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  • Sickly Girl Doesn’t Die in Zombie Simulator 144p2

    Chapter One Hundred and Forty-Four: Leg Massage p2

    At this time, many people also noticed this scene, and also saw Wan Zi and the guard leaving in a hurry.

    After a few minutes, someone exclaimed: “Damn, Voodoo Cult’s car!”

    This exclamation almost scared everyone to lie down subconsciously.

    They were on the second floor. If they were not careful, they would easily be attacked by snipers.

    But the boy standing by the window, after carefully observing the school gate in the heavy rain, frowned and said:

    “Sister Wanzi… went over.”

    “The people of the Voodoo Cult seem to be kneeling over there…”

    Hearing the boy’s words, gradually, people who were bold began to lean towards the door.

    “Damn, it’s true.”

    “What are they doing?”

    “I don’t know…”

    At this time, Wan Zi did not know that she had been watched.

    She braved the heavy rain, walked to the school gate, and looked at the row of seven or eight Voodoo Cult youths kneeling at the door.

    Most of these youths had tattoos, but their hair had been washed away by the heavy rain, like drowned rats.

    And not far in front of them, there were neatly stacked rifles and other weapons, all of which had been soaked in water.

    “Are you from the Voodoo Cult?”

    Wan Zi stood in front of this row of kneeling people and shouted in the heavy rain.

    After a while, a man with a golden necklace raised his head and moved his mouth with a lip ring and said:

    “Yes, we are all from the Voodoo Cult, but not now.”

    “You’ve changed your mind, right.” Wan Zi looked at him and smiled.

    Seeing Wan Zi’s smile, the man also smiled awkwardly.

    Now all the convoys of the Voodoo Cult outside had disintegrated. Without the BOSS and the radio, they were like headless flies, flying around, becoming a completely scattered sand.

    Wan Zi took a few steps to the side, pulled out the FN-57 tucked in the waist of a guard beside her, unlocked the safety and “clicked” to load it.

    She quickly walked to the man with the golden key necklace, put the pistol on his head.

    “How many years have you joined the Voodoo Cult?”

    The man felt the muzzle on his head, his mouth opened and closed, and finally said in a low voice:

    “One year.”

    “Bang—”

    A bullet directly penetrated the man’s head, taking away his body temperature. The blood and brain matter were instantly washed away by the heavy rain, leaving no trace.

    Then, Wan Zi put the gun on the head of the second person kneeling in front of her, and asked softly: “How many years?”

    “Half… half a year…”

    “Bang—”

    “How many years?”

    “I only joined for a month, I was forced, a month, I didn’t do anything…”

    “Bang—”

    “How many years?”

    “I was caught by them on the road…”

    “Bang—”

    The remaining three people saw this scene and widened their eyes in horror. They could clearly see that the woman in front of them didn’t want to leave a single survivor.

    It seemed that she noticed the movements of other people preparing to get up and run away, Wan Zi quickly turned the muzzle, “bang bang bang bang” four consecutive shots, taking away the lives of the remaining three people.

    “Bang bang bang bang bang…”

    Wan Zi, in order, fired one shot at a time at the heads of the Voodoo Cult lying on the ground, until all 20 bullets in the pistol were fired, and then she retracted her right hand holding the gun.

    Casually throwing the pistol back to the guard, Wan Zi raised her hands and smoothed her wet short hair back.

    “Hang up the corpses,” Wan Zi looked at the guard holding an umbrella, dumbfounded, and pointed to the corpses, and said lightly, “Just as a flag for the people of the organization.”

    After speaking, Wan Zi didn’t even look at the corpses on the ground, spit on the ground, and only felt unlucky.

    Change your ways? Reform?

    Ask the souls under the ground and see if they forgive you.

    Anyway, Wan Zi felt that she did not have the qualification to forgive the Voodoo on behalf of others, but she had the ability to send them to the underground to reunite.

    Besides, the organization that they were going to was an organization that had destroyed the Voodoo Cult in a high-profile manner. The few pawns she killed could be regarded as a celebration for the new boss who had not yet met.

    When Wan Zi returned to the administrative building, she was inevitably greeted with cheers.

    Everyone wanted to smash the people of the Voodoo Cult into pieces, and Wan Zi helped them do what they wanted to do.

    And all along, Wan Zi had been doing what everyone wanted to do. This was the reason why everyone had always let her be the leader.

    The camp people had almost packed up all the supplies they wanted to bring in about two hours, and even the cars that could move had all been parked in the square, just waiting for the people who came to pick them up.

    In the next two hours, the expressions of the crowd changed from excitement to nervousness, and almost every minute and every second was torture.

    Finally, everyone was almost four hours away.

    They stood on the second floor together, nervously looking in the direction of the school gate. The heavy rain covered most of their sight, and they could no longer see clearly whether anyone had come.

    Now the walkie-talkie could not be used, and they could not even ask the guard at the door if there was a convoy coming.

    After a long while, finally, they heard bursts of buzzing sounds from far to near.

    Coming?

    The sound was not on the ground…

    It came from the sky!!!

    “Buzz—”

    In the increasingly horrified eyes of everyone, more than a dozen black and red giant insects like flapping-wing machines in the sky flew towards this side.

    “Wan… Wan Wan Wan Wan Sister… this is?!”

    “I… I I I I… I don’t know?”

    “Buzz—”

    The huge buzzing sound almost covered the sound of the heavy rain. Several dozen-meter-long flapping-wing giant insects stopped in the center of the school gate and the administrative building, while most of the others stopped on the avenue outside the school gate.

    When they folded their wings, at first glance, it was as if a reduced version of the B2 bomber was parked at the school gate in an “elephant walk”!

    These were the “personnel” for pick-up?!

    What the hell were these!!!

    ……

    “Sister Xi, everyone has been picked up~ Should we send them directly here?”

    “Eh? So fast? Um… send them to the ash area first, when can they arrive?”

    “Um… about five or six hours?”

    “So fast… flying? Controlling that kind of big bug?”

    “No, it’s made with the blood crystals from the Voodoo over there…”

    “Oh…”

    In the “Oasis Area” of Kun City, Lin Jiayao was resting with her sister in the library.

    Originally, Lin Jiayao’s blood crystals were almost exhausted due to the upgrade of 【Training Grounds Lv.2】, but fortunately, the bag of blood crystals brought by her sister was used for turnover, so that Lin Jiayao’s blood crystal reserves came to 30 again.

    During that time just now, Lin Jiayao and her sister found about a hundred useless success books, and Lin Jiayao put the books in the warehouse and chose to build 【Library Lv.1】.

    Anyway, the system only said that books were needed, and did not say what kind of books, it was just right to throw some garbage books in.

    And sofas and candles were also fortunately found in this library, and the materials for evolving 【Library Lv.1】 were gathered in one go.

