Chapter 155
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Chapter 155: Ambush for a Duel, Replenish Magic, Witch System
Chen Yining’s raspberry red hair fell over her fair shoulders, with a few strands caught in her dress, rising and falling dramatically with her breath over her full chest. She glanced at the familiar name in that team, her red eyes flickering like fierce flames, burning with a dark, gloomy color.
[Results are everything; winning or losing on the stage is everything.]
[If you really want me, then… come and take me yourself.]
Ji Shuzhu’s words at that time are still fresh in her memory.
She awakened the [Heart Flow] and fought her way through, breaking three cities, and became one of the first trainees to advance to the A1 area.
To wait for this childhood friend to reach the A1 area and challenge her to a stage battle to bring her back, she even chose to stay with the entire team until January was about to end.
But now…
This refusal to fight turned all her efforts and persistence into a joke.
"Liar."
Chen Yining smirked sarcastically, her feelings of possessiveness and love swirling inside her, as if they were thrown into a furnace, burning with a painful heat that consumed both herself and others. Her rose-colored eyes were unfocused, and a terrifying wave of emotions surged within her, feeling denied, betrayed, deceived, and trampled.
The bracelet on the girl’s slim wrist trembled constantly, the patterns of ferns on it, the oval and round white diamonds sparkling brightly, greedily absorbing the great magic sourced from her emotions and creating a continual connection with her soul. Her expression grew cold as she softly repeated:
"Liar."
"Little Shuzhu, you never… gave me a chance to take you back."
As the voice faded, the whole living room became as cold as an ice cellar. The strong emotions caused the [Heart Flow] to activate on its own, greatly increasing the young lady’s presence and making the atmosphere feel heavy and still, as if trapped in a bottomless swamp of burning fire.
In Liang Xiaoxiao’s eyes, a pure white light glowed, formed by the blessings of the savior, creating a [Cocoon of the Heart] that instinctively protected her. It stirred a wave of defense in her heart, forcing away the strange illusions brought by this powerful presence, and her expression showed a hint of envy.
Chen Yining was different from her; the person she cared about was her childhood friend, and they shared a bond like family. The other had every right and reason to feel betrayed and to be angry at this moment.
But what about me?
A tree without roots, drifting like weeds in a chaotic world.
This feeling had no solid ground to stand on; it seemed she had… no reason to chase after it any longer.
How strange, she had gained the once unreachable [Heart Flow], yet she felt further away from Chu Yuanqing.
The piano piece played in the music classroom was like a lyrical farewell poem, revealing deep emotions from that person’s heart to her.
So beautiful, so sacred.
How lonely it is, as lonely as the fallen Valhalla temple in the twilight of the gods, where past glories twist in blood and fire. In the distance, the World Tree sings a sorrowful song. Nidhogg swallows life with his serpent companions, while the fire giant waits for the end of the world as he pulls out Levatin.
Chu Yuanqing is a barren yet magnificent hall, filled with the echoes of ancient epics, etched with the sounds of swords clashing. It holds memories of once thriving fields of flowers, now turned to ash. Anyone who seeks to enter must share its joys and sorrows, truly feel its essence.
Otherwise, one cannot bear the weight of the past, let alone endure that loneliness.
If one cannot do this, it means the love they hold is merely a false illusion.
In that moment, Liang Xiaoxiao fled, fully aware she was sinking deeper into despair. She kept telling herself that if she could just get a little closer, if she could just stay beside the other person a little longer, but her heart, uncontrollable, kept moving toward them.
Those who lack love are often like this. A brief separation makes the mind glorify the warmth, and flooding loneliness leads to restless nights. When trapped in the Nightmare Corridor, they yearn for that selfless love, ultimately transforming it into the purest beam of moonlight.
It is so even before meeting, let alone after a long separation.
The melody of "Edelweiss" opened a hidden part of Chu Yuanqing’s heart, touching her deeply and shocking her, making her realize for the first time that she could not suppress feelings for Chu Yuanqing that she felt she shouldn’t have.
