As the manager of "Magic Girl" boutique, Mrs. Hudson's taste is indeed incredible.
Even though the exaggerated glasses were still on, Sally still became the center of attention in the entire ready-to-wear store, with high society ladies and wealthy heiresses paling in comparison to her beauty.
Yet Sally remained Sally, the young girl was scared away by the scrutinizing and astonished gazes.
However, it was also because she was eager to leave with Tang Qi that she didn't notice the shocking figures on the bill in Tang Qi's hand.
The reason this boutique, catering to young girls and ladies, could gain the favor of Messer City's high society, aside from Mrs. Hudson's astonishing taste, was another: its expensive service.
However, compared to the Divine Eagle Gold Coins, which were of little use to Tang Qi, the Curse Mark that appeared on his hand was what he truly needed.
The craving for power made Tang Qi very eager to use it.
Thankfully, his rationale still prevailed, and he suppressed this impulse.
Leaving Midtown Avenue, he sent the transformed Sally back home.
He didn't go anywhere else but returned to the brick small building within the school district as fast as he could.
There wasn't any change in Tang Qi's appearance, but inside he was extremely exhausted.
His struggle with the Misfortune Witch's alternate personality occurred in a special space constructed by the Witch.
Although it didn't drain his physical strength, the Melting Furnace Power he had accumulated over many days was completely used up, and the process of him turning the tables seemed to always be within Tang Qi's expectations. The poor Witch's alternate personality, as soon as she emerged, encountered Tang Qi, who was both cunning and cheating.
Despite possessing tremendous magical power, she was duped by Tang Qi, a rookie who had just entered the Extraordinary Domain, because she hesitated to make a move.
However, luck also played a part in this.
Because if any part of the plan had gone wrong, Tang Qi would have paid a huge price even if he didn't die.
Fortunately, he won.
A single Curse Mark almost revealed a shortcut right before Tang Qi's eyes.
And through the conversation with the Misfortune Witch's alternate personality, Tang Qi knew that the Golden Furnace Meditation he practiced had an extraordinary origin, and he himself had devised a method of burning those negative and evil Abnormal souls to add fuel to his own embodiment of the Melter.
Likewise, he gained recognition from the Misfortune Witch's alternate personality.
This was tantamount to giving Tang Qi a form of insurance, but his cautious nature still made him refrain from using it immediately and instead, he returned home.
Standing in the small living room on the first floor, Tang Qi went straight into the kitchen and seriously prepared two dishes and one soup for himself. After eating, he felt some recovery in spirit but didn't go on to cultivate or leave the house.
Instead, he went to the workbench and followed the last operation.
Once again, he melted a piece of Blue Sea Salt.
The result was thirty more Sea Demon Bullets.
After storing the bullets one by one, Tang Qi then returned to the bedroom on the second floor, where he sat cross-legged on the Moon-patterned carpet as usual. When the first ray of moonlight shone on him, he entered into meditation as always.
"Boom~"
The golden Sun appeared, maybe because Tang Qi had exhausted all his spiritual power, the Sun's Light Flames were somewhat weak compared to usual.
But soon, when the Abnormality that surged through the cracks was burnt to a crisp, the Sun's Radiance once again flared intensely.
...
A night passed, and when Tang Qi carrying books stepped into the main school building, the gleam in his eyes indicated that the spiritual power he had exhausted was fully replenished, and even more abundant than before. This was in line with the setting of making progress after a battle.
Tang Qi originally thought that today he would witness quite a lively scene.
After all, Sally's image in the Magic Girl boutique last night made even him, who had experienced the bombardment of online beauties from Previous Earth, unable to help but marvel. It seemed that the hormone-driven visual creatures of Saint Thorn High School would definitely not be able to keep calm.
But unfortunately and surprisingly,
Sally did show up, yet she was still the same "Unlucky Sally".
Messy blonde hair, baggy pants, a loose sweater, and an outdated knit hat to boot—plain and unsophisticated.
Sally, standing in front of Tang Qi, was feeling wronged and apologetic as she explained, "It—it was my mom; she said that before the coming-of-age ceremony, I must maintain that look. But I managed to keep that skirt. Let's return it after school."
"It's okay, Sally. I understand your mom. But you'll also need to keep that skirt; it won't affect our relationship."
Tang Qi quickly reacted and started consoling Sally.
Maintaining Sally's plain and unsophisticated appearance was clearly one of the few scenes that could give her mother a sense of security.
Perhaps she didn't want Sally to be too eye-catching, so as to avoid spreading misfortune.
Or maybe, it was just to protect Sally.
Sally's mother must be an informer of the "Witch of Misfortune," but she chose not to tell Sally the truth, probably waiting for the day of the coming-of-age ceremony. Letting Sally know everything now would only make the girl anxious endlessly, without any other outcome.
Since Sally's mother had made her choice, Tang Qi, who still had formidable enemies out there, certainly wouldn't reveal the truth.
After consoling her with a few words, Tang Qi raised the "Monster Records" in his hand, diverting Sally's attention, and said with a smile, "If you feel sorry, maybe you could take some class notes for me. You know, I've got other things to be busy with."
"No problem!"
Sally immediately responded.
...
After school, Tang Qi received the class notes from Sally and said goodbye to the girl.
He watched the girl walk toward her home and then Tang Qi too left the campus.
However, he did not head back to the brick and stone building.
Instead, he walked to the stop outside Thorny High School and, after watching the signpost for a moment, finally boarded a red bus that had just arrived.
It happened to be evening, one of the most crowded times in Messer City.
Tang Qi sat in his seat, looking silently through the glass at the various scenes of this strange yet familiar city.
This seemed to be a bus with a long route, quickly passing through the damp, grimy Blank District, heading toward a larger district.
Ultimately, the red bus stopped at an old and decrepit stop.
As the bus departed, out from the stop emerged a young figure.
Tang Qi slowly stepped out of the stop, his hands empty, looking curiously at the scenery before him.
This place seemed to be a site of former glory.
A row of old buildings, once bustling factories, extravagant bank buildings, a bustling market area... Though they now looked mottled, they were filled with a kind of flashy, passionate flair of the city's early prosperity; yet after the decline, with the passage of time, it became a form of art that unavoidably evoked admiration.
Tang Qi knew where he was—this was Newton District.
Yes, Messer City too had its moment of glory, as one could say in Secret Phoenix State.
And the starting point of that glory was in Newton District.
Created by the glory of adventurers, gold miners, pioneers, and robbers at the beginning, they were also one of the contributors to the mystical and rugged style of Secret Phoenix State.
But now, it has become a district with a very low presence, only favored by some nostalgic residents or artists who like to settle here, seeking inspiration or reminiscing the past.
Because it once flourished, even though it is in decline, the rent here is not cheap at all.
As a result, this place is spacious and solid, but far less densely populated than Blank District.
This was one of the reasons Tang Qi had chosen this place for the evening—he intended to use the "Curse Mark" here.
For the first time, to avoid a terrible incident, Tang Qi deliberately avoided the Blank District, where too many people and rampant evil led to an outbreak of Abnormalities concentrating.
"I hope it won't disappoint me."
Tang Qi gazed at the mark beginning to appear faintly on the back of his hand and silently thought to himself.