Chapter 418: Telling the Truth
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 418: Telling the Truth
"Sister Xiao Han, is there... something wrong with my body?" Qiu Ruxin asked, her voice trembling with panic.
After all, her body was her only capital. Transcendent power was something she had never even heard of, let alone understood, so her fear was a natural, instinctive reaction.
"No... there’s nothing wrong with your body. It’s just that you’ve achieved something most people won't reach until much later. Because it’s so far ahead of its time, it’s currently a burden for someone at your level," I said with a sigh, looking at her.
I could see how terrified she was. After all, who truly enjoys facing the unknown?
"I-I’m okay... really?" In her state of high tension, Qiu Ruxin barely processed my long explanation; she only caught the part where I said she was fine.
"Of course, you’re fine. Your situation is just unique. In a way, you and I are the same," I said, reflexively touching the collar around my neck.
"The same? What do you mean?"
"Right now, I’m actually just as unlucky as you are. However, I have an alchemy item that suppresses this bad luck curse, which is why I appear like a normal person."
"An alchemy item? Then can I..."
"I’m sorry, I only have this one. Situations like ours are extremely rare, and... this alchemy item is also very hard to come by." I shook my head regretfully.
Besides, I couldn't give it to her even if I wanted to. Setting aside what would happen to me, my bad luck curse was far more vicious than hers. If I took it off, I’d have to worry about buildings collapsing or Secret Diggers crashing into my home mid-fight. It would cause catastrophic damage to both our lives.
Currently, the misfortune Qiu Ruxin caused was manageable. There was no question about which path to take; I didn't want to invite unnecessary complications.
"Oh... I’m sorry. I was being greedy..."
"It’s alright. I know how painful it is to be given hope only to have it snatched away. But once you reach the Witch Academy, if you get the chance to meet our Academy Dean, she might be able to help you," I said, offering her some comfort.
I had immense faith in the Dean’s abilities—not just regarding bad luck curses, but also concerning the bearing of mana sources and spellbooks.
Wasn't I the living proof of that?
Back when the Dean had me sever my Ley Line Shackles, she hadn't known I would become a self-awakening body cultivation practitioner. Therefore, even without the shackles, she likely had other ways to help someone bear a mana source.
It was only because of my unique circumstances that the plan changed to this superior alternative.
"Really?"
"Yes. I believe... the Dean would help," I said. "Cheer up, don't be so sad. You have to understand that you’ve accomplished something others won't do for a long time. Remember the Witch Academy I told you about? Your current state is something only graduated senior sisters are qualified to attempt. You have nothing to feel bad about."
"Graduated? I can already do something like that?"
"Yes. Although yours was likely brought about by a stroke of luck, I suspect there’s a high probability it’s a side effect of your Tears of the Mad Plant."
"This thing again?" Qiu Ruxin pulled the pendant she always wore from beneath her clothes, her eyes filled with a mix of love and hate for it.
"Mhm... it’s just a guess, but it’s likely a side effect," I said softly.
After all, the formation of this Transcendent item was inextricably linked to the World Will and the Script.
If its intended effect was to force the world to accelerate down a specific technology tree, then a side effect that caused the user to sever their Ley Line Shackles and escape the world's control made perfect sense. From a macro-world perspective, both the risks and rewards belonged to the World Will. But afterward, the World Will used luck seeds to bind these powerless, manipulated tools back into the Script...
It was a masterful move.
However, severing one's Ley Line Shackles wasn't necessarily a bad thing. If one wanted to leave their home world after ascending to the Transcendent level, they would have to sever those shackles and escape the world's control anyway.
But this World Will had one more insurance policy: the formation of this Transcendent item was tied to the world's luck!
The item couldn't be used in other worlds. Once the luck was drained from it, the item itself would likely collapse.
Thus, the side effect was also localized. It ensured that the "severing of Ley Line Shackles" could never be used for its positive, liberating effect!
It was too hard. Life was simply too difficult for the Children of Destiny in this world!
