Chapter 143: Dirty
Inside the house.
Xi Nian held Wanda's body, which seemed to have fallen into a deep sleep, in his arms. Perhaps it was just his imagination, but the girl felt lighter without her soul. With no breath and a faint heartbeat, she looked like a lifelike doll. The evening sunlight streamed through the balcony, making her pale skin glow with a translucent, pearly shine.
Wanda was already stunningly beautiful and cute, with delicate and soft features. At this moment, she looked like a sleeping beauty.
She wore a graceful long dress, her soft legs wrapped in sheer stockings draped over Xi Nian's lap, slightly lifted, with her small black-booted feet dangling in the air. Her usually striking crimson hair flowed in thick waves from her waist, spreading over the couch like vibrant petals.
Xi Nian was both surprised and curious. He couldn't help but reach out and gently pinch one side of her face.
Wanda didn't have baby fat, but there was still softness on her smooth face. Like a doll, her cheeks slightly deformed under his fingers.
"Ah! Master, don't touch my body like that!" the formless projection of Wanda, floating in front of the couch, cried out shyly and flustered.
"Oh, sorry, I… couldn't resist," Xi Nian said awkwardly, pulling his hand back. He was purely curious.
But pinching the face of the body's owner while their soul was out is certainly impolite. Fortunately, it was his own maid.
"You can touch other parts, just not the face… it's a bit embarrassing," Wanda's soul hesitated, whispering. "Also, my feet… stockings and boots… I forgot to take them off when I got back. They're a little dirty. Don't touch…"
Xi Nian's heart skipped. Even knowing Wanda didn't mean it that way, her words were hard not to interpret differently. Too much to handle.
"Earlier, when I pinched your face, could your soul feel it?" Xi Nian asked, taking a deep breath and returning to the topic.
"No, I couldn't feel it," Wanda's soul shook her head gently and said softly. "Master Jarro explained that when the soul leaves the body, physical strikes to the body generally don't affect the soul. Only magic or energy attacks can be perceived, or even force the soul back."
"So this spell is really dangerous," Xi Nian frowned. If someone caught the soul while out, even the strongest mage could kill the body with one strike.
But since it's a spell, it must have unique properties. Perhaps it allows the soul to permanently leave a decaying body, existing eternally as a special soul entity?
Xi Nian's mind stirred. "What can you do in this soul state?"
"I can pass through any form and ordinary barriers, touch formless objects, and even interact with special energy substances. Master Jarro said it's extremely risky and shouldn't be tried alone," Wanda's soul said, her eyes flickering with light. "Personally, I think the main benefit of leaving the body is the ability to sense the dimensions of the multiverse more clearly, drawing more power and accelerating understanding and learning of advanced spells…"
Clearly, Wanda was a natural genius in magic.
Xi Nian felt a bit dizzy, losing focus as he watched Wanda's soul speak brilliantly. For a moment, he almost forgot he was holding more than just a doll, and his large hand slid gently down along her legs wrapped in sheer stockings.
"Currently, my soul can only temporarily leave my body. I must return within about half an hour…" Wanda's voice weakened, finally covering her face. "I told you—not to touch. It's dirty!"
"Nonsense," Xi Nian smiled softly. He removed Wanda's black boots, one by one. Her small, delicate feet, now free from the boots and stockings, rested lightly on the couch, her tiny toes wiggling playfully.
The sunlight from the balcony lit her feet, making them glow as if the white stockings and soles were transparent, revealing every delicate line. Not dirty at all.
Wanda's soul floated in front, hiding her eyes with her hands like a child covering her ears.
Physical attacks can't affect the soul, right?
Xi Nian thought that and quickly took a deep breath, calming himself. "Alright, come back."
Hearing him, Wanda's soul drifted forward, merging back into her body in his arms.
The Scarlet girl's eyelashes fluttered slightly, then her gem-like eyes opened. Her face immediately blushed with two streaks of crimson.
Being undressed by her master was too embarrassing, absolutely a maid's shame! She quickly jumped from Xi Nian's arms, grabbed her boots, and ran away.
Watching the startled Scarlet figure leave like a frightened rabbit, Xi Nian smiled, recalling what Lorna told him last night.
"I've traced the mysterious force that abducted Pietro during the New York battle."
"What force?"
"S.H.I.E.L.D."
Lorna's emerald eyes flashed coldly. "I can confirm it was people from S.H.I.E.L.D. who took Pietro. But this organization has support from high-level government officials, with power even stronger than the military. With just my own resources, I can't investigate further."
"Leave it to me. I'll find the clues," Xi Nian said firmly at the time.
...
"S.H.I.E.L.D."
Xi Nian whispered to himself while sitting on the sofa. This wasn't the first time he'd heard of this organization. During the New York battle, agents who claimed to be S.H.I.E.L.D. had secured and handled post-battle zones.
Even though there's no information online or in the news, it shows this is no ordinary group. Perhaps they have close ties to the Avengers' main base in New York.
No matter what. Since Pietro was taken by S.H.I.E.L.D., Xi Nian had to find a way to investigate them.
"How should I start?" Xi Nian pondered. He had met nearly all Avengers members, more than once, though in different forms and situations.
He could say he knew the Avengers heroes in general, but not intimately.
He was a bit more familiar with Justice League heroes.
His aunt is Wonder Woman, his junior classmate Kara's cousin is Superman, and the boy from the next street who once looked after Xiao Huang is The Flash...
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