    The construction time of 【Library Lv.1】 did not need 12 hours, but it also took 6 hours, just in time to be built at the same time as 【Training Grounds Lv.2】.

    And in the next few hours, Lin Jiayao chose to—slack off.

    Only by slacking off could she recover her spirit faster and fast forward to the next login.

    And while slacking off, Lin Jiayao was not completely idle.

    She packed the two B-rank corpses into a 3X3 backpack and stuffed them into the warehouse, preparing to bring some limbs and the scales deducted from the B-rank ray to A4 next time to see if A4 could evolve.

    Then… it was just lying on the cleaned sofa, letting her sister help her massage her legs.

    Massaging the legs was just a normal operation. Before, in the first camp, she often needed her sister to help her massage her legs.

    Otherwise, Lin Jiayao was worried that if one day her legs could really move, but because of lack of massage and muscle atrophy, it would be uncomfortable.

    Lin Jiayao also used sap as nutrition to cultivate a large number of green flying insects in Kun City, used to collect materials and food. In a short time, there should be no need to worry about food problems.

    The people in this city died early, and the canned food and other materials were still very rich, enough for them and the entire large camp to eat before the next batch of food was planted.

    As for Huayibai, she was also sitting quietly aside, controlling more than a dozen “Huayibai Flying Cars” with her mind.

    This was a rare leisure time in the apocalypse. After Lin Xiwan finally pinched to her heart’s content, she put down her sister’s rolled up skirt and covered her legs.

    Lin Jiayao suspected that the reason why her sister wanted her to wear a skirt was because it was convenient to touch… massage.

    As long as her sister liked it, it was just touching her legs, it wouldn’t lose a piece of meat.

    The two sisters snuggled together and took a nap. It wasn’t until it started to rain lightly outside that they slowly opened their eyes.

    This light rain was normal precipitation for Kun City, which was shrouded in water mist, and there was nothing abnormal.

    After waking up in her sister’s arms, Lin Jiayao blinked slightly, feeling that her spirit had almost recovered.

    And 【Training Grounds Lv.2】 and 【Library Lv.1】 were almost simultaneously completed in three hours.

    During this time, Lin Jiayao could just log in to the building-tree guard to “self-destruct”, and then log in to Goldie to sweep Wisconsin.

    The 2nd building-tree guard and the 3rd Goldie were both C-rank, which was not a big consumption for Lin Jiayao now, not to mention that after logging in, 【Library】 and 【Training Grounds】 would be built, which was almost equal to no consumption.

    With such a strengthening, it is estimated that it will not be long before logging into B-rank will also become a matter of little consumption.

    “Sister, I’m going to sleep for a while.” Lin Jiayao said to her sister who had just woken up.

    “Eh… eh? Oh oh… okay.” At first, her sister was a little confused. She habitually rubbed her sister’s face, and then realized that her sister was going to control the zombie in her dream.

    “The people from Qingzhou University Camp are also coming soon. Just wake me up before they arrive.” Lin Jiayao looked at her sister and Huayibai, and after instructing, she slowly leaned on the sofa and closed her eyes.

    In a piece of darkness, listening to the drizzling rain outside her ears, Lin Jiayao opened the system’s “Login” entry.

  • Shion’s Notes 147

    Chapter 147: Subtle Changes

    Wu Siyu intended to formally adopt little Linna, but the process was complex, expected to take a month. As long as Linna was willing, the adoption would proceed smoothly.

    Her biggest fear was that Linna wouldn’t want to be adopted…

    Linna, now six, was starting elementary school. Wu Siyu enrolled her in the same school and class as her daughter, hoping they would bond. Children were innocent and adaptable; with any luck, they would become a family.

    “Little Yu, are you a foreigner?”

    On her first day at school, Yu Linna was surrounded by curious children. Though there were other pretty children her age, like Huo Ningning, mixed-race children were rare. Her blonde hair and captivating eyes drew their attention.

    The children, fascinated by her unusual appearance, crowded around her, some even touching her hair. Blonde hair was a novelty.

    “I’m Chinese,” she would reply, though it did little to deter their curiosity.

    To them, she was an anomaly, different, special. It was impossible for her not to attract attention.

    “Back off! Little Linna is mine! Don’t touch her!”

    Huo Ningning, waving her small hands, dispersed the crowd, protectively shielding Yu Linna. This adorable creature belonged to her; no one could touch her.

    Though young, Yu Linna understood Huo Ningning’s protective gesture, her heart warming towards her.

    They attended the same school, were in the same class, lived in the same house, and might soon share the same parents.

    Wu Siyu had confided in Huo Ningning about her intention to adopt Yu Linna. If successful, Yu Linna would become their family. Though surprised, Huo Ningning didn’t object. If it made her mother happy, that was enough.

    Besides, little Linna was adorable and beautiful; it was understandable why her mother liked her.

    And she herself was quite fond of little Linna.

    Elementary school children were carefree, their minds unburdened by complex thoughts. Huo Ningning, still young, often dragged Yu Linna to the hill behind the school after class, spreading a mat on the ground, placing leaves and pebbles on it, creating an imaginary world.

    “Let’s play house! We can be a married couple!”

    “Okay! Who’s the daddy, and who’s the mommy?”

    “I’ll be the mommy! You be the daddy!”

    The hill behind the school was usually deserted, a perfect spot for their games. Huo Ningning loved playing house.

    “Ahem, honey, you’re home! Dinner’s ready! Do you want to take a bath first, or eat?”

    Little Ningning, fully immersed in her role, imitated her parents.

    “I’m tired. I want to eat first. Serve me.”

    “Okay, honey. Was work tiring today?”

    “Very tiring. I want a good meal. Is there a Manchu Han Imperial Feast?”

    “Honey, we’re not rich. We can’t afford a Manchu Han Imperial Feast. Just have some vegetables. Vegetables are nutritious and healthy. Too much meat is bad for you. Here, try my pickled eggplant.”

    “A dinner without meat isn’t dinner! I want meat! Bring me some meat!”

    The playful game took an unexpected turn, Yu Linna’s demand for a lavish meal sounding surprisingly genuine.

    “Hey! Little Linna, we’re playing pretend! You’re the husband! Husbands can’t be so demanding!”

    “But husbands deserve a good meal after work, don’t they?”

    Yu Linna didn’t understand what she had done wrong.

    “Let’s switch roles. You be the wife, and I’ll be the husband.”

    “Okay.”

    Huo Ningning cleared her throat, changing her expression, imitating her father.

    “Honey, you’re home! I missed you! You’ve been gone for two months! Our daughter keeps asking for you! How long are you staying this time?”

    “Well… I have to leave this afternoon.”

    Yu Linna wasn’t good at role-playing, simply going with her gut.

