The Moon and the Stars Meet Again

“Coach, I’m coming for you.”

An Jiu’er instinctively moves to unbutton her shirt.

But when she catches Luo You’s peculiar gaze, her hands freeze.

“No need to go that far, right?”

Luo You teases.

“No?”

An Jiu’er counters, “Isn’t this the best way to simulate a real fight?”

“That’s true, but context matters. This is a gym, you know, and that—”

Luo You glances at the surveillance camera in the corner of the second floor.

An Jiu’er follows her gaze, unbothered. That camera’s been broken for ages; no one will know what happens up here.

“But if we keep going, your opponent might get suspicious.”

“I’m really coming at you now, Coach. I might go a bit hard, so brace yourself.”

“Hah!”

Luo You scoffs.

Her strength could pin her daughter to a wall in seconds—some frail girl like An Jiu’er doesn’t stand a chance.

An Jiu’er lunges forward.

Luo You resists.

The two engage in a fierce struggle, less a display of bedroom techniques and more a contest of grappling skills, each trying to restrain the other’s movements to gain the upper hand for an embrace.

An Jiu’er’s assault is ferocious, her height advantage dictating her dominance—she reaches for the nine-foot divine peak and plunges toward the depths of the netherworld, her hands suppressing all resistance.

Yet Luo You, though at a disadvantage, remains unfazed, countering every move with precision, unshaken no matter what supreme techniques An Jiu’er unleashes.

[She’s attacking pretty well. Just who is this boyfriend of hers?]

Luo You estimates she’s using about fifty percent of her skill—far from her limit, but already impressive.

A woman with even half her prowess is rarer than a needle in a sandpile!

“Oh, right, I need to step it up to really recreate the scene.”

Just as Luo You thinks this, something unexpected happens!

An Jiu’er’s eyes flash with brilliance. Her right hand darts out like lightning, seizing the moment when Luo You’s arms cross to pin them firmly to the mat.

Luo You tries to break free.

But An Jiu’er’s stance is as steady as a rooted horse, her weight like that of two people pressing down, rendering Luo You’s arms immobile.

To top it off, An Jiu’er smirks, “Coach? You’re not done already, are you? No way, right?”

A rush of heat surges to Luo You’s head.

This reminds her of her duel with Xingyu.

“…Getting cocky on me now? Fine, I’m moving.”

“Arms pinned? I’ve still got my waist. Waist stuck? I’ve got legs!”

“Dragon’s Tail Sweep!”

With a twist of her waist, Luo You moves. An Jiu’er feels as if she’s been lifted by a tidal wave, her body floating upward, her rock-solid stance shattered in an instant. The world spins wildly, and when she comes to, a pair of delicate, dainty feet are pressing down on her stomach.

“I’ve got a rough idea of your skills now.”

Luo You stands over An Jiu’er, exuding the air of an enlightened master.

An Jiu’er tries to move—despite being pinned under Luo You’s full weight, it’s not overly painful, just restrictive. She truly can’t budge.

“That waist… it’s insane!”

An Jiu’er is stunned.

“How did you do that?”

“Why didn’t you use it in our last spar?”

Unbeknownst to her, Luo You is mildly surprised too.

‘She actually forced me to use one of my three ultimate techniques.’

‘This An Jiu’er… she’s got potential!’

“Hey!”

Under An Jiu’er’s slightly dejected gaze, Luo You lightly hops back to the floor. “You rushed in too eagerly and neglected defense, leaving yourself open.”

An Jiu’er scrambles up, eagerly asking, “What should I do? Train defensive techniques?”

“No, you need to work on a steady mindset, not just techniques.”

“Will that let me counter that move you just pulled?”

“Heh.” Luo You shakes her head. “Don’t aim too high. My current level is beyond your reach!”

‘That technique is the culmination of my lifelong skills—how could it be countered with a few simple moves?’

‘I couldn’t even use it during Duel Before the Throne 2.0.’

‘Not that I didn’t want to—it’s just not something I could pull off there.’

