A First Look at Superpowers

Qiu Wuji's way of taking Chu Ge and Moon Shadow out of there certainly did not involve riding the elevator.

Everyone knew that trying to escape by elevator would be a joke. They had only gone inside to mislead the others into focusing on the elevator, when in fact they were never going to use it.

Her method was rather more advanced. Most people would never think of it, and even if they did, they could not stop her.

It was called instantaneous movement, or teleportation. A soul that could cross between worlds really was that formidable.

But teleporting with two people was more than she could handle in her current state. She barely managed to move them outside the Divine Miracle Nightclub, stopping in the alley beside it.

That was why she had needed a diversion: she did not want the others to find them too quickly. Qiu Wuji was not afraid of an actual confrontation, but Chu Ge would probably never have a peaceful day again.

The other side did not seem to have fallen for it, though they had not come out searching, either.

Seeing Qiu Wuji stagger slightly as she landed, Chu Ge hurried to steady her. "Are you all right?"

Qiu Wuji glanced at the arm he was holding and said nothing about it. "I'm fine. That was my maximum range, and bringing two people was a little strenuous. Go flag down a taxi at the end of the alley. I'll help this young lady over and follow you."

After catching her breath, Qiu Wuji really did seem fine, so Chu Ge said no more and hurried out to hail a taxi.

Moon Shadow leaned against Qiu Wuji's other shoulder, quietly watching their exchange. From beginning to end, these two had only spoken to each other. Neither had even glanced at her.

Chu Ge had stolen looks at her before, too. She knew what lay behind a man's gaze. But now he seemed to have changed, as though he were a different person... That other person had changed, too.

She silently let Qiu Wuji help her toward the end of the alley. Only after a long while did she murmur, "Thank you."

Qiu Wuji glanced at her. "Do you always talk this little?"

Moon Shadow paused, then closed her mouth without answering.

Getting her to speak at all was already something. She was not used to talking to people.

"No wonder someone with such a powerful ability ended up like this. You were taken in." A seasoned veteran like Qiu Wuji could guess most of the twists and turns at a glance. She wanted to make a few cutting remarks, but held them back when she remembered how often Chu Ge had fooled her, too. What good was experience when you faced a completely unfamiliar world and knew nothing about it...?

When this girl had first awakened her ability, she had effectively entered a new world herself. There really was not much difference.

Unfortunately, she had not met someone like Chu Ge-"I'll treat you with goodwill." Though what that goodwill ultimately meant remained open to debate...

Qiu Wuji sighed. "Take off the mask. Are you planning to get into a taxi like that?"

Moon Shadow looked up. Beyond the alley, Chu Ge had already found a taxi. He seemed to be considering coming back to help support her, but hesitated.

She answered softly, "There's blood all over my face under the mask. That would look even worse."

"What's difficult about that?" Qiu Wuji waved a hand. Moon Shadow's mask fell away, and at the same instant, the horrifying bloodstains on her face vanished. She looked as clean as if she had just washed her face. Even the bloodstains on her clothes were gone. Only her pale complexion and bloodless lips remained as proof of how serious her injuries had been.

Moon Shadow was stunned.

She had thought this woman possessed a terrifying spatial ability. That day, she had silently made the Wall-Passer appear outside in the landscaped grounds, and today she had teleported them. Both incidents proved it.

But what was this instant cleaning? A water-control ability?

Did she have multiple abilities?

Why had she never heard of anything like that? Wasn't it supposed to be impossible, with abilities only evolving within the same category at most?

What was going on?

Moon Shadow climbed into the taxi in a daze. Listening to Chu Ge give the driver the name of their residential complex from the front passenger seat, she felt as though none of this was quite real.

Suddenly, police sirens sounded in the distance.

Chu Ge whipped his head around and watched from afar as police cars turned onto the street where the Divine Miracle Nightclub stood.

Had the police discovered something wrong there?

The taxi rounded a corner, and whatever was unfolding over there disappeared from view.

Police intervention was the best possible outcome. A place that hurt people like that should never have existed.

"If my analysis is correct, the Wall-Passer never had time to report back. That means they still don't actually know where you live. How did you manage that?"

Once they were home, Qiu Wuji brought Moon Shadow over to sit on the sofa and chat. Watching Sect Master Qiu hold the girl's hand with an indulgent, auntie-like expression, Chu Ge remained deadpan.

Earlier, you were planning to drive her away yourself and wipe her memory... Isn't this kindly old-lady act a little out of character?

As though sensing his unspoken criticism, Qiu Wuji turned and glared at him. "Shoo, shoo. A girl can't talk comfortably with you standing there."

