Chapter 19: The Cultivation World Is Cruel

Qiyun Academy, small park.

As a private school for the elite, the environment here naturally could not be compared to an ordinary school.

The park’s design was quite opulent; the central fountain and the surrounding grove sometimes made people forget this was actually on campus. The grove consisted of expensive foreign red-flowered seven-leaf trees, reportedly donated by the parents of some student.

Occasionally students could be seen strolling through the grove or sitting beneath the trees reading. As school let out and evening approached, the weary sunlight spread itself lazily, adding a touch of peaceful languor to the fresh little park.

If not for a certain shirtless teenager proudly showing off his muscle lines.

Hyacinth stared at his right arm for a long time; her hollow pupils twitched once before she said, “Alright, put your shirt back on.”

Beside her, Yumo—face flushed, hands covering her face but peeking through her fingers—quickly handed over the clothes when she heard that.

Hyacinth smiled and teased, “Your girlfriend is so shy.”

Jiang Si, now clothed, shot her a glance. “Not my girlfriend.”

“Oh, bringing someone who’s not your girlfriend here is even worse.”

“She’s a friend who happened to be passing by.”

Yumo nodded repeatedly like a little bird pecking rice.

Hyacinth had suddenly asked Jiang Si to take off his shirt, but it wasn’t because she was interested in his physique.

After Jiang Si put his shirt back on, Hyacinth propped her chin on one hand and said gracefully, “Looks like Su Shan misjudged things. She told me you jumped five or six meters and couldn’t touch the clouds, so she suspected you might be connected to the Witch Association.”

While dressing, Jiang Si thought of Su Shan’s earlier attitude.

He didn’t know whether that woman was seeking revenge or just trying to remove suspicion from herself with unnecessary theatrics.

It didn’t matter much to him—he wasn’t a shy person.

He never minded others seeing the results of his physical training. When he trained intensely at the Azure Cloud Sect, he would often take off his shirt and work out bare-chested until drenched in sweat, only feeling satisfied after running through the waterfall entrance of the Illusory Moon Cavern Dwelling.

Only that whenever he indulged like that, Bingtang always drove away the other Magical Girls.

Now that Hyacinth wanted to inspect him, Jiang Si had no reason to be coy; he would have been willing to demonstrate even at the school gate.

Crowds did not bother him—he had absolute confidence in his muscles.

Hyacinth, however, felt the situation inappropriate for the school’s atmosphere, so she took them to the secluded Qiyun small park.

“There’s no sign of a Witch Association curse on you.” Hyacinth said, pointing at her eyes. “If there were, my demon-detecting eye wouldn’t be fooled. Also, there’s no Disaster Beast magic right now. Looks like Su Shan made a mistake—she’s always so careless.”

Compared with Su Shan and even Yin Luo, Hyacinth’s battlefield-hardened steadiness and maturity stood out remarkably.

This made sense: when the Disaster Control Bureau first set up a branch in Beihai, the first Magical Girl they found was Hyacinth.

What made her special was her demon-detecting eye.

Most Magical Girls’ powers, though partially usable from the Seedling tier via the Miracle Seed without transformation, could not manifest in their physical bodies without the Miracle Seed.

Jiang Si had tested this many times and confirmed it was an absolute dead end.

Hyacinth’s demon-detecting eye, however, could use Magical Girl power without transforming and without the Miracle Seed as a medium, and it could even be present in her physical body.

As a price—though it did not render her blind—her perception of the world was completely different. It wasn’t simply black and white; it was devoid of color entirely, so magical power appeared extremely vivid to her.

Because only magic had color in her eyes.

So before coming, Jiang Si had already cleared all the magic from his body; naturally she couldn’t see any trace of magic.

At the Azure Cloud Sect, the most basic training was magical control. Every Magical Girl had to learn how to control fine traces of magic, how to prevent magic from leaking, and how to hide their own magic.

Because of the Sect’s relationship with the Disaster Control Bureau, once exposed they could be easily blocked by the Bureau.

This foundational training represented years of Jiang Si’s hard work—his first step in developing Magical Girl power was perfect control of magic.

In the web novels he’d read, this was the most basic of basics: without a solid foundation, those who relied on drugs or sudden power-ups usually had hollow strength. Naturally, Azure Cloud Sect disciples focused strictly on fundamentals.

As an originator, Jiang Si’s control of magic was superb.

Even if Hyacinth’s demon-detecting eye bled, she still couldn’t see the slightest trace of magic on him.

