Chapter 29: Discovery

Xu Zhiyuan’s gaze was sharp and penetrating, fixed tightly on Ye Ning’s face, as if she wanted to see through every trace of emotion in her eyes.

Ye Ning’s heart pounded wildly, her palms damp with fine sweat. The innocent smile on her face was stiff, barely holding up. She could only force herself to stay calm, blinking as she let herself be scrutinized.

After a long moment, Xu Zhiyuan slowly withdrew her gaze. Her fingertips left Ye Ning’s shoulder as she gently shook her head. Her voice carried a faint, elusive distance and apology.

“Sorry, I mistook you for someone else.”

With those words, she didn’t spare Ye Ning another glance. Turning around, she walked toward Xu Zhihe’s home.

Only when Xu Zhiyuan’s figure had disappeared into the distance did Ye Ning finally let out a full breath. Her tense body instantly sagged, her legs going weak, nearly giving out beneath her.

‘This girl is still just as sharp.’

She didn’t dare linger any longer. Quickly, she ran toward the entrance of the residential complex.

On the other side, Xu Zhiyuan reached the bottom of her building and stopped.

Frowning, she pondered for a moment, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing against her sleeve—that girl just now carried a presence far too familiar, identical to Lark’s.

Even if it was only an extremely faint trace, it couldn’t escape her perception.

Xu Zhiyuan gently shook her head, a self-deprecating smile tugging at the corner of her lips as she murmured softly to herself.

“It’s not her… that’s good. At least… I’m not ready to face her yet.”

She had always refused to believe that a comrade who once fought by her side, shining so brightly, could have fallen to become a Witch.

Over the past few years, as she carried out her missions, she had secretly searched for traces of Lark, afraid both of finding her and seeing her turned into a Witch, and of never finding her at all, denied even the truth.

Perhaps this, too, was a kind of relief.

Xu Zhiyuan collected herself, pulled out her keys, and opened the door to her home.

The light inside was soft and warm, a stark contrast to the cool evening breeze outside.

Xu Zhihe was sitting quietly on the sofa, watching television. A soothing cartoon played on the screen. On the table sat a plate of half-eaten pastries—delicate and small, emitting a faint, sweet fragrance.

Hearing the door open, Xu Zhihe slowly turned her head.

Seeing Xu Zhiyuan carrying a large bag of groceries, a faint flicker of surprise passed through her eyes.

Her tone was calm but carried a subtle trace of warmth.

“Sis? Why are you back?”

She had thought it would be a long time before Xu Zhiyuan could finish her mission and return.

Xu Zhiyuan closed the door and set the bag down at the entrance. A gentle smile spread across her face as she shed her usual cold sharpness, gaining a rare touch of warmth—an expression she only ever showed in front of Xu Zhihe.

“I have a mission in this area, and it happened to be on the way, so I came back to keep you company.”

As she spoke, she picked up the bag, walked over, and sat down beside Xu Zhihe. She pulled out the contents one by one—all of Xu Zhihe’s favorite fruits and snacks.

“Xiao He, have you run into any trouble at school lately? Has anyone been bullying you?”

Xu Zhihe gently shook her head, her gaze returning to the TV. Her tone remained flat. “No. I’ve been very happy lately. My teachers and classmates have all been good to me.”

Xu Zhiyuan smiled with relief, reaching out to gently stroke Xu Zhihe’s head. “That’s good. I asked White Rose to come every three months to help with your treatment. Since I’m back today, let me check on how your legs are recovering.”

Before Xu Zhihe could respond, Xu Zhiyuan’s hand gently rested on the thin blanket covering her legs. A faint trace of mana gathered at her fingertips as she carefully probed the meridian channels and mana fluctuations in Xu Zhihe’s legs.

After a moment, her brow furrowed slightly, and a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes.

Apart from the pure, gentle Bath of Light magic left behind by White Rose, another trace of mana seemed to linger within Xu Zhihe’s body. Though only a tiny fraction, extremely faint, it was quietly assisting White Rose’s mana, accelerating the recovery of her legs.

And this mana—she knew it all too well. It was Lark’s mana.

Lark…

The girl she had encountered in the residential complex earlier—her identity was clear now. She was Lark.

She hadn’t been mistaken after all. That familiar mana presence couldn’t be faked.

Xu Zhiyuan withdrew her hand without a change in expression, her gentle smile still in place. Her gaze casually swept over the plate of pastries on the table, her tone light. “Have we had a guest here? I saw you set out pastries. You’ve never really liked sweets yourself. Why would you suddenly make so many?”

