Wendy, Let's Get Ourselves a Box

"Yeah, Mom was never someone we could have imagined falling in love. How could we not worry? From now on, we'll be your secret agents. If anything goes wrong between you and Mom Cocolia, don't give up. Come to us—we'll definitely sort it out for you!"

"Shouldn't you be showing that concern to your mother first?"

"Forget about Mom. If she hasn't told us, she must be too embarrassed to say it. We understand. Anyway, you two should get along well. We'll wait patiently until the day Mom is willing to tell us."

Rosaliya grinned and patted her chest with the air of a little adult, as if she were the elder worrying over her daughter's love life.

Liliya puffed out her chest as well, wearing the same proud expression.

Kuerla could no longer hold it in and laughed, deeply gratified.

But Rosaliya thought Kuerla wasn't taking them seriously, so she hurriedly tugged at her sleeve and said,

"We're serious! Mom has always been working hard for everyone at the orphanage. She's exhausted, and she's never really thought about herself. Her clothes, her jewelry—she hasn't replaced them in years... Mom has done so much for us. We want her to be happy too."

Rosaliya and Liliya's moods suddenly sank. Those warm yet undeniably difficult days were not far enough in the past for them to forget.

The twins had always been the orphanage's foremost troublemakers, and they had also received the most care. Perhaps because of that, they understood best the love and concern their older sisters and Cocolia had given them.

So they had always wanted to do something to repay that love. Yet most of the time, their efforts ended in disaster, adding another entry to their record of mischief.

Unlike the more rational An and Bronya, they had used their limited understanding to conclude that Cocolia and Kuerla were involved, and so they had kept trying to get close to Kuerla. In a sense, they really had stumbled onto a truth no one else had considered.

Whether it was astonishing intuition or sheer luck no longer mattered.

Through Kuerla's eyes, the Anqis watched the innocent, clumsy sisters and felt that beneath their adorable appearances, their crystal-clear hearts were just as lovable.

The construction of East Sea Base primarily served the goal of finding and conquering Chiyou, while also expanding Cocolia's influence.

But that was no overnight task. Even with Anti-Entropy's technology being a generation ahead of the civilian world, building a high-tech offshore base as stable as St. Freya would take half a year to a year.

During that time, Cocolia, Kuerla, Ninti, and Titan Anqi could only remain at the gradually expanding East Sea Base, temporarily away from the crowds.

However, surveying the surrounding waters in search of the Nine Nether Ruins would take time anyway. And with Cocolia and Ninti's situation already being shocking enough, they truly needed a period of quiet for everyone involved to settle their emotions and regain their composure, allowing them to better accept these two new identities.

Thus, Bronya brought back reassuring information to St. Freya, and everyone there who knew the truth breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Only the "completely unaware" Anqi continued enthusiastically studying Taixu Sword Qi with Fu Hua, and the word "Master" came more naturally to her by the day.

"Among the Five Resonances of Taixu, Form Resonance is divided into four disciplines: Guard, Transform, Initiate, and Open, for a total of twenty-one forms. People once said, 'One martial art encompasses all.' That referred to Form Resonance's all-encompassing variety of techniques. Anqi, since you have already achieved the Stillwater Realm of Mind Resonance, your next step is to master Form Resonance and turn Honkai Energy into power upon your sword."

In the early morning before the sunrise, Fu Hua looked at the graceful young girl before her. Even her usually calm and rigid face could not help revealing a sincere smile.

She was glad that someone could still learn Taixu Sword Qi, and even more glad that Anqi could use it to alleviate the harm caused by Honkai Energy, so she would not wither away in the prime of her life.

Anqi raised her hand and spoke in a voice as clear as a bell.

"Master, I have a question!"

"Mm, go ahead."

"I've been reading materials on Shenzhou martial arts lately, and I keep seeing the concept of 'going astray.' Master said going astray means being controlled by Honkai Energy. So does our Sword Heart Incantation carry that risk? After all, ever since I formed my Sword Heart, both my control over Honkai Energy and my output limit have suddenly increased by a lot."

Anqi blinked innocently as she asked. In truth, she was probing for information about the aftereffects of Divine Sound.

So far, the Anqis had indeed discovered no problems in their training. Instead, they had benefited far beyond expectations in terms of output and control. But mental conditioning was seriously unsettling, so if possible, they still wanted to get a clear answer.

Fu Hua considered it for a moment.

