Chapter 849: Pain and Joy

Seeing Lu Mi didn't speak, Yu Jianna smiled instead:

"Doesn't a good team leader need to care about members' personal needs and balance internal conflicts? Yes, when you 'Hunters' reach higher sequences, you can conquer people outright and turn them into puppets, so you don't have to worry about all this—but right now, you seem unable to do that."

Yu Jianna's eyes flickered slightly as she added with a smile:

"There's another benefit for you: you said the emotions and desires of a 'Mendicant' never fully vanish—they slowly accumulate, and once they reach a certain point, they must be released, or they become a hazard. And you haven't truly let loose in a long time."

"Killing won't fully release them, and there aren't enough villains around for you to slaughter at once."

Here, Yu Jianna gazed clearly at Lu Mi and said teasingly:

"Alright, I've explained my reasons, the benefits, and possible consequences. Captain, it's time for you to decide."

Before Lu Mi could speak, Yu Jianna bit her lip and hesitantly added in a low voice:

"And one more reason: we've faced so much danger, we don't know when we might die or lose each other—I don't want to leave with regrets."

Hearing this, Lu Mi looked at Yu Jianna and fell silent for a long while before sighing:

"You've already become an excellent 'Instigator.'"

Yu Jianna blinked once:

"So… you agree?"

Lu Mi nodded heavily:

"Only during your time as the 'Joyful Witch.'"

Yu Jianna's slightly forward-leaning body suddenly drew back a little, her shoulders, propped up by her hands, sinking slightly.

The emotions she had forcibly suppressed beneath her smiling face finally released a portion of their weight.

Her gaze settled on her knees as she laughed, half-self-mocking, half-wistful:

"Then I can finally digest the 'Pain' Elixir."

Lu Mi remained silent, offering no reply.

After a few seconds, he said:

"I'll find a chance to tell Franca about this. It's a matter of respect for her."

"I thought you'd ask Franca's opinion before making a decision," Yu Jianna said quietly for a second, then smiled.

Lu Mi sighed again:

"It's a matter of respect for you."

He sighed because he sensed the true emotion hidden in her words: Yu Jianna knew Franca was an unavoidable part of this, yet she hoped the outcome—good or bad—would stem only from her and Lu Mi, not from Franca. She intended to face Franca herself. That's why, when she'd earlier asked "What about Franca?", she'd suddenly grown angry and resentful, impulsively offering to help him digest the 'Pain' Elixir. Lu Mi had realized this through her answer, and now understood what this joke truly represented.

Lu Mi quickly changed the subject:

"You're one of the most action-driven people I've ever met."

"A nice word is decisive, courageous; a harsh word is impulsive, reckless," Yu Jianna said, her eyes—like an autumn lake—returning to Lu Mi, fully unveiling the allure of the 'Joyful Witch' as she smiled faintly. "Now, shouldn't we talk about something else?"

She removed the fake mole from the center of her nose and asked Lu Mi with a smile:

"Do you remember when I told you what different placements of the fake mole meant the first time we met?"

Lu Mi smiled wryly:

"That was our second meeting."

"The first time I didn't even see you—it doesn't count," Yu Jianna said, slowly sliding her hand holding the fake mole downward, past her graceful chin, past her fair, slender neck, past the floral decorations piled on her chest, until it rested on the second button of her shirt.

She asked brightly:

"What does this mean?"

Lu Mi's gaze involuntarily followed her hand. He closed his eyes and said:

"It means a secret."

Yu Jianna smiled, rose slowly, and walked toward Lu Mi, who sat at his desk, with a hesitant, drifting step.

Her voice dropped low, brushing softly against his ear like a whisper:

"I know it's hard for you to take the first step—you're still not ready. That's fine. I'll guide you."

"You're still a virgin…."

Yu Jianna chuckled softly, stepped before Lu Mi, and placed her hands on his shoulders.

After a one-second pause, she lowered her head and pressed her lips to his.

Lu Mi smelled fragrance and allure, tasted softness and sweetness, felt the slight chill and tremble of her lips, and sensed her tension and unease.

…………

Apartment 702, No. 9 Aoluosaijie.

Franca studied those characters deep into the night and finally received a reply from 'Hela': the woman agreed to convene a full meeting of the 'Hairy Baboon Research Society' soon.

She exhaled, entered her room, sat before the small analyzer, and shared with the telegram group members her accidental discovery of what seemed to be ancient script from before her transmigration. She chatted with '007' and others until past one a. .

The next day, she woke at around eight.

Her habits and the weight of her thoughts kept her from sleeping in.

After washing and breakfast, Franca hesitated over her next move:

"Should I first find Lu Mi and tell him about the 'Black Witch' and the oracle bone script—or should I find Anthony first to see if he's learned anything about the mineralogist Gasi Min from explorers and smugglers who frequent underground Trill?"