Chu Ge backed down. "I'll take a shower."

If girls can't talk comfortably, go hide in the girl's room! Why does the man have to leave? I'm shaking with outrage!

Moon Shadow stole a glance at Chu Ge as he carried his pajamas into the bathroom and shut the door. Only then did she say softly, "Whenever I leave, I merge into the shadows and travel that way for a while. I only come out and go home after making sure no one's following me."

"Why not stay hidden in the shadows the whole way?" Then certain lechers wouldn't see you coming home at midnight and get to ogle you.

Moon Shadow said quietly, "I... My ability isn't strong enough. I can't."

Qiu Wuji looked her up and down. Moon Shadow felt as though an arrow had pierced deep into her soul and laid her bare from head to toe.

What kind of ability was this now?

"Even I can't control shadows the way you do. It's an extremely powerful gift, with limitless potential." As Qiu Wuji considered it, she found herself drawn to the girl's talent. Ultimately, she still thought like a sect master. She kept feeling that having someone like this in her sect, so everyone could study this shadow method together, would be rather nice...

Unfortunately, the girl probably could not enter that world.

"How did you acquire this ability?"

"I don't know... When I was little, I had no one to play with, so I often talked to shadows. Gradually, I realized they seemed to understand me..."

Chu Ge suddenly called from the bathroom, "What year did it start?"

Moon Shadow stopped speaking.

Qiu Wuji grabbed a cushion and hurled it at the bathroom. "Just take your shower! Is this the time to ask what year it was?"

Chu Ge backed down again.

Moon Shadow listened to the rush of water in the bathroom. After a long while, she said softly, "Three or four years ago, I think. I don't remember exactly."

Qiu Wuji asked gently, "Why were you talking to shadows all by yourself? What about your family and friends?"

Moon Shadow did not answer that question.

Silence filled the room.

Inside the bathroom, Chu Ge felt his mood sink, too. A little girl with no one to talk to, speaking to shadows all alone... The story behind that was rather sad, and it was not something they should pry into.

After quite some time, Moon Shadow said softly, "Thank you both for saving me. I... I'll move out right away, so I won't cause you trouble."

"If they don't even know you live here, there's no trouble to speak of." Qiu Wuji said coolly, "Who could make trouble for someone I choose to protect?"

Chu Ge: "..."

Whatever. The police have gotten involved, so things should be fine...

But why are you so determined to keep her living here? Moving out isn't such a big deal.

Before long, he heard Qiu Wuji say, "Because I'm very interested in your ability. I want to know whether it can be learned or taught to others."

As expected.

Moon Shadow said, "But I really don't know where this ability came from."

Qiu Wuji asked, "Then how do you train it?"

"I don't know... All I know is that fighting people gradually made me stronger. My shadows couldn't hurt anyone before, but eventually they could."

"Does repeatedly practicing your control in your spare time help?"

"Yes, but it's slow. Fighting is the fastest."

Qiu Wuji nodded slightly. In the end, this was still a form of mental power, and the mind could be strengthened through repeated training. As for combat, that simply meant progress came faster under pressure. There was nothing especially unusual about that.

But the way her power had first emerged was very unusual, almost impossible to reproduce.

"No wonder you went into underground boxing... Though it's rather odd that you weren't tricked into becoming a bodyguard or an assassin."

Moon Shadow shook her head. "I don't trust them, and I don't want to take orders. Getting paid according to how many matches I win is fair and square."

She paused, then added, "I don't trust anyone."

Qiu Wuji looked into her eyes and knew this was a deeply withdrawn girl, with thick walls around her heart. She trusted only the shadows around her.

She had said so much today only because they had saved her life. It did not mean she readily trusted them. In fact, after coming so close to death today, she ought to trust people even less.

This girl's situation really was tragic. She thought being paid according to her wins was fair and square, but someone there was definitely skimming her earnings. Otherwise, why would people risk their lives in underground boxing? The pay had to be substantial, yet she did not seem to have much money at all.

If she could be cheated even over that, whom could she trust?

Seemingly hearing the shower stop and realizing Chu Ge was about to come out, Moon Shadow finally rose to her feet and said calmly, "I can't go back to boxing, either... If you want to explore my ability, you can come find me anytime, sis. I won't disturb you and your husband..."

Those words drove every other thought out of Qiu Wuji's head. Her voice shot up an octave. "Who said we're married!"

"Yes, I understand." Moon Shadow bowed and backed out the door.

Qiu Wuji: "?"

What exactly do you understand?

(End of chapter)