Luo Sheng casually cast a [Holy Light Spell] to heal her wounds.
With a touch of divine radiance, Xu Yourong's injuries began to heal visibly. The bleeding scar on her thigh stopped, leaving behind smooth, fair skin as flawless as jade.
As Luo Sheng manipulated his cards, he teased, "Miss Xu, aren't you supposed to be formidable? How did you end up in such a state?"
"The invaders were too numerous, and I exhausted almost all my cards," Xu Yourong replied nonchalantly. "Besides, they seemed to have gained intelligence, taking turns to fight and depleting my deck."
Her deck primarily consisted of assassin cards. While they dealt high damage, they were also notoriously fragile. If they couldn't finish off their opponents quickly, they'd inevitably be taken out themselves—a common flaw of assassin decks.
Luo Sheng prepared to use [Mental Recovery] on her but was stopped. "Don't waste it on me," she said. "My deck is on cooldown. Even if I regain mental energy, I can't use my cards effectively."
"Don't you have other cards?" he asked.
"Besides my deck, the compatibility of other cards is too low. Using them would only waste mental energy with minimal effect—not worth it," she explained in her usual efficient manner, her voice calm and melodious, like a clear mountain stream.
Xu Yourong then stretched out her arms and said, "Now, carry me."
Luo Sheng hesitated. "If you want the VIP service of me carrying you personally," he said, feigning seriousness, "it'll cost extra."
Xu Yourong almost hurt herself rolling her eyes. The look she gave him screamed, Typical Luo Sheng.
Finally, she said softly, "Do you want a fragment of the Demon World?"
World fragments were the cores of these dimensional invader realms. They weren't just high-tier materials but could also transform into ultra-rare field cards. Moreover, destroying one guaranteed generous rewards.
Hearing this, Luo Sheng's interest piqued. He cleared his throat, straightened his posture, and said earnestly, "Helping others is my motto. Allow me to carry you."
Xu Yourong simply rolled her eyes again.
Soon, she was on his back. Luo Sheng felt a soft warmth pressing against him—a pleasant fragrance wafting from her. Her delicate breathing brushed his ear, tickling him slightly.
So this is what carrying someone feels like, Luo Sheng thought, oddly content.
White Moxue, seeing this, puffed her cheeks in a pout before turning back into a card and retreating to his deck.
"Why are you standing still?" Xu Yourong asked from behind him.
"I'm gauging your weight," Luo Sheng quipped. "You're heavier than you look."
Xu Yourong, unbothered, whispered in his ear, "Relax, I'm under 90 pounds. For now, just focus on your future reward—you're carrying it."
"Where's this world fragment?" Luo Sheng asked, eager to complete the task and secure both his 15 million and the potential spoils.
"About 20 kilometers north of here," Xu Yourong replied. "It's guarded by a Silver-tier invader and an army under its command."
Luo Sheng, initially enthusiastic, suddenly froze. His face fell as he processed her words. "You're sending me to die?! You tricked me!"
He shook her slightly, trying to dislodge her from his back. But Xu Yourong clung tightly, her soft arms wrapped around his neck and legs firmly holding him, like an immovable adhesive.
"Relax," she said. "If you follow my lead, you can win. The invader is only at Silver Two, and with proper tactics, it's beatable. Besides, your deck isn't weak. I bet you have more than four trump cards, don't you?"
She listed off confidently, "The Corruption card you got from Xia Xingri, your Ghost Maiden and Witch cards, and the Boar General you just obtained—you can use them all, right? After all, your ability lets you wield any card you acquire immediately."
Her clear voice echoed in his ears, soft yet unsettling. Luo Sheng felt an involuntary chill, as if his secrets were laid bare.
"You know too much for your own good," he said coldly, stopping in his tracks.
These secrets were his alone. If they were exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable. He wasn't willing to jeopardize his safety for any mission.
"Relax," Xu Yourong said calmly. "I've no intention of sharing your secrets. Besides, killing me won't benefit you—your mission will fail, and you'll lose the world fragment."
"And what guarantee do I have?" Luo Sheng retorted. Words, he knew, were cheap. Only tangible benefits held value in this world.
"I have two Spirit Gems. Is that secret good enough for you?" Xu Yourong said lightly from his back.
"Two Spirit Gems?!" Luo Sheng froze, his mind racing.
Spirit Gems were legendary constructs. They enhanced one's mental energy capacity and were considered priceless treasures.
"Yes," Xu Yourong continued. "My mother, a scientist, experimented on me shortly after I was born. She removed part of my frontal lobe—responsible for emotions—and implanted a companion biochemical brain. When I came of age, I was able to condense two Spirit Gems. I even helped Qin Jianjia level up by sacrificing one Spirit Gem to nourish the other."
Luo Sheng was stunned. A mother subjecting her daughter to such experiments was unfathomable. The very thought sent chills down his spine.
Unconsciously, he tightened his grip on her legs and resumed walking.
(Chapter End)