"R-reasonable orders?!" Sparkle looked like she'd just swallowed glass. "You bastard—let me go!"
Wei Qing didn't even bother to spare her a glance. He turned to Firefly instead.
"What do you want to drink? Have her buy it."
"Uh… anything is fine…" Firefly said quietly, staring at Sparkle's expression like she was watching a bomb with a cute ribbon on it.
With a clear instruction received, Sparkle's body promptly betrayed her again.
Gritting her teeth, she marched to the drink stall and ordered through clenched rage:
"T-two… the cheapest… SoulGlad!"
Since nobody specified anything, she deliberately picked the lowest-tier option—her final act of rebellion.
Drinks in hand, she trudged back, slammed the cups down on the table so hard orange soda splashed out, and hissed:
"Y-your. C-cheap. D-drinks."
Wei Qing didn't even look at the SoulGlad. He said flatly, "That attitude fails. Do it again."
"What?!" Sparkle shrieked.
But her body had already turned on its heel—walking itself back to the stall, ordering again, returning again, completing the loop like a puppet on strings.
This time she forced a smile, set the cups down carefully, and said in a trembling voice:
"P-please… enjoy…"
The smile looked worse than crying.
Honestly, Sparkle probably looked best when she was crying.
Firefly's conscience twitched. She leaned toward Wei Qing and whispered, "Senior… maybe that's enough…"
"This is only the beginning." Wei Qing lifted the cup and took a sip. "A maid needs training. Posture. Etiquette. Service awareness."
He put the drink down. "You have a lot to learn, little sister Sparkle."
Then he looked at Firefly. "Let's go. I'll take you somewhere."
"And her?" Firefly pointed at Sparkle.
"Hm?" Wei Qing flicked Sparkle a glance. "She follows. A maid's job is to attend her master, isn't it?"
Sparkle's mind screamed in every language she knew.
Her body obediently trailed after Wei Qing anyway—still holding the two cups of SoulGlad she'd rather pour on his head.
They ended up in a bar in Penacony, tucked into a quiet corner.
Wei Qing lounged in a high-backed chair. Firefly sat across from him, a little stiff, hands on her drink.
And Sparkle—
Sparkle stood behind Wei Qing, both hands on his shoulders, massaging with "gentle" motions that somehow radiated murderous resentment.
If you ignored the aura of hate, it almost looked… wholesome.
Passing guests kept peeking and whispering.
"Look at that maid… weird style."
"Is this some new theme café?"
"She looks so angry… but weirdly kind of cute?"
Each comment stabbed Sparkle like a needle.
She tried to kill them with her eyes, but her forced "well-behaved maid posture" diluted the effect into something closer to comedy. A few people even chuckled.
"Big brother," Sparkle said sweetly, voice syrup-thick, "is my performance satisfactory to you?"
She'd clearly entered endure now, retaliate later mode.
Endure.
This is not the time.
One day she'd get it all back.
"Mm. Barely passable." Wei Qing closed his eyes, sounding mildly satisfied. "But you've improved compared to earlier."
Honestly, Sparkle really did look more tolerable now.
"Then, big brother," she tried carefully, "I do have many tasks to handle… when will you release me?"
Wei Qing opened one eye. "Busy is good. If you're busy, you can forget your big brother."
Sparkle's fingers paused for a fraction of a second—then continued massaging as she replied in a honeyed voice:
"What are you saying, big brother? I only want to contribute to the Charmony Festival~ And no matter how busy I am, I still miss you very much."
"Is that so?" Wei Qing raised a hand and casually caught her wrist, pinning it in place.
Sparkle's breath stalled.
A force ran through her wrist like cold iron. She couldn't move.
"Since you're so devoted," Wei Qing said lazily, "I'd like to see the mask you're famous for."
Sparkle went still.
For a Masked Fool, a mask was the core.
A blessing of Elation.
A second life.
Something you never handed over lightly—much less to someone who could snap you like kindling.
