"Who are you?"
Mo Xi questioned sharply, while secretly sizing the other party up. Her heart was filled with shock. 'A little girl in a kimono? I actually didn't notice her get close at all. More importantly, she also saw that I'm not an Ability User?'
Seeing the other party's wary expression, Sparkle only revealed a sweet smile and said as she hopped around: "Oh my, don't be so nervous, cutie. If Sparkle really had bad intentions, I would have made a move long ago! Right?"
Sparkle came before Mo Xi's eyes, held up a peace sign, and gave a cute wink! (๑＞＜๑）
Mo Xi was not blinded by that cute appearance. To be able to see through her identity as a Cultivator at a glance, just like Acheron, she must be at least on the same level as Acheron. At the very least, she was a powerful enemy not on her own level. However, what this girl calling herself Sparkle said was not without reason.
So Mo Xi returned to her usual appearance, though her eyes remained wary. She asked flatly, "Is that so? Then who are you, and why did you come looking for me?"
"What do you mean why? Sparkle was just fishing here. You're the ones who suddenly appeared, okay?"
Mo Xi 눈_눈: ...She stared at Sparkle's beautiful face, then turned around and said, "In that case, I won't disturb you further. Goodbye."
However, just as Mo Xi turned around, she found that Sparkle had appeared behind her at some unknown point. Mo Xi immediately lowered her head, scrutinizing the other party at close range. "Just what do you want to do?"
Hearing this, Sparkle approached familiarly to observe, and even reached out to feel around here and there. "Hehe, don't be so boring. This is the first time Sparkle has met someone who isn't an Ability User but possesses such power. Could you tell Sparkle about your identity or something? Please, I'm begging you!"
Sparkle shamelessly acted cute, widening her watery eyes as she looked at her expectantly. ✪ω✪
Seeing this, Mo Xi's whole body shuddered, and she couldn't help but take a few steps back. She completely couldn't understand what this little loli in front of her wanted to do. She clearly had strength far exceeding her own, yet she was here playing around with her? But just as she was about to refuse sternly again, Sparkle spoke up once more.
"Hehe, how about this? Let's make a fair trade. I can tell you some information about Acheron."
Upon hearing this, the words Mo Xi hadn't yet spoken were swallowed directly back into her stomach. Her eyes widened as she stared intently at the petite figure before her. At the same time, she assumed a stance again. 'Is this little girl here for Sister Acheron? Is it for revenge or some other purpose?'
As if seeing through Mo Xi's thoughts, Sparkle spread her hands and said, "Please, Sparkle isn't some boring person. And if it were really as you thought, wouldn't it be better for Lord Sparkle to just kidnap you? Wait... that actually sounds pretty good! Hehehe!"
Seeing the little loli she was watching suddenly reveal a morbid smile, Mo Xi couldn't help but feel a strange sense of panic. But she had to admit that Sparkle had a point. So she questioned her again, "You know Acheron? Are you friend or foe?"
Clearly, Mo Xi was the one at a disadvantage, yet it was Sparkle who was being constantly questioned. Just like Mo Xi's height of 1.7 meters, she completely towered over Sparkle, a 1.4-meter little loli. If there were bystanders present, they might think that someone in the world was actually bullying such a cute little loli.
Sparkle also cooperated by putting on a pitiful little expression, even trying to rub out two drops of tears with her small hands. That vivid appearance made it impossible to tell it was an act. At the same time, her voice sounded pathetic as she said: "Ugh, Sparkle is so cute, why is Big Sister being so mean?" ┭┮﹏┭┮
Mo Xi: (●—●)
Even having lived two lives, Mo Xi almost couldn't hold it together. Mo Xi felt like her brain wasn't enough to keep up. She actually saw a few traces of her own sister in Sparkle's pitiful appearance. And now, in the words of her younger sister little Xin... this Sparkle was simply a proper—little brat.
Feeling Sparkle's expectant gaze, Mo Xi sighed deeply. "I can exchange information, but you have to give some information first to show your sincerity, and answer my previous question—do you know Acheron?"
Mo Xi proposed her conditions; she naturally wouldn't be easily moved by Sparkle's soft and cute gaze. After all, Mo Xi had been a master of this trick since she was a child and was long since used to it. What she really cared about was Sister Acheron's unmentioned past. However, even if Sparkle was unwilling to disclose anything, Mo Xi felt it didn't matter.
