Chapter 21: Am I turning into Tomoyo?

What?
Ye Hui was startled.
Tomoyo wants to design clothes for him?
What kind of plot development is this...
Ye Hui thought of the costumes Tomoyo prepared for Sakura in the anime, then pictured the ethereal, fairy-like outfits from xianxia games...
These seem like two completely different styles!
However, Tomoyo had indeed designed Chinese-style clothing before, such as qipao, which she had worn herself...
But whenever Ye Hui thought about it, he couldn't help but imagine himself wearing the magical girl outfits Tomoyo designed, and his mouth twitched.
He hurriedly waved his hands: "I am a disciple of the Immortal Sect, and I have sect uniforms. I'll wear them to show you next time, so there's no need for that, thank you for your kindness..."
Tomoyo felt regretful and turned to Kero.
"I've prepared clothes for Kero, too!"
Kero’s appearance is that of a plush toy; he doesn't need to be wrapped in clothes at all.
Plus, not knowing what Kero liked, Tomoyo had simply prepared a bowtie for him.
"It’s a matching set with Sakura’s. Isn't it cute?"
Kero was surprised that he actually had clothes to wear and couldn't help but act coyly, just like Sakura.
After the group changed into their clothes, they entered the school.
Just then, a strange noise erupted from within the school grounds.
A statue suddenly flew out from the building, floating in the air, and smashed toward them.
However, the movement was so straightforward that even Tomoyo could easily dodge it.
"Bang!"
The statue hit the ground and shattered into pieces!
Seeing that Tomoyo and Sakura had dodged in time without even needing to activate the Vajra Talismans he had given them, Ye Hui spoke up.
"Sakura, don't be afraid. This card is related to shadows and can control giant stones; that’s quite normal."
Upon seeing the Clow Card's method of attack, Kero immediately shouted: "Sakura, it's the Shadow card! Watch out for your own shadow!"
Sakura began to fight.
Remembering his mission, Ye Hui followed closely behind.
As he passed Tomoyo, he instructed, "Don't just film Sakura; make sure to capture my heroic fighting posture as well, Tomoyo..."
As he spoke, Ye Hui flipped his hand and took a talisman from his bag.
"Binding Talisman, go!"
This was a basic talisman, one of several he had drawn just last night in anticipation of today's battle.
Although it was basic, it could immobilize a target for a short moment.
Of course, the opponent was a Clow Card after all.
If the talisman paper proved ineffective, he had also prepared a primary "Spirit-Stilling Talisman," which could disrupt the target's mind and cause a moment of confusion—truly impossible to guard against.
"Swish!"
The Binding Talisman struck the shadow, and a light-shadow shroud descended.
The shadow’s movements became rigid.
"It worked!"
"Go for it, Sakura!"
Ye Hui did not steal the spotlight.
Under Sakura’s wand, a transparent card appeared out of thin air, and a massive suction force pulled the shadow in...
However, no Clow Card dropped.
"Eh? Where’s the Clow Card?"
Sakura was confused.

Kero warned: "Be careful, that must be a shadow clone. Its true body is not here..."
Shadows were constantly gathering toward Sakura from all around.
A massive, shadowy monster began to take shape.
"It can make clones?"
Sakura widened her eyes and, utilizing the two cards in her hand, began to struggle against the Shadow card.
"Shadows... does that mean I should go turn on all the school lights?"
Just as Tomoyo was about to make a call to have the power turned on, suddenly, the sky shone with brilliant light!
"Sakura, now is your chance!"
This was the Golden Light Talisman Ye Hui had prepared, a talisman that imitated the basic Golden Light Mantra from the talisman arts system.
With the golden light shining, the Shadow card was not only largely depleted but even suppressed to the point where it couldn't move.
"Good opportunity!" Kero yelled.
Sakura immediately ran over and raised her wand.
"Return to your original form, Clow Card!"
"Ding!"
With a crisp sound, the light converged.
The remaining shadows on the ground were sucked into a transparent card.
Finally, Sakura successfully sealed the Shadow card.
A card drifted down from the air...
However, it landed right in front of Ye Hui.
"Huh?"
Ye Hui was also surprised.
He had prepared to just coast along, intending to pick up the card after Sakura sealed it to complete a mission.
Unexpectedly, the card had flown to him on its own.
"Eh? How did this happen?"
Sakura was also stunned.
Kero flapped his wings and flew over, frowning: "Maybe it’s because he contributed more during the sealing process... The Clow Card chose him."
Sakura nodded upon hearing this, feeling nothing special.
