The Magician of Clow

Chapter 1502 After the touching scene

In the dead of night in Beijing, in the underground mechanical miniature city of the Night Bureau...
When it all ended, when the questioning in the dark world of Siberia concluded with the grand battle,...
The figure who emerged from the depths of time finally had their memories unlocked in the answers atop the Youth Tower, and was pierced by an embrace.
The breathtaking spectacle of countless mechs, pillars of destructive light, deafening particle bombardment, pulses cleaving the wasteland, and mechanical rings unleashing energy storms all dissipated as the magnificent light from the mechs gradually faded.
A strong spatial fluctuation appeared again.

As the enormous portal appeared, a colossal and magnificent mecha slowly and dramatically descended from it. After 'Night Wanderer' returned, the entire hangar seemed to come alive, with all sorts of logistical machinery starting to operate around it.
In this scene, two figures appeared from the air.

They returned to reality from the dark world, then jumped from Siberia back to the capital, maintaining their embracing posture the entire time.
Upon landing on the ground and seeing his surroundings, Fang Ran realized he was back in the Night Bureau's underground area. He felt the tall, slender figure and warmth in his arms...
Seeing that the other person didn't say anything, but instead hugged her again after returning, just like before,

In the end, Fang Ran was the first to let go of his hand, somewhat embarrassed.
"That...Ling?"

Although he had confirmed that this was the Ling he knew, he was still a little uneasy until he received a clear answer.

Hearing the young man's soft call, the figure in his arms instinctively tightened his grip, as if reluctant to leave.
However, it only lasted for a moment before it slowly loosened.

A tall figure stopped in front of him, her light gold eyes as clear as jewels. Her refined and dignified adult appearance was still so aloof, having shed the naivety of her youth.
Her mixed-race features were like a fully blossoming flower, mature and beautiful enough to take one's breath away.

"You idiot, were you out of your mind just now? You just abandoned your defenses and rushed over, handing your life over to someone else. What if you didn't have time to undo the energy out of control?"

Although he still looked like an adult from the daytime, those words felt incredibly familiar as they passed by.

Completely relieved in an instant, Fang Ran smiled slightly embarrassedly:

"I think the place where you are, Ling, is definitely safe."

After saying that, he also felt that betting that Ling wouldn't harm him if she regained her memories was a bit too reckless. However, he was more concerned about her current state than himself.
At this moment, with a hint of trepidation, he whispered a final confirmation:

"Ling, are you alright now?"

Hearing Fang Ran ask this question, she was initially angry at his earlier risky behavior, but then she heard the worry in his words...
A mature, aloof figure. No, Ling, having regained her memories, still slightly turned her head and softened her voice:
"Yes, don't worry, it's not a temporary condition. I'm pretty sure I've fully recovered now."

The moment I heard his answer atop the tower, where the night wind sang like a song, long-buried memories began to stir with a flutter of the heart, and then everything gradually came to mind.
That's why the subsequent questioning, driven by fear and resorting to force, occurred.

After hearing her firm and certain answer, Fang Ran's last trace of anxiety dissipated. As night fell, he truly believed that Ling might never remember him again.

At this moment, the unease and sadness finally dissipated, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

"Really? That's wonderful."

Now that she had regained her full memory, looking at the young man before her who was genuinely relieved to be safe, Ling couldn't help but recall her experiences during the day.

It's not about watching someone else's story; the 'she' at her peak thirty years ago is still herself.
Ling just felt it was very strange.

Despite not knowing Fang Ran personally, but knowing he was important to her future self, she tried to get to know him, gradually understanding his existence through observation and conversation.

This interaction, presented in the context of the past, creates a sense of temporal displacement after all the memories return, as if she had met Fang Ran thirty years ago.

Just like that scene in time, through memory, the other person quietly inserts themselves into the part of her life before she met him.

If we met as complete strangers, would things unfold like that...?

Or will it take a completely different form?

Recalling the feeling of her 'first encounter' with Fang Ran during the day, Ling's thoughts flowed silently. And now, after confirming that the Ling she knew had returned safely,
Fang Ran finally had the mind to care about other things. He looked at the tall figure with waist-length hair in front of him:

"Um, speaking of which, Ling, are you fully recovered now? But didn't you say that merging the body would take a long time?"

"How did it suddenly succeed?"

