People are in the magic card, instigating rebellion against the world.

Chapter 133 You actually used an evil mind-reading technique to spy on Daidouji's mind! Trying to toy with him!
Tachibana returned quickly, carrying a plate of fruit.

She placed the fruit on the table, telling Ye Hui and the others to make themselves at home, then walked straight to the cage, gently opened the cage door, and took out the paddle.

The little one snuggled against her.

Tachibana carried it to the window and opened it.

The night breeze, carrying a hint of coolness, blew in and ruffled the stray hairs on her forehead.

"Little beep." Tachibana looked down at the little one in her arms, "Thank you for being with me during this time, for giving me strength when I was most insecure."

"Although I really want to keep you here and watch you run around every day, I know you don't belong in this little cage, nor do you belong here. I think we should say goodbye."

She paused for a moment, then raised the card high and slowly released it.

"Go back to where you truly belong."

The card paused in mid-air for a moment, slightly startled, then turned its small head as if to look back at Tachibana.

But then, its body transformed into a pale golden stream of light.

With a "whoosh," it disappeared into the deep night.

Tachibana gazed in the direction it had disappeared, then wiped her eyes with her hand: "Goodbye, little beep."

"It's gone," Sakura said softly, standing to the side.

"Hmm." Ye Hui nodded, his gaze sweeping across the window to confirm the general direction in which the streak of light disappeared, and then he winked at Sakura and Tomoyo.

"Tachibana-kun, it's getting late, we should head back," he said. "We'll just take one of these fruits to try."

"Okay, sure." Tachibana sniffed, perked up, and saw them to the door. "You guys have to come to the competition tomorrow."

"Don't worry, we'll definitely be there!" Sakura waved.

After saying goodbye to Tachibana, the three of them took off in an instant, chasing after the direction where the card had disappeared.

"It ran that way!" Kero popped out of Sakura's pocket, flapping its wings and pointing to the alley not far away.

"Then let's go." Ye Hui's figure flashed, and he disappeared with Zhi Shi.

Sakura followed closely behind, also riding her magic wand.

Although Chongpai had regained some strength, his previous injuries had not fully healed, so his speed was not very fast.

Not long after, the three of them found it in a nearby park.

It was lying on a bench, licking its paws, which were not yet fully healed.

"Sakura, let's get started." Ye Hui landed on the ground and gave instructions in a low voice.

"Yes!" Sakura nodded.

This time, she was unusually calm, without the hesitation and entanglement she had felt before.

She knew perfectly well that subduing Chongpai was not only being responsible to Chongpai, but also to everyone else.

This is the best choice.

She raised her wand, and instead of using strong binding magic, she softly summoned the power of the Wind Card.

As the incantation was cast, pale blue wind gathered around the card, gradually condensing into a semi-transparent wind cage that firmly trapped the opponent within.

Chongpai sensed something was wrong and struggled left and right in the cage. His small body crashed into the wind wall, but he was bounced back by an invisible force and could not break through.

The wind cage slowly contracted, gradually compressing its living space until it was completely trapped in place, unable to move.

"Restore your original form, Clow Card!"

Sakura raised her wand, and a clear chant rang out in the night.

A flash of light, and Chongpai's body transformed into a streak of light, condensing into the shape of a card in the air before obediently flying into her palm.

"Great, we've finally tamed it!"

Sakura looked at the running card in her hand and let out a long sigh of relief.

She walked up to Ye Hui and handed him the winning card: "Ye Zi, here you go."

Ye Hui took the card, and as soon as his fingertips touched it, a system notification sounded in his mind.

[Under your wise guidance and with the perfect assistance of the Dharma Protector Daidoji Tomoyo, Kinomoto Sakura, a disciple of the Heavenly Spiritual Root, has finally overcome her doubts about her spiritual path and successfully persuaded the mortal Tachibana!]

Looking at their mutual understanding and support, you felt a surge of satisfaction. You felt you were one step closer to your ultimate goal: turning the protector against you, marrying a beautiful and wealthy woman, and reaching the pinnacle of life! As for this protagonist? He's just a nobody who improved because of you! Not worth worrying about!

[Congratulations on completing the side quest "The Perplexity of the Dao Heart"! You have received the reward divine power "Enlightenment"!]

