Chapter 20: A Legend’s Return and a Disconcerting Transformation

Lin Xiaolu, practically hauling Gu Qianqian, tore through the corridors.

By the time they burst, breathless, into the infirmary, the scene unfolding before them brought Gu Qianqian to a sudden halt.

Xia Xingyan stood motionless by the bedside, her back to the door.

There, on the bed, lay none other than her deskmate, Bai Shiyu.

“Why is it Bai Shiyu? What happened to her?” Gu Qianqian rushed forward. “Where’s Tian Lanxing?”

Lin Xiaolu’s face flushed crimson as she awkwardly lowered her head, her voice barely a whisper.

“Senior Tian Lanxing’s Star Power vanished right here…”

Gu Qianqian’s body stiffened, and she instantly understood.

‘So Bai Shiyu is Tian Lanxing, my idol, and also my mother’s best friend?!’

****

After the Puppeteer incident subsided, the name “Tian Lanxing” once again dominated the trending topics across all platforms, asserting an unparalleled presence.

Inside the Director’s Office at the GSA Asia Headquarters, within the Aegis Tower.

The atmosphere was somewhat oppressive.

On a massive screen, news channels from dozens of countries cycled through broadcasts, all centered on a single theme: the return of a legend, the reappearance of Tian Lanxing.

“Qin Lan, take a good look at this!” Zhou Huaian slammed his palm onto the desk. “The entire world has gone mad! The Alliance Council, heads of state from various countries, even the public hotlines, are practically blowing up the headquarters’ lines! They’re all asking me the same question: Is Tian Lanxing back? They demand an explanation from GSA.”

“And you, my most capable subordinate, how long do you intend to keep playing dumb with me?!”

Standing before the desk, Qin Lan remained silent, her expression as though veiled by a layer of frost.

‘She had promised Tian Lanxing; this was a secret operation, never to be reported.’

“Don’t give me that nonsense!” Zhou Huaian flung a data report onto the desk in front of her. “The Star Power signatures you detected during the previous Level 2 Void Abyssal (TL Note: A dimensional rift leading to a dangerous void) incursion in the Old City District are identical to those from Saint Sakura Academy today! And your investigation into the case abruptly ceased after Tian Lanxing’s first appearance.”

He circled the desk, closing in on Qin Lan with each step.

“You were comrades-in-arms, don’t tell me you know nothing! I don’t have time for your guessing games right now; I need an answer, an answer I can present to the entire world!”

Zhou Huaian leaned in, almost touching her ear, and hissed each word distinctly.

“Is she back?!”

Qin Lan finally closed her eyes, exhaling a long breath, as if trying to extinguish all the turmoil within her heart.

When she opened her eyes again, only weariness remained.

“Director, the situation is far more complicated than you imagine.”

“Then explain it clearly!”

Qin Lan fell silent for a moment.

“Yes, that’s correct, she’s back.”

****

Meanwhile, on the second floor of the convenience store.

Gu Qing lay sprawled on the sofa, idly toying with the transformed “Heart Stone.”

The coin that had been his companion for years was gone, replaced by a small, exquisitely crafted four-sided die.

One side bore the cold moon, representing “Tian Lanxing.”

Another displayed the radiant sun, symbolizing “Bai Shiyu.”

The remaining two sides, however, exuded an inexplicable eeriness.

One side was a pure blank, completely empty.

The final side showed a pink heart, which he inexplicably detested.

For now, only Xia Xingyan knew about the ambush by the Seed of the Abyss.

He had already ordered her to keep absolutely silent.

After the Seed of the Abyss entered his body, he distinctly felt his internal power severely diminished.

He had plummeted from the “Star God-tier,” once standing at the pinnacle of all magical girls and gazing down upon all beings, to the “Star Radiance-tier.”

It was akin to a max-level expert being thrown back into a beginner’s village with high-spec starting gear.

The disparity was simply too vast, and he couldn’t help but feel utterly agitated.

Magical girl ranks were categorized as: Apprentice, Star Radiance-tier, Luminous Star-tier, Celestial Star-tier, and the legendary Star God-tier.

Now, at best, he was merely a somewhat capable ordinary magical girl.

Gu Qing’s gaze ultimately settled on the pink heart.

He had tried the blank side, but it was utterly useless; he couldn’t transform.

As for the heart, every time Gu Qing attempted to activate it, a profound sense of revulsion would surge from the depths of his soul, making him thoroughly uncomfortable.

Yet, evasion wouldn’t solve the problem.

This thing was now a part of his power, and he absolutely had to figure out if it was poison or antidote.

Gu Qing’s eyes sharpened, and he no longer hesitated.

He gripped the die tightly, using his thumb to turn the pink heart to the topmost face.

“Transform.”

The words had barely left his lips.

A suggestive pink light flared, and he immediately sensed something was amiss.

A tingling sensation spread throughout his body, something entirely new to his previous transformations.

As the light dissipated, she instinctively walked towards the full-length mirror in the living room.

When she saw the person in the mirror clearly, Gu Qing froze entirely.

In the mirror stood an unfamiliar beautiful girl.

Her skin was as white as snow, a cascade of pink hair flowed to her waist, and her eyes were a deep violet, slightly upturned at the corners, naturally holding a third part smile and seven parts cunning.

A tiny tear mole beneath her eye added an extra touch of captivating allure.

The only slight imperfection was the body’s height, which he estimated to be less than 1.6 meters.

“This new skin of ‘this young lady’ (TL Note: A self-referential term used by young women in a slightly haughty or playful manner), it’s really not bad, is it?” the girl said involuntarily.

‘Huh? ‘This young lady’? What in the world is ‘this young lady’ saying?! Who the hell is talking?!’

‘Something is wrong! Absolutely something is wrong!’

An alarm blared in his mind, and he immediately forced the transformation to dissipate, reverting to Gu Qing.

He staggered back two steps, landing hard on the floor.

‘What just happened?’

Gu Qing’s mind was blank, his forehead slick with cold sweat.

Slowly, he recalled the previous situation, feeling as though he had been taken over by instinct.

The alluring voice echoed in his mind.

Gu Qing shivered, a chilling sensation creeping up from his feet.

‘This form didn’t just alter my appearance and voice.’

‘It even twisted my personality!’

‘What exactly has this damned Seed of the Abyss done to me?!’

Gu Qing sighed; another vexing matter had been added to his list.

‘When would he ever find true peace?’

****

A day later.

Aegis Tower, Linhai City, GSA Asia Headquarters.

Today was Aegis’s open day, allowing citizens to come and handle various procedures.

Standing before the main entrance, Gu Qing gazed up at the floors piercing the clouds and felt nothing but revulsion.

He held no fondness for this place whatsoever.

Were it not for his daughter, he would never set foot in this place again in his life.

Adjusting his suit jacket, Gu Qing stepped inside.

“Good day, sir, do you have an appointment?” The receptionist politely intercepted him.

“I need to see your person in charge.” Gu Qing pulled a stack of documents from his briefcase and slapped them onto the counter. “My daughter, Gu Qianqian, is a magical girl for your GSA. As her legal guardian, I am formally applying to terminate her magical girl contract.”