"The expressions on those people just now—pfft, hahahaha, so funny!" Leticia, sitting in the wheelchair, covered her stomach and held back from laughing out loud. Those reporters actually hadn't thought that 'Songstress,' being a former hero, would use the sky entrance of Hero Association headquarters.
Too funny.
"After all, Songstress has been retired for a long time. It's quite normal for everyone to subconsciously forget she was once a hero too." Bai Ling could understand this situation.
Hero Association only had so many doors. The main entrance had so many people, and rumors said Songstress wasn't someone who liked crowds, so the possibility of her choosing this remote side entrance was quite high. Didn't they see that Bai Ling had brought Leticia through this very door?
But this door was still on the ground after all, and easily blocked by people. In terms of convenience, the entrance on top of the Association was still the most convenient and quickest.
"That Songstress, I think I've heard of her too." After laughing, Leticia recalled where she'd heard this name. "I think I saw it in battle reports long ago."
"Songstress is my senior. Her main area of activity was on the battlefields against the demons." Bai Ling nodded. Quite a few demons had died under Songstress's songs.
Leticia nodded in understanding. "Oh, so she and I have a grudge then."
Although they'd never met, since she'd killed her people, she was definitely an enemy.
"If you really want to think of it that way." Bai Ling didn't object to Leticia's thought process.
Because Songstress was also quite a beautiful girl, Bai Ling was still a bit worried about Leticia being seduced by this renowned Songstress's beauty.
Inside Hero Association, there were many staff members coming and going in the spacious hall, occasionally greeting Bai Ling and Leticia with smiles.
These people weren't heroes, but ordinary people.
"We need to go to the underground training ground through a special passage." Bai Ling said to Leticia.
Bringing Leticia to a passage with a very conspicuous "Authorized Personnel Only" sign, Bai Ling took out her phone and tapped the screen a few times.
Then she brought her phone close to the electronic screen beside the passage. After a pleasant electronic tone, the tightly closed door opened, revealing a very clean and tidy corridor behind it.
Both sides of this corridor had about ten elevators with only down buttons. Bai Ling pushed Leticia to an empty elevator and introduced: "This leads directly to the underground training ground. Except for the first floor, Hero Association doesn't open other areas to the public. To go elsewhere, you need the kind of electronic token I just used."
"What's the use of telling me this? Even if I were bored, I wouldn't come here looking for trouble." Leticia pursed her lips, indicating she didn't want to know these useless things.
She just wanted to finish watching quickly and go home.
The elevator ran very smoothly. After about ten seconds, the elevator doors opened, revealing a super training ground full of sci-fi elements before Leticia's eyes.
Large and small circular platforms floated in mid-air. Some platforms had one person, others had four or five people. Some were training alone, others were sparring with teammates—a scene full of vitality.
Bai Ling and Leticia's appearance naturally caught the attention of some heroes who weren't training. Two such beautiful girls would be the center of attention anywhere.
But were there such beautiful girls in the Association? some heroes thought.
However, since they could appear here, it meant at least one of them must be a hero.
"Miss Bai, please come this way. Training preparations are complete—we were just waiting for you." A short-haired man in formal wear jogged to Bai Ling's side and said respectfully, "May I ask who this is..."
"My friend, and also the helper I invited." Bai Ling replied coolly. "Don't ask too much, just lead the way."
"Yes, yes." The man wiped his sweat. This Miss Bai was someone the higher-ups had specifically instructed not to offend. Every time he spoke with Miss Bai, he always felt like sitting on pins and needles.
This feeling was particularly obvious today.
On the way to the training ground, the man introduced who would be watching training with them today: "Parliament Member Sang Zitong, Songstress, and the Association's Vice President..."
Not many people, but each one was someone who could make Central City shake with a stomp of their foot.
Uh, except for Songstress—she was just a singer.
Probably?
"Sounds lively." Leticia chuckled lightly. "Makes me, a person with social anxiety, feel a bit restless."
"You have social anxiety?" Bai Ling rolled her eyes. Leticia should be called socially lazy syndrome—fear? That didn't exist at all.