[Enlightenment: Seeing through illusions and directly confronting one's true nature. One can see through others' emotional fluctuations and true intentions, and possesses extremely strong resistance to mental attacks such as illusions and inner demons.]

Ye Hui was overjoyed when he saw the system's notification.

Enlightenment and seeing one's true nature?
He carefully examined the effects of this supernatural power.

Ye Hui discovered.

Although this supernatural power cannot directly read the other person's thoughts, it is still powerful enough to defy the heavens.

Because he can sense the feelings emanating from the other person at that very moment!
Isn't this practical?
Ye Hui had already begun to imagine how cute it would be when Tomoyo tried to use Sakura as an excuse to cover up her little thoughts, only to have him see through her immediately and blush with embarrassment.

Thinking of this, a smile unconsciously crept onto his lips.

"Ye Zi, what are you grinning about again?" Xiao Ying looked at his shifty eyes and suspicious smile, and couldn't help but wave her hand in front of his face.

"Huh? Nothing."

Ye Hui snapped out of his daze, coughed twice, and then said in a serious tone, "I'm just happy for you. You did a great job this time."

"Really?" Sakura tilted her head, a hint of doubt in her eyes.

She felt that Ye Zi's smile just now looked a little... mischievous.

It seemed like they had ill intentions.

[Kinomoto Sakura's emotional value +8]

Tomoyo watched the interaction between the two, a gentle smile playing in her purple eyes.

Although she didn't know exactly what Ye Hui was thinking, she could sense that Ye Hui was in a good mood.

【Daodaiji Chiyo’s Emotion Value +9】

"Sakura, this time you sealed the Clow Cards all by yourself."

Ye Hui looked at Xiaoying and praised her, "From hesitation to determination, you figured it out yourself and made the right choice."

"No way..." Sakura blushed slightly and quickly waved her hand. "It's all thanks to you and Tomoyo for your help. If it weren't for you two, I'd still be struggling with this!"

Xiao Ke nodded: "That's right, Sakura just likes to hesitate and be indecisive!"

Sakura's lips twitched, then she punched Kero on the forehead, making him dizzy. She then grabbed him and stuffed him into her pocket.

Seeing this, Ye Hui couldn't help but laugh, and then said, "In short, Tomoyo and I have both seen your growth, which is more meaningful than capturing ten Clow Cards!"

Ye Hui's tone was exceptionally serious, his gaze fixed on Xiao Ying's slightly shy face.

Sakura's cheeks instantly flushed slightly, and her heart began to race uncontrollably again.

When Ye Zi praised her so earnestly, she suddenly felt as if a little rabbit was throbbing wildly in her chest, and even her ears started to warm up.

[Kinomoto Sakura's emotional value +25]

"Alright~ This card has finally been captured. It's getting late, let's go home."

Ye Hui handed the sprint card back to Xiaoying, "Tomorrow is Tachibana's track and field competition. We have to get up early to cheer her on. We can't be late."

"Hi!"

……

The Tomoeda Town Track and Field Championships were held as scheduled on Saturday.

Early in the morning, Ye Hui and Zhi Shi arrived at the sports center.

As soon as I approached the gate, I was greeted by a cacophony of voices.

The participants from each school wore matching sportswear and carried their equipment bags as they warmed up on the sidelines.

Teachers and parents held up cheering signs and looked for seats in the audience.

Groups of students were also chattering about the competition.

The entire stadium was packed to capacity and bustling with activity.

"There are so many people..." Ye Hui looked at the sea of ​​people in front of him and felt a chill run down his spine.

“Yes, this is the town’s annual tournament, everyone must be taking it very seriously.” Tomoyo’s purple eyes curved into a smile as she glanced across the arena. “Let’s find a good spot first, otherwise we won’t be able to get a clear picture when Sakura’s cheerleading performance starts.”

“OK.” Ye Hui naturally had no objections.

The two walked up the steps of the stands and searched for a while before finally finding a spot with an excellent view in the middle tier of the stands.

Looking down from here, the start and finish lines of the 100-meter track are clearly visible.

The performance area in the center of the venue is also clearly visible, allowing for a complete view of every move of the cheerleaders.