Xu Zhihe’s body stiffened slightly, but she quickly covered it up. Her tone remained calm, her excuse seamless. “No, I just recently started liking to make these pastries. I make them and eat a little myself, but I never finish them. If you want to try them, sis, I can make some for you tomorrow.”

Xu Zhiyuan looked at her sister’s composed, unruffled face and understood everything in her heart—she knew her younger sister’s nature better than anyone. No matter how calm her tone, she could never hide from her eyes.

Confirming that Lark was still alive and hadn’t lost herself like a Witch, a heavy weight lifted from Xu Zhiyuan’s heart. The worry that had been pressing down on her finally dissipated for the most part.

She had always believed that with Lark’s nature, she would never fall so easily. It seemed that the story of Lark falling to become a Witch back then indeed had hidden circumstances.

Xu Zhiyuan let out a soft breath. Her smile grew even warmer as she ruffled Xu Zhihe’s hair. “Alright then, I’ll be waiting to taste Xiao He’s pastries. Oh, and what do you want for dinner tonight? I should be staying here for a while. Let Xiao He get a taste of my cooking.”

Xu Zhihe softly hummed in agreement, a hint more warmth showing in her eyes. She didn’t say anything else, simply turning her gaze back to the TV, the corner of her mouth unconsciously lifting just slightly.

On the other side, Ye Ning hurriedly fled from Xu Zhihe’s residential complex. Only when she reached the entrance and confirmed that Xu Zhiyuan hadn’t followed did she finally relax.

She patted her chest, catching her breath, still shaken by the close call. ‘No way, no way. I’d better lay low and stop going to Xiao He’s place. If I run into Xu Zhiyuan again, I won’t be so lucky!’

Ye Ning muttered to herself, turning and heading toward the nearby supermarket.

Just as she reached the entrance, a young girl brushed past her, walking quickly with a dazed look on her face.

Ye Ning instinctively stopped in her tracks, frowning slightly, letting out a puzzled, “Huh?”—something felt off.

The girl looked about her age. She wore a loose school uniform, her hair was messy, and her gaze was dull and vacant, devoid of any light. Heavy dark circles hung under her eyes, and her face was pale, as if she hadn’t rested in a long time.

But what made Ye Ning most alert was the faint wisp of black mist缠绕 around the girl, barely visible, radiating a cold, eerie presence.

People came and went all around, walking hurriedly, but not a single person noticed the black mist, as if it were visible only to her.

Ye Ning’s expression turned serious instantly. The presence on that black mist was Disaster.

“Tch.”

She clicked her tongue in frustration, let out a resigned sigh, and a pained look crossed her face. ‘What a hassle. I just got away from Xu Zhiyuan, and now this. Can’t I just buy groceries and cook a meal in peace?’

Ye Ning pulled herself together, suppressing her annoyance, and quietly followed the girl. Her steps were light and stealthy, always keeping a certain distance.

The girl wandered aimlessly, turning left and right through a series of narrow, damp alleys. They were cluttered with debris, filled with a foul smell, and almost empty of passersby.

Eventually, the girl stopped in front of a rundown rental house. Her eyes still vacant, she raised a hand to pull out a key and reach for the doorknob.

Just then, a hand gently rested on the girl’s shoulder, and a sweet, cutesy voice rang out.

Fenbai Tuanzi held up her empty wallet, smiling as she asked, “Hey hey, big sis, did you drop this wallet?”

At Ye Ning’s touch, the girl suddenly snapped back to reality. A flicker of confusion passed through her eyes as she slowly turned her head to look at the empty wallet in Ye Ning’s hand. She instinctively shook her head, her voice hoarse and faint. “Ah… no, that’s not my wallet.”

Her voice was filled with exhaustion and despair, devoid of any vitality.

“I see.”

Ye Ning’s smile remained as sweet as ever, showing no hint of embarrassment. She gently put away the empty wallet, pulled a piece of White Rabbit candy from her pocket, and placed it in the girl’s hand. Her fingertips brushed lightly across the girl’s icy-cold palm. “You don’t look too well, big sis. Take this candy. Eating some sweets will cheer you up!”

Her fingertips secretly gathered a faint, gentle trace of mana. As she brushed the girl’s hand, it subtly seeped into her body.

With that done, Ye Ning didn’t linger any longer. She smiled at the girl, turned, and quickly walked out of the alley, disappearing around the corner.

The girl stood there, watching Ye Ning’s retreating figure, frozen for a long time. Only then did she slowly lower her head to look at the brightly wrapped White Rabbit candy in her hand. Her fingertips traced the wrapper gently, and she pursed her dry, cracked lips. Slowly, she tightened her grip on the candy.