    “What?! You’re leaving so soon?! I haven’t even tasted your cooking yet! No, you have to make dinner before you leave!”

    “I’m very busy! I have so many projects, so many clients! I have to work to support this family!”

    “Hold on! Why is the wife working while the husband stays at home?! What kind of play are you putting on?!”

    “Huh? Is that wrong?”

    “Of course, it’s wrong! Let’s try again!”

    Huo Ningning was exasperated. Why was playing house with Yu Linna so frustrating? This wasn’t how it was supposed to be!

    Though her mother was often away for work, she never behaved like the character Yu Linna was portraying. What was she even doing?

    “I don’t know how to act…”

    Yu Linna didn’t know how husbands and wives interacted; she had no parents, no experience with family dynamics.

    “Let’s try again. Honey, let’s take our daughter out this weekend. You’re always working; you never spend time with her.”

    “Okay, let’s go out. I want to eat something delicious. How about hotpot?”

    “Yay! But why hotpot?”

    “Because hotpot has a lot of food! We can eat our fill!”

    “Stop! You just want to eat hotpot, don’t you?! What are you even doing?!”

    Huo Ningning wanted to flip the table. Why was playing house with Yu Linna always so chaotic? And what kind of wife was she portraying? A gluttonous mooch!

    As the sun began to set, Huo Ningning, followed by the little blonde girl, walked home, exhausted. Playing with Yu Linna was always an adventure, her imagination running wild, her ideas often bizarre.

    “Ningning, are you mad at me?”

    Yu Linna, anxious, fidgeted with her fingers, unsure what she had done wrong. Huo Ningning seemed upset; should she apologize?

    Huo Ningning, turning to face her, couldn’t stay angry at that adorable face. She sighed.

    “It’s okay. Let’s go home. You must be hungry. Mommy’s probably finished cooking dinner.”

    “Really? I’m starving! I want to eat Aunt Wu’s cooking!”

    The mention of food instantly brightened Yu Linna’s mood.

    On their way home, Huo Ningning bought two candied haws, giving one to Yu Linna, who ate it with such relish, as if it were a gourmet treat, though it was just an ordinary candied haw.

    “Is it really that good?”

    Huo Ningning, seeing her enjoyment, took a bite. It tasted… normal. She didn’t understand Yu Linna’s reaction.

    “Sweet things are the best!”

    Perhaps for Yu Linna, free things were the best…

    Though still too young to be truly shameless, her freeloading skills would surely develop with age.

    “Mommy, we’re home!”

    “Welcome back, girls! You’re eating candy before dinner? Go wash your hands! Eat properly later.”

    “Okay!”

    Huo Ningning, unfazed, finished her candied haw and went to her room. Yu Linna, still wanting more, went to the kitchen, her mouth watering at the sight of the food.

    “Hungry? It’ll be ready soon. Go watch some TV in the living room, Nana.”

    “Auntie, I’m hungry.”

    “Be patient. It’ll be ready soon.”

    “Okay.”

    Yu Linna obediently went to the living room to watch TV, waiting for dinner.

    She was happy, having a home, food, and someone to care for her, free from worries. But this would be the only period of happiness in her childhood.

    Huo Qiulin and Wu Siyu welcomed the little girl, but her presence was a financial burden. They weren’t wealthy, Huo Qiulin’s income barely enough to support their family, and Wu Siyu often worked extra jobs.

    Though they had received compensation for the orphanage demolition, that money was earmarked for investments, and with their business struggling, Huo Qiulin felt the pressure.

    “Honey, why aren’t you sleeping? Oh my god, are you drinking?”

    Late at night, Wu Siyu found her husband in the living room, drinking beer alone, a troubled expression on his face. He rarely drank; something was clearly bothering him.

    “Go to bed, honey. I’ll be there soon.”

    “Is something wrong? Tell me. We can solve it together.”

    “…To be honest, my studio… it’s not doing so well.”

    “What? But you said you were planning to expand, to start a company.”

    “If only it were that easy. I’m not getting any clients, not making any money. It’s a problem.”

    Huo Qiulin leaned back on the sofa, his face etched with worry. The pressure of work and family weighed heavily on him. If it weren’t for his wife and daughter, he might have crumbled.

    “Is it because I brought Nana home…? Is that why…?”

    “No, Siyu, it’s not your fault. I like little Linna. It’s not because of her.”

    “But… ever since she moved in, you seem more worried.”

    Huo Qiulin remained silent. He couldn’t deny that Yu Linna’s presence added to his financial burden.

    Huo Ningning, hiding behind the door, eavesdropping on their conversation, though too young to understand everything, caught a key phrase.

    The name “Yu Linna” echoed in her mind, planting a seed of resentment.

  • Devilish Disciple [Transmigration] 77

    Chapter 77: She Had Been Here Before

    Li Yu looked at Qing Nü, her mind buzzing with questions.

    Why did the guardian of the Upper Spirit Lamp disappear for millennia? And why reappear in this desolate North Sea Abyss?

    Wasn’t the North Sea supposed to be a lightless sea? What was with the unchanging full moon? And was it connected to the ancient god Si Qinglan sought?

    And most importantly, did Qing Nü truly fall into darkness willingly?

    But these questions felt too intrusive.

    Qing Nü: “You seem troubled.”

    Li Yu: “…”

    Qing Nü: “If your troubles are related to me, ask whatever you want, don’t hesitate.”

    Li Yu: “…”

    “If you can’t ask, or can’t understand, just put it aside for now.” Qing Nü said. “Many things in life…become clearer with time.”

    Li Yu couldn’t help but ask, “What if…even after a long time, there are still no answers?”

    “Then it hasn’t been long enough.” Qing Nü smiled faintly. “If it has been long enough, even without answers, you should be able to let go.”

    “Haven’t you ever…had anything you couldn’t let go of?”

    “I have.” Qing Nü replied softly.

    “Then…”

    “But I’m almost there.” She looked down at the tea in her cup, her eyes obscured by the rising steam.

    Perhaps her mind was also filled with countless thoughts, but there was a moon-like serenity in her gaze.

    Li Yu had imagined that Qing Nü, the guardian of the Upper Spirit Lamp, before falling into darkness, would be cold and aloof, like the moon in the high heavens.

    Like the moon hanging above the North Sea, a distant light illuminating the endless night.

    But Qing Nü wasn’t like that.

    Sitting beside her now, Li Yu felt neither a welcoming warmth nor a chilling distance, just a comfortable, natural ease.

    Like just now, when Qing Nü had asked her some questions, and she, Li Yu, had panicked, unable to answer, Qing Nü had simply smiled and moved on.

    Not only that, but she seemed willing to offer guidance.

    Li Yu looked into those night-sky blue eyes, searching for something—wariness, displeasure, or perhaps careful scrutiny.

    But there was none.

