Category: The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration]

Chapter 48: Disciple and Wife p1

The Hanshan Sect, the most prominent sect in the Radiant Realm, commanded a vast, sprawling territory.

Founded tens of thousands of years ago, it had produced numerous ascended cultivators, their blessings showering the lower realms, solidifying the sect’s esteemed and unassailable position.

Consequently, the mortals living within the sect’s sphere of influence enjoyed a more comfortable existence than those elsewhere.

Tao Ning had noticed this. Since approaching the Hanshan Sect’s territory five days ago, the number of bandits and opportunistic thugs had dwindled significantly. Few dared to challenge her.

Respecting the local biodiversity, she suppressed her aura, moving like a ghost through the landscape.

However, there was a downside. Within the cities, she frequently felt the probing spiritual senses of the resident cultivators.

Their surveillance was indiscriminate, leaving nothing hidden from their scrutiny. Tao Ning found this constant observation irritating.

Though now mortal, devoid of cultivation, she was still sensitive to spiritual senses, repeatedly suppressing the urge to retaliate.

Trading her donkey to an elderly woman for a few coarse grain cakes, she walked towards the outer gates of the Hanshan Sect.

The Hanshan Sect, with its vast reserves of spiritual energy accumulated over millennia, didn’t bother with paltry entrance fees. Passing through the protective formation at the gate was the only requirement. Of course, entry wasn’t so easy for those from the Demonic or Demonic Beast Realms.

This suited Tao Ning perfectly, saving her the trouble of earning money for entry.

The rarely closed gates stood wide open. Following the stream of people, she approached the outer gate, shielding her eyes as she looked up at the imposing structure.

Though merely the entrance to the Hanshan Sect, the outer territory was more impressive than any city she had seen, a series of layered barriers leading to the main street.

The spiritual energy within was noticeably different. A refreshing breeze greeted her, lifting the stray hairs from her forehead.

“So, this is the Hanshan Sect’s outer territory. I wonder what the inner territory is like.”

“A thousand times grander, I’m sure.”

“But neither of us is destined for the inner territory. I only hope my child has the fortune to join the Hanshan Sect…”

Unaware of the nature of spiritual energy, the mortals simply felt invigorated, their travel weariness washed away.

No wonder everyone sought cultivation. If only they had the aptitude, they too would pursue immortality.

Engrossed in their lively chatter, they didn’t notice the grey-clad young woman slipping away from the crowd, disappearing into a quiet side street.

Her back radiated irritation.

The outer territory was teeming with powerful cultivators, their probing spiritual senses a constant annoyance.

With the disciple acceptance ceremony approaching, security was tighter than usual, preventing infiltrators.

As the leading sect in the Radiant Realm, the Hanshan Sect didn’t need to actively recruit disciples like other sects. Every fifty years, they held a ceremony within their territory, and promising candidates flocked to them.

Tao Ning stood by, hands tucked into her sleeves, observing the Ascending Immortal Tower, where disciples’ spiritual roots were tested. Even though it was only used every fifty years, the building was impeccably maintained.

Her gaze drifted from the closed doors to the top floor, where a Nascent Soul cultivator sat watch.

The tower remained closed, awaiting the arrival of the Hanshan Sect’s elders, but a crowd of aspiring disciples had already gathered.

They ranged in age, none older than eighteen, all harboring dreams of immortality.

Some were young masters and mistresses arriving in carriages, others were lone travelers, their clothes threadbare, and some were children accompanied by their families. They kept to their own, careful not to offend anyone.

No one knew where the next prodigy might come from.

From the Hanshan Sect’s perspective, however, they were all the same. Families with resources would have already secured their children’s futures, not subjecting them to the intense competition of the disciple acceptance ceremony.

Tao Ning scanned the crowd, but didn’t see the male protagonist. His presence was always a catalyst for trouble.

For example, the arrogant young master sitting in the carriage. She remembered him. The only son of a wealthy family, he had come with his twin sister to seek immortal destiny. He had found the protagonist’s appearance distasteful and tried to drive him away, refusing to let him stand ahead in the queue.

Humiliated, the protagonist had left the line. Later, during the test, he would be revealed to have five spiritual roots and blocked meridians, making cultivation nearly impossible. He would be advised to live a peaceful life as a mortal.

The young master would mock him loudly, provoking a challenge. They would wager that the winner could become Cen Dianshuang’s disciple.

Cen Dianshuang, recognizing the boy she had saved earlier, would take him on as a nominal disciple, completing the first stage of the “face-slapping” plot.

The news of Immortal Dianshuang taking a disciple would shock many. The young master, furious, would be restrained by his sister.

Later, his sister would develop feelings for the “useless” protagonist, further infuriating the young master, who would rant about stray dogs trying to steal his sister.

Those who tried to obstruct the protagonist’s harem-building endeavors met one of two fates: either a change of heart, becoming the protagonist’s loyal follower, or death at his hands, their equipment and experience points absorbed.

The young master would meet the latter fate, his sister, unaware of the circumstances, finding solace in the protagonist’s arms after mourning her brother.

Tao Ning didn’t quite understand the connection between the wager and Cen Dianshuang’s acceptance, but since Cen Dianshuang had agreed, she felt confident in her own plan to gain the elder’s attention.

Failing to locate the protagonist, Tao Ning sighed inwardly. She would have to proceed with Plan B: becoming Cen Dianshuang’s disciple and waiting for an opportunity.

Unaware that Tao Ning had taken the three Heaven-grade artifacts, the protagonist had resorted to stealing his aunt’s savings to buy a horse. Less skilled and experienced than Tao Ning, his journey was considerably slower.

He cursed the thief who had stolen his treasures, forcing him to endure such hardship and his aunt’s constant berating.

Just wait. When he became the supreme ruler, he would make that old hag pay, along with the Xiao family, and that thieving bastard!

The thief would be torn limb from limb!

Leaning against a wall, Tao Ning muttered, “I can only hope Cen Dianshuang gives me a quick death when she cleanses her sect.”

Cen Dianshuang, walking up the steps with her zither, sneezed, rubbing her nose in confusion.

She didn’t notice the shocked expression on the blue-clad disciple trailing behind her.

What did I just hear?

The Disciplinary Hall Elder sneezed?

Heavens! Elder Cen sneezes! I must tell the others!

Cen Dianshuang, preferring privacy when speaking with her senior sister, dismissed the disciple and entered Red Stone Spring alone.

This was where the Hanshan Sect Leader cultivated in seclusion. Having just emerged, the vibrant Fire spiritual energy still lingered, interwoven with sharp sword intent.

A figure sat amidst the swirling mist, brewing tea. Cen Dianshuang landed gracefully beside her.

The woman, her long hair tied back with a red ribbon, wore a loose red robe. Without turning, she spoke as Cen Dianshuang landed. “You’re here.”

Cen Dianshuang stumbled, the words strangely familiar.

The red-clad woman turned, her vibrant, expressive face etched with surprise. “What’s wrong?”

Cen Dianshuang frowned, shaking her head. “Nothing.”

The Hanshan Sect Leader, known as Lizhu, was a cultivator at the peak of the Void Refining realm, a single step away from Body Integration.

But that single step had eluded her for eight hundred years. She had ascended from Senior Sister to Sect Leader, while her own master had perished in a tribulation three hundred years ago.

A Fire spiritual root cultivator, she had been called Senior Sister for millennia, finally tempering her fiery nature. She had once been a notorious hothead, listed on the Heavenly Pride Ranking, ready to incinerate anyone who crossed her.

The most widely circulated story within the Hanshan Sect was the time she accidentally singed her master’s beard. She even dared to challenge her own master. Either she was incredibly brave, or simply a chili pepper given human form.

Lizhu, giving Cen Dianshuang a curious look, decided not to pry, assuming it was a matter best left to the younger generation.

“I saw the jade slip from my disciple yesterday and emerged from seclusion. What’s so urgent that you needed to see me?”

Cen Dianshuang: “It’s nothing important, Senior Sister. You shouldn’t have disrupted your cultivation for me.”

Lizhu shrugged, her wide sleeves brushing against the teacups. “It’s fine. The timing wasn’t right anyway. Haste makes waste.”

Then, seemingly remembering something, she asked, “Wait, weren’t you collecting Frost Flower nectar? I didn’t see you deliver any to the Alchemy Hall… Don’t tell me you used it all for tea?”

Cen Dianshuang: “…”

Her expression faltered.

Preoccupied with the suspected spy, she had missed the Frost Flowers’ brief blooming period. By the time she arrived, the nectar had been consumed by the waiting spirit beasts.

It wasn’t a complete loss, though. She had, after all, consumed the spy’s rations for several days. It evened out.

Lizhu, seeing her discomfort, offered another guess. “Or did you make pastries with it?”

Cen Dianshuang: “…No.”

Lizhu’s expression turned serious. “It was stolen? Who would dare steal your nectar? Tell me.”

She stood up, ready to unleash her fiery wrath on whoever had wronged her junior sister.

Cen Dianshuang quickly stopped her, her usually serene face showing a hint of exasperation. “Senior Sister, I’m not a child anymore. It’s just some nectar.”

Lizhu, realizing that few could now best her junior sister in a fight, sat back down.

She was much older than Cen Dianshuang, having raised her from infancy. It was hard not to see her as a child.

 

Chapter 47: Disciple and Wife

For several days, Tao Ning didn’t see the white bird. She assumed it had grown tired of observing humans and wouldn’t return.

But then, a surprising turn of events. The bird reappeared, diving like a projectile and landing on a branch directly in front of Tao Ning. Its intense stare startled her, causing her to choke on the meat she was eating.

“Cough! Cough! Cough!”

Her face flushed from the coughing fit, she quickly took a swig of water from her waterskin, then, catching her breath, asked, “Seriously, who upset you? Why are you glaring at me?”

The bird puffed up its feathers, settling onto the branch with an indignant huff, glancing at Tao Ning before fixing her with another pointed stare.

Tao Ning: “…”

After a moment, she pointed at herself. “Me? Impossible. I’ve been traveling. You haven’t even been around. How could I have possibly offended you?”

The bird: “…”

Tao Ning: “Do you think I’m a Soul Transformation cultivator who can teleport thousands of miles just to annoy you? Whoever upset you, go find them.”

The bird: “…”

Its feathers puffed up even more, making Tao Ning wonder if she had unknowingly committed some offense.

But she’d committed so many questionable acts, it was hard to pinpoint a specific one.

After a prolonged staring contest, Tao Ning blinked, waving a hand dismissively. “Fine, you win. You can hold your stare longer than I can.”

The bird: “…”

Tao Ning resumed her meal, slicing off a chicken leg with her knife, discarding the skin before taking a large bite.

A fire crackled beside a mound of earth, next to a large, cracked clod of dirt imprinted with a lotus leaf pattern, the soil stained with grease from the heat.

A closer look revealed that it wasn’t a pattern on the dirt, but an actual lotus leaf wrapped around the clay, baked yellow by the fire, creating a natural, almost decorative effect, like a large, round, earthy egg.

The aroma emanating from this seemingly unappetizing object had attracted the bird, along with several other unseen creatures lurking nearby.

However, they were deterred by the faint, unsettling aura surrounding Tao Ning. Only the bold little bird dared approach.

Being watched while eating wasn’t a new experience, but this time, Tao Ning felt oddly self-conscious.

Holding the chicken bone between two fingers, she chewed thoughtfully, then asked, “Want some? It’s beggar’s chicken. Quite tasty.”

The bird continued to stare, but didn’t move.

Tao Ning interpreted the stillness as assent. Shaking her head, she sliced off a piece of chicken breast for the little projectile.

She offered the fragrant meat on the tip of her knife. The bird, which had been puffed up with indignation, now hesitated, its beak opening and closing several times.

It seemed to be engaged in some internal debate. Just as it finally decided to take the offering, Tao Ning pulled the meat back.

The bird looked at her quizzically, while Tao Ning frowned in thought.

She asked, “Beggar’s chicken is poultry. It’s a pheasant, though, a flightless one. Still, you’re both birds. Do you mind?”

The bird: You held that thought in for that?

Who are you calling a pheasant’s relative? I can fly! I can soar through the heavens! You ignorant Demonic Realm spy!

Realizing it had been teased, the bird ruffled its feathers, its beak opening and closing rapidly—what Tao Ning would interpret as bristling with anger.

Tao Ning, deciding not to push her luck—mostly because she suspected the little creature was about to unleash a feathered fury upon her—cleared her throat.

“My bad, my bad. I’ll cut it into smaller pieces. Consider it an apology. Okay?”

Not really okay. A respected elder of the Disciplinary Hall wasn’t swayed by such paltry offerings.

But the bird watched as Tao Ning found a clean lotus leaf and carefully diced the chicken.

Tao Ning’s face was serene in the firelight, her long eyelashes casting shadows on her cheeks. Her lips, still moist from the water, were slightly parted, resembling the petals of a Frost Flower.

Frost Flowers! The mere thought made it bristle.

“There. I don’t know how much you eat, but here’s a start. There’s more if you want it.”

Tao Ning offered the leaf-wrapped chicken, then frowned as the bird ruffled its feathers again, its beady eyes reflecting the firelight like tiny flames.

Tao Ning withdrew her hand, muttering, …Touchy little thing.

She decided against further provocation, fearing projectile retaliation – the physical kind, like other birds were prone to.

A barrage of droppings aimed at enemies, a daily reminder of their transgression, splattering windows… annoying and impossible to catch.

Tao Ning considered herself low-maintenance, but she valued cleanliness.

The bird marched over, still bristling, and pecked at the diced chicken, missing on the first try, its beak hitting the leaf.

It immediately glanced at Tao Ning, who seemed preoccupied, and let out a silent sigh of relief.

Tao Ning desperately wanted to laugh, but managed to restrain herself, continuing to gnaw on the chicken leg, her amusement bubbling just beneath the surface.

Her eating, while unconventional, was surprisingly neat. She managed to avoid staining her clothes or her face.

She wiped her mouth with a handkerchief, intending to wash it later by the river.

Cleansing techniques… best to conserve her limited spiritual energy for more pressing matters. She could be wasteful later, when she had more to spare.

Once the bird had tasted the chicken, it wanted more.

The first time, it had been hesitant, almost disdainful. The second time, it showed a little less restraint. By the third and fourth time, it was flapping its wings impatiently.

No longer polite in the slightest.

Tao Ning patiently continued to slice the chicken for it.

It was a tiny creature, fluffy like a chick, and didn’t eat much. She was happy to indulge its newfound appetite.

If it ever betrayed her, she’d capture it and figure out what it was.

Pure white plumage, shimmering like moonlight, the size of a fledgling spirit bird, yet lacking any spiritual energy… she recalled a legendary bird with a similar description…

Tao Ning paused mid-slice, a fleeting thought crossing her mind, too quick to grasp.

The flapping of wings brought her back to the present. She looked at the bird, a thoughtful expression in her eyes.

Tao Ning: “What are you…?”

The bird immediately puffed up its feathers.

“Never mind. I must be mistaken.” Tao Ning looked away, her thoughts hidden behind lowered eyelids.

She gave the bird a disapproving look. “Stop flapping your wings near the food. You’ll get feather dust in it.”

The bird, sensing something in her tone, smoothed its ruffled feathers. Both were now wary of the other.

Despite this, the bird continued to flap its wings defiantly, as if to say, You and your feather dust!

Tao Ning sighed. Birds really did hold grudges.

After their meal, as night fell, Tao Ning finally had time for other activities. Her days were spent traveling; a Qi Refining cultivator needed sleep.

After days of relying on cleansing techniques, she longed for a proper bath.

While the techniques were effective, she missed the feeling of being truly clean, a habit from her previous life.

She gathered her things and led the donkey towards a nearby lake, the bird perched on its head, somehow managing to make the stubborn creature carry it without complaint.

She tied the donkey to a tree, wary of opportunistic demonic beasts, then said, “I’m going to bathe. Keep an eye on him.”

The bird: You want me to be a donkey-sitter?

Before it could fully express its indignation, Tao Ning untied her belt and began undressing, her spiritual sense confirming they were alone.

A Mahayana cultivator’s spiritual sense wasn’t easily detected by those with lower cultivation.

It wasn’t until she draped her clothes over a branch near the bird and the donkey that the bird fully registered what was happening. But its body reacted before its mind could process, turning its back to the lake.

A proper elder of the Hanshan Sect wouldn’t engage in such impropriety. Taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable state was unbecoming.

The donkey, following the bird’s movement, turned its head, a slightly awkward maneuver for a creature of its size.

But it couldn’t defy the small, apple-sized creature on its head, snorting and pawing the ground in mild protest.

The sound of splashing water echoed through the night. Moonlight filtered through the trees, painting the lake’s surface with silver.

The bird, after a moment of contemplation, glanced at the discarded undergarments, a stark contrast to the coarse grey robe.

The outer robe, worn and frayed from their travels, resembled a beggar’s rags. But the seemingly thin undergarment shimmered in the moonlight, revealing intricate patterns and formations.

It was a Heaven-grade robe, albeit only the inner layer, worth more than a mid-sized spiritual mine, said to be able to withstand a blow from a Mahayana cultivator.

Spiritual mines were relatively common, but Heaven-grade artifacts were rare. Even with a spiritual mine, one wouldn’t be able to trade it for even a sleeve of a Heaven-grade robe.

As an elder of the Hanshan Sect, Cen Dianshuang wasn’t easily impressed by material possessions. Her own senior sister, the sect leader, had seen countless treasures.

What caught her attention was the fabric itself, something not found anywhere in the Radiant Realm.

The fabric, known as Golden Jade Silk, was woven by high-level Golden Jade Spiders in the Demonic Realm. It took a thousand years for a single bolt to be produced, countless spiders dying in the process.

Such material wasn’t typically owned by ordinary cultivators. If she hadn’t glimpsed a corner of it beneath the collar, she wouldn’t have realized this person was wearing Golden Jade Silk.

Initially, Cen Dianshuang suspected she was a protector from the Demonic Realm, but then dismissed the idea.

She had killed her fair share of demonic cultivators, even a protector from the Refining Fire Palace.

That protector had possessed a handkerchief-sized piece of Golden Jade Silk, boasting that it was a scrap leftover from Demon Lord Qingji’s artifact refining, lamenting that he had become renowned too late to witness the Demon Lord’s true face.

The younger generation of disciples didn’t know of the Refining Fire Palace, Qingji’s former refining grounds.

Legend claimed the palace was filled with countless artifacts, both spiritual and demonic, and mountains of precious materials, readily available for Qingji’s use. But she preferred creating to using, leaving them to gather dust.

Even a palace protector had to scheme for a small scrap. How could a low-level cultivator possess an entire garment?

Furthermore, her fighting style was efficient, targeting only those who attacked her, her actions relatively honorable, if a bit deceptive, unlike the typical behavior of those from the Demonic Realm.

They weren’t known for their gentle approach. This wasn’t Qingji’s era anymore. Tensions between the two realms had been escalating, with spies infiltrating both sides.

Could this unknown young woman be the Demonic Realm’s Saintess?

Their ages seemed to match, and rumors claimed the Saintess had disappeared, leaving only an illusion in her palace.

Cen Dianshuang couldn’t be certain. The fabric was definitely from the Demonic Realm, but the size was wrong, far too large.

They wouldn’t dress their Saintess in ill-fitting clothes. And her cultivation level was too low. A Qi Refining spy was almost laughable.

Killing her would be easy, but it would also sever a potential link to the Demonic Realm’s plans. Caution was necessary.

Qingji was known for her arrogance and self-assuredness, doing things solely on her own terms. Her robes would have been tailored to her exact measurements, skipping the usual resizing formations. The only explanation for the ill-fitting garment was that she hadn’t been able to wear it herself.

