Chapter 25: Xiao Ke, That Stubborn Little Bean-Eyed Mule!

Kero snorted and explained to the group.

The cards Sakura currently possessed would likely be ineffective against the Watery card. At the moment, Sakura only had three cards. While the Windy card was one of the four great elemental cards, its power was weak and paled in comparison to the Watery card. As for the Shadow card, it was even less effective; its power was inferior to even the Windy card, and it was highly dependent on the environment. As for the Fly card, when faced with the Watery card, it could only be used to flee.

"If the Watery card can drift away along with the water flow, won't Sakura have no way to find it? By the way, Ye Hui, can your talismans trap the Watery card?" Tomoyo asked.

"I tried that back when the accident with the trainer occurred. Basic talismans don't have much effect on the Watery card; they can only slow its movements, not completely bind its power," Ye Hui explained.

Hearing this, Kero crossed his arms and said smugly, "Of course! The Watery card is one of Clow Reed's masterpieces, and the four elemental cards are among the most powerful..."

"Is there really nothing we can do? Must we just watch as the penguins are..." Sakura looked distressed. Ye Hui's words at the aquarium earlier had made her realize the disaster the Watery card could cause, and she couldn't help but feel a sense of responsibility.

Ye Hui smacked his lips and began to drop a spoiler: "I suggest we use ice."

Kero was stunned. "Ice? You mean your cultivator spells?"

Ye Hui spread his hands. "I do know ice-based talismans like the 'Frost Talisman,' but they are only basic talismans—the effect shouldn't be very significant..."

Tomoyo’s eyes lit up. "Does Ye Hui mean... real ice?"

[Tomoyo Daidouji Emotion Value +16]

Ye Hui nodded.

"Real ice? You mean luring the Watery card into a cold storage room and freezing it?" Kero said. "That actually sounds like a decent idea."

Seeing Kero approve of the method, Sakura's eyes sparkled. "Ye Hui, you're amazing! Why didn't I think of that?"

[Sakura Kinomoto Emotion Value +18]

Ye Hui held his head high. "Those who have yet to ascend as immortals must be adept at utilizing external objects!"

Tomoyo also suggested, "Leave the matter of the cold storage to me! I remember there's a freezer inside the aquarium..."

Sakura raised her hand. "But how are we going to sneak into the cold storage?"

Ye Hui said, "Perhaps you need this..." He took out several talismans. "Invisibility Talismans!"

He had originally prepared these for the previous battle against the Shadow card, but they hadn't been needed. Later, he had drawn a few more basic ones. He explained the effect of the talisman to them.

"Eh? Invisibility?"
"Is it really that magical?"

[Sakura Kinomoto Emotion Value +6]
[Tomoyo Daidouji Emotion Value +5]

Kero opened his beady eyes wide. "There’s actually something like this? Then we can all go together..." Kero had been cooped up in the Kinomoto household for days and was itching to get out.

"Kero is coming too?" Sakura hesitated, looking at Ye Hui. "Is that okay?"

Ye Hui nodded. "Of course." It wasn't like these were the intermediate talismans rewarded by the system anyway. They were just basic ones; if they weren't used, they would expire.

Watching their exchange, Kero’s eyes widened. What was this? What did they mean? Were they actually trying to leave him behind while capturing a Clow Card?!

[Cerberus Emotion Value +12]

"Alright then, let's move!" Sakura clenched her fist, her fighting spirit high.

Tomoyo added, "There's still some time before sunset, please let me prepare..."

Sakura: "...Uh, alright."

Ye Hui smiled faintly.

...

Under the sunset, outside the camper, Tomoyo was filming Sakura in her new outfit near the aquarium. Kero was hiding in Tomoyo's hat, occasionally shouting at Sakura to change her pose. This made Ye Hui feel a bit envious. Having a cute mascot was truly an interesting thing! It was a pity his own "Azure Sparrow" was still a fledgling and was being cared for back at the villa rather than being brought along. He wondered when he would be able to ride a spirit bird through the skies.

"Remember, before the duration of the Invisibility Talisman runs out, quickly use the second one. Don't leave any gaps," Ye Hui instructed.

Tomoyo smiled. "Such a magical talisman!"

Sakura's eyes sparkled. "Invisibility... magic like this is so interesting. If I could learn invisibility, would I be able to go see Yukito-san whenever I want..." Who hadn't had a fantasy about learning how to be invisible? "Ye Hui's talismans are so amazing, they're much easier to use than Clow Cards..."

[Sakura Kinomoto Emotion Value +9]

Thinking of the scene where she could sneak off to see Yukito, Sakura couldn't help but close her eyes, her face blushing.

Kero grumbled, "They aren't that great. You only think the Clow Cards aren't easy to use because you've only captured a few of them. As for this paper talisman, I think it's just average..."

Ye Hui felt a vein throb on his temple. "These are just external tools. Just as every talisman I draw corresponds to a cultivation spell, the Clow Cards are the same! Everyone is on equal footing!"

He didn't want to pick a fight with the Clow Cards in this world, trying to prove which was superior. After all, Clow Reed was a man who could foresee the future and knew almost everything. Who knew if he might hear him boasting? If the man himself jumped out of the timeline and hit him with a magic staff, who could say for sure?

...

At night, in front of the aquarium, the group hid in the bushes, chatting in low voices while waiting for the security guards to finish their shift.

Ye Hui mentioned that Sakura could also learn the power of the cards while using them. As long as she mastered the essence of magic, she could cast the magic of the Clow Cards without needing the cards themselves.

Sakura's eyes lit up. "Really?"

Kero glared, annoyed that this guy had stolen his spotlight again! He quickly chimed in, "Of course it's true!"

For ordinary mages, Clow Cards were rare treasures. But for someone like Clow Reed, these were truly just toys created by casually borrowing the elements of the world...

"The shift change is over; we can begin," Tomoyo said, checking the time.

The group tore their Invisibility Talismans. A faint glimmer flashed, and the figures of Ye Hui and the others gradually began to turn transparent. Soon, even the faint ripples on the surface faded, and they merged into the air. The final traces of them disappeared.

"How magical!"

[Sakura Kinomoto Emotion Value +8]

"Is this invisibility? What a novel experience."

[Tomoyo Daidouji Emotion Value +7]

"Does this mean no one can see us now?"

[Cerberus Emotion Value +3]

Ye Hui said, "This is only a basic talisman. It can't escape the keen eyes of a cultivator; although you can't be seen, the glow of your human form can still be sensed..."

Kero scoffed. "So useless?"

Ye Hui paused. "Hello? It's a basic paper talisman. Do you understand the word 'basic'?"

Kero rolled his beady eyes. "Blah, blah! Useless is useless!"

Ye Hui rolled his eyes, too lazy to argue with such a stubborn creature.