Pulling herself from her reverie, Ling glanced at him with her light golden eyes, then turned away, feigning calmness.
"The soul consciousness that emerges based on night combat technology is inherently an unknown and mysterious realm; anything is possible, and I find the specific reasons quite unbelievable,"

"However, in terms of the results, I have indeed fully recovered my strength."

So, Ling has now truly risen to the A-level rank?

Having experienced this firsthand, while surprised that Ling herself didn't know the reason, the memory of how Ling initially had to stay by her side because of her weakness flashed through her mind.
Subconsciously, I felt a pang of emotion, realizing that from the moment we met, the figure before me had finally regained its former glory.

After recovering, will he stay here? Will it affect their relationship? And how will the addition of an A-rank superior alter the world order of night battles?
At this moment, Fang Ran didn't dwell on the various implications of this; he was simply and sincerely happy.

"Congratulations, Ling."

After confirming that Ling's memories and strength had been restored, he couldn't help but smile with a sense of relief.
"No matter the reason, it's great that you recovered so quickly, Ling. It must have been so hard for me to take care of you during the day when you had amnesia."

Upon hearing him say this, Ling, with her beautiful face framed by long, light blonde hair, raised a delicate eyebrow at him:
"What, did I put a lot of pressure on you in the past?"

Just like talking to the past Ling about the present Ling during the day, discussing the Ling from thirty years ago with the Ling who has regained her memories, I once again felt an indescribable sense of wonder.

It's the exact same cool, clear voice, but it evokes two completely different feelings.
Fang Ran then recalled his feelings about 'that figure' from the daytime.

"How should I put it? I always felt that Ling from thirty years ago, although she seemed more aloof and unapproachable than she is now, was surprisingly rational and reasonable."

"It's just that the unfamiliar aura was too oppressive."

Too embarrassed to mention that she hadn't punished him twice for "offending" him, or that her stunning beauty in her mature, elegant form was too dazzling, Fang Ran simply recounted her impressions from the daytime.

Upon hearing Fang Ran's words, especially the description of his past self as very reasonable, the figure, identical to that during the day, slightly raised his snow-white chin.

Ling's light golden eyes looked at him with a certain intensity, her voice rising slightly in a teasing tone:
So you think the old me was better?

Suddenly, a fatal question was posed, but perhaps due to the lingering effects of being on top of the tower at night, when the tall figure in front of him asked that question,

Fang Ran simply chuckled softly without giving it much thought:

"No matter which one it is, it means to me that Ling hasn't changed, but it's more about the novelty of Ling being like this before."

"It feels like I've met a very rare queen again." Her eyes flickered for a moment when she heard him say this.
Hearing the same words as those from the top of the tower, the emotions that had arisen dissipated. Recalling his behavior during the day, it seemed he was fairly satisfied with this answer.

Ling turned her head and hummed softly, her light golden hair falling down to cover the slight curve of her lips.

Looking at Ling's figure before him at this moment—still that tall stature that almost reached his own, her white and gold gown outlining the graceful curves of a mature woman, radiating an exquisite, magnificent, and maturely powerful aura—he was captivated by her presence.
Facing Ling, who still maintained an adult demeanor, Fang Ran still felt some of the discomfort she had felt during the day.
But then he thought again that this exquisite and beautiful adult figure might actually be the way Ling had maintained for so long.
From the moment I arrived at the Night Bureau and started tinkering with magical abilities with everyone, to the moment I saw the Queen from the past amidst my panic and worry...
Nightclub, restaurant, amusement park, tower top under the cover of night, dark wasteland
After this day full of surprises,
At this moment, Fang Ran gently exhaled and raised a warm smile, looking at Ling with a light laugh as he spoke:
"Now that Ling is alright, and so much has happened today... and you've just woken up and recovered, you should get some rest."

"I'll head back now tonight."

After saying that, Fang Ran turned and walked towards the door.

But just as he was about to leave...

"and many more."

A cold voice sounded behind him. Turning around in surprise, Fang Ran saw the tall, mature Ling, who suddenly looked at him with a chilling expression.
Then he said something that sent a chill down his spine.

"You don't actually think that what happened in North America is just a thing of the past, do you?"

In the underground miniature city, the air fell silent for a moment.

Next second,
At this moment, Fang Ran gently exhaled and raised an even warmer smile, looking at Ling with a light laugh as she spoke:
"Ling, you just woke up and recovered today. After going through so much, you should get some rest."

"I'll head back now tonight."

Ling looked at him coldly and calmly.