This misunderstanding influenced Cen Dianshuang’s judgment.

It was time to return to the Hanshan Sect and report her findings to the sect leader.

She had intended to mark the unknown cultivator and return to the sect, but every time she attempted to do so, she felt a prickling sensation, as if she was being watched.

Cautious by nature, she held back. If this was indeed the Demonic Saintess, it might be an opportunity to uncover a larger conspiracy.

Lost in thought, she heard approaching footsteps. Tao Ning, fresh from her bath, was returning.

She didn’t know what the sulking bird was thinking, but her own mind was buzzing with unanswered questions.

Her slightly scarred hands picked up her clothes, casting a cleansing spell on them before putting them on.

The plain grey robe covered the shimmering undergarment. She adjusted the collar, ensuring it was completely hidden.

Tao Ning addressed the bird. “Little thing, how do you win over someone who hates evil?”

The bird twitched its tail feathers, tilting its head in confusion.

Tao Ning: “Knew you wouldn’t understand. I’m not good at fighting, but I know a thing or two about people.”

The bird: …You?

Tao Ning had spent the past few days analyzing Cen Dianshuang’s personality, creating a mental profile.

Appearance-wise, she was undoubtedly stunning. Tao Ning still remembered the flowery descriptions.

She was only concerned with Cen Dianshuang’s cultivation level and character.

At three hundred years old, Cen Dianshuang was a Nascent Soul cultivator with Heavenly and Water spiritual roots, a rare talent in the Radiant Realm. She always carried a zither and a sword, a scourge of evildoers.

Water was gentle, all-encompassing.

But Cen Dianshuang’s nature was anything but gentle. She wielded her often-underestimated Water spiritual root with lethal precision. She once froze the blood in a disrespectful cultivator’s veins, blocking his meridians and causing him to explode.

At two hundred, she became an elder of the Hanshan Sect’s Disciplinary Hall, known for her impartiality, her icy demeanor, and her unwavering hatred of evil.

The Radiant Realm held a deep prejudice against the Demonic and Demonic Beast Realms, preferring to err on the side of caution, eliminating any potential threat.

Cen Dianshuang was different. She judged based on actions, not origin.

Many disagreed with her approach. How could demons and humans coexist?

Humans used demons for medicine and artifacts, demons consumed humans. Neither side was willing to yield. It was only due to the Demonic Realm’s isolation that a semblance of peace existed.

But she was a Hanshan Sect elder, a powerful sword cultivator. Questioning her judgment would likely result in a swift and decisive sword strike.

Taken in as an infant by the previous sect leader, she was his last disciple, raised and cherished by her master and senior sisters. This upbringing likely instilled a certain naiveté, a purity that even centuries couldn’t fully erode.

After much deliberation, Tao Ning finished dressing, fastening her belt. “Killing Cen Dianshuang’s disciple seems easier.”

The bird bristled silently. Cen Dianshuang didn’t have any disciples yet.

520: 【But Cen Dianshuang is the protagonist, favored by fate. She’s a Nascent Soul cultivator at the peak of her realm. Do you think you, a mere Qi Refining cultivator, can withstand her wrath?】

The outcome was obvious. Against anyone else, there might be a chance, but against Cen Dianshuang, it was a foregone conclusion.

She was capable of anything, even purging her own sect by killing the male protagonist. Killing Tao Ning, someone already dead in the original timeline, would be trivial.

As dawn broke, Tao Ning opened her eyes, a faint spiritual aura lingering around her. She was nearing the peak of Qi Refining, on the cusp of Foundation Establishment.

She didn’t need to look to know the ungrateful little bird was gone, having slipped away during the night, its intentions unclear.

Tao Ning flicked her shoulder, as if brushing away invisible dust.

Thousands of miles away, in the Hanshan Sect, a white-clad woman carrying a zither ascended the steps.

A young, blue-clad disciple beside her said, “The Sect Leader is still in seclusion. Perhaps Elder Cen should return another day?”

Her voice trailed off. She was quite intimidated by Cen Dianshuang.

Her senior sisters abandoned me so quickly! Now I’m alone with her!

The Disciplinary Hall Elder oversaw the punishments and conduct of all disciples, a figure of unwavering justice and strict adherence to the rules.

Cen Dianshuang was accustomed to the fear she inspired. If she was approachable, she wouldn’t be in charge of the Disciplinary Hall. She could be a cheerful administrator in the Disciple Hall instead.

She was about to speak when she suddenly stopped, turning sharply towards the sect’s entrance.

The blue-clad disciple, assuming she had said something wrong, followed her gaze with fear and trepidation, but saw nothing unusual – just the mist-shrouded, spirit bird-filled entrance and the faint shimmer of the protective formation.

Gathering her courage, she asked, “What is it, Elder?”

Cen Dianshuang, her brow furrowed, shook her head. “Nothing. I’ll return when my senior sister emerges from seclusion.”

The disciple: “Understood. I’ll inform the Sect Leader.”

Cen Dianshuang turned and flew away on her sword, heading towards Wangshu Peak. The spiritual mark she had placed on the unknown cultivator was gone.

Someone had erased a Nascent Soul cultivator’s mark. Who was capable of such a feat?

Tao Ning calculated the distance. She could reach the Hanshan Sect’s outer territory within five days. The disciple acceptance ceremony would be held there; ordinary people couldn’t enter the inner territory, let alone the heart of the sect.

But she was worried. Approaching Cen Dianshuang with her peak Qi Refining cultivation level was risky. She might be swatted away like a fly.

Yes, she intended to “accidentally” encounter Cen Dianshuang, relying on the elder’s sense of justice to prevent her from dying by the roadside.

After careful consideration, Tao Ning jumped down from the tree, one hand forming a cultivation gesture, the other searching for her spiritual veins.

【What are you doing?!】 520 was alarmed, its data panels flashing red.

Tao Ning pressed her fingers to key points along her meridians. “My cultivation was for self-defense. It’s no longer necessary. I’m discarding it.”

520: 【!!!】 All that effort, wasted!

520: 【Will this damage your meridians?】

Tao Ning closed her eyes, her expression and tone calm, her decision carefully considered.

“Others might damage themselves, but I won’t.”

Besides, the original host’s cultivation technique was derived from the same source as the Hanshan Sect’s inner sect techniques. While not outwardly obvious, a simple examination of her meridians would reveal the connection.

Even with the modifications over the past three thousand years, how would she explain it after the spirit root test and apprenticeship?

Claiming a shared ancestry from five hundred years ago would only result in her being beaten to a pulp.

A flash of spiritual light enveloped Tao Ning, her healthy complexion turning ashen. She winced, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of her lips.

She was now, once again, a mortal.

520 shrieked, 【You’re spitting blood!!!】

Chapter 46: Disciple and Wife

A flicker of firelight ignited in the desolate forest, but the lingering scent of blood kept the restless low-level demonic beasts at bay.

Dry twigs crackled in the flames, spitting sparks that threatened to land on the coarse cloth skirt. But the embers were too weak, their brief flight ending in darkness.

A hand brushed the ashes from the skirt, then paused, picking at a spot on the fabric near the firelight. Finally, a few bloodstains became visible, eliciting a sigh of frustration.

Tao Ning dropped the stained skirt. “Still no improvement. I keep saying I’m not good at fighting, yet everyone insists on attacking me.”

She picked up a prepared rabbit carcass and skewered it over the fire.

The rules of the cultivation world differed vastly from modern society. Here, strength reigned supreme. It was a world of predator and prey. Eat or be eaten.

Take, for example, the rabbit roasting over the fire. Its proper name was the Heart-Devouring Rabbit, a creature as its name suggested, fond of human hearts.

Before advancing, it was indistinguishable from an ordinary rabbit, often feigning injury to lure unsuspecting children from nearby villages, dragging them back to its lair to consume their still-beating hearts.

The deep mountains offered ample hiding places. After a meal, the rabbit would retreat into its burrow, its cunning making it difficult to track. Cultivators on training missions often deemed them too low-level to bother with. Little reward, and a waste of time.

Recently, perhaps due to an overabundance of child-sized meals, the villagers had forbidden their children from venturing into the mountains and warned off outsiders. The Heart-Devouring Rabbit was hungry.

It had set its sights on the lone traveler, Tao Ning. She looked barely sixteen, thin, but reasonably appealing.

Dragging its injured leg, it appeared before Tao Ning, feigning weakness and helplessness.

“Oh, the poor little rabbit is hurt.”

The warned-off outsider, Tao Ning, her face alight with concern, rushed towards it.

To the rabbit, her expression mirrored that of the children it had devoured.

Then, with a warm smile, Tao Ning pinned it down and snapped its neck.

A quick, clean kill. The rabbit barely had time to react before its nascent demon core was extracted.

The rabbit sizzled over the fire, dripping golden fat, its aroma tantalizing even without seasoning.

Tao Ning addressed 520, who was practically drooling digitally. “These rabbits are common in the Demonic Realm. They’re a bit fussy to raise, but the best way to eat them is roasted like this, to savor the pure flavor.”

In her previous life, Tao Ning had developed a passion for learning new skills in middle age, including culinary arts.

520, lacking taste and smell, was nevertheless captivated by the aroma. 【Why am I a system?! I want to take a bite!】

Tao Ning ignored its cybernetic cravings, glancing sideways into the quiet night. Moments later, the faint sound of flapping wings reached her ears.

A flash of red and white, and a visitor landed on the rock beside her.

It folded its wings elegantly, standing tall and proud, like a celestial being bathed in moonlight.

The little red-winged bird had been appearing near Tao Ning lately, sometimes during the day, sometimes at night, watching her before disappearing. Tao Ning felt like a human being observed by a curious avian researcher.

Rare and wondrous beasts were common in the Radiant Realm, but a spirit beast with an interest in human behavior was unusual.

Once, Tao Ning had woken up under a tree to find the bird inches from her face, its beak nearly touching her eye.

Both startled, they had recoiled simultaneously.

Tao Ning hit the back of her head on the tree trunk, the resulting bump throbbing for days.

Perhaps feeling guilty, the bird hadn’t appeared for a while. Just as the swelling subsided, it returned.

In daylight, it looked like an ordinary, nondescript bird. But under the moonlight, a faint spiritual aura shimmered on its feathers, like fine, iridescent silk.

Tao Ning, seemingly oblivious to this, simply greeted it with a casual, “You’re back,” before resuming her activities.

The bird, as always, remained silent, never chirping, occasionally tilting its head to observe Tao Ning’s busywork.

As if pondering some unfathomable question.

The rabbit cooked, Tao Ning sliced off the two meatiest legs, placing them on a piece of oiled paper, then paused, seemingly remembering something, and put them back together.

The bird’s beady eyes followed every movement, its neck stretching for a better view when necessary.

Tao Ning ate the rabbit meat by the firelight, then, perhaps out of boredom, addressed the bird. “You’ve been watching for a while. Want some?”

The bird remained motionless, as if it didn’t understand.

Tao Ning: “I’ve never heard you chirp. Chirp for me. Chirp, chirp.”

Like someone teasing a pet, she held a sliver of meat on her knife towards the bird. “Chirp for me, and you can have this.”

The bird: “…” It shifted its claws, putting more distance between them.

The blatant disdain stung. Tao Ning sat up straighter, her eyes widening. “Hey, Heart-Devouring Rabbit meat enhances spiritual energy. A few bites of this, and you might awaken your intelligence, cultivate, and become a Bird Immortal! You should be thanking me!”

Bird Immortal? What nonsense.

The bird: “…”

It hopped even further away.

Tao Ning, without a word, finished the rest of the rabbit, leaving nothing for the bird.

The bird, watching her eat: “…”

If Tao Ning could read avian micro-expressions, she would have seen the word “childish” written in its beady eyes.

Finished eating, she turned to the bird, her gaze serious. “You’ve been playing dumb all this time. You understand me.”

The only response was the flapping of wings as the bird vanished from the rock.

“Small bird, big attitude.” Tao Ning stood, brushing the dust from her skirt, buried the fire, and climbed a tree to meditate.

Her spiritual sense enveloped the entire mountain, every rustle of leaves, every gust of wind within her awareness. She knew the bird had truly flown away.

She didn’t bother tracking it, aware of its wariness, not wanting to cause unnecessary trouble.

Her cultivation was gone, her spiritual core shattered, but her spiritual sense remained intact, a small mercy.

She assumed the bird wouldn’t reappear for a while, but the next day, there it was, perched on a branch as Tao Ning bartered the rabbit’s pelt for a donkey.

Horses were too expensive.

She wasn’t planning on establishing a business empire in this world, just getting by.

The mission would end eventually. Why bother with unnecessary effort?

The bird listened as Tao Ning weaved her tale, its beady eyes fixed on the group below.

The young woman in grey, holding the donkey’s reins, gestured to the leftover rabbit bones. “These are the bones of a high-level demon rabbit. I fought tooth and nail to slay it, retrieving these indestructible bones, perfect for artifact refinement, especially weapons. Imagine a blade that can cut through iron like mud, severing hair with a gentle breeze.”

“I was planning to keep them for myself, but since you have such discerning taste, and you seem so sincere, I’ll part with them, just for you, Young Master.”

The young master, desperate for immortality despite lacking any aptitude for cultivation, was completely captivated, pulling a gold ingot from his embroidered pouch.

Tao Ning’s performance was so convincing that even the bird almost believed her.

Predictably, the young master’s servant, witnessing the proffered gold, regained his senses and voiced his doubts.

Without hesitation, Tao Ning borrowed a cleaver from the nearby butcher and swung it at the bone-white femur.

A clang resonated, like the clash of swords, the ringing forcing those nearby to cover their ears.

The seemingly fragile bone remained unscathed, while a crack appeared on the cleaver.

Tao Ning held up the cleaver, a sly glint in her fox-like eyes. “See? I told you.”

The onlookers gasped, while the butcher wailed, “That’s my livelihood!”

The young master, overjoyed by his perceived treasure, tossed another ingot to the butcher. “Just a cleaver. Consider it replaced!”

The transaction was a success. Everyone got what they wanted. Tao Ning, basking in the envious gazes of the crowd, led her donkey out of the city.

After she was gone, the servant asked, “But Young Master, how are we supposed to grind something that hard for refining?”

The young master: “…”

He held up a smaller bone, sharp and jagged, that Tao Ning had snapped off. It drew blood at the slightest touch. “I can still stab someone with it, right?”

That was… a valid point.

The bird remained perched in the tree, then, after a moment, took flight, heading out of the city.

Whether it was luck or misfortune, Tao Ning hadn’t traveled far from the city when a hunter, carrying a quiver of arrows, began trailing her.

The hunter, a solitary figure living outside the city, was disliked by most. At thirty, he was still unmarried. The sight of the gold ingot had ignited a desperate greed in his eyes.

He initially intended to rob Tao Ning, but the thought of finally having enough money for a wife made him hesitate, aiming his arrow to wound, not kill.

The arrow was nocked, the bowstring taut. The bird, perched nearby, hesitated, missing the opportunity to create a distraction.

The arrow flew.

The hunter, his breath catching in his throat, stood, waiting for his prey to fall.

But it didn’t happen. The arrow was caught in a small hand. Without even turning, she casually tossed it back in his direction.

It happened so fast. The hunter’s triumphant expression froze, then turned to horror as he felt a sharp pain in his throat.

Warm liquid gurgled from his neck.

Moments later, as he swayed, he realized—his own arrow had pierced his throat.

He gurgled, then collapsed.

The figure on the donkey continued onward, never looking back.

The bird flew over the body, pursuing Tao Ning.

Hearing the familiar sound, Tao Ning turned, smiling at the bird. “Well, good afternoon.”

She didn’t expect a reply, her gaze dropping back down, lost in thought.

Tao Ning had fox-like eyes, the corners tilted upwards, giving her a cunning, intelligent look. Though her pupils were black, they shimmered when she blinked, like pools of liquid pearls.

Her profile, lacking the sharp angles of adulthood, had a youthful roundness, like a fox cub.

But the contemplative expression in her eyes belied her youthful appearance. She seemed older, wiser, her smiles never quite reaching her eyes, as if she was observing the world with a detached amusement.

She seemed less like a teenager and more like an ancient being, weary of life.

“Hanshan Sect, Cen Dianshuang…”

The bird, startled by Tao Ning’s murmured words, looked at the figure on the donkey in disbelief.

Surely, it had misheard.

Tao Ning sighed. “If I can’t make it in time, I’ll have to find a way to become Cen Dianshuang’s disciple and force her to endure the pain of her disciples killing each other.”

The bird, unaware that Tao Ning was talking to 520, was utterly bewildered.

520 longed for the days when Tao Ning pretended to be a naive newbie. Wiping imaginary sweat from its brow, it asked, 【Must you do this?】

Tao Ning shrugged. “If I don’t do it, she will. The outcome is the same. It’s better if I do it, allowing her to become a virtuous immortal. The Heavenly Dao should give me a bonus, maybe a commendation.”

She kept the last part to herself, wary of the world’s consciousness, which was often unusually active in cultivation worlds. She didn’t want to give it another excuse to strike her with lightning.

520: 【…】 She has a point.

Tao Ning muttered, “How should I approach Cen Dianshuang? I need a plan.”

After a moment, she continued, “Where would she be at this time?”

She recalled the storyline, the exaggerated descriptions of the female protagonist’s first appearance, a fleeting dream for the young woodcutter.

He had been bullied by his half-brother and his cronies, left for dead. Then, a white-clad celestial being descended from the heavens, scattering his tormentors and leaving him with healing herbs.

Born into a loveless existence after failing to react to the spirit testing artifacts at his hundred-day celebration, the male protagonist had been neglected, his mother falling out of favor along with him.

His mother had died in the ensuing power struggles within the household, accused of infidelity by a jealous concubine, executed by his enraged father. The child was also meant to be killed, but the family’s matriarch, citing the virtue of compassion, spared him.

His aunt, taking pity on her deceased sister’s child, raised him. He grew up like a weed, never relinquishing his desire for revenge.

This encounter with the celestial being sparked his ambition to cultivate, setting him on the path to power.

Tao Ning scanned the sky, but saw no sign of a white-clad celestial being.

Turning away, she decided to entertain herself by teasing the bird. “Don’t all birds sing? Why don’t you ever chirp? Chirp, chirp.”

The bird: “…”

It followed her for a while, looking as if it wanted to say something, but ultimately, it remained silent, leaving without even a single chirp.

Tao Ning, feeling hospitable, tried to offer it some food, but the bird simply gave her a complicated look and flew away.

Tao Ning: “?” What’s wrong with this bird?

She wanted to catch it and study it, but couldn’t identify the species. The original host had no memory of it. Could it be a newly created puppet bird?

If so, its lifelike movements were even more intriguing.

The red and white wings brushed against the rooftops, heading towards Frost Moon Valley. It had been venturing out for the soon-to-bloom Frost Flowers, nearly delayed by that spy from the Demonic Realm.

It heard the commotion below, but, preoccupied with its earlier discovery, it flew on, heading in a different direction.

Beneath the rooftops the bird had just passed, a group of boys were beating a smaller, thinner boy in blue.

The patched-up blue-clad boy curled up, shielding his head, enduring the blows until he couldn’t take it anymore.

“Damn it! Where’s the immortal? They said a white-clad celestial being would descend from the heavens, scattering my enemies with a single sword strike! Where is she? Where’s the sword? I’m going to die!”

The leader, a chubby boy in white, sneered. “What’s this jinx babbling about now?”

Another chubby boy shrugged. “Who cares? Just hit him.”

The beating resumed, leaving the boy lying motionless on the ground. Satisfied, they dispersed.

Once they were gone, the seemingly lifeless boy rolled over and slowly got up, cursing as he limped home.