"B-big brother is joking," she tried to pull away. "My mask is just a trivial parlor trick. It wouldn't be worthy of your eyes…"
"Doesn't matter." Wei Qing tightened his grip slightly. "I've recently grown interested in the Path of Elation. I want a look."
Then he added with a calm, damning sweetness:
"Or are you saying you miss your big brother—yet can't even grant this tiny request?"
Sparkle inhaled slowly.
She knew she couldn't dodge it.
Fine.
Endure. Keep enduring.
With her free hand, she swept the air in front of her face.
A strange, exquisitely crafted mask appeared in her palm.
"H-here…" She thrust it forward, reluctant and wary.
Wei Qing took it and felt the Elation within. Understanding flickered in his eyes.
Same lineage as mine, he concluded, just not the same grade.
More accurately: hers was the standard version.
His was the Plus edition.
The realization instantly killed most of his curiosity.
Once, back when he'd been starving for power, the first Paths he'd thought of were Elation and Abundance—two Aeons infamous for being "generous" with their gifts, relatively "safe" compared to things like Nihility's self-erasure.
Abundance didn't even need explaining. Because of the Path itself, Yaoshi gave freely, almost indiscriminately.
As for Aha?
If something was funny enough, Aha could be absurdly generous.
There were even tales of Aha granting all their power to a bug—just for the joke.
That level of treatment made even Wei Qing, a would-be "crown prince," feel slightly insulted.
And yet—
No matter when, no matter where—
Aha had never come looking for him.
Wei Qing genuinely found that strange.
Given the "special circumstances" he'd had back on the Luofu, Aha should've noticed him.
Unless…
Aha thinks I have no sense of humor?
Wei Qing toyed with Sparkle's mask a little longer, then sighed and handed it back, bored.
"Take it."
Sparkle snatched it like someone reclaiming a hostage, tucking it away as if afraid he'd change his mind.
"Big brother is truly worldly," she chirped, voice servile. "My humble tricks naturally cannot impress you."
Wei Qing didn't bother responding. He turned his attention to Firefly, who'd been sipping quietly like she had a thousand questions and no safe way to ask them.
"Senior…" Firefly hesitated, then spoke. "How far along is your plan now?"
"Plan?" Wei Qing raised an eyebrow.
"I don't have anything that detailed," he said. "I'm just waiting for Sunday to take off."
"Take off?" Firefly tilted her head, confused. "What does that mean?"
Behind Wei Qing, Sparkle's ears practically perked up. She kept massaging, but she was clearly listening.
"It means," Wei Qing said evenly, "Sunday and the Dreammaster are trying to resurrect the Path of Order. They need a 'chosen one'—someone who can harmonize the many voices and carry Order's power."
Firefly nodded slowly. "So… you want to replace the chosen one?"
"Mm." Wei Qing nodded.
"Then… is there anything I should do, Senior? If I can help…"
"No." Wei Qing shook his head. "Just take care of yourself."
Firefly opened her mouth, wanted to argue, then—under his calm gaze—swallowed the words and nodded obediently.
"I understand."
And then—
The lighting in the corner seemed to dim for the briefest instant.
A faint violet scent drifted in—completely out of place amid the bar's alcohol and smoke.
Sparkle's hands froze on Wei Qing's shoulders. A flicker of uncertainty crossed her face.
Firefly also stiffened, instincts rising.
Two figures emerged from the bar's darkest corner as if stepping out of a curtain.
One was elegant, mysterious—familiar to Sparkle.
A Memokeeper of the Garden of Recollection: Black Swan.
The other was someone Wei Qing had parted with not long ago.
Acheron.
Their arrival didn't draw any attention from the other guests, as if something had neatly severed them from everyone's perception.
Black Swan smiled with a hint of amusement, eyes lingering on Sparkle.
"Have we interrupted a cozy little family gathering?"
She clearly enjoyed seeing a usually lawless Masked Fool forced into obedience.
Acheron's voice followed, calm and tired.
"We meet again."
Sparkle and Firefly both looked over.
Some instinct, sharp and feminine, screamed the same conclusion in both of them:
This woman is dangerous.