Then, after the two stared at each other for two seconds...
In the next instant, without the slightest hesitation, Fang Ran turned his head and activated his ability, creating afterimages as he charged towards the gate with all his might, using only his driving, soaring, and wheeling abilities—almost employing his night-powered weapon!
"You forgetful idiot!"

Seeing that this guy actually dared to run away, Ling gritted her teeth slightly, then her tall figure flicked her right hand and shouted.

"Come back!"

Snapped!
"what!"

The hangar's defensive restraint system activated, and Fang Ran was slammed to the ground out of thin air. He was then bound by mechanical ropes and dragged towards Ling's side.

This familiar turn of events came unexpectedly, without any surprise at being caught again.
Fang Ran was filled with doubt about the final embrace in the dark world.

As things normally would have unfolded, after that touching scene...

Shouldn't it have ended in a warm and reconciliation?

Why have I been caught?!
In that instant, as he was once again grabbed like a caterpillar, Fang Ran finally recalled the fear that had once dominated him, and the reckoning that followed each time he had been so unrestrained outside that he had no idea what the world was like.

As he was dragged backward by the mechanical rope, he felt an even greater sense of crisis than when he faced 'Wandering Night' earlier; his life was in danger.

Fang Ran immediately started struggling and jumping on the ground like a salted fish, yelling loudly!

"Wait! No, that's not right! Ling, didn't you already give me a beating for what happened in North America?!"

"They've even called it 'Wandering Night,' shouldn't this matter be over by now!?"

With a flick of his telekinesis, he grabbed the still-fighting worm-like creature heading towards the door and pulled it directly in front of him, now looking down at him from above.
Ling's adult face held a cold and aloof majesty in her eyes:

"What does what I did in the past have to do with who I am now?"

Fang Ran stared wide-eyed in disbelief.

!Σ(Д! You're lying! Ling, you clearly remembered everything back then!!
"and"

At this moment, she gritted her teeth slightly, gradually recalling her feelings upon learning of his experiences in North America. As if remembering something else, Ling's light golden eyes fixed on Fang Ran, her cold voice taking on a dangerous tone as she spoke:
"You don't think I've forgotten what you said during the day, do you?"

"Did I send you to North America?"

Fang Ran: Uh
Upon hearing the last word of the rhetorical question, Fang Ran remembered the nonsense they had talked about during the day, and his expression froze as he broke out in a cold sweat.

"Besides this."

Then, gritting her teeth, she said this, a blush creeping onto her usually cool and aloof face, as if she were thinking of something too shameful to say.

At this moment, Ling, filled with shame and indignation, fiercely pinched Fang Ran's face and loudly questioned him:
"What the hell is this illegitimate child! Who took you in as a gigolo?!"

)ΩзΩ(How can you blame this on me!!!
"I have a lot to settle with you about this time,"

His light golden eyes narrowed slightly as he looked at the young man in front of him, whom he had lifted with his telekinesis and who was now struggling and whimpering as his face was being pinched.
The tall, adult figure slightly raised his face, exuding the same imposing aura as during the day, and spoke slowly in a cold voice filled with a murderous intent:
Are you ready!?

He swallowed hard, completely unprepared.

Fang Ran was still worried about Ling's memory loss all day, and now, unexpectedly, the purge was about to begin. To be honest, Fang Ran couldn't understand what was going on at all.

But then he suddenly remembered what Meng Lang had said when he patted him hard on the shoulder when he went home that night.

"Hey bro, try to think positively about things. Maybe you'll remember it tomorrow."

'That way you can get strangled and whipped by the Queen at her peak.'

Fang Ran: "."

Dude, you're such a jinx! I'll beat you to a pulp when I get back!

Finally finished writing! Let me go back to the part I forgot to mention last time: the battle scenes between Ling and Fang Ran. The hardest part to write during writer's block was the battle panels. I racked my brains, designing Ling's armed form, how she would fire, her combos, how to create visual impact, how to make her look cool. Those scenes depicting the battle interspersed with interrogations really took a lot of effort. I have to say, the final scene where Ling swings her right hand, and a beam of thermal energy, like a cake knife, slices through the wasteland—I was blown away when I envisioned it; it was so cool! All that effort was worth it! Besides the battle panels, the questions Ling asked Fang Ran also took a lot of painstaking thought. I was trying to figure out how to ask him about his wish in a way that hits the nail on the head, the unavoidable, heart-wrenching part, gradually striking at his heart. At first, I was completely lost and desperate, haha.