His aunt, washing clothes, frowned at the sight of his battered form. “How many times have I told you not to provoke them? The Xiao family will never acknowledge you as their heir. Do you think I have a bottomless purse for medicine?”

The boy, normally reluctant to engage with her, snapped, “I have healing herbs! I don’t need your money!”

His aunt: “Where did you get healing herbs?!”

He reached into his robes, then froze, remembering his empty-handed search of the crater.

Facing his aunt’s questioning gaze, the boy thought, Shit! I forgot I didn’t find them!

The three Heaven-grade artifacts he so desperately craved were currently being tossed in the air by Tao Ning, along with a gold ingot.

Not feeling the least bit bored, she muttered to herself, “What should I have for dinner tonight?”

“Why aren’t there any more suicidal rabbits… Hey, hey, the carrots are this way, old boy. Don’t wander off.”

She smacked the donkey’s neck, adjusting her makeshift fishing rod, guiding it back on course.

Chapter 45: Disciple and Wife

“I was cultivating in Ten Directions City when a sudden wave of dread jolted me awake. I opened the door and saw that tribulation lightning, heavy with oppressive power, striking down in the Ten Thousand Mountains.”

“It was the first time I’d witnessed a tribulation of that magnitude. It made me feel so insignificant, like a mayfly. I couldn’t shake the feeling for days.”

“Someone actually developed a heart demon from watching the tribulation. They’ve been jumpy at every loud noise since. Pathetic, really.”

“Does anyone know which sect’s elder was undergoing the tribulation? There’s been no news of any ancestor’s fall.”

“I haven’t heard anything either. But the fall of a Mahayana elder would be a devastating loss for any sect. They’d keep it quiet.”

“True. They’d want to bury it as deep as possible.”

“I heard from my elders that the last time a heavenly ascension tribulation was seen in the Radiant Realm was a thousand years ago…”

These words settled over the inn, silencing the patrons as they recalled the spectacle.

Even from thousands of miles away, the sight of the sky-blotting tribulation clouds had been unforgettable. Purple-black lightning bolts seemed to tear at the heavens. It was a chilling reminder for any cultivator striving against fate.

Outside, a storyteller seized the opportunity, setting up his stall. With a resounding clap of his gavel, he launched into a dramatic retelling of the events of ten days prior, fueled by the cheers of the crowd.

This story wouldn’t grow stale for at least three years; there would always be an audience.

As cultivators recounted their experiences of that day, a slender young woman in simple clothes slipped unnoticed through the gates of Ten Directions City, the closest city to the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Her face was unremarkable, her aura subdued. Her clothes were plain and unadorned, her dark hair partially pinned up with a wooden hairpin, the rest braided and draped over one shoulder.

She was the type to blend seamlessly into a crowd, not even qualifying as modestly pretty.

Tao Ning suppressed her aura as she walked down the street. Her clothes were bartered from a peasant woman outside the city in exchange for hunted game.

While she had been inconspicuous on the road, she stood out in Ten Directions City.

Conspicuously poor.

Ten Directions City was on the outskirts of the Hanshan Sect’s outer territory, still a considerable distance from the inner territory, let alone the sect itself.

Consequently, the city was mainly populated by low-level cultivators and ordinary people, content with their lives.

Even those who didn’t cultivate still needed to live, and that meant earning money. Ten Directions City, with its extensive trade routes and proximity to the resource-rich Ten Thousand Mountains, was a natural supply hub, enjoying considerable prosperity.

Even the little girl selling cabbages on the street was dressed better than Tao Ning, making her look like a beggar.

A place this affluent probably didn’t have beggars.

As Tao Ning pondered this, she noticed a charitable young lady distributing porridge nearby. As soon as the stall was set up, a crowd of beggars, bowls in hand, materialized out of nowhere, lining up in an orderly fashion.

Tao Ning observed the throng, their clothes less patched than beggars in other cities, then looked down at her own dusty attire.

She decided to keep her distance, lest she be mistaken for one of them.

Feeling tired, she sat down on a nearby stone to rest.

“Ten days to reach Ten Directions City, and still so far from the Hanshan Sect… 520, should I borrow more money to upgrade you? Once this is over, you can give me the male protagonist’s location. I remember he was a woodcutter before joining the sect. He might be closer than the Hanshan Sect itself.”

520 was puzzled. 【Why do you need his location?】

Tao Ning: “To address the root of the problem.”

Though not entirely understanding, 520 was touched. It whimpered electronically. 【You’re so kind, Host. But even if you sold yourself, you wouldn’t have enough money to upgrade me.】

Tao Ning sighed dramatically. “What a pity.”

“Were you unable to get any? I saved a bowl for you. Here.” A clear, childish voice interrupted Tao Ning’s lament.

A steaming bowl of porridge appeared before her.

Tao Ning’s gaze lowered, settling on the young miss dressed in fine silks, seemingly caught off guard.

The young miss, looking down at her own clothes, asked, “Is something wrong?”

Her two maids, initially thinking, She’s not bad looking. How did we miss her earlier?, now shielded the young miss, eyeing Tao Ning with suspicion.

“Miss, let’s go. She seems… not quite right in the head.”

“She’s pretty, but a bit daft.”

The young miss, influenced by her maids’ apprehension, hesitated, then said, “Don’t be mean. She’s probably just very hungry.”

Tao Ning finally spoke. “Are you offering me this porridge?”

The young miss nodded. “You look pitiful. Everyone else has eaten, but you haven’t.”

Tao Ning thought, Pitiful? Me?

520 went silent, desperately trying to contain its laughter.

The Host being mistaken for a beggar is just too funny!

It had definitely captured Tao Ning’s momentary look of stunned disbelief. Photographic evidence existed.

The young miss whispered, “This bowl doesn’t have any sand in it. Eat it quickly before someone steals it.”

She then delivered the final blow. “I heard your stomach growl.”

This was true. After ten days of rough living, with no money for food, Tao Ning’s stomach was rumbling loudly.

Briefly weighing starvation against accepting charity, Tao Ning chose the porridge and steamed bun.

Taking the warm bowl, she said, “Thank you. May I ask your name, Miss?”

A maid began to answer, “My mistress is…”

But the young miss spoke first. “My name is Pang Xueting.”

Tao Ning paused, taking another look at her. “Pang Xueting. A beautiful name.”

The young miss fidgeted with her silken skirt, smiling sweetly, then quickly covered her mouth, remembering the gap in her teeth. “I often distribute porridge.”

Tao Ning lowered her head and ate slowly. “You’re very kind.” Quite the opposite of the notorious demonic seductress she would become, preying on countless victims, even the male protagonist.

The name Pang Xueting was familiar. In the original storyline, she was a bewitching temptress from the Demonic Realm, cultivating the Way of Sensual Pleasures, using others to enhance her own cultivation. Her Pleasure House boasted one hundred and eighty-eight beauties, each a vision of loveliness.

She first appeared as a Nascent Soul cultivator, described as possessing snowy skin, flower-like beauty, and a voice like silver bells, despite being barely a hundred years old.

Reaching the Nascent Soul stage at a hundred was rare in the Radiant Realm, a feat achieved by less than a hundred individuals throughout history, each a prodigy, most of whom ascended to the heavens.

Pang Xueting had dual spiritual roots. Even with exceptional talent, she shouldn’t have been able to achieve Nascent Soul so quickly.

Rumors circulated that she had drained the previous owner of the Pleasure House to achieve her breakthrough. There were also whispers about her origins as the ordinary daughter of a merchant, living an unremarkable life until the age of ten, when she was taken to the Pleasure House.

Such a character should have been difficult to sway, yet the male protagonist won her over with a simple gesture.

He located the graves of her birth parents, knelt with her before them, and promised to cherish her as his wife.

At the time, he was already betrothed to the daughter of the Illusion Moon Island’s leader and was being pursued by her jealous admirers when he stumbled into Pang Xueting’s territory, finding her in need of someone to alleviate the burning effects of a bone-penetrating poison.

Deeply moved, Pang Xueting helped him break through to the Nascent Soul stage on their wedding night, offering him both the Pleasure House and her loyalty. While retaining the title of mistress, she became his subordinate, her one hundred and eighty-eight beauties joining his ever-growing harem.

Their happiness was short-lived. Pang Xueting, her cultivation weakened, was killed by agents of Illusion Moon Island, fading into obscurity.

The male protagonist then avenged his concubine, attacking Illusion Moon Island, slaying his enemies, and taking the island leader’s daughter… as another concubine.

In short, like the original host, she was destined to be a stepping stone for the male protagonist.

The two maids, older and more worldly than their kind-hearted mistress, saw things differently.

Initially dismissing the beggar as plain and frail, they now questioned their eyesight. There was nothing ordinary about her.

Her posture was impeccable, her back straight, her demeanor composed, her eating unhurried. She seemed more like a dispossessed noblewoman.

This thought only intensified their pity.

Unaware of the pity she had inspired, Tao Ning returned the empty bowl, glancing at the queue still waiting for porridge.

Those caught by her gaze looked back, but couldn’t pinpoint the source, turning back to search until their eyes landed on the pink-dressed young miss standing before Tao Ning.

They also noticed the plainly dressed Tao Ning, a stark contrast to the elegantly attired trio, but quickly dismissed her.

A mere Qi Refining cultivator, barely a novice, only slightly stronger than an ordinary mortal. No threat at all.

Tao Ning addressed the young miss. “You’re very kind, Miss, taking the trouble to personally distribute porridge. However, I observed the celestial signs last night and foresee unfavorable weather approaching. It would be best to stay indoors and keep your windows closed, lest you catch a chill.”

The three were speechless.

The maids felt even more pity for Tao Ning, now convinced she was a beautiful but slightly unhinged young lady driven to rambling by her family’s misfortune.

Tao Ning looked directly at the bewildered young miss. “Do you believe me?”

The young miss, who had been considering offering Tao Ning shelter and work, found herself unable to speak. The intensity in Tao Ning’s eyes compelled belief. She gave a small, hesitant nod.

Tao Ning: “Go home. It’s getting late.”

It wasn’t until they returned to the Pang estate that the trio questioned why they had obeyed her.

Ten Directions City finally quieted down late into the night, most of its inhabitants asleep.

In the stillness of the late hours, guards patrolled the Pang estate, yawning as they went.

Moments after a patrol passed, a dark figure scaled the wall, flitting across rooftops like a shadow, moving silently through the darkness.

Moonlight revealed a hunched back beneath a dark cloak, giving the impression of a hunchback.

The figure moved with surprising stealth, using a rudimentary cultivation technique to enhance their speed, heading towards the city gates. Tao Ning watched from the shadows, a look of disdain in her eyes as she observed the clumsy attempt at kidnapping.

520, initially wondering why Tao Ning wasn’t sleeping or traveling, but simply standing there for hours, gasped as the figure passed overhead. 【A flying hunchback!】

Then, as the figure descended, the cloak shifted, revealing glimpses of clothing and a bare foot. Clearly, they weren’t hunchbacked.

520 declared, “They’ve kidnapped someone!”

Tao Ning stepped out of the shadows, following the figure. 520 asked, 【Where are you going?】 It knew its host wasn’t the heroic type.

“I repay kindness. I ate her porridge, so I owe her a favor. I won’t stand idly by.”

520 realized, 【The kidnapped person is Pang Xueting?】

Tao Ning extended her spiritual sense, her footsteps light as she harnessed the wind, following the kidnapper like a shadow out of the city.

The dark figure stopped at a waiting horse hidden in the shadows outside the city walls. Their cultivation was too low to fly on a sword, relying on a horse for transport.

The kidnapper rode off, unaware of the shadow trailing them to a rendezvous point.

By a riverbank, under a tree, a simple carriage waited. Two figures sat by a fire, warming themselves. Hearing the approaching hoofbeats, they looked up as the rider arrived.

“Did you get her?”

“Of course. Those guards are idiots. They didn’t suspect a thing.”

“Born with the perfect constitution for the Way of Sensual Pleasures, and dual Water and Wood spiritual roots. The higher-ups will reward us handsomely.”

“All that time pretending to be beggars, eating that gritty porridge… Ugh, it was disgusting!”

The kidnapper carrying Pang Xueting untied her. She hadn’t fully succumbed to the drugs, her eyes fluttering open as she struggled weakly.

The three laughed at the kidnapper’s failure to completely incapacitate her, then tossed her into the carriage with other children.

These children, all with delicate features and promising spiritual roots, were destined for the Demonic Realm.

“This one is truly exquisite, the best of the bunch… Who’s there?!” The most powerful of the three sensed something amiss, looking up sharply.

The other two followed suit, but saw nothing in the darkness, only the chill night air.

Still, they didn’t dismiss their companion’s wariness. The aura they felt belonged to someone stronger than them, at least at the Foundation Establishment stage.

“Foundation Establishment, Qi Refining, peak Qi Refining…”

A voice echoed through the night, sending a chill down their spines despite their own cultivation.

Looking up, they saw a figure perched in the tree above them, looking down, having observed them for who knows how long.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator paled. “When did you get here?”

The one who kidnapped Pang Xueting was even more shocked, having been completely unaware of being followed.

Tao Ning dropped down from the tree, casually assessing their cultivation levels. “To save time, let’s do this together.”

“Who are you?!” These were their last words.

The night remained undisturbed. A pair of hands dipped into the river, swirling the water, washing away the blood.

Tao Ning walked across the damp grass to the carriage, unlatching the door. It was empty.

At least, to ordinary eyes.

Tao Ning scanned the seemingly empty space, plucking a bead from the frame. The carriage’s interior transformed, revealing a group of huddled children, their soft cries filling the air.

They looked at the figure silhouetted in the doorway, radiating a more potent aura than their kidnappers, and cried even louder.

Ignoring them, Tao Ning looked at Pang Xueting.

Lying near the door, dressed in thin clothes, Pang Xueting was still fighting the drug’s effects. Though unable to move, her eyes lit up when she saw Tao Ning.

Tao Ning considered giving her a Cleansing Heart Pill to counteract the drug, but realized the child’s mortal body couldn’t handle the potency of her Heaven-grade pill, and she would likely explode.

Best not to kill her in the process of saving her.

Drawing on the last vestiges of her spiritual energy, she pressed two fingers to specific acupoints, neutralizing the drug.

Pang Xueting’s awareness returned, and she sat up immediately. “What are you doing here? Did you save me?”

A strange scent drifted on the night air. Pang Xueting wrinkled her nose. “What’s that smell?”

Tao Ning, shielding her from the gruesome scene behind her, gently pushed her back down and closed the carriage door. “Stay put and hold on tight. My driving is… terrible.”

Pang Xueting, still reeling from her rescue, assumed her savior was joking. Moments later, everyone in the carriage was violently ill.

When the door opened again, they tumbled out, too sick to be afraid, vomiting onto the grass.

Tao Ning, frowning, stepped away from the retching children, addressing the green-faced Pang Xueting. “You can talk to me after you’re done.”

Pang Xueting swallowed her urgent words.

Tao Ning: “…”

The pampered young miss probably found the whole experience disgusting. Her face turned an even sicker shade of green.

Tao Ning continued, “Your spiritual roots are exceptional. Dual Water and Wood, complementing each other, creating a cycle of life. An ordinary merchant family cannot protect you. You should join a cultivation sect, seek their protection.”

Pang Xueting shivered in the cold. “Can I become your disciple?”

Tao Ning: “I’m afraid not. My standards for disciples are quite rigorous.”

Pang Xueting jumped down from the carriage. “Where are you going?”

“Leaving.” Tao Ning mounted the horse, flicked the reins, and rode off into the sunrise.

Pang Xueting called after her, “What’s your name…?”

Suddenly remembering something, she turned and saw the gates of Ten Directions City.

---

With a horse for transport, Tao Ning’s journey progressed much faster. She even had time to cultivate at night.

Her cultivation advanced rapidly, unusually so for a beginner.

520 noticed Tao Ning’s mood darkening again. While the horse rested and grazed, she would often sit in a daze or meditate.

Though she asked about the male protagonist’s location less frequently, she still scrutinized any young woodcutter she encountered, even reducing one to tears.

520 worried. It had high hopes for this host. Please don’t do anything rash.

Tao Ning was generally well-behaved, but she couldn’t avoid those who weren’t. Her journey was punctuated by encounters with bandits, extortionists, would-be kidnappers, and shady innkeepers.

All were dealt with swiftly and decisively, their ambitions permanently extinguished.

520, observing the carnage, wanted to warn them: Seriously, don’t mess with a widowed, debt-ridden woman.

Lethality: extreme.

Tonight was no different. Tao Ning flicked the blood from her blade, eyeing the now-dulled edge with distaste before discarding it and commencing her usual routine of relieving her victims of their valuables.

These bandits were small-time, accustomed to preying on passing cultivators. They had anticipated an easy target, a lone young woman. They didn’t even manage a second sentence before finding themselves reunited in the afterlife.

Tao Ning wasn’t particularly greedy. She simply needed something to occupy her time.

They were disappointingly poor, with few spiritual stones and mostly junk.

The sound of flapping wings broke the silence. A small bird landed lightly on Tao Ning’s shoulder, tilting its head, its beady black eyes studying her curiously.

Tao Ning tilted her head back, meeting its gaze. After a moment, she shrugged. “Move over there.”

She wasn’t comfortable with weight on her left shoulder, a habit exacerbated by her recent widowhood.

The little white bird seemed to understand, hopping onto a nearby rock, continuing to observe her.

Tao Ning, assuming it was just a bold little bird, continued her work, gathering the bandits’ belongings into a cloth sack.

But the bird’s unwavering attention drew her gaze back. She noticed it wasn’t entirely white. A single, crimson feather adorned its left wing.

At first glance, it looked like the bird had somehow stuck a red feather onto itself.

Tao Ning wondered, “What kind of bird is this?” It didn’t seem to possess any spiritual energy, not even qualifying as a spirit beast. Just an ordinary white bird.

Small, barely the size of her hand, with fluffy white plumage and elegant tail feathers, it resembled a miniature white phoenix.

But white phoenixes didn’t have crimson feathers. The splash of red against the white was striking, like a brushstroke of color on a monochrome painting.

Unable to identify it, Tao Ning concluded, “A mutant, I guess.”

The little white bird: “…”

Finished with her task, Tao Ning felt the sticky blood on her hands. Her horse was dead, so she set off on foot to find water to wash.

As the slender figure disappeared into the darkness, the white bird remained perched on the rock, its beady eyes reflecting the scene.

Suddenly, a soft white light illuminated the night. A woman in white, carrying a long zither, appeared in the bamboo grove.

Her aura was pure and otherworldly.

Her white robes brushed against the rock as she examined the bodies Tao Ning had casually discarded. “Spiritual cultivators, killed by someone of a higher realm,” she concluded.

Turning towards the direction Tao Ning had taken, Cen Dianshuang’s eyes narrowed in thought. “Someone from the Demonic Realm?”

Chapter 44: Disciple and Wife

After the last earth-shattering thunderclap, silence finally descended.

The Ten Thousand Mountains, once a verdant paradise brimming with spiritual energy, a haven for cultivation, was now a scorched wasteland.

Cracked earth, devoid of life, stretched for miles. Not a living creature remained. Flames licked at charred wood, spitting crimson sparks into the air.

Cultivators in the distant city watched. When the thunderclouds dispersed without the customary auspicious clouds and heavenly staircase, they knew the unknown senior had failed their tribulation, their essence scattered into the ether.

Some mourned, while others, harboring different intentions, eagerly set off toward the Ten Thousand Mountains.

Such a powerful tribulation suggested a reclusive elder from some hidden sect, likely possessing a trove of treasures and divine weapons. Even a few scraps would be a boon.

As soon as the thunder ceased, cultivators arrived on their flying swords, hoping to scavenge some remnants.

