We moved to Golden Courtyard

They held a very negative attitude.

Xu Qi was so jealous that he wondered if she had a grudge against Rita.

Xu Qi walked lightly behind Bronya and placed his hands on her shoulders to begin massaging them.

Feeling the heat on her shoulder and the inspiration that was beginning to flow uncontrollably into her mind, Bronya felt that if this continued, she would really be unable to leave Xu Qi.

"Why are you being so attentive? Speak up, what is it?"

"Bronya, I'd like to... ask for a day off."

"Take leave? You can decide that yourself, can't you?" But then Bronya realized what she meant, "You want to take a long leave?"

"It's not very long, at most a week."

Should I ask for leave at this critical juncture?

But Bronya didn't react with the same coldness and anger as Rita. She hesitated for a moment before asking, "Is it related to your absence this morning?"

"Um……"

"Can I know what it is?"

"...There is a girl who is working hard for the life she wants, and as her brother, I can't just sit idly by."

Bronya stopped painting.

She turned to look at Xu Qi behind her, and in his eyes... she saw an unusual determination.

Is the resistance significant?

"more or less."

A bright smile bloomed on Bronya's face as she turned around again to finish the storyboard for the second episode.

"Really? It's... Fu Hua? Oh right, she's your sister. Looks like I wronged you. It wasn't in a woman's bed that you were so exhausted you couldn't get out of bed."

Ok……

Actually, that's true...

But Xu Qi dared not say that.

And Bronya's words are as bold as ever... This old lady really knows how to make lewd jokes.

"Go ahead, go ahead, I can't stop you. But what about the work? Who did you hand it over to?"

"Rita."

As expected… Bronya thought to herself.

"So it seems you arranged everything before coming to me?"

"Ah."

"Then go, Xu Qi. You shouldn't be bound by anyone or anything. The only way I can keep you by my side is perhaps..."

Your love for Allahato, and your innate sense of responsibility.

Xu Qi smiled. Although he and Bronya hadn't known each other for long, they were like close friends.

"You are free, Xu Qi."

273. Dr. Mei wants you to think the wrong thing.

At the foot of Mount Taixu, a young girl, dressed lightly and carrying a simple hiking backpack, looked up at the mountain, but could only see a sea of ​​clouds floating in the sky.

As for the mountain peak... it was hidden above the sea of ​​clouds.

Even though she hadn't returned to the mountain for many years, Fu Hua still felt a sense of warmth and familiarity when the familiar scenery and trees around her appeared before her eyes.

Just like Xu Qi said, Fu Hua went back to the mountain...

She contacted her junior uncle and asked Shi Bao to lead her through the protective fog at the foot of the mountain. As for what happens next... that's entirely up to her.

This is not only about recognizing treasures, but also about Fu Hua.

If even climbing a mountain requires the help of others, then this return trip... is meaningless.

So only Fu Hua climbed the mountain, and Xu Qi was nowhere to be seen beside her.

Fu Hua stepped onto the first step...

At this very moment! The sound of a wooden bell reverberating throughout the mountains startled countless flocks of birds, which then lingered in the air. Like a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix, the sounds were crisp and varied, urgent and soaring.

Fu Hua looked up.

She knew that whenever an outsider began to climb the mountain, the bell at the summit would ring, signifying the start of the trial. Only those who reached the summit could enter the Taixu Temple.

This is a trial.

······

At a high altitude about 20 kilometers from Mount Taixu, under the cover of optical camouflage and HK particles, the Ptolemaic warship of the Earth Network quietly infiltrated the area.

However, unlike before, neither Shigure Kira nor Seele were on the warship this time. Besides the support staff, only Prometheus and… remained on board.

Dr. Mei.

According to the principle of ground-based defense, Ptolemy should have ensured at least three armored pilots to protect the warships. But at present, it seems that only the Seraphim of Prometheus is capable of launching an attack.

We can't exactly have a PhD student be the driver, can we?

So... they have gained new power.

On the bridge, Dr. Mei, with her long purple hair, sat in the main seat, directing the warship's normal operation, while Xu Qi, who was in the guest seat, had a rather strange expression on his face.

He glanced at the bespectacled, extremely gentle-looking doctor, and even though he knew it was impolite, his gaze couldn't help but linger on him.

Is it because of her voluptuous and outstanding figure?

Obviously not...

Even as Xu Qi maintained this impolite behavior, he also recalled all the conversations he had with Shi Yu Qi Luo when he came to the Earth Network the day before yesterday.

That day... he did not see Mei.

They communicated via video call, but the other party not only did not show their face, but their voice was also altered.

