Even if you're a corrupted magical girl, you still have to try to redeem yourself.

Yuuki Yui was indeed a little flustered, but that was just a moment ago. She wasn't so clumsy as to constantly display her helplessness and demonstrate her clumsiness through every word and action, leaving only worry for those who cared about her.

Yuuki Yukino raised her head and looked again at her sister's light yellow eyes, which were exactly the same as hers: "Well, I have something to do."

She thought her sister would ask questions like, "What are you going to do?" or "Do you have to do it today?", but Yuuki Tamaki didn't.

She simply nodded gently: "When will you be back?"

Yuuki Yui paused for a moment, then replied, "I don't know, maybe... it'll be a little later?"

Yuki Tamaki didn't press further, but simply sighed quietly, her tone revealing an even deeper concern than before.

"It's getting late, be careful."

Yuuki Yukino felt her eyes getting sore again, and she blinked hard, even though her unusual blinking frequency might reveal her feelings to her sister.

"Okay, I'll be back soon."

"Hmm." Yuuki Tamaki nodded slightly, then raised his hand, his gaze falling on Yuuki Yuuki's shoulder.

Yuuki Yukino's body stiffened slightly, but she did not dodge Yuuki Tamaki's movement.

Yuki Tamaki's only target was the collar of his shirt that he hadn't had time to straighten when he put on his clothes.

The older sister's fingers touched the edge of her slightly disheveled collar. Her hand moved very lightly and slowly, as if she were touching a fragile treasure.

Yuuki Yui seemed to sense that her sister's fingertips were trembling slightly, but she couldn't tell.

All she could see was her sister's serious expression.

Her fingers carefully turned the collar straight, smoothing out every wrinkle. The process was very slow, but it didn't take Yuuki Tamaki too much time.

Finally, Yuuki Tamaki's hand slid down to his sister's shoulder, and after a normal pat, he moved it away from Yuuki Emi's arm.

Something seemed to flow from Yuuki Tamaki's palm into Yuuki Yuen's body, causing Yuuki Yuen's throat to tighten slightly.

It wasn't some kind of memory or magic; it was something more abstract, yet it made Yuuki Yuki even more powerful.

It's nothing special, just something ordinary and commonplace in this world, but unique to Yuuki Yuuki: a sister's care for her younger sister.

"Come back soon."

As Yuuki Tamaki spoke, he made way for Yuuki Yuki in the doorway.

"Well, I will."

Yuuki En nodded slightly and brushed past Yuuki Tamaki.

Tamaki Yuuki silently stopped in place, watching Yuuki Yuuki walk further and further away in the dim light.

……

The door to Yuuki Yuuki's house slammed shut. Yuuki Yuuki pulled her coat tighter and slowly walked down the stairs, one step at a time, as she always did when she came home and went out.

Unbeknownst to Yuuki Yuuki, the faint sound of a door opening creaked and groaned. This easily overlooked sound blended into the darkness the moment it was emitted, becoming one of the night's noises.

A pair of eyes, hidden behind thick glasses, peeked out from the crack in the open door, staring at Yuuki Yuki's back as it shrank and receded further and further away.

Lin Jiezi's heart was beating so fast that she could hear it pounding like a drum in this not-so-quiet environment, as if it would leap out of her chest in a beautiful arc like a diver at any moment.

The palms of the hands gripping the door frame tightly were slippery with sweat, and the knuckles of the fingers were white from the force of the grip.

"I...should...go..."

Lin Jiezi said this to herself, her voice as soft as a mosquito's whimper in the ear on a summer day.

"I should go."

Lin Jiezi repeated it again, this time in a louder voice, but her feet seemed rooted to the spot, and she couldn't take a single step out of her house.

At that moment, countless thoughts flashed through Lin Jiezi's mind.

Will I become a burden?

Am I able to help?

Is there anything that only you can do?

A multitude of chaotic and bizarre thoughts filled Lin Jiezi's mind, colliding back and forth like glass marbles, making her thinking sluggish.

But as she pondered, time could not be stopped. She had already seen Yuuki Yuuki disappear at the top of the stairs and would go further and further away.

Lin Jiezi looked at the clothes she was already wearing, and then at the empty corridor.

The barely audible footsteps seemed to be her last bit of motivation.

Finally, Lin Jiezi gritted her teeth and pushed open the door. The cold night wind rushed in, making her shiver after being in the room for so long.

Lin Jiezi stumbled out of the house, almost tripping over the threshold, but she didn't care. Without stopping or hesitating, she quickly chased after him.

I did chase after them, but then what?

Lin Jiezi hadn't decided yet; she just wanted to help Yuki Yuki a little.

As she ran, she silently thought about what she should say to Yuuki Yuki, but the more she thought about it, the more nervous she became, and the more chaotic her mind became, making it impossible for her to think normally.

After running only a couple of steps, Lin Jiezi started panting heavily. Just the short distance downstairs had taken a lot of her energy.