Fortunes are sought at the risk of life, a perfectly normal pursuit. Those from established sects simply remembered to change their attire and refrain from shouting their master’s name.

Numerous cultivators combed the area, searching for the site of the tribulation. Their lower cultivation levels prevented them from penetrating the concealing formations, leaving them stumbling around like headless flies.

This only fueled their excitement. Formations capable of withstanding such a powerful tribulation hinted at even greater treasures.

The unfortunate senior, they mused, had likely believed their formations impenetrable, failing to account for their own mortality. Under the Nine Heavens Tribulation, body and soul were extinguished.

Cultivators in various robes buzzed around like bees, oblivious to the fact they were repeatedly passing through the epicenter of the tribulation, assuming they simply hadn’t found it yet.

At the heart of the scorched earth, within the crater left by the Mahayana cultivator’s tribulation, a small, inconspicuous mound of dark earth lay undisturbed.

“Found anything?”

“Nothing. Are we in the wrong place?”

“The Ten Thousand Mountains are vast. Let’s keep searching… There’s something over there!”

One pointed into the distance, and the cultivators in the vicinity swarmed toward the indicated spot, some flying, others running.

After the cultivators hovering above the mound left empty-handed, the seemingly natural lump of earth shifted slightly. It trembled violently, and a pale hand emerged, groping blindly in the air.

The hand seemed to be searching for something to grasp, but after exploring the immediate vicinity, it retreated in disappointment, realizing it was at the very center of the tribulation’s impact. The hand then swept away the dirt covering a face, creating a small pocket for breathing.

The buried figure slowly opened their eyes, revealing emerald green pupils. They blinked in confusion, and the green rapidly faded to ordinary black, so quickly it seemed like an illusion.

The figure shifted, using their other hand to push themselves up. A crunching sound emanated from the mound, like bones reforming or stones grinding together.

Tao Ning looked around. She was surrounded by a desolate wasteland.

520’s system voice announced: 【Ding ding ding! Recovery potion administered. This work-related injury will not be added to your bill; expenses covered.】

Black earth clung to her like clothing, her long hair spread around her. Through the strands, the gruesome wounds on her shoulders visibly healed at an astonishing rate.

520, bracing itself, attempted a lighthearted tone: 【So, how was it, getting struck by lightning?】

As soon as the words left its processing unit, 520 wanted to slap itself. What a tactless question!

Of course, it was a system, not a human.

It was all due to unfortunate timing. The original host had died during the tribulation, leaving Tao Ning to face the amplified final strike alone the moment she arrived.

The tribulation was intended to obliterate the original host. However, her death and Tao Ning’s arrival coincided perfectly, making Tao Ning the new target.

Just as 520 was screaming internally, convinced it would be ejected from the small world along with the fried remains of its host, Tao Ning, having endured the final strike, calmly requested, “Recovery potion, please.”

After a moment of processing, Tao Ning registered 520’s question. She thought for a moment before replying, “Like a very intense electrotherapy session.”

520 suppressed its internal scream but couldn’t contain its alarm. It was convinced Tao Ning’s brain had been fried.

As her system, it had access to Tao Ning’s physical condition. It could see the devastation beneath her outwardly healed appearance. Her internal organs were shattered, her spiritual veins rapidly regenerating under the influence of the recovery potion.

Even at accelerated speed, it was a monumental task.

The original host was undeniably dead, her spiritual core shattered, her soul already on its way to reincarnation.

The pain of skeletal reconstruction was unimaginable, yet Tao Ning hadn’t made a sound. 520, however, felt its core ache in sympathy.

520 couldn’t bear it: 【Do you want a painkiller?】

Tao Ning: “Employee benefit?”

520: 【No…】Of course, it would cost.

“Then forget it. Shattered but serene,” Tao Ning said nonchalantly, not with the bravado of someone overwhelmed by debt, but rather the dullness of someone who had just woken from a very long sleep.

520: 【…】

Tao Ning surveyed her surroundings. She was at the bottom of a massive crater, large enough to hold several dozen people. The very epicenter of the tribulation. Heaven had wanted to obliterate the original host, leaving nothing behind.

So…

Tao Ning looked up at the sky above the crater. “It’s so high. How am I supposed to climb out?”

She lay back down, pulling the dirt over herself like a blanket, and closed her eyes, falling promptly asleep.

520: 【…】

She had slept for half a month in the original world, and now she was sleeping again. It felt like it was bound to a narcoleptic host.

After a day and night of observing the cultivators flying back and forth overhead, Tao Ning decided she was sufficiently recovered. She stood, stretching her limbs.

Clad in tattered rags, covered in dirt, she rummaged through the soil, retrieving a few gleaming objects and a pile of debris.

A Heaven-grade storage ring, a Heaven-grade storage belt, and a Heaven-grade storage necklace. These three were intact.

The remnants of shattered artifacts, still crackling with residual lightning, appeared to have been defensive talismans. When Tao Ning accidentally brushed against them, she felt a jolt of pain, like an electric shock.

Deciding to leave them alone, she turned her attention to the other items.

The three undamaged artifacts glowed softly, seemingly unscathed by the tribulation, like freshly forged treasures.

Tao Ning tore a strip of cloth from her rags and tied back her waist-length hair. Examining the artifacts closely, she murmured, “Could the original host have had a Lightning Spiritual Root…? Refining with lightning and fire… reaching a peak where one can withstand tribulation lightning.”

Clever as she was, Heaven was equally cunning. Indestructible artifacts didn’t guarantee an indestructible user.

After a fierce struggle, the original host perished, body and soul, even her soul contract erased, leaving behind these unclaimed treasures.

No, wait.

Upon closer inspection, Tao Ning noticed the runes and formations etched into the intact artifacts were similar to those on the broken pieces, but with subtle differences, as if the original host had abruptly changed her refining methods mid-process.

Perhaps, pressed for time, she had only managed to refine these simpler storage artifacts before the tribulation arrived.

This realization made Tao Ning’s brow furrow in understanding.

Given another five hundred years, the original host might have actually created tribulation-proof artifacts, like a sort of lightning rod.

Such defiance of Heaven explained the utter annihilation it had unleashed.

520, bewildered by Tao Ning’s fascination with the debris and her sudden epiphany, grew increasingly concerned. It truly feared its host’s mind was addled.

Fortunately, Tao Ning soon abandoned the debris. Drawing on the last dregs of spiritual energy from her depleted meridians, she retrieved a robe from the storage necklace just before collapsing.

520: 【Wow.】It loved shiny things, and this robe was a masterpiece.

Tao Ning: “…”

The robe shimmered, a rich, deep purple, embroidered with intricate patterns. Every thread seemed to glow, conjuring an image of a proud, untamed wearer.

It didn’t look like the sort of thing a good person would wear.

Tao Ning frowned, holding the robe up by the shoulders. “It’s too big.”

After the meridian reconstruction, Tao Ning hadn’t retained the original host’s adult physique. She now resembled a sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl, thin and frail, like a bean sprout.

She shook her head. “No, it’s too flashy.”

Wearing Heaven-grade robes with her current cultivation level was like a child flaunting gold in a busy marketplace—practically begging for trouble.

However, the robe was impervious to fire and water, resistant to blades and weapons, capable of withstanding a full-powered blow from a Mahayana cultivator. It was essentially an incredibly durable turtle shell.

After weighing her options, Tao Ning put it on, inside out, to at least mute the vibrant color. She had no more spiritual energy to retrieve anything else from the storage artifacts.

Dressed, she stood in a daze, then suddenly remembered something. She asked 520, “Did I forget to ask you for the original host’s information?”

520, which had been unusually quiet: 【Oh, right. I didn’t send you the data.】

But Tao Ning simply lay back down at the bottom of the crater, hands folded over her stomach, absorbing the memories. 520 had the sudden urge to shower her with flowers.

Then it realized something. 【Wait a minute! How could you use her storage ring without her memories?】

Tao Ning, lying comfortably on the robe, slept peacefully. 520 had no choice but to shut down and wait.

The original host was the Supreme Ruler of the Demonic Realm, known as Qingji.

Her name had commanded respect and instilled fear in the Demonic Realm for millennia. Her power was so immense that even the Radiant Realm regarded her with a healthy dose of caution.

This Demon Lord had appeared suddenly. Rumors claimed she was a subordinate of Patriarch Wanhun, seizing an opportunity during his severe injury to usurp his position and kill him.

Initially, the Demonic Realm hadn’t paid much attention. In their world, patricide, matricide, even fratricide were commonplace, let alone the betrayal of a master. They didn’t bat an eye at Qingji’s sudden rise.

However, after seizing the Wanhun Cauldron upon Patriarch Wanhun’s death, Qingji’s first act was to challenge the then-most powerful cultivator in the Demonic Realm, the City Lord of Xuanming. She went alone, challenging someone far above her level.

Many mocked her arrogance, eager to witness her demise. The City Lord of Xuanming was known for devouring female cultivators alive, savoring their spiritual energy.

Instead, it was the City Lord who was killed, along with most of the demonic cultivators who had come to watch. Qingji became infamous overnight.

Now calling herself the Recluse Qingji, she annexed the two largest cities in the Demonic Realm, becoming the most powerful City Lord.

But Qingji’s expansion didn’t stop there. She set her sights on unifying the entire Demonic Realm.

As one defiant City Lord after another fell, the remaining rulers, unwilling to submit, banded together to resist. Their efforts were futile.

Every opponent was eliminated, becoming fodder for the Wanhun Cauldron.

With all opposition eradicated, the survivors pledged their allegiance, and the Demonic Realm was unified under a single, true monarch.

This unification sent ripples of unease not only through the Demonic Realm but also through the Radiant Realm.

The leaders of the various sects in the Radiant Realm held council, strategizing against a potential invasion by the newly crowned Demon Lord.

Perhaps weary of conquest, the Demon Lord, now under close observation by the Radiant Realm, showed no interest in their territory, retreating to the newly constructed Abyssal Palace and giving the Radiant Realm nary a glance.

A two-thousand-year peace settled between the Radiant and Demonic Realms.

Yet, no one knew that the Demon Lord Qingji was originally a disciple of the Hanshan Sect, the most prominent sect in the Radiant Realm.

Possessing both Lightning and Fire Spiritual Roots, she had displayed a talent for artifact refinement at the age of three. The Artifact Peak Elder treasured her as a genius. Unconventional and fascinated by unusual artifacts, she gained renown at a young age.

Perhaps it was a case of the heavens envying genius. During a trip outside the sect, she was targeted by Patriarch Wanhun of the Demonic Realm. Her fellow disciples were slaughtered, and she was captured, poisoned, and forced to refine artifacts.

Refusal meant becoming another soul trapped within the Soul Banner, a tool for the patriarch’s bidding.

To survive, she complied. However, to unleash the full power of demonic artifacts, she required the patriarch’s heart blood.

Still not satisfied, she made further requests, leading to the horrifying incident where Patriarch Wanhun sacrificed dozens of his children and hundreds of concubines to create the Wanhun Cauldron.

Such acts weren’t unheard of in the Radiant Realm, but to do so openly, for all the world to see, was appalling.

On the day the Wanhun Cauldron was forged, endless thunder crashed down. Patriarch Wanhun feared Heaven’s wrath would destroy it, but the cauldron survived the tribulation.

Believing it a sign of Heaven’s favor, he eagerly tested its power. In its first use, the Wanhun Cauldron devoured tens of thousands of cultivators from the Radiant Realm.

The cauldron could command the dead and absorb souls, its power unmatched. It could refine the souls of cultivators to enhance one’s own cultivation without any adverse effects, more potent than any elixir or divine technique. Who wouldn’t covet such power?

Patriarch Wanhun, once just another demon in the Demonic Realm, became its undisputed ruler with the Wanhun Cauldron, a formidable threat to the Radiant Realm.

With such a powerful weapon, he was loath to kill Qingji, continuing to poison her, hoping to completely subdue her.

Qingji feigned loyalty, refining numerous demonic artifacts for him and repeatedly rejecting rescue attempts by the Hanshan Sect.

She drove away her former sect members, throwing down her disciple token, declaring she was severing all ties. From that day forward, the Hanshan Sect no longer had a disciple named Qingji.

However, after discovering an antidote, Qingji secretly manipulated the cauldron to devour Patriarch Wanhun, who realized too late that she had always held the true control, dying with his eyes wide open in disbelief.

Qingji then ascended to become the Supreme Ruler of the Demonic Realm, reigning for over a thousand years before gradually retreating into seclusion at the age of two thousand to attempt the tribulation.

She failed, and died.

Mahayana cultivators had lifespans of tens of thousands of years. Qingji, attempting the tribulation at a mere three thousand, was remarkably young compared to those ancient monsters.

“Interesting. The Supreme Ruler of the Demonic Realm doesn’t cultivate demonic energy. Her spiritual veins are pure, using spiritual energy instead of demonic energy…” Tao Ning scratched her cheek. “Was there enough spiritual energy in the Demonic Realm for her to cultivate?”

520: 【Spiritual veins and stones, perhaps? She spent a thousand years in the Ten Thousand Mountains after leaving the Demonic Realm. Is there a problem?】

Tao Ning sat up, straightening her clothes. “No, just surprised by her rapid cultivation.”

Reaching the Mahayana stage after only a thousand years in the Demonic Realm seemed less like natural talent and more like a rush to max her level before eliminating her.

Tao Ning asked, “Since I’m taking over her identity, I’ll inherit her will and fulfill her wish. Did Qingji have any final wishes before reincarnation?”

【Yes, but it’s rather short.】 520 recited Qingji’s final words. 【Insolent child. Hmph.】

Tao Ning: “…”

If 520 had a physical form, it would be tapping its smooth head. Lacking one, it could only ask, 【Did you decipher her wish?】

Tao Ning pondered for a moment, then nodded gravely. “She wants me to kill someone.”

520: 【??? Who?】

Tao Ning looked at the sky, then at the ground. “She doesn’t know.”

520 was utterly confused. 【She doesn’t know? Then how do you know?】

Tao Ning: “I should know.”

520: 【Huh? Who?】

Previously, 520’s hosts struggled to keep up with its thought processes. Now, the roles were reversed. It often found itself lagging behind Tao Ning, who rarely bothered to explain herself.

520 quickly resigned itself to this, thinking, What can I do? I’m stuck with her.

Tao Ning, indeed, had no intention of explaining. After rummaging through the storage artifacts, she suddenly let out a puzzled hum.

The Wanhun Cauldron was missing.

Qingji was its master, but she disliked it, rarely using it, keeping it sealed in the Demonic Realm’s forbidden zone, a place supposedly known only to her.

This was a typical cultivation world where an ordinary young man rose to power, collecting a harem along the way. Initially, a weakling, somehow he attracted beautiful women and stumbled upon countless treasures. Later, he would unleash his hidden potential, unifying the three realms, transcending mortality, and eventually ascending to the heavens, leaving everything behind.

How could such a powerful artifact like the Wanhun Cauldron, capable of boosting cultivation without side effects, not end up in the protagonist’s hands?

In the original storyline, he would form a contract with the cauldron, using its power to conquer the three realms and become the supreme ruler.

Of course, that was the original plot. Tao Ning’s mission to sever a fated connection indicated a significant deviation in the world’s trajectory, so severe that Heaven itself preferred to sever the connection.

520 didn’t understand why Tao Ning was still sifting through the debris. Was she planning to sell scrap metal for spiritual stones?

Did the Radiant Realm even have a scrap market for broken artifacts? Did they buy by weight?

520: 【What’s wrong?】

Tao Ning stood up, dusting off her hands, and shielded her eyes, peering into the distance. “The protagonist’s location… Never mind. I’ll ask differently. You should be able to locate the Hanshan Sect, right?”

The designated female protagonist, Cen Dianshuang, was an elder of the Hanshan Sect’s Disciplinary Hall. Tao Ning had arrived three months before the disciple acceptance ceremony. She needed to reach the sect before the protagonist took the male protagonist as her disciple.

Their fated connection began at that ceremony.

If she failed to arrive in time, she’d have to resort to killing the protagonist’s new disciple, becoming her enemy.

The debt-ridden widow had no time for such complications. Once the mission was complete, she would leave, allowing the protagonist to seek revenge if she wished.

520: 【I know where it is. I’ll navigate for you.】

As Tao Ning prepared to climb out of the crater, 520 chirped in a cheerful electronic voice: 【Head east. Estimated travel time on foot: two hundred days.】

Tao Ning: “…”

Realizing the error, 520 went silent for a moment, then suggested: 【Maybe you should take that scrap metal and sell it for enough money to buy a horse?】

With Tao Ning’s current cultivation level, her only advantage was the ability to walk briskly.

Accompanied by the useless, yet adorable, 520, Tao Ning set off, finding a stream to wash up.

The stream reflected her calm features as she scrubbed her mud-caked hair, her small chin dotted with water droplets. The mud was annoying.

Gathering what little spiritual energy she could, she transferred the glowing storage ring, belt, and other items into the necklace. Unable to conceal the necklace itself, she wore it, hiding it beneath layers of fabric.

Fortunately, the original host had placed a concealing formation on it. Tao Ning quickly figured out how to activate it, draining her remaining spiritual energy to mask the necklace’s aura. To anyone below the Mahayana stage, it would appear as an ordinary stone pendant.

—Despite her flamboyant attire, the original host had practical taste in accessories. The pendant was indeed quite plain.

She traveled cautiously. The cultivators still searching the sky for the deceased senior’s remains didn’t notice her. The demonic beasts that might have posed a threat had been obliterated by the tribulation. Her journey was surprisingly smooth.

However, she wasn’t the only one making good progress. A young man in simple, coarse clothing was also traversing the ravaged landscape, heading straight for the crater she had left.

He peered into the crater for a long time, muttering to himself before climbing down. He searched through the scorched earth, but found nothing.

Frowning, he muttered, “Huh? They said it was here. The crater’s here, but where’s the treasure?”

Chapter 43: The Ice Queen’s Fierce Love (End)

Tao Yan’s attitude was ambiguous. The three of them squeezed into the back seat of the car, Tao Yan’s demeanor as warm and affectionate as ever, as if she had forgotten Tao Ning’s earlier announcement.

After dinner, the housekeeper informed them that their rooms were ready.

Tao Yan, still showing no reaction, simply told them to rest well and went upstairs.

It was impossible, however, for anyone to be truly unfazed by Tao Yan’s presence.

Tao Yan was the head of the Tao Corporation, a powerful figure whose words commanded respect, even fear.

Even Guan Qiuyi, the revered CEO, was just a child in Tao Yan’s presence, a mixture of admiration and apprehension coloring her interactions.

Guan Qiuyi, sensing Tao Yan’s unspoken disapproval, was hesitant, avoiding Tao Ning’s room, not allowing Tao Ning into hers, opting for solitude.

Tao Ning, clutching her pillow, rejected by her girlfriend, looked forlorn, returning to her own room, her dejected demeanor evoking both guilt and a touch of fear in Guan Qiuyi, who promised to wear whatever Tao Ning wanted in the future.

Tao Ning, who had been lying on the bed, scrolling through her phone, sat up, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “You said it. I recorded it. No take-backs.”

Guan Qiuyi: “…”

Her response was a darkened screen, the abrupt disconnection a clear sign of her flustered state.

Tao Ning hadn’t actually recorded anything, but she was amused by Guan Qiuyi’s reaction.

The next morning, Tao Ning woke up early, and, pulling open the curtains, saw Tao Yan in the garden. She quickly dressed and went downstairs.

Tao Yan, enjoying the morning sun, her inherent optimism unwavering, her worries easily dispelled by a good night’s sleep, was now relaxing in a lounge chair.

Hearing footsteps, she turned to see Tao Ning approaching. “Alone?” she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

Tao Ning, about to sit down, paused. “Do I look… incomplete?”

