Heretics and Impermanence 3

"My statement that superhuman beings are superior to ordinary people is simply the conclusion of my rational thinking," I answered honestly. "I might hold that view against busybodies who point fingers at me behind my back, but when it comes to Chang'an, or anyone with whom I can have a normal conversation, I simply cannot summon that kind of condescending sentiment."

"Then, if your reason and your emotions were to conflict, which side would you choose?" Zhushi continued to ask.

I retorted without a moment's hesitation, "Do I look like someone who prioritizes reason?"

"...Indeed, that was a foolish question on my part," she was left speechless.

"I understand why you place such importance on my answer; you want to confirm my stance, don't you?" I said. "I can tell you directly right now: I will not stand with those who believe superhumans should assimilate into secular society, nor will I stand with those who believe superhumans are above the mortal realm. I have zero interest in your political affiliations, and the mere thought of those matters exhausts me.

"However, Zhushi, I will stand by your side. Since you are Chang'an's younger sister, you are also my friend. Whoever becomes your enemy will become my enemy as well.

"Now, tell me, what do you want me to do?"

Zhushi's lips parted slightly, and a moment later she let out a chuckle mixed with a sigh. "Saying things like that is practically cheating..."

"I was merely speaking the truth."

In truth, there was an element of deliberate performance to it; under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have sounded quite so majestic.

Yet the words were heartfelt, and I truly intended to act upon them.

"Truthful words are the most unfair cheat codes of all," she murmured softly first, then began to complain. "You might find the topic I brought up earlier annoying, but actually, I detest these politically charged subjects just as much. What girl my age enjoys discussing serious politics? So I hope you won't misunderstand me—I really had no intention of politically indoctrinating you."

"I won't misunderstand you," I promised.

"Good. Then, returning to your previous question..." She composed her expression and continued, "I hope you can conceal your true strength from Luoshan for the time being."

"If I were to expose my true strength, would it bring me trouble from others?" I asked out of curiosity.

"On the contrary, most factions in Luoshan would tear each other apart just to recruit you to their side. Unless they've lost their minds, they will certainly do so. You could pick and choose freely from among them and reap enormous benefits," she said slowly. "And the reason I suggest this to you is not because I want to represent my faction and make these claims to monopolize you. It is merely a personal request from me."

"The reason?" I asked.

"I hope you can observe things clearly," she gazed at me earnestly. "Once you expose yourself, people with all sorts of hidden agendas will approach you, uttering grandiose words and embellishing their own stances. None of them will be their true selves. You can lie low for a while, observe their true faces, and only then decide your path.

"Even if the path you ultimately choose differs from the one I choose, it doesn't matter. I hope whatever you choose is a path you genuinely like."

I had already stated that I had no interest in such matters.

Though I was tempted to say that aloud, I could feel Zhushi's sincere goodwill.

Moreover, upon careful reflection, my current self was indeed unsuited to exposing my existence to the scrutiny of multiple factions.

Personally, I didn't mind being dragged into the so-called "political whirlpool." If I got sucked in, so be it; I would simply mind my own business. If anyone tried to force me to do otherwise, I would simply ignore them. And if anyone dared to obstruct me, they would become my enemy. Simple and straightforward.

The real problem was Mazao.

Luoshan was currently placing a high priority on hunting down Mazao, and Mazao was right by my side. Although I didn't know which specific factions within Luoshan were responsible for this, I needed to keep Mazao hidden from their sight.

The black comedy of it all was that I wasn't some benevolent hero trying to protect a fragile young girl from villains; I was just another villain myself.

Before I understood that anomalies and I were mutually repulsive forces, establishing a firm foothold in Luoshan quickly would have been far more important to me, and I certainly wouldn't have concealed my true strength for Mazao's sake back then. But now, Mazao was an indispensable priority in my heart, while Luoshan had become secondary.

Seeing me agree, Zhushi visibly relaxed.

"Concealing your true strength has another advantage for you: others won't know how to properly target you," she remarked with a sigh. "Take Agent Kong's situation this time... If he had known in advance that you possessed elemental transformation, he certainly would have used soul-killing techniques to ambush you."

"Indeed, fortunately for me, he only excelled at physical attacks," I concurred, then asked, "By the way, you mentioned concealment, but my battle with Agent Kong caused quite a commotion. Surely it can't be kept hidden?"

"I will handle that aspect. Once the results are out, I'll let you know."

"Very well. As for the matter of me joining Luoshan..." I brought up the previous topic.

"To become a Luoshan demon hunter, one must pass examinations. This tests not only your physical capabilities but also your knowledge regarding anomalies," she said tactfully. "If you have never formally studied these subjects in the past, it would take at least three years of study before you could pass Luoshan's demon hunter tests."

