Ke Mingqing stood in the doorway, quietly watching Xia Lingxue. He still remembered how, not too long ago at the Superhero Company, the super-human species panel floating above his second sister's head had looked clearly abnormal:
The "Super-human Species Type" column on her panel had displayed a question mark, something that had never happened before.
Now the reason was clear. Aside from being an Esper, she had another identity—a mythic vessel, a human hosting the power and lingering consciousness of a deity within their body.
'Why did her super-human species panel show up outside, but not at home?' Ke Mingqing wondered. 'Was it because she had been wearing a mask at the time, or was there another reason?'
"Not going to speak?" Xia Lingxue asked, crossing her arms. "Don't recognize your own sister?"
Ke Mingqing muttered, "You shoved a piece of candy in my mouth the second I came in. Anyone watching would think you were kidnapping a kid."
"You're in high school, not a kid. Have a little self-awareness," Xia Lingxue said. "How were your finals?"
"Alright, I guess. Just average. My grades will probably be about the same as usual when they come out." Ke Mingqing popped the lollipop back into his mouth, took off his shoes, and stepped into the house ahead of her.
The living room lights were off, the space empty and deserted.
A sliver of twilight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, stretching his shadow.
He tossed his backpack onto the sofa, sat down, and unlocked his phone. He logged into the official superhero website and soon found his own hero profile under the "Rising Stars" section.
It listed Blue Pigeon as a D Rank contracted hero, the same rank as Top Hero. Yet the popularity of Blue Pigeon's profile was bizarrely high. It had been up for less than an hour, but it already had over a million views—an absolute anomaly among D Rank heroes.
'This is the perk of living in a house full of celebrities,' Ke Mingqing thought. 'White Jack leeched off my little sister's infamy during his first appearance, and Blue Pigeon debuted by riding Terror Crow's coattails.'
[You currently have one chance to use the Item Wheel. Would you like to use it now?]
Ke Mingqing pressed "Use" and glanced at the six sections on the wheel.
The prizes were "2,000 Super Coins," "Cursed Doll: Mio," "Single-Use Skill: Soul Awakening," "Magical Girl Alarm," "Overdrive Belt," and "Travel Voucher."
He reached out and tapped the center of the wheel without a second thought.
The blood-red needle spun rapidly across the wheel before slowly grinding to a halt, its tip pointing straight at the prize in the second section.
[Congratulations, you have successfully drawn the number two prize—"Cursed Doll: Mio". This item has been added to your inventory.]
'What in the world is this? I'll test it out the next time I go out,' Ke Mingqing thought.
[Additional Prompt: Spend 5,000 Super Coins to spin the Item Wheel one more time.]
Ke Mingqing sighed. "Five thousand Super Coins... Might as well rob me."
Just then, Ke Linye strolled leisurely downstairs with a book in hand. He and Xia Lingxue stopped by the entryway, leaning against the wall as they exchanged information.
"How is it?" Xia Lingxue asked smoothly, her arms still crossed. "Has anyone in the house been acting strange?"
"No," Ke Linye shook his head. "Even if they have, I haven't noticed yet."
Both of their gazes shifted toward Ke Mingqing on the sofa.
"Then let's ignore the others for now," Xia Lingxue said blankly. "The Control Bureau has their eyes on you. I suggest you lay low for a while, otherwise a squad of S Rank Agents will descend on Leijing to hunt you down."
"How sweet. You came all the way back just to warn me?" Ke Linye smiled.
"When are you going to fix that narcissism of yours?"
"So, you returned to Leijing to look into that little Nezha business?" Ke Linye asked calmly. "Need my help?"
Xia Lingxue toyed with her phone in one hand, not bothering to look up. "This is my job. I don't need you interfering."
"Alright, alright. I know my dear little sister has grown up." Ke Linye smirked, reaching out to pat Xia Lingxue's hair.
"Do that again, and I'll kill you."
"Understood."
Ke Linye chuckled, completely unfazed. He tilted his head, and his pitch-black earrings swayed, clinking softly in the breeze.
"Right, does the name 'White Jack' ring a bell?" Xia Lingxue asked suddenly after a moment of silence.