"Big Sister is so cunning! Are you trying to get Sparkle for free? But... Sparkle doesn't hate it!" (｡･ω･｡)ﾉ♡
Unsurprisingly, Sparkle agreed without any hesitation. Her purpose for appearing, besides really wanting to understand that secret which was different from Supernatural Abilities... On the other hand... hehehe, wanting to be a mysterious "Galaxy Ranger" like Acheron and stay out of things?
'Since we're all on the same side, let Sparkle share a little secret of the big sister with the good little sister! I'm really curious what kind of expression you'll make in a bit, cutie!'
Sparkle's smile grew more brilliant, but that hint of excitement made a chill run down Mo Xi's back. She inexplicably felt like she shouldn't have agreed. But things had come to this, and she could only brace herself and move forward.
"Then first, please state your purpose and identity."
"Eh, Big Sister is so cunning, that's clearly two questions."
However, Mo Xi smiled as if it were only natural. "little sister, I didn't say it was only one question just now."
Hearing this, Sparkle playfully poked her lower lip with her index finger. "Hmm, as for identity... you probably haven't heard of the 'Tavern' in this world either. You can call me Sparkle, or a 'Masked Fool'."
Saying that, Sparkle carelessly tilted her head, showing Mo Xi the fox mask on top of her head. "As for the purpose? Hehe, it's definitely something super interesting, isn't it?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Sparkle excitedly raised her small hands, her face blooming with a smile that was both excited and carried an unknown mystery. Mo Xi stood quietly to the side, her gaze like a torch as she stared at this little loli who seemed to be "going crazy."
Although she was very calm on the surface, a hint of unease faintly rose in her heart. She didn't know the identity Sparkle mentioned, and as for the purpose... the reason was clearly so absurd it was laughable, but her intuition told her that this girl seemed to be serious. That originally playful and cute smile now turned into a devil's smile in her eyes, both tempting and dangerous.
'This girl... it's better to avoid contact with her as much as possible in the future.'
Sparkle returned to normal in the blink of an eye, then grabbed Mo Xi's arm tightly, saying with a bit of joy in her voice, "Hehe, Big Sister, now it's your turn~"
Mo Xi had no time to pay attention to that tingling voice. After trying a few times and finding she couldn't break free, she also gave up resistance. Next, she also truthfully revealed her identity as a Cultivator. Even if the other party knew, they didn't have the cultivation techniques. Moreover, with Sparkle's ability, she should simply be curious.
And the facts were indeed as Mo Xi thought. After getting the answer she wanted, Sparkle immediately showed an incredulous little expression. "In the universe, there really are all sorts of wonders! I didn't expect that Cultivators from storybooks and novels actually exist."
This made Sparkle even more curious as she began to feel Mo Xi up and down. Although Mo Xi pushed the little loli's head down with one hand, the tips of her ears also turned red uncontrollably. However, after a few rounds of conversation, Mo Xi clearly noticed the details in Sparkle's words.
'Is this girl, like Master, not a person of this world? Or someone from beyond the universe—an alien?'
But she didn't forget the main business. "I've already told you, you should also fulfill the agreement."
Sparkle, who didn't get her way, puffed out her lips and said indignantly, "We're both girls, since you won't let me touch you, then fine... hmm?!!"
Halfway through her sentence, Sparkle's expression froze for a moment, then she immediately returned to normal. But this detail didn't escape Mo Xi's eyes. "What? Are you going to go back on your word?"
"Is Lord Sparkle so lowly in your eyes? Hmph, Acheron... well, I wouldn't call it knowing her, we just happened to cross paths once, and she's simply terrifyingly strong."
Saying that, Sparkle crossed her arms, her petite body trembling slightly. "But, her past? Hehe... no one knows about that."
"What? Are you playing with me!" Hearing this result, Mo Xi was instantly furious, feeling as if she had been toyed with.
Seeing this, Sparkle also gave a playful smile. "Big Sister, I never said I knew everything about Acheron's past."
Sparkle used the same tone and same expression to return the trick Mo Xi had just used on her. But Mo Xi had no way to deal with Sparkle and could only suffer this loss in silence. And Sparkle seemed to have long since seen through Mo Xi's thoughts, puffing out her small chest and assuming that classic little brat posture, her eyes flashing with a cunning light.
