Chapter 21: Open your heart! No one is allowed to bully cats!

Facing that sword laced with bone-chilling killing intent, a faint violet gleam swirled in Bai Wanting’s eyes.

She could sense the magic surging from Wei Re now—leagues beyond her prior level.

The blade wreathed in pink flames even posed a threat to her otherwise impenetrable magical shield.

Bai Wanting didn’t underestimate it; she swiftly channeled mana, erecting a thicker violet barrier before her.

“Clang—!”

The pink longsword slammed into the purple barrier with a deafening roar!

A ferocious energy shockwave erupted from the pair, radiating layers of scorching heat waves!

This time, that indestructible purple shield cracked visibly under the blow!

Though the fissure mended in a blink, the sight alone surprised Bai Wanting.

Her little Ya’s teammate wasn’t entirely useless after all.

This pink-haired brat called Wei Re had just added a fresh layer to her understanding of magical girls.

Rage as an extreme emotion could fuel power surges, even morphing weapon forms…

This idealistic force system was ripe for deeper dissection.

“Take your filthy hands off Bai Xue!” Wei Re’s furious bellow rang out again.

She gripped the sword two-handed, veins bulging on her knuckles, pouring every ounce of mana into the blade—the pink flames roaring brighter!

With a thought from Bai Wanting, dozens of tentacles lashed from all directions toward Wei Re in midair!

Facing the onslaught, Wei Re showed no fear.

She cried out sharp, slicing through the incoming tendrils like a whirlwind!

That pink-flamed longsword held a potent counter to Bai Wanting’s magic.

Severed tentacles bore stubborn pink fire at the stumps, barring quick regeneration.

For a moment, the fight evened out—back and forth.

Wei Re pressed the assault, swordplay fierce, every stroke screaming desperation.

Bai Wanting played it casual, maneuvering tentacles in counter while keenly dissecting Wei Re’s patterns and energy traits.

To her, this clash… felt more like an experiment.

As deadlock held and another brawl loomed,

“Woo—woo—woo—”

Sharp, urgent sirens wailed closer from afar, shattering the fray.

The park’s massive ruckus had drawn the cops after all.

Bai Wanting knew: tonight’s playtime was over.

Her goals nailed perfectly—lured authorities while probing Lin Qingya’s crew, capping their strength ceilings, even coaxing latent power from one, netting prime intel.

Above all, on ditching that pesky cat-ear transformer atop Lin Qingya’s head, she now had a bold new angle.

“Guess tonight’s game ends here.”

She murmured coolly, voice soft yet carrying clear to every ear present.

With that, she cast a lingering, meaningful glance at Lin Qingya—eyes rolled back, body limp, curled fetal and quivering in exhaustion.

Gotta say… magical girl Ya in this bullied-to-tears pitiful state? Adorably off the charts.

Sigh, wanna scoop her up now, lock her in a room just for my eyes.

Bai Wanting quashed the twisted urge surging in her chest.

No rush—plenty of tomorrows.

She’d reshape her, with fresh tricks and tools, into her sole possession.

Next instant, Bai Wanting flickered—gone from the spot.

Her exit dissolved the violet-black tentacles binding them all into wisps of black smoke, fading to air.

“Hah… hah… damn witch… don’t run!”

Wei Re glared at Bai Wanting’s vanishing direction, roaring in frustration.

But with the target fled, Wei Re’s taut nerves slackened; the rage-fueled power ebbed fast, crashing exhaustion over her.

Her longsword reverted to the dainty magic wand; vision blacked, she toppled backward, spent.

“Wei Re!”

“Wei Re-jie!”

Xin Lü and Ling Lan cried out, darting to catch her—one on each side.

Freed at last, Lin Qingya remained curled midair, petite frame still trembling faint.

Not from the tickle-torture aftershocks.

But a soul-deep panic… and revulsion.

Me… I actually let that horrid witch… touch me with her fingers…

The humiliating memory roiled her gut.

She felt soiled.

So dirty…

I… I’ve betrayed little Bai-jie…

The thought of Bai Wanting’s tender, doting face unleashed Lin Qingya’s tears.

“Bai Xue, you okay?”

Ling Lan’s steady voice cut through; she glided close, scooping Lin Qingya bridal-style onto her shoulder.

“Priority one: bail now—we can’t get spotted by cops.” Ling Lan assessed cool.