"Your concern is justified. The path of cultivation is long and endless, and all kinds of problems can accumulate into an Inner Demon, creating cracks in the mind that allow the malice within Honkai Energy to exploit them. However, the Sword Heart Incantation has been refined by generations of Taixu inheritors and is now nearly perfect. In theory, as long as you cultivate your Sword Heart daily and keep your state of mind stable and clear, you will not be corrupted by Honkai Energy."

"Master, that's so vague!"

"Anqi, profound martial arts are like that. Many things can only be felt and overcome by yourself. If you know, you know. If you don't, you don't. They cannot be clearly described in words. Rather than dwelling on such questions, focus on training and reach a higher level as soon as possible. Looking at history, the higher one's realm, the less likely one is to be affected by Honkai Energy."

"So going astray only means being controlled by Honkai Energy? Are there other possibilities? For example, I feel like the further I cultivate this Sword Heart, the farther my mindset becomes from that of ordinary people. Could I eventually become something like a robot that doesn't understand emotions?"

Anqi pressed on, looking innocent and curious.

Fu Hua opened her mouth, but after a moment, no words came out.

Other forms of going astray. A robot without emotions—those descriptions had touched upon certain events in history. Though Fu Hua could not remember them completely, how could she have failed to investigate that human tragedy from five hundred years ago afterward?

In the end, Fu Hua sighed and replied,

"Don't worry. That won't happen."

"Really, Master?"

"Really. The problem you mentioned does exist. In the past, there were indeed predecessors who fell into an Inner Demon of 'slay all who fall to demonic ways.' But that issue has already been resolved. You won't encounter such danger. I guarantee it."

Fu Hua instinctively stroked Anqi's head. As an elder, she gazed at her gently, trying to ease Anqi's "unease."

So Master may have already resolved the hidden danger of Divine Sound and modified the Sword Heart Incantation because of it?

At the very least, she should be confident that we won't be troubled by 'slay all who fall to demonic ways.'

Come to think of it, aside from Kiana, isn't there Li Sushang too? She cultivated herself into a Sword Goddess, yet she still laughs and chats with Rulers. Cheng Lingshuang too—I've heard she went even farther than Master in Taixu Sword Qi, and she doesn't seem to have any problems either.

So perhaps there really is a solution. Maybe it isn't as dangerous as we imagined. Perhaps we can loosen up a little and put more effort into Taixu Sword Qi?

The Anqis had not received a completely definite answer, but they had gained some guesses. At least, they could set part of their worries aside.

However, Anqi soon had no time to think further. Fu Hua began teaching her the forms of Form Resonance, and she could only focus on memorizing and understanding them. Immersed in her training, Anqi gradually lost track of time.

Chapter 63: Wendy, Let's Get Ourselves a Box

Time passed unnoticed in cultivation. St. Freya Anqi had nothing else to worry about and only needed to focus on cultivating her state of mind and swordsmanship.

And once someone threw herself into striving, she often overlooked other things.

"I'm home~~"

On a night with a bright moon and sparse stars, Anqi pushed open the door, changed her shoes at the entrance, washed her hands and face, then went straight to the dining table.

Raiden Mei had just finished serving dinner and smiled at Anqi.

Then Anqi felt two incomparably resentful stares.

Kiana: "(?o 3o?) Stare~~"

Himeko: "( 'o︵o` ) Stare~~"

Anqi: "Himeko, Kiana, are your eyes sick?"

Anqi tilted her head and blinked with pure innocence.

Then Kiana and Himeko hugged each other and made a show of wiping away tears.

Kiana: "Himeko, Himeko, have we become women of the past?"

Himeko: "Yes, Kiana. Someone doesn't care about us at all anymore. She found a new love and forgot her old ones!"

With chopsticks in her mouth, Anqi looked blankly toward Bronya and Raiden Mei. Both shrugged in unison, indicating that they had no idea what was going on.

At that point, Kiana and Himeko's voices grew even more self-pitying.

Himeko: "Sigh, back then, she kept saying Himeko was her favorite and that she would make delicious food for Himeko every day!"

Kiana: "Yeah, yeah! She even put up a notice on the kitchen door to keep me from going in so she could claim the kitchen!"

Himeko: "But now she won't even spare me a glance during class. She only stares at her Master!"

Kiana: "Yeah, yeah! She doesn't even make lunchboxes for me anymore!"

Himeko & Kiana: "We're so pitiful, boohoohoo~~"

Anqi: "(￣□￣;)!"

Anqi's chopsticks fell onto the table. Her small mouth hung open, but she froze, not knowing how to react.

"Is... is it really that exaggerated?"

"Yes!"