Not long after, the opening ceremony officially began.

The stirring athletes' march suddenly rang out, breaking the noise in the stadium.

Representatives from each school, carrying their school flags, marched into the venue in orderly fashion.

As soon as the team from Yuzhi Elementary School, dressed in red tracksuits, appeared, Ye Hui immediately spotted Tachibana.

She walked at the front of the line, her posture upright, her face showing a hint of nervousness, but even more so, anticipation.

Standing next to Tachibana was Li Xiaolang, who was also wearing sportswear.

Ye Hui raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

Li Xiaolang actually participated in the track and field competition?
However, upon further reflection, he realized that with his superhuman physical abilities, outrunning ordinary elementary school students was indeed a piece of cake.

That's reasonable.

"Huh? Li Xiaolang is participating in the competition too?" Tomoyo noticed Li Xiaolang in the team and was somewhat surprised.

Ye Hui nodded: "Yes, it seems so. I just don't know what event he signed up for, sprint? Or long-distance running?" The opening ceremony ended quickly.

Next came the cheerleading performance.

Upbeat music filled the stadium as cheerleaders in bright yellow uniforms waved colorful pom-poms and ran into the center of the field, eliciting cheers from the audience.

Sakura was at the very front of the line.

She wore her hair in a high ponytail, with wisps of hair fluttering across her forehead, but they couldn't hide the light in her eyes at all.

As the music played, Sakura led the entire cheerleading squad in jumping, turning, and waving their arms.

Every movement was full of energy, crisp and neat.

"Sakura! Go for it~!" Tomoyo immediately raised her camera, the lens fixed on the girl on the field.

Ye Hui also took out his own camera and pressed the record button.

Under the sunlight, Sakura shines like a little sun, vibrant and dazzling, even her smile is infectious.

As Ye Hui watched the figures dancing freely in the video, a smile unconsciously crept onto his face.

So cute!

Sakura is absolutely dazzling.

The cheerleading performance ended amidst enthusiastic applause, and then all the competitions officially began.

The referee announced over the loudspeaker that the men's 100-meter preliminary rounds would be held first.

Ye Hui saw Li Xiaolang's name on the list of participants.

"Wow, Li actually signed up for the 100 meters."

"Li's physical fitness is better than average, and his explosive power should be quite strong. I think he should be able to achieve a good result."

Tomoyo looked in the direction of the starting line and replied.

Ye Hui shrugged: "I think so too."

Soon, the announcement of Li Xiaolang's group was broadcast over the loudspeaker.

He walked to the third starting line, bent his knees, leaned forward, and placed his hands on the ground, his starting posture was standard and unambiguous.

Then, the starting gun fired.

Li Xiaolang shot off like an arrow released from a bow.

He walked at an extremely fast pace and quickly left the other competitors behind.

They ultimately secured first place in their group with a clear advantage, easily advancing to the finals.

"Li is amazing... But if Tachibana had magic, she might be even stronger than Li."

Sakura, who had just finished her cheerleading performance and was running to the audience with a pom-pom in her hand, couldn't help but sigh as she watched Li Xiaolang calmly leave the stage.

"Sakura, sit down quickly, the women's 100-meter preliminary round is about to begin." Tomoyo turned around.

"Mmm!" Sakura ran over and sat down next to Tomoyo.

After the men's 100-meter preliminary rounds concluded, the women's 100-meter preliminary rounds began immediately.

Tachibana was assigned to the third group.

She walked to the starting line, took a few deep breaths, and gently placed her hands on her knees, trying to calm her racing heart.

Although I had practiced repeatedly and prepared myself mentally before the competition, I still couldn't help feeling a little nervous when I actually stood in the center of the field and was being watched by everyone around me.

Without Xiao Bi's company, and without the blessing of that magical power.

Can you really run well on your own?
Tachibana subconsciously looked towards the audience seats and met the gazes of Ye Hui and his two companions.

"Tachibana, look over here!" Sakura immediately waved the flower ball in her hand high, her voice clear and bright, "Tachibana, do your best! You're the best~!"

Ye Hui and Zhi Shi nodded in agreement.

Tachibana instantly seemed to be recharged, and her eyes regained their determination.

She has been trained and disciplined by Ye Hui for so long.