Lin Jiezi's athletic ability is not very good. Among all the members of Nijisanji, only Yuuki Yuki, whose physical strength is really poor, can compete with her for the last place.

But the person she was chasing didn't start running, so she still had time, she definitely had time.

Lin Jiezi's breathing became increasingly rapid, her steps became erratic and unsteady, and she even nearly bumped into a roadside trash can.

She had originally planned to stop and catch her breath, but seeing Yuki Yuki's receding figure, she became anxious and quickened her pace.

Yuuki Yukino also heard the strange noise behind her.

At first, Yuuki Yui didn't pay much attention, but after a moment, she realized that it was coming towards her.

If it were any other magical girl's companion, they wouldn't be playing these silly little games with me at such a serious time. And this person couldn't possibly be my sister, besides, my sister wouldn't be chasing after me.

Besides that, I don't know anyone else around here.

Even if it's someone you know well, if they want to pursue you, all they have to do is call out to you, right?

Therefore, the other party is either an enemy, or... a not-so-bright guy who has ill intentions towards me but can't quite be considered an enemy yet.

The most likely explanation is that they are parasites sent by Asahimi to monitor him.

Although Yuuki Enishi felt that such a thing posed no threat to her, it was Asahimi's eyes, and Asahimi might learn incredible information or even descend upon this place through them.

Now is the time for me to launch a surprise attack; it wouldn't be good if Asahimi saw it.

Let's find a place to take care of it then.

As Yuuki Yui thought to herself, she silently quickened her pace and arrived at the nearest corner in her memory before the other party caught up with her.

Come on, crash into me like an idiot.

Yuki En thought to herself, and waited at the corner, listening to the footsteps in the distance getting closer and closer.

Dark purple tentacles climbed up the wall, forming a small but deadly trap, waiting for unsuspecting prey to stumble into it.

Three, two, one.

Right now.

The tentacles lurking nearby transformed into sharp needles, surrounding the suddenly intruding figure from all sides and trapping her within.

"Yeah!"

The trapped girl let out a scream, which, though not loud, carried far.

The tentacle spikes that were supposed to pierce the girl's body stopped, and the tentacles surrounding the girl's back also retreated a considerable distance as the girl instinctively stepped back.

Because Yuuki Yukino had already clearly seen the other person's face.

Even in her transformed state, she firmly believed that the other party would not fail to recognize her face.

"Lin Jiezi?"

Yuuki Yukino couldn't help but ask a question.

"What are you doing here?"

Chapter 176 Past and Ending

"Why are you following me so late? Honestly, I thought someone was trying to ambush me."

Yuuki sighed loudly, blaming Hayashi while diligently straightening her clothes.

"me……"

Lin Jiezi still stuttered as before, unable to utter a single word for a long time.

Yuki En was already used to this. When interacting with Hayashi Keiko, one had to remain calm and composed. The more anxious she was, the more anxious Hayashi Keiko became, and the less she could say what she wanted to say.

Although Yuuki Yuen could vaguely guess why Hayashi Kikuko was following him in the middle of the night, he couldn't be sure until Hayashi Kikuko told him herself.

Lin Jiezi's face flushed bright red instantly, and she stammered, "I...I...I want...to go...with you..."

Lin Jiezi's voice grew softer and softer until it was almost completely inaudible.

But Yuuki Yukari could still hear clearly that what Lin Jiezi said was exactly what she had expected.

Of all the people who could be called companions, there were three whom Yuuki Yukino had not informed beforehand.

Firstly, there's Kuroba Reise. Yuuki Yuki completely distrusts Kuroba Reise. Although Kuroba Reise might fight for Seishin, if Seishin rejoins Asahimi's side, Kuroba Reise's defection is inevitable.

After all, the opponents were two enemies wielding wands of the level of three pillar gods, and Yuuki Yuki didn't want to make the already difficult eight-on-two or eight-on-three match even more challenging.

Secondly, there is the Melting Mountain Lamp.

It wasn't that Yuuki Yuki deliberately didn't notify them; rather, she felt that it wasn't appropriate for Lava Mountain Lantern to appear in that situation, and there was someone else more suitable than herself to ask Lava Mountain Lantern for help.

Although Mizuno Yu is unreliable most of the time, the situation is so urgent now that she shouldn't do anything out of line.

It should be... probably... maybe... perhaps... maybe... that's how it is, right?

The third one is Lin Jiezi, who is standing right in front of us.

The primordial power within Lin Jiezi is indeed the strongest fighting force. Just as Yumehara Sumireko said, she harbors hostility towards the Three Pillar Gods and their derivatives, and instinctively begins to fight them.

However, this power is too unstable. If the primordial power within Lin Jiezi goes berserk, Yuki En can't say for sure whether the opponent's first target will be herself or an enemy.

This could develop into an even more serious situation than Kuroba Reisei's defection, which is why Yuuki Yukino had no choice but to give up.

Furthermore, if Lin Jiezi were to participate in the war, how could her power be awakened? And was this step part of Xu Ken Mashiro's plan? There were many such questions.