Chapter 226 Sincere Pre-determination
Ma paused for a moment, then closed her eyes before replying: "...I feel pretty good, and I should be able to muster more strength than before."
It's hard to say how clear this answer is. If she were to fight now, to what extent could she actually perform? As I was thinking about this, I suddenly realized that the last time Asahi fought was when she was dealing with the Shadow Monster.
After that, she was always in a supporting role. Although she actively participated in strange events, she couldn't find a chance to show her skills because I took all the opportunities to fight. Since the Shadow Monster, the enemies have either been dangerous opponents with many hidden cards like the Monster Creator, or powerful enemies at the Great Perfection level led by Chenlong, so it's unlikely that I would let her take the field.
She couldn't seem to describe her maximum fighting strength at the moment. It wasn't that she couldn't try, but it was best not to put pressure on her soul for unnecessary tests. And so the conversation stalled again.
I must make changes as soon as possible.
Convincing Masako that my unwavering loyalty was based on "love" was certainly persuasive, but it wasn't necessarily a wise move. Even setting aside my current predicament, my true feelings were easily exposed. As mentioned before, my pursuit of the supernatural was no secret in Saltwater City. Zhu Shi even told me that some of the Luoshan detectives knew about it. It was only because Masako lacked social connections there that she had been kept in the dark until now.
Although we're now far from Saltwater City, we can't expect this secret to never reach Asaha's ears. As my reputation spreads throughout Rasan, news about my past will inevitably circulate there as well. Sooner or later, Asaha will hear about it too. Rather than letting the secret be exposed, it's better for me to tell it myself; it will actually make a better impression.
Besides, even if I were to reveal all my strange desires, Ma Zao wouldn't necessarily immediately extrapolate to the point that "Zhuang Cheng might be hoping for the end of the world." The evidence is Zhu Shi; she knows exactly what kind of person I am, yet she still doesn't realize—or at least doesn't seem to realize—my expectation of the apocalypse.
Of course, this terrible possibility still objectively exists, and it's not insignificant. After all, Asa and I will be spending a lot of time together from now on. Even if she doesn't make this connection at first, as time goes on—especially since we're on the path of investigating the truth about the apocalypse—she might more or less sense my true feelings from my attitude towards the apocalypse. I'm not exactly good at hiding my true feelings, and I can't guarantee that I can conceal my thoughts at all times.
Regardless, I have to tell the truth.
Even if things get to the worst point, and Asahi knows all about my true nature and wants to leave me, I still have one last card in my hand: the number two small bowl.
Right now, the only person who can help Mazao contact Number Two Little Bowl is me. In case Number Two Little Bowl forgets her name again and falls into a desperate situation on the verge of demonic possession, the only one who can turn the tide in Mazao's heart is me. For this reason alone, Mazao can only be kept firmly by my side.
Thinking about this, I felt confident enough to speak my mind. Okay, just in case, I prepared several drafts beforehand, anticipating Ma Zao's possible responses and questions, and then submitted them to Zhu Shi for review. Zhu Shi is also a woman, someone who knows the situation, and she supports me speaking my mind, so consulting her on this matter shouldn't be a mistake.
Maybe she can even help me practice a bit, just in case.
While I was thinking, I took Ma Zao to a secluded spot in the city and then launched a fireball vertically into the night sky.
After reaching the sky, the fireball turned ninety degrees and headed north at dozens of times the speed of sound. In just over thirty seconds, the fireball arrived over the target province and then landed in a grove of trees on the outskirts of the city.
Using this as a teleportation marker, I activated the Flame Teleportation and arrived at this place thousands of miles away.
Immediately afterwards, through the teleportation mark on my body, Asahi was also teleported to my side.
According to the arrangements mentioned by Mr. Zhu, a dedicated contact person should arrive shortly to escort us to the nearby Luoshan base. Fa Zheng will also arrive there later for a face-to-face meeting with me.
This "afterwards" likely doesn't mean immediately. Mr. Zhu mentioned that Fazheng might not be able to meet with me for another three or four days. It doesn't seem like he's just putting on airs; he probably genuinely can't come for the time being. If the mastermind behind the Divine Shot, Da Wuchang, and Fazheng have some kind of antagonistic relationship, then they might have already engaged in a behind-the-scenes conflict over the issue of Ma Zao, and the former's lack of personal intervention might be related to this matter. At this moment, the two sides might be in a state of high-intensity confrontation.
