Chapter 768: Leaving Hong Chenyi with Some Dark History Wouldn't Be a Bad Idea
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 768: Leaving Hong Chenyi with Some Dark History Wouldn't Be a Bad Idea
After giving them a simple explanation of what self-generated mana actually entailed, I waited for their reaction.
"Something that insane... Sister Xiao Han, can you really pull that off?"
"Hey, is it really okay for you to doubt her like that? Sister Xiao Han is the legendary teaching assistant who turns the impossible into reality! Do you have any idea how much weight that title carries?"
"If... and this is just a 'what if,' but if I had that kind of constitution, wouldn't that mean I'd never have to worry about mana sources ever again? Once I have the constitution, I just need to learn a mana source condensation technique... Wow! That would be..."
"Is that all you're looking forward to?" I couldn't help but interject as I listened to their fantasies. "Don't you want to promote and become true Transcendent Witches?"
"Huh? Become Transcendent Witches? Isn't that a bit too far out of our reach?" Hong Chenyi asked instinctively.
"Is it?"
I shifted my gaze toward her. In this dorm, Dongli Yiren and Yu Yuetian were the two I didn't need to worry about. One already had her own goals, and the other was clear-headed, still holding firm to her own philosophy. Guan Qiuling was a bit introverted, but so far, Hong Chenyi was the one acting the most ridiculous.
She was ridiculous in terms of her mindset.
"Um... did I say something wrong?" Hong Chenyi asked, looking uncomfortable under my stare.
"Can't you tell? Sister Xiao Han thinks you're being short-sighted," Guan Qiuling chimed in from beside her, her voice low but blunt. "You're rolling with Sister Xiao Han now, and you still think becoming a Transcendent Witch is far away?"
"Huh? Now that you put it that way... you're right! Sorry! That was an attitude problem on my part!" Hong Chenyi stood up, her tone becoming somewhat "tragic." She raised the wine glass next to her. "I'll penalize myself with a drink. You don't have to match me, Sister Xiao Han. I promise to fix my attitude from now on!"
"Alright, alright—don't make it so serious. Dinner is supposed to be happy." I picked up my juice and gave a slight nod.
"Hehe... thanks for forgiving me, Sister Xiao Han. I haven't really figured things out after a year in the Witch Academy. I honestly haven't had the energy to think about something so important..."
"True. Promoting to a Transcendent Witch isn't something you can achieve just by having a firm goal. Sometimes, sorting out your life, your relationships, your friends, and your family—these are all things you must take the time to handle before you can transcend."
"So... is that what you meant by the Ley Line Shackles?" Yiren asked, picking up the thread.
"Those are just the manifestations and vessels of the shackles. Even I can't escape them." However, I knew very well that I hadn't severed mine through conventional means.
I never believed in that stuff to begin with, and my wretched family had completely lost their chance to keep me tied down. If I had started with a happy, perfect family that made up for all the flaws and regrets of my past life, perhaps I would have walked a different path entirely.
Of course, the fact that I could directly sever the Ley Line Shackles was also thanks to that "generous" Abyssal Demon Lord who provided a fresh heart.
"Oh! I remember now! Sister Xiao Han, I heard that during the college entrance exam period, you even 'kidnapped' your own brother to bring him here. Is that your way of handling family relationships?"
"You know about that too?"
"Of course! That story was all over the Academy Network back then!"
"It's actually a bit more complicated than that. I went home once, sent both my parents to jail at the Shi'an Bureau, left behind a man-child of a brother, and then happened to spirit him away to the Witch Academy."
"Huh?"
"What? That's wild!"
My explanation left Hong Chenyi and the others completely stunned. Since they didn't know the full story, it wasn't their place to judge, but sitting at this dinner table, I didn't mind chatting about it.
Was I fishing for sympathy?
Not really... and there was no need. I was simply strengthening my own heart, allowing my unfortunate past to be something I could laugh about now.
By the time we were mostly finished eating, I realized I had underestimated the combat power of the five of us. It turned out we could really pack it away.
The "eat and chat" vibe eventually shifted into a full-blown gossip session.
"Hong Chenyi, are you drunk?"
