Alice in the Land of Steam

Chapter 969 Will you tell me?

When Lingge finished his meal, the two little girls were still competing, but in a different way. Originally they sat back to back, ignoring each other, but now they were staring at each other, like bullfighting, with their foreheads pressed together, competing secretly, gritting their teeth, and looking like they wanted to eat each other up.

Not sure if it was an illusion, Lingge even felt that both sides were enjoying it. He wasn't sure why Songtaya did that, but Leticia probably did it because no one on the island would do such a thing with her. She was a good friend of Medien, or to be more precise, Medien's brainless fan. She would just nod and hum like a praying mantis to whatever the pink-haired girl said, and the two had never quarreled at all. She and Shemi were bad friends, and they quarreled three times a day without repeating, but Shemi was too small to do such difficult moves, and Leticia was too lazy to bully the little goblin. As for Alice, it was very likely, and Leticia did dislike her, but the little bat always avoided the golden-haired maid. In her own words, "My grandma doesn't let me play with fools, because I'll infect her with stupidity."

Well, so Songtaya is honored to be the first person to fight Leticia with real weapons. Perhaps this is what is called a nemesis?
"Who is this guy's enemy?" X2
The two turned their heads again and shouted in unison.

The young man subconsciously touched his mouth and was a little surprised: Could it be that I also said what was in my heart?
"What are you thinking about? You look so stupid." Leticia looked at him with disdain: "I can see what's going on in your mind at a glance. Do I still need to guess?"

Don't you think your two sentences are contradictory?
Lingge was too lazy to argue with the little bat, so he just said a few words to send her away: "Yeah, I got it. If you have nothing to do, go back to class. By the way, tell Metian to study hard and stop thinking about random things all day long."

"Metien is not that kind of person. What qualifications do you have to say that about her?"

I am her brother.

"That won't work either." Leticia crossed her arms and said seriously, "I am still Metien's best friend. Of course, a best friend is more important than a brother, so Metien should listen to me, not you."

So what are you going to say to Metien?
"Well, first let her break up with Shaymi." The little white-haired bat fell into deep thought. "Then let her break up with Alice, and finally let her break up with Xiao Xia and Miss Livia. This way, I will be the only one left by her side. Haha!"

What a horrible laugh, what a horrible little girl.

Lingge was shocked by this way of making friends that was not in line with the moral orientation of modern society. He immediately turned around and winked at a shepherdess, indicating that she should discipline her student well and not let her go astray.

Saint Xia Liya nodded to show that she had received it, and then, while the little white-haired bat was still immersed in her fantasy, she quietly walked behind her and skillfully stroked her neck with her left hand, and then did the rest.

“Huh? Why is Xiao Xia here? Why is Xiao Xia here?!”

No matter how many times you watch it, you will feel that Saint Shallia's skills are getting more and more sophisticated. This is probably because there are more and more people on Yunjing Sky Island who can force her to use her special skills. There was only Alice before, and now there is Leticia.

"Stop it, Leticia." The shepherd girl said calmly, "Your mission has been completed. Now, follow me back to class."

The little bat struggled a few times in her hands, but failed to break free. It could only accept its fate obediently, looking dejected, like a crab held in mid-air. This scene always gave Ling Ge a sense of déjà vu, except that the characters had changed. The person holding the crab was Countess Nevile, and the person playing the crab was——

“Hehe!” Songtaya made a face at Leticia from a safe distance: “That’s how it should be! Bad kids who don’t listen should be taken back and taught a lesson!”

“Songtaya?” Shino glanced at her and said with a half-smile, “If you continue, I will tell Chief Wilhelm everything that happened here today without missing a word, okay?”

If my dad knew about this...

The little mountain girl shuddered and stood at attention: "S-sorry! I shouldn't have gotten carried away! I'll go back right away. Miss Xinuo, please don't tell Dad about this!"

After saying that, she picked up the packed bamboo basket beside her and rushed out of the house as if she was escaping, and then was caught by Lingge.

"You can't leave." The young man grabbed her furry collar and said, I don't know what kind of animal's fur it was, but it was quite warm: "I have a few words to say to you, Songtaya."

"Ah?" The girl turned around and blinked blankly: "What?"

Could it be that you think today’s food is not tasty?
But it’s not me who made it. If you’re not satisfied, just go find Uncle Zach!

She was worried, but Lingge did not respond. Instead, he winked at Xia Liya and Xino. They both knew that the following occasion was not suitable for outsiders to watch, otherwise it might bring too much pressure to Songtaya.

Saint Xia Liya carried Leticia out and said, "Let's go, Leticia, I'll take you back to Yunjingkong Island and check the results of your study in the past few days."

Xinuo also stretched and said slowly: "Then I'll go with you too. I haven't seen Brandi for a week and I miss her a lot. I hope she misses me too."

I don't need you to send it!

Leticia screamed in her heart. She could tell at a glance that Lingge had bad intentions. He actually drove everyone away and left her in the same room with a little girl of fifteen or sixteen. Could it be that he wanted to... No, I can't just sit there and watch! Even if Songtaya is annoying and my enemy, I still have to save her and not let her fall into Lingge's clutches!
Because Alice once said that what you love, even if... uh, I remembered it wrong, the greater the ability, the greater the responsibility!
My ability is a thousand times greater than Sontaya's, so the responsibility I need to bear is naturally a thousand times greater than hers. This is the justice and morality that I, as a member of the Bloodfang Valenhildr clan, uphold in my heart!

The little bat felt that her personality suddenly became taller at this moment, overlapping with countless great figures in history, enough to stand on the high ground of morality and look down on despicable people like Ling Ge. At this moment, she was not fighting alone, but representing fairness, justice, a noble personality, and all the good qualities in civilized society. She stood up and angrily denounced the despicable act happening in front of her: "Ling Ge, you guy——"

What do you want to do to that girl!?