    Qing Nü seemed genuinely unconcerned, readily letting go of unanswered questions.

    She didn’t treat Li Yu as an intruder.

    Even though her arrival was unexpected, her injuries unusual, her heart filled with unspoken secrets—she was still welcome here.

    Li Yu could sense an indescribable serenity about Qing Nü, an acceptance of everything.

    She wasn’t like the moon; she was like the moonlight, gentle and familiar.

    Could such a person truly be the one who, unwilling to fade away, released the Heavenly Demon Soul Seed and fell into darkness?

    And if Qing Nü was killed by the gods and immortals, how did a fragment of her Demon Bone end up in Mu Tao…?

    The little wolf emerged from under the table, its tail wagging, nuzzling against Li Yu’s leg.

    “I’ve raised it for over three hundred years, and I’ve never seen it so clingy,” Qing Nü chuckled, her tone gentle. “It likes your scent.”

    The stalled conversation flowed naturally again.

    “Huh?” Li Yu snapped back to reality and instinctively sniffed herself.

    There was a faint, woody fragrance, calming and pleasant, but it wasn’t hers; it was the scent of her clothes.

    These weren’t her clothes, probably Qing Nü’s. If the little wolf liked the scent, why seek her out specifically?

    What other scent could she possibly have?

    Surely not the blood from her injuries?

    Seeing her confusion, Qing Nü smiled. “You don’t have its nose, how could you possibly smell it?”

    “A dog’s nose? So sensitive!” Li Yu poked the little wolf’s head.

    The little wolf whined softly, its paws gripping her ankle, its teeth gently nibbling her skirt, a playful protest.

    Li Yu asked curiously, “Why is there a wolf in the North Sea?”

    Qing Nü: “I brought it back from the human realm.”

    Li Yu: “The human realm?”

    Qing Nü: “Mm.”

    “After so many years, with no news from you, everyone thought…” Li Yu stopped mid-sentence, realizing her mistake.

    Qing Nü smiled faintly, not offended. “Thought I was…gone?”

    “Mm…” Li Yu nodded and whispered, “I didn’t expect…you to be in the North Sea, and to have even visited the human realm three hundred years ago.”

    “I went to see an old friend and happened to pass by the human realm, where I saw this little wolf.” Qing Nü’s voice was calm yet gentle. “The resentment in the human realm was strong, and it was just a small wolf cub, newly awakened, almost consumed by the resentment. I felt sorry for it, so I brought it back.”

    Qing Nü smiled. “It didn’t like it here at first.”

    Li Yu: “That’s understandable.”

    “Indeed, the North Sea is cold and dark; few creatures would willingly live here…” Qing Nü looked at the little wolf. “But it seems to have adapted now.”

    The little wolf was busy playing with the hem of Li Yu’s robe.

    Li Yu looked at it and said softly, “It’s lucky to have been saved by you.”

    She then asked tentatively, “You mentioned…an old friend?”

    Qing Nü: “Yetan, I haven’t seen her in a while, so I went to visit.”

    So the two ancient gods met before the Heavenly Demon was revived…

    Was this important information?

    Li Yu couldn’t figure it out, so she continued asking, “What are your thoughts…on the current resentment in the human realm?”

    Qing Nü shook her head and said softly, “All beings suffer. Resentment in the human realm will never truly disappear, it only accumulates—The Heavenly Demon’s revival…is inevitable.”

    Li Yu: “…”

    Qing Nü: “You seem…quite concerned about this.”

    Li Yu nodded, the worry evident in her eyes.

    Qing Nü: “This isn’t the first time the Heavenly Demon has been revived. There’s always a way to seal it again; there’s no need to worry so much.”

    Li Yu: “…”

    Was she truly so optimistic?

    The little wolf, seemingly not understanding their conversation, whined softly, released the hem of Li Yu’s robe, drooped its ears, and rested its head on her foot.

    Although the little wolf’s head wasn’t heavy, it still made Li Yu wince; her foot was injured.

    Qing Nü: “Little Wolf, Li Yu is injured, don’t touch her wounds.”

    The little wolf quickly looked up at Li Yu, whimpering softly, as if apologizing.

    “I’ve been unconscious for so long, my wounds have already scabbed over; it doesn’t hurt that much.” Li Yu said, petting the little wolf’s head. “Actually, the journey here was more painful.”

    “If you know it’s painful, then you should rest.” Qing Nü said earnestly. “Right now, the most important thing for you…is to recover.”

    “I’m usually very good at resting…” Li Yu didn’t think she was lying.

    “External injuries heal quickly, but internal injuries take time.” Qing Nü poured herself another cup of tea. “I examined your meridians; the damage is severe, new injuries layered upon old ones, clearly from overexertion.”

    “…”

    “Your cultivation level is incredibly rare in this world.” Qing Nü looked at Li Yu seriously. “I won’t ask why you’ve pushed yourself so hard, nor whether your goals have been achieved—Since you’re here, since I saved you, your life is temporarily mine. If you refuse to rest and recover, I will have to…take measures.”

    Li Yu blinked, surprised. “…Measures?”

    “Mm.” Qing Nü took a sip of tea and smiled. “I can seal your spiritual energy, confine you with a barrier, and personally help you circulate your spiritual energy once a day, until you recover, or until you give up struggling.”

    “…”

    “And if even that can’t stop you, I’ll trap you in a dream until your injuries are healed.”

    “…”

    Such a simple, yet effective approach.

    So, both Mu Tao and Weisheng Xuanzhu learned from her, using similar methods to ensure obedience.

    Li Yu: “I’ll rest and recover.”

    Qing Nü: “Your injuries…don’t suggest someone willing to rest.”

    Li Yu couldn’t help but smile wryly. “Don’t worry, even if I wanted to do something, I’m…stuck here for now.”

    Qing Nü: “That’s true.”

    As she spoke, she heard a rumbling sound and looked at Li Yu’s stomach.

    Li Yu: “…”

    Qing Nü chuckled. “It’s difficult to abstain from food when injured, I’ll have Xuanzhu prepare a meal for you.”

    Li Yu panicked slightly. “He…I… Where’s the kitchen? I can cook myself…”

    Before she could finish, a white spiritual butterfly flew out the window, disappearing into the snow.

    So, she was being served by the antagonist of this story. How ironic.

    But whether it was medicine or food, it was all the same.

    Since someone was willing to wait on her, she might as well enjoy it.

    Soon, a warm meal arrived.

    With no distinction between day and night in the North Sea, she didn’t know whether it was breakfast, lunch, or dinner, only that she had been hungry for a long time and everything tasted delicious.

    The only slightly awkward part was—among the three people and one wolf in the room, she was the only one eating.

    The little wolf sat beside her, tilting its head, its big, light brown eyes staring at her intently.

