252 - Mistress, I Was Wrong

Upon seeing this, Dongfang Minghui was so frightened that her skin crawled with goosebumps. "Ding, ding." "Huh?" Ding Ding paid no heed to the trembling in Dongfang Minghui's voice and instead lay in her palm, playfully frolicking as if nothing had just bitten its bottom. It had completely forgotten its recent peril. Dongfang Minghui felt something cold creeping up her spine, causing her teeth to chatter involuntarily, "Th-there's something." Ding Ding tilted its head, observing her pale face and her eyes darting around in confusion, "Little Nine, what are you talking about?" "There's something!" Her desperate shout not only startled Ding Ding but also jolted Yu Chi Shou out of his meditation. He awoke in disbelief, staring at the hand behind her back, "Little Hui." "Hmm?" Dongfang Minghui hastily moved back, turning around to see what was on her back. She discovered that it was the white-haired Little Hui's hand that had been incessantly searching and crawling. Since the stormy day, she had moved Little Hui to that spot, and it had remained there ever since. Her first thought was that it had come back to life! Upon closer inspection, she noticed something amiss: one of Little Hui's hands was tightly bound by Little Color's vine, while the other had managed to get free and was reaching out to scratch the air. "Little Hui?" A faint hiss responded. "This little thing is somehow still alive. Quickly, untie it." "What?" As Little Color's vine loosened, the white-haired Little Hui collapsed forward out of habit. It appeared especially weak from excessive blood loss on that day. Yu Chi Shou reacted swiftly, grabbing its other arm to prevent it from falling. Dongfang Minghui, on the other hand, stood frozen in shock. She had been terrified; on the day they retrieved the Soul-Dividing Mirror, the white-haired Little Hui had bled profusely. She had personally confirmed it had neither breath nor pulse, assumed it was dead, and instructed Little Color to restrain it, planning to bury it in a tranquil spot after descending the mountain. Who would have thought it would come back to life silently, giving her quite a scare? "Why are you standing there stunned? Aren't you a sorceress? Quickly, come help it." "Oh, oh." Dongfang Minghui, seeing its tiny black eyes open, stepped forward to check its pulse. Ding Ding only then realized what was happening and buzzed around their ears, "Little Hui, Little Hui, you're back?" The white-haired Little Hui hissed twice. Yu Chi Shou watched Dongfang Minghui's series of skilled movements and asked, "How is it?" Dongfang Minghui felt a strong pulse and a steady heartbeat. After examining it carefully and finding no wounds, she wondered, "Why did Little Hui bleed so profusely on that day?" Such bleeding must have been caused by a severe wound, yet now the white-haired Little Hui bore no sign of injury. "Never mind that, is this little creature fully recovered?" "For now, there seems to be no problem." Aside from being somewhat weak, likely due to blood loss. Dongfang Minghui decisively fed it a blood-replenishing pill. The white-haired Little Hui glanced at Dongfang Minghui and hissed something soft. Yu Chi Shou listened intently, showing a complete change in attitude toward Little Hui. To prevent it from rolling down the mountain, he held onto its arm, "It thanks us for taking away the Soul-Dividing Mirror. It feels much better now." At the mention of the Soul-Dividing Mirror, Dongfang Minghui looked suspiciously at the white-haired Little Hui, studying it as if seeking clues from its expression. "What are you looking at?" "If it suddenly woke, doesn't that mean Little Hui wasn't truly dead?" She had encountered patients in a shock-induced death-like state before, but one who could feign death for over a month and then wake up was unprecedented. Calling it a corpse awakening wasn't entirely inappropriate. The white-haired Little Hui and its long-tailed counterpart were split parts of a whole but remained individual entities. Rationally, she felt closer to the aggressive Little Hui and hoped it was still alive. Yu Chi Shou remained silent for a rare moment. He had checked the cliffside earlier; not only was there no sign of Little Hui, but the fissure caused by the Soul-Dividing Mirror was also gone. In such circumstances, Little Hui's chances of survival were slim. Seeing everyone else looking despondent, the white-haired Little Hui, having its white hair tugged incessantly by Ding Ding, hissed a few more phrases. "Really?" Yu Chi Shou wore his usual nonchalant grin. Once he confirmed it, he quickly relayed the