Chapter 129 A Pretty but Useless Vase

Chapter 129: A Pretty but Useless Vase

As Qi Cancan’s legs began to melt, a ripple of unease spread through the crowd. Hua Diao, however, merely patted the little succubus hovering beside her, a gentle smile on her face. “Alright, enough mischief. A little warning is enough.”

Before the onlookers could fully grasp her words, the small succubus fluttered in a circle. Then, before their astonished eyes, Qi Cancan’s half-dissolved body slowly, piece by piece, began to reconstitute itself. The scene was utterly surreal, leaving everyone breathless with awe.

Once fully restored, Qi Cancan’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to the ground, a trembling, pathetic heap, like a drowned dog. Her eyes still wide with terror, the audacious spirit she’d shown earlier—when she’d boldly invited Hua Diao to share a husband—was utterly gone.

Witnessing this, the surrounding crowd snapped to attention, their faces now etched with reverence. This smiling captain’s wife was clearly no simple woman; she was certainly not as beautiful and innocent as she appeared.

Just one round of confrontation, and she had delivered such a powerful, effective warning to Qi Cancan. At this point, Qi Cancan likely wouldn't even dare to *think* about competing for a man, let alone act on it!

Some in the crowd scoffed, others watched with relish, and a few were consumed by curiosity: How had the captain’s wife commanded the little succubus? It seemed to obey her as if it were her own pet!

Soon, several female team members grew eager. They saw the little succubus as the ultimate weapon against scumbags and schemers. They longed to acquire one for themselves—imagine not having to deal with toxic people personally, but simply commanding the succubus to deliver a swift, decisive lesson!

Thanks to the little succubus, Hua Diao suddenly found herself the object of intense interest from the team’s female members. Many were eager to approach her, hoping to learn the secret of acquiring such a creature. Guan Tiantian led this enthusiastic group.

Of course, there was another group, represented by Song Yan and her sycophant Quan Yumeng, who were genuinely frightened by Hua Diao’s display, their expressions a mix of discomfort and displeasure.

Regardless, Hua Diao’s first impression on the team was a resounding success. The consensus was clear: the captain’s wife was beautiful, but not to be provoked. This realization caused many who harbored ulterior motives to back off, keeping a wide berth.

“Monsters incoming!!!”

A scout’s shout instantly galvanized the previously relaxed team. Their hearts tightened, and they swiftly moved to their assigned positions, preparing for battle. Even Qi Cancan, still sprawled on the ground, gritted her teeth and forced herself to her feet to join the formation.

They were, indeed, remarkably well-trained.

Seeing this, Hua Diao also pulled Xie Tingsheng to their designated spot, which Zhu Bin had assigned to them earlier.

Ahead, a vast flock of Firebirds approached, their long tails trailing fiery plumes that painted the entire sky a blazing crimson, as if the heavens themselves were engulfed in a magnificent inferno. The sight was breathtakingly grand.

Hua Diao’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She couldn’t resist pulling out her camera to snap a few photos, then gleefully handed it to Xie Tingsheng, urging him to take pictures of her.

Nearby, He Yongxin, who was in Zhu Bin’s squad and standing ready for battle, watched, his mouth twitching. *This Hua Diao… I just praised her for changing, but now she’s being unreliable again! Taking photos on the battlefield? What is she thinking?*

*And she’s even turned her back to the Firebirds! Isn’t she worried one might suddenly swoop down and give her a fireball baptism? I certainly wouldn’t be so bold.*

*Most importantly, the captain is actually playing along, calmly clicking away with the camera as if it’s perfectly normal. He even seems to be enjoying it!*

He Yongxin wasn’t the only one who noticed. Song Yan’s squad, positioned a short distance away, also saw it.

Song Yan’s already icy face grew even colder. For a moment, she even doubted herself: *Could it be that my type isn’t what he likes, and the captain prefers this delicate, dramatic type?*

*No, wait. Considering Qi Cancan’s earlier misery, perhaps I should add "kind-faced but black-hearted" and "vicious" to her description.*

“Yan Yan, that Hua Diao is just a useless vase—all looks, no substance. Taking photos on the battlefield? She has no sense of the bigger picture, and she’s certainly not as capable as you. Don’t worry, the captain will eventually realize how useless she is. Only you, Yan Yan, are truly fit to fight by his side,” Quan Yumeng declared confidently, bolstering Song Yan’s wavering resolve.

Another female teammate nearby overheard this and secretly scoffed. *Isn’t she just trying to instigate trouble and become a mistress? She makes it sound so noble. Quan Yumeng isn’t a good person either; she’s always stirring things up.*

As for the captain’s wife, *Hmph*, she didn’t believe that someone who could command a succubus and deliver such a powerful warning to Qi Cancan right at the start was merely a useless vase.

Many others in the team also witnessed Hua Diao taking photos. Some shared Quan Yumeng’s opinion, finding her unreliable, while others, like the female teammate, didn’t believe Hua Diao was just a pretty face. In any case, everyone’s focus on fighting monsters wavered today. A part of their attention drifted towards Hua Diao, curious to see if the captain’s carefully guarded wife was truly delicate or merely appeared so.

Hua Diao, of course, noticed their attention but paid it no mind. She happily leaned in close to Xie Tingsheng, their heads together, as they reviewed the photos he had taken.

To her surprise, despite a rough start (the first two shots were awful, missing the point entirely), his technique quickly improved. Each picture was better than the last. Hua Diao’s favorite was the one where she posed with a heart gesture against the backdrop of the fiery sky.

It was a shame that battle was imminent and time was short; otherwise, she would have dragged Xie Tingsheng into taking a few more couple photos.

As she thought this, the vanguard of the Firebirds arrived.

Hua Diao tossed her camera into her spatial storage, and with a lift of her hand, a gleaming, water-blue high-grade staff appeared in her grasp.

“Water Tornado—!”

With a soft cry, she channeled a spell. A small tornado shot from her staff, growing larger as it passed over a nearby river. Soon, it became a massive waterspout, blotting out the sky. The wind howled, the very atmosphere shifted, and the power was immense. The leading Firebirds, as soon as they approached, were swept into this invincible vortex, caught in a dizzying, magical spin.

Water countered fire. The Firebirds’ flames were instantly extinguished by the water, leaving them thoroughly chilled. Aided by the nearby river, the water tornado’s power intensified even further.