Otherworld Advance Team
Chapter 850 - 843: Covering Fire

Chapter 850: Chapter 843: Covering Fire

Melia left Luo’er, her eyes smiling as she looked at him. Seeing his face flush red, she couldn’t help but let out a soft giggle.

Luo’er frowned, his face burning red as he looked at Melia’s bloom-like smiling face. In his mind, a question he had always wanted to ask surfaced.

"Melia," Luo’er called out to her as he looked at her.

"Hmm?" Melia hummed coquettishly, then turned her head to look at him with a smile, tilting her head.

"I’ve always had a question I wanted to ask you," Luo’er said.

"Then just say it. Why beat around the bush?" Melia responded.

"You," Luo’er glanced at her and found her squinting at him. He couldn’t help but shift his gaze away and looked elsewhere as he asked, "I’m quite curious, before you met me, what was your attitude towards half-elves?"

"Do you want me to tell the truth?" Melia asked with a blink of her eyes.

"Of course, I don’t really mind," Luo’er replied with a shrug.

"Then I’ll tell the truth," Melia said, turning her head to look at Eve who was following behind the Advance Team. She continued, "To be honest, I don’t like half-elves. Or rather, like everyone else, I considered half-elves to be lowly creatures, unworthy of attention."

"As expected..." Luo’er nodded, understanding. After all, not everyone was like Feliz. In the Otherworld, discrimination against half-elves was the norm, and acceptance would be the exception.

"Of course, if I were at my wit’s end and needed to rely on a half-elf to help me achieve my goals, I might change my mind. Just like you..." Melia said, slowly approaching Luo’er, and then with squinted eyes and a smiling face, she continued, "The reason I treat you this way isn’t just because you can bring me benefits."

"Say what you will, but don’t get so close; I can hardly take it," Luo’er stepped back and said with a wry smile.

"Worried that your little lover will get angry?" Melia asked teasingly, taking a step back.

"That’s not it. I just don’t like being too physically close with the opposite sex," Luo’er defended.

"Is that so..." Melia laughed lightly and then her expression turned somewhat dim as she lowered her head and fell silent.

In fact, her question just now contained a trap. On the surface, she was asking for Luo’er’s feelings, but she was actually determining the status of people like Tangmo in Luo’er’s heart.

However, much to her disappointment, Luo’er didn’t deny the lover remark, which was tantamount to acknowledging their status. This made her feel somewhat uncomfortable in her heart.

"What is love..." Melia murmured softly.

"Huh, what did you say?" Luo’er didn’t quite catch her soft murmur.

"No, nothing, it seems I’ve been occupying your time. Is it a bit inappropriate?" Melia suddenly shook her head and then her smile returned.

"It’s not like that. After all, as the Captain of the Advance Team, I’m supposed to be socializing in the first place," Luo’er replied.

"Let’s go then. I’ve got a pile of stuff to busy myself with once you all are settled," Melia sighed and said.

"Need any help?" Luo’er blurted out without thinking.

Hearing his words, Melia didn’t respond but instead looked at Luo’er with affectionate eyes, a smile on her face that was hard to read. She didn’t answer Luo’er’s question but turned and walked towards the banquet hall.

The banquet wasn’t as lively as the last one had been. Melia arranged for everyone in the dining room of her residence, which barely fit about ten people for dining. The fireplace burned bright with flames, and above the dining table was a large chandelier, lit with dozens of candles, illuminating the whole room.

Melia was only hosting in name and didn’t dine with them. After arranging for everyone from the Advance Team in the dining room, she hurried off, as she had a large pile of matters to attend to and no time to stay and accompany them.

The banquet’s food was not particularly exceptional but was not too bad either, and there was plenty of it. Hu Daoke loosened his belt as soon as he sat at the table and began to wolf down his food, much to the dismay of those sitting beside him.

"Why is there a wild boar in this dining room?" Cheng Ziang, sitting off to the side with his head propped up in his hands, lamented.