message to Dongfang Minghui, "Your guess was right; Little Hui is still alive. This little one says you'll see Little Hui once it's better." "Truly?" "Yes." Dongfang Minghui beamed, not bothering to analyze Yu Chi Shou's words. Meanwhile, Yu Chi Shou himself, after briefly pondering Little Hui's message, turned his attention to a familiar figure swiftly approaching from the distance. "Look, it's Qian Wanyu." "Seventh Sister." Qian Wanyu swiftly navigated the treacherous path and stood before them. Her gaze swept calmly over the white-haired Little Hui without much surprise, then she succinctly recounted the recent changes in the ravine. "Yu Chi Shou, did you use the Soul-Dividing Mirror?" "No." Yu Chi Shou returned the unused Soul-Dividing Mirror to Qian Wanyu, "We just emerged from the Longevity Cauldron not long ago, and finding you absent, we decided to wait a few days. I intended to use it after the sun rose a bit higher, but then Little Hui unexpectedly awoke." Dongfang Minghui pulled her forward, inspecting her to ensure she was unharmed before her anxiety eased, "Seventh Sister, where did you go before? I was worried sick." Qian Wanyu herself was unsure where she had fallen. She had followed the river, tracing the direction of its flow to return. Fortunately, the water behind the archway had continued its course; otherwise, she wouldn't have found her way back so swiftly. "I found a path below, a narrow little trail. More crucially, it matches a location marked on the map," Qian Wanyu observed them calmly, "Are you all prepared to move on?" "Qian Wanyu, are you saying the Soul-Dividing Mirror altered the mountain's layout, causing that path to reappear?" "Yes." Qian Wanyu didn't understand why, after Little Hui had taken the Soul-Dividing Mirror, the surroundings remained unchanged for a while, only to transform dramatically some time later. There might be reasons she was unaware of or overlooked, but it undoubtedly had something to do with the Soul-Dividing Mirror. "This was Little Hui's doing." "Indeed." "Little Hui, Little Hui." Ding Ding flitted around them excitedly, though oblivious to the reason for its joy, it laughed nonsensically. Dongfang Minghui reached out and caught it in her palm, "Seventh Sister, should we continue on our journey now, and do we still need the Soul-Dividing Mirror?" Seeing her cautious expression, Qian Wanyu couldn't resist flicking her forehead, "Silly, of course, we continue our journey. You've forgotten why we came here. The Soul-Dividing Mirror, being a dragon artifact, might still be useful along the way." Witnessing Dongfang Minghui's flustered face, Yu Chi Shou couldn't help but chuckle, then gestured to the side at the white-haired Little Hui, "What about it?" The white-haired Little Hui watched them intently, maintaining a serene silence. Qian Wanyu glanced at it, "Naturally, it comes with us. I've promised Little Hui to keep it close." Dongfang Minghui nodded slightly. Seventh Sister was a person of her word; she supposed that from now on, the white-haired Little Hui would journey with them. Although what the future held was uncertain, no one was sure if this white-haired Little Hui could manage. "However, the ravine has undergone significant changes. The place where the Little Hui clan resided might have transformed, too. If you'd like to return to your kin, we can take you there." The white-haired Little Hui hissed softly with Yu Chi Shou. Relaying the message, Yu Chi Shou said, "It doesn't want to go back; it wants to follow us." Qian Wanyu spoke steadily, "This journey is very dangerous. We might not be able to protect you. Do you understand?" Yu Chi Shou continued, "It understands and will protect itself." Reaching this point, none of them wished to deter it further. After a short rest, they retraced their previous path until mid-mountain, then veered into a narrow, heavily wooded trail. The trail was wide enough for two to walk abreast, surrounded by towering trees unlike those seen in the ravine. Each tree was thick enough to require five people to encircle, creating a sense of imposing pressure, as if stepping into a primeval forest. "Wow, Seventh Sister, these trees are enormous; they must be at least a hundred years old." "I like the aura here," Little Color exclaimed, quickly darting out from Dongfang Minghui's soul sea. Suddenly, their group of four expanded to five, with Ding Ding buzzing around energetically. Qian Wanyu, hearing Little Color's enthusiasm, became more convinced that this path led to the dragon clan's territory, "Be careful." Dongfang Minghui and Little Color moved ahead, fully appreciating