Chapter 114 Part 1

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This chapter is edited by Bakhtawar Kakar. Thank you for your contribution!

Chapter 114 Part 1: Cost-Effective Magic Replenishment (1)

Inside the bathroom,

Chu Yuanqing’s delicate face furrowed slightly, her trembling eyelashes reflecting her weakening state. The shimmering light in her golden eyes dimmed gradually, like the glow of a setting sun or cooling magma.

Her silky hair, as pure as the snow atop the Tian Shan mountains, fanned out across the floor, creating a picture of unearthly purity. Her peach-colored lips, tinged with blood, contrasted starkly against her pale, porcelain skin, evoking the fleeting beauty of a sunset about to fade away.

Xie Qingxuan struggled to reconcile this fragile figure with the teammate she had spent so much time with.

The transformation of white hair and golden eyes seemed to have broken some hidden seal, unleashing a dazzling charm that stirred deep emotions in those who witnessed it. However, it wasn’t just her altered appearance that made her seem unfamiliar—it was the ethereal Magic Armor enveloping her unconscious form.

The armor manifested as a gray dress adorned with intricate white lace, its elegant lines interrupted by a scorched hem, where jagged patterns of fiery destruction hinted at loneliness and despair. Delicate white flowers bloomed across her hair accessories, leg bands, and the dress itself, interspersed with snowy branches and hairpins. Some flowers seemed to wither in the light, like fragile bubbles breaking, their ephemeral beauty speaking of death’s melancholy grace.

This surreal ensemble, combined with her stark white hair, golden pupils, and inhuman aura, made the scene feel like a dream—or a fairy tale brought to life. Anyone witnessing it might question their reality.

If not for the overwhelming speed at which Chu Yuanqing’s state was being analyzed and cataloged in Xie Qingxuan’s mind, identifying her through subtle details would have been nearly impossible.

“Tick tock. Tick tock.”

Droplets of blood splattered onto the floor, blooming into crimson roses.

Xie Qingxuan’s mind raced through a catalog of possible illnesses—mouth injuries, bronchial inflammation, lung conditions. Treatment plans and protocols for brain-related ailments flashed through her thoughts, but none aligned with Chu Yuanqing’s symptoms.

The sheer amount of blood was alarming, and for a moment, Xie Qingxuan feared Chu Yuanqing might not survive. She gently wiped the blood from her teammate’s lips, her delicate fingers becoming stained red. Even the luxury watch on her wrist was smeared with sticky, cold blood that continued to drip relentlessly.

Strangely, amidst the panic, Xie Qingxuan found comfort in Chu Yuanqing’s presence, a sense of familiarity that made her tremble at the thought of losing her. Her fingers shook as the weight of her emotions bore down on her.

Confusion clouded Xie Qingxuan’s face, her dark eyes swirling with uncertainty. The diamond-studded petals on her platinum watch spun wildly, reflecting her inner turmoil. A heavy fear threatened to consume her, yet it connected to a warmth deep within her soul.

But she quickly scolded herself for indulging in such thoughts. This wasn’t the time for sentimentality. Chu Yuanqing’s condition required immediate medical attention.

Determined, Xie Qingxuan lifted Chu Yuanqing into a princess carry. Her arms cradled the girl’s soft waist, alarmed by how light she felt—like a dying butterfly, drained of life. Tears welled up in Xie Qingxuan’s eyes as she softly reassured her:

“Little Qing, don’t be afraid. There’s a medical unit at the base. I’ll inform the program group right away. You’ll be fine.”

Even the golden retriever, stoic as it appeared, seemed affected, its teary eyes reflecting the gravity of the moment.

However, Chu Yuanqing’s thoughts raced with an entirely different urgency. She realized there were no cameras in the bathroom, but once they entered the dormitory—where surveillance was active—her magical girl identity would undoubtedly be exposed to the program group.

Coupled with her earlier impulsive act of destroying all the Calamity Seeds in the base, this exposure would make her the center of attention on “Dazzling Stage.” That was a risk she couldn’t afford.

She had to stop Xie Qingxuan.

Weakly, Chu Yuanqing reached out, her bloodied hand resting on Xie Qingxuan’s neck. She coughed and whispered hoarsely, “Qingxuan, I’m fine, really. This is just a minor incident. The blood… it’s fake.”

Xie Qingxuan paused, her concern briefly overshadowed by confusion. Yet, she wasn’t so naive as to believe such an excuse. Seeing that Chu Yuanqing could still speak gave her hope, but she quickened her pace, her voice tinged with sorrow as she said:

“Little Qing, stop talking. You’ve lost a lot of blood. Your brain is oxygen-deprived and confused, which is why you’re saying such childish things.”

Chu Yuanqing’s anxiety deepened. She couldn’t figure out the intentions behind “Dazzling Stage” or the Federation’s salvation policies. With her body nearing its limit, like a candle flickering in the wind, any confrontation now would only work against her.

But Chu Yuanqing wasn’t out of options. She still had *an ace up her sleeve.

[*a plan or piece of information kept secret until it becomes necessary to use it.]

