A suffocating sensation seized her, as though a heavy, frigid stone had lodged itself in her throat, rendering her utterly speechless.
Despite having confirmed Qi Yue’an’s safety, despite believing she had embarked upon a path that might lead to happiness, a perplexing question lingered: why?
As Ling Ru watched Qi Yue’an turn and depart, her figure gradually fading into the deep, shadowed corridors of the Lixing Palace, a profound unease settled within her.
Far from finding relief, her heart felt like a swamp where a dark, viscous seed had been cast, an emotion that swelled and choked her, threatening to constrict her very breath.
‘Am I… truly unneeded?’
This thought, like a venomous serpent, coiled silently around her consciousness.
She found herself recalling the day before she arrived at the Lixing Palace.
She had returned to the place she called ‘home,’ though it offered little warmth.
Perhaps, deep down, she still yearned for a trace of ordinary, worldly connection.
Yet, fate seemed intent on mocking her.
Simply because of an unexpected encounter with a Demon on her journey, a battle she was forced to fight, she had missed the chance to see her family one last time.
Was there regret? Yes.
But remorse?
“No… I don’t regret it!”
Ling Ru clenched her fists, her fingernails digging deep into her palms.
Contrary to what she had told Qi Yue’an earlier, she was not ignorant of the consequences.
From the moment she resolved to follow that figure, she understood what she might lose.
She had not been ignorantly swept into this.
She still vividly remembered the wish she had initially wanted to make when she first found that mysterious black cat—
‘I want to see her again.’
So simple, so pure.
However, the black cat’s golden eyes, as if they pierced through all deception, held a mocking quality as they told her:
“That wish is meaningless.”
It even added in a low whisper, like a curse:
“You and her… you truly are one and the same.”
She did not know that the former Qi An, before wishing for “a different future,” had initially yearned for the deceased Lin Xiao to return, and had similarly been told by the black cat that “the wish was meaningless.”
It was like a pathetic, inescapable cycle, with similar tragedies unfolding at different junctures.
Thus, driven by despair and obsession, she made another wish.
‘I don’t want to be alone anymore.’
Now, the wish seemed to have been fulfilled in a twisted way.
She was in the bustling Lixing Palace, surrounded by companions she could trust, and not far away was the person she constantly thought of.
And now, she could even attend her wedding.
But… this was certainly not the outcome she desired.
This kind of “not being alone” was entirely different from her yearning to be needed by that person, to stand by her side, to become her unique and indispensable presence.
During their brief meeting earlier, she had felt like an irrelevant backdrop, an onlooker unable to intervene in their weighty conversation.
Xiyin could engage in a soulful gaze and exchange with her, while Bai Zhi and Bai Jin could openly express their concern and dissatisfaction.
As for her…
She couldn’t even utter a complete sentence of care, merely lingering like a shadow, greedily absorbing the other’s presence, then speaking incomprehensible words like a block of wood, unable to leave any profound mark on her heart.
‘Once again… I can do nothing.’
Just like in the school within the bizarre rules phenomenon, her room had been assigned to the third floor, alongside strangers she had only met by chance… Perhaps… she would always be unable to truly touch her world, unable to become the person she needed…
Intense jealousy, like a poisonous flame, scorched her insides.
She envied Lin Xiao.
By what right did that man possess Qi Yue’an’s reliance, or even… even her love?
She even harbored a faint jealousy towards Xiyin, envious of the deep, life-and-death bond they shared.
Why… why was she always the one excluded?
Why did she chase so desperately, even severing ties with her family, only to still be unable to touch even her shadow?
When she reunited with Qi Yue’an, she was actually very happy, especially after recalling her other past identity… Although this meant her most cherished memories were false, it also gave her a glimmer of hope she had never dared to dream of.
Yet, the reality was that since that day, she hadn’t even had the chance to speak properly with her.
She had been so full of anticipation before coming, but when they actually met, Qi Yue’an hadn’t even spared her a glance for a moment.
Perhaps… she was never meant to be needed.
As this possibility arose, the surging, almost tearing tide of negative emotions resonated violently with the ‘Jealousy’ series of demonic power that had just fully stabilized within her.
Consequently, she felt a certain枷锁 deep within her soul finally shatter completely, and a new, eerie power flowed forth—this was the first trait she awakened after advancing to a First-level Magical Girl:
‘Mimicry.’
This trait allowed her to gradually learn others’ skills and traits through contact and interaction.
The more important, familiar, or cherished the person, the more easily she could mimic them, and as her understanding deepened, she could further increase the speed of mimicry and data recording.
Her demonic power, therefore, transformed into the most sensitive receiver, capable of sensing and simulating the power frequencies of other Magical Girls and even Demons.
She could even use this as a basis to alter her own appearance.
And at this moment, without conscious guidance, her demonic power had instinctively and greedily locked onto the lingering afterimage of the recently departed Qi Yue’an.
That unique demonic power fluctuation, mixed with the faint purple flames of envy, was like the clearest coordinates, deeply imprinted in her perception.
“This is…?”
Ling Ru was astonished to discover that, during tests, unlike other subjects who required prolonged contact and analysis for slow simulation, with Qi Yue’an… she completed the most basic mimicry framework almost instantly.
