Cultivating in Honkai!

Chapter 445: Chapter 444: Joys and Sorrows

That resolve sublimated Wendy’s Tao Heart to the eighth-level.

Facing her good friend’s strong resolve, Anna was stunned.

’Am I the one who worries for nothing?’

For a moment, she could not relate the current Wendy with her best friend. The latter always pestered her, a theoretical master, for love advice. Wendy also insisted on having Anna cook whenever she had the time. There were also instances where she asked Anna’s help in decorating her home as well as picking up new clothes.

Instead of being like an older sister, she felt more like a mother taking care of her daughter!

’Clearly, that wasn’t the case before...’

The two of them belonged to the same generation of valkyries, yet their relationship ended up in this state. Anna has no words for it.

"Are you thinking of something offensive?"

Wendy’s brows furrowed as she looked at Anna. She wasn’t exactly angry as she gave off the looks of being wronged. As she had expected, Anna rolled her eyes at it.

"Seeing you like this means you are fine. I will be leaving..."

"Wait! Don’t leave yet."

"..?"

Before Anna could say anything else, Wendy took out a dozen fancy and well-packaged boxes. All of them sported heart designs, with the pink color dominating its body. They aren’t the typical subtle designs, but rather the comical ones that could only be found in cartoons and the likes.

"I need your opinion about these. What do you think I should give him?"

"...Where did you pick your ideas up?"

She shook her head as she opened one of the boxes. Her fingers neatly took out one of the chocolates before bringing it into her mouth.

"Mn... The taste is fine. It lacks the complete charm of someone who specializes in spiritual cooking, but the taste is there."

"Good, isn’t it?" Wendy patted her chest proudly. "I used the eighth-grade heavenly calculation artifact to find the perfect proportions..."

The more Anna listened to Wendy’s creative process, the more speechless she became. The strategic artifact designated to pre-emptively alarm the Federation was used for making chocolates. It was a case of using a nuclear bomb to kill an ant.

’...It worked anyways.’

Brushing off that thought, she began to speak out her sincere thoughts.

"First, the design. It shouldn’t be too overwhelming. Have you forgotten his personality? The Sect Master isn’t one to publicly show his affection. It is clear he doesn’t like flamboyant things..."

Anna embodied the saying of ’coaches never play’. Despite having zero romantic experience, she saw things more clearly compared to her good friend. Perhaps it was due to her standing as a bystander, or maybe it stemmed from her mature personality. Either way, her advice never failed Wendy.

Before Anna knew it, Wendy was already noting her words inside a small notebook. Her writing speed was extremely fast. She added her own thoughts atop Anna’s words. She didn’t even look at the notebook as she stared intently at Anna, making the latter’s speechlessness flare up again.

’At least she’s not as affected as I thought...’

Shi Tian’s acceptance of Wendy helped a lot in this regard. Becoming his girlfriend—or even straight-up his wife—allowed Wendy to shower her 10,000% affection to Shi Tian with zero hesitations.

Considering her personality, however...

’She won’t mess it up, won’t she?’

*****

"Ha... Sometimes, I envy simple-minded people like her."

"I am still here, you know?!"

Li Sushang’s mouth twitched as she heard Senti’s underhanded compliment. She gently slammed her fist against the circular table’s surface, making it shake. Veliona, who was sitting across from them, was forced to hold onto it to prevent their drinks from spilling. She looked at the volatile Sushang speechlessly and shook her head.

"She’s not wrong. You are what most would call a sword fanatic." Veliona commented.

Li Sushang is a second-generation disciple of the Immortal Phoenix (i.e., Fu Hua). She is the daughter of Qin Suyi, one of Fu Hua’s seven disciples. Then, she was taught by Cheng Lishuang, who was another disciple of Fu Hua. Li Sushang was fated to have a strong connection with the Immortal Phoenix.

Aside from her birth origins, she faced the typical struggles of a wuxia (lit. martial arts) character. She faced one calamity after another and was sent out by her mother to study under the tutelage of Cheng Lishuang. From there on, she studied the Blade Mantra handed down by Fu Hua, taking a total of ten years to reach the Clear Mirror Realm, becoming the first in history to do so.

Eventually, she ended up meeting Otto Apocalypse who used the pseudonym of Rakshasa. Li Sushang comprehended Eminence (lit. Grand Void) from their encounters. She ended up sealed in ice by Otto so that she would be able to ’repay’ the favor she owed to him when the time ’comes’. Only, her wait lasted a full 500 years.

Li Sushang ended up holding back Theresa’s team so that Otto’s "ploy" would succeed. That was her first clash with Fu Hua... and her sole proper meeting with her. No matter how much time had passed, she could not find the face to meet Fu Hua’s gaze head-on. Both her mother and her teacher were the ones who ’betrayed’ her. They dealt a blow to her heart and brain, not intending her to live.

Li Sushang inherited this life and death grievance!

What she did not expect was her entanglements with Senti. The latter was the exact opposite of Fu Hua—flexible, lively, and open-minded. She did not care about their past grudges and treated Li Sushang as she was. The two ended up good friends up to this day.

Later on, Veliona got reeled inside their friend group, followed by Queen Mei. It turned into a gathering of ex-Herrschers. Vita, who saw how fun their group was, joined in as well. Their circle’s members were varied, but it didn’t stop them from having fun.

"Speaking of which, how was your side?"

Veliona asked as she turned to look at the quiet Queen Mei. The rowdy Senti and Sushang also paid attention to her reaction.

"You underestimate her... our obsession."

In normal days, Queen Mei berated Mei for being so obsessed and love-sick towards Shi Tian—to the point she could do unreasonable things to earn his attention. Their methods conflicted, but when it comes to their feelings...

She knows it well.

Queen Mei’s purpose when she was born was to fight alongside Mei and protect her. Having someone who protects Mei too—for centuries atop that—was enough to earn her affection. The feeling of having the same mind as another person is unmatched.

The others soon inquired more about Queen Mei’s situation. Out of them all, however, someone acted slightly out of character. She did not take the lead in seeking for fun. She let out several comments now and then, but it could barely hide her conflicted heart.

’How am I supposed to...’

The future Emanator of Elation faced her very first heart demon.