Chapter 28: Wild Magical Girl?

“Ah, no sleeping here.”

“Hm?”

Jiang Yao released the clothes she’d been clutching as she woke. Opening her eyes, she saw a woman in ancient attire bending slightly, gazing at her.

“Eh… Huh…?”

“Just kidding. From your state, someone else must’ve helped you.” The woman in ancient attire extended a hand: “Don’t worry, you haven’t time-traveled. This is my spiritual attire.”

She glanced at a glowing token in her hand, reading its contents: “Let’s see… Magical Girl [Crystal], contracted fairy: Tanggula Aifeiyal S—”

“That’s me, that’s me!” Jiang Yao cut in quickly—Xiaobai’s full name had been recited too many times; she’d spare herself.

Standing now, she realized she was on flat ground outside the factory. Turning, she saw the battle-ravaged factory in ruins—outer walls collapsed, the roof nearly gone.

Noticing her gaze, the woman explained: “I caused the extra destruction. No one wants this factory anymore. I searched it.” She turned: “No other enemies, just heaps of magic residue. Tough fight, huh? You feeling okay?”

“I…” Jiang Yao tested her body—no more tearing pain in her organs or bones. She was fully recovered, better than when she’d left home.

But mental fatigue lingered, clouding her thoughts, making her groggy. “Have you seen who saved me?”

“No.” The woman shook her head: “When I arrived, you were alone. Probably a wild magical girl who left recently.”

“Wild magical girl?”

“Yeah, don’t know? Unlike you city-bound types, some of us wander freely.” She offered a hand: “Forgot to introduce myself. Call me Mingxin—my Taoist name.”

“Taoist name…”

“Also my magical girl codename. I’m a cultivator.” Mingxin pointed at the factory: “Since your rescuer didn’t stick around, I’ll give you the credit. I’ll report to the higher-ups for some compensation.”

“Oh.” Jiang Yao blinked, unaware such a system existed.

But then, the ancient magical girl Aurora must’ve been real. She’d claimed to have saved her mother—Jiang Yao could only trust that for now, though unease lingered.

All she wanted was to rush home, confirm her mother’s safety, and check if she was scared. The thought of her gentle, kind mother enduring such trauma, like victims of dark events, weighed heavily on Jiang Yao.

Mingxin, seeing her distracted look, grew concerned. She unhooked a gourd from her waist, flicked off its seal with one hand, and slipped it into Jiang Yao’s slightly open mouth.

“Hmm?!” Lost in thoughts of her mother, Jiang Yao was caught off guard. The gourd was in her mouth before she could react, pouring magical liquid inside.

At first, it was mild—a trickle with a sweet, floral fragrance. But as it hit her throat, it blazed like a fire dragon, searing into her stomach, then spreading as a warm current through her limbs.

“Cough, cough… cough!” As the gourd was pulled away, Jiang Yao staggered, nearly collapsing, coughing and wiping her lips. “What was that?!”

“My homemade peach blossom wine.” Mingxin grinned, hands on hips: “Not bad, right?”

“That’s just booze!” It was Jiang Yao’s first time drinking, and this was potent, cultivator-brewed liquor—pure and strong. No wonder she felt like retching.

“Don’t worry, dizziness is normal.” Mingxin patted her shoulder: “Feeling better?”

“Better… Huh?” Jiang Yao, initially annoyed, looked up in surprise: “It worked?”

After the brief dizziness, her mind felt clear. The world seemed sharper, like wiping clean a pair of smudged glasses. Rationally, nothing had changed, but she felt an inexplicable “clarity.”

“See? Magic’s pretty magical, huh?”

“Immortal technique?” Jiang Yao asked curiously: “Aren’t you a magical girl?”

“Yep.” Mingxin nodded matter-of-factly: “But I’m a cultivator.”

“Uh…” She used magic, wielded magical items, and wore spiritual attire. Wasn’t that a magical girl?

“Not quite.” Mingxin seemed to read her thoughts: “We’ve got magic, so who says immortals don’t exist?”

“That… kinda makes sense?”

