Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up when she heard Tao Yao suggest a virtual live stream.
Her wings flapped quickly, and the entire fairy radiated excitement.
[Live stream? This idea is fantastic!]
Xiao Xiao spun around excitedly in the air, her whole being became as lively as Tao Yao.
[What a great idea! How did I not think of live streaming?]
Her voice was filled with excitement, and the sparkling points on her wings flickered even more frequently.
Xiao Xiao flew in front of Tao Yao, her eyes shining with eager anticipation.
[Master, you are so clever!]
Xiao Xiao exclaimed,
[The official previews usually released are just too monotonous.]
[If we had a live stream, it would definitely be an unimaginable feast!]
Xiao Xiao danced in the air with excitement, her voice filled with longing and hopes.
[And the most important thing is, with the remaining popularity value of the master, holding a live stream would be more than enough.]
[If the players knew this news, they would definitely be amazed!]
Tao Yao looked at Xiao Xiao's excited appearance, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but rise.
She nodded gently and said:
"You think it can work too, right? Since that's the case, we shouldn't delay. Hurry up and handle it, help me connect with the business side of that pink platform, and promote what needs to be promoted."
Xiao Xiao, upon hearing this, felt like the entire fairy was about to explode with excitement.
She quickly fluttered in the air, as if dancing a joyful dance.
[Okay, Master! I'll get right on it!]
Xiao Xiao's voice was full of drive.
[Don't worry, I will make sure everything is arranged perfectly!]
After saying this, Xiao Xiao couldn't wait to start her operations.
Her movements were so fast that they were almost hard to see, only flashes of light could be seen flickering in the air.
Soon, all kinds of data and information were rapidly scrolling across the screen in front of Tao Yao.
At that moment, there was a light knock on Tao Yao's door.
"Tao Yao mama, it's time for dinner, I've made a lot of delicious food."
Forget-Me-Not's voice came from outside.
Hearing this voice, Tao Yao showed a gentle smile.
She turned to Xiao Xiao and said:
"I'll leave these matters to you. I'm going out for dinner first."
Xiao Xiao nodded and continued to focus on her work.
Tao Yao stood up, tidied her clothes, and walked toward the door.
As soon as she opened the door, Forget-Me-Not rushed over enthusiastically.
She grabbed Tao Yao's hand, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Tao Yao mama, you're here!" Forget-Me-Not said with a smile, "Come quickly and see what I've prepared for you!"
Forget-Me-Not pulled Tao Yao's hand, guiding her toward the living room.
Tao Yao allowed her to lead, wearing a gentle smile.
Upon entering the living room, Tao Yao saw that the dining table was already filled with various dishes.
In the center of the table was a steaming pot of soup, surrounded by a variety of colorful dishes.
There were golden, crispy fried items, fresh green vegetables, and bright red stews.
Forget-Me-Not shyly said:
"In the past, it was always Tao Yao sister and Hiyakura mama taking care of me and making delicious food. Today it's my turn to take care of you, Tao Yao mama."
Tao Yao looked at the table full of dishes, her heart filled with warmth.
She gently patted Forget-Me-Not's head and said:
"Thank you, Forget-Me-Not. It looks very sumptuous."
After the two sat down, Tao Yao picked up her chopsticks and scooped up a piece of seemingly tender meat, putting it into her mouth.
However, her brows involuntarily furrowed.
This piece of meat indeed looked tempting, but it tasted completely different.
The meat was a bit tough and clearly overcooked, burnt on the outside and somewhat raw inside.
The seasoning was also off, salty with a hint of bitterness, and a strange burnt flavor.
Tao Yao forced herself to swallow it, suppressing the impulse to spit it out.
She glanced at the other dishes and found that the situation was similar.
The fried items were so greasy they were hard to swallow, and the vegetables were either overcooked or nearly raw.
Even the soup was hard to describe, with some unidentified objects floating in it, emitting a strange smell.
Yet, when Tao Yao looked up and saw the hopeful expression in Forget-Me-Not's eyes, her heart softened.
Forget-Me-Not's eyes were filled with hope and tension, like a student waiting for a teacher's score.
Tao Yao took a deep breath and revealed a warm smile.
She gently nodded and said:
"Very good, Forget-Me-Not. I can feel your effort. These dishes are quite creative; you must have put a lot of thought into it, right?"
Forget-Me-Not beamed with delight upon hearing this.
She excitedly exclaimed:
"Really? Does Tao Yao mama think it tastes good? I checked so many recipes!"
Tao Yao continued to encourage her:
"Of course. Look at this soup; the color is very special, you must have added a lot of ingredients, right?"