"Nonsense~ I'm just tipsy~ The fruit wine at this hotel is so weak, how could I be drunk? This state is perfect for gossiping with you guys... Listen to me, let me tell you more about my playboy dad and the love-hate drama with my three moms..."
"Tsk... is she really drinking low-alcohol fruit wine?"
"She ordered a bunch of different kinds and ended up DIY-mixing them herself..."
"Never mind then. Should we head back? Are you guys full?"
"Yeah, pretty much. I want to get this embarrassing girl back as soon as possible. I really should record this and show it to her tomorrow. Maybe send a copy to her father too, so he can see what his precious daughter is up to out here."
"Alright~ I'll go settle the bill then. You guys take it easy." I glanced at Hong Chenyi, shook my head with a helpless smile, and stood up to pay.
The process was over quickly. There was a small hiccup during the checkout, but it didn't take much of my time.
I looked at the business cards the hotel manager had handed me. One was clearly the general manager's, but the other belonged to a current student of the Witch Academy—likely the actual owner of this hotel.
It wasn't exactly a favor I owed them; the owner probably couldn't make it in person and wanted to use this opportunity to establish a connection.
"Alright~ time to go," I called out to the others.
"Eh? Leaving already? How about... we enjoy the Magic City night view a bit more? It's great..."
"I think it would be easier to just knock Hong Chenyi out and carry her back," Dongli Yiren suggested.
"I think that's an excellent proposal," Guan Qiuling added.
"Forget it. I've already set the coordinates for the dorm. Let's go."
I used a teleportation spell to tear open a portal. As my mastery and derivation of teleportation magic grew, I was becoming more and more proficient. Combined with my numerous mana sources, bringing others along for a teleport was basic stuff.
With just one step, we were back in our familiar living room.
"Finally back. Sister Xiao Han's teleportation magic is seriously convenient."
"Phew~ I need a shower. Hong Chenyi got the smell of booze all over me." As Dongli Yiren spoke, she sniffed her clothes. After turning into a girl, she had noticed her sense of smell was much more sensitive than before.
"By the way, I have a sobriety spell. Do you need help?" I asked, sitting down on the sofa.
The sobriety spell was just a minor spellbook among the many I had collected. I thought I'd never use it in my life since I didn't really drink—even tonight, I'd stuck to juice.
Of course, I'd occasionally need to taste some for my Body Cultivation training, but I'd certainly never get wasted like this.
"No, no, Sister Xiao Han. Just let her stay like this. Leaving Hong Chenyi with some dark history wouldn't be a bad idea. I've already recorded it anyway." Dongli Yiren thought to herself that the recording function of the Great Knowledge Seed was truly useful.
"Yiren, you're for real? Send me a copy!" Guan Qiuling said, sounding quite mischievous.
"This counts as a precious memory between friends. Send me a copy too; I'll treasure it," Yu Yuetian joined in on the fun.
"Send one to me as well!"
I joined in for the heck of it, but the atmosphere soon settled.
Dongli Yiren and Guan Qiuling dragged Hong Chenyi upstairs, leaving only Yu Yuetian behind.
"Are you staying the night, Sister Xiao Han?" Yu Yuetian asked.
"No," I replied firmly, shaking my head.
"As expected... but thank you for remembering us when something this good came up."
"It might not necessarily be a good thing~ You might just end up being lab rats~"
"That's still better than just following the curriculum step-by-step. Compared to our peers, we don't have any advantages. If we catch an opportunity, we have to try no matter what."
"Xiao Yu, your resolve is so high... If only everyone was like you."
"But you can't force these things, can you?"
"True... Alright, it's getting late. I should head out." I stood up and smoothed the wrinkles in my clothes, then looked at Yu Yuetian again. "Say goodbye to Dongli Yiren and Guan Qiuling for me. There's still some time before the small-scale test for self-generated mana. If you want to prepare in advance... you could try looking into Body Cultivation."
"Body Cultivation? I'll let them know."
After saying goodbye to the girls, I left the dormitory that still held my past memories.
Even though we only spent a dinner's worth of time together, I found them quite interesting.
Since the gap had already widened and my peers could no longer catch up to me, I had accepted reality. Helping them in another way was also a way of helping myself.
* * *
In the night sky.