Liang Xiaoxiao hesitated, filled with panic, so she chose to avoid the meeting and left alone.
"The moth flies to the flame, causing Little Qing only distress."
"I… don’t want it to be this way."
Liang Xiaoxiao was lost in her thoughts about emotions, seemingly forgetting the crisis the team was facing.
Ruan Wutong yawned, this pretty girl with short hair casually played with her switch, her light purple-tipped hair swaying, dark shadows swirling in her eyes, the chaotic "Cocoon of the Heart" ignored the low pressure from her team leader, and with a smile on her lips, she teased:
"Didn’t we say we would fight in three days?"
"Captain, why not just go to their practice room tomorrow and see your choreographer? If we can’t have the official showdown, can’t we arrange a private stage battle instead?"
"Take this chance to show her your ‘Heart Flow,’ let her… truly become yours."
Lin Baor, wearing cute pajamas with Pokémon prints, was deeply affected by her team leader’s emotions, shivering as she moved to the other end of the sofa, feeling extremely scared for a moment.
How strange, why are all the teams I join so odd?
And what about these conversations! No matter how you listen, it sounds ridiculous. Isn’t the captain just arguing with a good friend? After the release of "Dazzling Stage," can’t they still go shopping, eat, and have fun together? Why does it have to feel so heavy?
Lin Baor felt out of place in this team, but her desire to advance gave her the courage to softly voice her concerns:
"So, they refused. What will happen to our team? There shouldn’t be anyone left to challenge, right?"
Chen Yining said indifferently:
"You’re right. I’ll go find Little Shuzhu tomorrow, and you all come with me."
Liang Xiaoxiao remained silent, which was like giving her approval.
Ruan Wutong smiled and raised both hands in agreement.
Chen Yining glanced at Lin Baor and explained:
"Don’t worry about the advancement issue. Dream Weaver Rabbit announced new rules yesterday, remember? Now these two teams are set to compete. Our team is the strongest in the A1 area, so if anyone wants to switch teams, we are the best choice."
"Moreover, as the deadline approaches, the teams in the C1B1 area will climb to the A1 area at any cost. Right now, there are only 12 teams here, but if nothing unexpected happens, that number will at least double."
The girl paused and said softly,
"I know many people. If needed, I can make deals with some skilled players to help us reach a PK agreement without the rest of the team."
Lin Baor’s expression was stiff, and she hesitated, saying,
"But isn’t it true that for a stage PK request, all team members must agree for it to go through?"
Chen Yining replied,
"What do you think is the biggest rule difference between the C1 area and the B1 area?"
Lin Baor realized slowly and murmured,
"It’s that the notice for stage PK can now be hidden."
The girl said suddenly:
"So, the rules in each area actually change? The change in rules from B1 to A1 means that a team agrees on how broadly they can compete on stage, switching from a vote by everyone to any single vote?"
Liang Xiaoxiao whispered:
"Actually, it’s not just that; in the C1 area, the official staff won’t tell us the exact locations of the other teams—like practice rooms and dorms. Challenges are either sent directly through the system or we must rely on luck in public areas, or simply gather information ourselves."
"But in the B1 area, we can find out these things just by asking the official staff. As the levels rise, the program group clearly encourages the competitors to do more planning and interaction outside of competitions."
Liang Xiaoxiao’s gaze dropped; she glanced at the television, her eyes a bit distant, and softly said:
"And these rules have one thing in common: you need to discover them yourself. The officials won’t clearly state the changes in the rules."
"So since the captain said this, it must be that someone has already done this before."
Lin Baor remained silent and did not give any comments.
If it had been a month ago, she would have thought that people who do such things are very stupid. To betray a teammate openly is truly despicable, especially when it involves backstabbing three teammates at once. Forget how passersby would judge; just the fans of those three teammates would be furious enough to make a commotion.
But… in the high-pressure environment of the competition and with the rules encouraging conflict, her first reaction upon hearing this was not just disbelief but also a slight feeling of understanding.