Certainly possible!

The starting gun fired.

She rushed out in response, swinging her arms, pushing off the ground, and breathing, executing all her movements according to Ye Hui's instructions, with a steady and powerful rhythm.

Ultimately, the electronic screen displayed a time of "13.01 seconds".

She advanced to the finals as the top seed in her group.

"Great! Tachibana-san is in first place!"

Sakura jumped up in the audience, waving the pom-pom in her hand.

You watched the mortal cultivator weep with joy, feeling utterly unmoved. Was a mere mortal's competition really worth such a fuss? However, since she successfully advanced, it wasn't a waste of your guidance. In the future, she might even become a useful resource. Thinking of this, you decided to treat yourself to a couple more matcha daifuku later, a reward for your hard work in nurturing this mortal!

Ye Hui: “…”

Just then, another notification appeared.

[Li Xiaolang's Mood Value +18]

Ok?
Ye Hui felt the "gift" from Li Xiaolang, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up.

Li Xiaolang, you're having quite an internal struggle!

Do you want me to add some more ingredients?

Ye Hui turned his head and met Li Xiaolang's gaze.

He gave Li Xiaolang a gentle smile and raised an eyebrow.

[Li Xiaolang's Mood Value +20]

Ye Hui withdrew his gaze with satisfaction.

This guy's emotions are also very easy to manipulate.

Looks like we'll exceed today's KPI again!

During the game.

Sakura and Tomoyo immediately pulled Ye Hui to the edge of the field, just as Tachibana walked over.

"Tachibana-kun, congratulations on advancing!" the two said in unison.

"Thank you! If it weren't for your help during this time, I definitely wouldn't have been able to achieve such good results!" Tachibana wiped the sweat from her forehead and looked at the three of them.

"This is all thanks to your own hard work~ We just helped out a little." Sakura quickly waved her hand.

“No, your help is very important to me.” Tachibana shook her head, then looked at Ye Hui, “Especially Ye Hui, your guidance methods are so useful! I feel like my meridians have been opened up, and I can run so much more smoothly than before!”

[Tachibana Rei's mood score +18]

Ye Hui was taken aback upon hearing this.

Tachibana-kun, have you been secretly reading some martial arts novels?

Both the Ren and Du meridians have emerged.

I'll be having lunch with my track and field teammates and coach at noon.

Tachibana chatted briefly with the three of them before saying goodbye.

Watching Tachibana's departing figure, Sakura suddenly clapped her hands and made a suggestion.

"It's already noon! Let's go eat together! It's on me! Consider it a celebration for Tachibana-san's advancement!"

"Li, why don't you come along too?" Sakura turned around and saw Li Xiaolang following behind her, and immediately waved.

“I…” Li Xiaolang instinctively wanted to refuse.

“Our leader has invited you, so come on over. It’s more fun with more people.” Ye Hui stepped forward, grabbed his arm, and pulled him into the group.

Li Xiaolang's body stiffened for a moment, and he subconsciously tried to pull his hand back, but for some reason, he didn't move in the end.

Ye Hui looked at his awkward expression, which showed that he wasn't really resisting but was still putting on a reluctant act, and the corner of his mouth twitched.

What a proud and arrogant little brat.

Only Meiling could adapt to him.

The group entered a family-run restaurant on the street. As soon as they stepped inside, the aroma of curry and fried food wafted through the air. It was lunchtime, and the restaurant was quite full of diners.

"Everyone, order whatever you want to eat, it's on me today!" Sakura pulled out a chair, sat down, and generously pushed the menu to the center of the table, raising her chin slightly.

"Sakura is so generous today, haha~" Ye Hui picked up the menu, flipped through it, and joked with a smile.

"Of course! When have I ever been stingy?" Sakura puffed out her little chest.

Just then, a slight noise came from Sakura's schoolbag.

It turned out that Xiao Ke had smelled the aroma of the food and started to wriggle restlessly inside.

However, with so many people and distractions in the restaurant now, even if it manages to squeeze out, it can only continue to disguise itself as a doll and can't eat freely at all.

"Kero, behave yourself. I'll cook you something delicious when we get home," Sakura said in a low voice, gently patting her backpack with her fingers.

