As time slipped by, night had fully descended upon Tianmu City.

Gazing upward, the moonlight and countless stars painted a breathtaking tapestry across the sky.

This night sky held a special magic—you couldn’t look away once you saw it.

Streetlights illuminated the darkened streets, crafting a world for nightlife.

Cars streamed endlessly, queuing like long dragons at red lights.

Pedestrians filled the sidewalks: couples holding hands, families strolling with children, elderly pairs chatting happily.

The entire city brimmed with boundless vitality and joy.

Nangong Shiyu watched couples pass by, then glanced at Xia Zixin beside her—insisting on holding hands. She frowned slightly.

Indeed, everyone on the street was either couples or families, always male and female pairs.

But Nangong Shiyu and Xia Zixin stood out as the odd ones here.

Two girls holding hands drew curious stares from passersby.

Though Nangong Shiyu had a female body now, she was still a boy at heart.

Similarly, Xia Zixin holding her hand was also essentially a boy???

"Excuse me???" Nangong Shiyu protested inwardly.

Surrounded by male-female pairs, she was stuck in a duo that was both yuri and gay.

Embarrassed, she lowered her head, hiding her face.

"Hm? What’s wrong?" Xia Zixin chuckled. "Burying your head so low—are you shy about holding hands with your big sister?"

"N-no, not at all!"

"Mhm~ But it’s understandable. With us holding hands, people might mistake us for a couple."

"If you know that, why insist on holding my hand!"

"But your big sister just wants to!" Xia Zixin stuck out her tongue playfully. "Who told you to get so cute after turning into a girl?"

Hearing this, Nangong Shiyu shivered slightly; her face burned uncontrollably.

"Ehehe, already embarrassed? Your ears are red."

"None of your business!" Nangong Shiyu shot her a defiant glance.

"Hehe, little sister Shiyu is so cute."

"Shut up!"

Xia Zixin covered her mouth, laughing happily. "Sure enough, not just your body turned female—your heart’s girly too."

...

Nangong Shiyu sighed, ignoring the teasing. She focused on walking to avoid bumping into lampposts.

She glanced around at the harmonious scene but felt something was off.

It was too peaceful, too happy—no trace of sadness, as if this morning’s chase never happened.

Her phone’s news app had no reports; chat apps had no discussions.

It was as if nothing occurred.

This unnerving peace hinted at a mysterious force behind the scenes, shrouding truth in darkness.

That mantis monster chasing her this morning caused casualties and destruction.

Such massive damage hadn’t sparked any crisis in the city—it frightened her.

Deeper secrets must lie beneath this.

"Xia Zixin." Nangong Shiyu looked up seriously. "I have a question. Please answer honestly, okay?"

Xia Zixin lowered her gaze. Her narrow eyes opened slightly, revealing faintly glowing violet pupils.

An imposing aura froze Nangong Shiyu in place; she stood dazed before snapping back.

"W-what is it?"

"Nothing."

Xia Zixin’s eyes narrowed again; the chilling aura vanished.

"Your big sister can only tell you one thing now," she said.

"What?"

"The ‘Balancers.’ That’s their name." Xia Zixin replied expressionlessly.

Nangong Shiyu studied her face, hesitated, then asked:

"What do they do?"

"Just know this: because of them, the world doesn’t collapse from magical invasions.

They erase battle traces, restoring everything perfectly at incredible speed.

Witnesses have their memories wiped and replaced with fabricated ones."

"So... everyone will forget what happened this morning?"

"Exactly." Xia Zixin nodded. "Including your classmate Luo Qitian. He’ll forget the fight, living on as if nothing happened."

Nangong Shiyu frowned in thought.

"Are they allies?"

"Well, your big sister can’t conclude that—I can’t answer." Xia Zixin smiled. "That’s all for now. Let’s eat! So many restaurants here—any recommendations, little sister Shiyu?"

She grabbed Nangong Shiyu’s hand and strode forward.

Nangong Shiyu followed, deep in thought. These Balancers weren’t bad—they spared innocents painful memories.

...

But... what about those who died in the battles?

Thinking this, Nangong Shiyu swallowed hard.