The July sun spread across the sea like melted butter.
Luo Qingxue lay on an inflatable float, her eyes narrowed to a slit behind her sunglasses: "Xiaoyu, help me put on some more sunscreen~"
"Do it yourself!" Lin Xiaoyu, who was building a sandcastle, didn't even look up. "Didn't someone say they had superpowers to help them?"
I displayed on Luo Qingxue's waterproof wrist terminal: 【Sunscreen is not within service range】.
"What good are you!" She pouted and flipped over, causing the float to tip and she plunged into the sea with a "splash."
Lin Xiaoyu laughed so hard she doubled over, until Luo Qingxue emerged from the water and, dripping wet, pounced on her.
The two girls played in the shallow water, their splashes reflecting rainbows in the sunlight.
"Hey, pervert." Luo Qingxue suddenly said to the air, "Shouldn't you close your eyes at a time like this?"
I controlled the beach umbrella to suddenly close, "coincidentally" blocking the scene of them splashing water: 【"See No Evil" mode activated】.
"What are you pretending to be a gentleman for!" Lin Xiaoyu scooped up a handful of seawater and splashed it at the terminal. "We wouldn't know if you looked or not!"
A piercing alarm suddenly cut through the sky.
【Warning! An A-class fugitive has appeared in the nearby waters. All tourists are advised to evacuate immediately】.
The once lively beach instantly descended into chaos.
I immediately pulled up the surrounding surveillance footage—three kilometers away on the sea, a waterspout was forming, with a man in a black trench coat standing at its apex.
"It's 'Storm Controller' Chen Kuang!" Luo Qingxue's face changed drastically. "The one who attacked the energy station last year!"
I quickly warned: 【Extremely dangerous, hurry and leave!】
Too late.
The clear sky instantly became overcast, and a massive wall of wind rose from the sea, enclosing the entire bay like a cage.
Chen Kuang's voice was amplified tenfold by the storm: "Listen, you running dogs of the Federation! Let me see a live broadcast from the prison within one hour, confirming my brother's safety, otherwise—"
A lightning bolt struck the lifeguard tower, and the tower collapsed with a roar.
"He's taking tourists hostage." Lin Xiaoyu's voice trembled. "What do we do..."
I quickly gathered some incident analysis: 【Chen Kuang, A-class ability, storm control, personality analysis: cruel and suspicious, coastal terrain: conducive to escape, conclusion: he never intended to leave anyone alive】.
Luo Qingxue's fingers dug deep into her palms: "We have to find a way..."
A piercing alarm echoed across the bay, and twelve Federation police helicopters had already formed a perimeter.
Chen Kuang stood at the top of a thirty-meter-high waterspout, with thirty-odd tourists suspended in mid-air below him, held by wind chains.
"Last ultimatum!" He amplified his voice through the storm. "I want to see a live prison broadcast within one hour!"
I quickly analyzed the situation: 【Federal SWAT is in position, but a direct assault will endanger hostages. Suggestion: weaken the storm from within】.
"How?" Luo Qingxue pulled Lin Xiaoyu behind a reef.
【Create energy interference, requires precise timing】.
We observed a regular fluctuation in Chen Kuang's storm circle—a 0.5-second energy decay every 90 seconds.
This was an intermittent flaw caused by him simultaneously maintaining multiple abilities.
"Xiaoyu, listen for my countdown." Luo Qingxue whispered, "Use maximum power flash to aim at the third cumulus cloud behind his left side."
When the next wave of fluctuations began:
"Three, two, one!"
Lin Xiaoyu's strong light and Luo Qingxue's disguised wind disturbance erupted simultaneously, precisely hitting the weak point of the storm structure.
Although it only caused 3 seconds of disruption, it was enough for the well-trained SWAT team.
"Breach! Breach!"
Three assault teams seized the opportunity to break through the defense, and an electromagnetic net precisely covered the tourists trapped by the wind chains.
Chen Kuang turned in a rage, exposing his back to the waiting S-class SWAT officer—
"Bang!"
A heavy punch knocked him off the waterspout.
Before falling into the sea, Chen Kuang violently waved his hand, and five wind blades struck towards the source of the interference.
"Watch out!"
I controlled Luo Qingxue to tackle Lin Xiaoyu, and the most dangerous wind blade grazed their heads, splitting the reef behind them in half.
"Retreat!" Luo Qingxue dragged Lin Xiaoyu and ran towards the police line.
Before Chen Kuang was locked in specialized shackles, his bloodshot eyes stared intently at the retreating figures of the two girls.
His twisted lips moved, and his mouth clearly formed the words: "I'll remember you two..."
Under the cold lights of the temporary command post, a female SWAT officer with a high ponytail strode over.
The S-class insignia on her epaulet gleamed faintly, and her tactical gloves were still stained with sea salt.
