Chapter 273

Chapter 273: Letting Go of the Bad Habits of Being Human, Just Like the Demon King Chu Yuanqing

Under the Mirror Tree.

The hurricane and thunder met in the rainbow light, like a grand mix of colors in a kaleidoscope, covering an area of 5 kilometers in an instant. With a wave of powerful attacks, it engulfed the magical girl who was in a hidden state.

In that moment, Xie Qing Yu’s thoughts came to a halt.

Chu Yuanqing’s expression was calm. The Golden Sea in her eyes was too deep, like a lonely corona, burning with great authority. It was as if an emperor, who had sat quietly in the deepest place, stepped down from the throne and looked down at the world that once belonged to her, revealing a moment of love and loss.

"Did I let her down?"

In a daze, compared to the shock of being seen for who she truly was and the hurricane and thunder sweeping around her, this silly thought, under the charm reflected by the Pure White Witch’s lantern, swayed her mind and filled her entire chest, feeling completely out of place.

"Expel."

Chu Yuanqing quietly gave the command.

Thus, the Mirror Tree standing in the sky returned to tranquility.

The rainbow light wave that struck again flickered and evaporated in place, vanishing in the blink of an eye ten kilometers away, pulling the nearby **witch** further from the safety zone, continuously bombing, before falling back into the ruined old town.

Chu Yuanqing watched this scene and thought objectively:

"Almost zero combat instinct, a fragile spirit easily shaken by lanterns and magic, and poor decisions with terrible reactions."

"The distance to being qualified is too far; if she performed normally, she could have easily dodged that last attack and had a chance to destroy the mercury tree."

—Taboo Technique · Caladbolg.

This Spiral Demon Sword encompasses elements, spirit, and time and space.

Among them, the elements create hurricanes and thunder; the spirit strengthens the bearer’s authority and shakes the will of the enemy; time and space give the rainbow light the ability to teleport.

Xie Qing Yu’s recent imagination was partly caused by being hit by the Spiral Demon Sword.

Chu Yuanqing has begun to doubt how valuable the magical training after the three performances will be for the little idols.

At least in real combat, Esther relies entirely on the combination of the Astral Device and Dream Weaver to create a simulated space; without this ability, she can hardly imagine how high the damage rate for magical girls would be.

Of course, having her fight Chu Yuanqing feels a bit like a big person picking on a smaller one.

Xie Qing Yu and Violet have excellent hiding techniques, and with Chu Yuanqing’s current soul level, she should theoretically not notice any flaws, but her battle instincts and sensitivity to disaster beasts are both unreasonable.

Even in a conceptual attack, she can rely on her faint instincts to make her body move first and take the best response strategy.

Xie Qing Yu can try to use the assassin tactics on Charlotte, but it means nothing against her.

Besides, this fool not only wants to be an assassin but even tries to go invisible in front of them; her intentions are too obvious. Who wouldn’t know she’s going to ambush? She doesn’t even try to distract or hide her thoughts with other magic.

Under these circumstances, even without intuitive cheating, an experienced person wouldn’t just stand still; they would definitely move quickly while releasing area-clearing magical bullets to find the person.

Chu Yuanqing had already put aside the troubles between Honey Xuan and her sister, and she whispered softly in her heart:

"Let’s treat this as a practice lesson. First, I’ll teach her what fighting is, and I can also try out all the magic from the library in real battle."

As soon as she finished speaking.

Xie Qing Yu had returned to normal. She felt embarrassed about her earlier silly thoughts but instinctively realized that the other person was definitely not an ordinary newcomer.

That overwhelming aura was like a secret weapon that Teacher Dream Weaver had quietly nurtured for a long time.

This battle, which should have been her test to give, now seemed to have swapped positions, which felt very strange.

Could it be… that Teacher Dream Weaver intentionally gave her this task so she could meet Chu Yuanqing and also see her own inner fears?

