Chapter 185: Qi Mu Nanxiong

Ten years ago, the fire?

Upon hearing these words, Emiya Shirou froze.

In a daze, he seemed to return to ten years ago, seeing a ruined street littered with debris, a blazing crimson wall of flame, and the man holding him and weeping amid the wreckage…

“You mean…”

Emiya Shirou snapped back to reality, his expression grave and complex as he slowly said: “Was the fire in the new district ten years ago connected to this so-called Holy Grail War?”

“Correct.”

Bai Zeming said softly: “I mentioned it back when we were in school—the last Holy Grail War was ten years ago.”

Confirming his suspicion, Emiya Shirou lowered his head and fell silent.

After a moment, he looked up at Bai Zeming and asked: “If this Holy Grail War continues, will a similar disaster happen again?”

“You’ve already witnessed the power of the Servants.”

Bai Zeming asked softly: “What do you think?”

Emiya Shirou remained silent for a long time, then his expression hardened, as if making a decision.

“What should I do?”

“…”

Bai Zeming smiled, immediately standing up: “Come with me!”

…

…

Meanwhile, three thousand meters above the Emiya residence, a boy with pink hair hovered in midair, his deep purple eyes calmly observing the scene below through green-tinted glasses.

There was no doubt—this extraordinary pink-haired boy was the invincible psychic, Qi Mu Nanxiong!

In previous cycles, he had already noticed Bai Zeming, the one unaffected by time reversal.

Back then, he had secretly observed Bai Zeming just as he was doing now.

But unfortunately, aside from retaining his memories intact through time rewind, the man seemed to possess no other abilities.

Until the final cycle, Bai Zeming suddenly appeared in Nindou County, unusually seeking to meet him face to face.

This time, Bai Zeming not only possessed the ability to block his telepathy but also brought advanced technology far beyond his era.

Such an anomaly had never occurred in previous cycles, naturally piquing Qi Mu Nanxiong’s curiosity.

Thus, after resetting time, he once again activated his Thousand-Mile Eye ability to secretly monitor Bai Zeming’s every move.

Not long ago, during his battle with Lancer, Bai Zeming summoned a mysterious and immensely powerful entity.

The moment it appeared, the entire Tohsaka City was enveloped by some strange power—even Qi Mu Nanxiong, as strong as he was, could no longer see into the city through his Thousand-Mile Eye.

Discovering this, Qi Mu Nanxiong was both startled and suspicious.

After much hesitation, he finally decided to go there in person to see for himself.

However, since his troublesome parents were quarreling, Qi Mu Nanxiong had to resolve the family dispute first, delaying his arrival until he finally reached Tohsaka City.

By then, the mysterious entity that had shielded Tohsaka City had vanished.

Only Bai Zeming, Tohsaka Rin, and others remained at Sōgō Academy.

Adhering to the principle that since he’d come this far, he might as well observe the Holy Grail War once more—he had watched it countless times already—and followed them to the Emiya residence after the Lancer disappeared.

Gazing down at Bai Zeming and the two others, along with the two Servants accompanying them, Qi Mu Nanxiong fell into thought.

“This time, Bai Zeming has become a Master…”

“Then the outcome of this Holy Grail War should be entirely different from the last one, right?”

But he didn’t know whether this outcome would be better—or worse…

As Qi Mu Nanxiong pondered this, he turned his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through empty space to see scenes miles away.

Suddenly, Qi Mu Nanxiong’s face darkened; he had seen something, and in an instant, he vanished from his spot.

The next second, he appeared in his familiar room, scowling as he pushed open the door and entered the living room.

“Oh ho ho~ Lin, you really know how to flatter—how could I possibly be as young as you say?”

“That’s not right, Auntie—how could you be called ‘Auntie’? With your appearance and aura, anyone would think you’re Qi Mu’s older sister!”

“I… I am?”

Following the voice, he saw Qi Mu Jiumei, dressed in a purple sweater, sitting on the sofa, blushing as she covered her cheeks, clearly delighted by the compliments from the Lin student.

Seeing this, Qi Mu Nanxiong’s face twitched with exasperation as he turned to the opposite side of the sofa.

There sat a handsome young man with black hair and black eyes, wearing a PK Academy uniform he must have stolen from somewhere, his beautiful face lit with a warm, soothing smile.

Judging by his age, he was around twenty-four or twenty-five—not at all like a high school student.

Yet his clueless parents failed to notice, treating him with food and hospitality as if they truly believed this strange visitor in a school uniform was his classmate…

Wait, his classmate?

Qi Mu Nanxiong recalled the rugged, middle-aged face of Rantō Riki, and sighed inwardly.

Fine, he couldn’t blame his parents—his classmates were simply too bizarre, none of them normal…

As Qi Mu Nanxiong mentally grumbled, the handsome young man on the sofa noticed him and turned, smiling warmly as he waved.