Could a Demon King have social anxiety?
Others fearing her was more like it.
Then their usual bickering began.
The man leading the two young ladies in front felt extremely awkward. He felt he should escape quickly, but he couldn't, so he could only be a pitiful third wheel here.
So these two had this kind of relationship? he thought.
Between two girls, it seemed... well, not unacceptable?
Delivering the two flirting girls to a training room door, the man wiped his sweat in relief. "It's right in there. You two can go directly in."
The platforms outside were public training grounds that didn't require extra cost to use, while what Bai Ling was about to enter was a more advanced training room that required consuming heroes' battle merit—rewards heroes received after completing missions based on mission ratings.
Calculated separately from other rewards, independent of each other, these could be exchanged for various things within the Association.
Pushing open the training room door, Bai Ling immediately saw Senior Sang talking with a beautiful girl wearing autumn clothes.
Sang Zitong was also attracted by the door opening sound and saw Bai Ling and Leticia.
"Little Bai, is this cute little girl your friend?"
"Mm mm, this is Qianqian who lives downstairs from me." Bai Ling nodded quickly, then began introducing Senior Sang to Leticia. "This is Senior Sang, my teacher and guide."
"Oh, I've heard much about you." Leticia curiously observed this woman who had single-handedly built the current Hero Association during the war years. In her former eyes, this person was an extremely threatening powerful enemy. "I'm Su Qianqian, this person's neighbor, basically dragged here by force."
While Leticia observed Sang Zitong, this gray-haired woman was also observing Leticia.
Unlike her young appearance, Sang Zitong's real age could be considered grandmother-level, but thanks to the life-extending effects that came with being a superpower user and good maintenance over the years, she looked very young.
If she walked with Bai Ling, everyone would basically think they were the same age, not differing much, but actually, these two had quite a large age gap.
Sang Zitong's age was more than three times Bai Ling's.
"I've heard Little Bai mention you too." This grandmother-level figure smiled at Leticia.
Although she'd seen her photo, the real person gave quite a different feeling from the photo.
Today's Leticia wore a black long dress with a dark red scarf wrapped around her neck. A section of her calves below the dress was covered by slightly transparent black stockings, giving a very harmless impression.
Just like a cute little animal—no one would think a little rabbit could cause them any harm. The current Leticia was just such a little rabbit.
"But is Little Qian's health poor?" Sang Zitong asked. She remembered Su Qianqian's body should have no problems.
Why was she sitting in a wheelchair being pushed by Bai Ling?
"I got a little injured a few days ago. Although I've recovered a lot, she insisted I sit in this thing to come here." Leticia gave Bai Ling a look, indicating this wasn't her fault.
"But you still haven't fully recovered." Bai Ling retorted.
"Alright, alright, don't fight here." Sang Zitong clapped her hands lightly, interrupting the intimate interaction the two girls were about to have.
"Hmph." Leticia snorted, but she also gave Sang Zitong face and didn't continue bickering with Bai Ling.
This scene made the beautiful girl on the other side giggle. "What cute girls."
After laughing a few times, she stopped and walked to Leticia, introducing herself: "My name is Zi Youqin. My codename at Hero Association used to be 'Songstress.'"
So this was Songstress? Leticia curiously looked at the Songstress before her. This girl's appearance was definitely top-tier, and her voice was indeed very pleasant.
If she sang with such a voice, even the worst songs would become heavenly music, right?
"I'm Su Qianqian, this person's friend, bought over by her." Leticia took off the white lace glove on her right hand and actively extended her hand toward Songstress.
Looking at Leticia's extended hand that was like a work of art, Songstress was slightly stunned, then she also extended her hand and shook hands with Leticia.
Soft as boneless, slightly cool, the feel could only be described as exquisite. Songstress unconsciously tightened her grip on Leticia's hand.
"Eh?" Leticia, noticing her hand being gripped tightly, blinked in confusion. "Um, Miss Songstress?"
"Ah, sorry, I lost my composure." Songstress quickly released Leticia's hand. She suddenly understood why that white-haired girl was looking at this black-haired girl with such complex eyes.
