The café was enveloped in silence. After Chu Lian's unexpected actions earlier, none of them could look at her with a normal state of mind anymore.
Who could possibly keep a straight face after witnessing a petite girl single-handedly defeat over a hundred men—each weighing at least four times her weight—in just a few minutes?
And what's more, she hadn't used any weapons or special powers. Even while gravely injured, she'd relied solely on the kind of martial arts that ordinary people might take several years to learn.
If such a feat had appeared in a historical epic, performed by a legendary general charging through enemy ranks to take a commander's head, it might still seem believable.
But here and now, it had been accomplished by a fragile-looking little girl. The visual and psychological impact was too overwhelming. It made it impossible to face her with anything resembling casual ease.
At the table, Kujou Sakurako—who had said she had something to ask of Chu Lian—now simply sat opposite her, supporting her chin with one hand, gazing silently at her without saying a word.
The others were equally quiet. Inori rested peacefully beside Chu Lian with her eyes closed; Chu Chu and Li Xiu'er stared blankly into space; while Kurosaki Satsuki's eyes lingered on the stage where Chu Lian had fought earlier, lost in thought.
On the other side, Cai Ya and her friends exchanged uneasy glances. What had happened at the entrance of Miss Sakurako's Café was too shocking for any of them to process.
For the newcomers to the cultivation world, like Liu Yanran and Cai Ya, such a reaction was understandable. But for Ruriko Nana and Lux Lyle—who were both already part of that world—to look equally bewildered was far more puzzling.
Only Chu Lian herself remained unaffected. Ever since Dark Chu Lian had emerged, the entire incident had become nothing more than a fragmented memory—one incapable of stirring even the faintest ripple in her heart. The only thing she found herself doing afterward was replaying the battle in her mind, analyzing her shortcomings and areas for improvement.
That strange silence was finally broken when the maids—whom Kujou Sakurako had sent to the kitchen earlier—returned, carrying trays of food and drinks.
"Hey, Chu Lian-chan, I have a favor to ask you, remember?" Sakurako finally spoke, lazily stirring the coffee in front of her.
Chu Lian blinked and tilted her head, sipping her black tea before answering, "Of course I remember. You just said it a moment ago. How could I forget?"
Sakurako chuckled softly. "It's my fault, really. You were so impressive just now that I almost forgot what I came here for. Especially that last scene—those creatures, or should I say zombies, how exactly did they turn into that? I still can't figure it out."
Still absentmindedly stirring her coffee, she frowned slightly, curiosity flashing in her eyes. It seemed she was someone who liked to get to the bottom of things.
"Big sister Sakurako, are you from the cultivation world?" Chu Lian asked after another sip of tea. When she received a confirming nod, she continued, "Then it's normal to have questions about what happened at the end. I can't fully explain it either, but I can tell you—it's an ability related to time."
Sakurako nodded slowly, her expression one of realization. "Ah, time… I see. If it's a power like that, then no wonder we couldn't understand what was happening."
Chu Lian smiled faintly but said no more. That was as much as she was willing to reveal. She knew that this so-called secret wouldn't stay hidden for long, so even if she said it now, it didn't matter much.
"Alright, then I won't pry any further. Chu Lian, will you help me with something?" Sakurako leaned forward slightly, her tone turning serious.
"As long as it's within my ability—and doesn't cross my bottom line—I'll agree," Chu Lian replied calmly.
Her conditions weren't strict. But what exactly her "bottom line" was… no one truly knew.
"This matter," Kujou Sakurako began slowly after taking a sip of the bitter Compile Heart, letting its taste linger until the faint sweetness emerged, "strictly speaking, isn't something that requires your intervention—but rather your mother's."
She set her cup down and continued softly, "My father fell ill with a strange disease several years ago. We searched everywhere across Neon, both in the mundane world and the cultivation world, but no one could cure him."
"Just when we were about to give up, an old friend of my grandfather's happened to visit from Huaxia. After examining my father, he told us that it was an exceptionally rare illness, and that in this entire world, only five people could possibly save him."
"The first is the Pope of the Vatican. The second is America's only SSS-level healing ability user. The third is a legendary Neon doctor, Namikai Chimei, who disappeared decades ago. The fourth is Juexin Daoist of Huaxia. And the fifth… is a descendant of the Li family of Huaxia."
