Rebirth: A Cinderella's Counterattack-Chapter 1231 - 1211: Star Core

Luo Qianqian looked utterly bewildered, seeking confirmation from Yan with disbelief and a hint of distress in her eyes.

Yan nodded, his gaze towards Luo Qianqian becoming more puzzled. Previously, if their tasks were evenly split — one advancing in Alchemy and the other in strength — now was a challenge beyond their current level.

Star Core, this was having a direct showdown with a Star Beast! 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚

Luo Qianqian remained silent; after all, the decision was their own. She had no reason to drag these mere acquaintances into adventure with her.

Huangfu Yihui looked at Luo Qianqian’s stubborn stance and sighed, quietly stepping forward to stand behind her, his gaze serene as he looked at her: "I’ll go with you. As a man, I can’t watch a girl go on an adventure alone in front of me."

Luo Qianqian was surprised at Huangfu Yihui’s seriousness, lowered her head, and after a moment’s silence seriously looked at him, slightly pursing her pink lips: "Thank you, but you must also think of the people behind you."

Huangfu Yihui was taken aback for a moment, then surprised, soon laughing: "Shiqi, I’m free to choose my path, and didn’t you promise to eat through Southern Li with me?"

Luo Qianqian’s mouth opened, and then she firmly nodded: "Yeah, we’ll eat through Southern Li together!"

The two exchanged smiles, their eyes filled with hope and anticipation.

Reaching out to lightly pat Huangfu Yihui, Yan smiled wryly at the pair: "Don’t try to hog it all to yourself. We’re a team, so it’s fate, this is our destiny!" Yet, his gaze towards Luo Qianqian carried another kind of significance.

Hearing Yan’s words, Bai Jian remained silent for a moment before sighing: "I’m still waiting to latch onto someone. Fine, fine, if I die, remember to erect a monument for me, bring food and drink every year on this day and light some incense."

"Scram." Yan waved his hand at Bai Jian.

Seeing Yan’s troubled expression, Luo Qianqian stifled a laugh and teased: "Does he hate to part with food and drink or just dislike him?"

"Never seen anyone doing fine curse themselves." Seeing the smile on Luo Qianqian’s face, Yan also breathed a sigh of relief, shaking his head helplessly.

Indeed, the future remained unknown; why overthink things?

Seeing everyone’s disdainful gaze, Bai Jian awkwardly scratched his head, grinning sheepishly.

"Then let the storm be fiercer!" Luo Qianqian looked at the towering trees, devoid of fear.

The path was hers to choose, and to leave here, this was the road she had to walk.

"Star Beast!!!" Luo Qianqian opened her arms, making a megaphone with her hands at her mouth, her eyes bright as she shouted loudly.

Suddenly hearing Luo Qianqian’s call, the three men were startled, but then all smiled, looking at Luo Qianqian with helpless expressions, standing beside her shouting with hands as megaphones: "Star Beast!!!"

As if summoning creatures from another world, the four stood on the hillside shouting.

A gust of cold wind brushed past, their movements stiffened, although nothing was visible, the feeling of being watched and unable to escape was palpable.

Taking a deep breath, Luo Qianqian pulled out some chocolate, hesitated slightly before tossing it into the air: "I need the Star Core, so I challenge you. Perhaps I’ll die, or maybe you’ll perish at my hands. But first, let me say thank you."

In everyone’s surprise, Luo Qianqian spoke these words to the sky, her resolve unchanged.

Contrary to everyone’s expectations, the chocolate did not fall to the ground; Yan was shocked to find that it vanished almost as soon as Luo Qianqian released it, leaving him stunned for quite a while.

"See you tonight." Currently, the sunlight illuminated the land, clearly not the pinnacle time for the Star Beast. If hopeful for victory, one could choose midday when the Star Beast was least guarded, yet Luo Qianqian opted to leave the challenge for later.

This made Huangfu Yihui, who wanted to catch the Star Beast off guard, feel somewhat ashamed.

"Why?" Yan was perplexed.

"It’s not at fault. People have choices in every path they walk, but imagining it having no choice and dying inexplicably seems unfair, right? Fairness respects life. Though it might come at a cost, after all, humans have a mother, and Star Beasts have mothers too. If I get hurt or die, my family would be worried and sad, wouldn’t theirs be the same?" Luo Qianqian stepped in a different direction: "Let’s go, we need to rejuvenate ourselves too." Luo Qianqian felt inexplicable, yet instinctively, she refrained from taking shortcuts. Perhaps the Star Path tested not just strength and talent.

Listening to Luo Qianqian’s coarse words, Yan nodded in agreement; it was normal for girls to consider such things, if it were them, they wouldn’t think so much. Huangfu Yihui’s face showed a trace of shame.

Bai Jian had a look of exasperation: "Luo Shiqi, are you stupid? Do you realize we might die because of your whimsy?"

Luo Qianqian stood calmly, turned around, her expression unmoved: "Therefore, my challenge says ’me,’ not ’us.’

Friends aren’t supposed to accompany her in her antics. Their trust naturally moved Luo Qianqian, yet she couldn’t think of another way. If she guessed wrong...

It would only be her that perishes, without implicating her friends.

Speaking of friends, why did it feel so empty here?

Luo Qianqian’s hand rested on her chest, her brows furrowed, her face puzzled.

"What’s wrong?" Seeing Luo Qianqian’s expression, Yan directly pulled her hand over, gently probing her pulse, only to find to his surprise that she had no issues, even better off than himself.

"Let’s go." Luo Qianqian glanced at the quiet shade beneath the trees, pointing: "Shall we have a picnic?"

"Picnic?" Bai Jian’s eyes lit up. Though not understanding its meaning, the word conveyed eating.

After all, he was tagging along due to a bitten chocolate.

Skillfully taking out a pan, grill, charcoal, and lighter, Luo Qianqian directed Bai Jian to gather some firewood. She also set up a pot, cooking soup, grilling meat, and frying eggs simultaneously.

The three men, though embarrassed, could only watch from the side.

They genuinely had no expertise in this.

Yan was comparatively skilled at grilling meat, so he quickly took over Luo Qianqian’s tasks.

Bai Jian, carrying a sword, was tasked by Luo Qianqian with cutting vegetables.

Being a prince, Luo Qianqian dared not assign much to Huangfu Yihui but chose a relatively easy task, saving this young master from being unable to perform.

Little did Luo Qianqian know that someone displaying talent from a young age naturally wouldn’t enjoy the royal family’s luxurious treatment.

Suffering, suffering, one doesn’t attain suffering through indulgence, nor can one be a strong person through wearing gold and silver and enjoying luxury. A strong person must have unsurpassed willpower, and that cannot be acquired in the Imperial Palace.