    “It’s still so young, it probably can’t abstain from food yet, right?” Li Yu asked softly. “Can I…give it some?”

    She needed a dining companion to ease the awkwardness, and this little wolf cub seemed like the most likely candidate.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu: “It ate before you woke up.”

    “Perhaps it’s still hungry…” Li Yu looked down at the little wolf. “Look at it, it keeps staring at me, it clearly wants some.”

    “It has a big appetite, it eats whatever you give it, never truly full.” Weisheng Xuanzhu said calmly. “It might look like it wants to eat, but it’s not hungry, just greedy.”

    He sounded experienced.

    The little wolf, seemingly unhappy with his assessment, lay down and whined softly.

    Li Yu, now certain of her suspicions,

    Chuckled. “There’s no rule that says you have to be hungry to eat. It’s fine to eat even if you’re just craving something, and this little guy doesn’t have to worry about getting fat.”

    She poked the little wolf’s head.

    The little wolf looked up, its tail wagging happily.

    A dining companion acquired. Sharing her meal with the little wolf, one bite for her, one bite for it, eased the awkwardness.

    After finishing her meal, Li Yu held the little wolf in her lap, petting its fur behind its ears, a sense of contentment settling over her.

    The little wolf was warm like a furnace, and feeling full and warm, she became drowsy.

    She dozed off, and when she opened her eyes again, only she and Qing Nü remained in the room.

    Qing Nü: “Go and sleep on the bed.”

    Li Yu: “That…wouldn’t be appropriate…”

    Qing Nü’s house was small, just a single room, no guest room, only one bed.

    As a guest, taking the only bed seemed rude.

    “I should probably go back,” Li Yu said, placing the little wolf on the table.

    She took two deep breaths, stood up, supporting herself against the table.

    The thought of the long journey back made her injured legs and feet ache.

    Qing Nü: “Let Little Wolf take you.”

    Li Yu readily agreed. “I…don’t really know the way.”

    As soon as she finished speaking, the little wolf ran to the courtyard, wagged its tail, and looked at Qing Nü, barking twice.

    Before Li Yu could understand what it was saying, a swirling wind and snow enveloped the little wolf.

    Li Yu’s heart clenched, and she rushed out of the house, her legs and feet miraculously less painful for a moment.

    Just as she was about to use a spell to dispel the wind and snow, it vanished.

    A large wolf, almost taller than her, stood before her.

    The wolf lowered its body, offering her its back, but Li Yu just stared, stunned.

    After a moment, the wolf turned its head and licked her face.

    Li Yu snapped back to reality and looked back at Qing Nü.

    Qing Nü smiled and waved. “The spell won’t last long, hurry back and rest.”

    The large wolf licked Li Yu’s face again.

    Li Yu pushed its head away, wiped her face with her sleeve, and climbed onto its back, holding onto its thick fur.

    Unable to contain her excitement, she gently stroked the wolf’s neck.

    The wolf shook its head, stood up, took a few slow steps, then suddenly started running through the snowy night.

    The wind howled past her ears.

    Even with her spiritual energy, the wind was incredibly strong.

    She lowered her body, burying her face in the wolf’s thick fur.

    This was Qing Nü’s spell…

    Could Mu Tao do this too when she grew up? she wondered.

    First of all, she wasn’t a furry!

    Secondly, this wasn’t about riding or not!

    The point was, this giant wolf was incredibly comfortable to hug!

    So comfortable that she buried her face in its fur, nuzzling against its warm neck, almost purring with contentment.

    —She was going to die!

    If this lasted any longer, she wouldn’t want it to change back!

    The large wolf also seemed to enjoy it, and after carrying her back to her residence, as she carefully dismounted, it turned its head and licked her face, its tongue sweeping from her chin to her nose.

    “Don’t…”

    Before she could finish, the large, wet tongue interrupted her.

    After a few licks, she grabbed the wolf’s head, trying to pull it away, but she was no match for its strength.

    Thankfully, it gradually shrunk.

    The large wolf became a small wolf, easily held in her arms.

    Its short legs dangled in the air, its tail wagging weakly, its little tongue still trying to lick her, now unable to reach.

    After a few frustrated attempts at licking the air, the little gray wolf finally stopped.

    It tilted its head, its eyes unfocused as its paws flailed slightly.

    Li Yu pinched its paws, making it yelp softly.

    “Will you stop licking me now?”

    The little wolf, as if understanding it had done something wrong, hung its head, not daring to speak—of course, it couldn’t speak anyway.

    Li Yu glared at the little wolf cub, her face still wet, until it completely wilted, then she carried it inside and placed it on the floor.

    The little wolf immediately hid under the table.

    Li Yu found a cloth, warmed some water, and wiped her face.

    She was truly afraid of this little glutton.

    When it was small, it was manageable, but when it was large, it was like a wild beast, impossible to control.

    She retracted her earlier thought!

    Small wolves were better, large ones were too much to handle!

    Li Yu thought this, put down the cloth, and lay down on the bed, exhausted.

    She hugged the blanket, staring at the bed curtains, lost in thought.

    Before today, she never imagined coming to the North Sea four thousand years ago, meeting a seemingly normal Weisheng Xuanzhu, and encountering Qing Nü, the ancient god who had become the Heavenly Demon.

    And…the little Mu Tao from before, untouched by the Demon Bone, unable to even speak.

    What happened in the North Sea four thousand years ago wasn’t just a question Weisheng Xuanzhu wanted answered anymore.

    Since waking up, her mind had been a blur.

    Too much information, too difficult to process.

    Li Yu lay in bed, thinking, slowly piecing together the clues.

    When she was still on Mount Chao Yao, Weisheng Xuanzhu had repeatedly asked her about what happened four thousand years ago.

    He was convinced that the answers the original “Li Yu” gave him were lies.

    And he was also convinced that only “Li Yu” could tell him the truth.

    This had puzzled her, she wasn’t “Li Yu”; how could she possibly know the answers he wanted?

    But now, she finally understood why he was so persistent.

    —Because she had been here.

    Weisheng Xuanzhu couldn’t believe that Qing Nü would willingly fall into darkness.

    But whether he believed it or not, Qing Nü had become a sinner, her name forever tarnished.

    He believed there must be a hidden truth, and the only person who might know it was the one who had appeared in the North Sea before it all happened…

    And that person, he believed, was the new guardian of the Upper Spirit Lamp—Li Yu.

    So, the former “Li Yu” was the one who couldn’t possibly know the truth.

    “She” must have also been confused, wondering why he kept asking about the Heavenly Demon incident, as if seeking an answer different from the commonly accepted story.

    But “she” had participated in that battle, she must have seen Qing Nü after she fell into darkness and joined the other gods and immortals in slaying her.

    The answer “she” could give him should have been the same as everyone else’s.

