"Actually, this city is quite nice—it's just that I don't really like that uncomfortable attitude British people tend to have..." Bathed in the gentle sunlight, Chu Lian let out a faint sigh. It was the kind of tranquil afternoon perfect for enjoying tea slowly in a garden.
However, that wasn't an option right now. In this unfamiliar land, even if they wanted to relax, they couldn't afford to let their guard down completely. Otherwise, they'd only invite trouble.
Even though all their enemies had been dealt with, Chu Lian and her companions hadn't forgotten what Xu Zhiqing had told them. Of course, Xu Zhiqing herself was now keeping a close watch nearby—everything they did was under her gaze. It was a bit suffocating.
"Lian, when do you think we'll finally be able to put everything down?" Holding Fyu-Neru in her arms, Inori stood by the bridge, gazing at the shimmering water for a while before fixing her eyes on the distant Big Ben. Her expression was tinged with melancholy.
"Let everything go, huh? That's probably not something we can do right now. There's still so much left unfinished, and truly resolving all of it is no easy task. At best, we can learn to let go of some things—to make life a little lighter. But to let go of everything... with where we stand now, that's still far off." Chu Lian stopped walking and stood beside her, speaking her honest thoughts.
"In this world, no one can truly let go of everything. Those who can have either become saints—or have already been buried. Only then can they truly say they've abandoned all attachments. But I don't think we'll ever reach that point." Chu Lian smiled faintly. Deep down, she knew—even if everyone else could do it, she never could.
"That's not necessarily true. 'Letting go of everything' can just mean taking a break. For a certain time, not thinking about anything—just following your heart. That's enough, isn't it?" Li Xiu'er leaned against the railing, hands folded behind her head, her gaze unfocused as she stared at the water below.
To avoid attracting too much attention, the girls had stored away their pets before leaving. None of them felt like bringing them out again just yet. It was better to simply enjoy this rare, quiet moment together.
"No desires, no emotions, no joy or sorrow—cut off all feelings, all desires, seal the senses and still the spirit. Only then can one truly ignore everything in the world," Cai Ya said calmly. To her, as long as Chu Lian existed, she could never completely let go of anything.
And she wasn't the only one who felt that way. For the others too, such detachment was impossible.
"I don't really know why you're all talking about this, but isn't it too early to be worrying about such things?" Liu Yanran sat on the railing, brushing aside strands of hair the wind had tousled. Her voice was soft yet firm. "Fate is a line—it may twist and change, but its end never does. If we just keep walking, we'll find the answers ourselves."
"Maybe so. But the fact that we're even having this conversation just shows that we're uncertain—lacking confidence about the future," Chu Lian said, spreading her hands with a wry smile, ending the heavy topic.
"Sorry, Lian. My melancholy mood must've affected everyone," Inori said softly, turning back to bow slightly toward her companions in apology.
"It's fine. We'd have to face these thoughts eventually anyway. Better to bring them up now and move past them," Cai Ya replied easily. Though she herself had been feeling unsettled earlier, she actually felt lighter after the talk.
"Alright, enough deep talk. Let's rest for a bit, then head to King's Cross Station to take a look around," Chu Lian said, waving her hand dismissively. She hopped up onto the railing, standing with her skirt swaying in the breeze.
The wind brushed through their hair, and Chu Lian's white dress fluttered like a flower blooming against the wind—pure and flawless.
"So many emotions at such a young age... quite impressive, really," Xu Zhiqing mused from where she leaned lazily against a tree, hidden from their sight. A faint smile curved her lips as she observed them with mild amusement.
At eighteen, she was two years older than even Inori, the eldest among the girls, and she'd seen more of the world. Her words, though teasing, were not unkind.
"Hey, Chu Lian—why did you want us to travel through all these cities in the first place?" The others were still wrapped in a peaceful silence when Cai Ya finally spoke, her eyes fixed on Chu Lian's figure, her voice filled with quiet curiosity.
"There are many reasons, but I can't tell you the truth right now. Honestly, if I had known how many dangers and complications we'd face along the way, I might have chosen a path that, while less advantageous for me, would've been much safer. After all, you girls are my most precious people. Losing something else is acceptable—but losing any of you isn't. If I had to trade what I've gained for your safety, I'd do it without hesitation." The truth involved the system and Ayase—things Chu Lian couldn't explain yet. All she could do was sidestep the question for now.
At moments like this, Chu Lian truly understood why Ayase had stayed silent when she herself was once filled with doubt. It wasn't that Ayase didn't want to tell her—it was that some things simply couldn't be spoken. Once revealed, the consequences would spiral beyond their control.
"Makes sense. You must have your reasons. Just... promise that when the time comes, you'll tell us, okay?" Cai Ya said calmly. She had already expected such an answer and wasn't disappointed.