I flew on my broom, feeling the night wind blow past. The night view of the Witch Academy was truly beautiful.
Moreover, it was currently the freshman enrollment period. Projections from the Root Network decorated the academy. For any school, nothing was more grand than the arrival of new students.
The academy was like a person who had just woken up from a light nap; many events were unfolding alongside the hype. Nightlife was one of the most important calling cards of the Witch Academy.
I leisurely returned to Sister Bai's villa. Even though it was her home, I was as comfortable returning here as if it were my own.
"Sister Bai~ I'm back~"
"Back so late? Where did you go to play, Xiao Han?" Sister Bai appeared before me instantly. She seemed to sniff the air slightly. "Oh, I smell other girls on you. Did you go see your roommates?"
"Sister Bai, you can even smell that?!"
"Mhm~ I've met them and have a general idea of their life signatures. And... I smell alcohol."
"Aiya~ Sister Bai, you know me. I don't really like drinking. I only had juice." I hurried to explain, but then I noticed her expression was a bit off. "Eh? Sister Bai, why do you look disappointed? Were you hoping I'd come back tipsy and throw myself into your arms to act spoiled?"
"That wouldn't have been a bad idea, would it?" Sister Bai said with a smile.
"Yikes~ Sister Bai, you're not even trying to hide your true nature anymore, are you!"
"If we still have to hide our natures from each other... wouldn't that be a bit untrusting?" Sister Bai said as she moved behind me and began pushing me further inside.
"Fair point. What are we doing?"
"Taking a bath~ If you're covered in smells, I might not be able to 'dig in' tonight~"
"Eh? I... I can just use a cleaning spell! There's no need for all that trouble?"
"Trouble? How is this trouble? I'll help you wash, so you won't find it troublesome, right?" Sister Bai spoke with anticipation, her hands moving with practiced ease.
The buttons on my chest, the sash at my waist... the butterfly knot she had personally tied for me on my back...
We had barely reached the bathroom door when Sister Bai leaned down to pick up the fallen garments, stuffing them into the laundry basket with one hand...
As the bathroom door clicked shut, the door to their private world opened completely.
The soft light from above cast their intertwined silhouettes onto the floor, and the water spraying from the shower blurred the boundaries between them once more.
...
The few days of freshman enrollment passed quickly.
A brand-new Transcendent world awaited the new students to explore.
During these days, I spent a pleasant time with Sister Bai. Releasing the body and mind helped alleviate fatigue and smooth out stress.
Compared to before, I was clearly more energetic today.
Without the heavy burden of experiments and knowledge deductions, relaxing completely and thinking of nothing really helped improve my cognitive efficiency.
"I have to say, the self-sealing art I learned from Sister Natalie is really effective~" I lay in Sister Bai's arms, enjoying her embrace from behind. "But I feel like I'm going to be busy starting today."
"Yes~ time flies. It's time to undo the sealing art," Sister Bai said with a hint of sentimentality.
In truth, she quite liked the Xiao Han who had sealed away all those experiments and worries. That carefree feeling wasn't an act; it was real. But... she also knew very well that this wasn't the life Xiao Han would choose.
"Xiao Han, even if you don't remember anything, don't you have even a tiny desire to just keep living carefreely like this?"
"Hmm... if I really did that, I'd be being irresponsible to my own life, wouldn't I? Alright~ hurry up and undo the seal for me."
"Okay." Sister Bai didn't say anything more. She condensed an unsealing rune ritual and tapped it against my brow.
"Ugh..."
The moment the memory seal broke, it didn't feel like a tidal wave of memories rushing back. Instead, it was like waking up from a long dream, leaving me in a daze for a moment...
"Phew... the self-generated mana project experiments..."
"Are you okay? If it's too uncomfortable, we won't use this memory-sealing method next time..." Sister Bai asked with concern.
"Ah... no, it's not that it's bad. I just realized that if I lived without a goal and only focused on enjoying life, I'd end up living so... decadently! Sister Bai, were you just looking out for your own pleasure? Tricking me like that?!"
"Is that so? I don't think so... You were the one who agreed so quickly..." Sister Bai turned her head away with an "it's got nothing to do with me" look, as if that would make it true.