Chapter Eighty-Nine: Kindred Spirits? What Is Your Purpose?

I am sorry for the rude little joke I made when you all seemed to believe she was my daughter. Now, may I ask who you are? Would you introduce yourselves? And you, why did you abduct Misaka Mikoto? After simply outlining the situation, Qi changed the subject. Even the final sentence carried no accusation, only a faint, detached tone.

“That was my fault,” the younger Mikoto said, her gaze beginning to wander. “Because I heard about that matter, I took the initiative to pretend to be unconscious and asked Sister Liu to take me to the enemy’s lair.”

“Honestly, why not discuss it with me first, or at least tell me? Did you think I’d just turn around and leave the moment I found you gone, or sit there obediently waiting for your return?”

“I was afraid you wouldn’t agree. You’ve always opposed meddling in this sort of thing, and I didn’t think it through very carefully at the time.” The little Mikoto lowered her head in grievance, like a child scolded by her parents after making a mistake.

“Please do not blame her. After witnessing the young Mikoto’s formidable lightning power, I agreed to her request, so I bear responsibility as well,” the woman in black gauze said softly.

“I have no right to blame either of you, but Misaka Mikoto stepped into the world of cultivation because of me. So I have a duty to educate her, to help her survive better in this world.” After saying this calmly, Qi continued to ask Misaka Mikoto, “This incident may be considered over for now. So, did you learn anything from it?”

“Um... how cruel the world of cultivation is, and how important strength is,” the little Mikoto murmured, as though remembering those innocent children again, and hurriedly wanted to return to that demonic lair.

“I’ve already hidden those children away. I’ll bring them back later. But for now, I still need to lecture you a little more. What happened just now was not the most fundamental matter of cruelty and strength. It was something more complicated: the human heart. More precisely, the heart of a cultivator. Think carefully—within this battle, if you compare everyone else’s behavior with your own, what can you discover?” Qi lectured her in obvious dissatisfaction.

He had long since told her to be cautious, to guard against others, not to reveal her trump cards so carelessly.

Ignoring the pondering Misaka Mikoto, Qi turned once more to look at the two women.

The long-haired orange-haired fairy of many forms spoke first. “My name is Chelsea. I am a disciple of the Qiqi Sect. You can call me Chelsea, or fellow Daoist Chelsea if you like.” The girl named Chelsea smiled brightly. Though both smiles were smiles, hers was far gentler than that of the blonde older beauty.

“Lyu Leon. You can call me Lyu, or fellow Daoist Lyu,” the black-veiled Lyu Leon said, her tone cool and concise.

“Lyu...” Qi froze. Having only come for a few days, he found himself once again remembering that name, and the person that name represented.

“Did my name remind you of something sad?” Lyu Leon asked, staring into Qi’s eyes.

Qi instinctively stepped back. “Uh, my apologies. Um, what I meant was, are you two returning to the Qiqi Sect now? If so, can you take us with you? I want to join the Qiqi Sect.”

“Put that aside for now. Fellow Daoist Qi, if I heard correctly, you and this child should not be residents of this world, should you?” Chelsea asked, narrowing her eyes.

Qi’s expression darkened. “Would the Qiqi Sect care about such things?”

“No, I think you misunderstand me. What I mean is, do you still have any black tea? It’s been so long since I last drank any. I miss that taste so much.” Chelsea wore an expectant expression, looking at Qi in an adorably bright way.

Qi retreated several more steps. If it had been the gray-haired woman from before, that would have been fine, because she was an ugly woman. Even Lyu Leon was acceptable, since she wore a veil. But Chelsea was an extremely cute girl, and that gave Qi an urge to keep his distance.

“There isn’t any left. Not a drop,” he said. Then he realized something was wrong. “How do you know about black tea? Have you had it before? Does this world even have black tea?”

“Hehe, do you know why we can speak with you so at ease? My name and Lyu’s name are known to very few people even within the Qiqi Sect.” Chelsea giggled mischievously.

Qi only grew more puzzled. “Why?” Could it be the legendary love at first sight? He retreated another step in alarm.

“Hey, what impolite thing are you imagining?” Chelsea said with a half-smile. “The reason is simple. It’s because we’re the same kind of people. Lyu and I aren’t from this world. Though that’s not quite right either—Lyu seems to have come here by accident. As for me, I remember being killed in my previous life, then reborn into this world. In my last life, in another world, I really liked drinking black tea.

“From what that blonde older sister said just now, the three of you aren’t natives of this world either, so naturally we’re the same kind of people. But that blonde older sister is truly amazing—she comes when she wants, leaves when she wants, and the gap in strength between us is just too great.”

Chelsea’s explanation left Qi staring in stunned silence, and even little Mikoto raised her head in surprise.

“Wait... you’re saying you’re from another world too?” Qi repeated, unable to help himself.

“Yes, I still have memories from the world before this one,” Lyu Leon said with a nod.

“I am too, though I only arrived in this world yesterday. You all are...” Little Mikoto’s delight was like that of encountering a fellow countryman abroad.

But her little head immediately suffered an attack from Qi. “I say, did you not think at all just now? Don’t believe everything people tell you. At the very least, keep some doubt in your heart.

“For example, Miss Lyu first concealed her face and suppressed her cultivation to the seventh level of the Qi Refinement Realm, and in battle she struck once and left. Miss Chelsea also changed her form.

“And then there was the concealment of that giant-headed infant’s cultivation, the betrayal of the demonic sect, and the internal rebellion. Don’t these vivid examples teach you even the most basic suspicion?”

Holding her head, little Mikoto complained aggrievedly, “But they’re good people! Aren’t companions supposed to trust one another? And since when did you start lecturing people? You’re clearly just a novice too, and we’ve only known each other for less than two days. Shouldn’t I be suspicious of you as well?”

“Uh... you make a very good point. I have nothing to say in reply.” Qi gave a self-mocking smile. Since when had he started meddling like this? True enough, they were nothing more than strangers who had known each other for less than two days. What right did he have to lecture her?

“Ahem, Fellow Daoist Qi, is it really all right to speak ill of us in front of our faces?” Chelsea said with a smile that was not quite a smile.

“All right, all right, that was my mistake. So, what is your purpose? Even if you are all from another world, please tell me—what is your purpose?”