Chapter 18 : was replaced without any prior notice

As a slave without rights,

Xingyao once lived displaced, cold and hungry.

Following past masters, footprints across continent corners.

One’s vision often tied to class.

High position—high access. Reverse true.

Slaves bottom of bottom.

Thus Xingyao saw much unimaginable, incomprehensible to ordinary.

Once thought nothing bizarre could surprise.

But current scene excepted:

Lifting tent flap, humid warm scent hit face.

Like post-rain roadside flowers,

mixed with ripe citrus fallen sour-sweet.

Pitch-dark tent no light, even candle.

Without night vision, fingers invisible.

Reason seemed obvious.

And center, most eye-catching.

Bed taking two-thirds space, quite spacious—

two female figures.

“Q-Qianyu, mm—”

“Haah, haah, Del…”

Her cherished Master Qianyu, and tent owner Del.

Near bed ground, discarded intimates.

They embraced lost in passion,

kissing cheeks intimately.

“Guh, th-there?! No.”

“Fine, relax. Leave to me—”

Fingers or palms.

Instantly high-end mattress messy hair, fresh traces.

Looked very loving.

(Master and Del miss, this relationship!? Never saw.)

Xingyao red like boiling kettle,

watched every move inside.

Difference from naive child—

knew adults night bed CQC habit.

But close audience first.

(O-Original, women can too…)

Worldview overturned.

Xingyao dizzy, stars overhead.

(Mm… Del miss aggressive. Master clearly down.)

Somehow worried Qianyu’s position under Del.

Curiosity, knowledge desire won.

“…”

When “battle” ended,

“Ha, haah, haah haah.”

“Mm hm, mm hm, haaa.”

Both panting hard, seeking rest, stamina.

Snapped back, she realized.

Peeked outside nearly five minutes.

(A-A-Anyway, Master safe!)

Confirmed Qianyu unharmed, even overly safe strangely,

Xingyao’s heart settled, or more excited.

Legs numb from standing, returned to Qianyu’s tent.

But sound second sleep impossible.

(After witnessing that next door how sleep!)

Meanwhile other side.

“(Yawn)~~~~~”

Sky should be light,

Qianyu thought waking.

Long yawn, full stretch, opened eyes.

Bones cracked unison.

Sleepiness, fatigue surged like tide.

“Hiss, weird.”

No matter think, wrong.

Just woke.

Body slightly better than before sleep.

Like ran laps.

“Ah.”

Qianyu over-relaxed, near forgot not alone.

Xingyao beside.

Before recall,

stretched arm felt tender smooth touch.

And wrapped heavy, full fruit.

“S-Sorry, Xing… mm?”

Wrong too.

Xingyao’s there, saw yesterday bath.

Not this shape, unrelated.

(Another new shell?)

Questioning, sat up looked—

Pillow unlit by dawn,

dim saw azure beautiful long hair.

Confirmed color, still doubted.

Until hair slipped,

revealed signature inverted triangle, wider flat top elf ears.

Heart thumped.

“H-How another person.”

In hollow thin emerald nightrobe,

relaxed sleep pose,

should and shouldn’t see faintly visible.

Sleeping refined features added allure, solemn ice beauty.

Rare expression.

“(Gulp)”

Further down dangerous.

Qianyu timely pulled gaze.

Priority leave before Del wakes.

Good she tired from travel,

usual rise time, still snoring.

“…Morning, Del.”

Light feet off bed, no look back out tent.

Outside not fully light,

Earth time five, maybe six.

Fresh air, crisp birdsong, pleasant breeze, nature traces:

wild animals early, canyon vitality water hunt.

Dawn rained, ground surroundings wet muddy.

Distant stream rapid surging.

Good Del camp higher, no flood.

Viewing scenery,

Qianyu gathered mood, sorted thoughts.

“Sigh. This sleepwalking baffling.”

Memory second wake Del bed.

Team left Lilix, Tasuwa.

(If knew when attack good)

Like pre-sleep symptoms.

But three days ago Leila. Note: story start

or last night with Xingyao, no odd noted.

(Random? Too torturous.)

Few more, lifespan halve.

“Aah, discuss with Xingyao later.

Only she to rely, keep secret.

Can’t discuss parties.”