Thinking of this, I looked at Qiu Ruxin with renewed sympathy. Should I tell her the truth?
Even if I did, what would it change?
Would it just give her the truth she deserved, only to leave her living in misery?
Or would it make her loathe her original world even more?
After thinking for a long time, I decided to leave the choice to her. Though I knew that once I asked, she would almost certainly choose to know. It was just like when Teacher Ji Niang and Teacher Lina asked if I wanted to learn about the World Script theory. Once I was aware of the concept, I didn't really have a choice anymore.
Qiu Ruxin would be the same.
But this was the truth. If she didn't even have the courage to face it, then entering the Witch Academy would just result in her fading into the crowd like any other ordinary student.
Of course, even an "ordinary" student at the Witch Academy was still a genius.
You have to realize that among those at a higher level, even someone considered the "floor" of their group is still the "ceiling" for the level below them.
"Qiu Ruxin, let me ask you a question. Do you want to know the truth? It’s just my own deduction, but I believe it’s very close to the reality of the situation." I sat down on the sofa, my tone turning heavy.
"The truth... what truth? Can you tell me? I feel like my life is already a pile of ruins..."
"Then knowing the truth might just add frost to the snow of your ruined life," I warned.
"It’s okay, it won't... I’ll adjust my mindset... Sister Xiao Han, am I a Witch now?"
"You are a Prospective Witch. I am one too. You only become a true Transcendent Witch after graduation."
"I see. That makes sense... Does becoming a Transcendent Witch mean I can leave everything from the past behind and start over?"
"It does. Just wait. When this world merges with mine, you will enter the Witch Academy. There, your life will change completely. Your life will reach a total turning point."
"Then I choose to know the truth. I’ve suffered so much; if I don't know why, I really can't accept it." Qiu Ruxin made her decision with the resolve I had expected.
"So that's how you feel. You’re a bit like I was back then." Seeing her determination, I began to explain.
There was nothing to hide. Concepts like luck, the Script, the World Will, and Ley Line Shackles weren't forbidden knowledge.
Even when she eventually reached the Witch Academy, it wouldn't be an issue. Almost all the students there knew these concepts. Even something like Ley Line Shackles was something they were expected to understand as they neared graduation.
Besides, I had to provide her with this background information, or she likely wouldn't understand a word I was saying.
I went into great detail, using as calm a tone as possible to lay out the truth—from the World Will weaving the Script with luck, to the concept of Transcendent items, and her current status as a Child of Destiny.
During this time, Qiu Ruxin learned many things and uncovered many truths. Her perception was suddenly pulled to a much higher level by my explanation. Although it felt a bit like forcing growth, she still only understood the concepts vaguely.
She needed time to digest these truths.
When I reached the part about the truth behind her Transcendent item, Qiu Ruxin finally broke down under the long-suppressed pressure and wept bitterly.
I waited quietly by her side, letting her vent the unresolved grievances in her heart.
The day wasn't over yet. It was still Qiu Ruxin’s birthday, and likewise, her Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
Welcome to the adult world.
Qiu Ruxin was no longer a child. Growth only happens when one learns what to hold onto, what to give up, and what to accept.
Even I hadn't expected her Coming-of-Age Ceremony to be quite this unforgettable.
Outside, the sky gradually darkened, but the night would soon pass. Tomorrow’s sun would still rise, and Qiu Ruxin’s life would be brighter.
The explanation of the truth itself didn't take that long; what took time was explaining all the concepts involved. Each explanation opened a door to a new world for her. In a single night, she had crossed conceptual hurdles that took others years to fully grasp.
I checked the time. I was mostly finished, and my throat was actually getting a bit dry from all the talking.
I really need to work on my presentation skills. If Teacher Ji Niang or the Academy Dean had been the ones explaining, it probably wouldn't have taken nearly as long. Then again, Qiu Ruxin being a "curiosity kitten" with endless questions was a major factor.
By now, it was past midnight. A new day had begun.
"Alright, how do you feel? It’s a new day. Your Coming-of-Age Ceremony is over. Welcome to the adult world."
