The "Mysterious Girl"

Chen Xiaoxia: "?"

Her expression froze, her mouth slightly agape, her gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Xiao Chun.

"... You activated Shining Form? When did that happen?"

"Just a few days ago, the day you discovered my magical power erupted... didn't I mention it?"

"You didn't say that!!!" Chen Xiaoxia shook Xiao Chun's shoulder, then continued, "No, it's you who didn't tell me!"

Xiao Chun thought about it carefully.

That seems to be true; she didn't explain in detail to Xiao Qiu and the others about activating her Shining Form after she returned.

The main concern was that Xiaoxia might overthink things at the time.

Later, this matter was mentioned briefly in the group chat, and Xiao Qiu even congratulated her.

However, that group was a three-person discussion group for the 'Shining Magical Girl Project,' and Chen Xiaoxia was not in it.

So...

"I'm so sorry, I forgot about it," Xiao Chun said apologetically to Chen Xiaoxia.

Chen Xiaoxia scratched her head and finally sighed, "Oh well, it's fine as long as it's activated. It doesn't matter who activates it first or last, there are still people here who haven't activated theirs yet."

Xiaoxia finished speaking, she glanced sideways at Xiao Bai.

What followed was a pillow attack from Xiao Bai.

"Pfft--!"

Xiao Bai used a cushion on the sofa as a throwing weapon, and it landed accurately on Chen Xiaoxia's face.

Chen Xiaoxia, who had been thrown back onto the sofa by a cushion, grabbed the cushion from her face and angrily scolded Xiao Bai:

"Hey!! What kind of maid throws a pillow at the young lady?!"

"Fool."

Xiao Bai didn't say anything, but just looked at Chen Xiaoxia with disdain, and then looked at Song Niandong in her arms.

With just one glance, Chen Xiaoxia immediately calmed down and sat back down in her original seat.

She seems to be speaking without thinking again.

Xiao Bai isn't the only one here who hasn't activated their Shining Form; Song Niandong is another example.

Although Song Niandong was a new member and Chen Xiaoxia wasn't very familiar with him yet, they were still teammates.

Compared to Xiao Bai, who was already powerful and had the 'Erosion Form' as a backup, Song Niandong was clearly the one more likely to be hurt by those words.

Thinking of this, Chen Xiaoxia once again gave up and silently sat back down in her original spot.

Fortunately, Song Niandong didn't seem to care much about it.

At least, her mind was still on the Sky Screen, and she seemed not to have heard what Chen Xiaoxia had just said.

Xiao Bai and Xiao Chun walked side by side.

There's not much scenery around here; it's not by a river, nor by a lake, and there's no park nearby.

It's just an ordinary street under the streetlights.

Because this residential area is quite old, some of the streetlights outside the complex have dimmed, making the street appear somewhat dark.

Xiao Bai and Xiao Chun were walking on this street, a street wide enough for five people to walk side by side, yet there was enough space between them for at least two people.

This sense of distance—a feeling that the relationship seems closer yet remains completely unchanged—is somewhat subtle.

But neither of them paid any attention.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, Xiao Chun finally said to Xiao Bai:

"I can't activate Shining Form."

The moment she opened her mouth, she had already decided her future.

Xiao Bai walked on her other side, her shadow constantly shifting between long and short under the lamplight. Looking at her changing shadow, Xiao Bai turned to Xiao Chun and asked:

Why would you say that?

"Ever since Xiao Qiu activated her Shining Form, I've been thinking about how to activate Shining Form, and then I discovered... there are three conditions for activating Shining Form."

"The first thing is that there needs to be a leader who activates the Shining Form first, like Xiao Qiu."

"The second requirement is having the qualifications to activate the Shining Form."

"Three..." Xiao Chun paused, took a deep breath, and whispered, "It requires an emotional outburst, an understanding of the true nature of Heart of Emotion ..."

After saying that, Xiao Chun stopped and turned to Xiao Bai, saying, "First of all, I don't know if I have the aptitude to activate the Shining Form. Secondly... I can't have an emotional outburst at all, so even if I have the aptitude, I can't activate the Shining Form."

"Didn't you say before that Xiao Qiu and Xiaoxia excluded me? I did think so, but... it's not that they rejected me, it's that I can't keep up with them, and I no longer have the right to stay by their side."

Xiao Chun's voice was low and her tone calm, as if she had already come to terms with the matter.

Chapter 133 'Mysterious Girl'

Xiao Chun believes she has no chance of activating her Shining Form because her emotions have remained quite stable throughout.

But to activate the Shining Form, an emotional outburst is required.

Although it's not crucial, it is one of the conditions. In addition, Xiao Chun herself is not sure if she has the aptitude to activate the Shining Form, so... she feels that she can't keep up with Xiao Qiu and Xiaoxia.

Are you planning to give up?

Xiao Bai asked.

Xiao Chun didn't respond for a moment, and the two continued walking quietly forward, their footsteps echoing through the empty street.

After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Chun said slowly:

"Giving up... I wouldn't say that. At least for now, I can still stay by their side."

After she finished speaking, she smiled and said, "Actually, it's okay even if I can't stay in the team in the future. After all, from the very beginning... I only became Magical Girls to help them overcome their difficulties. In reality..."

In reality, Xiao Chun herself doesn't have a strong Desire to become Magical Girls.

She only became Magical Girls to help others, nothing more.

But this is precisely Xiao Chun's own gentleness.

That being said, Xiao Chun must still feel somewhat resentful about not being able to catch up with her companions.

Just like Chen Xiaoxia.