This black-haired girl completely deserved the term "worldly beauty." Spending time with her could bend even the straightest girl.
"Is Senior Songstress also here to watch training?" Although somewhat annoyed by Songstress's earlier behavior, Bai Ling still maintained appearances and didn't show her displeasure on her face.
"Mm, I heard the juniors discovered a more efficient method for dealing with demons. I happened to have time, so I wanted to come take a look." Songstress nodded.
Although retired and no longer under Association management, her connection with the Association wouldn't be severed so simply.
Never mind anything else—her current singing career was arranged by the Association.
In her spare time, Songstress also followed various Association news. If the Association needed her help with anything, as long as she was capable, she would definitely try her best to help.
She accepted invitations like today's guidance for juniors without hesitation.
Deep down, she was still that Songstress who fought for humanity on the battlefield.
"New methods for dealing with demons?" Leticia was also curious. This was quite worth paying attention to.
"For specifics, let's wait until today's main characters enter." Songstress didn't reveal too much. She didn't know Bai Ling's true identity, so her trust in these two girls wasn't very solid.
Existing trust was completely built on trust in Senior Sang Zitong. Because these two were invited by Sang Zitong, Songstress wouldn't suspect them—that was all.
Sang Zitong actually didn't trust Leticia much either, but out of trust in Bai Ling, she didn't say anything.
Let Little Bai do what she wanted.
The children had grown up—it was time to let them make their own decisions and determine their future paths.
Although she was a bit surprised about Little Bai's orientation, Sang Zitong wasn't very surprised that Leticia could capture Bai Ling.
Who told Leticia to be so cute and endearing?
With such a girl living downstairs, Sang Zitong felt that if she were in Bai Ling's position, she would also fall for this girl.
The older generation should interfere less in juniors' romantic problems.
"Oh, they're here."
After waiting about ten minutes, today's main characters finally made their official entrance.
They were three A-level heroes, quite capable characters within the Hero Association. This small team had been stationed at the border between humans and demons, with rich experience fighting demons.
Although full-scale war had ended, border frictions actually never decreased. Today I kill your patrol, tomorrow you kill my scout—such things were common.
Especially after demons lost Leticia, their backbone, those restless great nobles always wanted to cause trouble to prove their abilities.
But they were also afraid of making things too big and attracting that Sword Saint, so the trouble they caused was quite half-hearted.
Disgusting, truly disgusting, but the actual harm to humans really wasn't much.
Compared to beastmen who basically caused major incidents once a year, the demon side was undoubtedly small-scale skirmishes.
This gave these heroes the possibility to familiarize themselves with demon tactics and counter them. Today was when they would showcase their results.
However, their results weren't very satisfying.
"How should I put it about those people—they look quite intimidating, but in actual operation I feel no threat at all."
"Then why were you so excited just now, saying humanity's future depends on you few?" Bai Ling blinked. Although she also saw that these heroes' summarized combat experience was somewhat one-sided, she at least said it directly to their faces, while Leticia, this person with a belly full of bad ideas, was actually playing the two-faced villain game.
"Look at what you're saying—who am I? Who are you?" Leticia rolled her eyes. Should she, this Demon King, wholeheartedly tell those heroes they were wrong and that demons' weaknesses were actually this?
What a joke—that would make her a demon traitor.
"It's still early. How about wandering around here a bit more?" Bai Ling suggested.
"I'm being pushed by you, so wherever you want to go."
"Love hotel?"
"You dare?"
"Let's go eat lunch first, although it's past lunchtime." Bai Ling laughed awkwardly. Leticia's reaction was still as tough as ever. "There are many more restaurants here than where we live."
Hero Association was located in Central City's most prosperous area, with Central City's largest commercial district nearby. Here gathered treasures from around the world—if you could think of it, you could find it.
After watching those three heroes' performance, Bai Ling felt that having finally come out alone with Leticia, not fully enjoying the daytime would be a waste, so she brought Leticia to the commercial district next to the Association to browse around.