"And this stew, the aroma is very unique. You really have talent."
Tao Yao was well aware that her words were not entirely honest.
But after all, she was Tao Yao.
She would never allow herself to hurt Forget-Me-Not's good intentions.
Forget-Me-Not listened to Tao Yao's compliments, and her smile grew brighter and brighter.
She couldn't wait to grab a piece of meat and put it in her mouth.
However, when the food touched her tongue, Forget-Me-Not's expression suddenly froze.
Her complexion turned pale quickly, and her eyes widened in disbelief, as if she couldn't believe the taste she was experiencing.
Forget-Me-Not struggled to swallow that piece of food and then spoke in a tone of near despair:
"Tao Yao mama, this... this is just too awful, right?"
Seeing Forget-Me-Not's reaction, Tao Yao couldn't help but laugh.
She reached out to pat Forget-Me-Not's head and said gently:
"It's okay, Forget-Me-Not. Cooking also requires practice. What's important is your heart; I'm really touched."
Upon hearing this, Forget-Me-Not's eyes instantly brimmed with tears.
She pounced into Tao Yao's arms and choked out:
"I'm sorry, Tao Yao mama. I wanted to surprise you, but in the end..."
Tao Yao gently patted Forget-Me-Not's back and comforted her:
"Don't be sad, this is part of the learning process. Next time, let's cook together, okay?"
Forget-Me-Not raised her head, her eyes reigniting with hopeful light. She nodded vigorously and said:
"Mm! I will definitely work hard to learn!"
Thus, Tao Yao comforted the very upset Forget-Me-Not several more times.
After Forget-Me-Not had calmed down, she seemed to think of something, straightening up from Tao Yao's embrace, and spoke seriously:
"Tao Yao mama, there's something I want to tell you."
"Mm?"
Tao Yao tilted her head, looking at Forget-Me-Not gently.
And Forget-Me-Not spoke in a serious tone:
"It seems we have been ignored. That one called Coral said she would cooperate with us to find the fairy, but until now, she hasn't contacted us."
Tao Yao maintained a gentle smile upon hearing Forget-Me-Not's words. She gently stroked Forget-Me-Not's hair and softly inquired:
"Then, what does Little Forget-Me-Not think?"
Upon hearing this question, Forget-Me-Not's brow furrowed slightly, her expression revealing her struggle and confusion.
She lowered her head, her hands nervously twisting together, seemingly trying to find the right words.
After a moment, Forget-Me-Not raised her head and spoke with a voice that trembled slightly:
"Tao Yao mama, I can feel that the fairy is definitely inside the Sea Kingdom right now. But... but where specifically? I really don't know..."
Her voice grew smaller and smaller, finally almost a whisper. Forget-Me-Not's eyes shimmered with tears, revealing deep self-reproach and helplessness.
"I should be able to find her, right? But why... why do I always feel powerless? Am I really useless?"
Tao Yao watched Forget-Me-Not like this and couldn't help but inwardly criticize:
The main character group can only progress to version 2.0 to get to this point...
If you find the fairy now, what will the main character group do afterward?
But of course, Tao Yao would never voice such thoughts. She gently embraced Forget-Me-Not and softly comforted her:
"Alright, Little Forget-Me-Not, don't be too anxious. We have plenty of time, let's search slowly."
Hearing Tao Yao's comfort, Forget-Me-Not calmed down slightly. She looked up, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes.
"That's right. With me and Tao Yao mama, even if that fairy revives later, we can definitely beat her up!"
Forget-Me-Not clenched her small fists, her tone brimming with confidence and fighting spirit.
Her eyes sparkled, as if she could already see herself bravely fighting.
"We will definitely succeed! That fairy is simply not our opponent!"
Tao Yao smiled at Forget-Me-Not's sudden burst of passion.
She nodded gently and continued eating.
Seeing Tao Yao still eating the hard-to-swallow food, Forget-Me-Not suddenly became anxious and jumped up and down.
"Tao Yao mama, stop eating! Let's go out to eat."
She said anxiously, "I just tasted it, and it's really terrible. How can I let you continue eating these things?"
Tao Yao put down her chopsticks and gently shook her head. Her voice was light and steady, carrying an undeniable firmness:
"No, we can't waste food. Plus, this is Little Forget-Me-Not's heart, we absolutely cannot waste it!"
Forget-Me-Not's eyes instantly grew red upon hearing this.
She jumped into Tao Yao's arms and choked out:
"Woo... mama, you're so good. I... I'm about to cry from feeling moved."
Tao Yao gently patted Forget-Me-Not's back, her face lit with a tender smile.
