In the bustling harbor of Fangting City, amid a dense throng of people, passengers and cargo moved along their respective paths in an orderly fashion. Beneath this prospering scene, no one noticed a pitch-black figure seamlessly blending into the crowd.
Yuan, dressed in her tattered Taoist robe with a bundle in her arm and the Fairy she called "Semi" perched on her shoulder, strolled aimlessly through the harbor.
"It sure doesn't look like a small place, Fangting."
As if talking to herself, she said, "I heard it was just a small city in the southeast of the Donghua Region, but it's hardly distinguishable from the big cities in my memory."
"How many years has it been since you last visited the cities in the material realm?"
Semi glanced at her: "Thirty years? Fifty years? Human cities aren't stagnant; they develop, and over so many years, they're bound to have expanded."
Yuan squinted somewhat confusedly: "But I feel it's been even longer than what you said. Indeed, I don't even know if my hometown still exists."
"You're really quite careless, but there should be a limit to it."
Semi said with some resignation: "I'm starting to worry whether you can even survive in a city. Human cities are not so simple. Every once in a while, there are revolutionary changes in lifestyle. If you want to complete the mission without any mistakes, you will need to have the necessary common knowledge."
"You can rest assured on that point; after all, I was born and raised in the material realm as a human."
Yuan, walking with long strides, yawned subconsciously: "Even if I've been in seclusion for practice, I spent my childhood in human cities, so I definitely won't have any problems with basic life skills."
Semi said doubtfully: "You've been back in the material realm for many years, and you've almost always stayed inside the base without ever going out, right? The material realm now is very different from before."
"Don't worry, don't worry, I know. This is a harbor, right? The place where the landships dock, my era had them too, just not as... "
Yuan looked around, taking in the shops within her field of vision, and hesitated: "What kind of shops are these? They look lavish; are they banks? Pawnshops?"
Seeing her point to a fast-food restaurant and describe it as a "bank," Semi felt a sinking feeling in his heart: "They sell things; what you're looking at now is a restaurant."
"So it's like an inn?"
"Yes, but not quite."
Semi nudged Yuan's shoulder: "Anyway, let's keep moving. Don't embarrass us here."
The pair, one human and one Fairy, continued on, leaving the harbor behind and entering the city streets. What they saw along the way were towering skyscrapers and densely trafficked roads. Gazing at the bustling streets before her, Yuan once again descended into confusion.
"...Have people really become so wealthy now?"
She said with some surprise: "Everyone can afford a car?"
"What is this antique knowledge of yours? Cars have long been the most common mode of transportation!" Semi couldn't help raising his voice.
"What about tricycles and motorcycles? Have they been phased out?"
"Isn't that obvious?"
"Truly, human cities are ever-changing." Yuan stroked her chin, marveling.
"Why are you, a bona fide human, less familiar with cities than I am, a Fairy?"
Semi sighed: "I feel the need to ask you again, what do you plan to do after arriving in this city?"
"First of all, find a place to take a bath, have a meal, get a good night's sleep?" Yuan was still surveying the surroundings.
"I agree with that, but what then? How are you going to get ahold of The Source of Beasts?"
"Hmm... cause an incident, and then lure all the Magical Girls here," Yuan speculated. "First, find a crowded place, figure out a way to summon a Remnant Beast, then, when the Magical Girls come to defeat the Remnant Beast, I'll confront them. Once Cornflower and the girl named Bai Jingxuan are there, I'll defeat them and take both the people and The Source of Beasts with me."
"A direct confrontation?"
Semi was startled by her words: "Are you serious? Just like that, a straight-up fight with Cornflower?"
"Otherwise?" Yuan looked at him curiously, "I should have told you this just yesterday, early in the morning."
"I thought you meant facing them if there was no other choice, but to go looking for trouble so directly?"
Semi spoke with a tone of exasperation: "You were a top fighter, that's true, but Cornflower is too. What if she has some kind of ace up her sleeve that defeats you, how are you going to explain that when you get back?"
"Don't worry, I'm not the same as I was back then."
Yuan folded her arms, speaking with a touch of confidence: "To beat the me from the past, I would only need one hand today."
"That's not what I'm asking..."
Semi's voice trailed off: "What I mean is, your plan is just too simple. I don't think it's appropriate."
"Why is it inappropriate? Honest and honorable, I think it's great. Even my subordinates did the same, and none of them had any objections," Yuan looked at Semi quizzically.
"Your subordinates... ah, that means, when Sparrow came here... "
"Yeah, probably went to challenge Cornflower honorably and got defeated," Yuan nodded. "Their conduct was proper and impartial, not blemishing our style even in defeat; there is glory even in losing."
Semi fell completely silent.