Although neither had anything they wanted to buy, for Bai Ling, being able to spend time alone with Leticia was already quite precious.
She wanted to make this time together longer.
But someone quite untimely intruded on Bai Ling's longed-for world for two.
Songstress appeared from somewhere, currently dressed suspiciously with a black scarf wrapped around her neck covering her mouth, giant sunglasses on her face covering her eyes, leaving only her two nostrils visible.
At first glance, this big star looked quite suspicious, like the bad guys in movies who liked bombing various things.
"Miss Bai, Miss Su." Songstress greeted Bai Ling and Leticia.
"Songstress..."
"Shh, don't say that name here." Songstress quickly interrupted Leticia's words. "I finally escaped those annoying paparazzi."
"Oh, so Miss Zi dressed like this to avoid those reporters?" Leticia quickly figured everything out.
"Yes, being a big star is super exhausting." Songstress sighed. "I don't even have private space, and I have to be careful even when looking for someone to talk to."
"So you specifically came to find us?" Bai Ling frowned and asked.
"Mm, I have some rather private questions to ask you two." Songstress nodded, pointing to a large hotel not far away. "Let's go there to talk and eat at the same time."
"You're treating?"
"Of course, I'm the one asking for help—how could I let you two pay?" Songstress smiled.
Bai Ling frowned. She didn't really want to agree.
This was clearly her hard-won world for two, but now a third party was intruding. Just thinking about it was annoying.
But Leticia didn't have so many thoughts. She only knew she could get a free meal and avoid being alone with Bai Ling. This deal couldn't be more profitable.
"Sure, sure." So she agreed immediately.
Resentful eyes fell on Leticia's back, making her involuntarily feel a chill.
She didn't need to think about where this gaze came from—besides a certain Sword Saint whose wishful thinking had been thwarted, who else could it be?
Regarding this, Leticia indicated that when Bai Ling wasn't happy, she was super happy. She loved building her happiness on Bai Ling's pain.
Not satisfied? Then come fight her—did Bai Ling dare?
She didn't dare.
Yeah, just being bratty.
"I've been here many times. Their confidentiality measures are quite good." Bringing the two girls to a private room she often booked, Songstress removed her scarf and sunglasses, sighing in relief. "Wearing these things is too torturous."
Seems like Songstress, like Leticia, didn't like disguising herself.
"Um, may I ask what Miss Songstress wants to ask us?" Bai Ling sat in her chair and cut straight to the point.
Since they were already sitting here waiting for food, might as well honestly solve Songstress's problem.
"Actually, it's my personal... romantic problem." Songstress's eyes wandered, and her fair cheeks were tinged with crimson.
"Ah, a romantic problem." Leticia blinked in confusion. For this kind of problem, she seemed to have no experience either.
Leticia—single for over twenty years, never had feelings for anyone.
Bai Ling was even more ridiculous. She fell for Leticia basically because Leticia was beautiful, and currently the progress between the two girls couldn't be called no progress, but could be called zero movement.
Leticia was still just as tsundere, only sometimes unable to resist getting close to Bai Ling, but Leticia swore this wasn't being moved—it was simply lusting after Bai Ling's body.
She was just that shallow.
"I think I've fallen for one of my juniors." Songstress shyly took out her phone and opened the photo album. "Look, it's this girl."
"Mm... mm?!" Leticia looked closely—wasn't this the beautiful girl who played the human female lead in that movie a few days ago?
"Is it her?"
"It's her."
After this exchange with Bai Ling, Leticia confirmed this girl was the female lead from the movie the day before yesterday.
"You've seen her movies too?" Songstress asked.
"Just saw one the day before yesterday. Her acting is very good—pity the script was somewhat terrible." Leticia nodded, then poked Bai Ling with her hand. "Your turn—give her some advice on chasing girls."
"I haven't even caught you yet—wouldn't giving her advice be misleading others?" Bai Ling quietly retorted.
Miss Bai's romantic experience was undoubtedly quite unsuccessful. Having her guide Songstress might lead this senior straight into a ditch.
Moreover, speaking of which... wasn't the age gap between Songstress and this girl a bit large?