“Right, right!” Mingxin beamed: “Maybe the Daozu and ancient gods weren’t white-bearded old men but demons from way back…”

“Stop, stop! That’s blasphemy! Aren’t you afraid of heavenly lightning?”

“Nah, my sword-flying skills are top-notch.” Mingxin pulled a notebook from her pocket: “Speaking of, I can draw fairy transformation books while flying. Want one?”

“What kinda cultivator talk is that?!”

“Sister Quan, something’s up.”

Sensing a magical girl approaching from afar, Jiang Lingwei had settled Jiang Yao in a visible spot. After watching the sword-flying girl land and retrieve her daughter, she felt relieved, heading home early. Now, lying on her bed, she made a call.

“Huh? Calling me? Ready to get back to work already?” Wen Yaquan answered quickly, water splashing faintly in the background—she was showering.

“No… though it’d be great if you’d finish prepping sooner.” Jiang Lingwei sighed: “But I’m calling about something weirder.”

She was grateful to have an old friend to confide in, or she’d have no one to share this with.

“Honey, hold on!” Wen Yaquan called out, moving the phone away, then returned, tone serious: “What’s going on?”

“Sister Quan, can… magical girls use dark magic?”

“Hahaha, you joking?” Wen Yaquan laughed: “We both know that’s impossible. Force it, and you might as well order a gas tank to blow up.”

Her laughter stopped as she realized Jiang Lingwei wouldn’t call late with nonsense. “Wait, what happened? You saw it?”

“…It’s my daughter. She’s a magical girl, but… she used dark magic.” Jiang Lingwei exhaled heavily.

“…” “…”

Silence hung between the old friends. After a long pause, Wen Yaquan asked cautiously: “So… did she explode?”

“…” “…”

A “💢” pulsed above Jiang Lingwei’s head: “What kinda question is that?!”

“How should I know without asking?!”

“Of course she didn’t explode! She’s fine! If she had, why would I be asking you?”

“Who knows what’s up with you? Such a hassle!”

“Wen Yaquan! Wait till I storm your place tomorrow!”

“Come on! Hajime, you’re begging for love!”

“Hajime… what’s that?!”

“Hahaha, you don’t know that old meme? Dumb, dumb little Aurora~”

Jiang Lingwei gripped her phone tightly. Her fist was hard.

“Fine, fine. Since she’s okay, let’s talk tomorrow. I need to study this too.” Wen Yaquan’s voice softened, mixed with whispers: “Now, I’m off to sleep with my husband.”

A man’s awkward whisper came through: “Uh, honey, keep talking. I’m not rushing…”

“Huh, trying to escape?”

Beep…

Jiang Lingwei froze, holding the disconnected phone. She hadn’t meant to interrupt Wen Yaquan’s married life. Sister Quan was married—she’d need to be careful calling at night.

Where was her husband? The thought hit, and she raised her hands—

Slap.

When Jiang Yao got home, she saw Jiang Lingwei “sleeping” on the sofa, lights on, a faint slap mark on her face. “…”

Not daring to disturb her mother, she cast a simple spell to check her condition. Steady breathing, healthy body.

Aurora’s healing ability must be potent—fixing Jiang Yao so quickly meant her mother was likely fine too. Clenching her fists, Jiang Yao draped a blanket over Jiang Lingwei, who was “asleep,” gently touching her warm, soft cheek, applying a basic healing spell.

She cursed inwardly: ‘Beast of a demon.’ ‘It left such a clear slap mark on Mom, and even Aurora couldn’t fully heal it.’ ‘What a horrific wound it must’ve been! QAQ’ ‘If not for me… ugh… I’ll check on Mom in the morning.’

Resolved, Jiang Yao, more guilty than angry, sat on the sofa’s other end, ready to guard her mother all night. Thanks to the peach blossom wine, she felt alert, not sleepy.

She didn’t notice the thin sweat on her mother’s forehead, born of guilt. ‘Good girl… staring at me like that…’ ‘I can’t sleep with you watching, kiddo.’ ‘Yaoyao just fought a battle. I healed her body, but her mind’s exhausted.’ ‘She’ll fall asleep soon, no problem!’