In this situation, if Fazheng were to suddenly appear before me, he might be detected by the Great Impermanence behind the Divine Shot. However, if that were the case, couldn't other means of communication be used? Or does Fazheng emphasize the ritual of face-to-face conversations?
I glanced at Mazao. Perhaps aware of the need to remain discreet, she was wearing a cat-whisker mask again. This made it even harder for me to discern her expression. A gentle evening breeze blew, and her shoulder-length hair swayed lightly in the wind.
I felt a slight chill in the wind. Zhu Shi had said this province should be very cold right now, but I didn't feel much coldness. Standing here in summer clothes didn't feel out of place at all.
In the time before the contact person arrives, I don't intend to just sit idly by. Through the "firefly" that remains at the Zhu family villa in Xianshui City, I see Zhu Shi sitting on the sofa in the living room looking at her phone. Taking this opportunity, I decide to quickly find her to consult about telling Ma Zao the truth later.
The firefly transformed into a small fireball, which then formed a vocal organ and emitted a sound: "Zhu Shi."
"Hmm?" Zhu Shi put down her phone. "Zhuang Cheng? Is there something wrong?"
"It's like this..."
I described in as much detail as possible what I was going to do next.
After listening, Zhu Shi fell silent.
"...So, Senior Brother Zhuang, you want my advice on how to confess your feelings to Ma Zao... to a thirteen-year-old girl?" she asked.
"It's not really a confession..." I said.
"Confessing one's feelings also has the meaning of 'revealing one's true feelings'."
"Then I really should confess to Asaha."
“Then you not only want to consult me, but you also want to practice with me,” she said.
"On the premise that you don't mind," I added.
She said in a strange tone, "You're not planning to practice kissing with me, are you...?"
There was no kiss in the plan.
"That's not what I meant!" she said, half-laughing and half-crying. "Okay, I understand what you mean. I also support you in telling Ma Zao the truth. In fact, I've told you this countless times before, and I'm so glad you've finally made up your mind."
"Didn't you say you had prepared some ideas in your head? Forget about practicing with me, just tell me the story in a normal way first."
Upon hearing this, I solemnly recited my prepared statement. There's no need to go into the details; I simply apologized for my past deceptions and revealed my true desires. Hearing this, Zhu Shi nodded repeatedly, a smile spreading across his face.
“That’s right, exactly. That’s how it should be, Senior Brother Zhuang!” she said with a smile. “You just need to continue to speak your mind as always, that’s the proper way for you. Lying and acting are not suitable for you at all. This is the most correct way for you.”
"I think so too, but when it comes down to it, I get anxious and uncertain," I said.
"Are you some kind of lovestruck teenager? I never saw you so indecisive when you were killing the God of Guns." She complained, "If you had even half the indecisiveness you have now when you were killing, you wouldn't have ended up in a situation where you're fighting against the Great Impermanence."
"How come you consider indecisiveness a virtue?" I said.
"Because most people are missing an accelerator, but you're different; you're missing a brake."
As she spoke, she tossed her phone aside, then looked at the ceiling, a thoughtful expression on her face: "But, love..."
"What's wrong?" I asked.
After thinking for a moment, she said, "Senior Brother Zhuang, do you know what my grandfather thinks? I mean, what he thinks about the relationship between you and me."
"Mr. Zhu wants you to marry me, right?" I said.
She asked, as if testing the waters, "So, what's your take on this?"
“Even if I don’t do that kind of thing, I will still help the Zhu family,” I said.
“That’s not what I meant…” she said in a strange tone, “I meant…you don’t have any feelings for me at all?”
I examined Zhu Shi very carefully and pondered my own feelings for her.
Zhu Shi was an exceptionally beautiful woman. Although I've always considered rating a woman's appearance to be a vulgar act, if I had to give her a score, I would unhesitatingly give her a perfect ten. When quiet, she possessed a dignified face reminiscent of an ink painting, while in speech and action she exuded a dignified spirit. Her figure, clad in a straw hat and raincoat, was perfectly natural, and when she wielded a sharp sword to fight on the battlefield, she possessed the imposing presence of a chivalrous knight.
She possesses both feminine and masculine qualities, yet her uniqueness doesn't make her unapproachable. In daily life, she's like an ordinary girl next door, chatting with people in a friendly tone, making them feel close and comfortable.
I like being called "Senior Brother Zhuang" by her, and I feel a little lost when she doesn't. In my heart, she's a woman who is flawless, both inside and out. So if you were to ask me if I have feelings for her, my answer would be only one.
"Yes," I said honestly.
(End of this chapter)
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