    Perhaps, long before she arrived in this world, he had already stopped asking “Li Yu” this question.

    He must have given up on getting an answer from “her.”

    That’s why he plotted to revive the Heavenly Demon, to revive the ancient god Qing Nü.

    And in his plan, the resentment in the human realm was just one component.

    Reviving the Heavenly Demon wouldn’t be easy; to ensure success, he needed to weaken the guardian of the Upper Spirit Lamp and sever the connection to the Heavenly Gate.

    The black-robed figure never appeared directly, neither during the theft of the Lamp nor after its retrieval.

    She had been puzzled by this, but now she realized that perhaps Weisheng Xuanzhu instructed Xiang Hanyu to steal the Lamp simply to weaken her, damage her reputation, and then find an opportunity to force her to open the Heavenly Gate.

    Then, he could destroy the last connection between the human realm and the Heavenly Realm.

    He didn’t care whether Xiang Hanyu gave him the Lamp or not.

    He probably anticipated that she wouldn’t, which was precisely why he chose her as his pawn.

    Obtaining the Upper Spirit Lamp was easy for him; he had been maintaining the seal on Suiqiong Cave for millennia; why would he need someone else to steal it?

    This was a move he had complete control over.

    And Mu Tao’s exposure was an unexpected bonus.

    A Heavenly Demon revived solely from its soul fragment might not be connected to Qing Nü, but the Demon Bone was different.

    For the Demon Bone to appear in that little wolf, it must have belonged to Qing Nü…

    This way, when the Heavenly Demon was revived, he would finally have the answers he sought.

    The instability of the seal on Suiqiong Cave was just the beginning of his plan.

    He knew that once he started, there was no turning back.

    So, clinging to a sliver of hope, he asked her about that “matter from the past” one last time.

    This time was different.

    He saw her hesitation, her evasion.

    This further confirmed his belief that “Li Yu” had lied to him.

    So, he asked her two more times.

    But Li Yu didn’t know that Weisheng Xuanzhu hadn’t mistaken her for someone else.

    He wasn’t asking the original owner of this body, but the Li Yu he knew—the Li Yu who had appeared in the North Sea four thousand years ago.

    She only realized now that the sudden increase in her compatibility in Suiqiong Cave wasn’t because he was secretly pleased by her scolding him.

    It was because he recognized her…

    And Mu Tao, with the Demon Bone, appearing four thousand years later, must also be connected to her, right?

    Everything was a circle, its beginning unclear, yet its path predetermined.

    So, she wasn’t just here to find an answer but also to…continue the cycle, wasn’t she?

    What would happen next was unknown…

    But one thing was certain; when she left, she would take Mu Tao with her.

    Li Yu felt exhausted.

    Thinking while unwell was tiring.

    She closed her eyes, deciding to get some sleep.

    The little wolf under the table peeked out,

    Tilting its head, staring at Li Yu with its wide eyes.

    Hearing her breathing even out, it carefully climbed onto the bed, snuggled against her, and curled up into a small ball of fluff,

    Falling asleep beside her.

  • Qin Auntie, Save Me [Rebirth] 89

    Chapter 89

    Wen Shao Ze was the last to arrive, practically at the very last minute. Even Yuan Qi had arrived half an hour earlier, so naturally, there were penalties.

    Li Wan pointed at the wine glass in front of him and said with a smile, “Mr. Wen, three glasses as a penalty for being late, that’s not too much to ask, is it?”

    It was winter, yet Wen Shao Ze’s forehead was beaded with sweat, his cheeks flushed, he had clearly rushed over, and being penalized with alcohol as soon as he sat down was unheard of in his usual business dinners.

    Those people would be fawning over him, they wouldn’t dare to make such a request, and Wen Shao Ze was indeed taken aback.

    “We’ve all been waiting for you with empty stomachs, shouldn’t you offer some compensation?” Li Wan wasn’t forcing him to drink though.

    Wen Shao Ze looked around, then quickly glanced at Yuan Qi, who remained with his head lowered, seemingly uninterested in him.

    His heart sinking slightly, Wen Shao Ze didn’t want to spoil everyone’s mood, but he was still reluctant to accept the three-glass penalty. He stood up and drank one glass.

    “I’ll compensate for the rest with red envelopes.”

    Li Wan clapped her hands in satisfaction. “That’s more like it, alcohol and red envelopes, that’s the generosity of a true CEO.”

    Li Wan had often teased Wen Shao Ze like this, having bullied him relentlessly during their university days. Initially, their families had thought there might be something between them, but after observing their interactions, they had shaken their heads, if they were truly together, Wen Shao Ze would probably never have a moment of peace.

    Wen Shao Ze finished his drink, took a sip of warm water to soothe his throat, then turned to Qin Qianrou for help. “Qianrou, you have to help me, I haven’t even warmed my seat yet, and I’m already being extorted for red envelopes.”

    Qin Qianrou was used to Wen Shao Ze’s dramatic exaggerations, but he seemed different today, unusually excited.

    With everyone at the table waiting for him, and his constant chatter, he had naturally become the center of attention, even Yuan Qi, despite his silence, couldn’t help but notice him.

    “You were late, a little penalty is normal, you can just eat more later to compensate.”

    With even Qin Qianrou not taking his side, Wen Shao Ze felt a sense of despair and looked at Shen Yiqiu, about to plead with her, when Qin Qianrou spoke again,

    “Don’t even think about asking Shen Yiqiu for help, she’s on my side.”

    Shen Yiqiu smiled apologetically at Wen Shao Ze and then ladled a bowl of chicken soup for him.

    “Shao Ze-ge, try this soup, it’s delicious.”

    Wen Shao Ze, having learned about Shen Yiqiu’s relationship with Yuan Qi, now hearing her call him “Shao Ze-ge,” while calling Yuan Qi “Cousin,” suddenly felt a generation older.

    He took the soup, stirred it gently, and looked at Shen Yiqiu with a slightly aggrieved expression.

    He glanced at Yuan Qi from the corner of his eye, seeing him still seemingly indifferent, lost in his own world.

    “Ahem, you can’t call me Shao Ze-ge anymore, it’s not appropriate.”

    Shen Yiqiu was taken aback, was Wen Shao Ze truly angry? He had been an hour late, being penalized with a drink and a few red envelopes, a CEO shouldn’t be so petty.

    Wen Shao Ze felt a little nervous, even multi-million dollar deals hadn’t made him feel this anxious,

    “Although you and Qianrou are together now, you should still just call me Shao Ze.” Asking you to call me “Uncle” probably won’t work either, Qianrou would kill me, I’ll just have to suffer the indignity of dropping the “-ge.”

    What’s with this? Shen Yiqiu didn’t understand, was Wen Shao Ze voluntarily demoting himself to be on the same level as her?