Once Kero stopped moving, Sakura quickly shifted her attention, "By the way, Tachibana-san is really amazing!"

"Even without the power of the Clow Cards, I can still run a time of 13.01 seconds, which is even better than when I relied on the cards!"

“Yes.” Tomoyo nodded gently. “Ye-kun put in a lot of effort to help her train, and Tachibana-kun herself worked hard enough, so it’s no wonder she’s making rapid progress.”

at this time.

Li Xiaolang, who had been silently flipping through the menu since sitting down, suddenly spoke up: "Do you really think this is the right thing to do?"

"Li, what do you mean by that?" Xiaoying frowned slightly.

Li Xiaolang didn't look at her, but fixed his gaze firmly on Ye Hui: "What I mean is, your method is too slow and too dangerous."

"The 'Charge Card' has been outside for so long. What if it regains its power early and comes out to cause trouble? What if it goes out of control and hurts ordinary people? Can you bear the consequences?"

Sakura was speechless for a moment when asked the question. She opened her mouth, but didn't know how to refute it.

After all, what Li Xiaolang said was true.

She had considered these risks, but looking at Tachibana's expectant eyes, she simply couldn't bring herself to immediately subdue Okita.

Ultimately, it was her momentary soft-heartedness that prevailed.

Zhi Shi's eyes flickered, and she glanced at Ye Hui, waiting for him to speak.

Ye Hui put down his spoon, tapped his fingertip lightly on the edge of the table, and said calmly, “Li, we know what you’re worried about. The risks you mentioned do exist.”

"But everything has two sides. We can't just focus on the potential dangers and ignore the significance of doing so."

He paused, then continued, "We help Tachibana not to help her win the competition, but to help her see that her strength is always hidden in hard work, to help her regain her confidence in herself. This confidence, earned by herself, is more precious than any magical blessing."

Upon hearing this, Li Xiaolang opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

The Li family's education has always been etched into his heart like a brand.

—The Clow Cards are dangerous carriers of magic and must be captured immediately without any hesitation. Any delay could lead to an irreparable disaster!
He couldn't possibly be like Ye Hui and the others, sitting idly by while the Clow Cards lingered in an ordinary person's home for so long without capturing them immediately.

However, Ye Hui's words made him doubt this ironclad rule for the first time.

[Li Xiaolang's Mood Value +25]

[Your twisted logic and heretical arguments have actually shaken the resolve of the genius disciple Li Xiaolang! Seeing him so lost in self-doubt fills you with a wicked pleasure of leading a righteous genius astray!]

Ye Hui rolled his eyes.

This system's analytical capabilities are absolutely amazing; it's a waste of its talent if it doesn't become a reading comprehension test creator.

"But……"

After a full half minute of silence, Li Xiaolang couldn't help but speak up, trying to argue, "What you're doing is too inefficient."

"If I have to consider all these things every time I encounter a Clow Card, when will I ever be able to collect them all?"

"Efficiency?" Ye Hui chuckled and decided to take this opportunity to give this dogmatic teenager a psychology lesson.

He leaned forward slightly and asked, "Li, what do you think is our ultimate goal in capturing the Clow Cards?" "Of course, it's to prevent them from causing trouble and harming ordinary people, and to protect this world!"

Without a second thought, Li Xiaolang blurted out the words in a firm tone, making it seem as if he were reciting family precepts.

Ye Hui nodded slowly, acknowledging his answer: "That's right, our ultimate goal is the same, it's all about protecting."

"But there is never only one way to protect."

He changed the subject, speaking in a calm tone, "Your approach is to cut to the chase quickly and decisively. There's nothing wrong with that approach; in fact, it can be the optimal solution in many emergency situations."

As he spoke, Ye Hui's gaze swept lightly over Sakura beside him: "Our method may seem a bit slow and troublesome. But for us, capturing the Clow Cards is a responsibility. But beyond that responsibility, those people involved with the Clow Cards, and the intentions hidden behind solving the problem, are equally important."

Sakura stared blankly at Ye Hui.

It turns out that Ye Zi had always known.
I understand her hesitation, I understand her reluctance.

They even treated these "unnecessary" emotions as something worth caring about.

He's not only powerful, but also so gentle...