each towering tree and absorbing the abundant spiritual energy they offered. Her skin seemed to open up, drinking in the essence without reservation. Little Color's vines wove through the dense forest, seeking its desired target. Meanwhile, Ding Ding, initially mimicking Dongfang Minghui by closing its eyes to embrace nature's freshness, soon lost patience, finding nothing to perceive. Instead, it zoomed around like a little bee and spotted a blue fruit hanging from a distant big tree. "Little Nine, a fruit!" "What fruit?" While absorbing the surrounding spiritual energy, Dongfang Minghui kept an eye on Ding Ding. Noticing it shoot ahead like a bullet towards an ancient tree vine carrying a blue fruit, she cautioned, "Ding Ding, be careful." "Okay." Ding Ding, quick and deft, yanked the fruit free and, turning proudly, waved it like a trophy for Dongfang Minghui and the others to see, "Little Nine, Little Nine, a fruit!" Dongfang Minghui then watched as the old vine abruptly sprang to life, entangling and consuming Ding Ding from all directions. "Ding Ding!" "What kind of tree is this? It's so strange." Yu Chi Shou, forming a wisp of fire-attribute energy in his hand to rescue Ding Ding, found himself restrained by Qian Wanyu's firm grip. Qian Wanyu, recalling past misfortunes with sentient plants while searching for the elf tribe, signaled Yu Chi Shou to observe their surroundings. Vines appeared mysteriously on their path, animated and intertwining, blocking the way from all sides—they were ensnared front, back, and all around. With the trees shaking their leaves, making a rustling sound, it seemed something was being summoned. "Seventh Sister, everyone stay put." "Yu Chi Shou, retract your energy, and Little Hui, don't move either." Dongfang Minghui had clearly overheard the ancient trees' chatter—they seemed to be debating how to handle them. Sensing hostility from the vines, Little Color retreated back into Dongfang Minghui's soul sea, "Trouble from the start." "Stop complaining, Ding Ding is still at their mercy." Qian Wanyu subtly retracted her aura, attempting to soften her presence. Yu Chi Shou looked around at the towering trees, bewildered, "So, what should we do now?" Dongfang Minghui emitted a bit of wood-attribute energy, stepping softly towards the seemingly aggressive vines. She whispered gently, "I mean no harm; I wish to speak with the ancient trees." The vines remained poised like snakes, scrutinizing the sudden intruders. Yu Chi Shou, puzzled, whispered to Qian Wanyu, "What's she doing? It seemed like she was talking to these things." Qian Wanyu rolled her eyes at him, relaxing her posture as if standing at her own doorstep. Observing Dongfang Minghui, she mused on the ancient forest's intimidation—they had already faced significant challenges, and the path ahead promised no ease. Without receiving a direct answer, Yu Chi Shou heard Dongfang Minghui's apologetic tone, "Apologies, it was a misunderstanding. We won't harm you." Dongfang Minghui stretched her hand towards the diverse, entwined vines. Her palm emitted a green energy that seemed to quell their hostility. In less than half the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the vines relaxed, gently brushing against her hand, arm, and face. It took Yu Chi Shou a moment to recover from his astonishment. Aside from having seen Dongfang Minghui control fallen leaves inside the Longevity Cauldron, this was his first time witnessing her actual skill—communicating with plants. "Are these things getting too cozy with her?" The vines clamored to pull her closer, even playfully colliding mid-air, appearing quite comical. Yu Chi Shou worriedly watched Dongfang Minghui, standing unfazed amidst the vines, wondering, "Is this really okay?" "It's fine." Dongfang Minghui laughed gracefully, a naughty vine tickling her from under her arm. "Okay, can you take me to see the ancient tree? I have something to give it." In the plant world, interactions are straightforward—hostility met with hostility. Recognizing Dongfang Minghui's aura akin to their own, the vines swiftly accepted her as one of their own, opening a path for her to follow. Watching her, Yu Chi Shou attempted to follow, but no sooner had he lifted a leg than the previously friendly vines adopted an aggressive stance again. Their tangled masses created a barrier more formidable than before, targeting only him. "What's the deal with them? This is creepy," Yu Chi Shou retracted his leg, muttering, "I thought plants feared fire? I'm the Dragon Guardian, yet these plants don't seem to fear me at all." Qian Wanyu smirked. In the presence