Xie Qing Yu was filled with chaotic thoughts. She knew well where her problems lay. As a magical girl whose strength was built on wishes and beliefs, this flaw could be small or big—ranging from not handling sisterly relationships correctly to letting her magic dim, leading to a slow self-destruction.

The girl took a deep breath. From the moment she was struck down by the Spiral Demon Sword for the second time, this battle had become more than just a simple family dispute. The shell of her sunshade fell away, turning into a purple light that wrapped around the revealed blade, like ribbons dancing in the wind.

The nature of Xie Qing Yu’s umbrella is the same as that of the mercury sword; both are spells that were written into the Magic Armor in advance. Just like Chu Yuanqing’s mercury sword, which is a tool to easily activate the [Silver Mirror], the hidden blade in the umbrella is the same.

Magic is a very convenient thing.

However, the type of magic that a witch adapts to, the specific direction of their magical power, and the framework of Patronus Magic determine that they need to build the most suitable magic for themselves in advance, forming the best way to fight.

"Violet, don’t hold back anymore, release the magical binding, we…"

Before she could finish speaking, a light like moonlight covered their vision.

Chu Yuanqing was already very close; the blade in her hand slashed horizontally, her golden eyes cold and rational, and the killing intent interrupted the spellcasting.

Why can she bypass my perception of magical power?

No, the key point is, why did she abandon the blessing of the mercury tree?

Xie Qing Yu instinctively raised her weapon to block the attack; her speed and strength far surpassed her opponent. Theoretically, when blades clash, only the one opposite would be defeated, but the force that shook the building was directed everywhere, causing the street to collapse and the ruins to explode with a roar.

And the person holding the sword remained safe and sound.

Xie Qing Yu felt no real sense of hitting; it was as if she was fighting a shadow. Meanwhile, her opponent danced with carefree steps, transforming this showy movement into a wonderful use of strength, striking in a way that created a clash of ringing sounds, proving that this duel was happening for real.

What kind of ridiculous fighting skill is this? Am I really living in some kind of comic book world?

The rhythm of the girl’s breathing was completely controlled by her opponent. She felt each move was pushed to its most uncomfortable point, and gradually, even her sword-holding stance began to change shape.

The most terrifying thing was,

The clang of swords rang out, and amidst the continuous sound, her opponent deliberately adjusted it, using their magic to play a melody that could swallow magic and hinder spells—The Song of Silver and Tin.

This made even the magic Violet occasionally used, and the Flames of the Underworld flowing around, slow and chaotic, allowing her opponent to gracefully seize every gap and opening, performing a fast and beautiful sword dance like a waltz.

Incredible! Is it possible to fight like this?

In her opponent, Xie Qing Yu saw a perfect blend of idol and magical girl. She felt like a puppet on stage, completely engulfed by Chu Yuanqing’s brilliance, losing her own state and rhythm entirely.

This is a complete devastation.

Even if the magic is not on the same level and has not truly hurt her, the feeling of being completely outmatched, perfectly avoided, and skillfully humiliated is much more frustrating than being hit by the Spiral Demon Sword.

As Xie Qing Yu decides to use a large amount of magic to forcefully end the fight,

Chu Yuanqing loses interest first. She gracefully steps back to the ground using her knife, and as her skirt sways, the mercury sword in her hand draws flowers, breaking the ice that has frozen around them and creating a beautiful melody, keeping alive The Song of Silver and Tin.

The girl looks up at this junior and calmly remarks:

"Indeed, you have never been pushed to your limit, so you still hold on to habits of being human."

"That’s not good; you should change that quickly."

Chu Yuanqing’s soul is constantly shattered, unable to find the strength to return to her original state, and naturally cannot use any advanced skills. She is only using the swordsmanship of an ordinary person, even mixing in some flashy dance moves to hide her brilliance.

Xie Qing Yu feels uncomfortable, thinking she is being controlled, simply because she still retains human breathing habits, subconsciously believing she needs to breathe in and out to strengthen her power and increase her speed for high-energy movements.

