Lü Ye definitely wasn’t going to miss tomorrow’s event, because she knew the Gold, Silver, and Red sisters would surely be there. Her patience had reached its limit; it had been a long time since she had indulged in her sadistic urges, and she could no longer hold it back.
“When we fight Lü Ye tomorrow, you must absolutely not get close. Do not fight her,” Jin Luan warned. This was her biggest worry. “Huan Hong and I can handle her, as long as you don’t get caught.”
It was a foolproof plan, much like a dragon only fearing heavenly thunder. Lü Ye could drain the magic of others, and Yin Lin would essentially be the ultimate “power bank” for her. This was perhaps the only way Lü Ye could potentially pull off a 1v3 victory against the sisters.
“I know, I know. Big sister, you’re so naggy, just like an old lady,” Yin Lin agreed verbally while continuing to shove food into her mouth. This hotpot was truly delicious.
However, it was also incredibly hot—eating hotpot on a rooftop in the middle of summer. Yin Lin suddenly had a new idea. She picked up her staff and used an Ancient-style incantation to create a windproof wall. But this time, she didn’t manifest a wall of earth; it was a Water-style ice wall.
This masterful display of magic left Jin Luan and Huan Hong stunned. They had seen windproof walls before, but wasn’t that an Earth-style spell? How could it be converted to Water-style?
Though their minds were full of questions, they didn’t pry further. They simply felt their own magical cultivation was lacking and didn’t dare question Yin Lin.
What defines a “Magical Girl”? Whether by literal definition or the standards of early works, Yin Lin was the only “Orthodox” Magical Girl. Someone like Huan Hong, who used a stick for melee combat, or Jin Luan, who used an odachi, were ultimately “New-school” Magical Girls.
They weren’t in a position to lecture Yin Lin on magic. So, when Yin Lin did something incredible with her spells, they could only attribute it to their own lack of ability. They hadn’t yet realized just how “broken” the current Yin Lin actually was.
The ice wall Yin Lin created acted like an air conditioner, significantly lowering the surrounding temperature. Placed upwind, the breeze blowing through it carried a chill that hit them, making the experience very comfortable.
She truly knew how to enjoy herself. Was this the benefit of having vast mana reserves? Using magic for pure leisure? It was impossible not to be envious.
If Jin Luan’s maximum MP were even 20% of Yin Lin’s, she could spam her “Blink” ability to solo-kill Commander-level Anomalies—she might even be able to take down Lightning Man. If Huan Hong had 20% of Yin Lin’s MP, her enhancement multiplier would skyrocket, and its duration would double; she’d have no problem going toe-to-toe with Mid-level Anomalies.
Regrettably, they could only dream.
This was precisely why Jin Luan feared Lü Ye’s mana-draining ability. If Lü Ye caught Yin Lin and used her as a battery, she might be able to destroy Yiri City single-handedly. Jin Luan had mentioned this concern more than once; she even dreamed at night of Lü Ye and Yin Lin merging into a Great Demon King, sending Magical Girls all over the world running for cover.
When she opened her eyes, it was already the next day.
The first thing Xia Shiyao did upon waking up was check the group chat of the three sisters. Seeing that Huan Hong was still working out put her at ease. She sent a morning greeting to Yin Lin. Receiving no immediate reply, she went to wash up and prepare herself.
Sitting before the mirror, she waited for the servants to trim her nails and bangs. Everything seemed like a normal daily routine.
“Miss, you seem a bit different today. You’re very nervous,” said the servant who had known her for years, sensing her unease. Xia Shiyao laughed awkwardly, her expression unnatural.
At 8:00 AM, she left the house. She went to her usual spot to transform and met up with Huan Hong precisely at 8:30 AM. The two of them were very familiar with each other now, having operated together frequently of late.
Huan Hong: “Where is she?”
Jin Luan checked her phone. There was still no reply. She shook her head. “I don’t know. No word yet.”
Huan Hong: “Then let’s head over first.”
Jin Luan: “Alright.”
She sent another message to Yin Lin and then took flight toward Yiri Square. Along the way, she saw dense rows of checkpoints; soldiers and security personnel were everywhere. Over a dozen helicopters circled the air, patrolling preset routes. Higher up, bombers were on standby.
On the ground, a massive array of vehicle-mounted artillery was deployed; even formal rocket launchers had been brought out. There were even old tanks—relics likely decades old. Yiri City was probably putting its entire arsenal on display for the first time, giving off a strong vibe of a military parade.
The public announcement reflected this: to crush the faith of the Anomalies and rebuild public confidence, Yiri City would hold a minor military parade. However, looking at the soldiers’ grim, killing intent, it didn’t look like a parade at all—it looked like the eve of war.
As 9:00 AM approached, Jin Luan and Huan Hong arrived. From high above, they saw a dense sea of people, too many to count, filling the square to the brim as if it were a festival.
To conserve mana, they landed on the roof of the nearest skyscraper. A group of soldiers stationed there didn’t dare drive them away or speak to them; the atmosphere was awkward. Huan Hong raised her fist at a team of snipers and made a dismissive gesture, shooing them ten meters away.
The two of them occupied a corner, watching the square. From here, the bustling atmosphere was even more palpable. Even though many people sensed this wasn’t just a parade or a symbolic destruction of a portal, they couldn’t resist the urge to watch the spectacle.
“I hate this environment. If a fight breaks out, who knows how many will die,” Huan Hong said, showing her compassionate side. This was a genuine feeling; otherwise, she wouldn’t be so eager to intervene in Anomaly incidents.
Jin Luan’s gaze turned deep as she pondered. Her doubts were growing. Logically, Yiri City should be avoiding mass gatherings like this. Why was the destruction of the portal being publicized? Why was it being done in a centralized location? Why was a message sent specifically to inform every citizen in Yiri City?
Clearly, Jin Luan hadn’t gotten a clear answer from Huang Yi.
With a worried face, she checked her phone again. Still no news from Yin Lin. By 10:00 AM, as the crowd grew even larger, there was still no word. Finally getting anxious, she messaged Huang Yi.
Jin Luan: [Do you have any news on Yin Lin?]
Ten minutes passed, and there was still no response.
Rewinding twenty-four hours: after the hotpot ended yesterday, something else had happened.
The three sisters had eaten hotpot late into the night. As they were dispersing, Yin Lin received a message from Huang Yi. He wanted to meet for a late-night snack to discuss something.
Fine, she’d go.
Thus, she met Huang Yi in a deserted clearing in the outskirts. They set up a table and chairs next to the car, placing down two drinks labeled “Grape Soda” and some peanuts and melon seeds. It truly looked like they were just there to chat, rather than harboring ulterior motives.