of true strength, elemental advantages could become meaningless. Like fire and ice springs, one could subdue the other through sheer force. These ancient trees had thrived for centuries. Even if Yu Chi Shou were to set the forest ablaze, it would likely cost them dearly—a mutual destruction she would never endorse. Moreover, their situation was far from an irreconcilable feud. "If you don't intend to burn them, they won't attack you." "I have no such intentions." Yu Chi Shou reluctantly withdrew his flames. Dongfang Minghui composed herself before the ancient tree, presenting it with a spiritual liquid she had crafted. "Here's a gift to commemorate our meeting." "A gift?" The ancient tree scrutinized her, noting a potent vitality in her aura, familiar yet strange. Intriguingly, she bore a faint energy reminiscent of something it knew. "Little one, where are you from?" "Grandfather Tree, I come from the human clan," Dongfang Minghui replied candidly. "Human clan?" The tree swayed, causing an orb it held to follow suit, "Yet your aura is familiar, reminiscent of an old friend." Dongfang Minghui lingered her gaze on the swaying vine sphere, "Grandfather Tree, Ding Ding was a bit mischievous. It’s my oversight. Could you let it go?" She was a little stunned. She knew of Ding Ding’s capabilities, yet a vine had managed to capture it so easily and hold it for so long. It spoke volumes about the formidable nature of these plants. "No." Caught by the straightforward refusal, Dongfang Minghui hesitated, "Grandfather Tree, I’m willing to compensate for the blue fruit’s loss. How about an exchange?" The tree pondered, "Little one, show me what you wish to trade." After consulting with Little Color within her soul sea, Dongfang Minghui realized her available treasures were few and of considerable value, mostly reserved for Seventh Sister and Qing Mo. They were rare finds; giving them away could jeopardize her future plans. "What is this blue fruit that the tree is so adamant about?" "Ding Ding really picked a delicate time. If I’m not mistaken, that blue fruit, also called Blue Eye Fruit, ripens only once in a century. Judging by the tree's age, it might be the only such fruit it will bear in its lifetime. And Ding Ding picked it prematurely." "Blue Eye Fruit..." Dongfang Minghui covered her face, "It sounds quite valuable, but why didn’t it stop Ding Ding initially?" "In a place like this, perhaps no one dares tread here for centuries, and if they do, who apart from us would pluck the fruit? The tree was likely napping and woke too late to prevent Ding Ding from picking it." "Alright," Dongfang Minghui agreed, realizing that the fruit was the tree's lifeline. Thankfully, the ancient tree was rather amicable; a more irate one might have demanded they pay in blood. "Give me that Ice Lotus Fruit." "No way!" "Little Color, didn't you already consume an Ice Lotus?" "No means no! I already gave you an Ice Lotus seed. I can't part with this one," Little Color insisted protectively, suspecting foul play. "It must have been that Pig Immortal Grass who told you, didn’t it?" After being nourished by her blood, the Ice Lotus had borne two fruits. The Pig Immortal Grass offered one, and Little Color had hidden the other well, suspecting no one but Pig Immortal Grass could have betrayed its secret. "Stop blaming me." The Pig Immortal Grass flicked its tail at her face. "You should categorize the herbs in your space into low, medium, and high tiers. Start with the low and medium ones to test the old tree, then work your way up." "Got it." The negotiation dragged on for some time. Despite Dongfang Minghui's effort, the ancient tree dismissed her offers with repeated head shakes, indicating disinterest. When Dongfang Minghui returned to Qian Wanyu and the others, her lips were dry. She shared Ding Ding's unintentional mischief with them, causing Yu Chi Shou to react, "If the old tree won't release Ding Ding, then the lessors are still trapped within the cauldron, right?" It was as if they had inadvertently taken a whole group hostage. Qian Wanyu composed herself, calming them, "Let's not panic. Ding Ding isn't in immediate danger. That old tree seemingly can't handle Ding Ding. Perhaps letting Ding Ding stay there might cause it some trouble, giving us an advantage." Dongfang Minghui chuckled at the suggestion but saw its merit. "Even if Ding Ding can't escape, it might soften the old tree's stance by the time we try negotiating again." "Exactly. Even if we're at fault, you can't just concede entirely. If worse comes to worst, we can always force our way out," Qian Wanyu suggested, though