Hearing this, Xiao Bai stopped in her tracks. She seemed to be thinking about something, and after a while, Xiao Bai asked Xiao Chun:

"Do you need... my help?"

"Huh?"

"Although I don't know how to activate Shining Form, I at least know how to become stronger. If you don't mind, I can find time to train with you in the future to improve our basic strength."

Xiao Bai said it casually.

Xiao Chun stared at her blankly, then suddenly said, "You didn't say that when you were in Rock City. Did you never want us to fight the Demons?"

"Although I don't want to, I can't stop the Demons from fighting you. Since you will eventually have to fight the Demons, you might as well improve your strength, so as not to... embarrass Blue Star in the future."

"... You're worried about us, aren't you?"

Xiao Chun immediately understood what Xiao Bai really wanted to say.

But Xiao Bai didn't give a direct answer; she simply pressed, "So what's your decision?"

"I..." Xiao Chun hesitated, "I'm not sure if doing this will work."

"..."

"But... I want to give it a try."

Xiao Chun raised her head, her emerald green eyes meeting Xiao Bai's crimson pupils, her expression serious.

Regardless of whether Xiaochun will fall behind Xiao Qiu and Xiaoxia in the end, Xiao Chun wants to give it her all.

That way, even if Xiao Chun can't catch up with the two in the future, she won't have anything to regret.

At least, she tried.

The thoughts Xiao Chun had on the Sky Screen were actually things that Xiao Chun herself had in real life.

That was before the Sky Screen appeared, and at that time her feeling wasn't particularly strong.

Then the Sky Screen appeared, Sky Screen presence captivated everyone's attention, making Xiao Chun's feelings about it even less intense.

After the start of the second season, knowing that she could activate her Shining Form, Xiao Chun no longer felt like she would be left behind.

She knew that she would definitely be able to unlock her Shining Form in the future, and she also knew how to unlock Shining Form. All she needed to do was find a suitable opportunity to do Shining Form.

With the right methods and knowledge of the future, Xiao Chun will certainly not become the Xiao Chun depicted on the Sky Screen.

However, Xiao Bai on the Sky Screen is also changing.

Xiao Chun gazed at the Xiao Bai on the Sky Screen, then turned to look at the Xiao Bai watching the movie next to Song Niandong.

In reality, Xiao Bai's mindset had long since changed due to the existence of the Sky Screen. She no longer treated Xiao Qiu and the others as children and began to seriously think of ways to nurture them.

Xiao Bai in the Sky Screen, though still detached, at least no longer says things like "this is not your battle" as forcefully as before.

Perhaps... even the Xiao Bai in the Sky Screen knows that it cannot contend with the Demons on its own.

Xiao Bai could understand the predicament of the Xiao Bai on the Sky Screen.

The conversion rate of skills into magic power is very low, perhaps because magic power belongs to the realm of mysticism. Ordinary skills require countless attempts to advance the magic power skill progress bar.

Take Xiao Bai for example. Even after practicing his skills diligently for so many days, his magic power at level 3 is only barely a little over 100.

Although, according to the magic power level conversion, Xiao Bai's magic power is now around 1200, which is already much stronger than that of ordinary Magical Girls.

However, once the Magical Girls activate their Shining Form, Xiao Bai's strength instantly drops to the lowest level.

To become a true 'bottom of the class'.

Although Xiao Bai's basic strength wasn't very strong from the beginning, and he was able to win in the early stages entirely because of his rich combat experience, the further he progressed, the harder it became for his skills to bridge the gap in strength.

The Xiao Bai is actually a bit impatient right now, otherwise he wouldn't be in such a hurry to activate the Erosion Form.

The Xiao Bai on the Sky Screen is probably like that too.

She no longer believed she could withstand everything; she feared that one day she would die in front of these Magical Girls.

Fearing that the Magical Girls she protected would be unable to protect her after her death, she decided to strengthen their abilities.

Xiao Bai could even imagine that the time when he, on the Sky Screen, had this thought was after he saw Chen Xiaoxia awaken her Shining Form.

It was probably around that time that Xiao Bai had a similar idea to Xiao Chun.

The sparring with Xiao Chun was not only to train Xiao Chun, but also to hone my own skills.

After making a promise with Xiao Chun that they would battle frequently to improve their combat experience, Xiao Bai and Xiao Chun parted ways.

Before leaving, Xiao Chun asked Xiao Bai:

"Aren't you going to investigate at Xiao Qiu's house?"

"It's unnecessary."

Xiao Bai said succinctly.

She didn't explain why it was "unnecessary," and like always, Xiao Bai remained mysterious. After saying those words, she also mysteriously disappeared from Xiao Chun's side.

Xiao Chun, who was initially somewhat hostile towards Xiao Bai because of Fang Ming, suddenly felt that Xiao Bai was actually quite nice.

After parting ways with Xiao Bai, Xiao Chun headed towards Yu Muqiu's house.

Although she had only stumbled upon Yu Muqiu's house by chance, Xiao Chun still wanted to see Fang Ming.

One is that Xiao Chun likes Fang Ming, and now it's gotten to the point where they need to see each other every now and then to ease their longing.

Another thing Xiao Chun really wanted to know was the true nature of the relationship between Fang Ming and Xiao Bai.

Xiao Chun still suspected that Fang Ming and Xiao Bai had a secret, intimate relationship.

Otherwise... how could such a private sound possibly be in Fang Ming's backpack?

However, even though she said that, when she actually stood in front of Yu Muqiu's house, Xiao Chun had some reservations.

In the past, when Xiaochun came to Xiao Qiu's house, Xiao Chun always accompanied Yu Muqiu and Chen Xiaoxia; she had never come alone before.