So, this instinct became the biggest flaw.

"Magical girls do not need to breathe."

"Your thoughts and unconsciousness are holding back your true abilities; this is a bad habit."

Xie Qing Yu was puzzled; magical girls didn’t need to breathe?

Indeed, she wouldn’t die even if her heart and brain exploded, so why would she need to breathe?

Huh? Then why couldn’t she stop gasping for air? Was she really feeling tired?

No, it’s not like that. Unless she used a lot of magic or her heart’s limit was damaged, a magical girl’s tiredness is just a mimicry, a way to imitate humans.

After Chu Yuanqing pointed this out, she lightly tapped the sword with her fingertip. The sound of the mercury ringing out made her figure disappear in the blink of an eye, not caring about Xie Qing Yu’s confused thoughts, and directly pulled her back into close combat.

And what was even scarier was,

Xie Qing Yu finally got clever and began to use magic to disrupt the flow of sound, interrupting The Song of Silver and Tin. Suddenly, another person with the same appearance appeared beside the white-haired, golden-eyed witch!

In an instant, the two Chu Yuanqings joined hands and played their blades, both wielding mercury swords, pulling her into a hellish battlefield of torment.

Meanwhile, the third white-haired beauty stood by the collapsed ruins. Her golden eyes looked down like a devilish instructor, speaking slowly and calmly:

"From now on, remember this uncomfortable feeling with your body, then try to resist it, break free from it, forget it, and finally cover it with new habits."

"Only then can you be considered a qualified magical girl."

At this moment, let’s not mention the suffering Xie Qing Yu.

The little idols inside the castle had shining eyes, all amazed and absorbed, clearly captivated by Chu Yuanqing’s graceful dance with the mercury sword.

Chu Wang Shu happily said:

"She can even create copies of herself! Little Qing is amazing!"

Tang Liuli watched for a while and said:

"It doesn’t seem like an illusion. Is it that kind of magic that can create physical copies? Isn’t Little Xuan’s sister able to do it? Otherwise, she would have done it by now."

Xie Qingxuan thought for a moment and guessed:

"Xie Qing Yu probably knows this magic, but using it would just make things worse."

"Even though Little Qing can create many bodies at once and it looks amazing, all those elegant and dazzling moves depend on her being perfectly focused while controlling them."

"With each additional copy, the amount of information to manage grows by more than double. If Xie Qing Yu could do it, she wouldn’t be so flustered."

Kirimi Miyuki nodded in agreement and said:

"So, it looks like Little Qing has a big advantage right now. It feels like it’s turning into a guiding battle."

After hearing everyone, Charlotte thought it was still necessary to defend her good friend. She cleared her throat and said seriously:

"Everyone should not underestimate Little Yu; after all, she is the captain-level witch of the Countermeasures Bureau and is being pushed like this purely because her opponent is Little Qing."

"Moreover, Little Yu is not in good shape; she hasn’t shown her usual strength. Although Little Qing’s pressure and guidance are too strong, this child must be keeping many things inside her heart."

Magical girls are beings of pure heart.

This dreamy and beautiful existence is just like the heroes in animations who can easily defeat great bosses by shouting friendship and love, full of endless possibilities for miracles.

But it is precisely this potential that has not yet resolved, always in a state of quantum possibility, that increases the instability of the witch.

They can indeed unleash powers beyond their usual limits due to their strong beliefs, precious friendships, love from others, and bright bonds; they can also return to a place of weakness because of shattered dreams, collapsing ideals, shaken hearts, and withered courage.

Charlotte knows Xie Qing Yu’s past; she also had a time of passion, rebellion, and eternal courage and enthusiasm, but that was only before the birth of Violet.

This matter is not considered a secret in the Countermeasures Bureau.

Xie Qing Yu advanced to "Fully Blooming" during a mission, and at that time, the entire Butterfly of the Underworld team was made up of magical girls who had just recently become "Fully Blooming," still too inexperienced to qualify for establishing a stronghold.