forcefully leaving was a last resort—you achieved nothing from it. "Ding Ding does get into mischief," Yu Chi Shou lamented, shifting his gaze to the white-haired Little Hui. "Little Hui, don't follow Ding Ding's example." "Seventh Sister, I need a bit more time." This ancient tree wasn't easily placated. Dongfang Minghui had even tried offering rare herbs to no avail. "Hmm, Pig Immortal Grass, it seems we misunderstood what the old tree wants. It isn't interested in medicinal compensation." "Hmm." Inside her soul sea, the Pig Immortal Grass and Little Color were locked in a tug-of-war, unwilling to let go of their respective vines. As Little Hui morphed into its beastly form, its ten-meter-long tail swayed as it affectionately glided to Dongfang Minghui's side, nuzzling her ankles and hissing softly. Dongfang Minghui was pleasantly surprised, softly caressing its cold, beastly body, "Little Hui, Little Hui, you're back." A flicker of astonishment passed through Qian Wanyu's eyes but vanished in an instant. Yu Chi Shou blinked in disbelief, double-checking that the white-haired Little Hui had vanished, replaced by the original Little Hui, "Did Little Hui merge back into one?" "Definitely, Little Hui, you're finally back." Dongfang Minghui was so thrilled she wished to embrace it, forgetting it was too heavy for such affection. Through the journey, she had mistakenly perceived the white-haired Little Hui as the sole Hui and hadn't interacted much with it. Little Hui gently opened its mouth, showcasing newly grown teeth. Then, it spoke with Yu Chi Shou for a bit. Dongfang Minghui suspected it wanted a teething toy, only to realize it now boasted a full set of teeth, "Little Hui, you've grown, and so has your smile." Yu Chi Shou, initially pleased for her, gradually sobered. Observing his complex expression, Qian Wanyu asked, "Yu Chi Shou, what did Little Hui say?" After hesitating for a moment and with Little Hui's encouragement, he conveyed, "Little Hui said it’s willing to trade places for Ding Ding." Dongfang Minghui’s hand paused on Little Hui. It meant Little Hui planned to use its unique skills to switch with Ding Ding, ending up trapped itself. A chilling silence enveloped them, dropping the atmosphere to freezing point. Unable to bear the quiet and indecision, Yu Chi Shou proposed, "If we can't figure it out, I'll set this place ablaze. Then we'll just make our escape." "No." Qian Wanyu and Dongfang Minghui objected in unison, exchanging a mutual understanding. Qian Wanyu elaborated, "While Little Hui's abilities are useful, they don't hold sway here." "Exactly." Dongfang Minghui agreed, kneeling beside Little Hui, stroking it gently, "Thank you for your intention." "But why won’t that work?" Yu Chi Shou was at a loss. Dongfang Minghui sighed softly, "Though we appear to be speaking freely here, your earlier talk of using fire might've already been overheard. They haven't tied you up because of my standing with them." "Heh, do these old trees possess sentience?" Yu Chi Shou incredulously rose, only for vines to instantly spring from the trees, charging at him. "You can try, but don’t expect me to save you afterward," Dongfang Minghui cautioned. Yu Chi Shou might've been right; with these sentient entities, even the simplest of exchanges could escalate. Rescuing Ding Ding was already a complex task, draining her resources. Dongfang Minghui was acutely aware of every herb lost. "Ninth Sister is right," Qian Wanyu smiled at Yu Chi Shou with a warning tone. "Yu Chi Shou, I'd suggest tempering your impatience. Sit down, and let's brainstorm together." Little Hui added its hissing voice to the chorus, urging calm upon Yu Chi Shou. His expression hardened, but finally, Yu Chi Shou relented, seated by the vines' insistence, which quickly withdrew once he submitted. The towering trees loomed, casting a deep shadow, enveloping them. "Little Hui asks, why not?" Dongfang Minghui nodded at Little Hui’s offer but explained, "Though your method might temporarily free Ding Ding from the tree, it won't allow us to leave. We're boxed in here; without hours of travel, leaving isn't feasible." Little Hui's plan to rescue Ding Ding would only backfire, rendering previous efforts wasted and provoking the century-old trees—an unwise risk. Furthermore, Little Hui wouldn't endure captivity as Ding Ding might. "What do you mean by not leaving?" "The tree will sense our switch immediately, considering it a jest. Its anger would shut down any negotiations," Dongfang Minghui explained, loath to gamble their safety on uncertain odds. Yu Chi Shou wondered at the complexity, feeling more