A Guide to Humanity’s Extinction

"Come on, how can you guys have zero reaction to such juicy gossip? You're really letting Qing down."

Ke Mingqing sipped his Sprite and waved a hand in front of his second sister and oldest brother. "Dad is Rain Crow, Dad is Rain Crow, Dad is Rain Crow! Say it with me."

Xia Lingxue drew a quiet breath, forcing herself not to snap at her younger brother. After all, barely thirty seconds had passed since she apologized for the Brain Imaging Helmet incident.

Ke Linye stayed silent for a long moment before letting out a dry chuckle and shaking his head. "A'Qing, that's even more ridiculous than claiming Mom is the magical girl Xi Ziyue. Though I guess Xi Ziyue and Mom are both a bit airheaded."

"Is it really that hard to believe me?" Ke Mingqing asked, shooting them a disdainful look.

"Ever hear the story of the boy who cried wolf?" Ke Linye shrugged. "A certain little liar was just claiming seconds ago that he wasn't a superhero and had no interest in them."

"Here, look at this text Dad sent. Do you think an ordinary cop would have the channels to dig up intel from the Magical Girl Company?"

Ke Mingqing spoke calmly, pulling up his messages and turning the screen toward them.

Seeing Ke Mingqing acting so serious, Ke Linye and Xia Lingxue exchanged a glance and fell silent.

[Ke Mingwei: I checked with the medical examiners at the Magical Girl Company. They said that because 'corrupted mana' was left on Kiyono Sakura's body, they can confirm it was the work of a witch.]

[Ke Mingwei: Right now, the Magical Girl Company has narrowed the suspects down to three witches from the Terminal Tower.]

Ke Linye's expression shifted, and Xia Lingxue frowned slightly.

"See?" Ke Mingqing looked at them smugly.

A brief silence descended on the living room. After a moment, Ke Linye broke the quiet.

"Hard to say. Dad isn't just some ordinary cop," Ke Linye stubbornly clung to his position. "He's been on the force for over twenty years. It's not impossible for him to have built some connections with the medical examiners at the Magical Girl Company."

Xia Lingxue crossed her arms. "Do you have any more reliable evidence?" she asked coldly.

"Nope." Ke Mingqing curled his lip. "Tch, don't believe me then. It just so happens Dad is on a business trip in the US for the next couple of days. When he's in a meeting with the Roundtable, I'll video call him and prove it to you."

Xia Lingxue remained silent. A moment later, she suddenly let out a cold laugh. Raising her right hand, she lightly poked Ke Mingqing's forehead with her index and middle fingers.

She said softly, "Fine. Then I'll stay in Leijing for a couple more days and wait for your evidence."

"You know I'm Blue Pigeon and you still dare poke my forehead? Careful, I might shock you." Ke Mingqing blocked her fingers with his palm, grasping Xia Lingxue's entire hand.

Xia Lingxue froze slightly, only just realizing that her little brother's hands had grown so large. After a long moment, she tilted her head and issued a one-word provocation:

"Shock me."

"Then I'm really going to," Ke Mingqing warned.

In the next instant, deep blue lightning burst from Ke Mingqing's palm. He curled his lips. The electric glow illuminated his eyes in a flash, casting a ferocious, ruthless shadow over his features.

Xia Lingxue raised an eyebrow.

Driven by combat instincts honed over years, she normally would have conjured a layer of frost to protect her right hand. But then she noticed something strange—the blue electricity didn't hurt her at all. Instead, it wrapped around her hand like a gentle flow of water.

Xia Lingxue quietly watched this happen, finding the sensation hard to describe.

If she had to put it into words, it felt like being enveloped in a flame that wouldn't burn, or drawing near a sun that refused to scorch. It was intensely warm, carrying a faint sensation of roasting heat.

Ke Mingqing looked up, observing his second sister's reaction.

He figured that since he would have to reveal his 'Thunder God' form to them sooner or later, he might as well get past his highly suspicious second sister first, lest a long night bring many dreams.