"What’s it to you? Have the guts to compete with me for it!" Hu Daoke spoke with his mouth full of food, his words coming out garbled in retort.

"With the way you’re eating, I bet Princess Melia will have us all kicked out by tomorrow," Cheng Ziang said, shaking his head and smiling wryly.

"Luo’er, eat this!" Tangmo said gloomily, lifting a bowl and passing a spoonful of something white and creamy to Luo’er’s mouth.

"Oh," Luo’er responded and then lowered his head to eat the food Tangmo offered him.

The substance was soft and tender, melting instantly in the mouth, and carried a fragrance with a hint of sweetness. Luo’er could almost swallow it down without needing to chew.

"Wow, who’d have thought you could find sweet tofu pudding in the Otherworld," Luo’er remarked, somewhat amazed.

"Is the tofu tasty?" Tangmo asked, putting down the bowl and glaring at him indignantly.

"Pfft!" Before Luo’er could react, Cheng Ziang couldn’t help but let out a schadenfreude-filled laugh.

"Tofu..." Luo’er paused, immediately catching on to Tangmo’s wordplay, then smiled bitterly and shook his head helplessly, "Are you still hung up on what happened with Melia?"

"You actually got mad at me for her," Tangmo said, staring at him.

"Well, you’re not..." Luo’er found himself at a loss for words.

"I deserve to be scolded, right?" Tangmo said, his expression growing even more aggrieved.

"Not really," Luo’er replied helplessly, flailing about a bit and becoming somewhat incoherent, "I mean, we were just talking about serious matters, you know Princess Melia has her own pursuits..."

"Serious matters, really?" Tangmo’s expression softened slightly as he tilted his head quizzically.

"Of course, of course!" Luo’er nodded hurriedly in agreement.

"I don’t believe it. Have Fulajie’er come out and tell me what you two talked about," Tangmo demanded, looking straight at Luo’er.

"Er..." Luo’er tensed up inwardly, having altogether forgotten about Fulajie’er’s presence. Even though she usually remained invisible, she was certainly revolving around him. That meant the conversation he just had with Melia was likely overheard by Fulajie’er.

"Feeling guilty?" Tangmo noticed the change in Luo’er’s expression and pressed on with heightened curiosity.

"Of course not, it’s just..." Luo’er scratched his head uneasily, then tentatively called out, "Fula, could you come out for a moment?"

However, his call seemed to have no effect. The air showed no disturbance; not only was Fulajie’er not visible, but even her voice was absent.

"Feng, where is Fulajie’er?" Tangmo turned and asked Feng, who was busy eating.

Upon hearing Tangmo’s question, Feng, who was chewing on some bread, looked up, then pointed in a direction with conviction before moving his finger, continuously tracing Fulajie’er’s whereabouts.

Feng was the only one among the Advance Team who could sense the invisible Fulajie’er, thanks to her exceptionally strong perception abilities. Even for one with only a spiritual body like Fulajie’er, Feng could easily capture her location.

"Ah! I hate you, you horrible woman!" Finally unable to hide any longer, Fulajie’er struggled to materialize from mid-air, and burst out cursing wildly.

"You little devil, what exactly did Luo’er and that woman talk about?" Tangmo asked, remaining unmoved.

"Don’t call me little devil, I’m older than you!" Fulajie’er retorted puffily, correcting him.

"Don’t change the subject, just tell me!" Tangmo said, frowning slightly and with a tone that brooked no refusal.

"Of course, they were discussing serious matters. What else did you think? Not everyone’s like you!" Fulajie’er complained.

"You sure?" Tangmo paused, a surprised look crossing his face.

"Why bother asking me if you don’t believe me?" Fulajie’er replied as she did a few spins in mid-air. When facing Luo’er, she flashed a mischievous look and gave him a conspiratorial wink.

"Sorry, I was wrong to blame you," Tangmo mused for a while, then wore a stiff expression, offering an apology to Luo’er in a tone devoid of emotion.