faced with people than trees. "Ninth Sister, you will find a way," Qian Wanyu reassured, holding Dongfang Minghui's hand with a soothing gesture. "Clear your mind, and the path will reveal itself." "Yes." Resting her chin on her hand, Dongfang Minghui momentarily enjoyed peace, save for the vines occasionally teasing her with light nudges. "Little Color, go play with them a bit. Maybe you'll find the cauldron you’ve been searching for." Despite having been trounced by Pig Immortal Grass, Little Color reluctantly accepted the task and joined the playful vines. With a brief respite, Dongfang Minghui pondered, "How can we restore the blue fruit onto that ancient tree?" "Stop entertaining such unrealistic fantasies," Pig Immortal Grass admonished, sensing Dongfang Minghui's wild thoughts. "If the fruit falls, extraordinary luck might make it bear another. But this ancient tree won't have the same fortune as the Soul Yin Grass did." Opportunities can sometimes be bilateral, and other times unilateral. "Force growth," Dongfang Minghui murmured repeatedly, honing in on the concept. "Pig Immortal Grass." "I advise abandoning that thought. If these sentient beings discover the power of your blood, none of us would leave here alive," Pig Immortal Grass warned, curling its tail protectively. "Your blood is a major weapon; should the plants in this whole forest go berserk, none of us could contain it." The stern warning frightened Dongfang Minghui, causing her to dismiss the tempting idea. "This won't work, and neither will that... Are we supposed to just watch Ding Ding remain trapped?" "Try listening to the forest's voices." "Voices?" Dongfang Minghui usually shielded herself from the forest's overwhelming noise to keep her focus. The plants' voices naturally intruded into her soul sea, which eventually became quite bothersome. Encouraged by the Pig Immortal Grass, she stood up, concentrating intently on the surrounding whispers. "These humans are terrible, wanting to burn us up." "Yeah, let's give them a little scare later." "Hehehe, that old blue one deserves it for not keeping an eye on things." "This one's aura is so soothing. Oh no, she spotted me. So embarrassing." As Dongfang Minghui walked and listened, she unknowingly wandered far. Meanwhile, Yu Chi Shou nudged Qian Wanyu's arm nervously, "Qian Wanyu, could you check on the sorceress? She seems lost and dazed. Should we be worried?" Qian Wanyu threw him a cold glance, disapprovingly frowning, "Little Hui, ensure Yu Chi Shou doesn't do anything foolish." In response, Little Hui hissed a few times, seemingly assenting to Qian Wanyu's instruction. Yu Chi Shou protested, "Qian Wanyu, don't walk away. Explain what you mean!" But Qian Wanyu ignored him, hastening to catch up with Dongfang Minghui. She grabbed her arm, "Ninth Sister, what are you doing?" "Shh." Dongfang Minghui made a silencing gesture with seriousness, "Seventh Sister, I'm trying to hear what they’re saying." It was rare for Qian Wanyu to see her acting so peculiarly, appearing almost entranced. Respectfully silent, she watched over Dongfang Minghui, occasionally whispering when she noticed a change in her expression, "What did they say?" Dongfang Minghui smiled slightly, "They said you're very beautiful, Seventh Sister." Two trees were openly discussing them. "They're holding hands, so close, just like us." "Their auras blend, they must be together." At this, Dongfang Minghui found herself under an entwined canopy, resembling an umbrella. Trying to appear nonchalant, her eyes darted about as she held Qian Wanyu’s hand, her face slightly flushed. Qian Wanyu, watching her closely, gave her hand a gentle tug, asking, "What did they say just now?" Dongfang Minghui coughed, her blush deepening, "Nothing important." --- Yu Chi Shou, watching them stroll off hand in hand, expressed frustration to Little Hui, "How can they just stroll off and chat away at a time like this? It's unbelievable." Being oblivious, he never considered that Dongfang Minghui and Qian Wanyu could be lovers. Not caring to counter his remarks, Little Hui lay silently, noticing green vines rapidly advancing. Just as it opened its mouth to alert Yu Chi Shou, several vines clamped it shut. "Ouch." In an instant, Yu Chi Shou was hoisted mid-air, large vines coiled tightly around his limbs, preventing escape. "You dare to challenge me, do you?" A flicker of flame emerged from his hand. From below, Little Color tried to calm things down, but suddenly saw his companion release fire-attribute energy, causing her to stamp her feet anxiously, "Don't play with fire, it'll only make things worse!"