‘That move only works in no-rules brawls, not in the structured setting of Duel Before the Throne 2.0.’

An Jiu’er’s face falls. Luo You leans against a table, sipping tea.

“Because next, you’ll go fishing.” Luo You says.

“Fishing?”

“Yep. When a fish bites, newbies always yank the line too soon. That’s wrong. You have to wait, wait, and wait some more until you’re sure the fish is hooked. That’s the patience you lack.”

“Got it…”

“Once you’ve caught a hundred fish, your mindset will be complete. Now go.”

“Got it! I’m off!”

An Jiu’er dashes out.

“Yare yare~~”

Luo You shakes her head. Young people these days are so impatient.

But…

Luo You glances at her restless fingers and sighs softly. “Am I any different?”

That spar just now reignited the thrill she felt during her intense duel with Xingyu.

Yes, only an opponent who can get her blood pumping brings true joy in victory—otherwise, it’s just boring.

‘Should I arrange another match with Xingyu…?’

“No, no, no! I can’t! I’ve got Little Aunt and Big Sister to deal with! I need to hold back for now—that’s when the feast will taste best!”

Luo You shakes her head vigorously, casting out stray thoughts.

But that incomplete spark from earlier has thrown her off balance.

“What’s the most painful situation?”

Being left hanging, of course.

“No way! I can’t betray Big Sister! I need to save my best for Little Aunt!”

“Ugh, but I can’t hold back!”

“Maybe I should find a magical girl right now…”

No, that’s not the same as the intense duel I’m craving!

Luo You decides to open her phone and scroll through videos to calm down.

Watching videos from her usual followed creators feels dull—her mind isn’t here.

“…”

Luo You’s face darkens.

She switches from her followed creators to the “recommended” tab, hoping some big news will distract her.

“Boring, next.”

“A buffet vlog? What’s so interesting about that? Boring, next!”

“Some chick named Nana dancing in stockings? What is this? Do I look like that kind of person? She’s not even a tenth as pretty as me! Her legs are all wrong! You’re using a beauty filter, aren’t you?”

“Boring, next!”

This time, the algorithm actually pushes something that catches her eye.

“…What’s this?”

“Hotel Room Haunted at Night: Mysterious Shadow Appears in the Dead of Night?”

The incident happened last night. A strange blue silhouette appeared at a hotel window in the dead of night, like a ghostly apparition, vanishing in an instant, utterly terrifying.

A curious guest asked the front desk, only to get vague answers. The staff’s cryptic expressions hinted at something more.

This alone is enough to pique curiosity.

Luo You taps the comments.

Hauntings aren’t particularly rare, but her focus isn’t on the location itself.

It’s the exact hotel where she and Xingyu had their Duel 2.0.

The same room, no less.

No way!

Luo You’s jaw drops. ‘Is Xingyu trying to arrange another round?’

No way, no way, no way!

Did she misjudge her? Beneath that refined exterior, is Xingyu that eager for a third duel?

[Well, probably not. She likely wants to discuss something with me.]

Luo You’s first guess is that Xingyu wants to talk about challenging all the world’s magical girls.

To spare other magical girls from humiliation, Xingyu might be willing to sacrifice her body for a temporary truce.

Already frustrated from An Jiu’er’s incomplete spar, the thought of Xingyu wanting another round pushes Luo You over the edge.

“I’m checking it out tonight!”

****

Evening:

“There it is, still glowing!”

In her transformed state, Luo You arrives at the hotel’s exterior window, where, just as in the video, a strange light flickers.

Without hesitation, she approaches the room, gently turning the handle—

As if someone on the other side is turning it in sync, the door swings open.

As expected, Xingyu is waiting inside.

“I’ve been waiting for you.” Xingyu, dressed in casual but surprisingly stylish clothes, greets her.

“Can I take your actions as a desire to avenge our last duel?”

Luo You slips into the room, closing the door behind her.

“That day, with my muddy feet in stockings, I claimed a very memorable trophy.”