Tao Yan, removing her sunglasses, her gaze sharp and perceptive despite the faint traces of makeup, said, “Don’t play games with me. Is Qiuyi still asleep?”

Interesting, Tao Ning thought.

She let out a dramatic sigh, carefully avoiding any hint of vulnerability. “I think so. She’s been busy lately.”

Tao Yan, her tone casual, asked, “Separate rooms? Afraid of me?”

Tao Ning, neither confirming nor denying, simply said, “You’re my mother, and Qiuyi’s godmother. I wouldn’t want you to be upset.”

Tao Yan hummed noncommittally, her expression unreadable.

Despite her outward calm, Tao Ning’s heart skipped a beat at that sound.

She decided on honesty. “Qiuyi is… wonderful. I love her. I want to marry her. And… take care of you when you’re older.”

Tao Yan sighed, her gaze sweeping over the sunlit garden, as if lost in memories.

“I know what kind of person she is,” she said, her voice soft, almost wistful. “I’ve known her for years. I was so busy with work when you were little, neglecting you. It was your grandfather who discovered… how that nanny was treating you. And you grew up to be such a kind and caring person. I’m proud of you. I just want you to be happy. That’s all that matters.”

Tao Ning, her eyes filled with hope, looked at her expectantly. Tao Yan, however, after a moment of silence, changed the subject. “Don’t think I’m… all-knowing, all-powerful. I’m over fifty, you know.”

“But you are all-powerful,” Tao Ning insisted.

Tao Yan, in response, delivered a swift, motherly slap to her shoulder. “Don’t try to manipulate me. And what are you looking at? Go show Qiuyi your… injury. Tell her I hit you. That’s the only way I’ll agree to this.”

Tao Ning, her plan exposed: “…”

Tao Yan, poking her finger at Tao Ning’s chest, said, “I know you too well. I can read your mind.”

Tao Ning: …True, but that was a bit harsh.

After a few autumn rains, the weather in Tong City cooled down, and the Tao Corporation hosted a welcome-back banquet for Tao Ning.

It wasn’t for Tao Yan, who was constantly traveling, but for Tao Ning, the sole heir, her first official appearance since taking on a more prominent role within the company. The guest list was extensive.

It was supposed to be a simple welcome-back event, marking Tao Ning’s official entry into the family business, but a more explosive announcement followed.

After confirming Tao Ning’s new role within the company, Tao Yan said, “And I have another announcement. Ningning and Qiuyi’s engagement party will be held this November. You’re all invited.”

The guests, many of whom had been preparing to introduce their own eligible offspring to the heiress, were stunned.

Who? Who beat us to it?

They exchanged bewildered glances, some discreetly checking their ears, convinced they had misheard.

The Tao heiress’s fiancée? Guan Qiuyi?

“Guan Qiuyi? As in… Guan Capital?”

“Is there another Guan Qiuyi we should know about?”

A valid question. There wasn’t.

Then someone said, “Guan Capital… Isn’t she… a woman?”

“Times are changing. What’s wrong with that?”

“But… same-sex marriage isn’t legal here.”

“They can get married abroad. It’s not that expensive. And how many legally married couples are actually happy?”

The guests, their wine glasses clutched in their hands, felt like they were dreaming, their minds still reeling as they offered their congratulations.

Whether they approved or not, the atmosphere was undeniably celebratory.

Many, however, dismissed it as a prank, a publicity stunt.

Then the invitations arrived, confirming the news. The engagement party, held at Rose Manor, was a lavish affair, befitting the Tao family’s wealth and status, the sheer extravagance prompting speculation about the actual wedding.

“Not bad,” Lü Xinxi said, holding up a newspaper, reading the headline aloud, her voice dramatic. “‘Tao Heiress and Guan Capital CEO Announce Engagement! A Power Couple is Born!’”

Lowering the newspaper, she turned to Tao Ning. “Your thoughts?”

Tao Ning, grabbing the newspaper, her demeanor radiating newlywed bliss, glanced at the article. “No comment on the writing. But the photos are unflattering.”

Lü Xinxi rolled her eyes. “Don’t try to fish for compliments. It won’t work.”

Tao Ning, pointing at a photo, said, “Look, they made you look chubby. You’re so much prettier in person.”

“What?!” Lü Xinxi leaned in, her eyes narrowing. “They did! I look like I gained ten pounds! I’m a renowned producer! I have fans who follow me for my looks!”

Tao Ning, putting on her sunglasses, settled back into her lounge chair, enjoying the sun.

Guan Qiuyi, carrying a coconut, walked over and sat down, handing it to Tao Ning. “Try this. It’s good.”

Tao Ning took a sip through the straw. Lü Xinxi, making a face, clutching the newspaper, muttering about “PDA,” turned to Jin Yue for validation. “Do I really look… fat?”

Jin Yue, overseeing their barbecue like a mother hen, glanced at the photo. “Yes,” she said, after a moment of thought.

Lü Xinxi, initially furious, was now satisfied.

Jin Yue added, “You’d look beautiful in a wedding dress.”

Lü Xinxi, taking photos of the newspaper, preparing to share them with her friends and complain about the photographer’s incompetence, shook her head. “I’m not getting married. No wedding dress for me. But you… with your family constantly pressuring you… I’ll be a bridesmaid soon, I guess.”

Jin Yue, flipping a chicken wing on the grill, chuckled. “Not likely.”

What does that mean? Lü Xinxi thought, stopping mid-text, her face contorting in mock anger. “What do you mean? You’re getting married without me as a bridesmaid?”

Jin Yue, ignoring her, continued grilling, a serene smile on her face, even as Lü Xinxi grabbed her shoulders, shaking her playfully.

Under the bright sun, the pool shimmered, the air filled with the scent of sunscreen and grilling meat, the clinking of ice in glasses, a scene of leisure and contentment, each person lost in their own world.

---

The public’s perception of Tao Ning, the Tao heiress, was complex.

Some dismissed her as incompetent, a spoiled rich girl. Others saw a hidden strength, a shrewdness beneath the carefree facade. She was an enigma.

Arriving late and leaving early were common occurrences, yet any project assigned to her was completed flawlessly, her subordinates fiercely loyal, their admiration evident.

Then, they would see Tao Yan, her mother, still actively involved in the business, a tireless CEO, and they would think, Perhaps it’s all thanks to her mother. Tao Ning’s contributions are negligible.

Some, underestimating her youth and inexperience, had attempted to test her, to teach her a lesson, only to find their plans thwarted before the Tao Corporation even needed to intervene.

Appealing to Tao Yan was, of course, futile. She was notoriously protective of her daughter.

A few, perhaps blinded by desperation, had even approached Guan Qiuyi, assuming she could be swayed by incentives.

During a banquet, Guan Qiuyi, meeting with one such individual, had simply said, “Remember the Nangong family?”

“Yes… what does that have to do with this?”

Guan Qiuyi, a cold smile playing on her lips, had shaken her head. “Nothing. Just a reminder that some things are non-negotiable.”

It was then that they realized Tao Ning wasn’t incompetent. She was simply discreet, her true abilities hidden beneath a playful exterior.

Just when they thought Tao Ning was finally ready to step up, to take the reins of the Tao Corporation, she had, once again, retreated, embracing a life of leisure.

And so, Tao Ning, dragging a vacationing Guan Qiuyi along, had disappeared, declaring their intention to “enjoy life,” all distractions to be ignored.

Months later, they returned, their skin tanned, a small child in tow.

Just as everyone assumed the child was their secret love child, a product of their months of seclusion, Tao Ning announced that they had been volunteering in a rural community, and, finding the child’s circumstances unfortunate, had decided to adopt her.

The child’s appearance, bearing no resemblance to either of them, her features lacking the refinement of a city child, seemed to confirm her story.

They named the little girl Guan Xingzhu.

To everyone’s surprise, however, the child, as she grew older, blossomed, her demeanor as calm and composed as Guan Qiuyi’s, her intelligence a reflection of Tao Ning’s.

Lü Xinxi, observing her, had commented, “That child… she’s like a… wolf in sheep’s clothing. A true prodigy.”

Indeed, deception was most effective when delivered with an innocent face, a disarming sincerity that made even the most skeptical question their own judgment.

Guan Xingzhu, at such moments, would simply look at them with wide, innocent eyes, her silence more effective than any words.

Tao Ning hadn’t hidden the adoption, and Xingzhu, inevitably, faced questions, even accusations.

She would simply puff out her chest, her small face a mask of indignation. “My mothers chose me. They love me. Your mom probably hits you. Mine don’t.”

Her accusers, their attempts at provocation failing, would usually retreat in tears, unable to repeat such accusations to their parents.

And even if they did…

Who would dare confront Tao Ning and Guan Qiuyi? Even the most reckless wouldn’t risk such a confrontation.

Sometimes, Xingzhu, as an only child, expressed a desire for a sibling, a playmate.

Tao Ning, lounging in a chair, would stroke her head, her voice gentle. “I can’t have children. It’s… complicated.”

Xingzhu, ignoring the part she didn’t understand, suggested, “I wouldn’t mind a sister with my last name.”

Tao Ning, sitting up, her expression serious, said, “I would. When we first brought you home, you insisted on sleeping between us. Not beside us, but between us. If we had another child, there would be two people between me and your other mother.”

Guan Xingzhu: “…”

Tao Ning asked, “Could you… resist the urge to sleep between us if you had a younger sister?”

Xingzhu, without hesitation, replied, “No.”

“Case closed,” Tao Ning said, patting her shoulder, her voice filled with mock seriousness. “I’m glad you understand, Comrade Guan. You’ll remain an only child. Now, go play.”

Xingzhu, confused by Tao Ning’s logic, wandered off.

Then, a moment later, she ran back, her eyes wide. “Mama, I can share a bed with my sister! We won’t disturb you!”

The door, however, was closed, and Xingzhu, knocking, called out, “Mama? Why is the door locked?”

Inside, the curtains drawn, the room dimly lit, a scene of domestic bliss unfolded.

Guan Qiuyi, her dress bunched around her thighs, her head tilted back, her brow furrowed, the object of her affection whispering in her ear, “Why is the door locked?”

“Who locked it? Was it you?”

A soft moan, a hand reaching out to still the wandering hand, a kiss silencing the whispered question, a playful nip eliciting a shiver.

They didn’t even hear Xingzhu leave. Later, Guan Qiuyi, her body pliant, her eyes still slightly unfocused, was carried back to the bed.

As she regained her senses, she reached out, pulling at Tao Ning’s robe, which she had just tied, undoing it again.

After a moment of quiet contemplation, she said, her voice husky, “I never realized how… wicked you are.”

Tao Ning, leaning down to kiss her, murmured against her lips, “Only with you.”

Guan Qiuyi’s arms wrapped around her, their bodies intertwined, their faces close. “Will you still be like this… when we’re old?” she asked softly.

Tao Ning’s hair spread across the pillow, her eyes filled with Guan Qiuyi’s image. “Of course,” she replied, her voice firm. “Always.”

Guan Qiuyi smiled, her fingers toying with Tao Ning’s hair.

Her touch lingered, her once smooth, unblemished hands now wrinkled and spotted, the dark hair turning gray, then white.

Time passed, years blurring into decades, their youthful vibrancy replaced by the quiet grace of age.

“You said you never lie. I believe you,” Guan Qiuyi said, her voice frail.

Tao Ning, sitting beside the hospital bed, looking at the elderly woman, her face softened by age, smiled. “Why are you saying this now?”

Guan Qiuyi released Tao Ning’s hair, her hand, now held by Tao Ning’s, placed gently back under the covers. “Because I’m… tired. And I wanted to… tell you… before I…”

Tao Ning’s carefully constructed composure crumbled, and she reached for the call button, about to summon the doctor.

Guan Qiuyi, however, her grip surprisingly strong, tugged on her sleeve, stopping her. “Don’t,” she whispered, her voice weak. “I’m… falling asleep. I have… one more question.”

“Ask me. Anything,” Tao Ning said, forcing herself to calm down, a veteran agent, yet feeling utterly helpless.

Guan Qiuyi asked softly, “How long… will you remember me?”

It was the unspoken question between them, a secret they had both carefully guarded. She was dying; she deserved an answer.

Tao Ning, fighting back tears, her hand holding Guan Qiuyi’s, her voice thick with emotion, said, “Forever.”

“That’s not fair…” Guan Qiuyi whispered, her eyes, however, smiling, her heart filled with a quiet joy. “I don’t have… forever. Just… a little longer… than me… That’s all I ask.”

Tao Ning tried to hold onto the warmth of her hand, but it was fading, Guan Qiuyi’s life force ebbing away.

Seventy years together, and despite knowing it was inevitable, the finality of it, the approaching separation, filled her with a sense of resistance.

Tao Ning said, her voice thick with emotion, “I… lost my memories once. Forgot… everything. I came into this world… a blank slate. But you… I’ll never forget you.”

“You were my first love. I’ll keep our memories… safe.”

Guan Qiuyi whispered, “That’s… good.”

Tao Ning leaned closer, her lips brushing against Guan Qiuyi’s ear, the system’s warning alarms blaring, and said, “My name… is Tao Fuan.”

520’s panicked voice, its core resonating with the system’s urgent warnings, echoed in her mind. [What have you done?!]

Tao Ning didn’t answer, her gaze fixed on the elderly woman in the bed.

No one knew her real name. Tao Ning had been her name, but today, she wanted to share her true name.

Guan Qiuyi’s eyes flickered, a spark of recognition. “Tao Fuan?” she whispered, her voice frail.

Her face was wrinkled, her eyes clouded with age, her life force fading, the beauty mark between her eyebrows dimming, yet in Tao Ning’s eyes, she was still the same, the girl she had fallen in love with, her image forever etched in her heart.

Tao Ning, her voice soft, repeated, “Yes. My real name. Tao Fuan.”

Chapter 42: The Ice Queen’s Fierce Love

Guan Qiuyi, preoccupied with thoughts of Tao Ning, accidentally drank too much that evening.

The banquet was winding down, many guests having already departed, leaving only those who intended to partake in the unspoken after-party activities.

Tao Ning, half-carrying, half-supporting Guan Qiuyi, helped her into the car, gently placing the now pliant figure onto the back seat. She straightened up and addressed Assistant Bai. “It’s getting late. You should head home, Assistant Bai.”

Before Assistant Bai could respond, a pale hand emerged from the car’s interior, tugging on the hem of Tao Ning’s green dress.

Like a petulant child demanding attention.

Tao Ning leaned down, taking Guan Qiuyi’s hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. “We’ll be home soon. Just saying goodbye to your assistant.”

A soft grunt came from the shadows of the car’s interior. Assistant Bai wasn’t sure how to interpret the sound, the same sound that sent shivers down the spines of other employees, but Tao Ning seemed to take it as a sign of agreement.

She even smiled indulgently, as if finding her girlfriend’s childish behavior endearing.

Assistant Bai: “…”

Tao Ning, a hint of nostalgia in her voice, said, “She still gets flushed after a few drinks. Some things never change.”

Assistant Bai, having finally met the elusive “lover” only to discover she was the Tao heiress, stammered, “Ha… haha… Ms. Guan must be… happy.”

Drunk as a skunk, of course she’s happy, she thought.

I’m just an employee. As long as you’re happy, I’m happy.

She wondered which was more shocking: their CEO’s legendary alcohol tolerance failing her, or the fact that she had kept the Tao heiress confined to her residence for over a month.

The rumors alone had been enough to cause a stir. She couldn’t imagine the fallout from a public announcement. The word “explosive” came to mind.

Watching the car drive away, Assistant Bai, her professional smile firmly in place, let out a long breath, clutching her briefcase, and got into her company car, heading home.

In the car, Guan Qiuyi slept soundly, only waking up as they arrived at the residence. Her face flushed, she was carried out of the car by Tao Ning.

The housekeeper, who had been waiting for their return, rushed over to assist. Tao Ning, handing Guan Qiuyi over, commented, “She’s a happy drunk. Doesn’t get unruly.”

She then led Guan Qiuyi upstairs, presumably to help her freshen up. The housekeeper, however, hearing Tao Ning’s words, looked puzzled.

“Hangover cure?” she asked, her brow furrowed.

Tao Ning replied, “Don’t you have any on hand?”

Tao Yan often had business dinners, and hangover cures, both over-the-counter remedies and homemade concoctions, were always available.

The housekeeper, quickly recovering, nodded. “Of course, Miss Tao. I’ll bring some up right away.”

Tao Ning, giving her a look that clearly said, Not very professional, are you? carried Guan Qiuyi into the elevator.

The housekeeper, understanding the unspoken criticism: …But I am! I swear!

As a professional housekeeper, she was always prepared, supplies regularly replenished. However, their employer never needed them.

Tao Ning gently placed Guan Qiuyi on the bed, feeling her slightly flushed cheek with the back of her hand. She doesn’t get as drunk as she used to, she thought. Just a slight flush.

Guan Qiuyi, her eyes fluttering open, her hand, warm against Tao Ning’s, murmured, “Hmm?”

Tao Ning leaned down, pressing a light kiss to her lips. “Feeling unwell? I’ll wash my hands and get you some water, okay?”

Guan Qiuyi’s breath was warm against her skin, her eyes slightly unfocused, and she let out a soft moan.

Tao Ning, assuming she was simply drunk, went to the bathroom to wash her hands.

The water ran, washing away the soap suds, and as she straightened up, she saw Guan Qiuyi standing in the doorway, her face flushed.

Tao Ning, drying her hands, walked over to her. “Why aren’t you wearing any shoes?”

She followed Guan Qiuyi’s gaze to her bare feet, her toes curling slightly, perhaps from the cold tile floor.

Tao Ning retrieved a pair of slippers from the closet. “Don’t catch a cold. Put these on.”

Guan Qiuyi, her mind slowly clearing, slipped on the slippers, then looked up at Tao Ning, her eyes slightly unfocused. “I was… in a hurry,” she murmured.

Tao Ning, who had been crouching down, stood up. “What’s the rush? Do you need to freshen up? I’ll help you.”

Seeing no place for Guan Qiuyi to sit, she simply picked her up and placed her on the bathroom counter. Guan Qiuyi, startled, instinctively wrapped her arms around Tao Ning’s neck, a soft gasp escaping her lips.

The expensive designer dress now pooled around her on the counter, the fabric dampening slightly.

Guan Qiuyi’s back touched the cool mirror, the sudden chill momentarily clearing her head, but the warmth in her heart remained.

She sat there, watching as Tao Ning, her movements gentle and efficient, prepared a change of clothes, makeup remover, and a basin of warm water.

Then, she carefully wiped Guan Qiuyi’s face, asking occasionally, “How does that feel? Are you comfortable?”

Guan Qiuyi, her eyes half-closed, shook her head slightly.

She wouldn’t have dared to imagine such a scene before. There had been similar moments, of course, always in private, during their student days.

Back then, it had always been Guan Qiuyi fussing over Tao Ning, Lü Xinxi teasing her for turning Guan Qiuyi into a “mother hen.” Tao Ning had simply laughed it off. But in private, it had often been Tao Ning taking care of her, her quiet strength a reassuring presence.

Like a guiding light, even after her departure, her influence remained, a constant presence in Guan Qiuyi’s life.

“You were like a guardian angel,” Guan Qiuyi murmured, her voice barely audible above the running water. “Then… you disappeared.”

Tao Ning, not having heard her clearly, tilted her head. “What was that?”

Over the years, in the quiet hours of the night, Guan Qiuyi’s dreams had often been filled with memories of their time together, each moment replayed, cherished.

Then, one day, she had stopped reminiscing, a question haunting her: when had Tao Ning first hinted at leaving?

The answer, when it came, had been bittersweet: the signs had been there all along.