After all, if Lin Baor hadn’t encountered Chen Yining in the waiting area, she might still be stuck in a low-ranking team, unable to keep up with others, and worrying about how to advance through other means.
In extreme situations, she’s not sure if she would do such a thing.
"In that case, I have no objections."
After Lin Baor spoke, she accepted the decision to confront Miss Choreographer the next day.
…
…
The next day, afternoon.
Area A1, private cinema.
Chu Yuanqing’s jacket draped over the chair, revealing her beautifully shaped shoulders. Her fair skin had a hint of pink, and tiny beads of sweat rolled down, following the curve of her collarbone into the deep, dark valley.
The girl lay dejectedly on the soft carpet, one hand covering her cheek, breathing a bit rapidly. Her sporting top hugged her figure, making her chest rise and fall. Behind her hand, her eyes sparkled with tiny flecks of gold, and her lips were still moist, looking particularly enticing.
Kirimi Miyuki lay nearby, her gaze unfocused, almost tasting the thrill as if stimulated by the terms of the contract. Today, she was unusually spirited, extending the process of optimizing "Cocoon of the Heart" from a fixed 15 minutes to a full half hour.
Rather than being stubborn, it was more about hiding the fear of loss.
Only this cherished love, she did not want anyone to take away.
The shared breath, so close to her lips, seemed to strengthen this belief, making her reluctant to escape the pleasure of being enchanted.
Little Sakura sat up and handed her jacket to the particularly tempting Chu Yuanqing, apologizing softly.
"Little Qing, I’m sorry."
Chu Yuanqing thought it was very strange to apologize at that moment, and she felt embarrassed and ashamed to be at a disadvantage. She held back her emotions, kept a serious face, silently took the coat, simply avoided the topic, and smiled:
"Go train; I can see that you really don’t want to lose."
This was clear from the transformation rate of the "Cocoon of the Heart."
Although recent continuous magic restoration gave Kirimi Miyuki great potential, realizing that potential required a strong vision.
The connection between Kirimi Miyuki and the lantern rapidly increased overnight.
That Artificial Lantern had already integrated about 70%, and soon it would be able to merge into the "Cocoon of the Heart," allowing the shell to undergo a slow life transformation, preparing for the upcoming "lightning" and the creation of Magic Armor, showing her strong desire for victory.
What Chu Yuanqing cared about was not this; she cared about something more important.
That is, would the host notice the process of the Artificial Lantern merging into the "Cocoon of the Heart"? Could they continue to look forward to their future idol career without worries?
"Miyuki’s magic level is rising very slowly. To reach the ‘Lamp’ level, at least seven or eight high-quality performances are needed, so she can’t ‘light up’ in a short time and can’t build a truly surreal Magic Armor. There is still some time before the world view collapses."
"No, I was wrong. The magical girl is a matter of belief. If Miyuki does not see herself as a magical girl, then the [Lantern] and Magic Armor construction will not happen."
"So… unless the magical power overflows to the point that it must [Bloom], having an idol as a shell should be enough to manage it."
"But there is still one flaw."
That is, as the Artificial Lantern truly merges, the previously unrecognizable [Cocoon of the Heart] will slowly emerge in the form of a dream or subconscious awareness, allowing the host to truly discover its existence.
At that time, it is hard to say what the little idols will feel about it.
Chu Yuanqing’s thoughts were racing. She realized that as soon as they reach [Bloom], the official of the Dazzling Stage will likely reveal part of the real world to the little idols, informing them of the world-ending crisis known as the [disaster beast], and ultimately… leading them to the battlefield.
So, she had little time left for herself.
Chu Yuanqing calculated the specific level of the magical girl.
Level [One], with magical power, can [Light Up] the lantern and reveal its true form, thus creating a Magic Armor that is uniquely hers.
The magic of the [Pool] level can cause flowers to bloom and break open the [Cocoon of the Heart]. Using the hope gathered over a lifetime as an anchor and pouring all of one’s magic into it, a unique Patronus Magic is woven as the soul blossoms like a flower.
