Staring at the severed wrist and pooling blood on the ground, my stomach churned. Last time, I’d fought a demon beast—killing it felt no different than slaughtering livestock. But this… I’d just severed the wrist of another human being. Combined with his earlier injuries, it would be fatal. It was no different from murder.
I stood frozen. Beside me, Sinan Ying stared in shock. She’d thought me just a gullible girl, yet I’d shattered Baldy’s iron-hardened skin in one strike! This strength would make me a standout even among the Sinan Family’s younger generation. Could she belong to another major clan? In Heavens Origin Kingdom, only the Sinan and Colleon families held such power… Sinan Ying bit her tongue. If she were from the Colleons, best not to get too close. Though… I still don’t even know her name.
Snapping back to herself, Sinan Ying flashed a bright smile. "I’m Sinan Ying," she announced in what she thought was a perfectly warm voice. "Technically the second young lady of that family… but that’s not important! Thank you for saving me—though I did try to save you first. Miscalculation on my part…"
Her voice trailed off, shoulders slumping. But I was still reeling from the truth: I’d killed someone. Her words barely registered.
"Hey—hey! Are you even listening?"
"…"
Ignoring her again, I didn’t see her frustration flare. She’d come to rescue me, and this was my thanks? Plus, that hood hiding half my face—it was infuriating! *This young lady* deserved to see who she’d saved!
The hood was yanked off. Startled, I snapped back to reality—only to find Sinan Ying’s delicate face inches from mine. Never in my life had I been this close to a pretty girl. I yelped and stumbled backward. *Too rude*, I realized instantly. She’d think I found her ugly. I glanced up, but she just stared at me, frozen.
"Uh… are you okay?"
"Ah!" She jolted, cheeks flushing crimson. "I—Is there something on my face?"
"N-No! Nothing at all! It’s just…"
"Just?"
"You’re… so beautiful."
"Eh!?"
"S-Sorry! I just… got lost in the moment! Please forget I said that!"
Watching the flustered girl wave her hands frantically, I sighed inwardly. *Truly, my legendary looks spare no gender…*
---
"Thank you for coming to save me. I’m Ye. My apologies for not introducing myself earlier." Seated in her car (hood back on), I finally spoke.
*Ye…* Not a Colleon, then. Relief washed over her. But… *Ye* sounded so masculine. "With your strength," she asked aloud, "why didn’t you just wipe out those scum earlier?"
*Because you blew the door open right as I was about to strike…* I dodged the question. "What about leaving them there? One’s dead. The others might die too if ignored."
"So what? They’re scum. Let them die. You worried about *them*?" Sinan Ying’s disbelief was genuine.
I fell silent. Hard to believe such ruthless words came from a sixteen-year-old girl. Her violet eyes held no shadow—just pure, unclouded conviction. *This world’s morals… I’ll need time to adjust.*
"One thing puzzles me," I pressed. "How did you find me? Did you really tail me by car?"
"You don’t know? I told you my surname!"
"My apologies… I’m a traveler from afar. Unfamiliar with customs here." *Why would knowing her surname explain anything?*
"Ah. That explains it." She pulled out a small box—black base, intricate silver patterns glowing faintly. Opening it revealed a compass-like dial. "This is why. Every Sinan Family member carries one. We’re famed for Anomaly Power detection. Even ordinary people can use these compasses. I tracked you with it!"
"You mentioned being the ‘second young lady’… Shouldn’t your compass be top-tier? Yet you didn’t sense Baldy’s ambush…"
Her face burned. She turned away with a huff. "Everyone says that! I have zero talent for detection. I can only find people—not use it in combat… Forget it! After seeing me fight, don’t you have *better* questions?"
*Better questions…* Right.
"Wearing a skirt in battle—aren’t you worried about flashing?"
"What are you even thinking?! It’s my Anomaly Power! Aren’t you curious about *that*?"
"Your power? Basically a cuter version of ‘Killer Queen’."
"Killer Queen? Whatever. Fine! Since you asked!" She struck a pose, one hand on her hip, beaming proudly—*while driving?!*
"My ability creates explosive bubbles. External detonation shatters outside targets. Internal detonation shatters what’s inside. I hold back to avoid burying myself alive, but at full power? I’m strong. Recently in the capital, I blew up one of the main buildings back home!"
*Blowing up your own family’s building… is that a flex?*
"Father sent me to this remote city for ‘missions’ afterward. Said he wanted to ‘hone my skills’ after seeing my strength!"
*That’s banishment in disguise…* But her proud pout was too cute to tease.
"You mentioned a mission here? What is it?"
"Sure, not classified. Father sensed a massive spiritual energy surge in the Winteredge Mountains recently. The location was vague, so he sent us to investigate. We’ve scoured the core zone and found nothing. I just want to go home…"
*Winteredge Mountains? Spiritual surge?* Could it be… my arrival? If so, my apologies…
"Well, if it were simple, they wouldn’t send high-ranking clan members. Father ‘sensed’ it, but really it’s probably—" She clapped a hand over her mouth. "Ah! Never mind! That’s all I know!"
"One last thing," I said. "Your surname is ‘Sinan’… why use compasses?"
"Ah. A thousand years ago, we used actual south-pointing chariots. After merging with other clans and adopting foreign tech, compasses became standard—more portable. Only the old guard in the upper ranks still use the chariots."
"I see…"
I jolted upright as if struck by lightning.
*Wait.*
*Wait wait wait—*
*Sinan?*
*Why didn’t I realize sooner?*
*That name… I’ve heard it before!*
---
"So… the materials needed to construct the Crossworld Gate are finally confirmed?"
"Broken Realm Armor, Crystal Boundary Fruit, Crimson Lotus Karmic Fire, Prayer of Truth, Raksha True Words, Glimmering Golden Compass… All troublesome items."
---
*That’s it!* One material for that so-called Crossworld Gate was the "Glimmering Golden Compass"!
*Glimmering Golden Compass… Sinan Family… masters of detection Anomaly Power…*
If this wasn’t coincidence…
I opened my mouth to press further, but Sinan Ying cut in: "We’re at the inn. Let’s get you a room!"