[Kinomoto Sakura's emotional value +25]

Upon hearing this, a gentle purple ripple appeared in Chise's eyes.

Her gaze shifted slightly as she looked at Ye Hui.

【Daodaiji Chiyo’s Emotion Value +20】

Ye Hui didn't actually have that many grand insights.

He didn't care about the way he protected them; it was just because Sakura and Tomoyo cared.

They want to handle everything gently and consider everyone's feelings.

So he stayed with them.

This is probably what it's like to stand with your best friend!
[Li Xiaolang's Mood Value +30]

[Your genius disciple, Li Xiaolang, has developed a massive crack in his Dao heart, posing a risk of demonic possession! You've decided to press on and strive to bring him completely onto the demonic path as soon as possible, making him a powerful general under your command!]

Ye Hui glanced at the system log in his mind, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily.

Has he gone mad from practicing qi cultivation? A formidable general?
Did this system secretly change the cultivation script?
When did he become a villain who is "weak in strength but dares to bewitch geniuses"?
Isn't he a vicious little thug?

"I..." Li Xiaolang opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something.

"Alright, alright, let's eat, I'm starving."

Seeing that the food was almost ready, Ye Hui waved his hand to interrupt him, "Don't you see the food is getting cold? Let's talk about it after we finish eating and watch the Tachibana final."

As he spoke, he picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of golden tempura, put it in his mouth, and chewed it. "Hmm, this fried shrimp is good. It's crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and the batter is just right. Tomoyo, you guys should try it too."

"Yes, yes, let's eat!" Sakura quickly picked up her chopsticks and served food to Ye Hui and Zhi Shi.

Tomoyo smiled, picked up a piece of tamagoyaki with the serving chopsticks, and put it into Sakura's bowl: "Sakura, eat more, we still have to cheer this afternoon."

Li Xiaolang didn't say a word the whole time, just silently picked at the rice in his bowl with his chopsticks, his eyes vacant, lost in thought.

I ate that bowl of white rice for ages, but I didn't seem to lose more than a few bites.

Ye Hui chuckled to himself as he looked at his absent-minded appearance.

Li Xiaolang, it seems you have indigestion from today's meal.

It's okay, just do it a few more times and you'll get used to it.

3pm.

The women's 100-meter final is about to begin.

Tachibana stood at the fourth starting line, took a deep breath, bent her knees and leaned forward, her hands firmly on the ground, her eyes fixed on the finish line ahead.

After the morning's preliminary rounds, she was noticeably more relaxed and determined.

"On your marks—get set—"

The moment the starting gun fired.

Tachibana practically charged out in response!
Her starting reaction was astonishingly fast, even faster than in the morning's preliminary rounds, and she instantly took the lead.

"So fast!!"

"Charge! Tachibana—!"

In the audience, Sakura clenched her fists and stood on tiptoe, shouting loudly.

Tomoyo gripped the camera tightly, her eyes following the red figure on the track.

The competition quickly entered a heated phase.

Midway through the race, a runner from another school suddenly accelerated and gradually caught up with him.

The two raced side by side, almost shoulder to shoulder, toward the finish line.

"Go for it, Tachibana! Go faster!" Sakura's voice was almost hoarse from shouting, and her palms were sweating.

Ye Hui shook his head helplessly and gently patted her back: "Sakura, have more confidence in Tachibana. She has been practicing her sprinting technique for a long time."

Sakura sat down again, stuck out her tongue, and smiled sheepishly: "I was just too nervous, I felt even more excited than during the competition!"

"They made it through; Tachibana must have arrived first." Tomoyo put down the camera.

"That's great!" Sakura exclaimed happily.

It didn't take long.

The scores and rankings on the electronic screen have finally been updated.

The referee's voice came over the loudspeaker: "Girls' 13m final champion—Tomoeda Elementary School, Tachibana Rei! Time: 05 seconds!"

You watch as that mortal achieves a negligible victory, feeling nothing but indifference, even a slight urge to laugh. Is a mere mortal's match really worth all this fuss about? But since she won, it certainly brings honor to you, the mastermind behind it all!

Ye Hui: “…”

Soon, the staff began setting up the awards stage, and the most exciting awards ceremony was about to begin.

