Evil Heretics?

Sometimes, people live to regret the grand boasts they once made.

Take Lin Youning, for example. Not long ago, she had loftily declared that Ran Meiyi was nothing more than a “weakling.” Now, she was staring with a heavy, grim expression at the woman dressed in dark purple and black.

“Sister Lin? Sister Lin? Are you there?” Yi Ziling called out in her mind. “Look, the big sister with the great figure standing in front of us is our Sister Ran.”

That evil woman is your teacher? Don’t make me laugh.

From the very first moment Lin Youning—currently piggybacking on Yi Ziling’s senses—laid eyes on Ran Meiyi, she was certain: Ran Meiyi was undoubtedly an incomparably wicked Demonic Cultivator.

From her temperament and looks to the abilities she displayed, every trait screamed “Heretic.” Most crucially, this “demon” was strong. Terrifyingly strong. Even sensing the magic power leaking inadvertently from her body was enough to make Lin Youning’s heart tremble.

If Lin Youning were at her peak, she might have stood a chance. But now…

For some unknown reason, the magic power Lin Youning had stored in the ring had completely vanished. The only magic she could currently mobilize was the tiny daily pittance Yi Ziling funneled to her. It was enough to sustain her existence, but for combat?

“Stop calling me, Xiao Yi. Just act like I don’t exist.”

“Is that so, Sister Lin? Why?”

“I told you, stop calling me! Just pretend I’m not here!”

While the two bickered internally, Ran Meiyi’s voice drifted over. “What’s wrong, Xiao Yi? You seem a bit distracted.”

“It’s nothing, Sister Ran. I just stayed up a bit late last night.” Yi Ziling figured Lin Youning had her reasons, and her intuition said it was fine to play along, so she did. “By the way, Sister Ran, why are you transformed today?”

“Nothing special. I just woke up a bit late this morning, so I transformed to speed up my commute. Xiao Yi, are you sure you’re okay? You seem… strange today.”

Yi Ziling didn’t panic, but Lin Youning, attached to her soul, nearly jumped out of her non-existent skin.

“Strange how?” Yi Ziling asked.

Ran Meiyi thought for a moment. “The way your magic is circulating feels odd. How should I put it… it’s like there’s a strange ripple of magic fluctuating inside your body.”

I knew it! Lin Youning was in a total panic. Even that microscopic, nearly undetectable trace of magic used for her possession—Ran Meiyi could sense that?! Is this woman even human?!

“Really? I don’t feel anything different,” Yi Ziling said. She transformed into her Magical Girl form and conjured some gel in her hands. “See? Nothing’s changed.”

Ran Meiyi carefully sensed the flow of magic again. “It seems you’re right. Perhaps your magic circulation is just evolving because of the training.”

On the side, Bai An’an asked curiously, “Sister Ran, is that normal? Will it have a bad effect on Xiao Yi?”

Ran Meiyi waved her hand. “Don’t worry. It’s perfectly normal for the flow to shift as abilities develop. However, the way it’s moving is indeed a bit peculiar. Maybe I’ve been pushing you too hard lately. Let’s skip the ability development today and focus on consolidating the basics.”

“What kind of training is it?” Jiang Yunshu asked.

“Simulated combat. The three of you in a tag-team relay against me.”

“EH?!” X3

“Sister Ran, that’s not fair!” Jiang Yunshu was the first to protest. she remembered all too well how badly they had been thrashed in their previous encounters. “Can we try a different way?”

Ran Meiyi shook her head. “No. Combat is the fastest and most effective way to review your fundamentals. Time is the one thing you lack most. Don’t worry, though—I’ll place restrictions on myself.”

As she spoke, dozens of needles pierced into Ran Meiyi’s body. Since the training began, the girls had grown accustomed to her stabbing herself with needles, but Lin Youning was absolutely stunned.

In her memory, even the most bloodthirsty and cruel Demonic Cultivators wouldn’t plunge dozens of needles into their own flesh without so much as a change in expression.

A heretic! She is absolutely the most vicious, most sadistic kind of heretic!

And seeing the “Three Little Ones” acting so unbothered, it was clear they were groomed to accept this behavior. Although she hadn’t observed them for long, Lin Youning was certain that Jiang Yunshu and Bai An’an, like Yi Ziling, were righteous young “heroines” who had just entered the martial world.

What was this demon’s goal in teaching them? Lin Youning quickly came to a conclusion: Damn this demon! She’s training these righteous girls to gain their trust so she can use them as her eyes and ears! That way, no matter what plans the righteous factions have against her, she’ll know instantly.

No, it’s more than that! Through these three, she can spread false intel or track the movements of high-ranking righteous officials! The more she thought, the more loathsome Ran Meiyi became.

Fifteen minutes into the training, the three girls sat on the ground, gasping for air. Looking at Ran Meiyi—who had a few minor scuffs but was clearly still full of energy—Jiang Yunshu asked, “Sister Ran, did you really limit your strength to our level?”

“Of course. In fact, in terms of physical output and magic levels, I used less than any one of you. My only advantages are higher vitality and a larger total magic pool.”

“Then why does it feel like we can’t win?” Bai An’an asked, puzzled. “Our raw power is higher; theoretically, we shouldn’t lose.”

“It’s simple. Combat isn’t decided by raw power alone. Experience, intuition, technique, the environment, and prior preparation—all these factors decide the outcome. With restricted power, you are technically stronger than me, but your skill makes you ‘weaker’ than me.”

Yi Ziling then asked, “But Sister Ran, if your output is smaller than ours, why do your attacks hurt just as much as before? It feels the same.”

Ran Meiyi patiently explained, “Two reasons. First, when we fought before, I deliberately controlled my strength to ensure I wouldn’t actually injure you. Second, I know how to allocate my magic efficiently to achieve 100% utilization.”

“What is ‘efficient allocation’?”

“Simply put: when I punch you, I concentrate all my magic into my arm, waist, and legs—the parts that drive the punch—to maximize its power. Or, the moment I’m about to be hit, I concentrate magic at the point of impact to minimize damage.”

Ran Meiyi demonstrated. As she shifted her magic, the three girls could clearly feel the concentrated “knot” of magic moving within her body.

“Once you master magic allocation, you can maximize your utility in combat. You can even use your Magical Girl abilities without transforming.”

With that, Ran Meiyi cancelled her transformation. Dozens of strange needles materialized and floated around her.

“See? By allocating magic, you can call upon your power even in your civilian form.”

Jiang Yunshu asked, “Then how much of your total strength can you use like that?”

“Everything except the specific buffs from the transformed state.”

“Then… do we even need to transform during a fight?”

“It’s still very necessary,” Ran Meiyi explained. “First, to hide your face and protect your identity. Second… to get a suit of clothes that can be repaired with magic. It saves you from being naked during a fight and spares you the cost of buying new clothes every time a battle ends. As you know, losing your clothes in combat is… incredibly awkward.”

The girls immediately thought of that naked, perverted woman, Cheng Ya, they had seen the other day.

“True… that is pretty awkward.”

“That’s why many other Transcendents envy us Magical Girls. Not for the power, but for the self-repairing outfits.”