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Chapter 111: The Middle Ground
🕑 Added 2025-08-06 13:24:45 +0000 UTCFighting on a losing ground.
That is Seele’s current state. Her other self was quick to point it out. The best she can do now is to take any present opportunities.
With Kiana gone, isn’t this a godsend?
“...for the past year? Aside from traveling, I settled some things. Fighting other people. You can do it, too.”
“Fighting?”
Her interest was piqued when fighting was involved. She never properly fought someone, not even once. She is a Foundation Establishment cultivator who never unleashed her power.
“I broke a lot of things. It took a long time to get it under control…”
“Your new body? That is normal. Everyone else went through the same experience.”
“Even Sister Kiana?”
“Even Kiana.”
Seele never had to think about their topic. It was Shi Tian who actively led her through the talks.
“I… I can’t do it. Fighting…”
She sat near to his right. He saw her expression change.
‘She didn’t go through the fear of kidnapping… and Veliona isn’t spurring her on.’
“I understand it. But sometimes, we have to fight.” He then asked something, “You used your power to heal everyone, right?”
“Yes. It was very easy. Everyone’s condition improved. I thought Cocolia Matushka would succeed using my power…”
Seele’s face turned complex.
“I did not expect Sister Kiana to stop us. She is also very strong, too. I can’t… stop her.”
The scene of Kiana stopping them never disappeared from her mind. Part of her did not struggle since she knew Cocolia was in the wrong. Seele merely held a glimmer of hope that the experiment would succeed with the virtue of her strength.
Her other self also contributed to it. She was impressed by the level of power Seele reached with immortal cultivation. Her physical body is on the next level, and as such, it has a higher chance of opening her Natural Stigma’s secrets.
Unfortunately for them, Kiana’s overwhelming strength halted it all. Her hunch from Seele’s “vacation” was proven true with Anti-Entropy scouts confirming Cocolia’s movements.
Since then, that possibility never came true.
Seele was deeply aware of her weakness. She still accepted it. Shi Tian wanted to subtly change that notion. It would only lead to her inability to fight when a crucial moment comes.
“Then work hard.”
“Ah?”
“Work hard to be able to stop Kiana.”
She was speechless.
{“I hate to admit. He is right. You are already competing with your sister. It won’t hurt to do more.”}
‘That’s not what he’s saying!’
Her strange expression was seen by Shi Tian. He knew she was talking with Veliona. Seele’s panicked expression flashed before it went away. If there was one thing she learned from Bronya, it is her flat look.
Her other self soon fell silent.
Seele continued talking with Shi Tian, unaware that her other self is plotting something else.
{‘That might be your only chance…’}
She entertained the prospects of defeating Kiana and snatching Shi Tian from her grasp. She was the exact opposite of Seele who hated fighting.
For the things she believes are right, she won’t hesitate to fight.
She wouldn’t just watch Seele become yet another blue-haired girl who gets rejected.
Just then, she sensed a gaze cross through all obstacles.
It was Bronya.
‘So it is Kiana.’
Unbeknownst to Seele, Bronya immediately uncovered the truth. She noticed something was off when she was chatting with “Shi Tian” three weeks after their departure. He said some things that were completely unlike him.
Although Bronya’s emotional quotient is questionable, her memory is top-notch. It was further strengthened by immortal cultivation. A simple recall is enough to determine it wasn’t Shi Tian.
After all, he said some subtle things like “feeling closer to Kiana” and the likes. That caused untold damage to Seele’s morale.
Bronya wanted to uncover things when they returned, but only Kiana did. Shi TIan was nowhere to be seen; with Kiana being very guarded to his whereabouts. She also became very mature during that time, a trait lacking from their previous meetings.
Her assassin instincts came to play. She concluded that something uncontrollable happened to him. Kiana is hiding it from them, most probably to avoid worrying them.
Now that Shi Tian is back, Bronya wanted to know what happened.
She only has a few friends. It is natural to care for them. Not doing anything feels uncomfortable for her.
‘Seele is…’
Bronya knew what was going on. Kiana was gone for a few hours and Seele went in for the kill. She has been fully aware of her feelings since a year ago. She even supported her with advice, though some of them are dubious.
She practically advocated for Seele to steal him away from Kiana. That made her feel very bad towards Kiana who had considered her a friend.
Her concern for Shi Tian, support for Seele, and guilt towards Kiana all ended with a sigh.
Bronya is the middle ground of the three… and she is torn apart between them.
‘No. I need to do something…’
*****
Fu Hua was picked up by a Schicksal affiliated plane. She had been staying in the Taixuan Mountain in-between Otto’s assignments.
Unintentionally… or intentionally, they passed through the place where Chiyou was slain.
‘...Chiyou.’
Facing the mistakes of her past, she fell silent.
Fu Hua is aware of this event. Her [Sword Heart] made her take back the xinyin mind seals containing her memories. Naturally, she remembered Fuxi and Nuwa as her good friends.
To the monster they died fighting for, her feelings are very complicated.
Anger? Frustration? Regrets?
She does not know.
Just then, her [Sword Heart] throbbed. It immediately gave her an indescribable feeling.
Her vision soon changed. Under the depths of the ocean, she saw faint traces of rainbow-like light.
The moment her eyes gazed upon it, her eyes “saw” a silhouette. The man wore a white cape atop his blue-black hanfu. He merely stood midair, commanding the rain until a rainbow light descended from the sky.
Fu Hua’s vision returned to normal. Only the deep sword intent hidden beneath the sea was left.
She headed to the pilot’s cabin and asked some questions.
“While acquiring the honkai beast’s corpse, have you experienced strange things?”
“Strange things?” The valkyrie pilot thought for a while. “Everyone felt very apprehensive when entering its range. It should be the remaining pressure from its corpse.”
“I see. Thank you.”
Thinking of the sword will and Otto’s lack of information, Fu Hua had a guess.
The swordsman from before…
She will meet him again.