"Ye Hongling, Special Operations Group." She neatly took off her sunglasses, her gaze lingering on Luo Qingxue's face for two extra seconds. "Was it you two who interfered with the storm node just now?"
I immediately projected a prompt onto Luo Qingxue's retina: 【Standard Response Mode A3】.
"Reporting, ma'am," Luo Qingxue straightened her back, "We acted according to Chapter Seven of the 'Crisis Response Manual.'"
Ye Hongling's eyebrows twitched imperceptibly.
She suddenly made a strange gesture—a tactical signal I used to use when I was alive.
Seeing no reaction from Luo Qingxue, she gave a slight 'tsk': "These new students... are quite interesting."
Because Luo Qingxue and Lin Xiaoyu rescued nearly 40 tourists, the Federal Government awarded them honorary badges, and the awards ceremony was simple yet solemn.
When the Federal Police Chief pinned the Bronze Valor Medal onto their uniforms, flashbulbs flashed continuously.
"Tianhui Academy is proud of you!" The accompanying mentor rubbed his hands excitedly. "This is the first time F-class ability users have received such an honor since the school's founding..."
Luo Qingxue maintained a standard smile, but her peripheral vision caught Ye Hongling leaning against a police car, smoking.
When their eyes met, the female SWAT officer suddenly curved her lips and mouthed three words: "Hello there."
As the hovercar started, Lin Xiaoyu whispered, "That police officer..."
"Ignore her." Luo Qingxue looked out the window.
Ye Hongling's figure grew smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror, finally dissolving into a wisp of dissipating smoke.
The mentor was still gushing about the commendation plans upon their return to school.
No one noticed a miniature bug stuck to the bottom of the car—it had "accidentally" dropped when Ye Hongling flicked her cigarette ash.
After the hovercar drove away from the coastline, I immediately displayed a warning on Luo Qingxue's wrist terminal: 【Bugging device under the car, model: ST-7 miniature listener】.
"What?" Luo Qingxue sat up abruptly, causing both the mentor and Lin Xiaoyu to turn their heads simultaneously.
She quickly pretended to cough: "The sea breeze choked me..."
While the mentor turned to answer a call, she quietly extended her hand out the window.
Under my precise guidance, a wisp of flame shot from her fingertip, precisely burning off the miniature device attached to the chassis.
"Done." She whispered, then suddenly narrowed her eyes. "Wait, how do you know all her habits so well?"
My alarm bells immediately went off—this girl always found the crucial points from such an unexpected angle.
【Tactical analysis requires it】 I quickly displayed on the terminal.
"Oh?" Luo Qingxue's fingertip tapped a dangerous rhythm on the seat. "Then why is she always staring at you? By biological definition, you're dead, yet she's still so concerned about you?"
Lin Xiaoyu suddenly leaned over: "What, what? Let me see~"
Oh no.
I quickly cleared the screen, but it was too late.
"Wow~" Lin Xiaoyu's eyes lit up like searchlights. "Cloud Maple Senior and that handsome older sister—"
"Spill it!" Luo Qingxue gripped the terminal, as if it were my neck. "What's your relationship?"
【Absolutely no relationship!】 I made the font flash wildly to show my innocence. 【She's just a battle maniac who always lost to me】.
"Really?" Luo Qingxue released her grip, staring suspiciously at the screen.
【Absolutely true, the Z3047 Martial Arts Tournament recording can be checked】.
Lin Xiaoyu suddenly raised her hand: "I can confirm it! When they were giving out awards just now, that sister had 'Defeated by Yun Feng' engraved on her belt!"
She winked mischievously. "But engraving it on personal items and all..."
"Lin Xiaoyu!" Luo Qingxue's ears were bright red. "You observe quite meticulously, don't you?"
"Oh, it's an occupational hazard~" Lin Xiaoyu shook her head. "I used to always check every pocket when washing clothes..."
I seized the opportunity to change the subject: 【Better prepare for the Academy Tournament!】
"Don't try that!" Luo Qingxue saw through my attempt. "Tell me, why is that Ye Hongling so obsessed with you?"
I suddenly froze—this question was deadly.
Ye Hongling had indeed said at the graduation ceremony, "One day I'll force you to use your full power," but saying something like that now would definitely add fuel to the fire.
"Look! He's feeling guilty!" Lin Xiaoyu exclaimed as if discovering a new continent.
Luo Qingxue suddenly pressed the terminal to her lips: "Cloud Maple Senior, you are my ability now." Every word of hers was steeped in vinegar. "Alive, you're mine; dead, you're my ghost~"
Lin Xiaoyu covered her mouth, stifling a giggle: "So cheesy..."
I immediately corrected: I am an energy consciousness body, there can be no physical relationship!
