The girls hugging my sides certainly helped me cope with conscience pangs. True, only until they started asking questions they'd wisely postponed before the battle. And that "later" was now.
"So, what stopped you from warning us about this attack sooner?" Still not ungluing from me, TuTu lifted her head and wouldn't let me dodge.
"It wasn't very reliable info; I wasn't fully sure it was real." I tried justifying, but Tang Yue loudly coughed in the background, reminding of her doubts. Needless to say, the girls weren't satisfied?
"If we speak truth? Mu Bai, you know good boys get rewards for honesty. Want to be a good boy?" Jiao Jiao placed her palm on my crotch and squeezed hard, making sweat bead on my forehead.
My mind knew my body could take it—stronger than hers—but my animal instincts howled not to act up saying that. Submitting seemed wise.
"...I just forgot. Everything spun and swirled; had to be everywhere, track everything. And here's the result." I smiled a bit sheepishly, really feeling some guilt for neglecting my girls. Won't let it happen again.
"...Just like that? No distrust or any bigger reason? Forgot?" TuTu irritably bit my shoulder. Good thing I trusted its durability more than my family jewels against Pack Leader-level hand squeeze.
"Yes, forgot. Sorry girls, I'll try not to let it happen again." I smiled sincerely, and they seemed to feel it, smiling back. Though... Jiao Jiao didn't remove her hand from my crotch.
"Ahem, girls. Time to head to the Three-Step Tower for breakthroughs. Every missed day could be our last! Don't forget! Today should motivate you." I started a pompous speech to finally escape the vise in the wrong place.
"Ahem! Sorry to interrupt your marital games, but I can't let you go anywhere till we clarify circumstances. So kindly sit aside and don't shine till the right people arrive." Tang Yue addressed us, clearly irritated. Man, better not peek at her emotions now. Why's her mood swinging again? Not jealousy?
"Of course, SENIOR judge Tang." TuTu smiled sweetly, clearly not meaning her rank. Is she teasing my ex-teacher about age? Seriously? And this is the girl who advised me to take responsibility for Tang Yue?
Twitching her brow, my ex-teacher snorted and turned away, striding off with quick long steps. Apparently TuTu hit too hard and right on target. Why's Tang Yue so age-conscious? She's only twenty-five.
Since we couldn't leave yet, I pulled a blanket from my spatial ring and spread it on the ground for us girls. Since our stay here depends only on when the right people arrive, not our actions, we can just lie together in the fresh air for now. Eh, smells of cursed flesh remnants mixed with ice and grass. Oh, tourist's dream air. A random traveler wouldn't forget that.
We girls talked long about everything and nothing, avoiding secret topics. Too many people around, and anti-bug in this situation would look suspicious. No need to unnerve folks extra.
"By the way, girls. What guiding stones do you plan for your elements to boost awakening chances? You've both broken to High Tier; time to think future." I decided to learn their picks for elements to awaken. Naturally, couldn't say outright I'd guarantee awaken it myself, so emphasized guiding stones. No one around would suspect.
If they pick something elemental, I'll strongly dissuade; one elemental element enough per mage. Though for TuTu, say light element wouldn't hurt. In my plan, she's a future summoner and long-range attacker who can support partners.
Defense in that combo not extra. I'm even thinking of swiping Zhao Manyan's wooden fish for her. Though he doesn't own it yet; theft? Right now it belongs to a criminal, robbing a thief is sacred!
But long-term, Phoenix better. Constantly regenerating pet at junior Emperor level worth a lot, and light magic boostable with big Heavenly Seed. Plus defense improvement talents fit. I even know a couple myself, without checking lists or extra info.
Speaking of extra info: time for my "Time" partners to send huge batch. Think I'll drop by right after breakthrough in Three-Step Tower. Before leaving, I asked to focus first issue on plant element, to finally assemble good High Tier combo for girls. Still walking with Silver Grass; kinda embarrassing.
Man, and I'm still with Spiritual Seed like Jiao Jiao. Hmm, enough power to quickly kill peak Commander after space element breakthrough and fusion magic?
Mmm, unlikely. But if boost space element to fourth step with souls like ice, then fuse two fourth-step High Tier spells... Since spell power doesn't just add 1+1 but exceeds sum, should get attack beyond second step Supreme Tier power!
True, most Supreme Tier mages have Spiritual Seeds boosting magic at least fourfold, so won't outdamage them raw. But! Pure base spell power reaches Supreme Tier, so to handle top Commander, should suffice.
After Seed upgrade, can check Jiao Jiao's Spiritual Seed guardian. Hope not a Warlord; don't want to delay her boost. Wouldn't want National Team laughing at her old arsenal toys later.
"...Bai! Mu Bai!" A hand appeared before my face, waving to grab attention.
"What?" I looked at my puffed-up girls, still mentally in ice cave fighting old foe Vilyuk.
"What 'what'? You asked about future elements! We told you tons, and you weren't even listening!" TuTu hissed cat-like.
"Sorry, too deep in thoughts on boosting you. Repeat?" Scratching head, I smiled, earning two irritated glares and synced sighs.
Wonder what they picked for future elements? Can shelve victory thoughts over old enemy; won't forgive two distractions in a row.