Chapter 19: You Have Reset the Bonding Side Quest "Secret Maneuver"!
For two years, Ye Hui had grown accustomed to the system’s unreliability.
He wasn’t even sure if this cultivation practice was authentic to the celestial realm.
Could it be that he was cultivating a fake immortality?
Tomoyo couldn’t help but cover her mouth and chuckle softly. “Actually, it’s quite interesting even without special effects!”
Was that supposed to be comforting?
Ye Hui, who had not felt awkward before, suddenly found himself a little embarrassed.
Compared to the dazzling magical circles and radiant light effects that appeared during Sakura’s battles, the flying sword was indeed too plain—like a city dweller bumping into a country bumpkin right outside a five-star hotel…
Sakura noticed Ye Hui blinking repeatedly and hastily changed the subject.
Tomoyo then suggested designing Sakura’s pose when wielding her magic wand during battle!
Suddenly, Ye Hui raised his hands. “Um, please wait a moment…”
He went to a corner, returned with an electronic device, and began replacing its batteries.
Ye Hui shook his head. “Sigh, batteries these days really don’t last long!”
“Huh? Another camera?!”
Sakura’s eyes widened in surprise.
[Sakura Kinomoto’s Emotion +25]
A wave of embarrassment rose within her.
That morning, when Ye Hui mentioned that his battle had been recorded on camera, she had been paralyzed with shock.
Back in the classroom, Tomoyo mysteriously arrived early at school, saying she wanted to show her a video clip.
Twice now, the camera had caused Sakura social death.
She felt she was developing an allergic reaction to cameras!
“Don’t mind these details, young lady, please continue to demonstrate…”
Ye Hui waved his hand, indicating for her to proceed.
The awkward feeling returned once more.
If only she hadn’t changed the subject earlier…
This time, Sakura was a bit nervous. Looking at Ye Hui’s camera, she didn’t quite know where to put her hands!
“Relax, Sakura, be more natural!” Tomoyo quickly cheered her on.
Tears welled in Sakura’s eyes—Tomoyo was always the most considerate!
She turned around and saw—
∑(ΦдΦlll)?!
Tomoyo, why are you holding a camera too?!
…
Finally, class time arrived, and Sakura felt utterly drained…
On the way back to the classroom,
Ye Hui saw Tomoyo resting her chin on her hand, looking thoughtful, so he approached.
“Tomoyo, do you feel like something’s missing?”
“Ah, Ye Hui, you feel the same?”
Seeing Sakura still shuffling her feet, Ye Hui leaned closer to Tomoyo and whispered.
“Of course, it’s the outfit! Even I have prepared several sets of cultivation robes!”
That was something Ye Hui had prepared during his two years of boredom.
Since he knew the system was a cultivation game interface, he naturally planned ahead.
Unexpectedly, the so-called “Overseas Immortal Sect” was actually just Tomoeda Elementary School in an ordinary small town.
After becoming a disciple of the sect, naturally, Ye Hui wore the school uniform while “in the sect.”
Tomoyo’s eyes lit up. “Yes! I thought so!”
Somehow Kero had popped out from Tomoyo’s hat. “Clothes, indeed! How can a magician be without stylish clothes?”
Back in the day, the clothes Kero wore were more and more magnificent!
Sakura stopped in her tracks. “What clothes? Kero, why are you out again? Class is about to start…”
“Nothing… nothing…”
Kero quickly flew back into Sakura’s schoolbag.
“Thanks, Ye Hui, for providing the camera!”
At this moment, Tomoyo spoke again.
Indeed, Tomoyo hadn’t brought her own camera equipment during lunch today.
Luckily, Ye Hui sponsored it.
Otherwise, many wonderful memories would have gone unrecorded.
“Also thanks to Tomoyo for the photos that came with the camera. I didn’t expect your photography skills to be so exquisite—the Sakura in your pictures looks even cuter…”
“Let’s work hard together from now on; our resources complement each other!”
“Complement each other?” Tomoyo smiled. “Alright, let’s do our best together!”
[Tomoyo Daidouji’s Emotion +9]
[Your subversion journey is surprisingly smooth. You have obtained secret information about the Heavenly Spirit Root disciple, Sakura Kinomoto!]
[However, although Guardian Tomoyo mistakenly believes you are Sakura’s friend and is willing to share her information, she still holds back…]
[You have formed a fragile alliance. You have realized that Guardian Tomoyo’s attention toward Sakura is guarded. You pretend to become Sakura’s companion, but in truth, you plan to act first and seize her opportunity!]
[Ding! You have unlocked the affinity side quest—“A Secret Maneuver”! You have decided to preemptively seize the fleeing Immortal Talisman Sect’s spiritual treasure…]
“Another mission?”
...
School life in the Kingdom of Sakura was very relaxed.
In the afternoon, classes ended quite early.
Ye Hui secretly observed the elementary students leaving school.
Sure enough, many of their shadows were quietly changing…
It was the power of the Shadow Cards.
“Tsuneko, if I borrow the Clow Cards from Sakura, does that count as completing the mission?”
[Elements incomplete; Clow Cards not detected.]
Alright then!
This idiotic system shouldn’t be asked.
However, from the previous missions, Ye Hui gradually understood that this silly system’s mechanism was somewhat idealistic.
When it said “treasure,” it inevitably meant the Shadow Clow Cards.
He could easily help Sakura obtain the cards first and then return them.
Even if he succeeded in snatching them,
No matter how much effort he put in, the Clow Cards wouldn’t actively fly to him…
Yes.
Ye Hui had watched the anime and knew that when two people battled the Clow Cards simultaneously, after victory, the spoils belonged to the one who contributed most.
In the anime, the Clow Cards possessed their own intelligence and would pledge allegiance to the strongest.
Simply put, during the process of taming the Clow Cards, the person who put in the most effort would have the card fly to their side after victory.
But who the cards attached to wasn’t actually up to Clow himself…
Moreover, even if the card flew to his face, what good would that do?
If it recognized him as its master, it would be perfectly reasonable for him to pass the card on.
“Another free task!”
Ye Hui already thought of the perfect way to tackle the mission. Muttering to himself, he mounted his steed and left the school…
On the way, watching the shadows retreat in the sunset glow,
“School really is wonderful!”
Why hadn’t he felt this way before?
Every day had been busy at school.
In the end, his grades hadn’t improved much, and he had missed many beautiful sights.
After graduation, facing the scheming and deceit of society, Ye Hui finally realized how easygoing and pleasant life on campus had been.
The regrets of his past life were irreparable.
But in this life, Ye Hui had returned to school.
Though he was a little too young as an elementary student…
But who cared?
Ye Hui decided to savor this upcoming school life.
After dinner,
Ye Hui resumed grinding side profession experience, using materials from the real world to draw many talismans…
Though lacking spiritual energy materials, spiritual energy itself was a material; basic talismans were no trivial matter.
It was just that infusing ordinary talismans with spiritual energy like this didn’t last long…
Morning of April 12.
When Ye Hui arrived at school, he saw several elementary students gathered, watching something intently.
“Hmm, a Shadow Card prank?”
Ye Hui approached.
The children were discussing a strange incident.
Some said there might be a ghost haunting the school, others mentioned local legends and rumors…
Ye Hui raised an eyebrow. There were indeed many supernatural tales in this school.
“But is it really just the Shadow Cards playing pranks?”
Ye Hui still remembered the power of the Shadow Cards.
They could absorb the power of shadows, and when many shadows gathered, the Shadow Cards’ power increased.
Moreover, absorbing shadows didn’t harm people’s health, unlike in horror movies.
The students who had lost their shadows didn’t feel anything unusual either.