At that moment, Ke Linye spoke up indifferently without looking away from the TV:

"It's fine for siblings to bond, but don't take it too far. When I sparred with your second sister a few years ago, we both nearly died on the rooftop."

Xia Lingxue's gaze remained fixed on Ke Mingqing's palm.

She recalled the incident and replied at a leisurely pace, "That was because you took the drinks and ice cream I had in the freezer. I genuinely fought you with intent to kill. You were the only one who unilaterally thought we were 'bonding'."

"Hey, hey, little sister, do we really have to say such hurtful things?" Ke Linye gave a dry laugh and took a sip of his coffee.

"Stop spouting nonsense. Don't you think something is a little strange?" Xia Lingxue asked suddenly after a moment.

"Having a younger sister who wants to kill you is indeed very strange."

Ke Linye sighed as he spoke, picking up the remote to change the channel.

"I'm talking about A'Qing's lightning."

Ke Linye's right hand paused. Raising an eyebrow, he shifted his gaze from the TV and turned to look at Ke Mingqing's left hand.

The deep blue electric light was swimming sluggishly through the air like a drifting fish, swallowing Xia Lingxue's right hand into its belly.

Only then did he realize that Xia Lingxue wasn't using her esper abilities to protect her hand. Yet, not only was her hand uninjured, but a scar on her index finger was visibly fading away right before their eyes.

Ke Linye's clear eyes widened slightly. "This is..." Before he could think further, Ke Mingqing's voice interrupted him.

"Wow, it actually has a scar-removal function too. You never know until you try," Ke Mingqing boasted, sighing in self-admiration.

"A'Qing, did your esper ability mutate?" Xia Lingxue asked, looking up after a moment of silence.

"What else could it be?"

"Since when?" Ke Linye picked up the thread.

"Hmm... I discovered it a little over ten days ago, right after I fought those brats from the Clockwork Alliance. I was on the verge of death at the time, and it seems I unlocked some new potential."

Ke Mingqing was solemnly spouting complete nonsense.

"I see..." Ke Linye raised an eyebrow. "I have heard of situations like this. When espers face a desperate situation, they can break through their limits and awaken new powers."

He scratched his cheek, his pitch-black earring swaying slightly. "So A'Qing, when you were heavily injured, you awakened this 'healing lightning' and healed your own body?"

"Exactly," Ke Mingqing nodded. "I almost kicked the bucket back then. I kept wondering who saved me, only to figure out later that my own lightning healed me."

He retracted the deep blue electric glow and released his second sister's right hand. "Anyway, right now my lightning has two uses. One is like this, used to heal my own or others' bodies. The other is a black lightning meant purely for destruction."

Xia Lingxue thought for a moment before raising her eyes, staring at Ke Mingqing with a mix of belief and doubt.

If she hadn't already tested Ke Mingqing so many times, she might have suspected her younger brother was a player because of this.

Ke Mingqing nodded. The reason he didn't tell them about his fusion lightning form was because he figured he might need to use that move on them in the future, so it was best to keep it hidden for now.

He thought for a moment before speaking up to break the silence enveloping the three of them.

"How about it? Sounds pretty awesome, right? I was thinking, it just so happens the Roundtable doesn't seem to have any healer-type ability users. If I can follow Rain Crow into the Roundtable, my new powers will have a place to shine."

Xia Lingxue said slowly, "It's not that the Roundtable doesn't have healer-type ability users. The 'nanotech healing devices' built by Dr. Toy are far more incredible than you can imagine; they can even regenerate severed limbs in a matter of seconds."

Ke Mingqing rolled his eyes. "That's just the superpower of money, also known as 'technology'."

"Then with all that technology, what do they need you for?" Xia Lingxue asked. "You want to go all that way to join the Roundtable just to be an errand-boy combat medic?"

Ke Mingqing was perplexed. "Do you guys really want to keep me from joining the Roundtable that badly?"

