Chapter 136 Part 1

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Chapter 136 Part 1: Little Qing, How Many Girls Have You Kissed Before? (1)

Chu Yuanqing tilted her head slightly as she observed the little idol entering the room. She blinked, placing her index finger to her lips, her pink lips moved slightly, making a “shh” sound, indicating that the other person should speak more softly.

Kirimi Miyuki noticed Chu Wang Shu who had just fallen asleep on the bed. Understanding the situation, she smiled apologetically, walked in quietly, and sat next to Chu Yuanqing, their thighs almost touching each other.

Then, Little Sakura leaned over, her lips moist, almost as if she were about to whisper a secret, approached Chu Yuanqing’s ear. Having just brushed her teeth, a hint of lemon and mint lingered in her breath as she softly said:

“I saw Liuli sleeping in your room, so I came here to check on her.”

Chu Yuanqing felt somewhat uneasy; her instincts, even her intuition, were telling her that today’s Miyuki was different somehow.

Should she say she had become prettier? Or more charming?

No, she thought, the features hadn’t changed to become prettier, and the charm wasn’t that aggressive type.

Chu Yuanqing pondered, feeling slightly puzzled.

Actually, Miyuki now looked just like she was standing on a stage; she seemed to have brought her stage presence into daily life, shining brightly all the time, radiating brilliance.

Chu Yuanqing looked sideways at the little idol’s eyes, which were slightly upturned at the corners. The once brown irises now displayed an enchanting cherry blossom pink, like jewels flickering in water, captivating and exceptionally pretty.

This was clear evidence of the high purity of “Heart Flow.”

Although Kirimi Miyuki used to stir up emotions and could change eye colors, only she could see it; otherwise, she would have been criticized by the audience on stage long ago.

But now things were different. As her emotions surged, it was as if she were wearing colored contact lenses, with light flowing through her eyes, shining brightly.

Chu Yuanqing’s emotions slightly sank; she cared not about the attractiveness of those eyes but about the reasons behind them.

If she guessed correctly, the change in eye color represented magical power drawn from emotions, already interfering with and even transforming the host’s organs.

In other words, this little idol who was supposed to stay away from wars while standing on stage was unknowingly transforming her life bit by bit towards becoming a magical girl.

And because she was an Artificial Lantern, no one knew if there would be any unexpected events in between.

Chu Yuanqing asked with some concern:

“Miyuki, have you been feeling unwell recently?”

The girl reached out her hand seriously to touch the other’s cheek, activating her extrasensory perception to carefully check on her condition.

Little Sakura had just finished bathing; her fair cheeks still slightly flushed, her skin soft and warm to the touch. When touched, her curled eyelashes would shyly quiver as she blinked at the other person, obediently not resisting:

“No, why are you suddenly asking this?”

Chu Yuanqing didn’t reply. She was doing something serious, using her slender fingertips to gently stroke from the jawline to the eyelids, touching the eyelashes as if with a soft brush, swirling around the eyes with a tingling and cool sensation before withdrawing.

Chu Yuanqing understood the situation.

The Artificial Lantern named Rose Oath was already merging with Miyuki’s soul, and when they reached a stage where they were completely indistinguishable, the transformation of life forms would officially begin.

This process would inevitably happen unless through death, and it couldn’t be forcibly interrupted.

This was simply forcing them to sell themselves, using despicable means to tie them to the chariot of war.

Chu Yuanqing took a deep breath, feeling somewhat conflicted. As someone who had experienced that era, she could understand the government’s motives and methods.

Rather, if Disaster Wave had emerged silently, even if more severe and cruel policies and extreme plans for the survival of civilization were put forward, it would all be considered normal.

Freedom and the right to know are luxury items in a precarious era.

But understanding does not mean accepting.

There were a total of 168 contestants in the “Dazzling Stage” competition in the Sea City zone, many of whom were only seventeen or eighteen years old. Even Kirimi Miyuki was only 19 years old and had just reached legal age. In her eyes, they were all very young, full of innocence and immaturity.

So, even if it was for the future of humanity.

Using shining dreams as bait, packaging lies with idols and stages to deceive these children into participating, was still too deceptive and disgusting.

Chu Yuanqing understood that perhaps selecting some potential magical girls from among them to counter the possible existence of Disaster Wave could avoid sacrificing more people.

But… It shouldn’t be like this.

She had sacrificed millions of lives, erased herself over and over again, carrying the wishes of so many loved ones, bearing the hopes of civilization and the spark of a new world that she had explored. Such tragedy should not happen again.

Chu Yuanqing lowered her eyes, with shattered golden arcs in her gaze.

From the moment she first learned that the disaster beast still existed, her soul was filled with killing intent. Hatred melted like a raging wildfire, burning away any weakness and sorrow, leaving only an unwavering heart of stone.

But now, the strange aura emanating from Kirimi Miyuki felt like a sharp dagger piercing Chu Yuanqing’s heart, revealing a bloody truth.

Right now, in the various regional competitions of “Dazzling Stage” around the world, many children with dreams and hopes for the future were embracing the cruel fate of stepping onto the battlefield.

Chu Yuanqing felt somewhat dazed.

For this ending, she had burned her soul many times, twisting and tainting herself, resisting the risk of being consumed, merging with the power of the thirteen Calamity Gods, and even had to watch Charlotte take her own life, initiating the final “funeral” and sinking with the Final City into the depths of the sea.

And now, as fate’s clock hands moved again, carrying the vast Disaster Wave, the seeds of tragedy were sown in a different yet converging path. Except for being 17 years late, it seemed as if nothing had changed.

Chu Yuanqing felt a mix of emotions, her eyes dull with past memories overwhelming her. She felt lonely, like a colorless note floating in a deserted ruin. In the sea of emotions, she whispered to herself:

“Charlotte, I promised you that I would create a world where you could be a peaceful idol.”

“I thought I kept my promise, I thought I could fulfill your dream.”

“But rewriting all the plans failed; the disaster beast still exists, the root cause is not yet eradicated. Maybe we both guessed wrong, their roots cannot be wiped out.”

“If… you really joined ‘Dazzling Stage,’ you would definitely follow the original path. You would be the best idol, and also the best magical girl, naturally standing again at the forefront against Disaster Wave.”

“But this time, Chu Yuanying won’t be by your side.”

“I’m sorry, I broke my promise.”

Inside the lantern, a mix of loneliness, guilt, regret, sadness, and apology turned into a complex blend different from pure white, like a dense spider web spreading, gently soaking the room with an atmosphere like calm sea waters and the melancholy of dusk.

Kirimi Miyuki remained silent, looking at Chu Yuanqing as if she had been pulled into the depths of the sea by a storm, feeling somewhat lost.

—So far away.

This version of Little Qing was like a city of clouds reflecting on the sea, appearing close but actually unreachable, unable to touch or embrace.

The magnificent golden brilliance tinted by the dusk could only be shared with those who had endured hardships with her, seen the blooming flowers, and witnessed the ebb and flow of the tide together to qualify for its blessings.

Inexplicably, complex emotions sprouted in her heart.

These emotions arose mysteriously, not shallow jealousy like towards Tang Liuli or Xie Qingxuan, but as if another self felt wronged and bitter.

On the other side,

Chu Yuanqing slowly shook off the gloom; her desolation was always brief, as she decisively cut off her emotions, turning to more practical matters.

1. Will the Artificial Lantern-created magical girl have any defects or risks?

2. What plan needs to be presented to convince the authorities to stop this project and propose a rational alternative?

3. How can we deal with the curse of the Sea of Truth and live longer?

Among these three questions, the third one was obviously the most crucial.