    “It’s more… cosmopolitan. Like those foreigners, calling their parents and grandparents by their first names, it’s more intimate.”

    It was a strained explanation, and everyone at the table exchanged knowing looks, as if saying, Alright, alright, we understand, no need to explain further, but no one said it out loud.

    Shen Yiqiu, not knowing about the past between Wen Shao Ze and her cousin, naturally didn’t understand his reason for saying this.

    “Since Shao Ze has requested it, just call him by his name from now on.” Qin Qianrou spoke, and Shen Yiqiu smiled and nodded in agreement.

    Their effortless synergy was enough to make any bystander feel like they were being force-fed dog food (public displays of affection), Li Wan beaming at their interaction, pleased with her friend’s current state of happiness.

    Lin Shuangzhi, seeing Li Wan’s wistful expression, seemed lost in thought, then quietly placed a piece of preserved duck in her bowl.

    Yuan Qi finally looked up, but his attention was mostly on Shen Yiqiu, occasionally exchanging a few words with Qin Qianrou, the atmosphere relatively harmonious. Li Wan, unsure of their current relationship, didn’t dare to tease them, so she talked about some amusing incidents at the television station instead.

    The New Year’s Eve dinner was a cheerful and satisfying affair, two hours passing quickly, everyone having a hearty appetite, the table almost completely cleared, a stark contrast to their usual formal dinners.

    Wen Shao Ze, looking at the empty plates being cleared away, sighed contentedly, “Home-cooked meals are truly the best, my appetite is always better at home.”

    Rong Fei teased him, “You want home-cooked meals? That’s easy for you, I heard you have several chefs at home.”

    Wen Shao Ze, having had quite a few drinks, although not drunk, was more relaxed than usual. As CEO, he was always cautious at social gatherings, many tried to get him drunk to gain an advantage.

    “Having chefs at home means nothing, returning to an empty house, even a feast would be tasteless, it’s not a chef I lack, it’s someone who’ll ask me if my porridge is warm enough when I get home!”

    Everyone fell silent at his words, while Qin Qianrou, a smile playing on her lips, reached under the table and took Shen Yiqiu’s hand. Her sweet and thoughtful little one always prepared a late-night snack for her, no matter how tired she was when she got home.

    Back then, Qin Qianrou had been struggling with her own internal conflict, now, looking back, she realized Shen Yiqiu had already been showering her with affection.

    Thankfully, she hadn’t missed it.

    Her hand was held tightly in return, Shen Yiqiu not only had grown taller, her hand was also slightly larger than Qin Qianrou’s now. Their fingers intertwined, a silent expression of their deep love.

    They didn’t have to say a word, the warmth spreading through their hearts, they weren’t just lovers now, but also family, together, making this house a home.

    Yuan Qi, as if triggered by Wen Shao Ze’s words, suddenly poured himself a glass of wine and downed it in one gulp, having been unusually quiet all evening. Shen Yiqiu, surprised by his action, was about to ask when the person beside her stopped her.

    Qin Qianrou gave her a look and gently shook her head, and Shen Yiqiu suppressed her curiosity, thankfully, both Wen Shao Ze and Yuan Qi were composed individuals, their drinking hadn’t affected their behavior, and the dinner ended in a cheerful atmosphere.

    The kitchen, naturally, was filled with dirty dishes. Shen Yiqiu’s cooking habits were good, and some of the dishes had already been washed, but with so many guests, there were still many more than usual.

    Qin Qianrou didn’t want Shen Yiqiu to work any harder and suggested leaving them for the housekeeper tomorrow, when Wen Shao Ze, rolling up his sleeves, volunteered, “I’ll do them, it’ll help me sober up.”

    This wasn’t Wen Shao Ze’s first time doing dishes at Qin Qianrou’s home, and Shen Yiqiu, besides feeling slightly embarrassed, wasn’t worried.

    Yuan Qi joined them in the living room, sipping tea and chatting. Li Wan had always been interested in Yuan Qi’s travels around the world, and she took this opportunity to ask him about his experiences.

    “I didn’t go to that many places, I’m a lazy traveler, stopping and going as I pleased, sometimes staying in one place for three months.”

    “How carefree and relaxing, coming and going as you please, so much better than us wage slaves.”

    Yuan Qi casually glanced towards the kitchen and took a sip of tea, “Isn’t that something you can do anytime?”

    Li Wan’s family background was well-known, working at the television station was purely out of passion, she wasn’t reliant on her salary. He had wandered the world simply because he hadn’t wanted to come back, there had been happy times, and also lonely times.

    Li Wan, however, sighed seriously, “Coming and going as you please, it sounds simple, but it’s not that easy in reality, I’m not a student anymore, I have responsibilities now.”

    Yuan Qi looked at her meaningfully, her straightforward, fiery, and determined personality still the same, he had thought Li Wan hadn’t changed.

    “It’s different when you have something, or someone, to care about, especially after having a home, everywhere else feels less… important.”

    Li Wan agreed, “I’m getting older now, I do want a home.”

    Compared to her youthful ambition of traveling the world, seeing all the sights, Li Wan now yearned for a more settled, domestic life.

    Lin Shuangzhi and Rong Fei sat quietly, listening attentively, but Li Wan’s words resonated deeply with Lin Shuangzhi.

    Qin Qianrou, however, was thinking about her promise to Shen Yiqiu during their movie date. Since Yuan Qi was here, she asked him about traveling to Mexico.

    “Mexico? It’s a good place to visit, but you have to choose the right time of year.”

    “Is it safe there?” Qin Qianrou was thinking about their safety, just the two of them traveling together.

    “It’s relatively safe in the tourist areas, I have a few acquaintances there, I’ll give you their contact information.”

    “Thank you.”

    Shen Yiqiu hadn’t expected Jiejie to actually remember, she had only mentioned it casually, it hadn’t been a serious request, but Jiejie, despite being so busy, still remembered.

    “Jiejie…”

    Qin Qianrou smiled tenderly, “I’ll try to arrange my work schedule.”

    After their guests left, Wen Shao Ze, emerging from the kitchen after washing the dishes, realized Yuan Qi had already disappeared. His eyes dimmed slightly, a bitter smile on his lips, but he wasn’t particularly disappointed, he had expected this.

    But tonight had been enough, after so many years, it was the first time he had spent so much time with A-Yuan.

    Shen Yiqiu smiled at him gratefully. “Shao Ze, thank you for your help tonight.”

    “It was nothing, after all that delicious food, I had to contribute somehow, otherwise Qianrou won’t let me visit again.”

    Qin Qianrou, still sitting there, sipping her tea, her demeanor calm and composed,

    Wen Shao Ze glanced at the time, then at Shen Yiqiu beside him, hesitated for a moment, then said, “Shen Yiqiu, there’s something I need to discuss with Qianrou.”