Ke Linye remained silent. He didn't know whether he should mention that he and Black Hand Zorro were actually planning to hunt down several of the Roundtable Heroes in the Roundtable before they retired.

But seeing his younger brother so fascinated with the Roundtable, it was genuinely hard for him to speak up right then.

Xia Lingxue stayed quiet for a long while before she suddenly said, "You're grown up now. You can make your own choices."

"I thought you'd break my legs."

"I really did consider doing just that." Xia Lingxue sighed. "But there's no need. I know Rain Crow, and I've worked with him a few times. If I just straight-up tell him, 'Blue Pigeon is my brother, I don't want him caught up in any danger, so don't drag him into the muddy waters of the Roundtable,' there's a high chance he'll listen."

Ke Mingqing had just taken a mouthful of Sprite. Unable to hold it in, he let out a "pfft" and sprayed it everywhere, hastily covering his mouth with his hand.

Ke Linye raised a finger, using pitch-black moonlight to hand him a tissue.

"Thanks, bro." Ke Mingqing wiped his mouth, then looked speechlessly at his second sister, whose expression was as cold as frost.

"Got a problem with that?"

"No problem. If you can convince Rain Crow, then go right ahead."

Ke Mingqing spoke with a dejected expression, putting down the tissue, but inwardly he was teasing: Good, very good. I'm actually curious what kind of reaction Crow Man will have to hearing you say that. If you want to say it, then go right ahead.

"I don't think there's any need to make the atmosphere so heavy. Why don't we talk about Xiao Li first?" Ke Linye suggested, resting his cheek against his fist and letting out a yawn.

"Speaking of little sis, I have a lot to ask you guys about her." Ke Mingqing's eyes lit up.

"Ask."

"First of all, how did you guys know she was the magical girl Ember?"

Ke Linye rested his chin on his hand and thought about it. It seemed even he had forgotten the exact sequence of events.

"Your memory is getting more and more concerning," Xia Lingxue said softly.

"Can't be helped. Mutants all have flaws like this to some extent..." Ke Linye shook his head and sighed.

It's fine, little sis is forgetful too, and it's even more exaggerated with her. She forgot everything from before she was ten and can only rely on her diaries to remember... Ke Mingqing wanted to say that, but couldn't bring himself to speak the words.

He lowered his eyes, quietly spacing out for a moment.

"Oh... I remember now." Ke Linye suddenly lifted his head, his eyes lighting up.

Xia Lingxue, however, spoke up before him. "White Jack exposed her identity to us. We were fighting Death Crow at the port at the time, and you had run away, so you didn't know what was happening."

"Wow, this White Jack is seriously evil, huh? He just loves sowing discord in our family." Ke Mingqing was shocked.

He fell silent for a moment. "Don't you guys think his cheap, trash-talking attitude is just like our third sister's?"

"No, it's not. Bring it up again and I'll beat you to death."

"White Jack is way beyond just being cheap. Don't insult our cute A'zhi, okay?"

Xia Lingxue and Ke Linye spoke at the exact same time.

Both of them clearly refused to associate White Jack with their lively, adorable younger sister. Even just accidentally making the connection for a single second caused their faces to turn slightly pale and ashen.

Ke Mingqing rolled his eyes at them. "Alright then, so you guys also know that little sis has run into some trouble?"

Ke Linye nodded silently. Xia Lingxue spoke up with a lukewarm tone:

"You mean the fact that a witch has targeted Xiao Li, right?"

"Exactly. My classmate, Kiyono Sakura, died a tragic death at the hands of a witch," Ke Mingqing said in a low voice. "That witch is very likely from the Terminal Tower, and she has targeted little sis too."

Ke Linye and Xia Lingxue—one looking at the TV, the other hugging her shoulders and staring at the floor—were both deep in thought, their expressions entirely cold.

Without saying a word, they quietly waited for Ke Mingqing's next sentence.