To her, it didn't matter at all who took the card.
What mattered was sealing these cards that could potentially cause harm!
Ye Hui reached out and took the card in his hand.
[Ding, you have completed the affinity mission — "Crossing the Sea by a Stratagem"! ]
[You disguised yourself as Sakura Kinomoto's friend and explored the secret realm with her and her guardian, Tomoyo Daidouji.]
[At a critical moment, you placed Tomoyo and Sakura in front of you, letting them face the danger while you, the fisherman, reaped the rewards, striking first to seize the secret treasure of the Immortal Talisman Sect.]
[You have acquired the skill — "Shadow Control"! By consuming spiritual power, you can begin to control shadows!]
"System, does this count as completing the mission?"
[Verification complete, the host has completed the mission.]
So it really could be done this way.
Ye Hui had clearly only participated in the battle, and all he had spent were two ordinary, basic talismans.
And yet, he had successfully "snatched" the opportunity?
Ye Hui walked over with the card.
"Here you go, Sakura, this is yours..."
"Eh? Ye Hui, don't you want this Clow Card?"
[Sakura Kinomoto's emotion points +5]
Ye Hui waved his hand: "I’m a cultivator, I don't need these paper cards—but if I need to in the future, could I borrow these cards from you for research purposes?"
Sakura nodded and agreed immediately.
Kero, however, jumped out at this moment.
"Kid, once the card has Sakura's name written on it, even if you want to borrow it, Sakura just has to call it and the card will return to her. You won't be able to use it anyway..."
Ye Hui raised an eyebrow: "Kero, are you testing me?"
Tomoyo walked over with her camera: "Is there something wrong?"
"As far as I know, writing a name on a card only marks the owner, but with the owner's authorization, a card with a name written on it can also be lent to others to use..."
Kero’s eyes widened as he jumped around: "How do you know so much? You don't look like an amateur at all!"
"Don't underestimate my information network. I once spent two years and a large sum of money inquiring about magic..."
Ye Hui said loudly.
Then, he turned his head: "Tomoyo, how was the filming? Did I look righteous and imposing?"
Tomoyo smiled and nodded: "Yes, very cool!"
[Tomoyo Daidouji's emotion points +12]
After getting the card, Sakura wanted to head home quickly.
She had snuck out.
"Bye-bye, take care on your way!"
Sakura waved goodbye to Ye Hui and Tomoyo.
Ye Hui rode his bicycle, waved his hand, and sped away...
Kero lay on Sakura’s shoulder, watching Ye Hui's retreating back, let out a soft huff, and then muttered to himself.
"It seems this guy will be a pretty good partner for Sakura in the future..."
An adventure for a magician wouldn't be too monotonous without a partner, right?
Although it’s just a shame that this partner’s tongue can be quite unlikeable at times.
[Cerberus's emotion points +8]
...
Back home, Ye Hui lay in the large bathtub, soaking blissfully.
"System, show me the logs from just now!"
[Ding, you have completed the side mission — "Going Against the Current"! Successfully guided the Heavenly Spirit Root disciple, Sakura Kinomoto, to perform an act of chivalry, shaking her stance on the meaning of cultivation!]
[You have obtained an Artifact Refining Notebook x1! You read this notebook left behind by an outer disciple during their chivalrous deeds and seem to have gained some insight...]
[You have comprehended the notebook and successfully unlocked the sub-profession "Artifact Refiner"! You have acquired the skill "Basic Forging"! Unlocked basic forging blueprints...]
After saying goodbye to Sakura, the adventure was over.
Only then did he have time to check the details.
"Forging? An Artifact Refiner?"
Ye Hui was overjoyed.
In cultivation games, pills and equipment are essential items in every player's inventory.
Talisman arts can be replaced by a wide variety of skills, and spiritual meals can be replaced by potions and pills...
Talisman arts and spiritual meals are sometimes considered props because their effects are too slow.
Unlike pills and equipment, which are internal and external respectively, players can use them at any time, equip them with one click, and have them take effect immediately!
"Does an Artifact Refiner’s forging skill seem just like Tomoyo—designing clothes personally?"
Thinking of the various outfits in the cultivation game—some flashy, some luxurious, some ethereal, some minimalist...
"The future is promising, truly promising!"
As Ye Hui thought about this, his expression suddenly turned strange.
Talismans and flying swords—the same setup as Syaoran Li.
But now?
Photography, designing clothes...
The same skill tree as Tomoyo.
Am I about to switch classes to become Tomoyo?