By this point, Chu Lian already understood what she meant. The first four names were legends in the cultivation world—figures renowned for being able to bring the dead back to life. The fifth, however, likely referred to Li Xiu'er's lineage.
Her mother, Li Mingxue, was indeed a descendant of the Li family—and quite possibly the only one of her generation who still carried the family's once-glorious legacy. Chu Lian didn't know whether this "Li family" referred to the imperial Li clan of the Tang Dynasty, or to the descendants of Li Shizhen from the Ming Dynasty.
If it were the former, there might be little hope. But if it were the latter, then perhaps her mother truly could become the key to saving Sakurako's father. Of course, it was also possible that—due to the distortions of time and fate—both families were somehow branches of the same lineage.
In that case, it was no wonder that someone had managed to trace the once-famous Li Mingxue, who had shaken the cultivation world over a decade ago. After all, her family had never truly gone into hiding. They had simply settled quietly in a corner of some city. For anyone patient and cautious enough, finding them wasn't too difficult.
That they had lived in peace for so many years could only mean two things—either those who might have sought them out had been eliminated, or they had been too intimidated by Li Mingxue's reputation to make a move.
Perhaps it was exactly that unguarded, "hidden in plain sight" attitude that made suspicious people overlook their true location—leaving only a handful who still remembered Li Mingxue's name.
"The Pope, of course, is impossible to approach. Even the greatest families on Earth couldn't summon him. As for America's SSS-level healer—he's practically a national treasure, and their government forbids any foreign contact with him under any circumstances. Namikai Chimei has been missing for years—we searched everywhere and found no trace. He's either passed away or chosen seclusion, beyond the reach of mortals. And Juexin Daoist is a transcendent sage. No foreign force could ever hope to find him. So, now… only your mother may still be able to save my father."
Chu Lian listened quietly, then asked after a long pause, "How can you be so sure that my mother can cure him? Or rather—how can you be certain that the Li family descendant you seek is truly my mother? And one more thing—the old friend from Huaxia who told you all this must have been an extraordinary person. Why didn't you ask for his help instead?"
These were the most obvious flaws in Sakurako's story. Chu Lian didn't necessarily think she was lying, but she wanted her to reflect—rather than cling to false hope.
"That old gentleman told us he no longer involves himself in worldly matters," Sakurako replied softly. "Meeting him was pure coincidence. He had been traveling through Neon, and when he remembered an old friend, he paid us a visit. He diagnosed my father only out of respect for their past friendship. As for how we know your mother is the Li family descendant… that's because…"
Her words trailed off there. Whatever came next was clearly a secret she wasn't supposed to reveal. She hesitated, torn over whether to continue.
"I understand," Chu Lian said gently, relieving her of the pressure. "You don't need to say more. I've already heard enough."
"Then… could you please ask your mother for help? I—I'd be deeply grateful." Sakurako's voice trembled as her eyes grew misty. It was clear this matter had long weighed heavily on her, filling her days with exhaustion and fear.
If this last attempt failed, her father's time would soon run out.
"I suppose that's why you've always followed my work so closely," Chu Lian said after a moment, "becoming my fan, and even humoring some of my strange requests. You wanted to grow closer to me—so you could eventually ask for my help, right? If today's events hadn't happened, you would have come to me soon anyway."
Hearing that, everything that had seemed puzzling before suddenly made sense.
"…You're right," Sakurako admitted after a pause. "At first, that was indeed my intention. But after hearing your songs, I genuinely became your fan. So please don't doubt that part." Her voice grew quiet, her hands clenched into fists on the table. It seemed she had already prepared herself for rejection. After all, no one liked being approached with hidden motives.
"It's fine," Chu Lian said with a light smile after pretending to think for a moment. "As long as you give me that sword afterward, I'll ask my mother to help. Any other costs or arrangements will have to be discussed directly with her. But since it's my request, she won't refuse."
After all, her mother had spent years giving her endless instructions and demands. Now, at last, there was an opportunity to trouble her in return—and even send her on a trip abroad. It didn't sound like such a bad thing.
"Thank you… truly, thank you." Sakurako rose from her seat and bowed deeply, her voice choked with emotion.
The others, who had been listening silently, couldn't help but feel a mix of emotions as they watched the scene—including Chu Chu and Li Xiu'er, who understood the conversation through Inori's translation.