Chapter 28: New Ability, Mills Great Maze

Scenic Hotel, Mountains.

For the next week, Lu Qingqi’s days settled into a simple rhythm. He spent time with Liu Jiao’e, snapping photos, chatting, or playing chess. The rest of his hours were spent trailing Bai Yuanxue, watching her sketch and paint by the lake. Monkey’s investigation stalled—no updates, likely hitting a dead end.

As for Liu Wangjiang… Hmph. Lu Qingqi pushed him out of his mind. If not for the hotel’s lack of rooms and Yuki’s germaphobia keeping them apart, he’d have stayed far from his rival.

The week-long spring outing soothed him. Nature’s embrace—blue skies, fluffy clouds, gentle breezes—eased the gnawing anxiety over Yuki’s possible betrayal. Seven years of love, questioned by a blurry hotel video, felt less suffocating out here.

And, as expected, a new set of superpowers refreshed.

[This week’s anime superpowers updated. Optional powers:]

1. Redemption Arc [Future Walk]: Travel to key future moments. Observe and communicate, but cannot alter or interfere.
2. Fantasy Arc [Cauldron Harvest]: Your body becomes a supreme “cauldron,” boosting any partner’s physical abilities through intimacy, at a cost to you.
3. Adventure Arc [Mills Grand Labyrinth]: Construct the Mills Adventure Labyrinth. Only those with great courage, wisdom, and perseverance can pass its trials, earning treasures—or punishments. No risk of death.

At first glance, these were less perverse than the last batch—[Female Fall], [Yuan Yang Addiction], [Male Desire]. Scrolling the virtual panel, no fourth option appeared. The “extra slot” from last time was clearly a rare trigger.

These powers felt… respectable. But Lu Qingqi analyzed them carefully.

[Cauldron Harvest] was an instant no. He’d read enough fantasy novels to know “cauldron” meant being used, drained for someone else’s gain. Not becoming anyone’s power-up battery.

That left [Future Walk] and [Mills Grand Labyrinth]. The former could let him glimpse and talk to his future self, a tempting edge for planning. His core ability—weekly anime power selection—had seemed limited to three slots, but the “extra slot” option revealed he could grow stronger over time. The longer he lived, the more slots he’d gain, stacking powers like a god.

But [Mills Grand Labyrinth] sparked his chuunibyou imagination. An indirect power—unlike his direct ones ([Gender Swap], [Mental Domination], [Forced Extreme]), which backfired on him when targeting Wangjiang. This could affect the environment, not the person. Like dropping a pile of crap on his house instead of his head.

He classified his powers: direct (targeting people, prone to backfire) versus indirect (environmental, safer). Smirking, he chose [Mills Grand Labyrinth], keeping [Forced Extreme] but swapping out [Mental Domination] for the new slot. [Gender Swap] was a conceptual trump card, [Forced Extreme] was for pranks, but [Mental Domination] felt useless—he wasn’t some psychic overlord.

With four slots, two occupied, he’d save the rest for game-changers.

“Xiao Luzi, let’s go! Mushroom picking time—stop hugging that phone!” Liu Jiao’e’s cheery voice floated in.

“Coming!” Lu Qingqi hopped off the bed, grabbed a bamboo basket, and dashed out.

Liu Jiao’e’s whims were unpredictable—chess one day, mushroom foraging the next. The hotel, nestled against lush mountains, sparkled with morning dew, the air crisp and refreshing.

Joining Liu Jiao’e and Father Liu, who were plucking muddy white mushrooms into their baskets, Lu Qingqi said, “Godmother, I’m gonna check on Wangjiang. Make sure he’s not slacking.”

Before she could reply, he darted off.

Liu Jiao’e stood, watching his petite figure vanish. She didn’t scold, instead muttering, “Xiao Luzi’s so short. After surgery, as a girl, he’d look natural—perfect.” Her eyes gleamed. “Can’t wait to see him as my daughter-in-law. Soft, fragrant, gorgeous.”

Father Liu, still picking mushrooms, smiled. “Patience, Jiaojiao. He’s like me—methodical, step-by-step.”

Liu Jiao’e pouted. “Why’s he like you? I birthed him! Those purple eyes? Mine!”

Father Liu chuckled, eyes indulgent, brushing grass off her cheek. “Yes, yes, all you.”

Meanwhile, Lu Qingqi reached the other side of the ravine, spotting Wangjiang squatting by an old tree, picking mushrooms. A sly glint flashed in his eyes. Time to test my new power.

Hiding behind a boulder, he pointed at Wangjiang. Mills Grand Labyrinth, activate.

The air shimmered, twisting. Thick fog rolled in, blurring the mountains, warping trees, and obscuring paths. Lu Qingqi grinned, ready to watch Wangjiang stumble, panic, maybe cry in the maze.

Then, a tidal wave of hunger hit. His stomach burned, vision blackening. “What the—” He clutched the boulder, but his consciousness frayed like a cut thread. Legs buckling, he collapsed into the grass, out cold.

Nearby, Wangjiang, gloved, placed a final mushroom in his basket. Standing, he noticed the sudden fog enveloping the clear mountains, directions lost in the haze.