"Oh my, Big Sister isn't angry, is she? Sparkle didn't lie. Acheron's past? No one knows... even she herself might not be clear on it~"
The anger on Mo Xi's face stalled, and she had to admit in her heart that Sparkle's explanation was very reasonable.
"Well, time is running out. I'll tell you one last bit." Saying that, Sparkle walked slowly towards Mo Xi again. But the latter hadn't reacted at all.
"What do you mean there's no time..."
"Acheron's identity? I'll give you a simple answer. She is... an Emanator who 'should not exist'."
Then, before Mo Xi could ask further, she subconsciously looked down, and the two of them instantly met eyes. Brilliant cherry blossom pupils were reflected in Mo Xi's eyes. At this moment, Mo Xi suddenly found the surrounding scene to be dreamlike, as if she were in a brilliant and colorful dream, where countless colors intertwined to form a world of flowing light and vibrant colors.
She could only see Sparkle flash a smile, then gently stand on her tiptoes and raise her fair, jade-like little hand.
Tap!
With a crisp flick to the forehead, Mo Xi's body instantly fell backward uncontrollably, and her eyelids grew heavier and heavier. In her final moments of consciousness, a clear sentence reached her ears: "Looking forward to meeting you again in the future..."
"...Ah!?"
Mo Xi, who was leaning against the wall, suddenly snapped her eyes open. She then realized that she had actually fallen asleep by the roadside. Following that, Mo Xi looked around in confusion. Everything in the surrounding scene was as usual, but all the memories from just now were incredibly clear.
So, she directly pulled her phone out of her pocket and took a look. The time was exactly about five minutes after Acheron had just left.
"This doesn't match the time in my memory at all... Is it the time I just met Sparkle? Or was it all just a dream?" Just as Mo Xi was about to convince herself, she hurriedly shook her head and countered, "No, no, even if it was a dream, how could I have fallen asleep for no reason?"
After thinking of the key to the problem, she suddenly found that there was a new friend on her phone.
[The Universally Unbeatable Super Cute Lord Sparkle!]
The nickname made her want to laugh, and combined with that familiar profile picture, this made Mo Xi completely certain that everything just now was not a dream. Or rather, it was indeed a dream, a kind of Mental Illusion.
"Sparkle... what a terrifying girl." Mo Xi looked at the new friend on her phone, and a few drops of cold sweat unconsciously trickled down her forehead. 'I actually didn't know from start to finish that I had fallen into a dreamscape. If Sparkle really had bad intentions, I probably wouldn't even know how I died.'
At this moment, Mo Xi's fingertips trembled slightly, and an unprecedented sense of urgency washed over her heart like a tide—she had to become faster and stronger.
"Mo Xi, what's wrong with you?"
Mo Xi's thoughts were like swirling mist. Acheron's figure suddenly appeared before her like a ghost, without even the sound of her clothes fluttering. Mo Xi's pupils shrank, and she quickly hid the alarm in her eyes. However, when Mo Xi's gaze fell on Acheron, the latter was no different from before she left, still maintaining that cold and detached aura.
However, within that coldness, Mo Xi captured a trace of imperceptible sadness. That sorrow was not like a surging tide, but like fine snow falling into a cold pond, telling of an unknown grief.
'She is an Emanator who should not exist.' Sparkle's words quietly echoed in Mo Xi's mind. She didn't understand what an Emanator was, nor did she know what "should not exist" meant.
Probably noticing Mo Xi's abnormality, Acheron asked with concern, "Have you been waiting long? Do you need to rest for a moment first?"
And Mo Xi also found that everything she had just noticed seemed as if it didn't exist at all. "No, no need. Let's go home."
Mo Xi's face quickly returned to normal, and she hurriedly refused. Seeing this, Acheron didn't ask further. The two of them stepped onto the path home together, though each had their own thoughts in their hearts.
'Sister Acheron's own memory problems, and her cold, unapproachable aura. Perhaps, not just others, but even Acheron herself has lost the proof of her own existence.'
Time flew by like a white horse passing a crack, and in the blink of an eye, several days had passed.
In a slightly messy room, a burst of cute but somewhat angry shouting echoed continuously, as if it were about to blow the roof off. A petite figure was lying on the bed, her small hands clenched tightly into fists, and her small mouth slightly pouted.
"Agh! Just what are you guys doing? Even I could play better than you using my feet!"