“Hey, Nanxiong!”

The sudden greeting drew the attention of Qi Mu’s parents.

His mother, Qi Mu Jiumei, beamed at him and waved frantically, urging him to come greet his classmate.

His father, Qi Mu Guochun, rose from behind the sofa, complaining: “Nanxiong, you have a classmate visiting? Why didn’t you tell us ahead of time?”

What if he’s not my classmate at all?

Qi Mu Nanxiong gave his father a blank stare, then instantly understood why his father had been crouching behind the sofa—

Because piled against the wall behind the sofa were numerous exquisitely wrapped gifts: flowers, fruit, and many special items tailored to his parents’ tastes.

Qi Mu Guochun picked up a delicate Gundam model, fondling it lovingly as he sighed: “You came over, and you brought so many gifts? That’s really too much!”

No, you’re not thinking that at all!

Qi Mu Nanxiong silently mocked his father, exposing his true thoughts.

Qi Mu’s father turned, holding the model, eagerly asking: “Uh, Lin, may I ask—where did you get this Gundam? The craftsmanship is even finer than my collection!”

“Oh, this was custom-made by a specialist—you can’t buy it anywhere.”

The handsome young man—or rather, Lin Yu—smiled slightly: “But if you like it, next time I visit, I’ll bring another one, how about that?”

Great! Great!

His father’s eager thoughts echoed in Qi Mu Nanxiong’s mind.

Yet outwardly, he scratched his head and said: “That would be too much trouble!”

What a hypocritical adult…

He was barely holding back laughter, yet still pretending to be polite.

Qi Mu Nanxiong sighed inwardly, deciding that after today, he’d warn his Jipin parents.

He hoped they’d change someday—stop inviting just anyone, stop accepting just any gift…

“Oh! Look what this is!”

Qi Mu Guochun pulled out a beautifully wrapped box from the pile, delighted: “Sweet treats from XX Confectionery—and the new version with cocoa powder in the coffee jelly!”

Maybe it’s fine to keep them…

Qi Mu Nanxiong instantly changed his mind, his eyes fixed intently on the coffee jelly in his father’s hands.

There was no help for it—the enemy’s sugar-coated artillery was too powerful; even the mighty Qi God struggled to resist.

Watching the pink-haired boy’s expression, Lin Yu smiled.

“How about it? Surprised?”

Quite surprised…

Qi Mu Nanxiong involuntarily replied via telepathy.

But the next second, he realized—he stared in shock at the wrapped box in his father’s hands.

Wait, surprised?

His psychic ability couldn’t penetrate this packaging?!

And just now, Lin Yu hadn’t spoken aloud, yet he’d clearly heard his voice.

Could it be… this guy also has telepathy?!

Qi Mu Nanxiong stared at Lin Yu, stunned, his mind racing with countless thoughts.

Lin Yu smiled: “I came all this way—won’t you show me your room?”

“Yes, yes!”

Qi Mu’s parents both agreed.

Qi Mu Nanxiong snapped out of it, gazing deeply at Lin Yu, then turned and walked toward his room.

Lin Yu rose from the sofa, waving cheerfully to Qi Mu’s parents: “I won’t disturb you then~”

Qi Mu’s mother eagerly said: “I’ll cut some fruit and bring it to you.”

Lin Yu thanked her with a smile, then stepped forward and followed Qi Mu Nanxiong into the room.

As soon as they entered, the door closed automatically.

Qi Mu Nanxiong turned to face Lin Yu, his expression calm.

“Who are you?”

“…”

Lin Yu didn’t answer immediately; instead, he glanced around the room, then replied casually: “You went all the way to Tohsaka City just to meet me, didn’t you?”

“Now that I’m here, why are you asking who I am?”

Kirei Nanami frowned and replied telepathically: “I know you’re the one who appeared in Fuyuki City. I want to know your true identity—psychic, or magus?”

“...Oh?”

Lin Yu raised an eyebrow, finally turning to face Kirei Nanami directly: “So you’ve known about them all along?”

Kirei Nanami replied calmly: “Of course.”

Lin Yu mused: “Because of the Holy Grail War?”

Without waiting for Kirei Nanami’s reply, he continued speculating: “Setting aside your psychic abilities, you’re fundamentally a kind, good-hearted boy. Given your nature, you wouldn’t just stand by while the Holy Grail War unfolds.”

“If I’m not mistaken, you’ve already interfered in the Holy Grail War before, haven’t you?”

Kirei Nanami froze slightly, then fell silent.

“Looks like your interference didn’t go well.”

Lin Yu smiled: “No wonder you stayed out of the Holy Grail War in all the subsequent cycles.”

“Then again, your psychic abilities are entirely separate from the magus system. Even if you possess overwhelming power over Servants, you probably couldn’t do anything against that cursed, corrupted Holy Grail, could you?”

(End of Chapter)