After two consecutive high-intensity battles, Yan Qi finally let out a sigh of relief as she watched the last Fleshbloom in the real world turn to ash under the flames of Samadhi Fire. The crisis looming over Ninghang City had been completely resolved.
Not far from her, Yan Yu felt the same wave of relief.
Snapping back to reality, Yan Qi knew that today’s success in averting the crisis was due in no small part to her sister’s efforts. A faint smile touched her lips as she spoke.
“Thank you for your help today, Yan Yu. If I’d been alone, I can’t even imagine how I would’ve dealt with so many cultists and abyssal beasts.”
Yan Yu quickly waved off the gratitude.
“Daoyan, there’s no need to be so polite. If you hadn’t warned me and the Special Affairs Bureau, who would’ve known the cultists had planted so many dangerous Fleshblooms in Ninghang City?”
“I know I played a big part in this, but that doesn’t mean your efforts were meaningless. So just accept my thanks.”
Hearing this, Yan Yu could no longer refuse.
“Alright, since you put it that way, I’ll accept your gratitude.”
Seeing her sister finally relent, Yan Qi couldn’t help but smirk.
But then, Yan Yu suddenly seemed to remember something.
“Oh, right. If you’re handing out thanks, didn’t you forget someone?”
“Forget someone? You mean Hu Yao’er?”
Guessing who she was referring to, Yan Qi posed the question.
Yan Yu nodded.
“Yes, Yao’er. After all, she was involved in this too—she helped both of us.”
Confirming her suspicion, Yan Qi looked at her sister and said,
“Got it. Once Yao’er gets here, I’ll thank her properly.”
“Good. But, Daoyan… can I ask you something?”
Blinking at the sudden question, Yan Qi replied,
“Sure. What is it?”
With a mix of curiosity and confusion, Yan Yu asked,
“I just wanted to know… why do you always call people your age or younger by their full names? Like me and Yao’er.”
Caught off guard by the question, Yan Qi paused before offering a quick excuse.
“Well, I don’t have many friends. I’m used to being on my own, so I got into the habit of using full names for people around my age or younger.”
“Oh… I see. That explains why you call me and Yao’er so formally.”
Buying the explanation, Yan Yu nodded. But then, a hopeful glint appeared in her eyes.
“Daoyan… could you try breaking that habit with me?”
Yan Qi coughed awkwardly. The real reason she used full names wasn’t some ingrained habit—it was to avoid slipping up and revealing their sisterly relationship. If Yan Yu ever found out she’d been deceived, the fallout would be… unpleasant.
“Sorry, but this habit’s too hard to change now.”
“Really? That’s a shame…”
Yan Yu’s face fell slightly. She’d been hoping Daoyan might call her “Xiao Yu” like a friend would.
Seeing her sister’s disappointment, Yan Qi stayed firm.
“Come on, Yan Yu. A normal person should smile more.”
She quickly shifted the topic.
“Anyway, with my involvement, the situation in Ninghang City is pretty much wrapped up. There’s still some cleanup, but nothing that requires me to stick around. So, it’s time for me and Yao’er to leave.”
“You’re leaving already?”
Yan Yu’s expression shifted, her earlier disappointment replaced by surprise.
Yan Qi simply nodded.
“Yeah.”
Yan Yu opened her mouth as if to say more, but the words wouldn’t come. After a long pause, she finally managed,
“Then… please be careful on your way back.”
“Don’t worry, it’s not my first time. I’ll be fine. See you.”
“See you.”
With that, Yan Qi levitated off the ground, rising a dozen meters into the air. Locking onto her doppelganger Hu Yao’er’s location, she flew off, pretending to rendezvous with her before leaving Ninghang City together.
As she watched Daoyan disappear into the distance, Yan Yu couldn’t shake a hollow feeling in her chest. They’d fought side by side for so long today…
But then she remembered—both of them were members of the Free Life Association. They’d definitely meet again.
“Wait… if we’re in the same organization, that means she must have an account on that mysterious chat app too. Ugh, why did I forget to ask her to add me as a friend?!”
The realization hit her like a brick. She groaned internally at her own oversight.
“Well, it’s fine. We’ll cross paths again. Or… maybe I can ask Xiao Ge for help.”
Comforted by the thought, Yan Yu stopped sulking and started seriously considering which approach would be better—waiting for their next encounter or seeking out Ji Zige’s assistance.
Meanwhile, completely unaware that her sister was racking her brain over how to add her as a friend, Yan Qi—after ensuring she was well out of sight—canceled her Daoyan the Empress transformation and switched to her Digital Diva form.
Once transformed, she immediately activated the Digital Diva’s skills, slipping into the omnipresent internet to make a swift and secure return to her home in Fangfeng City.