Cultivating in Honkai!

Fortunately, Bronya's gaze did not stay for long. She stared at the laptop, as if waiting for Cocolia's orders.

"...Bronya will escort you."

"Where's my old man?"

Kiana finally spoke. Her bottled-up emotions are about to erupt.

"He is traveling the world. The same as you." Cocolia evaded her question.

"Do you know where he is?"

"I am afraid not. It is better to ask your handler."

"..."

She cleverly pushed the blame to Ryoma.

Kiana tightened up her fist. She seemed conflicted as she stared at Cocolia on the screen.

"I haven't sent my words of gratitude to you." Cocolia shifted her attention to Shi Tian beside Kiana. "Your traces are dealt with neatly. There's no need to worry about the officials."

"Thank you."

Unlike Kiana, Shi Tian held his composure well. His eyes looked at the woman across the screen. Her tone and mannerisms are similar to the professional bosses and COOs that visited his parents. She held that vibe that can intimidate weak-willed individuals.

"Kiana's father… You won't tell us anything about it, no?" He asked.

"I did not say that."

"..."

Cocolia saw him turn silent. It was her plan. Give Kiana the hope to meet her father and she will most likely stick to one place. That was how Theresa kept her in Saint Freya. Coincidentally, it also occurred now, but in a different place instead. All that mattered to cocolia is Ryoma owing her a favor.

Shi Tian saw through it. No matter how bad his previous weak mentality was, he can still catch on cues. It helped that this exact same move was used by Theresa, too.

He looked at Kiana.

'How should we move from here?'

Since they are presented with the option of staying in Cocolia's orphanage, he won't shy away. The Cocolia in 2014 might be crazy and unreasonable, but the Cocolia now is still rational. She hasn't lost her children to the X-10 Experiment yet.

There is also Shi Tian's thoughts of teaching immortal cultivation to others; to the main casts there. If Bronya and Seele has high grade Spirit Roots, they can raise their strength to the Foundation Establishment Realm within four years, if not shorter.

Of course, this plan still has many flaws. It required Shi Tian to know more about them. Only then would he actually decide on what to do.

'I need to sort it out.'

*****

Bronya ended up doing as she said. She escorted us inside a car that drove out of the city. She sat beside Kiana. I took the window seat. There are two other people in the front seat, one driving and one armed.

Taking advantage of this peace, I closed my eyes.

Inside my mind, I did some mental gymnastics. The puzzles of the [Xinhai Wuji Heart Sutra] are random. It might be patterns like a Rubik's Cube at first, then a maze, a riddle, and so on.

…

Eight hundred puzzles.

I finally reached the eight hundredth puzzle.

The opening of my eyes welcomed an unprecedented clarity. My eyesight is enhanced by the technique. I can recall my memories more clearly.

More importantly, my Sword Heart grew. Its growth depends on the consistency of my determination. As long as I don't conflict with my inner beliefs, it will grow.

With the [Xinhai Sutra], my mind becomes more clear. I get to notice things I won't pay much attention to. It makes my Sword Heart grow, in turn giving my dantian and meridians a cultivation boost.

It is one of the solutions I thought for slow cultivation speed. Once these techniques form a cycle, my cultivation speed becomes faster. Sword Heart is not the only one capable of doing it. 

There's also the Innate Talisman of talisman-making, Natal Spiritual Flames of alchemy, Hexagram Spirit of astrology, Treasure Organs of artifact refiners, and so on. They correspond to the Sword Heart and provide cultivation speed bonuses. 

Simply put, they are job-exclusive passive skills.

Originally, I could only learn one. Sword Heart cannot coexist with Innate Talismans and the likes. I can still learn alchemy, but I won't have its 'job-exclusive' trait.

It is all thanks to the [Xiutian Yin-Yang Jue Art]. Its basis is to cultivate the dantians and meridians into the five elements yin-yang, thereby having a trait of 'adapting all laws to oneself, which means I can have all of these job-exclusive passive skills. If I can learn all of them, my cultivation speed will skyrocket.

Unfortunately, except for the Sword Heart, the rest needed spiritual materials—and I don't have them.

It sucks to be broke.

Just then, I felt Kiana poking my shoulder.

"You can permanently stay in the orphanage." She whispered. "Why didn't you agree?"

"Hm?"

My eyes widened. I recalled Cocolia's previous offer. She knew my status of being homeless and invited me to be a permanent resident. I did not take on her offer.

"I won't mind helping you find your father. My decision won't change. Also, you still have a lot to learn."

I crossed my arms and looked outside. 

I admit. I grew more attached to the Tuna after two and a half months. It might be arrogance or self-righteousness at first… but I can't bring myself to abandon her now.

When the time comes and she faces the Herrscher inside her…

I hope she won't be as desolate as the version of her inside the game. 

It is already depressing as a game, what else now that I am living in their world?

"Hm..?"

A strange gaze landed on me. I instinctively looked for it and saw Bronya giving me a side-eye. Her hands are relentless when it comes to eating the HOMU-themed biscuits I gave to her. It is already her fourth pack.

Her strange looks…

It's already the fifth time today.

Only if I can read her mind…

"Don't regret it."

I was almost startled by Kiana's reply. I looked at her again. I received an urge to tease her.

"Do you want to throw me away?"

"No!"

Unexpectedly, she took it seriously. I felt guilty all of a sudden.

"I am joking. Sorry…"

Just like that, time passed like flowing water.

*****

Thirty minutes ago.

'He is dangerous…'

Bronya is a former assassin. She was taught how to use everything on her advantage. From reading expressions to acting, she knew about it. Her two months inside Cocolia's place wore her tense side a bit, but the Silver Wolf of the Urals is still there.

Although numb to many things, she isn't unfeeling.

"Shi Tian. Twelve years old."

The teenage boy introduced himself while Kiana was changing clothes inside the bathroom. He cusped his fist and gave a slight bow.

"Da. You can call me the Bronya."

He nodded before he asked:

"Do you want something to eat? We have a couple of snacks left."

"...Anything."

"Um."

He came back bringing a pack of unopened biscuits. Her eyes lit up upon seeing its HOMU design.

For the past two months, the HOMU reminded Bronya of her first toy—a matryoshka doll. She started to develop a liking towards it. Along with that was a hoarder mentality.

In short, Bronya likes HOMU.

Knowing he saved Seele without saying anything, she has a good first impression of him. Good people exist, but seeing one is as rare as a moment of peace in Bronya's life.

"...Thanks."

"Welcome."

A trace of confusion appeared on her face. She looked at the meek and harmless Shi Tian. He gave out a smile as a greeting to her thanks.

It was completely inconsistent with her other first impression towards him. He shot five people, burned three, and killed one of them.

How can a person be good and ruthless at the same time?

Bronya saw a part of herself in him—the life of war and killings she went through.

She will not believe that he was merely a civilian two and a half months prior to this meeting.

'Can I also be like him…?'