"If you can't tell us why we're traveling through these cities, then at least tell us—why are you so fixated on going to King's Cross Station? There's nothing special about that place, right?" Liu Yanran turned toward her, curiosity shining in her eyes. She really wanted to know what made that train station so important to Chu Lian.
"You want to know? Then I'll show you myself..." Chu Lian smiled, lightly hopping down from the railing. Meeting their curious gazes, she pointed toward their destination. "Let's catch a ride~"
"No matter how capable they are, they're still just a bunch of kids at heart," Xu Zhiqing murmured, folding her arms as she watched them board the bus to the station. She smiled faintly and then, without making a sound or motion, vanished completely.
"Platform Nine and Three-Quarters... Platform Nine and Three-Quarters... Platform Nine and Three-Quarters..." Chu Lian muttered softly as she counted under her breath. When she finally stopped before a pillar, her face brightened with a knowing smile.
In that moment, she felt the same thrill as the young boys and girls who once stood before this magical gateway in the stories. If only it were truly the door to the wizarding world—she would've loved to step through and see it for herself.
But there would be a chance one day. The dungeon access rights for the Harry Potter world were still reserved. Someday, she would enter that world of magic.
"Chu Lian, what are you doing standing there, muttering about the 'wizarding world' and 'Hogwarts'?" The girls looked at her in confusion. The pillar before her was utterly ordinary—what was there to be so excited about?
"You'll understand someday. This place... is actually the entrance to another world," Chu Lian said, turning around with a playful glint in her eyes. Her mysterious tone immediately piqued their curiosity.
"You mean, if we go through here, we'll reach another world? What kind of world? Can we go in now?" Li Xiu'er ran over, touching the pillar and patting it curiously—but there was nothing unusual about it.
"Haha, of course not. It's just a concept for now. But in the future, this will become a magical place—a spot every young boy and girl will dream of touching and entering," Chu Lian explained with a small laugh. She knew perfectly well that the real Platform Nine and Three-Quarters wasn't this one—but there was no need to point that out.
After all, she planned to write the Harry Potter series herself, and once it was adapted into films, this location would mark the beginning of that dream. She had to choose it carefully. And since only she knew the truth, there was no risk of anyone else figuring it out.
"Fine, you never tell us anything," Li Xiu'er said, making a face at her before skipping back. Since Chu Lian said it was fictional, there was no point in examining the pillar further.
"Don't say that. One day, I'll take you girls to travel across different worlds," Chu Lian said, unable to resist smiling at their disappointed looks. She finally revealed her true reason for bringing them there.
"Travel across different worlds?" Cai Ya's eyes widened. Did Chu Lian really have that kind of power?
"Every world has certain places where gateways to other realms exist. But we have to find them ourselves—and only by using the right method can they be opened. That said, throughout history, there have only been a few confirmed cases of success," Lux Lyle interjected, breaking her usual silence. Her words made Chu Lian nod repeatedly in agreement.
"Yes, every world contains countless points that connect to other worlds. The key lies in finding the correct method to open them. Otherwise, the chances of those worlds actively intersecting with ours are infinitesimally small."
As Chu Lian spoke, she pointed toward the pillar behind her and smiled. "Even if this place is fictional, that doesn't mean it isn't an entrance to the magical world. It's just that we don't yet have the means to open it."
"You mean... it's really possible to travel to other worlds? Then—could we go back in time, to past eras?" Liu Yanran asked eagerly. To her, the thought of revisiting history—of witnessing or even participating in it—was more fascinating than any fantasy world.
"Yes, it's possible—as long as you find the right method," Chu Lian replied with a nod. It was indeed doable, provided she had the access rights to those dungeons.
"I'd love to return to ancient times—to be part of those moments in history..." Liu Yanran's eyes gleamed with longing. She had always been deeply passionate about Chinese classical culture; to her, that dream had existed since childhood.
"I'll take you there. I promise," Chu Lian said softly. Though her tone was gentle, her words carried a quiet determination. If she said she would do it, she meant it.
Time flowed by quietly, and this ordinary yet extraordinary afternoon left the girls with strange, lingering feelings in their hearts.
They began to look forward to the day when Chu Lian would truly lead them across worlds.
When they returned to their rooms, none of them went out again. Each girl took the chance to rest—there was still one final flight left that evening. Once that flight was over, they would finally return to the Magic City of Huaxia.
From there, whether by high-speed rail or private car, it would only take a few hours to reach Sucheng.
The home they had left so far behind... now seemed just within reach.
That night, an airplane slowly lifted off from London Airport, carrying a group of boys and girls whose study trip had been abruptly cut short. As it rose into the dark sky, it marked the end of their thrilling and wondrous journey—a story that had begun and ended in both reality and dreams.