just a bit rushed. I just feel like I've wasted so many years. I need to work hard too."

Dorothy nodded with every step and opened a decorative, trimmed door in the cabin: "It's right here."

Inside the door was a simple little room, and a gentle fragrance wafted out—a scent typical of the various washing and cosmetic products a girl uses in her daily life, combined with the way the chemical smell fades over time.

"Don't mind it," Dorothy whispered.

Li Ang had originally thought everything looked quite clean, but hearing her say that, his expression turned a bit strange.

Slowly, the girl seemed to realize the hidden implication in her words; her expression collapsed entirely, but she immediately stiffened, acting as if she hadn't said anything, though her face burned like a ripe fruit.

Li Ang pretended not to notice anything and walked toward the bed: "I hope you don't mind me being covered in dust."

"No, not at all, I was planning to wash it anyway."

Watching him sit down, Dorothy quietly sized up the small bed and Li Ang, then asked: "You're very tired, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I had already fought a bitter battle before coming to the Ignis Airspace. At this age, I don't have the luxury of pushing my body to the limit like I did when I first started adventuring."

"Then if you fall asleep, will you be able to notice if something happens nearby?"

"..."

Seeing the look Li Ang shot her, the elf girl feigned composure: "What? Of course one needs to know such things; otherwise, how would one consider safety when camping in the wild?"

"If I ensure it's completely safe, I'll enter a deep sleep, but if it's not safe, I'll set up a spiritual alert—like right now."

"Tsk."

"Spare me, I'm really about to pass out."

"I'm going to go pilot the ship. The direction is the Glacis Airspace, right?"

"Yes, but stop at the Trade Capital for a moment."

"Are you buying something?"

"Buying a few things."

"So vague. You aren't buying them for another girl in the group, are you?" Dorothy smiled.

Seeing Li Ang remain silent, she said in an uncertain tone: "No way, right?"

"Sleeping."

The half-elf girl stomped her foot in frustration: "There's one, and then there's another. Don't let another one pop up when we land at the Trade Capital."

She plopped down onto the bed: "Before you sleep, coax me, or I won't be able to steer the ship well."

Before Li Ang could say anything, Dorothy crawled forward. The dress she was wearing today was cinched from the waist up, and the fabric didn't close at the shoulders, held only by transparent straps.

With this movement, the mountains on either side of the deep, secluded valley seemed to want to escape, just like her own blooming, charming self.

Li Ang sighed.

Every one of them is dancing on the edge of my nerves.

Zoe flashed through his mind, then Aelafia; he felt that he became a different person when facing different people. Sometimes he wasn't even sure what kind of person he was anymore.

And as for Dorothy—

"I couldn't pretend not to hear those things you said in the secret passage."

As soon as he spoke, the girl’s body trembled, her breath hitching.

"If that kind of dynamic is what you like, I won't keep refusing, you know? It's just that things might get increasingly dangerous if we go down that path. For now, let me rest."

Dorothy’s eyes were seductive: "I can be sure, I like it."

She lay gently beside Li Ang: "Although I gathered the courage to leave my old life behind, I still know that I'm not someone who can carve out a world on my own."

"I'm like a canary; the cage kept me from spreading my wings and made me unwilling to sing. I wanted to leave, but once the cage was opened, I didn't know how to deal with the wild."

"I still need someone to take care of me."

"Now, I've chosen that person. His palms are warm and broad enough to hold me."

Dorothy placed her slender palm on Li Ang’s chest: "In the years to come, let me chirp softly and sway in a dance within your palms."

Having said this, the girl’s expression was as peaceful as a flower illuminated by sunlight after the clouds had dispersed; she gently helped Li Ang close his eyes, got up, left the room, and went to take the helm.