"But you guys don't need to worry too much," Ke Mingqing said evenly. "Xi Ziyue gave little sis a Magic Card as a protective talisman. The moment little sis is in life-threatening danger, she'll show up."

He paused, plucking a piece of raisin bread from the box on the table and dangling it from his mouth. "Xi Ziyue is the strongest magical girl of this era. She's on the same level as Rain Crow and Clock Maker, so she's still very reliable."

Xia Lingxue was silent for a moment before saying seriously, "A'Qing, you don't understand... No matter how strong Xi Ziyue is, the witches from the Terminal Tower aren't something she can handle all by herself."

"She's not alone. The Magical Girl Three Giants aren't just for show."

"It's still hard to say." Xia Lingxue shook her head.

"Sis, have you ever seen a witch?" Ke Mingqing asked probingly, thinking to himself that he had finally managed to bait out some useful intel.

"She hasn't, but I've seen one once." Ke Linye curled the corners of his lips as he spoke, a profound light flashing in his eyes. "During that operation, that witch nearly killed me and Zorro."

Ke Mingqing gently guided the conversation further. "Then, then, then... Since witches are so dangerous, shouldn't you guys stay in Leijing together and wait until little sis is safe?"

Ke Linye smiled faintly. "Well, why do you think I'm still here?"

"What about you, Sis?"

Xia Lingxue fell silent, only shaking her head after a long while.

"In a few days, I need to participate in a Hunt against a mythic vessel that appeared in Cairo, 'Anubis'," she said. "This operation is very dangerous. I won't be able to return from Egypt until it's completely finished."

Ke Mingqing chewed on his bread and asked curiously, "Can't you just not go? Which is more important, your family or your mission?"

Xia Lingxue didn't say anything.

"She can't. It's an order from the Control Bureau," Ke Linye answered for her, stretching lazily.

A brief silence settled over the living room. The TV was still emitting trivial noises; the heroine in the movie Obsession smashed a wine bottle over her own head and screamed in English, "That wasn't me—"

Ke Linye leaned his head against the sofa and adjusted his earring with one hand.

Ke Mingqing hung his head, the bread dangling from his mouth. After a while, he finally asked in a small voice:

"Sis, I heard that if high-ranking executioners like you disobey orders even once, you'll be hunted down and besieged by the others... Is that true?"

"You don't need to know that much," Xia Lingxue said softly.

Ke Linye watched the TV and said expressionlessly, "Don't worry, I'm still here in Leijing... If nothing else, I can at least take Xiao Li and A'Qing and run away."

"That's what I thought last time too, and then A'zhi got hurt," Xia Lingxue said.

"That just proves you're still not reliable enough, little sister. Leave this kind of thing to your big bro..."

"Shut up."

"Understood, Officer."

Ke Linye tilted his head and silently took a sip of his coffee. Ke Mingqing downed the rest of his Sprite in one gulp, wiped his mouth, and suddenly said:

"Oh, right. Speaking of Xi Ziyue, she sent someone to ask me to meet her alone tomorrow."

"Xi Ziyue?"

"Yeah," Ke Mingqing nodded.

Ke Linye raised an eyebrow. "When tomorrow?"

"Tomorrow morning," Ke Mingqing said, casually tossing his empty can into a trash can over ten meters behind him. "I can't tell you guys the location, it's confidential... Magical girls only have a few spots where they meet up, unlike the Roundtable with its majestic Empire State Building."

He thought for a moment, then suddenly looked up at the two of them and said slyly:

"Now that I think about it, Xi Ziyue is actually a fan of Rain Crow."

"Uh... so what?"

Ke Linye asked casually. Xia Lingxue didn't process the words, keeping her head lowered in deep thought.

"No way, do you really not get it, bro? It means Xi Ziyue wants to hook up with Rain Crow, and Rain Crow is my dad—!" At this point, Ke Mingqing bit into his bread and said with a completely serious face:

"So, if I just call Xi Ziyue 'Mom' the moment I see her tomorrow, she'll have my back from now on, right?"

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