Tachibana, wearing the iconic red tracksuit of Tomoeda Elementary School, stood on the highest champion's podium.

The golden sunlight fell on her, turning the hair on her forehead a warm gold color and illuminating the irrepressible light in her eyes.

When the host handed her the heavy trophy.

She gripped the trophy tightly, raised it high, and waved vigorously in the direction of Ye Hui and the other two in the audience.

As soon as the awards ceremony ended, Tachibana was surrounded by reporters and her coach, who looked very pleased. They bombarded her with questions and words of advice.

Ye Hui and the other two did not go forward to disturb them, but simply watched silently from a distance.

"Let's go back first, and then find a chance to celebrate properly with Tachibana after she's finished with all this," Tomoyo suggested softly.

“Okay!” Sakura nodded, glanced at Tachibana again, and then turned around.

The three walked out of the stadium side by side, leaving the noise behind them.

As evening fell, warm yellow lights illuminated Tachibana's home, signaling the start of a small celebration party.

She only invited Ye Hui, Xiao Ying, and Zhi Shi, the three people she most wanted to thank.

Tachibana's mother had already prepared a table full of dishes, even more lavish than the last dinner.

Steaming hot sukiyaki, golden and crispy fried chicken nuggets, tender and juicy grilled salmon, and various side dishes filled the living room with their aroma.

"Come, come, Ye Hui, Xiao Ying, Zhi Shi, please sit down, don't be shy, have some food!"

Wearing an apron, she kept serving food to the three of them, her smile never fading. "Xiaoling won the championship thanks to your help. Auntie is so grateful to you!"

The meal was a lively one.

After dinner, Tachibana brought out a thick photo album from her room, with a small track and field pattern printed on the cover.

"These are photos of me participating in various competitions from childhood to adulthood, and I wanted to show them to you."

She sat on the carpet, carefully flipping through the photo album, gently brushing the yellowed pages, and introduced it to the three of them.

"This photo is from my first kindergarten sports day. I fell while running the 100-meter dash, and I cried as I crossed the finish line..."

The album is filled with photos, one after another, recording Tachibana's growth trajectory.

From a little girl with pigtails and wearing a pink tracksuit, to a young woman who gradually grows taller and whose eyes become more determined.

And now, standing on the podium, he looks so dashing and spirited.

In every photo, she is inextricably linked to running.

"Wow... Tachibana-kun, you've been this amazing since you were little! You dared to sign up for the 100 meters in your very first competition!"

Sakura leaned over and looked at the photo of Tachibana crying but still clenching her fists, sighing with admiration.

"No way..." Tachibana was a little embarrassed by the praise, her cheeks flushed slightly, and she gently closed the photo album. "I just really like running."

She paused, her gaze becoming serious: "Because I love it, even when I'm so tired from training that I don't want to move, even when I'm sad about losing a competition, I can keep going."

Ye Hui looked at her, deeply moved.

Yes, because I like it.

Just as Tomoyo likes to hold up a camera to record Sakura's moments, Sakura likes to help the people around her.

He likes it himself...

It's like experiencing these small, heartwarming daily moments with them.

This heartfelt passion has always been my strongest motivation.

"Ye Zi, what are you thinking about?" Xiao Ying suddenly leaned close to Ye Hui, blinking her dark green eyes curiously.

Ye Hui snapped out of his daze and his gaze fell on the small face so close to his. Her skin was fair, and her cheeks had a natural blush, making her look exceptionally soft and tender.

He subconsciously reached out and gently pinched her cheek.

"Ah, Yezi! What are you doing!" Sakura shrank back instantly, covering the spot where she was pinched, glaring at him angrily, but her cheeks visibly flushed even redder.

[Kinomoto Sakura's emotional value +15]

"nothing."

Ye Hui withdrew his hand, rubbed it together with one hand, and smiled. "I just think the baby fat on your face feels pretty good."

"Huh? I'm not chubby!" Sakura retorted, puffing out her cheeks in an attempt to prove herself, but instead she looked even rounder.

"Yoko, please stop teasing Sakura." Tomoyo sat to the side, her purple eyes filled with a gentle smile, but her tone carried a hint of indulgence.