Originally, at the Disaster Control Bureau it was simply unknown that cloud layers could detect Disaster Beast magic, and because he sometimes habitually had a little Disaster Beast magic nearby, that was how he was exposed.

“But if you can jump five or six meters, you were clearly influenced by magic.”

Seeing Hyacinth’s slight frown of thought, Jiang Si gave the ostensible reason he’d come to see her: “That’s what the Bureau told me too. Having blood ties with a Magical Girl and living together makes you susceptible to magic. I want to know if I’ll continue to be affected in the future.”

“The Bureau has observed some such cases, but it’s not universal—it depends on each person’s constitution.” Hyacinth measured him with evident interest. “Your sister hasn’t been a Magical Girl for long, has she?”

“She received her Miracle Seed very early.”

When he was cleaning during last year’s entrance period, he’d seen Jiang Keke’s Miracle Seed.

Jiang Keke hadn’t hidden it—BH City’s censorship around Magical Girls had only recently ended, not many knew about Miracle Seeds, and there was no need to hide it.

Besides, the relationship between the siblings was already frosty; Jiang Si wouldn’t ask, and Jiang Keke certainly wouldn’t explain.

“I actually saw her Miracle Seed two years ago, so I suspect she was already being affected back then.”

Yumo, who had been silent, secretly glanced up at Jiang Si.

No wonder the Sect Master can lie without changing expression—amazing.

As one of the earliest direct disciples of the Azure Cloud Sect, she knew Jiang Si’s physique had nothing to do with his sister’s magic; it came from day-after-day effort…

She admired her Sect Master’s ability not to brag about his achievements or resent their being attributed to so-called magic. He could lie earnestly without any trace of unease—something Yumo always failed at.

Hyacinth naturally couldn’t detect Jiang Si’s deception. In her colorless world, reading his emotions was difficult—expressions lost many details.

“Then that’s not surprising.” Hyacinth crossed her legs, hands on her knees, watching Jiang Si leisurely. “Long-term cohabitation will leave an influence. But the improvement to physical constitution usually has an upper limit. Generally, there won’t be severe dangers or intense side effects, so you don’t need to worry.”

“What are the common side effects?”

“Your lifespan might shorten a bit because your body’s overtaxed by the increased constitution.” Hyacinth comforted him. “But unless you’re competing in sports long-term, it’s only a year or two.”

She spoke lightly.

Jiang Si already knew this; in his past life, when he trained his body to the extreme, doctors told him the same thing.

Every apparent improvement in ceiling cost him lifespan. Moderate exercise benefits health; extreme training consumes the body.

But for Jiang Si, living a few extra years mattered less if he could not walk the path of the Dao.

He would prepare with everything he had and, when the opportunity came, clutch it with both hands—letting nothing slip away—that was a true seeker of the path.

“I see. Then I can relax.”

With that simple end to the topic, Jiang Si continued: “Do you know about the three Miracle Seeds that went missing from the Disaster Control Bureau?”

Hyacinth’s indifferent pupils shifted slightly. “I heard about it.”

“There may be a traitor within the Bureau. Could that threaten Keke?”

“Rest assured. The Magical Girl Combat Team is an independent division; it won’t affect your sister.”

“No one can guarantee there aren’t traitors among Magical Girls. I saw online speculation that Hyacinth contacted the Witch Association long ago—many suspect you’re involved.”

Hyacinth elegantly covered her mouth and laughed. “So that’s why you came—worried I’d harm your sister?”

“I wouldn’t dare. You’re a Magical Girl and were once Beihai’s strongest squad captain. If you wanted to act, coming here would be walking into a trap. I just hope you’ll keep an eye on my sister.”

“You sure are thoughtful as a brother.”

Yumo, hugging her rabbit, heard Hyacinth’s remark and showed a strange expression; with her head lowered no one could tell.

She glanced up carefully. Hyacinth seemed to drift into thought, and when Yumo peeked, Hyacinth’s gaze fell on her. The empty black pupils made Yumo immediately pull her hood down again, hiding her face, like a frightened little rabbit.

Hyacinth pursed her lips and smiled. “With Yin Luo around, don’t worry. Yin Luo is young but has great potential. Moving into Blooming is just a matter of time—she’s capable.”

“I’d rather trust someone with more experience—like you.”

“If Yin Luo hears that, she’ll hide under the covers and cry tonight. She always pretends to be mature, but she’s fragile inside.” Hyacinth said nostalgically. “Don’t say things like that around her.”

“Okay.”

Hyacinth then produced her Miracle Seed.

Calling it a seed was somewhat inappropriate now.

It had already sprouted; a faint floral form could be seen.