Wei Qing didn't stand. He simply gestured toward the seats.
"So you're done, Acheron? Sit."
Acheron pulled out a chair and sat. Black Swan sat beside her, still amused.
"This is my first time meeting you two," Black Swan said smoothly, looking to Firefly and then back to Wei Qing. "I am Black Swan, a Memokeeper of the Garden of Recollection."
"Sir… your aura is most unusual. It seems Penacony's deep waters have welcomed yet another remarkable guest."
"Yi Qing," he replied simply.
"Yi Qing…" Black Swan repeated, eyes narrowing with recognition. "So it's you—the Ranger who's been making waves in the Xianzhou, and also the old Navigator in the Astral Express's records."
"No wonder," she added lightly, "you can make our 'unrestrained' friend here behave so… sweetly."
Sparkle's cheeks puffed with rage. Since she couldn't lash out, she redirected her hatred into the massage, pressing harder.
Wei Qing acted like he didn't notice and looked at Acheron.
"Your business is finished?"
"Mm." Acheron nodded. "I met a Galaxy Ranger on the Express. I returned the item to him."
"He didn't come with you?" Wei Qing asked.
Acheron: "He doesn't have an invitation."
Wei Qing paused. Fair point—he'd overlooked that.
Though with that Ranger's temperament, once he realized what Penacony really was, he'd probably find a way to sneak in anyway.
Wei Qing didn't press further. He turned to Black Swan.
"A Memokeeper doesn't show up just to exchange names. What do you want?"
"A grand play like this," Black Swan answered gently, "would never lack the Garden of Recollection's audience."
"And there are so many interesting souls here."
Her gaze drifted, once again, to Sparkle.
Sparkle finally snapped, voice low and venomous.
"Keep staring and I'll turn your memories into a comedy manga and distribute it across the cosmos."
Black Swan laughed softly and let it go.
Firefly, feeling the undercurrent thicken, shifted uneasily.
"Senior… is Miss Acheron your friend?"
"Mm. We go back," Wei Qing said.
Then he looked at Acheron. "Now that you're done—what will you do next?"
"Wait," Acheron replied.
"Wait for what?"
"Wait for your move to end."
Wei Qing blinked. He didn't remember agreeing to anything with her.
Before he could ask, Acheron continued, still blunt.
"I heard your plan."
"If things spiral into something unpredictable… I may be useful."
Wei Qing stared at her for a moment, then smiled faintly.
"You're volunteering to help?"
Acheron met his gaze without wavering. Pure honesty—no joke, no flourish.
"I don't approve of what the Family is doing," she said. "But if you interfere, the result might be different."
"You trust me that much?" Wei Qing asked.
"I trust your strength," Acheron corrected. "And as fellow self-annihilators, the stronger you become, the more it benefits me."
Her reasons were simple—and frighteningly rational.
After what had happened in the land of Nihility long ago, Acheron had always believed Wei Qing, like her, desired an end to Nihility.
Over these eight centuries, she had sought an answer on her own, even brushing the edge of the Xth—and clashing with Polka Kakamond.
In Acheron's judgment, the Xth could only "mitigate."
That wasn't enough.
So she'd kept walking. Alone. Finding nothing.
But now she'd found a new direction.
If only an Aeon could truly kill an Aeon…
Then if Wei Qing really seized Order, wouldn't that mean he could become something close to an Aeon?
Maybe not immediately.
Maybe not fully.
But he would climb closer than anyone else she'd seen.
And IX—the Aeon who believed everything meaningless—would not resist death.
That possibility, however thin, was still the clearest bet she'd found in centuries.
Wei Qing's expression shifted slightly.
He expanded a silent barrier, cutting the bar's noise away—cutting even the other three at the table out of the moment.
"Acheron," he said quietly, "you're expecting too much of me."
"Not expectation," she replied. "Probability."
"You carry too many Paths. If you add Order… you might brush that threshold."
Wei Qing exhaled softly.
"That threshold…"
"Acheron, do you know what you're saying?"