"The adult world..." Qiu Ruxin couldn't help but let out a bitter laugh. "Sister Xiao Han, is this what the adult world is like?"
"Yes. Once you leave the cradle and the lies woven by the world, reality is what adults pursue. Of course... that’s just my personal view for now. An adult needs to have flexible perceptions, otherwise, things can get very exhausting. But you can always choose to be at ease, as long as you’re willing to let go of self-internalized conflict. That way, you can still live happily in the real world."
"Finding joy in suffering?"
"It seems you don't quite understand yet. Don't think too much about it. Get some good sleep; everything will be better tomorrow."
"But I can't sleep..."
"Alright, my fault. I shouldn't have told you all this so late at night."
"Then... Sister Xiao Han, can you sleep with me?"
"I can't do that. I already have a girlfriend. If you really can't sleep, think of it this way: I can't sleep with you in space, but in time, I’m actually sleeping alongside you. How’s that?"
"Pfft... haha... Sister Xiao Han, you can make jokes too? But... I really envy your girlfriend... She’s so lucky to have you..." Qiu Ruxin burst out laughing, but her smile quickly turned into one of envy.
"You’ve got it backward. I’m the lucky one to have her."
"Is that so? You mean, she’s someone very important to you?"
"Yes. Very important. Anyway, goodnight."
"Goodnight-night~"
...
After finishing my talk with Qiu Ruxin, I settled her down to sleep. I didn't need sleep myself; I still had plenty of energy. It was just that the things I’d done over the past few days had left me mentally weary. Now that I’d finally laid everything out, it didn't seem like such a big deal anymore.
During that long time alone with Qiu Ruxin, I hadn't just been talking.
I had become powerful—not just in terms of raw strength, but in other areas as well, such as perception and multitasking. Naturally, while I was explaining those concepts and truths to her, I was simultaneously doing other things, like sensing the characteristics of that Transcendent item and observing its effects and the information it actively broadcasted.
Information is a very peculiar concept. Even I only half-understand it, but I know my Spirit Vision can receive information data, and I can interpret the meaning contained within that information in a way I understand.
Just now, while in contact with Qiu Ruxin, I finally confirmed that the Transcendent item was constantly radiating a specific type of information.
For some reason, this information felt very strange. If I had to describe it, it was like a spell effect, forming a very broad area of influence.
After clearly perceiving this trace of an effect, I also felt a slight influence on myself. It was so minuscule that I almost couldn't detect it, but it seemed to manifest whenever I thought about specific things.
This made me even more certain that the plant technology system of this world was being driven by this Transcendent item.
Perhaps a simple Transcendent item couldn't achieve such a feat on its own, but if the essence of this item was [Transcendent Knowledge], then it all made sense.
The world was using a unique method to take "unknown" [Transcendent Knowledge] in the form of a Transcendent item, skipping the need for detailed analysis and directly exerting its effects through "Revelation."
This seemed like an excellent way to parse [Transcendent Knowledge], but it was clearly a miracle that likely couldn't be replicated by human hands.
The formation of a Transcendent item was almost certainly a coincidence. Items with Transcendent power created by people were called alchemy items, not Transcendent items.
The reason I wanted to be alone now was that after confirming the function of this Transcendent item, I needed a quiet environment to study it carefully.
Back in my own bedroom, I sat quietly on my bed. Time ticked by, and finally... a composite rune that was entirely foreign to me appeared in my hand.
This was a rune condensed from the "Revelation" I had obtained from that [Transcendent Knowledge] by borrowing the effect of the Transcendent item.
It was different from the rune I had copied from Teacher Ji Niang. That one had been a systemic rune belonging to the [Transcendent Knowledge] itself, forcibly and violently copied. This one, however, was a rune formed through its revelation combined with my own understanding.
Facing this rune now, I was no longer as ignorant as I had been back in Fool's Village.
This time, there was no grand design from the Academy Dean behind me. I had to rely entirely on myself.
"Let’s see what kind of effect this rune has."