Chapter Forty-Eight: The Team Emblem

Chapter Forty-Eight

The next day, everyone rose early, for they were to set out on a mission. All were ready and waiting, save for Mei, who had yet to appear. Just as someone was about to call for her, she emerged, clad in sportswear, rubbing her eyes and yawning as she walked toward them.

"Didn't sleep well last night?" Mo Chen adjusted her collar, concern in his voice.

"Yeah, I was a bit restless. Every time I closed my eyes, memories of the past surfaced and kept me awake. So I got up and made something. Here, one for each of you!" Mei opened her palm to reveal five silver badges, each no bigger than a fingernail.

"What are these? Team insignias?" Lin Shaojie picked up a badge, examining it. The others were identical, prompting his question.

"That's right, these are our team insignias! Input your abilities into them to activate. Each badge has roughly a ten-cubic-meter space inside. Use these for now; when I find better materials, I’ll upgrade them for you," Mei explained.

Excited by her words, Lin Shaojie hurriedly infused his ability into the badge. A green glow flashed, and a ring of green filigree appeared around the silver badge. Instantly, he felt a spacious dimension within, linked to his mind. He experimented, storing and retrieving his belongings with a mere thought—remarkably convenient.

Watching Lin Shaojie repeatedly stow and withdraw items, the others, though speechless, followed suit, channeling their powers into the badges. Each badge then transformed uniquely: Ye Jingxuan’s gained golden trim, Qu Wenjuan’s turned blue, Mo Chen’s was a blend of purple and green—reflecting his wind ability, which he usually employed for speed rather than attack.

Most striking was An Ziyou’s badge; though still silver, it shimmered as if dusted with glittering points, reminiscent of starlight—beautiful indeed.

"It's lovely!" Mei, surprised by the effect, leaned closer for a better look.

"Where’s yours, Mei? I don’t see your badge," An Ziyou, noticing her admiration, laughed and asked, puzzled by her lack of visible badge.

"I have one! Right here!" Mei responded, showing the badge on the back of her hand.

Hers was several times larger than theirs, allowing them to finally discern the intricate pattern upon it.

"Why is yours drawn on your hand, Mei?" Lin Shaojie asked, perplexed.

"Because I’m the team leader!" Mei replied casually.

"I want mine on my hand too—it’s clearer, and less likely to be lost. Mei, could you draw one for me?" Lin Shaojie eyed her badge enviously, thinking it more convenient than a pin.

"No, that wouldn’t be unique anymore!" Mei shook her head, refusing.

In truth, Siriel’s team badges were also drawn on their bodies, but the process required a rare potion that only Siriel could concoct, and she had made just enough for the four of them. Thus, Mei had no extra.

Her badge differed from theirs, though few could tell. The distinctions lay in the magical runes etched into the patterns. She had embedded spatial, defensive, and positioning arrays in theirs, so if they lost their badges or became separated, they could locate each other.

Her own badge lacked the spatial array, featuring instead a communication array, and, by virtue of superior materials, was more advanced than theirs. Yet, for those unskilled in magic arrays, these nuances were imperceptible.

Seeing Mei unwilling, Lin Shaojie relented, pinning his badge to his chest and continuing to store and retrieve items, reveling in the novelty.

"Though the badge is bound to its owner, someone with vastly superior mental strength can erase the mark. So be cautious, lest it be taken," Mei warned of a minor flaw.

"We’ll be careful!" Qu Wenjuan affixed her badge to her collar, thrilled.

Not only did she finally possess a spatial dimension, but the badge signified her official place within the team—not merely an auxiliary member. She was still not in the inner circle, but the distance had shortened.

An Ziyou noticed the badge’s rotating pin. He set the pin upright and threaded the badge through his earring, wearing it as an ornament.

"If you want to wear it on your ear, let me know! The pin’s so thick—you’re bleeding! Hold still, let me fix it," Mei exclaimed, seeing An Ziyou force the pin through an almost invisible piercing, drawing blood. She hurried him to lower his head and carefully removed the badge.