She reached out, her hand gently cupping Tao Ning’s face, her skin pale, her eyes still slightly red from the alcohol. “From the moment we met, you were already planning to leave, weren’t you?” she asked softly.

The friendship with the Jin and Lü heiresses, the introduction to Tao Yan, even the downfall of the Nangong family—all of it had been orchestrated to ensure Guan Qiuyi’s future.

Tao Ning, her breath warm against Guan Qiuyi’s skin, her hands gripping the edge of the counter, remained silent.

Sometimes, silence was an answer. The usually eloquent Tao Ning, faced with this direct question, couldn’t summon a convincing lie.

As an agent, her mission’s completion meant departure. She had believed time would heal all wounds, that memories would fade, like water smoothing the edges of a stone, her own arrival in this world a blank slate.

But she hadn’t anticipated that the blank slate would become filled with one person’s name, etched so deeply it almost obscured everything else.

Guan Qiuyi, gently tilting Tao Ning’s face towards hers, asked, “I used to wonder… how many people’s savior were you trying to be? Couldn’t you just be mine?”

Then, her voice softening, almost pleading, she asked, “You came back… Are you pitying me?”

Tao Ning replied, her voice firm, “Of course not.”

Guan Qiuyi, convinced she was drunk, her vulnerability exposed, her carefully constructed walls crumbling, repeated, “You’re not pitying me?”

Tao Ning’s voice was steady, unwavering. “No. I… ache for you. I love you.”

The simple words, spoken so casually, brought tears to Guan Qiuyi’s eyes. Tao Ning, her fingertip gently wiping away a tear, watched as it shimmered in the light.

She leaned closer, her lips brushing against Guan Qiuyi’s cheek, tasting the salt of her tears. “Did I… start this?” she asked softly.

Guan Qiuyi smiled, shaking her head, her eyes crinkling at the corners, a familiar expression from their younger days, as if she were still wearing her school uniform. “I did. You didn’t start anything.”

She added, her voice barely above a whisper, “You’re always so… controlled. Only in moments like these do I see you unguarded. It’s… captivating.”

Tao Ning’s restraint, her carefully constructed walls, only intensified Guan Qiuyi’s desire to see her lose control, to witness her true emotions.

Tao Ning, amused by her unconventional definition of “captivating,” her own heart pounding, her emotions a turbulent mix of tenderness and something else, reached out, her hand gently cupping the back of Guan Qiuyi’s neck, and kissed her.

When they parted, their breaths mingled, both slightly breathless.

Guan Qiuyi’s legs, like a mermaid’s tail, wrapped around Tao Ning’s waist, and she whispered in her ear, “My dress is wet. Help me take it off.”

Downstairs, a housekeeper, watching the other housekeeper staring at a box of medication, asked, “Aren’t you going to take that upstairs?”

The housekeeper, startled, her professional composure returning, replied simply, “No.”

The housekeeper: “???” Why not? Didn’t Miss Tao ask for a hangover cure?

The other housekeeper didn’t explain. This was the difference between managing the entire household staff and being a maid.

She placed the box back in the drawer, the soft click echoing in the silence.

Upstairs, a wet hand rested on the dark wood of the nightstand, leaving a faint trail of water, then the fingers, their tips flushed pink, tightened their grip.

“Mmm… wait…”

A soft gasp, a muffled moan, escalating into a series of whimpers, initially sounding like sobs, filled with unspoken grievance, then shifting, a hint of laughter emerging, uncontrolled, unrestrained.

Two arms, slick with sweat, reached up, initially wrapped around Tao Ning’s neck, then pulling away, as if seeking escape, finding only a smooth, unyielding surface.

Seeking purchase, finding none, the arms retreated, only to be pulled back, a hand brushing against a phone precariously balanced on the edge of the nightstand.

The bed creaked rhythmically, the movement intensifying, and the phone, unable to maintain its precarious position, slipped and fell.

It landed, thankfully, on a discarded green dress on the floor, its screen lighting up, illuminating a pile of tangled clothes, the green dress intertwined with a red one, their colors a stark contrast, their fabrics clinging together, inseparable.

…

Tao Yan, a worried mother, having canceled all her appointments and rushed back, had envisioned various scenarios for her reunion with Tao Ning.

First, she would scold her, lecture her, demand an explanation for her sudden departure and equally sudden return, for not contacting her.

Second… she hadn’t decided yet. She would improvise.

However, when she arrived, she was greeted by the sight of two girls holding hands.

One, her biological daughter, the other, the girl she had jokingly called her “goddaughter” for seven years.

A seasoned businesswoman, her instincts honed by years of experience, her first thought was: Do other families… hold hands like this?

As she approached them, she tried to recall seeing Guan Zhichun holding hands with anyone. The answer was a resounding no.

She removed her sunglasses, her arms crossed, her voice firm. “Don’t think you can hide behind anyone today, Tao Ningning. We need to talk.”

Tao Ning, her expression as infuriatingly cheerful as ever, smiled sweetly. “It’s not like that, Mom. Qiuyi isn’t here to defend me.”

Tao Yan raised an eyebrow. “Then why is she here?”

Tao Ning replied, “As my… fiancée? Future wife?”

Tao Yan: “…?”

Her jet-lagged brain slowly rebooted, the gears grinding, and after a long moment of stunned silence, she turned to Guan Qiuyi, her expression questioning.

Guan Qiuyi: “…”

Tao Yan’s suspicion that this was some sort of elaborate prank was shattered by the blush creeping up Guan Qiuyi’s neck, her gaze avoiding Tao Yan’s.

Tao Yan’s voice rose. “You’re serious?!”

Her assistant, struggling to keep up with her in her high heels, her boss’s suitcase bumping against her legs, rushed towards them.

Then, she saw Tao Yan’s sunglasses clatter to the floor, her body swaying, as if about to collapse.

“Boss!!!” she shrieked, dropping the suitcase and rushing to Tao Yan’s side.

Tao Yan, however, didn’t collapse. Tao Ning had caught her, and she now lay in her arms, her eyes closed, hearing Guan Qiuyi’s panicked voice. “Godmother! What’s wrong? I’ll call an ambulance…”

Tao Ning, pulling Guan Qiuyi back, took Tao Yan’s pulse, then said calmly, “It’s nothing serious. I can handle this.”

Guan Qiuyi’s voice was filled with anxiety. “How can you ‘handle this’? What if it’s a heart attack? Or a stroke?”

Tao Ning explained, “During my travels, I visited Mongolia. I helped an elderly woman, and she, impressed by my intelligence, insisted on teaching me her… traditional healing techniques. I’m her disciple. A… Mongolian doctor.”

Guan Qiuyi: “…”

Tao Yan: “???” A Mongolian doctor? A quack?

Tao Ning continued, “She said, if someone faints, the first thing you do is press their philtrum.”

With that, she raised her hand, her finger poised above Tao Yan’s philtrum.

Tao Yan’s eyes flew open, and she swatted Tao Ning’s hand away. “You! Your own mother faints, and you pretend to be a Mongolian doctor?! You’ll be the death of me!”

Tao Ning, her hand still hovering in mid-air, said brightly, “Mom! You’re awake!”

Tao Yan, picking up her sunglasses and using them as a mirror, checked her reflection, then complained, “You smudged my makeup!”

Tao Ning, her eyes wide and innocent, said, “But I really can heal you!”

Tao Yan, retrieving her sunglasses and putting them back on, said, “I’m your mother! I know what you’re capable of! You have less medical knowledge than Qiuyi! You came back just to torment me, didn’t you?”

She stood up, grabbing Guan Qiuyi’s arm. “Come on, Qiuyi. Let’s leave her to her… Mongolian medicine.”

Guan Qiuyi, being dragged away, gave Tao Ning an apologetic look.

And so, a strange scene unfolded at the airport: two figures walking ahead, Tao Ning trailing behind, eventually catching up and joining them in the car back to the Tao residence.

Chapter 41: The Ice Queen’s Fierce Love

“We just went out a few days ago. Why are we going out again?” Tao Ning asked, puzzled.

She was surrounded by stylists, being dressed and primped, a scene reminiscent of her eighteenth birthday party at Rose Manor.

She had been trapped in a chair since that afternoon, makeup artists and hair stylists fussing over her, although Guan Qiuyi hadn’t escaped their attention either, also subjected to their ministrations.

Jin Yue, however, had her own ideas, expertly applying her own makeup, earning a thumbs-up and a “You’re going to be a famous beauty blogger!” from Lü Xinxi.

Guan Qiuyi, sitting on a nearby sofa, her chin resting on her hand, watched them, a smile playing on her lips.

She had deliberately dressed and styled herself early, wanting to fully appreciate the scene unfolding before her. Tao Ning, in the elegant evening gown, looked stunning.

“I want you to come with me,” Guan Qiuyi said simply.

Tao Ning, hearing this, immediately stopped protesting, offering her face to the makeup artists, her eyes closed, her responses to their questions a calm, agreeable, “Whatever you think is best.”

The styling team was Guan Qiuyi’s personal team, familiar with her preferences and style, but this was their first time working with Tao Ning, requiring a bit of adjustment.

Having witnessed Guan Qiuyi’s attentiveness to Tao Ning’s opinions, they had initially been eager to showcase their skills, to impress their employer. But Tao Ning, it seemed, had no preferences.

Unable to extract any specific requests from Tao Ning, they had turned to Guan Qiuyi.

Asking for Tao Ning’s opinion was a futile exercise, and Guan Qiuyi, having witnessed Tao Ning’s transformation into a large, placid, and utterly indifferent being, understood.

The staff at the Guan residence considered Tao Ning to be low-maintenance, even lazy. Guan Qiuyi, however, knew she was simply conserving her energy, her true power hidden beneath a deceptively casual exterior.

The staff, however, simply thought Guan Qiuyi was blinded by love, unable to see Tao Ning’s lack of ambition.

Guan Qiuyi didn’t bother explaining. She had seen Tao Ning’s true nature, her strength and resilience, and she didn’t need anyone else’s approval.

Hearing the stylists’ questions, she immediately stood up and walked over, observing Tao Ning’s appearance, then offering a few suggestions.

The stylists, receiving instructions from their boss, quickly made the adjustments.

The head stylist, sensing Guan Qiuyi’s attentiveness, and her own curiosity, ventured a comment. “You understand Miss Tao so well. These changes… she looks even more beautiful now.” She glanced at Guan Qiuyi, hoping for a reaction.

As expected, Guan Qiuyi’s eyes softened as she looked at Tao Ning’s reflection, her hands resting on her shoulders, a satisfied smile on her face.

Tao Ning, seemingly oblivious, simply patted Guan Qiuyi’s hands.

The head stylist: “…”

The two of them, their reflections intertwined in the brightly lit mirror, a visually stunning pair, suddenly evoked a strange sense of unease in her.

It was like watching a bird in a gilded cage, the captor admiring its beauty, the oblivious bird, unaware of its confinement, happily exploring its surroundings, chirping cheerfully at its observer.

Tao Ning, tilting her head back, wanted to kiss Guan Qiuyi, but the presence of the stylists, and the lipstick on her lips, made her hesitate.

Noticing a figure standing nearby, their gaze fixed on them, Tao Ning’s eyes met theirs in the mirror.

The head stylist, startled by the intensity of her gaze, instinctively stepped back.

Out of Tao Ning’s line of sight, she thought, That girl… she’s not as innocent as she appears.

She had met many powerful people, and while Guan Qiuyi wasn’t the most influential person she had encountered, Tao Ning’s gaze reminded her of someone else, someone higher up.

Calm, tolerant, even friendly, yet with an underlying distance, a subtle warning to keep one’s distance.

Tao Ning had always disliked crowds, finding them to be a source of unwanted attention and inevitable drama.

She attended the party as Guan Qiuyi’s accessory, maintaining a polite smile, allowing herself to be introduced, greeting each guest with a pleasant, “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Guan Qiuyi, knowing her discomfort, quickly released her, allowing her to escape the throng.

Sometimes, Tao Ning found Guan Qiuyi’s behavior amusing. Her possessiveness, her sudden bursts of affection, quickly followed by a retreat into her usual reserved demeanor, the shift almost comical.

Tao Ning wasn’t sure if others noticed it, but she found it endearing, though she refrained from teasing her too much, not wanting to upset her.

“I’ll be over there,” she said, pointing to a quieter corner. “Let me know if you need anything.”

Guan Qiuyi, her wine glass in hand, followed her gaze, then nodded. “Go ahead.”

Tao Ning nodded politely to a nearby woman. “Excuse me.”

“Oh… of course, Miss Tao,” the woman replied, still staring at her, her mind reeling from the realization that this was the Tao heiress, the one who had disappeared for eight years.

Tao Ning! she thought. The real Tao Ning! I need to talk to her!

But Guan Qiuyi was also here, another important connection, and after a moment of hesitation, she decided to stay, continuing her conversation with Guan Qiuyi.

Soon, however, more people noticed Guan Qiuyi, and she was once again surrounded by a circle of admirers, their conversations a mix of polite greetings and veiled business propositions.

The center of attention had shifted from Tao Ning to Guan Qiuyi, even the host of the party approaching to exchange pleasantries.

Tao Ning, watching Guan Qiuyi navigate the crowd with effortless grace, a side of her she had never seen before, her eyes filled with a quiet admiration.

Someone sat down beside her on the large sofa, and Tao Ning, turning to see who had dared to interrupt her solitude, found herself facing a young woman in a striking red dress.

The woman, her gaze assessing, seemed pleased with what she saw, and she smiled at Tao Ning, offering her hand.

“Why are you sitting here all alone? Who are you here with?” she asked, swirling the wine in her glass, the aroma filling the air. “I’m Wu… And you are?”

Tao Ning mentally scanned the list of prominent families in Tong City, but the surname “Wu” didn’t ring any bells.

Ms. Wu, having arrived recently, had spotted Tao Ning earlier, her interest piqued by a single glance at her profile.

Seeing her up close, she was even more intrigued. Her initial annoyance at being seemingly ignored quickly dissipated.

This party was, after all, a networking opportunity, and the sight of such a beautiful girl, seemingly abandoned in a corner, suggested a potential advantage. Perhaps she was someone’s discarded lover, a fallen sparrow.

Thinking this, she had approached, hoping to capitalize on the situation.

Lowering her voice, she said, “This is boring. Come with me. I’ll show you something… more interesting.”

Tao Ning, glancing at the woman’s outstretched hand, ignoring it, a hint of amusement in her eyes, replied, “I’m with Ms. Guan.”

Ms. Wu’s smile faltered, her tone betraying her annoyance, though her expression remained polite.

“Ms. Guan has many associates. Why do you all insist on being ‘with’ her?”

She was tired of hearing Guan Qiuyi being described as a virtuous, untouchable figure. It made everyone else seem less refined.

Tao Ning, her smile widening, replied, “Because of people like you.”

Ms. Wu’s amusement vanished. “What did you say? Don’t you…” dare.

Before she could finish, Guan Qiuyi appeared, her gaze fixed on Ms. Wu.

She stood behind Tao Ning, her voice cool. “What are you discussing?”

Although phrased as a question, it was clearly directed at Ms. Wu, the unspoken threat hanging in the air.

Ms. Wu, realizing Tao Ning hadn’t been lying, her earlier confidence crumbling, quickly stood up, stammering, “I… I was looking for the restroom. I… I couldn’t find it. So I asked this… young lady for directions.”

Her gaze flickered towards Tao Ning, hoping the “kept lover” wouldn’t reveal the truth, not wanting to cause trouble for either of them.

But Tao Ning, to her surprise, was smiling, her hand covering her mouth, as if suppressing laughter.

Guan Qiuyi, however, didn’t even bother asking Tao Ning for confirmation. Her voice hardened. “Why would you ask her for directions? Why not ask a waiter?”

She recognized Ms. Wu, which only added to her displeasure. “Are you… blind?”

Ms. Wu, stammering, “I… I just… I’m sorry, Ms. Guan. I didn’t mean to… disturb you,” quickly retreated, her wine glass clutched in her hand.

Finally escaping, her heart still pounding, she realized her back was damp with sweat, her legs slightly shaky.

Before she could even complain to her friend about the near-disaster, her friend said, “Are you crazy? That was Tao Ning, the Tao heiress! How could you even think of approaching her?”

Ms. Wu, stunned, exclaimed, “What? She’s Tao Ning? Why didn’t she say anything?”

Guan Qiuyi, watching Tao Ning, her expression a mixture of exasperation and amusement, as if to say, I can’t take my eyes off you for a second, or you’ll be abducted, turned to her, her voice soft. “Why didn’t you just tell her off?”

Tao Ning, stifling her laughter, knowing Guan Qiuyi’s possessiveness was a sign of affection, a positive development, said, “I was about to. But then you arrived.”

Guan Qiuyi, her anger dissipating, allowed Tao Ning to lead her to a seat. After a moment of silence, she asked, “Were you bored?”

“Not really,” Tao Ning replied. She had been enjoying the spectacle of Guan Qiuyi effortlessly navigating the social scene, her heart filled with admiration. My Qiuyi is so capable, she thought.

Guan Qiuyi, her earlier annoyance forgotten, took Tao Ning’s hand. “I’m bored. Let’s go get some fresh air.”

And so, they escaped the crowd, stepping out onto a small balcony.

A wide river flowed before them, the city lights twinkling in the distance, illuminated boats gliding across the water.

The moon hung high in the sky, a perfect backdrop to the bustling city.

Below them, the streets were a ribbon of light, cars carrying their passengers towards their destinations.

The cool night air, a welcome contrast to the stuffy banquet hall, was refreshing.

Guan Qiuyi, leaning against Tao Ning, her wine glass in hand, said, her voice slightly complaining, “I’m not bringing you to these things anymore.”

Tao Ning, sensing she was slightly tipsy, wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Not bringing me? Are you planning to keep me locked up at home? A gilded cage, perhaps? You’ll keep the key, of course, letting me out only when you return.”

“And I’ll be waiting for you, patiently, obediently, hoping for a crumb of affection.”

“…” Guan Qiuyi, turning to look at her, said, “I would never do that.”

Then, she paused, realizing her actions over the past month, confining Tao Ning to the residence, weren’t that different from what Tao Ning had just described, the only difference being that Guan Qiuyi herself had also been confined, by choice.

Wait a minute, she thought. Keeping her here, while I’m also here… isn’t that… monitoring her?

Meeting Tao Ning’s amused gaze, her eyes flickering, she repeated softly, “I wouldn’t do that.”

Tao Ning wanted to say, It’s okay. I wouldn’t mind. As long as the cage is comfortable. Love bought with a salary, a willing exchange.

If Guan Qiuyi had actually tried to chain her up, Tao Ning would have raised her hands in surrender, a willing captive.

That was why Guan Qiuyi’s attempts at being possessive, had always failed. Tao Ning was too cooperative, her willingness disarming any potential conflict.

Instead, she simply said, “I know you wouldn’t.”

Some things couldn’t be rushed. Eight years of separation couldn’t be erased with a simple “I’m back.” Tao Ning was patient. She had time.

Her understanding, however, only intensified Guan Qiuyi’s guilt, and she turned, pressing a light kiss to Tao Ning’s lips.

Tao Ning, her hand gently cupping the back of Guan Qiuyi’s neck, deepening the kiss, her touch possessive, knowing Guan Qiuyi, even if she wanted to escape, couldn’t.

They kissed, hidden in the shadows of the balcony, the taste of wine lingering on their lips, a wine glass, accidentally knocked over, shattering on the floor, the sound lost in the night.

The broken glass didn’t interrupt them, and Guan Qiuyi, her hands now on Tao Ning’s shoulders, her back against the railing, her body pressed against Tao Ning’s, had forgotten when she had climbed onto the railing, her only focus the warmth of Tao Ning’s lips.