Xu Qi had anticipated that the journey to Mount Taixu would be fraught with danger.

He needs to integrate all available resources in preparation for unforeseen circumstances. Therefore, the power of the ground network is naturally indispensable.

When Xu Qi requested a collaboration, the other party readily agreed, but proposed some conditions that Xu Qi found incomprehensible at the time.

Firstly, Raiden Mei is not allowed to board the ship.

This almost made Mei furious!

What do you mean?! You want to steal my man?!

Fortunately, even if Mei can't play, the others can, at least they can help keep an eye on Xu Qi.

But soon, the other party stated a second condition.

Secondly, anyone from the Golden Court who boards the Ptolemaic is considered an external combatant and is not allowed to enter the bridge.

The last condition is that Xu Qi must remain inside the bridge at all times except when he is on a sortie.

Actually, these conditions are irrelevant to Xu Qi.

But clearly, his girlfriends would never agree!

Although she had never met Dr. Mei, Mei already regarded her as an old witch who was specifically designed to drain Xu Qi's life force!

Even Ellie was unusually angry and even raised objections.

Surprisingly, Mebius readily agreed and took Alicia and Mei away without further ado.

The level of their firmness was unprecedented.

Since that's the case, then we'll split into two groups. Besides Xu Qi, Kosmo also piloted the 00 armored vehicle and entered the Ptolemy from the Golden Court side.

Meanwhile, the new exoskeleton armor that Velvet had prepared for Theresa was also being serviced on the Ptolemy.

As for the others, they could only wait on Vilvi's airship.

That's right. For Fu Hua's sake, apart from Sakura and Eden who couldn't make it back, everyone from the Golden Garden was mobilized this time.

After all, Fu Hua... is definitely family to them!

Of course, on the other hand, at this moment, sitting on the bridge of Ptolemy's ship, Xu Qi finally understood why Dr. Mei would put forward such an absurd three conditions.

After all, the other party is really...

"Now all we need to do is ensure the Ptolemy sails slowly and freely. As the captain, I can take a short rest and meet our guests."

Mei got up from her seat and walked towards Xu Qi.

"You're right, aren't you, Xu Qi?"

Xu Qi's hands quietly clenched, his reason telling him that the woman in front of him was not easy to deal with! But... when that face appeared in Xu Qi's field of vision, all his vigilance began to melt away like ice and snow.

There was no way to develop any sense of wariness towards this woman.

Because... they look so alike...

No… I should say! This is Mei ten years later, a much more mature version of herself!

If Xu Qi hadn't been absolutely certain that his little Mei was on the airship in Vervier, without her sister or mother, then he wouldn't have known.

He truly considered her as Mei, or rather, as her family...

In Xu Qi's perception, even the fluctuations of their mental energy were extremely similar.

You must be kidding...

"It's precisely because we're afraid of too many people knowing about this that we've put forward these three conditions." Prometheus also walked to Xu Qi's side.

"Now, do you understand?"

That's totally understandable...

Xu Qi's slightly dry lips parted slightly as he looked at Mei, who was also looking at him, and slowly said, "Can you give me an explanation?"

Mei shook her head, her gaze towards Xu Qi filled with tenderness, which made Xu Qi feel even more strange.

From a rational perspective... they should be strangers.

"I can explain it to you, but not now. Sometime in the future, I will tell you everything."

"Your words are full of promises..."

Mei smiled nonchalantly, seemingly unconcerned about Xu Qi's undisguised scrutiny. In fact, she appeared to be deliberately presenting the most beautiful aspects of her body to Xu Qi in the best possible way.

why?

我们认识吗？

"But isn't Fu Hua the most urgent task right now?"

Xu Qi's expression changed!

Yes... Fu Hua! That's the key point!

As for the question of whether Mei is real or fake...

Xu Qi glanced at Dr. Mei again, who even winked at him.

What are you doing, you old hag?! You're actually trying to act cute towards me?!

The key thing is... I'm smitten...

Damn it... this is Mei after all!

274. Dr. Mei, please have some self-respect.

"00 armor debugging complete, HK particles replenished; Raiser auxiliary machine debugging complete, ready to dock with 00 armor; Trans-am mode test complete, functions normally."

Mei sat down casually next to Xu Qi, seemingly not bothering to avoid being near him at all. Xu Qi even noticed a faint, pleasant fragrance emanating from her.

This made his expression even more strange—even the scent... was exactly the same as Mei's... the only difference was that it was stronger and more alluring.

She glanced at Xu Qi, who was sitting upright, and couldn't help but tease him: "It brought a small upgrade to the 00 armor. Now the one that Kosmo is driving should be called 00R."