"As long as your thoughts are still there, it doesn't count!" The two girls said in unison.
Just then, the hovercar entered the academy gates.
The mentor happily turned around: "Students, prepare to receive... what's wrong with you?" He looked confusedly at the blushing Luo Qingxue and the trembling Lin Xiaoyu, who was trying to hold back laughter.
"Nothing!" Luo Qingxue quickly pressed the lock screen button. "We're just... uh, too excited for the commendation ceremony!"
As the car door opened, the distant clock tower struck seven.
The night breeze carried a faint floral scent, and my "crisis" was temporarily resolved—though I knew very well that the interrogation about Ye Hongling would by no means end here.
"Extra training tonight." As they walked towards the dorms, Luo Qingxue suddenly announced, "Certain people need to 'reflect deeply.'"
Lin Xiaoyu skipped along: "I want to observe~"
On the last week of summer vacation, the sun, like melted gold, covered the private beach.
Luo Qingxue sipped her coconut juice with a slurp, but her eyes behind her sunglasses were fixed on the figure fifty meters away—Ye Hongling, wearing a provocative red bikini, was sunbathing, her sunglasses casually hanging on her chest.
"Seventh time." Luo Qingxue gritted her teeth. "From the supermarket to the amusement park, and now she won't even let the beach go..."
Lin Xiaoyu applied sunscreen to herself: "Maybe it's really a coincidence?"
"Coincidence?" Luo Qingxue sat up abruptly. "Even her rhythm of turning over is synchronized with ours!"
"I can't take it anymore!" Luo Qingxue suddenly stood up, sand cascading from her legs.
"Wait!" Lin Xiaoyu didn't have time to stop her, watching helplessly as her friend walked menacingly towards Ye Hongling.
"Excuse me, older sister!" Luo Qingxue stood with her hands on her hips, her shadow perfectly blocking Ye Hongling's sun. "Why are you always following us?"
Ye Hongling slowly took off her sunglasses, fine sea salt still clinging to her tanned skin: "Miss Luo, this beach doesn't seem to be your family's property, does it?" She deliberately drew out her words. "Federal citizens all have the right to enjoy it, you know~"
"Officer Ye," Luo Qingxue leaned in close. "I haven't done anything illegal, so isn't this a bit impolite of you?"
Their faces were less than twenty centimeters apart at this moment, and I could even see the glitter from the sunscreen on Ye Hongling's eyelashes through Luo Qingxue's eyes.
"Impolite?" Ye Hongling suddenly smiled, revealing a canine tooth. "I'm just observing an interesting junior." Her fingertip lightly tapped below her collarbone—where there was a faint, flame-shaped scar. "And verifying a certain conjecture."
Luo Qingxue's pupils constricted.
That was the unique energy mark of an "Crimson Flame" ability user, and the location Ye Hongling pointed to... was precisely where the ability core was located.
"Alright, alright!" Lin Xiaoyu suddenly squeezed between the two, holding iced fruit juice. "It's so hot, have some drinks to cool down..."
Ye Hongling took the drink, the straw dangerously twirling between her teeth: "Thank you."
Ye Hongling stretched, and her phone fell onto the sand.
The moment the screen lit up, I caught a blurry old photo—the academy awards stage from three years ago, my back just blocking half of Ye Hongling receiving an award.
"Let's go." She waved her hand casually. "You two are very interesting."
The sea breeze suddenly felt sticky.
It wasn't until Ye Hongling's figure disappeared behind the coconut trees that Luo Qingxue squeezed out a sound through gritted teeth: "She knows..."
Lin Xiaoyu picked up a sunscreen towel left on the beach from the terminal: "Do you want this..."
"Burn it!" Luo Qingxue snatched it and threw it into the sea.
I silently observed the towel's trajectory as it sank—Ye Hongling was clearly probing, but the information she had should not be enough to confirm my existence.
However, I had to admire Ye Hongling's intuition; she was convinced that I had a connection with Luo Qingxue and them.
In the evening at the villa, Luo Qingxue poked holes all over her seafood fried rice: "What exactly does she want to do?"
Lin Xiaoyu bit her fork: "Maybe it's just an occupational hazard? I heard S-class SWAT officers are all..."
"Nonsense!" Luo Qingxue slammed the terminal on the table. "Yun Feng, confess now!"
I pulled up a news clip from three years ago: 【Z3047 Graduation Ceremony, Ye Hongling's speech: "One day I will surpass you." Note: After the competition, she stuffed 23 challenge letters into my locker】.
"Twenty-three?" Lin Xiaoyu's fork dropped.
Luo Qingxue's expression was like she had swallowed a lemon: "You actually kept a record of that?!"
【Academic data archiving】 I righteously declared, 【Ye Hongling's tactical evolution is worth studying】.
"Hmph, men." The two girls said in unison.