She believed that by clinging to her determination to defeat the Calamity God, she could break free from the curse and constraints of the Sea of Truth in an instant. The suppressed blessings would then surge forth through Levatin, unleashing a devastating attack capable of vanquishing the Calamity God.

With only a single breath’s worth of time, just enough to swing her sword, she would face the fate of eternal damnation and the shattering of her soul.

To ensure her daughter could live in a peaceful, happy world, she had no choice but to wield her sword against the Calamity God.

Thus, the self-destruct technique could not be used as a bargaining chip.

Beyond that, she only possessed the power of a magical girl—remarkable but finite—capable of casting a few large fireballs before depleting her energy.

As for high-level, precise manipulation of magical power?

Chu Yuanqing knew she couldn’t achieve that kind of focus without risking loss of control, coughing up blood, fainting, or even drastically shortening her lifespan.

In short, hiding and waiting became her only option.

From now on, she needed to actively gather the emotions of her audience, enhancing the magic power of the lantern. Following the magical girl system, she would quickly amass enough strength.

In this world, the truth was simple: only those with power had the right to speak and the ability to approach the heart of a crisis.

To put it bluntly, tricking the Golden Retriever here was akin to indirectly saving the world!

Chu Yuanqing’s newly awakened mind, struggling through a fog of oxygen deprivation, solemnly reached a conclusion that seemed logical yet somehow flawed.

At the same time, she realized that with her current state—coughing up blood uncontrollably—she couldn’t fool anyone. She needed a way to quickly dispel the aftermath of the Sea of Truth curse.

At that moment, the memory of a passive kiss with Tang Liuli flashed through her mind like an electric current.

—Magic replenishment mechanism.

And as luck would have it, Xie Qingxuan had reached the doorway. Just two steps more, and she would enter the dormitory.

Chu Yuanqing’s mind went blank. Rushing to make a decision, she instinctively acted on the most impulsive thought: she moved forward.

In the next breath, the Golden Retriever’s lips were pressed against a jelly-like coolness. Her eyes widened slightly, as if wanting to say something. But as she locked eyes with Chu Yuanqing, those misty, enchanting eyes mesmerized her, leaving her entranced and unable to think.

She surrendered completely to their charm.

So fragrant. So soft. So sweet.

A faint tang of floral-scented blood mingled with sweetness, spreading between their lips. At first, the Golden Retriever let out a muffled sound, but it quickly dissolved into ambiguous, subtle noises under the spell of the moment.

Meanwhile, Chu Yuanqing felt the joy of magic replenishment, reminiscent of their first encounter—but this time, the influx of unfamiliar magic power was even greater. It created a wonderful reaction deep within their souls, as if half the burden of the curse had been temporarily lifted.

The sensation was intoxicating. The overwhelming pain dissipated, replaced by a warmth that healed her body and spirit, spreading through her like a wave of bliss.

Her sickly pale complexion gained a pretty coral hue, and her consciousness, already fuzzy from the wild backlash of the curse, became even more clouded under the onslaught of pleasure. Her lashes fluttered, and her narrowed eyes glistened like a contented kitten’s as she instinctively became more proactive.

Xie Qingxuan’s legs turned to jelly. She slowly sank to the ground in a daze, her chest rising and falling with each breath. Despite the haze of confusion, her instincts drew upon memories and knowledge, attempting to regain composure and respond.

Her breathing, initially rapid and chaotic, gradually became slower, steadier. A rhythm began to emerge, as though she were preparing for a counterattack.

Unfortunately, no matter how she tried, Chu Yuanqing’s actions seemed to render every attempt futile. It was as if she possessed an innate, irresistible power that broke through any defenses.

Chu Yuanqing’s motivations, however, went beyond fleeting emotions. This was not merely the result of dopamine and hormones.

It was the deep-seated desire to momentarily escape the heartbreak and anguish she had endured for 17 years—a need to ease the curse’s torment and reaffirm her will to survive.

In her current muddled state, suppressed emotions burst forth uncontrollably, like a dam breaking. The intensity was overwhelming, akin to that of someone rediscovering touch after years of abstinence, magnified a hundredfold.

As time passed, only the faint sound of water echoed in the bathroom.

One minute later, Chu Yuanqing stopped coughing up blood.

Two minutes later, the ache in her bones subsided.

Three minutes later, the pain in her organs and heart vanished.

Four minutes later, the magic within her pendant fully restored.

Five minutes later, the rate of her soul’s fragmentation slowed by 200%.

Six minutes later, Chu Yuanqing regained her full consciousness.

She looked at the Golden Retriever nearby, her flushed cheeks and teary eyes betraying her emotions. The dog, on the verge of collapsing from shame and guilt, made Chu Yuanqing’s mind go blank, filled with a desire to apologize—or even disappear altogether.

Xie Qingxuan, however, showed no anger or embarrassment. Her face remained dazed, as if still caught in the indulgent moment, a hint of reluctance in her expression. Her quick, uneven breaths carried her words:

“Little Qing, are you… really alright?”

Chu Yuanqing, watching the Golden Retriever as she licked away the remnants of blood from her lips, felt a pang of guilt. She knelt on the ground, forcing a weak smile, and lied:

“Um, I’m super healthy.”