Chapter 4: The Weight of the Past and a New Proposition

The narrative recounted by Luzhichuan was, in essence, quite straightforward.

Su Qingyao had perished during a decisive ‘decapitation’ operation.

His remains were subsequently offered as a sacrifice to the malevolent deity, an attempt to conjure an ‘alien savior’ capable of stemming the overwhelming tide of chaos.

With the combat capabilities of the other surviving leaders severely diminished, only the Hero Luzhichuan retained his strength due to unique circumstances. Consequently, he had single-handedly stormed the alien’s lair to reclaim Su Qingyao’s body.

On this point, his account diverged not at all from Chen Qingfeng’s.

Yet, according to Luzhichuan’s narrative, five years hence—at the very juncture in Chen Qingfeng’s timeline when the surviving leaders collectively retreated from public life—the Hero was still engaged in fierce combat on the front lines.

“So, Luzhichuan, were you effectively dismissed by the council without your knowledge?”

Su Qingyao tilted his head, a puzzled expression on his face, as he clutched an ancient, verdant wooden staff to his chest.

For Su Qingyao, who had fully embraced his permanent Magical Girl form, summoning a piece of his spiritual attire was akin to an ‘unconscious gesture,’ much like idly fiddling with a hem.

“Not quite,” came the swift reply.

Luzhichuan rubbed the bridge of his nose. “It’s simply that during that period, I was constantly moving between various alien lairs and rarely returned to Hope City to report on my duties.”

“I imagine one of our comrades simply signed on my behalf. You know, Qingyao, our retirement was the outcome we had all mutually agreed upon back then.”

“Ah, that’s absolutely true. After all, before we ever stepped forward to fight, we were merely high school students.”

Su Qingyao let out a derisive snort.

Beneath the Blue Witch’s veil resided not a composed woman embodying benevolent maternal love, but rather a high school boy perpetually plagued by social anxiety, who had simply been compelled to step forward.

Anyone uttering such words would likely be torn asunder by fervent admirers like Chen Qingfeng.

Yet, that was precisely the truth of the matter.

The ‘Extraordinary System’ operated without rhyme or reason; a person’s maturity bore absolutely no correlation to the powers they could wield.

At least half of the ‘leaders’ at that time were individuals like Luzhichuan and Su Qingyao, who hadn’t even earned their high school diplomas.

This, too, was among the reasons for their collective retreat:

They all possessed a healthy sense of self-awareness, after all.

At best, they aimed to leverage their contributions to secure a pension, ensuring a life free from want in the nascent world.

“So, when exactly did you make your return?”

Su Qingyao continued his line of questioning, seemingly without much thought.

“Roughly thirteen years after the decisive battle, I believe.”

This sensitive figure, upon reaching Su Qingyao’s ears, instantly triggered his alarm:

“You mean twelve years ago, correct?”

“Precisely. By then, we had effectively counterattacked and eradicated every tangible alien that had participated in the decisive battle.”

Luzhichuan’s subsequent words, however, caused Su Qingyao’s heightened vigilance to recede once more.

Twelve years prior, it had been precisely the day Su Muxue was born.

“Therefore, this child, Su Muxue, is indeed connected to this catastrophe, am I not correct?”

Luzhichuan considered the question for a brief moment.

Eventually, he nodded slowly, his affirmation clear:

“Based on my deductions, that would appear to be correct.”

A long sigh escaped him.

“Then, Luzhichuan, do you have anything further you wish to convey regarding this child, Muxue?”

Su Qingyao seemed unconcerned about his own predicament.

He himself would, at most, be briefly repulsed and then move on, but Su Muxue was an entirely different matter.

Considering Su Muxue’s extraordinary rank, she remained highly susceptible to influence from aliens or catastrophic events.

“I…” Luzhichuan fell silent for a prolonged moment, as if unsure where to commence his explanation:

“Truthfully, I’m not entirely certain myself. After this war, my own extraordinary rank has plummeted, nearly reaching the first tier within the current system.”

“However, based on my observations, in the past at least, there were no discernible traces of curses or soul interference upon Su Muxue.”

As he spoke, Luzhichuan’s gaze met Su Qingyao’s.

The young man could discern no trace of concealment or deceit within the depths of the other’s eyes.

Just as it had always been, his honesty remained profoundly reassuring.

“Indeed, I trust your discerning eye, Luzhichuan.”

Su Qingyao nodded, a silent affirmation of his trust.

At that moment, Luzhichuan suddenly rubbed his hands together, as though a matter of considerable importance had just occurred to him:

“Oh, by the way, Qingyao, would you perhaps consider something?”

Luzhichuan spoke impulsively, the words tumbling out, only to then fall into a moment of palpable hesitation.

“Consider what?”

Su Qingyao narrowed his eyes, a distinct premonition of unease beginning to stir within his heart.

His intuition whispered to him.

This, perhaps, was Luzhichuan’s true objective in seeking him out.

And his rational mind informed him.

He would, in all likelihood, be unable to refuse Luzhichuan’s proposition.

****

“Mama?”

Su Qingyao, jolted by Su Muxue’s gentle tug on his arm, blinked and emerged from his state of bewildered contemplation.

“Oh—what is it?”

“At the crossroads ahead, we turn, and then one more turn after that, and we’ll be home.”

Su Muxue’s hand, still linked through his arm, refused to loosen its grip, while her other hand rose to gesture vaguely towards the approaching crossroads.

“Ugh…”

Su Qingyao turned his head, and from his vantage point, he could only see Su Muxue’s small head swaying ever so slightly, her fluffy silver hair happily bouncing around the bangs that framed her cheeks.

The words he had been about to utter caught in his throat, swallowed back into a long, drawn-out sigh.

The young man lifted his gaze, surveying their surroundings.

The city he currently found himself in was not Hope City, the acclaimed ‘Capital of the New World,’ but rather Dawn City, the seventh former ‘safe zone’ established in its wake.

It had also been a city erected after the decisive battle, with the Stasis Hall forming its very core.

For Su Qingyao, this environment was, without a doubt, utterly alien:

The towering buildings that shot up from the ground showed almost no fixed pattern; their designs, supported by ‘extraordinary’ elements, were full of imagination and a wild, rampant style, aggressively claiming most of the sky that existed only in his memory.

The deep, dark night sky was pressed down to the lowest layer by a tapestry of neon lights, even the wisp of starlight Su Qingyao once most frequently gazed upon was semi-forcibly relegated to an inconspicuous background.

[“Ugh, for you, Qingyao, the current changes are neither too grand nor too minor.”]

[“It might take some time to adapt.”]

[“During this period, you will be a burden to Su Muxue, and Su Muxue will be a burden to you.”]

Indeed, regardless of what that scoundrel Senior Luzhichuan had subsequently said, the current Su Qingyao genuinely required time to familiarize himself with this somewhat cyberpunk metropolis—

It was difficult to say if he would have any spare time or mental energy to care for his daughter during this period.

If, during his slumber, he couldn’t care for Su Muxue, it could be argued that ignorance was bliss.

However, the current Su Qingyao found it genuinely difficult to bear the thought of Su Muxue, now having a family, continuing to be neglected.

Much like Su Qingyao’s own past.

Thinking of his past before becoming a Magical Girl…

It had to be said, Luzhichuan had precisely struck Su Qingyao’s soft spot.

****

After walking a little further down the street,

Su Qingyao suddenly ruffled Su Muxue’s hair, as if having made a solemn decision.

He casually tilted his head and addressed Su Muxue:

“Xiaoxue, would you like Mama to find a Papa to take care of you?”