"It takes that long?" I was surprised. "Yet judging from Agent Kong's words earlier, he implied that you could act as my guide... He spoke as if I could join Luoshan immediately."

"In Luoshan, the relationship between a guide and their charge is essentially that of a master and disciple," a look of embarrassment crossed her face. "What he meant was that you could become my student, study by my side for a few years, and then join Luoshan..."

"I see. In that case, Teacher Zhushi."

Calling my junior sister "Teacher" for the very first time, I delivered it with absolute deadpan seriousness, though inwardly I felt a twinge of awkwardness alongside an indescribable sense of novelty and thrill.

In contrast, Zhushi was far more flustered than I was, staring at me in utter shock. "You actually called me that?"

When someone tries to rattle you, the first person to lose their composure is the embarrassed one. I maintained a completely straight face and pressed on, "Is there a problem?"

"Don't you feel like I'm unqualified? Considering my age, my strength..." she asked, fidgeting nervously.

"You know more than I do, and your experience far surpasses mine. As the saying goes, the one who achieves mastery first is the teacher. You are certainly qualified," I replied truthfully.

She carefully studied my expression, deflating as if she had no other choice against me, and muttered, "...Actually, becoming a demon hunter doesn't strictly require passing the examination; there is another path."

"I am all ears," my spirits lifted instantly.

She gave her answer: "That is to become an 'Outsider Wuchang'."

"What is an 'Outsider Wuchang'?"

"The Luoshan demon hunters responsible for handling anomalies are called 'Wuchang'. As for the so-called 'Outsider Wuchang', it refers to powerful demon hunters who operate outside the official Luoshan system yet have gained Luoshan's recognition," she explained. "You can think of it as a united front target for Luoshan. To Luoshan, most independent civilian demon hunters are less like allies and more like potential security risks—subjects to be managed. However, for exceptionally powerful individuals among them, Luoshan will intentionally grant them status equivalent to official demon hunters."

I searched my memory for the miscellaneous knowledge I had acquired in the past.

Buddhism referred to its own teachings as the "Inner Path" and external doctrines as the "Outer Path", while "Wuchang" referred to the soul-reaping emissaries of Daoism.

Outsider Wuchang... I chewed on the term. Etymology aside, it carried an inexplicable coolness and a hint of wickedness that suited my tastes remarkably well.

"How do I gain Luoshan's recognition?"

"You don't need to worry about that. Even if I manage to conceal your true strength in my report, that building you cleaved in half cannot be hidden away," she said. "While pyromancers are generally viewed by most as having strengths limited solely to offensive output, when that strength reaches such an extreme, Luoshan will simply have no choice but to nod in recognition. I'll handle the application process for this as well."

"Then I leave it in your hands," I requested earnestly.

For a brief moment, she reverted to her "Junior Sister Zhushi" mode, nodding with a bright smile: "Leave it to me, Senior Brother Zhuang!"

-

Before we parted ways, I asked Zhushi for one more favor.

It concerned an investigation into the source of my superpowers.

Zhushi could only determine that my abilities did not stem from the bloodline of demons and monsters; a precise investigation would be required to know for certain. Deeply curious about the origin of my powers, I had asked her for a few drops of my blood upon mentioning my need, which she took with her for analysis.

Instead of heading straight home, I called Chang'an and arranged to meet him.

Because the fallen demon hunter incident had concluded so ambiguously, the "fireflies" I had left behind in his vicinity hadn't been recalled yet.

And just as Chang'an had claimed, to avoid being implicated by the "mysterious serial killer" targeting people around him, he hadn't attended school recently. Normally, one would think someone facing such a situation would seek out crowded places, but his train of thought seemed to operate a bit differently.

The agents who had previously been conducting covert surveillance near him had now been withdrawn, suggesting that Luoshan deemed the fallen demon hunter case closed and further surveillance unnecessary. Having apparently received the news as well, he appeared much more relaxed and had even texted me specially last night.

We agreed to meet at a fried chicken joint. When he arrived, he was still dressed head-to-toe in tacky designer clothes. It wasn't that I held a stereotype against designer labels, but rather that he pursued high price tags exclusively, showing zero understanding of coordination or fashion.

As his younger sister, Zhushi didn't seem to put much thought into fashion either, but she favored a minimalist style, which avoided any glaring faults; Chang'an, however, favored gaudy flashiness, looking like someone with too much money and no idea how to spend it.

Yet even his atrocious wardrobe was starting to look strangely nostalgic to me now.

He walked over with a wide grin, speaking in a booming voice, "Ah, I've been cooped up these past two days... What made you suddenly call me out? Are you treating me to a meal? My treat, my treat! Tell me, what do you want to eat?"

He had no inkling that I was here to sever our friendship.