"Do you know how much the quality of our meals has dropped lately!?"

Himeko and Kiana slapped the table and rose at the same time, loudly accusing her.

Of course, only Kiana kept focusing on the food.

For a lazy single-celled creature who had experienced the golden Anqi + Raiden Mei meal combo, dropping back down to the excellent standard of Raiden Mei's cooking alone was an unbearable gap.

Smack!

Raiden Mei smiled as she replaced her own chopsticks with an intact pair, then gently looked at Kiana.

Kiana froze for a moment, then broke out in cold sweat.

"Kiana, are you saying my cooking no longer satisfies you?"

"No! Absolutely not! My loyalty to Mei can be witnessed by the sun and moon! There cannot be two suns in the sky—Mei is my one and only sun!"

Kiana crossed her arms and declared solemnly and resolutely.

"Oh? Is that the truth?"

"Absolutely the truth! It's just that if Anqi helps out, Mei's food does become a tiny bit tastier, just a tiny bit, really only... ah!"

Kiana held up her thumb and index finger, desperately trying to show her unwavering loyalty, only for smiling Raiden Mei to "gently" grab her ear.

The "Protest Anqi Neglecting the Household for Training" alliance lost its greatest general, Kiana. She could only busy herself flattering the household chef now, with no time to concern herself with the alliance's grand cause.

Alliance leader Murata Himeko curled her lips, silently cursed that useless fool, then glared fiercely at Anqi.

"I'm not that weak and useless fool! Anqi, the crime of neglecting us just to be lovey-dovey with Fu Hua..."

"Himeko, if I pick up the sword, I can't cook for you. But if I put down the sword, I can't protect you!"

Anqi held Himeko's soft little hand. Her flawless crystalline purple eyes brimmed with affection.

Himeko's momentum was abruptly interrupted, and she stammered,

"Well, it doesn't have to be so..."

"Don't worry. Master is only Master. Himeko is the one I like best. Please endure it a little longer. This temporary time apart is for the sake of staying together forever in the future, Himeko!"

"You don't have to put it that way either. I just wanted to ask whether you could come home and cook once in a while. Meals are important, after all."

Himeko said awkwardly, trying to pull her hand back, but she could not free it from Anqi's grasp.

Oh no, this kid doesn't really have those kinds of thoughts, does she? I don't go for little girls... Ah, no, I mean I like men!

Under Anqi's sparkling, affectionate gaze, it was now the alliance leader's turn to break out in cold sweat.

"ξ+(? ? ?)+ξ Burp!"

Only Bronya continued eating the untouched dinner. After just a few bites, she somehow naturally let out a satisfied burp.

"Splash, splash~~"

At Schicksal's Oceania Branch, by the shore, the crimson sunset slowly sank beyond the horizon as waves rolled in.

Before such beautiful scenery, two wheelchairs sat quietly by the beach. Reclining in them were two adorable little girls wearing blissful expressions, each holding a thermos.

"Ah, this is the life~~" ×2

Wendy and Delta narrowed their eyes, drunkenly admiring the sunset over the sea.

Suddenly, Wendy sat up slightly, opened her thermos, poured herself some hot goji berry water, and said wistfully,

"Sigh, why didn't I discover how beautiful the sunset here was sooner? It feels like I wasted so many chances!"

"Relax. You just worked yourself way too hard before! Look at you—an A-rank Valkyrie at such a young age. Where would you have found time to enjoy life? You should learn from me. Take life as it comes. Being comfortable is what life is all about."

Delta did not move at all. Aside from glancing sideways at Wendy, she looked like an old salted fish that would still be salty no matter which way she was flipped.

Meanwhile, in places Wendy knew nothing about, more than a dozen Anqis were training and cultivating day and night without rest.

There were two ways to defeat competitors. One was to work yourself to death. The other was to persuade everyone else not to work hard, then work yourself to death. Clearly, the latter worked better.

Wendy dazedly sipped her goji berry tea, gazed at the scenery, felt the warm sea breeze against her body, then frowned.

"It is nice, but Delta, we're Valkyries! I can't help feeling guilty for being this decadent."

"Then why don't you go do a standard Valkyrie training routine right now?"

"...My legs are paralyzed!"

"Exactly. Mine are paralyzed too! The two of us are basically expendable material for this experiment. In a couple of days, we might end up living in one of those little square boxes, weighing less than two pounds with the box included. If we don't enjoy ourselves now, do you plan to enjoy yourself inside the box?"

Delta slowly traced the shape of a square coffin with her hands, speaking with dead-fish eyes.