Dark-colored Fairy Tale: Seven Magicians - Chapter 52
Chapter 52
A Sudden Transformation
The waiting was long and agonizing. Liu Menglu could see that Li Li was using her as a pawn to resolve a mental block in Li Qiuyu. Normally, she might not have cared, but with Chloe’s fate unknown, Liu Menglu refused to play along. Yet, with her body magically restrained, she was completely helpless. She could only stare intently at Li Li, trying to get him to save Chloe first, but he wouldn’t even spare her a glance.
Liu Menglu’s heart went cold. What could she do now? All she could do was hope that Li Qiuyu would quickly overcome her inner demons.
Li Qiuyu was a person of unwavering will and deep emotions. After a moment of carelessness in a past battle, her best friend had paid for her mistake with their life. From that day on, she never allowed ordinary people to be present during a fight. She would rather be gravely injured and drag a demon away from a crowd than risk harming an innocent person again. How could such a person accept Liu Menglu dying right in front of her?
“Are you truly not going to turn around and look at your friend?” Li Li’s voice was frighteningly calm.
Li Qiuyu’s silence was his only response.
Watching the standoff between father and daughter, Liu Menglu grew more and more anxious. What about Chloe? She wanted to go to her, but she couldn’t break free from the damn restraint. As the feeling of powerlessness deepened, Liu Menglu’s gaze grew sharper, and a surge of unknown malice suddenly appeared in her heart. With that wisp of malice, her brown pupils slowly turned a brilliant gold. At that very moment, an unknown power, filled with a destructive aura, unceremoniously broke through all the seals in her body.
Liu Menglu felt her body lighten, and a second later, she could move. Without even a moment of shock, she instantly broke free of Li Li’s restraint and rushed toward Chloe. Of course, Li Li and Li Qiuyu’s full focus on each other was what allowed her the opportunity to escape.
Liu Menglu’s speed was incredible, though she didn’t know why. But this newfound power was the energy that propelled her to Chloe’s side.
Chloe’s condition was dire. Having taken Li Qiuyu’s attack head-on, she had now collapsed from her injuries and depleted magical energy. Her armor had vanished with her unconsciousness. Seeing Chloe’s bleeding hands and the bloody trails on the ground, Liu Menglu’s eyes immediately welled up with tears. She was helpless. She had never been around someone so badly injured, much less a magical being. Her mind went blank, and she didn’t even hear Li Qiuyu’s shouts.
She tried to hold back, but the tears fell uncontrollably onto Chloe’s face. In that moment, she realized how utterly useless she was. The feeling of powerlessness took root deep in her heart. Her hands trembled; she wanted to help, but she was too afraid to touch Chloe. Tears were useless, yet they kept falling.
Liu Menglu knew she had to do something. She took a deep breath, regulating her breathing and clearing her mind. When she opened her eyes again, her previously gentle brown gaze was now filled with a cool, detached clarity.
“Hello, may I ask if you can help treat Chloe now?” She stood still, calmly looking at Li Li.
Before Li Li could speak, Liu Menglu tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear and spoke again. “If not, please give me a phone so I can call Chloe’s guardian.”
“Chloe’s guardian?” Li Li murmured, looking at the young girl with a hint of admiration. Liu Menglu’s words seemed calm, but they were a direct threat. Chloe’s status in Fayalon was incredibly high. If their leader found out he had stood by and let her die, it would become a serious international incident. While China wasn’t afraid, it was best to avoid such a thing if possible.
Liu Menglu didn’t know what was going through Li Li’s mind. On the outside, she was calm, but her back was soaked in cold sweat. She knew she was threatening him, but she was at her wit’s end. So, she decided to risk everything in a life-or-death gamble.
The High-Stakes Gamble
She was gambling on China’s attitude toward Chloe. Though Chloe hadn’t mentioned it, the fact that a Chinese magical being had found Chloe and immediately sent another magical being, Li Qiuyu, to make contact already indicated a friendly stance. However, Li Li’s behavior had put Liu Menglu on high alert. If Chloe was so important, why hadn’t she been treated yet? This led Liu Menglu to a different possibility: they were using the demon to kill her.
In an age of rampant conspiracy theories, everyone had a slight case of paranoia. And Li Li’s intention to stall for time was all too obvious. But Liu Menglu was just a physically weak girl. All she could do was protect Chloe and pray that her conspiracy theory was wrong. But a person often can’t control their own dark thoughts, and neither could Liu Menglu. She had no power and no means to heal Chloe. This sense of utter helplessness was something Liu Menglu never wanted to experience again.
While Liu Menglu’s mind was racing with wild thoughts, Li Qiuyu was staring blankly at her. She didn’t die. She wanted to ask what happened but didn’t know where to start. All she could do was stare at Liu Menglu in a daze.
Liu Menglu didn’t notice anyone else. She was only focused on mustering her courage to meet Li Li’s gaze. Her heart was trembling. A man who had held a high position for many years, with a fearsome and intimidating face, was not someone an ordinary young girl could endure. But Liu Menglu held her ground. She withstood the pressure and looked at the person in charge.
“Please, I beg you, save Chloe. Her condition is very bad.” Liu Menglu repeated her plea.
Hearing Liu Menglu’s voice again, Li Qiuyu seemed to wake from a dream. She stared at Liu Menglu, wanting to confirm that she wasn’t an illusion, but was too timid to touch her. It was only when she heard Liu Menglu’s request that she finally reacted. Li Qiuyu pulled a pill from her pocket and offered it without hesitation.
“Make her swallow this.”
Liu Menglu looked at the pill in Li Qiuyu’s hand. She really wanted to test it to see if it was what it seemed to be, or if it was laced with poison or some other harmful substance. But in the end, she chose to trust the girl in front of her. After all, what kind of pathetic person would doubt their own friend?