Luo You’s eyebrows nearly shoot up.

That time, tangled in Xingyu’s bonds of friendship, she had to shed her stockings to escape unscathed, leaving her victory bittersweet and lingering in frustration.

“Fine, if you’re so confident, let’s go another round!”

Luo You rubs her hands together, not asking but stating a fact.

“That’s not why I’m here.”

“I don’t care!”

“It’s Manjusaka. She wants to meet you. I’d like you to talk to her alone.”

“Whoever wants to meet me doesn’t matter, even if—wait, what?” Luo You’s eyes widen.

The saintly big sister wants to meet me?

This is practically a freebie!

Is this saintly big sister, like Xingyu, looking to settle things with a duel in bed?

Ohhh, yes, yes, YES!

“When? Where? Now?”

Her rapid-fire questions leave Xingyu speechless. “Why don’t you hesitate a bit?”

“What’s it to you? Jealous or something?”

“Sure, sure, I’m jealous. Smell the vinegar in the air? If I say that, will you still go meet Manjusaka?”

“Duh, of course I’m going. Your jealousy won’t stop me.”

Luo You doesn’t take her words seriously.

But she does believe Xingyu harbors some feelings for her.

Why else would she keep challenging her to duels?

Looking back, which magical girl hasn’t been beaten to her knees and dragged off in disgrace?

Only Xingyu, with strength far surpassing others, chooses not to resist, engaging in raw, close-quarters combat.

Twice, no less.

[Either Xingyu’s the same kind of person as me, or she’s into me!]

Luo You firmly bets on the latter.

“Too bad she can’t handle my grip!”

“Here.” Xingyu hands her a slip of paper. “This place, tomorrow. Manjusaka will be waiting.”

Luo You glances at it, nodding repeatedly. “Nice spot… perfect for a duet.”

Xingyu raises an eyebrow. “I’d advise against targeting her. Mess with her, and the Magical Alliance might lose it.”

“What, the Magical Alliance wants to declare war on me?” Luo You scoffs, unfazed.

“They might. There could be a truly powerful entity born just to take you down.”

“Stronger than you? Stronger than a Plunder-Light class dimensional beast?”

“Maybe~”

“Then I’ll just have to test it.” Luo You shrugs nonchalantly.

But inwardly, she’s on guard.

The Magical Alliance, a formidable force from the depths of the Sea of Realms, isn’t to be underestimated. Carelessness could be deadly.

She recalls the first time she met Xue, who mentioned an entity in the Sea of Realms’ depths that could repel even light.

And that entity seems to wield the same power as her third ancient artifact—Divinity Particles.

The vast Sea of Realms holds endless terrors; a powerful being emerging wouldn’t surprise her. The Magical Alliance, rooted in those depths, must have serious strength to survive.

Yet, compared to the allure of the saintly big sister, none of this makes Luo You hesitate.

“Who cares about the Magical Alliance? I’ve already slept with their First Seat, Xingyu. What’s a Second Seat like Manjusaka to me?”

“There’s no magical girl in this world that I, the Aurora Witch Elera, can’t conquer!”

“Speaking of, if you don’t want your allies in danger, shouldn’t you be doing your best to satisfy me right now?”

Luo You eyes Xingyu’s alluring figure, clearly not planning to end the night so soon.

If she could bring one of Xingyu’s personal items to flaunt in front of Manjusaka, it might lead to an interesting twist…

But Xingyu shuts her down instantly. “Not in the mood. And Manjusaka isn’t as easy as you think.”

‘At times like this, you’ve got to keep a shameless flirt like her thirsty—can’t just give in.’

“Enough about that. I have a question.”

Before Luo You can press further, Xingyu continues, “I heard you faced off against that dimensional beast that broke through at Jiuming Sea. Can you share any details?”

“You know I’m not a charity.” Luo You’s meaning is clear.

There’s a price to pay.

But Xingyu isn’t fazed.

“Next time we duel, I’ll wear the outfit you like.”

“Deal!”