"White Jack?" Ke Linye mused. "Oh... That guy came looking for me a few days ago, and I slaughtered him."
He paused. "From what I saw, he was just the kind of weak punk who talked big to hide how pathetic he really was. Do you care about him?"
"A little." Xia Lingxue thought for a second. "But I don't really know why..."
"A pity. If you'd told me earlier, I would have tied him up and brought him to you to slice apart," Ke Linye said mildly.
While the siblings chatted, Ke Mingqing, sitting on the living room sofa not far away, opened the Skill Shop.
This was exactly the thrill he enjoyed—playing the part of a harmless sheep while secretly stealing chicken right under the noses of two leopards. Worst-case scenario, he'd just die.
Reflected in his eyes, today's five available skills gradually faded into view.
[Skill 1: Midas Touch (D Rank Skill) (2,000 Super Coins) (When you kill a target using this skill, there is a certain probability of acquiring 200 Super Coins.)]
[Note: The probability of obtaining coins depends on your 'Strength' attribute.]
'Wow, too bad it has a cooldown and relies on probability,' Ke Mingqing thought. 'Not meant for someone with my terrible luck.'
[Skill 2: Perfect Smile (E Rank Skill) (1,000 Super Coins) (Upon activating this skill, you will display a flawless smile, with a chance to increase the target's affection toward you.) (The charm of the smile depends on your 'Spirit' attribute.)]
'What is this even for?' Ke Mingqing shrugged. 'If I buy this, can I just smile at my little sister and wipe the slate clean?'
[Skill 3: Bladed Wings (C Rank Skill) (5,000 Super Coins) (Upon activation, you briefly gain a pair of massive, bird-like wings that can rain down blade-like feathers.)]
'So tacky. Reminds me of that birdman my older brother one-shot earlier,' Ke Mingqing roasted mentally.
[Skill 4: I Think, Therefore I Am (D Rank Skill) (2,000 Super Coins) (When you sit down to meditate, your wounds will heal themselves at a fixed rate.)]
'Feels worse than... the breathing regen method.'
[Skill 5: It's Raining (E Rank Skill) (1,000 Super Coins) (Snap your fingers to summon a localized heavy rainstorm.)]
'Looks like there aren't any useful skills today either.' Ke Mingqing scratched his chin. 'I'll just take this one for now. It's an E Rank skill anyway, so it's cheap, and I can swap it out whenever I don't need it anymore.'
So, he raised his hand and long-pressed the skill icon.
[1,000 Super Coins spent. E Rank Skill "It's Raining" successfully purchased. This skill has been automatically equipped in your 5th skill slot.]
[Player's current Super Coin balance: 5,500]
'All five of my skill slots are full now. I won't be able to unlock the next one until I hit level 10, but that isn't too far off.'
As he thought this, Ke Mingqing twisted his head to look over the back of the sofa. Ke Linye and Xia Lingxue were already gone from the entryway; they had probably slipped out while he wasn't paying attention.
Right then, Xia Zili hurried downstairs, brushing past the sofa and walking briskly toward the entryway.
She walked quickly, her heavy footsteps thumping against the floorboards.
Seeing this, Ke Mingqing got up from the sofa, followed her, and grabbed Xia Zili by the wrist from behind.
"I need to talk to you."
She froze for a moment but still didn't look back. Her bangs hung low, hiding her eyes, as her lips parted:
"Let go."
"Just for a second."
"I don't have time."
Xia Zili forcefully wrenched her wrist out of Ke Mingqing's grip and walked out without looking back.
Ke Mingqing watched her leave and sighed.
"I have no idea what she's so mad about, but she should cool off once I come clean and tell her I'm part of the super-human species too..."
"Regardless, I should use my identity as Blue Pigeon to get to know her first. Otherwise, even if I tell her 'I am Blue Pigeon' later, she'll just wonder what random street dog Blue Pigeon is."
[Tracking Sunglasses have locked onto the super-human species 'Magical Girl Ember'. The target's location will be continuously marked on the map for the next two hours.]
Ke Mingqing tucked the sunglasses into his pocket, stepped out of the house, and made his way toward the abandoned train station.
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