Chapter 58: Anticipation and Hidden Motives

Mulling over Senior Lu Zhichuan, Su Qingyao’s mood brightened considerably.

According to their plan, Xu Yanqing was to lead the team to the designated location for training after dinner.

With the goal of depicting battle scenarios “as realistically as possible,” Xu Yanqing had chosen an empty plot of land beside a deserted road to station the magical girl reserves.

The overall plan involved groups of six to eight individuals collectively confronting a third-tier demonic beast.

The others would remain concealed, observing the proceedings.

At that time, both Xu Yiyi and Su Qingyao’s primary mission would be to protect the hidden children.

Only Xu Yanqing could provide timely assistance to the reserves engaged in combat.

After all, with the unpredictable presence of demonic beasts, using “training” as an opportunity for a sneak attack was undoubtedly the most opportune moment.

Su Qingyao walked along the familiar path she had trodden earlier. While flying saved effort, it lacked the tranquil ease of a leisurely stroll.

Moreover, with only the rustling of green leaves stirred by the breeze filling her ears, Su Qingyao found a rare moment of peace.

The young woman lifted her head, silently gazing at the distant setting sun and the entire fiery horizon that glowed far away.

Up until this moment, the weather had been quite suitable.

She could only hope this training session would also proceed smoothly—

However, that was an impossibility.

A faint, unsettling scent permeated the wind, making the young woman subtly uncomfortable. To describe it vividly, it was like the clean, natural breeze carrying an unpleasant, greasy stench.

Su Qingyao’s gaze sharpened, fixing on a distant point—the direction from which the anti-magic emanated.

The tell-tale signs of a Sixth-tier [Mind Collapse] Matriarch.

Considering all other evidence, it was now clear that the gathering magical girls had indeed attracted some unsavory presences.

The sensation of being secretly watched was anything but pleasant.

This, then, was her ultimate reason for rushing to speak with Senior Lu Zhichuan.

In short, it had nothing to do with delivering food.

At least for now, Su Qingyao was still undertaking her “first temporary job” since awakening; she had no desire to skip work at such a critical juncture.

Otherwise…

Su Qingyao suppressed the urge to withdraw.

After all, *it* was now Senior Lu Zhichuan’s prey.

Su Qingyao was keen to see if her dearest Senior Lu was perhaps overestimating his own capabilities~

A disgruntled sniff escaped Su Qingyao’s nostrils.

Despite her usual gentle demeanor, she couldn’t help but feel a touch of annoyance at someone repeatedly refusing her goodwill.

She playfully stuck out her tongue.

She sincerely hoped he wouldn’t cry for help when the time came.

Otherwise, Su Qingyao would certainly perform a convincing “Was that just my imagination?” for him.

“Xiaoo Qingyao!”

From the edge of the camp, Xu Yiyi’s call abruptly cut into the young woman’s perception—

She had even conjured an exclamation mark with magic.

“I’m finished here.”

Su Qingyao responded with a serene smile.

“Alright, I’ll go tell Xu Yanqing, and once the supplies are distributed, we can depart.”

A hint of excitement inevitably flickered across Xu Yiyi’s face as she waved at the young woman parting the foliage.

“Don’t be in such a hurry,” Su Qingyao said, a trace of helplessness in her voice, calling back Xu Yiyi, who had been about to turn and leave.

“Could you take this to her for me?”

Su Qingyao produced a notebook she had prepared earlier.

It was a plain, kraft paper notebook from before the apocalypse, its pages brittle and yellowed after decades of weathering.

It seemed its owner hadn’t valued it much.

Yet, this very book, lacking a cover or title, was riddled with various sealing enchantments within Xu Yiyi’s “magic perception.”

“What is this?” Xu Yiyi asked, surprised.

It seemed the woman had no idea what Su Qingyao had just produced.

“Some… family heirloom?”

Even Su Qingyao’s voice held a touch of uncertainty as she described it.

Walking side-by-side with Xu Yiyi, Su Qingyao slowly divulged the contents of the notebook, which contained processed sensitive information.

Simply put, it was a journal Su Qingyao had once written while pondering magic, which Lu Zhichuan had coincidentally kept in his bookshelf as a reference.

After so many years, many of the conjectures had been proven right or wrong, making them unsuitable as references.

However, it still contained many ingenious ideas that only the Blue Witch could conceive, which should prove somewhat useful to a “magic studies researcher” like Xu Yanqing.

At least, that was Su Qingyao’s belief.

Furthermore, if all went smoothly, Su Qingyao might hand in her work badge after today, and there would likely be no second face-to-face encounter with Xu Yiyi in the future.

As one of the first few people she had met since her awakening, Xu Yiyi could, by all accounts, be considered a “friend.”

“But why not give it to her yourself?”

Xu Yiyi asked Su Qingyao, her curiosity piqued.

“Well—”

Su Qingyao averted her gaze:

“It’s for some rather personal reasons.”

The young woman’s tone was elusive, like a faint, intangible breeze, which only further piqued the earnest Xu Yiyi’s curiosity.

The truth was, Su Qingyao felt a bit awkward.

It wasn’t about being shy when giving a gift in person.

Rather, Xu Yiyi wasn’t familiar with this kind of content, so even if she pondered it for half a year, she might not discover anything amiss.

Xu Yanqing, however, was a different story.

As a researcher, she might recognize the notebook’s origin at a glance, and after a quick flip to confirm its authenticity, she would surely begin to question Su Qingyao’s true identity.

After all, the young woman’s previous actions had already laid numerous suspicious groundwork.

After a few more perfunctory excuses, the energetic young… Xu Yiyi, who held complete trust in Su Qingyao, didn’t harbor further suspicions and simply put Su Qingyao’s gift away.

After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the hurried Xu Yiyi darted away from Su Qingyao’s side once more.

Walking through the camp, Su Qingyao found herself alone again.

‘Hmm, where was I?’

‘Probably at the point where the traces in the notebook could easily lead Xu Yanqing to uncover my true identity in just a few glances.’

If her identity were discovered face-to-face, Su Qingyao would certainly feel a loss of dignity.

Especially regarding the “resurrection of the dead” and “pretending to be young” aspects.

Having Xu Yiyi as an intermediary would at least buy Su Qingyao some time to prepare.

‘As for why Su Qingyao didn’t use a copied version?’

…

Su Qingyao stopped in the camp.

She arrived just in time, positioning herself at the back of the queue before the last magical girl, radiating youthful energy, flew in like a shooting star.

She subtly gestured to Su Muxue, who had turned to look, prompting her to face forward and stand properly in line.

Su Qingyao’s gaze swept over the crowd, finally meeting Xu Yiyi’s and Xu Yanqing’s, who stood side-by-side, in the air.

The young woman’s eyes narrowed slightly, before softening into a warm smile.

As her understanding deepened,

Perhaps, deep down, Su Qingyao secretly hoped that the moment her true identity was discovered by her two new friends would eventually arrive.

Of course, it would be best if that confirmation happened over the phone.

Face-to-face, Su Qingyao felt her social anxiety would likely flare up.