Jiang Si’s pupils contracted slightly.

He’d never seen a Miracle Seed’s form change like this before.

But the flower was already mostly withered; the remaining petals were shriveled. “As you can see, though I don’t want to retire, my seed has a problem. Even transforming is difficult now; I’m far from my former strength.”

Most importantly, Jiang Si sensed the Witch Association’s presence—the rank, muddied scent of magic after corruption.

Yumo tugged at his sleeve.

The Azure Cloud Sect took the Witch Association seriously; disciples were familiar with that scent. Bingtang had recently warned them to watch for the Witch Association.

As Hyacinth took out the seed, she observed Jiang Si’s movements and subtle expressions.

Even without color, if she concentrated she could barely distinguish such things.

But clearly she found nothing; she sighed like someone seeing the same expression from others when seeing this seed for the first time, and toyed with the strangely formed seed. “Also, one more thing might disappoint you: I’m not Beihai’s strongest Magical Girl anymore.”

While Jiang Si wondered why the seed’s form had changed and why it carried the Witch Association’s corrupt magic, Hyacinth began to reminisce, her expression a little distant. “Back then I thought I was the strongest Magical Girl and wanted to protect Jianghai City by myself. My dream was to make sure other girls didn’t have to shoulder the burden of being Magical Girls.”

Are you trying to crush others’ dreams?

Jiang Si mentally commented.

Someone’s dream being to crush other people’s dreams—ridiculous…

Hyacinth smiled wryly. “Until one day I met that Magical Girl.”

She paused, then continued: “The purple-haired Magical Girl.”

Yumo blinked and looked up at her Sect Master.

Jiang Si kept a composed face and listened quietly.

“You probably don’t know much about Magical Girls, so it’s hard to imagine. A truly powerful Magical Girl—her destructive force is enough to make people despair. My power was like a baby’s before her; she crushed all my abilities and shattered my dream.”

Emptiness and pain involuntarily showed in her hollow eyes. “For a time I believed that that adorable, strong, and cold presence was what a real Magical Girl should be.”

“Adorable” sounded out of place.

“I once considered seeking power from the Witch Association.” Hyacinth laughed self-mockingly. “But as you see, it only brought me suffering. So now I’m no longer the strongest, and I can hardly be called a Magical Girl. Thankfully Yin Luo exists—she has potential and will do better than I ever could…”

Jiang Si’s tone turned cold. “Then why didn’t you just retire when you lost your edge?”

Hyacinth raised her seed. The black seed shone with rainbow light under the blood-like sunset.

Even her hollow pupils seemed to glint with flowing color. “Because I still want to help others. With whatever strength I have left, I’ll protect those without power. How could I retire? As long as my power hasn’t vanished, I have a duty to guard BH City until the Magical Girl in me dies completely.”

The girl, wrapped in sunset light, looked like a dying flame that kept leaping up in fierce bursts.

As the sun set, it would inevitably fade.

The sunset slid off of her and mixed with the evening shadows. Hyacinth covered her mouth to yawn. “So that’s the situation. Don’t worry—your sister is safe. Whether Yin Luo or I, we’ll protect her.”

“Thank you.”

After that, there wasn’t much more to say. Hyacinth walked the two of them out of the academy.

Security guards glared at them as they left.

Some people took photos nearby. Hyacinth naturally waved and smiled, facing the camera with easy confidence.

Once they had walked a bit farther, Yumo cautiously tugged Jiang Si’s sleeve.

Still clutching her rabbit tight, half her face hidden by the rabbit, she asked softly, “Sect Master, did you ever defeat her?”

Other than the Sect Master, who could have defeated the powerful purple Magical Girl in BH City?

“I don’t know.” Jiang Si shook his head. “I forgot.”

He had fought so many Magical Girls; who could remember which one it was?

But he was pretty sure Hyacinth had nothing to do with the Witch Association.

They’d just have to wait for Su Shan’s investigation.

“She must have felt desperate.”

The little tagalong whispered, glancing back. The girl hugged her rabbit; her hood, not pulled tight, had been blown down by the wind, revealing beautiful long hair.

Her pale blue eyes narrowed slightly. Though the rabbit covered the lower half of her face, one could sense her sweet smile. “Yumo is so lucky to follow Sect Master. Because we’re together, we won’t be hopeless at all.”

“Go back and cultivate your Dao Heart properly.” Jiang Si glanced at her coldly. “If the strength gap is too large, you’ll be eliminated sooner or later. The Dao is merciless; no one walks alongside the discarded disciples.”

“Eh? Eh? I—I’ll work hard!”