It was as if their powers were inherently of the same origin, as if her power had long been prepared to receive this specific frequency.
Just from that brief meeting, every subtle expression, every nuanced shift in tone, even the arc of Qi Yue’an’s skirt as she turned, surged into Ling Ru’s consciousness like a data stream, swiftly analyzed and stored.
A bold, almost insane thought, like a ghost fire ignited in the darkness, flared within her heart.
She subtly glanced at Xiyin, Bai Zhi, and Bai Jin, who were still whispering about something beside her.
Their faces showed worry, confusion, and contemplation, clearly still processing the information from their meeting with Qi Yue’an.
No one noticed the tumultuous waves within her.
Ling Ru quietly retreated a few steps, using the shadow of a corridor pillar for cover, and swiftly left the reception area.
Following the signs she had noted on her way in, she found a soundproofed restroom designated for guests.
After confirming she was alone, she locked the stall and retrieved a delicate, stud-like miniature communicator from her pocket—this was given to her personally by a high-ranking official during that secret Night Watchers’ meeting.
Taking a deep breath, she activated the communicator.
After a brief waiting tone, a calm, almost cold male voice came through:
“‘Tanuki,’ report on the situation.”
“Target has been contacted.”
Ling Ru’s voice was very low, with a hint of an imperceptible tremor, but this tremor was quickly replaced by a cold resolve.
“Confirmed ‘Demon Queen’s’ state is abnormal, possessing an unknown, new type of power.
More importantly… my trait, ‘Perfect Mimicry,’ exhibits an extremely high initial synchronization rate with the target.
Preliminary simulation is complete, almost… without consuming any time.”
The other end of the communicator fell into a brief silence; clearly, this news had also exceeded their expectations.
“Confirmed synchronization rate and simulation difficulty, and does the ‘Demon Queen’s’ identity have flexibility?”
The male voice sounded again, with a hint of gravity.
“Far exceeding any other test subject.
Basic framework construction can be completed with initial contact.
I believe… deeper contact can be attempted to obtain more profound mimicry capabilities.”
“Her identity… indeed has flexibility, not as initially speculated.”
Ling Ru analyzed calmly, as if discussing a tool unrelated to herself.
“…Understood.”
The communicator swiftly made a decision.
“‘Tanuki,’ your mission priority has been elevated.
Find an opportunity to engage in deeper ‘contact’ with the target as much as possible, without arousing suspicion.
We need you… Qi Yue’an now appears to be completely out of control.
Therefore, if necessary, we can enable you to ‘become’ her, to serve as a planted operative.
This will be our only chance to infiltrate the core area of the Lixing Palace and investigate the Demon Monarch’s true purpose and the use of the ‘Sacred Relic,’ understand?”
“Understood.”
Ling Ru cut the communication and re-hid the ear stud.
She looked up, gazing at her reflection in the mirror.
That face, once timid, now bore a strange serenity.
In the depths of the poor girl’s ordinary black eyes, the former confusion and pain were being replaced by a resolute, even fanatical, darkness.
‘Qi Yue’an… if I cannot stand by your side as ‘Ling Ru,’ becoming indispensable to you…’
She slowly raised her hand, a faint ripple of demonic power, originating from Qi Yue’an, swirling around her fingertips.
The very tips of her hair even shimmered with an extremely subtle, imitated silver glow.
‘Then, let me… use your appearance to clear obstacles for you, to obtain everything I desire.
This time, I will no longer be just an… irrelevant bystander.’
A slightly morbid smile blossomed quietly on her lips.
****
Meanwhile, at the Night Watchers’ Headquarters, a secret meeting was unfolding.
In a perfectly ordinary business conference room, Chen Ling sat in her designated seat, her expression solemn.
“The meeting begins.
However, before we proceed, I have something to say: my informant, Line 12, has provided intelligence that the Lixing Palace has recently seen large-scale material movements, and many super-standard Sacred Relics are being relocated, especially this one.”
Chen Ling produced a stolen photograph, depicting a seemingly magnificent feather.
Its patterns were bizarre, and even looking at the photo, one could sense the aura of death emanating from it.
“I am unsure of its function, but the level of fluctuation it emits is already comparable to the ‘Crown of Reason’ that we have been monitoring.
For now, we shall refer to it as the Feather of Death.”
She then presented some additional documents, along with Ling Ru’s recently recorded file and ability description.
“We have not yet fully mapped the Lixing Palace, but our recent investigations indicate that the flow of these materials seems to be concentrated in this area beneath the Lixing Palace.”
She pointed to a hidden corner, which, despite appearing inconspicuous, was heavily guarded upon closer inspection, and prominently listed among the important leaders was ‘Pride.’
“I previously contacted Magical Girl Qi Yue’an and attempted to reach out to her.
However, according to the latest news, she seems not only unresistant to that place but also highly dependent on the Demon Monarch Lin Xiao.
I believe the Demon Queen is no longer trustworthy.
To successfully complete this mission, we must choose another candidate.”
“And the topic of today’s discussion is precisely who this candidate should be, and to uncover the Lixing Palace’s conspiracy.
As the Chief Magical Girl of the Night Watchers, I hereby recommend someone…”
Chen Ling’s gaze, sharp as a hawk’s, swept across her colleagues, before she revealed the information regarding Ling Ru.