Ah Fu?
Who’s that?
?
These two shamans… Judging by appearances, they’re probably Nanalia’s parents. Why are they calling me Ah Fu, or “Mentor”?
“No, she’s way too small. Can’t be Mentor Ah Fu,” the female shaman shook her head.
“She looks so much like her, though… maybe she’s Mentor Ah Fu’s daughter?” the male shaman asked hesitantly.
“Uh… no way, right? No one could be that unlucky— to be born as Mentor Ah Fu’s kid?” the female shaman shuddered. “Dear god, that’d be tragic. Just thinking about it is scary.”
?
?
?
What the hell are you two talking about?
Hmm? Could this be some scheme of Jingye’s? Are these people trying to mess with my mind?
“Pardon me for asking… uh, don’t be nervous.”
Seeing the long sword raised warily by the strategy player, the two shamans stopped in their tracks.
The female shaman opened her mouth. Her voice condensed into a thread, transmitting directly into Wu Xiaomi’s ear.
[Are you Mentor Ah Fu’s daughter?]
“I don’t know who that is,” Wu Xiaomi held her blade across her body. “I’ve never met my parents. I’m not even from this world…”
[But you look so much like her… Poor kid. Of all people to resemble, why her?]
“Can you explain in more detail?”
[There’s not much time. If I were to explain everything, it’d take until next year— if you’re even still alive by then… Run, child. Take your companions and run.]
Clarity was fading from the couple’s eyes.
Their faces weren’t twisted, but the way their bodies hunched made it clear… they were no longer friendly.
“Father. Mother.”
The shrine’s gate opened.
A richly dressed, arrogant-looking young woman stepped out and stood before them.
“You’re…”
The couple looked at her in confusion, murmuring.
They were struggling to resist Jingye’s mental invasion, groaning in pain.
“I’m Nia.”
“Nia,” tears welled up in their eyes, “you’ve grown up…”
“And Lia…?” the male shaman asked.
“She’s doing well. She’s the shaman of Harvest Village now. I… I didn’t stay. I chose to serve Arrogance.”
“So… sor… ry… for the… suffering…”
Their voices grew weaker and weaker.
Thick black tears fell from their eyes, as if their pupils were melting and pouring out, leaving only white behind.
The proud young woman— or rather, Nanalia— trembled as she watched the change in them.
Wu Xiaomi stepped up beside her.
“Just be straight with me. How do we save them? You already have a plan, don’t you?”
Nanalia looked at Wu Xiaomi in surprise. “How did you know?”
“You tricked me into stealing the Resonator from the museum, and used it as a cover to investigate the butler… No way you did that out of kindness.”
“So you’re not stupid after all,” Nanalia ruffled Wu Xiaomi’s hair.
She used to ruffle her sister Nanalia’s hair like that too— until things turned sour between them, and Nanalia stopped letting her…
It had been a while, but the feeling was still satisfying.
“Hurry up. We’re running out of time.”
“I’m being watched. If I go to Xilin City, it’ll draw attention from certain people. So I can only send you… Besides, you need it too. It’s a win-win, isn’t it?” Nanalia explained.
“Alright, I don’t care about that stuff. Just assign the tasks already— I’ll help you save them.”
“…You seem more anxious than I am.”
“First, Nanalia is the one who introduced me to all this. I don’t want to see my mentor upset. Second, leaving things half-explained is super annoying— I need to know who this Ah Fu is.”
“Hmm…” Nanalia pondered for a moment. “I see. So Ah Fu might be your mother, right?”
“Don’t be ridiculous. Like I care.”
Those bastards— I’ve never even seen their faces.
Why would I give a damn about them?
“I’ll hold things down here. You go into the mirror and blow up Jingye’s source.”
………………
If you want me dead, just say it outright— don’t beat around the bush, alright?
“Watch closely. This is a power exclusive to the Spirit of Arrogance— Analysis and Mimicry.”
Nanalia placed her hand on Wu Xiaomi’s wrist.
Light flowed between their arms, and soon, the Resonator’s ribbon appeared, materializing on Nanalia’s arm too.
At the same time, the Starry Tree appeared before Wu Xiaomi’s eyes once again.
A third star point was lighting up.
“You really are unusual. One glance and you already understand… Even I, a servant of the Spirit of Arrogance, can’t do that,” Nanalia stared at Wu Xiaomi. “Maybe you really are that woman’s daughter… No way, right? Pfft, that would suck!”
So then…
“Who the hell is she?!”
“You want to know? Go blow up Jingye’s source first—we’ll have plenty of time to talk after that.”
Nanalia brushed Wu Xiaomi’s neck, her tone flirtatious and teasing, eyes glinting with mischief.
“Go on in. The Resonator will protect you. Just make sure you’re out before sunrise.”
……
……
[Translator Note: The name city “Shirin” is corrected as “Xilin City”]