They kissed, their embrace tightening, the night air, the scent of flowers, mingled with the aroma of wine.

Finally, parting, their foreheads touching, their breaths mingling, Tao Ning, her voice hoarse, asked, “Should we go back inside?”

Guan Qiuyi, a soft moan escaping her lips, her eyes closed, smiled. “Not yet. I have a business deal to finalize. They’re waiting for me. They’ll be looking for me soon.”

Tao Ning, playfully biting her lip, elicited a soft chuckle from Guan Qiuyi.

“You’ve become… bold,” Tao Ning murmured, her voice husky.

Guan Qiuyi, her voice barely above a whisper, replied, “I learned from the best.”

Tao Ning, refusing to accept responsibility for corrupting the innocent Guan Qiuyi, accused her of slander, wanting to bite her cheek in retaliation.

But Guan Qiuyi’s face was carefully made up, a professional mask for her upcoming meeting, and Tao Ning couldn’t risk ruining her image.

Frustrated, she settled for a whispered threat. “I’ll… deal with you later.”

Guan Qiuyi shivered slightly, a strange mix of anticipation.

After a few minutes, Tao Ning, reapplying Guan Qiuyi’s lipstick, carefully concealing the slight swelling, finally let her go.

She then reapplied her own lipstick, checking her reflection, smoothing out her slightly wrinkled dress, and left the balcony.

Unbeknownst to them, a familiar figure in a red dress arrived at the balcony a few moments later, staring at the shattered glass on the floor, her eyes wide with shock.

She had been feeling overwhelmed and had stepped out onto the balcony for some fresh air, only to hear the crash of breaking glass, her curiosity piqued. She had assumed it was a clandestine lovers’ quarrel.

Then she had seen Guan Qiuyi, her arms wrapped around a woman in a green dress, their lips locked in a passionate kiss, Guan Qiuyi’s usually cool gaze filled with a warmth that transformed even the Guanyin mole into a symbol of desire, the object of her affection none other than Tao Ning, the Tao heiress.

Their intimacy was undeniable, a practiced ease, confirming Tao Ning’s earlier claim. She was indeed “with” Ms. Guan.

The years of Tao Ning’s absence had erased her from public memory, her preferences, her character, a mystery, her sexual orientation unknown.

You could have just told me who you were, Ms. Wu thought, her earlier resentment now replaced by a strange sense of betrayal. A simple, “I’m Tao Ning, and you’re not worthy of my attention,” would have been less humiliating.

Who taught her to play this game? she wondered, her heart still pounding from the shock.

I’ve been terrified all night!

What do you do when you accidentally hit on the Tao heiress, then witness her kissing Guan Qiuyi?

Her friend, upon receiving her frantic message, had replied simply, Nothing.

But who are these untouchable people? she had asked.

Her question remained unanswered. She wouldn’t dare reveal their names.

Chapter 40: The Ice Queen’s Fierce Love

Lately, Tao Ning had developed a habit of napping, able to fall asleep anytime, anywhere.

And so, a common scene at the Guan residence was Guan Qiuyi diligently working, occasionally taking calls, while beside her, Tao Ning would be asleep, like a hardworking emperor and his favored concubine.

Sometimes, when Guan Qiuyi was tired, she would join Tao Ning for a nap, the scene then resembling a bewitched emperor and his enchanting concubine.

Even during important meetings with senior executives, Tao Ning would remain undisturbed, sleeping soundly on the large sofa by the window, her back to the droning voices, oblivious to the discussions taking place.

The staff, initially shocked by such casual displays of intimacy, had gradually become accustomed to it, a shared understanding emerging: Ms. Guan is completely smitten with her lover.

Tao Ning, however, had never actually met any of the executives, not even the ever-present Assistant Bai, the chief of staff. She was always asleep during their visits.

Strangely, the talkative junior employee had become the conduit for information between the two worlds.

About the “lover,” her name, background, and character remained a mystery, only her beauty, her grace, her tea-making skills, being common knowledge, like a celestial being descended from the heavens.

Tao Ning, in turn, simply referred to them as “Veteran Employees 1, 2, and 3.”

The frequent trips between worlds, however, had aggravated a pre-existing injury, causing headaches that could only be alleviated by sleep, her outward appearance masking her discomfort.

Guan Qiuyi, perhaps sensing something amiss, had arranged for a full medical checkup with the family doctor.

The Guan residence, due to Zhichun’s health conditions, had a well-equipped medical facility, sparing Tao Ning the trouble of traveling.

Tao Ning hadn’t explained her symptoms, nor had she refused the checkup.

The young doctor, however, her gaze filled with a mixture of awe and curiosity, clearly a consumer of romantic literature, seemed to be thinking, So this is the legendary beauty who tamed the ice queen! And after talking to Tao Ning, her expression had shifted to, I understand now.

Tao Ning, amused, wondered how many people knew about her existence, each encounter met with surprise and speculation.

Guan Qiuyi must have been bragging, she thought, a warm feeling spreading through her chest. She’s usually so reserved. When she loses control, it’s noticeable.

The results, however, showed nothing unusual, just fatigue, a recommendation for rest.

Tao Ning wasn’t surprised. Her injury was metaphysical, not physical, undetectable by current technology.

Guan Qiuyi, however, had been unusually quiet, her expression thoughtful, as if she had understood something.

The housekeepers, however, found the diagnosis ridiculous. Tao Ning, who spent most of her days sleeping, only waking up for meals, like an oversized cat, could hardly be considered “overworked.”

As one of the younger housekeepers had put it, “Give Miss Tao a pillow, and she’ll fall asleep anywhere.”

Tao Ning, flicking the paper report with her finger, smiled at Guan Qiuyi. “See? I told you I was fine. Just a little tired. I’ll be fine after a few days of rest.”

Guan Qiuyi, her gaze searching, asked, “Are you sure?”

Guan Qiuyi was intelligent, perceptive, her sharp mind having propelled her to success. But that same perceptiveness had also made her aware of things she wasn’t supposed to know.

She often felt like she was deciphering a book written in an unknown language, the knowledge gleaned too strange, too unbelievable, to share, the inevitable response being concern for her mental well-being, accusations of stress-induced delusions. She could only trust Tao Ning.

A few days later, as if to prove the doctor’s diagnosis wrong, Tao Ning stopped napping, her energy levels suddenly increasing, her days filled with activity, only occasionally dozing off in random locations.

One afternoon, she was woken by a gentle touch. Guan Qiuyi, sitting beside her, said, “Come on, let’s go out for dinner.”

Tao Ning, still half-asleep, her mind foggy, assumed her “kept woman” days were over, a strange sense of reluctance washing over her. “Is my mother back?” she asked.

Guan Qiuyi replied, “No, Godmother is still overseas. She’ll be back soon.”

Tao Ning, pulled to her feet, was dressed and led to the car, finally leaving the Guan residence after over a month of confinement.

The car took them to a private restaurant, known for its exclusive, one-table-per-day service, its reservations booked months in advance.

Tao Ning, looking at the elegant, traditional sign, felt a flicker of recognition.

She turned to Guan Qiuyi. “Is this…?”

“Tao—Ning!” A loud voice shattered the quiet atmosphere, and Tao Ning turned to see a flash of red charging towards her.

Then, a hand landed on her shoulder, a hard slap followed by a boisterous greeting. “You! Disappearing for eight years! Do you even remember us?!”

Tao Ning remembered now. This private restaurant, “Flowing Rhymes,” was owned by Lü Xinxi’s family.

The Lü family, descendants of imperial chefs, with generations of culinary expertise, were a prominent force in the restaurant industry, their establishments flourishing, except for Lü Xinxi, the family’s culinary black sheep.

As Jin Yue had put it, “Let her near the kitchen, and she’ll ruin decades of carefully preserved recipes.”

The boisterous greeter, the one who had just slapped her on the shoulder, was Lü Xinxi herself.

Tao Ning, rubbing her shoulder, which was still tingling, nodded. “Of course, I remember you. You still hit hard.”

After all these years, Lü Xinxi hadn’t changed, her hair still a vibrant, unnatural color, currently a bright raspberry red.

Lü Xinxi, flipping her hair dramatically, pointed a finger at Tao Ning. “Barely acceptable. Qiuyi said you were back, and I didn’t believe her. But then she actually… produced you. Eight years! How could you?”

Guan Qiuyi, standing behind Lü Xinxi, looked at Tao Ning.

Tao Ning, unable to answer that question, asked, “Where’s Jin Yue?”

Lü Xinxi replied, “Stuck in traffic. She’ll be here soon. Let’s go inside and wait.”

She reached for Tao Ning’s arm, her usual gesture of affection, a habit from their school days, only to find… nothing.

Tao Ning, turning to Guan Qiuyi, instinctively held out her hand, and Guan Qiuyi, as if it were the most natural thing in the world, took it, their fingers intertwining as they walked inside.

Lü Xinxi: “Eh?”

The twenty-six-year-old Lü Xinxi was different from her eighteen-year-old self. Less impulsive, more perceptive, she had learned to read between the lines, to recognize the unspoken.

And she knew Guan Qiuyi’s sexual orientation. That gesture, the hand-holding, was a clear transgression.

When Guan Qiuyi had come out to them, Lü Xinxi had immediately thought of Tao Ning, their easy camaraderie, their closeness. But Tao Ning had already left, and Guan Qiuyi had remained single, her heart seemingly closed off.

She remembered last year’s company party, someone asking Guan Qiuyi, “You’ve been alone for so long, Ms. Guan. Why not find someone? Time waits for no one. Who are you waiting for?”

Guan Qiuyi, slightly tipsy, a smile on her face, appropriate for the festive occasion, had paused, her smile fading slightly, as if remembering something.

She had nodded, her voice soft. “I’ll wait a little longer.”

Everyone had laughed, assuming she was drunk, her usual composure gone.

Guan Qiuyi, however, had simply smiled, her gaze fixed on the glittering chandeliers, rarely bothering to explain herself.

Now, Lü Xinxi realized that smile had concealed a deep sadness.

Eight years later, she finally understood what she had missed.

Lost in thought, she had stopped walking, and Tao Ning and Guan Qiuyi, now on a small bridge over a stream, turned to look at her, their expressions questioning.

Tao Ning called out, “What are you doing, standing there all alone?”

Guan Qiuyi, also looking back, meeting Lü Xinxi’s bewildered gaze, glanced down at their intertwined hands, then looked at Lü Xinxi with an expression that clearly said, I know this is unexpected, but as my friend, I hope you’ll be happy for me.

Lü Xinxi: “…”

I knew it! she thought. I knew that sly fox wouldn’t let her go so easily!

So that’s what this is about!

Hurrying to catch up, her red hair bouncing, she said, “Coming! Coming!”

She felt like a streetlight, her head radiating an almost visible glow.

All those years, all that wasted jealousy, she thought, a mixture of amusement and frustration. They weren’t even playing the same game!

As they settled into a private room, Lü Xinxi didn’t waste any time. “Tell me the truth. What’s going on between you two?”

Tao Ning, raising her hand, said, “We’re together. Like… together together.”

Although Lü Xinxi had suspected it, hearing the confirmation still required a few minutes of processing.

If her brain activity could be visualized, it would be a GIF of a shocked cat.

Jin Yue, finally arriving after battling traffic, was greeted at the door by a frantic Lü Xinxi. “Yueyue! Guess what! Ningning and Qiuyi are together! Like… a couple!”

Jin Yue paused, surprised. “Since when?”

Lü Xinxi, her voice rising in excitement, said, “Just now! They walked in holding hands! Do I even need to eat tonight? I’m so full! I feel like I’m glowing!”

Lü Xinxi’s enthusiasm, however, was easily managed. Jin Yue simply patted her head, a calming gesture. “Holding hands, you say? So it’s… official?”

The two “culprits,” under Lü Xinxi’s intense gaze, smiled sheepishly, their expressions clearly saying, Yes, commence the congratulations.

Jin Yue, after a moment of silence, said, “…Finally.”

Lü Xinxi, who had been preparing for a dramatic celebration, suddenly realized something was amiss. She grabbed Jin Yue’s shoulders, her voice filled with suspicion. “Why aren’t you surprised?!”

Jin Yue: …Me? Having witnessed eight years of pining, I’m beyond surprised.

Lü Xinxi, understanding the unspoken message, buried her face in Jin Yue’s shoulder, wailing dramatically. “I can’t believe this! You all kept it a secret! I’m so hurt!”

Jin Yue, expertly soothing her, said, “Darling, with your vocal abilities, the whole world will know in three days, tops.”

Lü Xinxi’s wailing ceased abruptly, and she looked up, her face dry, her eyes darting around, avoiding their gazes.

She returned to her seat, her composure regained, her voice nonchalant. “Fine, you were right.”

Even if Jin Yue had told her, she wouldn’t have been able to keep it a secret. She knew herself too well.

Remembering last year’s party, if she had known the truth, she would have blurted out, “Are you waiting for Tao Ning to come back?”

The consequences would have been disastrous. She didn’t want to think about it.

Now that everyone was present, they caught up, learning that Jin Yue, having inherited her family’s business, was now a busy executive, her love for vibrant hair colors and makeup tutorials sacrificed for the sake of maintaining a professional image.

Lü Xinxi, the rebel of the Lü culinary dynasty, had ventured into the entertainment industry, going from avid consumer of celebrity gossip to an insider.

Speaking of her career, Lü Xinxi’s frustration was evident, her voice rising in indignation as she stood up, one foot on her chair, her wine glass raised in a dramatic toast.

“Why did I even get into this industry? To support my idol! I’m a dedicated fan! All those years of studying, just so I could become an insider, give him resources, get him better roles, help him win awards, and what happens?”

“The year after I graduated, he announces his marriage! His wife’s pregnant! I don’t care if he gets married! I’m angry that he’s so fragile! A few negative comments, and he quits the industry!”

She looked around the table, her voice filled with theatrical despair. “I knew he was talented, but I didn’t realize he was so sensitive. I’m officially a hater now.”

She took a large gulp of wine, then wailed, “But he’s retired! How can I even hate him properly? He’s a stay-at-home dad now!”

Tao Ning, trying to comfort her, started to say, “He’s gone. Let him go. There are other…” then corrected herself. “There are other… talented individuals out there.”

Lü Xinxi, wiping away a non-existent tear, said, “You’re right. So I gave the resources I had secured for him to a nobody, a little extra on a film set. She tripled my investment. I like ambitious people.”

Jin Yue, taking a piece of spare rib, glanced at her. “The one who calls you ‘Producer Lü’ all the time?”

Lü Xinxi nodded. “Yep. The one we saw at the preview last week.”

Jin Yue, carefully blowing on the spare rib, said, “I was watching the movie, not the people.”

Tao Ning, standing up to serve Guan Qiuyi a bowl of soup, raised an eyebrow at Guan Qiuyi, who simply shrugged, a playful glint in her eyes.

Jin Yue said, “Try these spare ribs. They’re delicious.”

Lü Xinxi, holding out her bowl, said, “Food! I need food!”

Jin Yue, sighing, gave her a piece, and Tao Ning and Guan Qiuyi also tried some.

A short while later, Guan Qiuyi excused herself to use the restroom. Lü Xinxi, slightly drunk, also decided to go.

Jin Yue, setting down her chopsticks, turned to Tao Ning. “You disappeared, then suddenly reappeared. Where have you been all these years?”

The dead rarely lingered in the memories of the living. Tao Ning, not belonging to this world, her absence having been conveniently explained by the world’s consciousness, a fabricated death certificate tidying up any loose ends, had simply ceased to exist.

Jin Yue, seeing her in person, had only then remembered to ask, even wondering why she hadn’t thought to look for her before. Plane tickets weren’t that expensive.

Tao Ning, unable to reveal the truth, skillfully deflected the question, turning the conversation to Guan Qiuyi.

Jin Yue, understanding, said, “She’s not telling you everything, is she?”

“You know how she is,” Tao Ning said, smiling, not denying it. Guan Qiuyi wasn’t one to burden others with her problems, especially not Tao Ning.

Jin Yue continued, “Everyone thinks she’s living the dream. Honestly, even I, as her friend, can’t see any cracks. After you left, she focused on her studies, graduated top of her class every year, scholarships galore, research grants approved instantly.”

“Before even graduating, she started working with your mother, her quick thinking and diligence earning her respect, capital. She started her own venture capital firm. Young, successful, ambitious. What more could you ask for?”

Tao Ning, her finger tracing the rim of her plate, listened quietly.

Jin Yue took a sip of wine, then continued, “After the company stabilized, she started taking time off, traveling. Every six months, a new country. She’d throw a dart at a world map, and wherever it landed, that’s where she’d go. Completely random.”

Tao Ning’s earlier suspicion solidified.

Jin Yue continued, “Once, she came back from a trip, jet-lagged, went straight to work, and collapsed from a high fever. I rushed to the hospital, terrified she had contracted malaria. Fortunately, it was just a fever. I asked her, ‘Why? Why go to those godforsaken places?’ And she said, ‘Just… looking. Just in case.’”

Jin Yue sighed. “I knew then. She was delirious. That’s why she told the truth.”

“…”

Tao Ning remained silent, a wave of bittersweet emotion washing over her, her heart aching.

She was both relieved and regretful: relieved that she had returned, regretful that she hadn’t returned sooner, sparing Guan Qiuyi eight years of waiting.

And in Guan Qiuyi’s eyes, that wait might have been in vain.

So many things ended without resolution, without closure, the uncertainty of each encounter a constant reminder of life’s fragility.

Guan Qiuyi, unlike her usual practice, remained sober, not drinking much, her mind still sharp, her business acumen evident.

Lü Xinxi, however, was completely drunk, even after being pulled upright, still raising her hand, her fingers forming a circle, as if holding a wine glass. “I’m not drunk! More! Drink! Why aren’t you drinking? Saving it for the fish?”

Jin Yue, dodging the imaginary wine glass, struggling to keep Lü Xinxi upright, turned to Tao Ning and Guan Qiuyi. “It’s a long drive back to the Guan residence. I’ll take Xinxi home. You two be careful.”

Guan Qiuyi helped settle Lü Xinxi in the back seat, then, straightening up, said, “You too.”

Jin Yue, also slightly tipsy, her usual reserve gone, smiled. “Don’t worry about us.” She got into the front passenger seat.

The driver started the car and drove away.

Guan Qiuyi, watching them leave, turned to Tao Ning. “Let’s go home.”

Seeing Tao Ning lost in thought, she waved a hand in front of her face. “What are you thinking about?”

Tao Ning, startled, took her hand, their fingers intertwining. “Just… thinking.”

Guan Qiuyi, her curiosity piqued, asked, “About what?”

About you, Tao Ning thought. About how you must have watched them leave countless times, then returned to this empty house, alone.

After a moment of hesitation, she said, “I was thinking… I want to kiss you. Is that… okay?”

Guan Qiuyi started to say, “Wh…”

Before she could finish, Tao Ning’s lips were on hers, a quick, light kiss, a fleeting touch.

Guan Qiuyi, used to Tao Ning’s impulsive nature, still felt her cheeks flush. She quickly pulled Tao Ning towards the car, her CEO composure returning.

Back at the residence, Tao Ning, showered and dressed in her pajamas, lay on the bed, contemplating life, her posture resembling a beached whale.

Hearing a noise from the bathroom, she turned around, her eyes widening slightly.

Guan Qiuyi emerged, dressed in a thin silk nightgown, its length barely reaching her knees, held up by two thin straps.

“It’s… warm tonight, isn’t it?” Guan Qiuyi said, sitting down on the edge of the bed, the scent of her shower gel lingering in the air, her appearance almost ethereal, like a beautiful ghost.

A beautiful ghost with a Guanyin mole between her eyebrows, her cool gaze filled with a warmth that sent shivers down Tao Ning’s spine.