In short, during their mission, they were ambushed by the Church of the Gods and forced to break into the nest where the Calamity Seed was hatching. There, in the enemy’s main base, they encountered a fully grown Grade C Disaster Beast that had been sacrificed in a blood ritual.

As a result, the two witches sacrificed themselves.

In her blank emotional state, Xie Qing Yu stimulated a fairy named Violet that hatched inside her lantern, and together with this little butterfly, they enhanced their magical powers infinitely among the Blooming Flowers, entering a bloody melee to smash the disaster beast into pieces.

At the same time, the surrounding followers turned to ashes in Hell Fire, becoming a reference point for measuring the psychological state of the witches in the mission report.

After that, the Countermeasures Bureau checked for traitors, causing a wave of fear among everyone. The protagonist of the event was quickly promoted and sent for further study in the Ideal State, where she learned a series of techniques and restructured her magical framework, rising straight to the rank of captain.

This is a clear turning point.

Although Xie Qing Yu’s personality seemed unchanged, those who were a little familiar with her knew that she must have gone through a significant psychological transformation.

The most obvious change is that this rebellious stage idol, who loved rock music, has not touched rock again since then. Not only did the subsequent new songs and pieces from the Butterfly of the Underworld no longer have any related elements, but even her stage performances became more restrained.

Charlotte had heard that Xie Qing Yu used to be very sharp-tongued, full of thorns, and looked very cool and rock-like, a glamorous beauty at first glance.

As for now, looking at that silly and cute appearance that can be bullied by Violet, it reminds me of an old saying: you can’t expect wisdom from foolishness, and it also brings back some familiar feelings from the past.

Charlotte has always been very curious about this, so she had Chu Yuanqing and the other girl fight, not only to stop the sisters from arguing, but also to test this.

— You can find out what the magical girl’s state is like just by having a fight.

Now it seems that Little Yu truly has a big inner flaw, and it most likely comes from a problem left over from that mission.

"So, she really needs Little Qing to correct her!"

Charlotte said with great certainty, catching the curious gaze of her cute daughter nearby, but accidentally hitting the young mother’s soft spot.

The Last Diva found a chance to pinch her daughter’s cheek and explained with a smile:

"Do you know, Little Shu? Courage can easily turn into recklessness; knowing the unfavorable conditions, feeling scared, and even knowing that you are likely to lose, but still choosing to move forward with determination is true courage."

"Little Yu is essentially a very brave person, but deep down she hides a lot of fear and unease, to the point that she is almost unable to ignite her own spirit."

Chu Wang Shu seemed to be thinking, and she asked:

"Does Sister Charlotte believe that Little Qing can help her reignite her spark?"

Charlotte somewhat enjoyed being called "sister" by her daughter; her pink lips curled into a smile as she said:

"Who knows? Little Qing is not a psychologist; at most, she can pull Little Yu out of her comfort zone to enjoy some sunshine, and what happens next depends on her."

The little idols had no doubts about this statement.

At this moment, in the live stream,

Xie Qing Yu had gradually adapted to letting go of breath and giving up the battle rhythms of humanity. She was simultaneously fighting three Magic Clones wielding mercury swords. Deep inside, a seed was sprouting amidst the clang of swords; it was slowly being nourished by the sparks of metal, ready to bear fruit.

But in the far distance,

The Pure White Witch sat high in the sky on the Mirror Tree, listening to the symphony of shattered souls, gathering magic through the Broken Golden Cup.

From start to finish, the only ones battling Xie Qing Yu in close combat were the Magic Clones that had fully evolved to mimic reality.

Chu Yuanqing looked down at all of Salzburg, while the Mirror Tree beside her created a brand new weaving spell. She held the legendary Spiral Demon Sword, waiting like a Demon King for a brave hero to challenge her.

Alone, yet powerful.