Esper X Family – Chapter 78 – White Catty’s Temptation

After learning the mechanics of Wu Mi’s ability, a bold idea formed in Ye Yao’s mind.

Now that Wu Mi’s mental power had surpassed hers, it was only natural that she could influence her normal fission body.

This was exactly what Ye Yao wanted.

If Wu Mi’s mental power had still been weak, Ye Yao might not have been so thrilled.

Faced with Wu Mi’s hesitation, Ye Yao took her hand to reassure her.

Transferring warmth through her palm.

Along with an overwhelming sense of trust.

“I believe that Wu Mi is very talented. Even if it’s her first time actively using her ability on someone, she’ll succeed on the first try.”

“B-But… why use Ye Yao as the test subject…?”

Wu Mi looked reluctant, afraid of hurting Ye Yao. The disasters she had caused with her ability were still fresh in her mind.

Her parents were still suffering from the cycle’s torment.

And it wasn’t just them. None of the other victims trapped in their cycles had met a good end.

Wu Mi didn’t want Ye Yao to become one of them.

Ye Yao could see Wu Mi’s unease.

“Are you worried about hurting me? Don’t be. Back then, you didn’t know how to control your ability. Now that you do, you can avoid that entirely.”

“But…”

Ultimately, Wu Mi lacked confidence.

And she especially didn’t want to experiment on someone close to her.

The pressure was simply too great.

A tiny leaf was one thing; she could experiment on it without hesitation.

But with Ye Yao, all she could think about was the fear of failure.

“Don’t forget that the me standing before you isn’t the real me, but a clone that’ll disappear in a few hours.”

That was the real reason why Ye Yao had no fear.

Fission bodies were meant for taking risks.

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But they had severe limitations.

Before her mental power grew, the duration was far too short.

A few hours were simply not enough.

After understanding Wu Mi’s ability, Ye Yao had thought of asking her to help extend that time.

Ye Yao’s gaze was unwavering as she stared at Wu Mi.

“Make the time I spend with you enter a cycle.

Don’t you want me to stay with you longer?”

“I do…”

“Do you want to see me disappear in a few hours?”

“No…”

“Then believe in yourself. Keep me by your side, and let this continue forever.”

Ye Yao flashed a sweet, bewitching smile.

Her voice was dripping with temptation.

“If you wish, you can keep me here… forever .”

“…”

It wasn’t just Wu Mi.

Even Xia Lian, who was perched on the roof, found herself breathing rapidly.

White Catty turned into a little succubus!

Who could resist such tempting whispers?

Right now, Xia Lian desperately wished for Wu Mi to succeed with 100% certainty.

Every time she saw Ye Yao vanish like a fleeting dream, her heart shattered.

Yet, she lacked the strength to snatch the real White Catty back from Lou Wei.

If Wu Mi could keep Ye Yao here, it would be the best possible outcome!

Even if it was just as a clone, she could at least quench her thirst by thinking of plums ¹ 望梅止渴. Idiom that means ‘to console oneself’. .

Xia Lian suppressed her excitement.

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She didn’t go down to interfere with the two.

Wu Mi had only just learned to use her ability.

Everyone’s experience was different.

Even if Xia Lian tried to share her own, it might not help her.

It was better to wait quietly and reap the rewards.

“Hehe~ Isn’t it tempting? Doesn’t it give you more motivation?”

Ye Yao grinned triumphantly, fully aware of what she was saying.

She wasn’t nervous at all.

Wu Mi just needed a little push.

With enough motivation, confidence would soon follow.

When the reward far outweighed the risk, even the most hesitant would take the leap.

Wu Mi’s initial reluctance had already melted into determination.

“Then… let’s try.”

“That’s the spirit~”

Satisfied, Ye Yao took Wu Mi’s hand and placed it against her own chest.

“Go on. Feel my beginning and end. Connect them, and make them cycle endlessly.”

In Ye Yao’s mind, Wu Mi’s ability held infinite possibilities.

Although its upper limit couldn’t match her own Fission, its versatility was unmatched.

Making thoughts and actions enter a cycle was just the surface.

Wu Mi could undoubtedly lock profound concepts.

Like the time limit of a fission body.

As long as she treated the moment of a fission body’s natural disappearance as the endpoint and any existing moment as the starting point…

She could link them into a cycle and erase the time limit entirely.

Then, her fission body could remain within Sequence Zero indefinitely.

No more sneaking out, and no more battle of wits with her stern father.

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Feeling Ye Yao’s steady heartbeat beneath her palm, Wu Mi’s face flushed.

She couldn’t help but suspect that Ye Yao enjoyed seeing her flustered.

Why else would she say such strange things?

“I’ll do my best.”

Wu Mi steadied her mind and carefully channeled the power within her.

This time, it wasn’t a lifeless object but a living being.

The difficulty had skyrocketed.

But Wu Mi had a reason to succeed.

Before, she couldn’t accept any cycle.

Now, she wanted to embrace a cycle.

However, it wouldn’t be a vicious cycle, but a virtuous one.

If she rejected even a positive cycle, then she might as well not have this power.

Soon, the outline of Ye Yao’s body materialized in Wu Mi’s mind.

Her ability was activating.

Wu Mi could sense Ye Yao’s mental power, and there was no resistance when she applied her own.

Perhaps it was because her mental power now slightly surpassed Ye Yao’s.

If it was the opposite, success might be difficult.

“Where is the starting point?”

Wu Mi focused, trying to grasp that abstract concept.

Ye Yao’s current state was peculiar.

She could only last a few more hours.

The starting point could be anchored to any moment in her present existence.

Wu Mi quickly grasped the trick, forming the beginning of a line segment.

“Huu…”

She slowly opened her eyes, uncertainty lingering in her gaze.

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Ye Yao immediately asked, “Well? Did it work?”

“I think… I set the starting point…”

“Then I’ll take that as a success! Amazing, as expected of Wu Mi! I, Ye Yao, declare you as an Extra Large Cup ² Apparently this is the term for strong operators in Arknights, equivalent to the previously explained Egyptian God tier. The tiers go from KFC 10 Wings Bucket for the strongest, Extra Large Cup for the top 10, Large Cup for usable ones, Medium Cup for the niche ones. There are no small cups like in Starbucks. !”

Ye Yao showered her with praise.

This was an experiment that could grant true freedom to her fission body!

“H-Hehe~ It’s not that impressive…”

Wu Mi smiled shyly.

She was unused to such compliments.

She had been rarely praised in her original family.

Ye Yao’s words struck right at her heart.

“The first step is always the hardest. Now that the starting point is set, let’s try the end now.”

Ye Yao knew that for Wu Mi to impose a Cycle, she had to witness both the beginning and the end.

Like a leaf falling from a branch to the ground.

She could arbitrarily designate an endpoint, but that might be too difficult for Wu Mi.

It was better to keep it simple.

As time passed, the fission body’s duration neared its limit.

Feeling this, Ye Yao urged Wu Mi to try again, her eyes brimming with trust.

“Wu Mi… whether we achieve a positive cycle or not, it’s all up to you now.”

If she succeeded…

Ye Yao would be able to start multi-tasking!

Author Note

Daily request for a wave of free gifts~

Text: Extending claws