Forget-Me-Not wiped her eyes and then seemed to think of something.
"By the way, Tao Yao mama, it seems like there's a very important festival coming up in a few days. Shouldn't we prepare for it?"
"Uh... prepare for what?"
"Banners, mooncakes, and so on! I see that many people in the Sea Kingdom are preparing; it looks very lively!"
"Alright, whatever you say."
"Hehe, mama is the best!"
...
Time passed, and a few days later.
At the boundary between the Sea Kingdom and the Land of Dawn.
At the edge of the highway, a discreet black sedan quietly stopped.
The car door opened, and a young woman in a neat maid outfit stepped out gracefully.
Her movements were light and composed, as if performing a carefully choreographed dance.
This maid was Shiro. She walked elegantly to the rear of the car and gently opened the trunk.
Inside the trunk was a figure curled up.
It was Violet, currently tightly bound with ropes, her mouth stuffed with a cloth, emitting only faint muffled sounds.
Her eyes were filled with fear and anger, but no matter how she struggled, she couldn't escape her bindings.
Shiro observed this scene and maintained a gentle smile on her face.
Her voice was soft, tinged with a hint of apology:
"I'm sorry to have put you through this, Miss Violet."
As she spoke, Shiro reached down and removed the cloth from Violet's mouth.
Violet was finally able to speak; she exerted all her strength and shouted with a choked voice:
"You despicable maid! Let me go!! Do you know what you're doing? This is kidnapping!"
Hearing this, Shiro gently shook her head, her expression remaining as calm as water.
"Miss Violet, you know that's impossible. Since I've chosen to take you away, there will be no turning back until my goal is achieved."
Shiro's tone was serious, her eyes shimmering with resolute light. She continued speaking, her voice still gentle:
"You must be tired as well, let me carry you down to rest properly."
She then bent down and lifted Violet out of the trunk.
Despite Violet's constant struggling, in Shiro's seemingly delicate yet surprisingly strong arms, she couldn't escape at all.
Shiro carried Violet toward a large tree not far away.
She carefully leaned Violet against the tree trunk and then securely tied her to the tree with ropes.
Throughout the process, Shiro's movements were exceedingly gentle, as if handling a precious work of art.
However, this gentle attitude sharply contrasted with the terrifying act she was committing, sending chills down one's spine.
After securing Violet, Shiro sat beside her.
Her gaze gently rested on Violet, as if looking at an intimate friend.
"Miss Violet, I know you must be very scared and very angry right now. But please believe me, I don't want to hurt you. This is all necessary."
Violet looked at the maid sitting beside her, who was as gentle while sitting on the ground as she was.
She remained silent for a while, then asked:
"So what do you want to do?"
Upon hearing Violet's question, Shiro broke into a gentle and mysterious smile. She sighed softly and gazed into the distance as if reminiscing something.
"I want to find Tao Yao, Miss Violet. That is my goal."
Violet's expression turned to confusion at this answer.
She furrowed her brow, her voice filled with frustration and discontent:
"If you want to find Tao Yao, then go find her! Why are you tying me up? This doesn't make any sense!"
Shiro turned her head, silently watching Violet.
In her eyes was a complex emotion of both helplessness and determination.
"Miss Violet, I think you should understand well that my Tao Yao is lost in the Rift. That place is, even for humans wielding extraordinary powers, a significant challenge to survive. Let alone searching for Tao Yao in such a chaotic environment?"
Shiro's voice was low and emotional, as if telling a heartbreaking story.
Shiro had not been without attempts to explore the Rift.
In fact, she had once ventured deep alone in an effort to find any traces of Tao Yao.
However, the environment there was far more dangerous and unpredictable than she had imagined.
She tried to move deeper, yet every step was fraught with peril.
A multitude of Disaster Beasts surged like a tide, and merely dealing with those terrifying creatures had drained her of all her energy and focus.
In such chaos, finding Tao Yao was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
It was precisely due to her personal experience of the terror of the Rift that Shiro had to retreat and began seeking other methods.
She had made a firm resolution to find a way to turn the Rift inside out. Regardless of whether Tao Yao was alive or dead, she would find her.
Even in the worst-case scenario, even if Tao Yao was no longer in this world, Shiro vowed to do everything possible to retrieve her, even if it meant snatching her back from the hands of the Grim Reaper.
This obsessive love had surpassed the boundaries of life and death.
After listening to Shiro's explanation, Violet's expression shifted from confusion to a complex one. She remained silent for a moment and then spoke:
"So what? Even if I'm willing to help you, what makes you think I can help you explore the human forbidden zones? Furthermore, why should I willingly help you?"