"Hmm?" Saint Shalia glanced at her.

"No, nothing." The little bat suddenly wilted. The spirit of the great men quickly stripped away from her, causing her to lose the aura of justice. She looked like a naughty child who was caught doing something wrong. She felt guilty, cowered, and a little trembling. "I, I'm kidding, hahahaha, Xiaoxia, shall we go back?"

That's it?

Saint Xia Liya retracted her gaze, and left with Leticia, who looked unwilling but dared not speak. Shino followed closely behind. The two of them walked away and soon disappeared from the young man's sight. At this time, he turned around and said to Songtaya who was laughing: "Okay, come and sit here, Songtaya."

He pointed to the only stone chair in the room. Songtaya said "oh" and sat down obediently. Lingge leaned against the wall, crossed his arms, looked at the girl, frowned slightly, and considered the tone of his words in his heart, thinking about how to start. Telling the truth is certainly a method, but the psychological endurance of the little girl must also be considered. If she is hit hard by the cruel truth and loses hope in life, then Lingge would be unworthy of the trust of Chief Wilhelm? So it is better to use a more euphemistic statement.

The young man thought for a long time. At first, Songtaya was patient and sat obediently on the chair, waiting for him to speak. But after a few minutes, her patience was exhausted. She began to be distracted, her eyes were wandering, and she couldn't help looking outside the house, as if she really wanted to leave this narrow stone house and go out to play.

What on earth do you want to tell me without saying a word?

You people on Earth really like to keep people in suspense.

Can't you be more straightforward?

The girl Xia Toto was complaining in her heart when she suddenly heard Ling'er's voice: "Songtaya."

"Here!" She sat up straight reflexively and looked at Lingge seriously, using a sincere look to show that she was definitely not distracted just now, but was just a little relaxed.

"..." Ling Ge was too lazy to argue with her and went straight to the point: "Have you ever thought about your future?"

"what?"

my future?

Why did we suddenly jump to such a profound topic? Did we omit a large section of dialogue in between?

Songtaya blinked blankly, and after realizing that Lingge was not joking, she answered hesitantly: "In the future, of course, I want to become the most powerful hunter in the Wusu tribe. Then, when my father abdicates, I will take over his position as leader and lead everyone to continue living in the snow-capped mountains... Well, that's probably it!"

A very traditional answer.

Linger asked her: "Is that enough?"

Songtaya asked back: "Isn't that enough? I am the leader of the tribe!"

Her tone seemed to be a matter of course, as if she had indeed become the leader of the tribe. However, with her status, if nothing unexpected happened, she could indeed reach that height.

"It's probably not enough." The young man was silent for a moment, then guided her to think in a more far-reaching direction: "Have you never thought about leaving here and taking a look at the outside world? This world is rich and colorful, and it is definitely not just what you see in the mountains. Those names you have never heard of are definitely more prosperous than Heidebrusburg at the foot of the mountain: the vitality and vigor of the prosperous city of Rustin, the elegance and holiness of the spring city of Nimsher, the freedom and vitality of the wind city of Avion, the charm and mystery of the cold night city of the Rain Harbor, the purification and transformation of the sea-encircled city of Lotdana, the antiquity and majesty of the city of Ten Thousand Cities, and the heaviness and rebirth of the wind and flower city of Sumiya... If you can witness these scenes with your own eyes, there will probably be no regrets in your life, right?"

"Wow!" Songtaya opened her eyes wide, her black agate eyes sparkling. "It sounds so impressive. Have you been to so many places, Mr. Ling?"

"Yes." Linger nodded gently: "I have experienced it personally, and I remember it clearly."

"Then you must like adventures everywhere, right?" Songtaya sat on the chair, gently swinging her two short legs. It was hard to tell whether her tone was envious or just expressing her feelings: "I'm different. I think my life now is pretty good. There's nothing to be surprised about. Of course, there's nothing to worry about, hehe."

She grinned at Lingge, and her silly look made the young man fall silent all of a sudden, and his eyes became extremely complicated.

The girl Xia Toto in front of him reminded him of his past self, the young man who was still holding on to a dilapidated church in Linville City, who could remain calm in the face of any changes and stubbornly believed that "a peaceful life is the most precious thing in the world". He thought that he would be able to end this journey soon and return to the original starting point, but now it seems that he is going in the opposite direction and getting farther and farther away.

You must love adventure, otherwise, how could you have been to so many cities and experienced so many things?

Lingge couldn't answer this question.

Fate always makes people have no control over their own destiny. This is the case with Lingge, and perhaps it will also be the case with Songtaya.

"What if," he couldn't help but say to the girl, "one day you have to leave here and go out into the world?"

Songtaya tilted her head: "It's so strange, why do I have to leave here and go to the outside world?"

"It's just a hypothesis." Ling Ge said, "But no one can deny the possibility, right? Fate is very magical, Songtaya."

"That's it."

Songtaya blinked her eyes, not quite understanding, but she quickly put these complicated things behind her, held her head high and said, "Then I will definitely come back here! Because my father once said that only the snow-capped mountains are the home of us Xiatoto people!"

So, is this the kind of education she received since childhood?
Faced with this girl who holds the same idea as he once did, Lingge feels awkward for the first time in a long time. I wonder if Chief Wilhelm, when he said this to his daughter many years ago, would have thought that one day in the future, this would cause trouble to a young man he had never met?

As the saying goes among mountain people: every arrow shot at the prey will eventually return to the hunter.

"so--"

Songtaya suddenly leaned over, and the young man's face was reflected in her big black eyes, with a bit of curiosity and desire to explore: "Will you tell me the reason why I have to leave the snow mountain?"

Give me some meow