After a few seconds of thought, Franca decided to find Anthony first: the 'Hypnotist' rose early and returned late, juggling his old trade as an information broker and pushing forward his application to the 'Psychological Alchemy Society.' If she waited, she'd miss him until nightfall.

Besides, if she went to Lu Mi herself, she might expose his current residence to the 'Black Witch.' She planned to wait until Lu Mi came to her at night.

…………

Behind a slightly parted curtain, Lu Mi stood bare-chested, silently watching Ludwig savoring meat pies from the noodle shop across the street—his entire demeanor seemed refreshed.

Behind him, Yu Jianna lay prone on the bed, half-covered by the quilt, her calves drawn up and gently swaying, her cheeks still flushed.

She gazed at Lu Mi's profile and whispered with a smile:

"Feeling shy?"

Lu Mi let out a dry "Hah."

"Last night, who was the one who got shy? First you wanted to pull the curtains, then you asked me to create a 'Spiritual Wall' to muffle the noise, then you said the 'Spiritual Wall' wasn't enough, you needed a 'Fictive Vessel,' then suddenly you got scared and wanted to postpone, then you kept saying 'next time, next time…'"

Yu Jianna chuckled softly:

"I was trying to make you eager—to unleash all the emotions and desires you've stored up through years of 'Mendicant' restraint."

"I must say, you did quite well yesterday—better than I expected. Of course, your initial performance was perfectly in line with your innocence."

Lu Mi replied with amusement:

"Do all 'Witches' have such stubborn mouths?"

"You've infected me," Yu Jianna nodded firmly, confirming it was true.

She smiled again:

"Why aren't you looking at me?"

"You're shy, aren't you?"

She seemed to have regained the feeling she had when she first met Lu Mi.

Lu Mi made a "tsk" sound:

"I have business—I need to watch Ludwig. I'll have to follow him covertly soon."

"Why?" Yu Jianna asked, puzzled. "Back in Sangtagang, you always let Lu Jianuo take Ludwig out wandering alone."

"I didn't know then he was a sealed angel, and Trill has so many cultists of the Xieshen," Lu Mi explained in detail. "When I went to Morala, I kept Ludwig indoors as much as possible—he's content as long as he has food. I feared he'd meet other followers of the 'Devouring Vortex' in Trill. Lu Jianuo is only Sequence 7 and not especially combat-oriented."

"Then Ludwig might follow the 'Devouring Vortex' cultists—and he's crucial to your ritual within this short time," Yu Jianna realized.

Lu Mi turned his gaze away, bent down, and tried to pick up his clothes from the floor.

After scanning the room, he decided to take a fresh set from the 'Traveler's Satchel.'

Yu Jianna watched him dress and walk toward the door with a constant smile.

At the door, Lu Mi paused. He almost turned his body aside, but seemed to restrain himself. He grunted:

"Ludwig's almost out of this street. You… you should go back and rest."

Yu Jianna laughed:

"Can you say that while looking at me?"

As Lu Mi opened the door and stepped out, she laughed more freely:

"Are you afraid to look? Afraid you won't be able to hold back, won't want to leave, and will delay things?"

Yu Jianna laughed happily—laughed until Lu Mi vanished into shadow beyond the apartment door, laughed until tears seemed to glisten at her corners.

She turned to the full-length mirror and saw a woman of captivating beauty, her lips curved in a smile, her eyes filled with sorrow.

…………

Franca found Anthony in the coffee shop downstairs from his building.

Anthony took a sip of rich, dark coffee and lifted his head:

"I was just about to look for you."

"Any progress?" Franca's eyes lit up as she sat down.

She instinctively glanced around. Many people had noticed her, but none dared approach—no one could overhear her and Anthony's conversation.

"I'll have to consider dressing down sometimes. Every sequence increase on the 'Witch' path significantly enhances a woman's charm… hmm, the biggest leap was from 'Witch' to 'Joyful Witch' before Sequence 4…" Franca's gaze returned to Anthony, thoughtful.

Anthony pulled out a stack of papers:

"Based on the times and locations you provided for Gasi Min's last two appearances in underground Trill, I've been searching for explorers, smugglers, and university students who passed through those areas during those periods. I finally got some results these past two days."

"Three people meet the criteria, but none saw Gasi Min. However, they all encountered someone else. Based on their descriptions, I made sketches—and they all depict the same person. That's the person you're looking for."

"Someone else I'm looking for? Another 'Mirror Person'?" Franca frowned in confusion.

Anthony spread out three drawings and pushed them toward Franca.

Franca took it, turned it around, and quickly glanced at it.

Just that one glance froze her gaze.

Although the three sketches differed in details, they clearly depicted the same person:

The man had very short hair, soft facial contours, shallow features, and a distinctive appearance unlike anyone from any nation on the Northern Continent, nor did he resemble the darker or brown-skinned people of the Southern Continent.

Franca recognized this man:

He was indeed the one she was searching for!

He was suspected to be Harrison, a visitor from Fuhuodao!

(End of Chapter)