"I’m not that vigilant. If I wear it on my clothes, I might lose it without realizing. It’s safer on my ear. I haven’t worn earrings in ages, so the piercing was a bit blocked—no big deal," An Ziyou said, dabbing his ear with a tissue, unconcerned.

"I made these sturdy; they won’t fall off easily. Besides, vigilance is honed over time—no need to rush. But you have a piercing—I never noticed before," Mei remarked as she altered the badge’s design.

"I got it for a TV role that required earrings. After filming, I never wore them again," An Ziyou explained, smiling.

"Done! Let me help you put it on," Mei said. With just a couple of adjustments, the badge was ready. She motioned for An Ziyou to bend down and fixed it in place without further injury.

"How does it look? Is it odd?" An Ziyou tucked his hair behind his ear, revealing the badge.

"Not at all. It suits you perfectly!" Mei handed him a small mirror.

"Mei, could you change mine too? Wearing it on clothes is troublesome—I have to remember to remove it when changing," Mo Chen said, seeing that modification was simple.

"What would you like? An earring as well?" Mei asked, indifferent to the ease of alteration.

"I don’t have a piercing—make it a ring, sized for my middle finger," Mo Chen said, holding out his hand for comparison.

Mei quickly resized the badge to fit, the task even faster than for An Ziyou since only the size needed adjustment.

No sooner had she finished than another hand appeared, holding a badge for her to modify.

"Ah Ye, what style?" Mei looked up at the owner.

"A ring," Ye Jingxuan replied.

Mo Chen snorted at the answer, but Ye Jingxuan ignored him, focused on Mei’s work. She swiftly adjusted the badge and slipped it onto his middle finger. The gesture was casual for her, but Ye Jingxuan’s eyes brightened, a mysterious light flickering within.

Mei glanced at Qu Wenjuan and Lin Shaojie, intending to ask if they wanted modifications, only to see Qu Wenjuan already wearing her badge on her pinky, perfectly sized, while Lin Shaojie had threaded his badge onto a chain, wearing it as a bracelet.

With the badges settled, they ate breakfast, and the six finally prepared to depart.

Before leaving, Ye Jingxuan’s father and cousin came to see them off.

"Are you sure you don’t want to bring more people?" Ye Shitian, Ye Jingxuan’s father, eyed the group—small but composed of ability users, yet he remained uneasy.

The missions were notoriously difficult; had they been easier, someone would have completed them long ago.

"No need. We’re enough," Ye Jingxuan replied, full of confidence. He then turned to Ye Jingnan, "I’ll leave the Ye family in your hands!"

"Don’t worry. No matter what, we’ll hold out until you return," Ye Jingnan promised solemnly.

"There’s no need for concern, young master. Uncle Yu is still here; he won’t let those opportunists take advantage. Take care of yourself and Miss Mei!" Uncle Yu said warmly, glancing at Mei as he finished.

Mei hadn’t expected to be singled out, and looked at Uncle Yu, puzzled. Though he smiled, his eyes were respectful.

"Miss Mei, we’ll be counting on you again," he said.

"Ah, it’s no trouble. We were going on a mission anyway," Mei replied, uneasy with his deference.

"Whether by chance or by intent, your help to the Ye family will not be forgotten," Ye Shitian declared, addressing the group and looking at Mei with gratitude.

Mei simply shrugged, saying no more. The others fell silent too, and as Ye Shitian’s gaze moved away, they whispered among themselves.

"What’s with the Ye family? Their attitudes are so odd," Mo Chen muttered.

Lin Shaojie echoed him, wondering if something unknown had happened.

"Uncle Yu had health issues earlier—Mei helped cure him," Qu Wenjuan explained quietly, glancing at Ye Jingxuan.

She had told Ye Jingxuan about a vision of Uncle Yu suddenly falling gravely ill, urging him to prepare. He’d replied that it was already resolved; though he hadn’t specified how, his glance toward Mei’s room made it clear she had intervened.

Qu Wenjuan felt ever more reassured that the heroine and the hero would not end up together. With Mei present, Xiao Keren from reality could never catch Ye Jingxuan’s eye.