The contrast was overwhelming.

Tao Ning, her gaze fixed on Guan Qiuyi, her eyes slightly unfocused, stammered, “I… guess?”

The temperature in the house was always perfectly regulated.

Guan Qiuyi’s lips curved into a slight smile. “I think… the straps on my nightgown are loose. Can you… check?”

She turned around, revealing the elegant curve of her back.

Tao Ning slowly sat up, her fingers carefully adjusting the straps, her touch lingering as she tied them, then, unable to resist, she pressed a light kiss to Guan Qiuyi’s shoulder.

The skin beneath her lips quivered slightly, and Tao Ning, following the curve of her shoulder, trailed kisses along her neck, her touch like a whisper, then reached her chin.

She gently tilted Guan Qiuyi’s head back and kissed her.

The bed creaked softly, their dark hair spread across the pale gray sheets. Guan Qiuyi’s eyes, shimmering with unshed tears, met Tao Ning’s. She parted her lips, about to speak, then said, “I’m… on my period.”

“…”

Tao Ning immediately wrapped her in a thin summer blanket, a protective cocoon.

She looked at the bundled figure, a hint of playful reproach in her eyes. Why tease me if you’re not available?

Guan Qiuyi, her eyes wide and innocent, as if she had simply been trying on a new nightgown, unaware of her own seductive power, looked back at her.

It was revenge, pure and simple. Tao Ning was finally paying the price for her years of obliviousness.

Tao Ning, closing her eyes, as if to block out the temptation, pulled Guan Qiuyi closer, holding her tight. “Go to sleep,” she muttered.

Guan Qiuyi, nestled in her arms, a mischievous glint in her eyes, snuggled closer, finding a comfortable position, and closed her eyes.

Later, as she drifted off to sleep, she was woken by a gentle nudge, Tao Ning’s hand tilting her chin up for a deeper kiss.

The kiss deepened, leaving Guan Qiuyi breathless, her body melting against Tao Ning’s.

Finally, Tao Ning pulled away.

Guan Qiuyi, her mind still foggy: “???”

Tao Ning, leaning closer, her lips brushing against Guan Qiuyi’s slightly swollen lips, murmured, “Who said you can’t kiss someone on their period? You were teasing me…”

Chapter 39: The Ice Queen’s Fierce Love

For the past few days, the staff at the Guan residence had felt like something was off, but they couldn’t quite put their finger on it.

Ms. Guan maintained her usual routine, her meals, her attachment to Miss Tao, all perfectly normal.

Then, during a break, while gossiping over snacks, they realized what was different.

Ms. Guan kept disappearing, and it was now Miss Tao who was searching for her, wandering through the house, calling her name. The housekeepers exchanged glances, bewildered. What game are they playing now?

Evening arrived, the sky painted in hues of orange and purple.

Tao Ning woke up in the dimly lit room, disoriented, then slowly sat up.

The thin blanket pooled in her lap, the space beside her empty. The setting sun cast long shadows across the room, filtering through the sheer curtains.

Tao Ning suddenly remembered a quote she had read somewhere: waking up from a long nap alone, with no one beside you, can evoke a sense of abandonment, of being forgotten by the world.

She was used to waking up with Xu Qiuyi beside her, her absence creating a strange emptiness.

Getting out of bed, she put on her slippers and walked out of the room, the lights automatically switching on as she entered the hallway. Wrapped in a light shawl, she wandered through the quiet corridors, the only sound her own footsteps.

The housekeepers rarely lingered in the main residence, preferring their own quarters in the staff wing. At this hour, they would be in the kitchen, preparing dinner.

The house was large, the sounds of activity from the kitchen unable to reach this far.

Tao Ning ran her hand along the cool wall, her fingers tracing the smooth surface.

She imagined Guan Qiuyi walking these same hallways, alone, the silence amplifying her solitude.

Downstairs, the living room was brightly lit, and the housekeeper, as always, materialized from a discreet corner.

“Dinner is ready, Miss Tao,” she said. “Ms. Guan is occupied. She instructed us to serve you first.”

Tao Ning, startled, met the housekeeper’s questioning gaze, then nodded. “Alright.”

Guan Qiuyi had a video conference scheduled. They had had lunch together, and she had gone upstairs afterwards, the meeting apparently still ongoing.

Knowing Guan Qiuyi’s focus and dedication when it came to work, Tao Ning was only slightly surprised to be dining alone.

After dinner, restless, she wandered around the house, and the housekeeper, seeing her boredom, suggested a game.

Tao Ning declined.

She wasn’t a fan of video games, and movies, without Guan Qiuyi beside her to keep her awake, were merely a sleep aid, the plots lost in a haze of drowsiness.

And so, the housekeepers witnessed a solitary figure pacing through the residence, a shawl draped over her shoulders, sometimes slowly climbing the stairs, then descending a few minutes later, seemingly tireless, her movements almost hypnotic.

Tao Ning, despite her short stay, her lively personality had quickly endeared her to the staff, the memory of the mixing bowl incident fading.

Seeing her restless pacing, one of the housekeepers, a young woman, couldn’t help but ask, “Miss Tao, are you… Do you also walk around the house when you can’t sleep, like Ms. Guan?”

Tao Ning, startled, stopped. “Ms. Guan has insomnia?”

The housekeeper thought for a moment, then shook her head. “Rarely. I’ve only seen it once. I had left my phone here, and I came back to get it late at night. All the lights were on, and Ms. Guan was walking around, holding a glass of water. She said she couldn’t sleep.”

Tao Ning remembered something, a habit she had noticed during their student days: Guan Qiuyi paced when she was thinking or reminiscing.

The study room they had rented wasn’t small, and initially, Guan Qiuyi had paced within a limited area. Then, her pacing had expanded, her circular route encompassing the entire room, Jin Yue and Lü Xinxi, their textbooks in hand, following her like anxious parents trying to feed a hyperactive toddler.

Jin Yue had later commented that she hadn’t realized tutoring was not only a mental exercise but also a physical one, a possible explanation for Guan Qiuyi’s slender physique.

With that level of activity, who needed a gym? Any excess calories would be burned by solving complex math problems.

Tao Ning had once visited Guan Qiuyi’s apartment, asking her about a particularly challenging math problem. Guan Qiuyi, unable to solve it while sitting, had stood up and started pacing, her movements still reflecting the spaciousness of the study room, forgetting the limited space of her apartment, bumping her head against the wall, leaving a red mark on her forehead.

Tao Ning had gently applied a warm, hard-boiled egg to the bruise, teasing her, asking if she planned to pace the perimeter of every room, regardless of its size.

Now, living in a large house, the habit persisted.

Tao Ning casually asked, “When did you see this?”

The housekeeper replied readily, “A week before Ms. Guan’s birthday. I remember clearly because I was assigned to Rose Manor after that.”

Tao Ning: “…”

A week before Guan Qiuyi’s birthday was Tao Ning’s own birthday.

Another housekeeper chimed in, “I’ve seen it too. All the lights in the house were on, and I thought there was a power surge, so I came to check. But it was Ms. Guan. She said she wanted to… sit and enjoy the breeze.”

The housekeepers also mentioned that Guan Qiuyi’s schedule was incredibly regular, almost unnatural for someone her age. But then again, she wasn’t like most young people.

Few had achieved her level of success at such a young age.

When Tao Ning inquired about her lifestyle, her preferences, they all agreed that Ms. Guan was meticulous about her health, her diet, her routine. She didn’t have many attachments, but she lived a well-ordered life.

After their chat, the housekeepers, seeing the housekeeper approaching, dispersed, leaving Tao Ning alone again.

After wandering around for a while, Tao Ning suddenly had an idea. She walked towards Guan Qiuyi’s study.

No one stopped her. In their eyes, Ms. Guan clearly trusted Miss Tao, even sharing the code to her safe, which was Guan Qiuyi’s birthday. The study, usually a restricted area, was also accessible.

Tao Ning opened the door easily, stepping into darkness. The computer on the desk was off, the room silent.

The only light came from a partially open window, the moonlight casting long shadows.

After a moment of hesitation, Tao Ning didn’t switch on the lights, walking further into the room.

The study, though dark, wasn’t cluttered, and she reached the window without incident, a large sofa positioned nearby.

A figure sat on the sofa, their back to her, their silence unbroken by her arrival.

The sofa hadn’t been there before. Guan Qiuyi wasn’t one for comfort or luxury, the study’s décor reflecting her serious nature, the shelves filled with thick, intimidating volumes, their titles a challenge to even the most dedicated scholar.

Since Tao Ning’s arrival, however, the sofa had appeared, a place for her to bask in the sunlight while Guan Qiuyi worked, occasionally enjoying a snack.

Turning to face the figure, Tao Ning saw Guan Qiuyi sitting there, her gaze fixed on the moonlit garden outside.

Guan Qiuyi, without turning around, asked, “Did she eat?”

Tao Ning replied, “Yes, she ate a lot. Then she walked around the house to aid digestion.”

Recognizing the voice, Guan Qiuyi turned around, her eyes widening slightly. “How…?”

Then, she composed herself, a small smile playing on her lips. “Are you… bored? Do you want to go out?”

Tao Ning knew her movements were being monitored, but she didn’t care. She understood Guan Qiuyi’s fear of abandonment, of being left behind without warning.

And since she was the cause of that fear, she would be the one to alleviate it.

Tao Ning, placing her hands on the armrests of the sofa, leaned closer. “I am bored. But going out alone would be even more boring.”

She was too close, their reflections merging in Guan Qiuyi’s eyes, and Guan Qiuyi realized she had been holding her breath.

Tao Ning, her fingers gently brushing against Guan Qiuyi’s cheek, said softly, “Breathe.”

Guan Qiuyi inhaled, her cheeks flushing slightly, perhaps from embarrassment.

Tao Ning chuckled, leaning closer, her hands still on the armrests. “You get flustered so easily when I’m near you. What are you going to do when I… kiss you?”

Guan Qiuyi: “…”

She didn’t reply, but her gaze faltered, her cheeks growing warmer despite the cool night air, her reaction clearly visible to Tao Ning.

A simple sentence, and she was a flustered mess. Years had passed, but she hadn’t changed.

Guan Qiuyi mentally scolded herself. Liking someone wasn’t a crime. Wanting to be close to them wasn’t wrong. Hesitation would only lead to missed opportunities.

Her resolve strengthened, and she met Tao Ning’s gaze, her voice firm.

“How do you know… it won’t work?” she asked, challenging Tao Ning.

Tao Ning, looking slightly bewildered, replied, “I never said it wouldn’t work.”

Guan Qiuyi’s next words were out before she could stop them. “How would you know if you haven’t tried?”

Tao Ning, startled, said, “Should we… try?”

Guan Qiuyi simply looked at her, her eyes shimmering in the moonlight, a silent invitation.

They were close, Tao Ning standing, Guan Qiuyi sitting on the sofa, looking up at her, Tao Ning’s hands on the armrests, their shadows intertwined, as if she were holding Guan Qiuyi captive.

The moment stretched, the air thick with unspoken words, Tao Ning slowly leaning down, her lips almost touching Guan Qiuyi’s slightly parted lips.

Then, a nervous voice broke the spell. “So… should I… kiss you now?”

Guan Qiuyi, her eyes fluttering open, met Tao Ning’s gaze, seeing a similar nervousness reflected there, and her voice softened. “Yes,” she whispered.

Tao Ning, realizing her own awkwardness, said, “I’m… new to this. I’ll… learn.”

Then, she kissed her.

The sensation was new to both of them, their hearts pounding, like trapped birds desperate for freedom.

Softness, warmth, a gentle pressure, the sound of their mingled breaths, initially overshadowed by their racing hearts, then merging into a single, rhythmic pulse.

When they parted, Guan Qiuyi, her arms still around Tao Ning’s shoulders, her gaze lingering on her lips, seemed reluctant to let her go.

Tao Ning, her hand gently stroking Guan Qiuyi’s back, brushed her lips against hers, her voice slightly hoarse. “Let’s… take a break. Your heart is racing.”

“So is yours,” Guan Qiuyi murmured, her eyes shimmering, her body leaning against Tao Ning, her strength gone.

Tao Ning, her hand pressed against her chest, smiled. “Yes, it is.”

They settled into the sofa, their heads resting against each other, laughing softly.

Guan Qiuyi felt a strange weakness whenever she was near Tao Ning, a sudden urge to lean on her, to be held. She had been infected by Tao Ning’s laziness, her desire to simply exist, to be present, to share a quiet moment, the silence comfortable and reassuring.

As her heartbeat slowed, she noticed a slight tingling in her lips, but it didn’t diminish the warmth spreading through her chest.

“Let’s go out sometime,” she said. “It’s been a while. We should celebrate.”

Tao Ning, who had been playing with Guan Qiuyi’s fingers, looked up. “Is that… a reward?”

“…” Guan Qiuyi, after a moment of hesitation, said, “…No.” What goes on in that head of yours?

The unspoken words were clear in her eyes.

Tao Ning, seeing the I want to know what you’re thinking expression on Guan Qiuyi’s face, buried her face in her neck, laughing softly, her hair tickling Guan Qiuyi’s skin, who gently pushed her away.

Tao Ning, however, refused to budge, and they ended up in a tangled embrace.

For two weeks, Tao Ning remained at the Guan residence, never venturing beyond its gates. She had overheard someone refer to her as Ms. Guan’s “kept woman,” a caged bird.

The person, realizing Tao Ning had heard, had looked horrified, their eyes wide with panic. Tao Ning, however, had simply smiled and walked past, her glass of orange juice in hand, as if she hadn’t heard a thing.

Her reaction had reassured the gossiper, who had breathed a sigh of relief.

Tao Ning, however, had simply been amused, pondering the implications. So that’s how they see us, she thought. A gilded cage.

But she didn’t mind. Being a “kept woman” wasn’t so bad. Good food, a comfortable home, and the person she loved by her side.

If Guan Qiuyi had known what Tao Ning was thinking, she would have been both amused and exasperated, convinced that anyone who tried to “keep” Tao Ning would be the most frustrated captor in the world.

She had, however, overlooked one crucial detail: Tao Ning chose to stay, willingly accepting her confinement. Otherwise, as Guan Qiuyi had warned her staff, “Give her an inch, and she’ll take a mile.”

If Tao Ning wanted to leave, eight hundred Liao Shishis couldn’t stop her.

After a quiet moment, Tao Ning suddenly sat up straight. “Wait,” she said.

Guan Qiuyi, looking at her, asked, “What?”

Tao Ning said, “Relationships are supposed to start with flowers. I haven’t given you any flowers. It doesn’t feel… official.”

“…” Guan Qiuyi, after a long pause, remained silent.

Sometimes, she couldn’t quite comprehend Tao Ning’s unique brand of romance. Then she realized that some people, even when they were “bent,” were only bent at a ninety-degree angle, their inherent straightforwardness always present.

She reached out, gently pulling Tao Ning back down, her hand resting on her arm. “It’s late. Don’t bother the gardener. You don’t have to give me flowers. I already said yes.”

Tao Ning, still slightly dissatisfied, muttered, “It doesn’t feel… ceremonial enough.”

Hearing those words from Tao Ning made Guan Qiuyi want to laugh, and she did, a soft chuckle escaping her lips.

She leaned against Tao Ning, her cheek resting on her shoulder, her smile widening. “You… like me?” she asked softly.

Tao Ning, seeing her happiness, her own heart filled with a warm glow, nodded. “Yes. I like you. Very much.”

Guan Qiuyi: “Is that why… you came back?”

Tao Ning, meeting her clear, unguarded gaze, nodded again. “Yes. Because I like you. I came back.”

Guan Qiuyi, leaning closer, pressed a light kiss to her lips, her eyes crinkling with happiness. “That makes me… happy,” she murmured.

Then she added, “I don’t need anything else. Just… you liking me.”

Tao Ning, holding her close, preventing her from falling off the hammock, remembered 520’s words before she left the Homeworld: [Going into debt for a relationship? You’re a true prodigy! The Romance Department is lucky to have you!]

The usually useless system had, for once, been right. The Romance Department hadn’t been a waste of time. She had found her own destiny.

Even if it was only for this lifetime, a fleeting moment in the vast expanse of time, she wouldn’t regret it.

The housekeepers, unaware of what had transpired the previous night, simply noticed that Ms. Guan seemed unusually cheerful today.

Guan Qiuyi rarely expressed negative emotions, her demeanor usually calm and composed, her true feelings revealed only to her family. But this open display of happiness was unprecedented.

Even the housekeeper, who had worked for her for years, had never seen her like this.

The first familiar face Tao Ning saw wasn’t Tao Yan, Jin Yue, or Lü Xinxi, but Guan Zhichun.

Waking up alone, she had gone downstairs, finding a young woman in the living room, her hair half-up, half-down, dressed in a familiar school uniform.

It was the Mingrui uniform.

The girl, hearing her approach, turned around, her eyes widening in surprise.

Guan Qiuyi, after graduating from university, had changed her last name, and Zhichun’s as well. Zhichun, though young at the time, hadn’t been oblivious to her father’s actions.

Having grown up, she no longer wasted her sympathy on those who didn’t deserve it. Seeing no other options, and Xu Zhihong having exhausted all avenues of manipulation, he had finally left, defeated.

Eight years had passed, and Guan Zhichun had transformed from a small, frail child into a tall, elegant young woman.

Tao Ning almost didn’t recognize her. The change was remarkable.

Zhichun, however, after staring at Tao Ning for a few seconds, her eyes lighting up with recognition, exclaimed, “Ningning Jiejie? Is that really you? When did you get back?”

Tao Ning, continuing down the stairs, replied, “A while ago. I came to visit your sister.”

She stopped, looking Zhichun up and down, impressed. “You’ve grown so much! I almost didn’t recognize you!”

Years of separation usually created a sense of distance, but Tao Ning’s warm demeanor dispelled any awkwardness, and it felt like that summer eight years ago, when Zhichun had stood at the gate, waving goodbye as they left for the exams.

Zhichun, smiling, twirled around. “I’m in high school now! Jiejie says I’m still not as tall as she was in high school, though.”

Tao Ning said, “You’re perfect. And you’re at Mingrui? I recognize the uniform.”

For a premature baby, born frail and sickly, to grow into a healthy young woman was a remarkable achievement. Her height was average, but Guan Qiuyi was exceptionally tall.

Zhichun, attending her sister’s alma mater, a hint of pride in her voice, said, “Yes! And I’ve won several scholarships!”

She had always admired her sister, the legendary top scorer, whose name still echoed through the halls of Mingrui, even after eight years. She had even returned to the school last year to present awards, a distinguished alumna.

They chatted for a while, then Zhichun excused herself to use the restroom, leaving Tao Ning alone in the living room. A few minutes later, Guan Qiuyi returned.

Seeing Tao Ning sitting there alone, she approached from behind, wrapping her arms around her shoulders, pressing a light kiss to her cheek. “What are you doing here all alone?”

Tao Ning, nuzzling her face against Guan Qiuyi’s, replied, “Zhichun went to the restroom. I’m waiting for her.”

Guan Qiuyi, surprised, asked, “You… saw Zhichun?”

Tao Ning: “Yes, she…”

Suddenly, they both froze, their eyes widening as they looked up.

Zhichun stood there, frozen in place, her eyes wide with shock.

Guan Qiuyi: “…”

Tao Ning: “…”

Guan Zhichun: “…”

Silence filled the air.

Zhichun, after a few seconds of stunned silence, suddenly let out a shriek, covering her eyes with her hands and running away. “I’m sorry, Jiejie! I didn’t see anything!”

Guan Qiuyi: “Zhichun, wait…”

She was gone.

Tao Ning: “…”

She’s fast, she thought, amused. That little bean sprout has grown up.