Wei Re, propped by Xin Lü, nodded weakly. “Ling Lan’s right… let’s move…”

The trio ferried the dazed Lin Qingya as three light-streaks, fleeing the ruined park swift.

They touched down on a barren suburban lot, desolate and empty.

“Bai Xue-jie… she doesn’t look great.”

Xin Lü eyed Lin Qingya—set down by Ling Lan, still knee-hugged fetal, gaze vacant—face etched with ache.

She knelt before her, clutching her microphone to her chest, eyes fluttering shut.

An ethereal, warming melody rose—no lyrics, just soothing healing strains, laced with mending magic for body and soul.

Lin Qingya’s jumbled, stinging mind eased under the song’s balm.

The humiliated filth, the guilt toward Bai Wanting—they lingered, but a warm veil softened their bite.

She felt worlds better—less crushed, at least.

The tune faded; with Ling Lan’s aid, Lin Qingya lifted her head slow.

She met three faces brimming with deep concern.

“Th-thank… you…”

Lin Qingya’s voice rasped; she thanked the magical girls from the heart.

Xin Lü beamed sweet. “No prob, Bai Xue-jie.”

“Psh, no need to thank!”

Wei Re, still frail but peppier, clapped Lin Qingya’s shoulder bold. “We’re partners, duh!”

Wei Re’s face shone radiant, untouched by the brutal scrap.

“And hey! MVP tonight? Totally you! First to land a hit on that smug witch!”

“Right.” Ling Lan nodded firm, adding earnest: “You dealt her the first real damage—that’s no small feat.”

“Yeah yeah! Bai Xue-jie’s punch was epic!” Xin Lü giggled, mic hugged tight.

The trio’s words stunned Lin Qingya blank.

Partners?

They… already saw her as one?

When they’d just met… when she was so useless, such a social wreck…

That “partners” pierced her inner gloom like light, wrapping her in cozy warmth—eyes pricking hot.

She recalled Bai Wanting’s nudge: try making friends.

If little Bai-jie knew she’d scored some—and such good ones… would she beam for her?

The seed took root quiet in Lin Qingya’s heart.

Mustering her lifetime’s boldest grit, battling the social dread gnawing her, she looked up at Wei Re and the rest.

“I… I’m Lin Qingya… n-nice… to meet you…”

Her voice hitched tense, but she’d taken the historic step.

Partners meant openness.

Wei Re and co. blinked at her real name, then grins bloomed bright.

“I’m Xia Momu, aka Wei Re!”

“Su Xingcui here, Ling Lan.”

“Yang Yuxin, Xin Lü!”

They spilled theirs in turn, yanking Lin Qingya for contact swaps with zeal.

Eh? Wait, this Xia Momu… the senior who bumped her in the hall before?

Lin Qingya blinked.

Not just same school—they’d crossed paths!

Tengchun was tiny…

Wei Re yanked her into a group chat on the spot—blunt name: [Magical Girl Family].

Right then, Lin Qingya’s cat-ear transformer chimed cold with a mission wrap.

[Mission Settlement: Target was witch extermination—failure to eliminate, but timely repulsion prevented escalation.]

[Result: No rewards, no penalties. Magical girls, keep pushing.]

“What the—!”

Wei Re eyed the verdict, pouting gripe. “All that for nada? White-collar sweat again!”

“We busted ass, zero loot! This system’s cheesier than Pinduoduo’s slash deals—total stingy!”

Ling Lan chuckled wry, patting Wei Re’s head soothe. “Easy easy—no penalty’s the win. We’ll crush next time.”

She checked her phone’s clock, nudging: “Main thing now: crash time. Past 1 a.m.—early classes tomorrow, folks.”

That jolted Lin Qingya and Wei Re.

God! This late?!

“Aaaah! I’m out—chat in group for deets!”

Wei Re yelped, pink-flashing away in a streak.

“I’ll drop you? Where’s home?” Ling Lan eyed Lin Qingya, still fretting her state.

“N-no… I’m good… solo.” Lin Qingya waved frantic—she shied from close contact still.

Bids farewell to Ling Lan and Xin Lü, Lin Qingya rocketed homeward.

She alighted feather-light on her balcony, facing that familiar floor-to-ceiling window—yet her feet rooted.

Sudden terror gripped her…

So scared to face little Bai-jie.

Felt filthy… sullied by that vicious witch’s touch…

This “dirty” body of hers—fit to embrace such gentle, pure little Bai-jie…?