Chapter 562: Chapter 562: Beauty (19)_1 Chapter 562: Chapter 562: Beauty (19)_1 It must be said, the fortune teller’s cottage at midnight truly possessed an excellent atmosphere.

In the utter silence, the dim light shone on the face of the female fortune teller, lending her something of a charlatan’s air.

It’s just a pity that this charlatan was speaking of her own family affairs at the moment.

Kisaragi Chie, this woman’s name, was one Fu Qian had actually seen before in Kagetsu Kana’s file.

According to the file, Kagetsu Kana’s sister, who was a loner and not too harmonious with her family, had moved out to live on her own at an early age.

“Kana has always been a lovely girl, very much doted on by everyone at home.”

Without waiting for Fu Qian to respond to her question, Kisaragi Chie continued speaking.

“As for when she grew up, she revealed an astonishing charm, with almost every male falling for her.”

“Countless people were mesmerized by her, willing to pay any price for her, offering up the finest things before her, yet she regarded them all with disdain.”

“She shone and was proud, telling me more than once that she was different from everyone else.”

“Isn’t that how all young people are? After all, to be immature is part of youth.”

After describing her, Fu Qian gave a direct comment.

“Initially, I thought the same until one day, I suddenly realized how unprecedentedly unfamiliar she had become.”

Kisaragi Chie let out a light sigh.

“Have you ever seen wax figures? Lifelike wax figures can be quite deceitful from a distance, indistinguishable from the real thing.”

“But when you get close enough, you will discover a kind of indescribable incongruity.”

“Kana was like that, her appearance, her memories, you were very certain that it was her, but when you really got close, you found she seemed like an empty shell.”

“A shell driven entirely by desire, fantasy, and paranoia.”

“At first, I thought it was my own jealousy at play, after all, Kana had always received far more attention than I did, and I even felt incredibly guilty about it.”

“It wasn’t until one day when I saw our father try to discipline her and break down crying from being rejected that I finally realized.”

“He felt the same as I did.”

“Clearly alive, and an ever more beautiful daughter with all the memories, but underneath that body, the soul that could be defined as his daughter, was becoming harder and harder to grasp.”

“I once tried to have a proper conversation with her, only to find that in front of this dazzling sister, I was even more powerless than our father.”

“After all, in every aspect, she was much stronger than me.”

“Even the Miracle Elixir, something I never dared to dream of, she obtained with ease.”

“Later, I thought, our father must have felt the same.”

“Even with a stern face, his words were powerless, his life experience utterly inconsequential.”

“And it was this sense of powerlessness that caused him considerable pain.”

“In the end, all I could do was to hold her tightly in my arms when Kana slept on this side, only when our skins were pressed together, could I feel a hint of familiarity.”

“Then your father discovered us.”

Fu Qian nodded.

“Kana really told you, huh? Well, it seems she has always been unable to restrain her urge to show off.”

“At that moment, our father indeed misunderstood, and what’s worse, he was already on the edge of losing control.”

“It’s quite apparent.”

Fu Qian recalled the short dagger used by Kisaragi Iketa for his suicide; the man had not necessarily been devoid of a certain destructive impulse when he brought that blade to Kisaragi Chie’s place.

But in the end, it was just an impulse. Not having the heart to truly act in the moment was enough to show that his rage was far from overpowering his affections.

“I can’t deny that might have pushed him towards his inevitable path.”

“After you took Kana away, it was me talking the whole time, he didn’t respond with a single word, and then he simply left.”

Kisaragi Chie’s voice grew lower and lower.

“I think it’s good as it is now; it’s a kind of relief,”
“I’m also very sorry, I understand the trouble my father’s actions have brought you.”

The next moment, Kisaragi Chie looked at Fu Qian with a serious expression, offering an apology.

“In any case, I hope you can understand a father’s eager feelings to protect his daughter and not harm Kana.”

“Why do you think I would harm her?”

Fu Qian did not give a clear response but instead countered with a question.

“There are two kinds of excellent fortune tellers, one never observes and reads people, and the other relies solely on that.”

“Oh? Which kind are you?”

“I’m not excellent enough, but I’m a bit more perceptive in observing and reading people than the average person.”

“And I can see that the way you look at Kana is different from the way others do.”

“Whether you have the intention to harm her or not, you have the capability to do so.”

“Unconsciously, Kana wants to influence you, to make you submit like everyone else, but I know she doesn’t mean anything to you.”

“Of course, my words probably mean as little to you as hers.”

“But I still want to plead with you, if possible, please don’t destroy her.”

“Even if she has already become an ’empty shell’?”

“Even if she is an empty shell.”

…

“Fine, but aren’t you afraid that by telling me all of this so honestly, I might silence you to keep a secret?”

“I was very afraid.”

Kisaragi Chie let out a wry smile.

“But for some reason, after watching your performance just now, I suddenly became unafraid.”

“You were there because of your father’s arrangements, right? Mrs. Ayane did come to trouble you, didn’t she? Were you deliberately deceiving her earlier?”

“Don’t talk nonsense; what I said was all true!”

“But your words–”
Kisaragi Chie was cut off mid-sentence, suddenly realizing something.

The way Fu Qian had last looked at Kagetsu Kana was indeed misleading, but his words, if one were to replace the “it” in them with Mr. Kisaragi himself, seemed to make perfect sense.

“Have you ever considered that what your sister said might be true, that she really possesses a talent beyond others?”

In the midst of silence, Fu Qian suddenly spoke again.

“A talent like that of a Transcendent?”

Kisaragi Chie looked puzzled.

“Impossible, isn’t it? If that were the case, Yasui Corp’s numerous tests would have already discovered it.”

That would be logical, but it’s only one possibility.

Fu Qian thought to himself.

It is well known that besides mutation, Transcendents have another path: training.

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He remembered how long ago, Chief Yuan had lamented to him that compared to innate special abilities, the path of training was clearly more traceable, without the need to pursue elusive ceremonies.

As a researcher at the Academy, Fu Qian had always been pondering the differences between the two.

He had, in fact, come across quite a few training legacies, including those of the Academy Swordsmanship Department and the inherited mastery of the Huang and Chen families, among others.

Without a doubt, training legacies also required talent.

However, before one begins to train using a specific method, this talent isn’t as obvious as an innate special ability.