Tachibana nodded in agreement and said earnestly, "Yes, Sakura is very cute. She doesn't look childish at all like this."

Faced with a simultaneous "attack" from two girls, Ye Hui could only raise his hands in surrender: "Okay, okay, I was wrong~ Our Sakura's face isn't chubby, it's a symbol of cuteness~"

It sounded like an apology, but anyone could hear the teasing in his tone.

"Hmph!" Sakura lowered her hand from her face, her cheeks still flushed. She glared at Ye Hui, her long eyelashes trembling slightly.

But instead of being threatening, that look was like a pouting kitten, appearing soft and cuddly.

[Kinomoto Sakura's emotional value +12]

Ye Hui was in a great mood when he saw her like this.

They chatted until dusk, when the sky turned a deep, inky blue, before Ye Hui and the other two got up to say goodbye.

"Tachibana-san, Auntie, I'm so sorry to bother you today. Dinner was delicious." Tomoyo bowed slightly, her tone polite and sincere.

"Don't say that, it's bothering you!" Tachibana's mother quickly waved her hand, beaming. "We're so happy that you could come and celebrate with Xiaoling. Come visit us anytime you have time, and Auntie will cook you something delicious."

"Yes! We definitely will!" Sakura nodded vigorously, her eyes curving into crescents.

"Ye Hui, Sakura, Tomoyo, thank you so much." Tachibana stood beside her mother and bowed deeply to the three of them, her back bent low. "If it weren't for your help and guidance, I might still be stuck in a dead end with my grades, and I would never have won this championship. I will remember this kindness in my heart."

"Oh dear, get up quickly, we're friends." Sakura quickly stepped forward to help her up.

After saying goodbye to the enthusiastic Tachibana mother and daughter, the three walked side by side on their way home.

A gentle evening breeze blew by, carrying a slight chill.

Ye Hui's gaze fell on Xiao Ying beside him.

She was chatting away with Tomoyo about the funny things that had just happened, her voice as clear and crisp as a wind chime.

He suddenly remembered his newly acquired supernatural powers.

To understand one's true nature, to see through illusions, and to look directly at one's original heart.

How about... we try Sakura?

This supernatural ability has no offensive power; it only senses emotions and intentions and will not cause any harm to Sakura.

With a thought, Ye Hui secretly activated his supernatural power and his gaze fell on Xiaoying.

next second.

He could clearly see a faint golden halo surrounding Sakura.

Several distinct colors are interwoven within the halo.

Warm orange, representing joy; light pink, representing sincerity; and a small, faint, soft light, carrying a sense of dependence, are gently drifting towards me.

"Hey? Ye Zi, why aren't you saying anything? Are you tired of cheering me on all day?" Xiao Ying noticed Ye Hui's silence, stopped, turned around, and stuck out her tongue.

"No, I was just thinking about something." Ye Hui withdrew his supernatural power, the spiritual energy at his fingertips quietly receding. He smiled at Xiaoying and shook his head.

"Oh..." Sakura didn't think much of it and turned back to chat with Tomoyo about the old photos in Tachibana's album, curious about her childhood.

Ye Hui's gaze unconsciously fell on Zhi Shi.

Sakura's emotions are mostly lively and happy, but what about Tomoyo?
With a thought, he activated his supernatural powers once more.

Unlike the warm and bright golden halo around Sakura.

Tomoyo was surrounded by a cool yet soft purple aura.

Deep within the halo, a few delicate strands of color flowed quietly.

One strand of light pink, with an indescribable focus, remained fixed on Sakura and herself.

Ye Hui's heart skipped a beat. Before he could process it, a system notification suddenly popped up in his mind.

[You actually used an evil mind-reading technique to spy on the mind of the Dharma Protector Daidouji Tomoyo! You attempted to use this to capture, control, and manipulate her! Such despicable acts are truly the most demonic of demonic paths!]

[How dare you, a mere scoundrel, pry into the inner world of the Dharma Protector, Daidoji Tomoyo! Heaven has recorded this sin; when the heavenly tribulation descends, you will be annihilated, your soul and spirit forever condemned to eternal damnation!]

Ye Hui's lips twitched, and he instantly snapped out of the emotional turmoil brought on by the supernatural power.

(End of this chapter)