"You're talking about becoming Zandar."
Acheron's gaze stayed steady.
"I know exactly what I want."
"IX doesn't care whether it lives or dies," she said. "But I do."
"If someone can end that Nihility… I will wait."
"And I will help."
"It's the closest thing to a real path I've found."
Wei Qing held her gaze.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Outside the barrier, Penacony remained loud and bright.
Inside it, the air felt like the calm before a storm.
Join here to read ahead.
In Star Rail, Ultra-Beast Armored — Have I Caught "Equilibrium"? l (Chapter 80)
Uma Musume, But I Only Have Five Years Left to Live (Chapter 178)
Zenless Zone Zero: I'm a Doctor, Not a Bangboo (Chapter 180)
Ben Tennyson Wants to Join the Justice League ( 126 )
TYPE-MOON: Redemption Beginning with the Holy Grail War (Chapter110)
Yu-Gi-Oh! — Transmigrated into the White Dragon Girl (Chapter260)
"Is this chat group even serious?" (Chapter135)
I, Lord Ravager, Utterly Loyal! (This matter is completely finished.)
Can Playing Games Save the World? 65
Crossover Anime Multiverse: The Demon Hunter of an Unnatural World 77
From Junkman to Wasteland 66
Weekly Refresh of Overpowered 31
I'm Grinding Proficiency Like 46
From Kiana, Lord Ravager, Onwa 240
Honkai: Is This Still the Prev 42
Elf: My Starter Pokémon Is Inc 65
Warhammer: My Primarch Is Remi 210
From Demon Slayer to Grand Ass Volume2/20
The Way the Umamusume Look at 68
Uma Musume, but My Cheat Power 280
Naruto: Weaving the Future, Be 65
Zenless Zone Zero, but Kamen R 76
Multiverse Crossover: The Perf 66
My Cyberpsycho Girlfriend 65
Uma Musume: The Dark Trainer 260
Uma Musume: A Calamity Born fr 154
I, a Reincarnation-Loop Player Volume4/40
The Violent Girl Group Is Beat 130
Uma Musume: The Horse Girl Who 67
Uma Musume: From Beginner 155
Becoming a Horse Girl, I Will 85
Uma Musume: I Want All 120
I Can Copy Unique Skills 120
Summoning an Evil God, but the 75
Supernatural Multiverse 135
My Harem Is Indescribable 105
Jujutsu Kaisen: Heroic Spirit 110
"I'm just a Valkyrie passing through." 67
Uma Musume: Today Is Another Romantic Battlefield 110
Still playing traditional Honk 91
The Most Filial Son Under Heav 95
What Should I Do After Switchi - Volume2/3
Reincarnated as a Demon, Skill 80
Hell-Difficulty Dungeon? 55
Transmigrated as Sukuna 90
Checking In in Demon Slayer 95
The Reincarnating Trainer of Tracen Academy 105
I Refuse to Become a Heroic 95
My Best Friend Into a Slime? 80
A Saiyan Stands Above Marvel 100
What Do You Mean by Using a Lab Mod to Be the Hero? 95
Tanya Starts from Re:Zero 85
Why did they assign me to Uma 80
MYGO Beauties 75
DanMachi: Emiya the Giant Hero 80
The Gacha Merchant Who Started 90
Honkai's Otherworld? Wait—Who Are You People?! 105
Emiya Shirou, Determined to Slay Every Curse and Evil Spirit 65
The Uma Musume Who Became 70
I'm Definitely Not the King of 85
After Maxing Out Every Class 85
Naruto: I'm Konoha's Local Men 44
Honkai: World Modulation Mode 70
I, the Elden Sword Saint 60
Dio Brando Is Challenging FGO 60
No One Knows Pokémon Better 55
I, Sakazuki, Won't Go Down Tha 55
From Trilobites to Titans 55
Chainsaw Man: Contracted with 66
DanMachi: My Party Members Are 70
An Anime Heroine Darkened 60
Yu-Gi-Oh!: Duel Links 50
Honkai: The Fire Devil 30
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