After that, it is called [Fully Blooming].
Simply put, the Flower of the Soul approaches maturity, and the Magic Armor reaches its peak, fully achieving the highest point of being a magical girl.
In other words, [Blooming] is equivalent to youth, and [Fully Blooming] represents maturity. To reach [Fully Blooming], one needs to continuously nourish the Flower of the Soul with magic and wishes.
It is worth mentioning that each magical girl has different potential. Some remain permanently at the [Pool] level. With this amount of magic, after some time, they can achieve [Fully Blooming].
Others, however, can climb up to the [River] level but still cannot achieve [Fully Blooming] for a long time.
As for what comes next, it is the [Full Power Mode] and the final stage of [Scattering Blossoms].
Both of these go beyond the normal ranking system of magical girls, belonging to a level that sounds extraordinary, and that is a different conversation.
Chu Yuanqing thought to herself that she needed to reach the level of [Fully Blooming] before the little idols could bloom, so she would have leverage against the officials.
But the key is, as the Pure White Witch, she needs an enormous amount of magic energy, at least at the Sea level, to bloom fully. Considering that the Sea of Truth makes souls feel like a leaking spoon, upgrading by being an idol is absolutely not enough in Daxia alone.
Currently, a rough calculation suggests that at least the entire population of the Donghong Federation is needed to create a foundation for fans, which could possibly gather enough energy to maintain a level of magic at Sea level.
In other words, she must become an idol at the federal level or even the global level.
"It’s so difficult."
Chu Yuanqing felt a bit worried; she didn’t really deserve to be such a powerful idol, did she?
At least compared to the little idols around her, her purity was far too low.
Kirimi Miyuki walked out of the cinema, paused her steps, blinked her eyes, and asked:
"Does Little Qing think it’s hard to win against Xie Qingxuan’s team?"
Chu Yuanqing didn’t explain; she simply answered along with the question:
"Since they are confident enough to challenge us, they must have some hidden skills they haven’t shown yet."
"For example… has Ji Shuzhu learned [Heart Flow] too? Or maybe all of their new teammates know it."
Kirimi Miyuki did not agree or disagree, but she firmly said:
"Those who do not respect the stage cannot possibly win against us."
Do they not respect the stage?
At those words, Chu Yuanqing suddenly remembered Xie Qingxuan’s fragile figure drowning in the bathtub and the golden retriever’s intense training for an average of 14 hours a day. It was hard to connect that description to them.
At least, that child values the stage, and this respect does not solely come from an obsession; there is a passion that she might not even realize herself.
So, if we say they do not respect the stage, Chu Yuanqing felt that she fit that description even more.
But then again, Miyuki and Qingxuan are not familiar with her, and their impression of that child is only surface-level, easily misled by her strong demeanor.
At this moment, Chu Yuanqing, who had no idea about all the bad things Xie Qingxuan had done, still thought of her as a pure, kind, and innocent child.
Of course, if Chu Yuanqing had known, she probably wouldn’t have reacted much, not even asking Xie Qingxuan to return the stolen treasure.
Because to her, it was no different from playing house; it was kind of like watching a naughty kid beat up all the other children at preschool.
"Just give it your all."
This was Chu Yuanqing’s reply.
Kirimi Miyuki lowered her eyes and said,
"Little Qing, if we win this Stage Battle, who do you want to choose?"
Without thinking, Chu Yuanqing replied,
"For me, I would choose Qingxuan."
There is no special reason, it’s simply because the golden retriever is very well-behaved and cute.
Moreover, if we look at it closely, from a practical point of view, the other person is one of the best choices for breaking the curse. Allowing this child to join the team will greatly increase their ability to handle risks, especially now that the curse is getting worse.
A shadow passed over Kirimi Miyuki’s eyes; she did not like this answer.
Because logically, Ji Shuzhu, the genius choreographer, is the best choice.
But now Little Qing, just like her former self, has chosen to discard the best option and picked Xie Qingxuan. Does this prove that deep down, Xie Qingxuan is more important to Little Qing than herself?