Upon hearing this, Shiro suddenly broke into a strange smile.
A crazy glint sparkled in her eyes, and her fervor was chilling.
"Miss Violet, you are right. The Rift is indeed a forbidden zone for humans; it inherently repels beings known as 'humans.'"
Shiro said slowly, her voice carrying a tinge of excitement,
"But, what if we are no longer human? What if we become non-human existences? Then wouldn't all these problems cease to be problems?"
Violet felt a shiver run down her spine upon hearing this. An ominous premonition rose in her heart, and her voice trembled with fear:
"What... what do you want to do to me?"
Shiro maintained a calm expression, slowly explaining:
"Miss Violet, you may not know, our order's Black Rose is studying a very advanced grafting technique. The core principle of this technique is to fuse a part of the Disaster Beast with a human."
"Through this method, we can give ordinary people extraordinary powers, and grant extraordinary individuals power far beyond the extraordinary."
A mad light shone in Shiro's eyes as she continued:
"Although I personally dislike Black Rose, I must admit that if Miss Violet can transform into the most intelligent humanoid Disaster Beast with her help, it might be a good thing after all."
Upon hearing this, Violet was instantly terrified.
She began to struggle violently, her voice filled with fear and anger:
"Crazy! You're a lunatic! How can you... how can you do this? This is nothing short of blasphemy against humanity! I will never let you succeed!"
Shiro looked at Violet's intense reaction, her face still wearing a gentle smile.
She walked gently in front of Violet, reaching out to softly cover her mouth.
"Alright, Miss Violet, you probably already know what you need to know."
Shiro's voice remained gentle, but it contained an undeniable firmness,
"The sky is getting dark; let's camp here for the night. We still have a long way to go tomorrow."
As time passed, the sky gradually darkened. Night fell, and stars dotted the deep night sky.
Tonight's moon was particularly beautiful.
There were no clouds obstructing it, the full moon hung high in the sky, casting a soft silver glow.
Moonlight poured down like water, draping the earth in a layer of hazy veil.
Maid Shiro changed into a loose, comfortable outfit, sitting quietly on a flat rock.
She gazed up at the sky, murmuring:
"The moon is so round tonight."
After a long period of struggling, Violet was exhausted.
Upon hearing Shiro's sigh, she involuntarily shifted her gaze to the round moon in the sky.
The moonlight illuminated the faces of the two girls, reflecting perfect circles in their beautiful pupils.
In their eyes, it seemed like they each held their own longing, though it was unclear what they were thinking.
On this tranquil night, the forest resonated only with the chirping of insects and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze.
Shiro and Violet, two girls with completely different identities and positions,
yet, at this moment, both seemed to share a sense of loneliness, collectively bathed in the glow of the same bright moon.
...
At the same time
Manju Academy.
Hiyakura's clear eyes reflected the round moon in the sky.
It was her first time witnessing such a massive and perfect moon, drawing her in deeply.
Moonlight gently fell on Hiyakura's face, adding a layer of mysterious glow to her youthful features.
She stood there, seemingly enchanted by the moonlight, forgetting everything around her.
"Little Hiyakura, what are you doing? We're just waiting on you!"
A crisp voice broke the tranquility.
Little White Lotus rushed over from a distance, her face beaming with excitement.
Little White Lotus reached Hiyakura's side and, seeing her looking up at the moon, couldn't help but follow her gaze to the sky.
Upon seeing the bright moon, a brilliant smile blossomed on Little White Lotus's face.
"Wow, the moon is so beautiful tonight!"
Little White Lotus exclaimed, "The moon is probably only this beautiful during the Moon Viewing Festival every year."
Hiyakura whispered to herself:
"I wish everyone were here..."
Little White Lotus thought Hiyakura was talking about Violet.
So she said with slight regret:
"I've already had people searching tirelessly; don't worry, there should be news soon."
Hiyakura's mood still felt very low.
"Alright, today is the Moon Viewing Festival; cheer up."
Little White Lotus smiled and took Hiyakura's hand, saying:
"Let's go, everyone is waiting for you!"
The two little girls held hands, running toward the lively scene not far away, filled with flames and excitement.
There, the academy's teachers and students were gathered together, laughter and joy filling the air.
For the gaming world, today was a rare festival.
The Moon Viewing Festival was not only a day to admire the moon but also a time for people to reunite, celebrate, and express gratitude.
Everyone cherished such moments, for they made ordinary life extraordinarily beautiful.
And for the players of Blue Star outside the game,
Today was likewise a special day,
Not just because of the festival.
Moreover, it was because a piece of news from Tao Yao had trended on hot searches that day.