    “Okay, I’ll be in my room.”

    After Shen Yiqiu left, Wen Shao Ze walked over and sat down opposite Qin Qianrou.

    A freshly brewed cup of tea was already waiting for him. Qin Qianrou seemed to have anticipated he had something to say.

    “You volunteering to wash the dishes earlier, I knew you had something on your mind.”

    Wen Shao Ze looked at Qin Qianrou with affection, not bothering to hide anything. “You’ve always been so perceptive since you were a child, nothing gets past you.”

    He took a few sips of tea, then put down his cup, glanced at Shen Yiqiu’s closed door, and lowered his voice, “I received new information about the He Chao case just before leaving today, there’s been a development.”

    Qin Qianrou looked up; she had been following the He Chao case, and Wen Shao Ze regularly provided her with updates, but his tone sounded… strange.

    “It seems the information He Chao revealed might be related to Shen Zhifeng.”

    Shen Zhifeng, Shen Yiqiu’s father.

    Qin Qianrou’s brow furrowed slightly at the mention of his name.

    Wen Shao Ze continued, “I’ve arranged for someone to look after Jiang Yuan discreetly, although we can’t get her released on medical parole yet, at least her safety is guaranteed inside.”

    Jiang Yuan definitely knew many of He Chao’s secrets. His sudden death in prison, and his plea to Qin Qianrou before his death to protect Jiang Yuan, although she had initially assumed it was out of marital affection, now, it seemed there was more to it, perhaps He Chao had been hoping Jiang Yuan would avenge him.

    “What does this have to do with the Shen family?” Qin Qianrou was still puzzled by this sudden turn of events, this was her main concern.

    “There’s evidence suggesting Shen Zhifeng was also involved in those… dealings.”

    Qin Qianrou was shocked, “What?!”

    This was completely unexpected.

    She didn’t know much about Shen Zhifeng, most of her knowledge coming from Shen Yiqiu’s memories, but she did know about the patent donation, and judging by the number of research projects, their family’s living conditions didn’t seem to match.

    The Shen family were, at most, middle-class, if Shen Zhifeng had been like He Chao, their wealth would have been much more substantial.

    “I don’t quite believe it either, Shen Zhifeng’s reputation in the industry has always been excellent, everyone who worked with him praised him highly, he and He Chao… they don’t seem like the same kind of people.” Although less biased than Qin Qianrou, Wen Shao Ze also believed Shen Zhifeng was a man of integrity.

    “Investigate this thoroughly as soon as possible, regardless of the truth, I want to know the results quickly.”

    Qin Qianrou’s mind was in turmoil. She had been determined to get to the bottom of the He Chao matter, but she hadn’t expected it to be connected to Shen Zhifeng, she suddenly recalled Shao Qidong’s words at the hospital, she hadn’t understood how Dongsheng Group could possibly be related to a university professor back then, now, she seemed to have a clue.

    “Alright, I’ll personally oversee this.” Wen Shao Ze stood up, grabbing his coat, preparing to leave.

    “Are you planning to tell her about this?” He gestured towards the closed door of Shen Yiqiu’s room.

    Qin Qianrou frowned, thinking for a moment. “If it truly involves her father, she has the right to know, I’ll tell her when we have more concrete information.”

    “Okay, since you’ve already decided, I’ll be going then.”

    **

    Thanks to Zhuo Cheng’s blunder, Shao Qidong’s Chinese New Year had been anything but pleasant, he was a suspicious person by nature, and with the recent series of incidents involving his peers, his anxiety and frustration growing, he could only accelerate his plans to transfer his assets.

    Zhuo Cheng, having proven unreliable, he had to take matters into his own hands. Dongsheng Group officially closed for the holidays on New Year’s Eve, and while his employees returned home for the celebrations, he was at the airport, heading to the US.

    He reviewed the reports he had received just before boarding, information he had been gathering since He Chao’s death, he and He Chao had been involved in similar activities, although their past interactions had been limited, the downfall of one inevitably made him worry about his own fate.

    The He Chao couple had been after Shen Zhifeng’s promising research patents, while Shao Qidong wanted the raw data, he had a more established and capable research team, and with that valuable data, it would be like acquiring precious raw materials, he could then process them into any finished product he desired.

    Having failed to deceive Shen Yiqiu at the hospital, and with the He Chao couple’s interference, Shao Qidong had temporarily retreated. But Shen Zhifeng’s research was too tempting, he couldn’t give up so easily.

    If he truly went abroad, the assets he had been accumulating for others wouldn’t leave him with much. But if he had that data, he could rebuild his empire overseas, he wouldn’t have to be subservient to anyone, he could become a true leader in the field.

    Shao Qidong, suppressing his exhaustion, continued reviewing the documents, searching for clues about where Shen Zhifeng might have hidden his research data.

  • The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 90

    Chapter 90: I Love Slacking Off

    Emotions surged like waves, engulfing Tao Ning in a warm and soft feeling that was hard to resist.

    Her lowered eyes flickered, glancing to the side. Tao Ning couldn’t see Callista’s eyes, only her dreamy, delicate ear fins.

    Callista’s appearance was remarkably human-like, but there were always subtle details that revealed she wasn’t.

    Her other hand, resting on the edge of the pool, was also lifted by Callista, slowly, as if wanting to caress Tao Ning’s face.

    Before it could touch Tao Ning’s warm cheek, it was caught and held by another hand, slender fingers closing around it.

    A human hand grasped a Mermaid’s hand, the pearl bracelet on her wrist sliding down, creating a strangely beautiful image.

    Callista blinked. The last time she had felt this way was when she failed to influence Tao Ning with her psychic power.

    She had the keen instincts of a predator and rarely made mistakes.

    This meant she had been seen through again.

    Tao Ning held her hand, pressing it down, her lips close to Callista’s ear fin, replying in Mermaid language, “You say you like me, so will you choose me during your mating season?”

    The gentle voice echoed in her ear, each word burrowing deep, tempting her to listen more intently and agree to any request.

    The Mermaid’s crimson lips pursed slightly. If she didn’t do this, her promise would slip out.

    Wouldn’t that mean being bound to this human for life?

    Mermaids only recognized one partner in their lifetime. If the other party died prematurely, the remaining Mermaid would wait for death in the long years that followed.

    However, more often than not, the Mermaid would remove her reverse scale, choosing to die early.

    Callista fell silent, the force around Tao Ning’s neck loosening, her eyes like water, seemingly deep in thought.

    The wrist held in Tao Ning’s hand twitched involuntarily. Tao Ning subconsciously loosened her grip, and Callista immediately seized the opportunity, slipping away like a fish.

    Callista’s brows furrowed slightly: “You’re imitating me.”

    Tao Ning didn’t deny it. She had indeed learned from her. Mermaids could infuse their voices with psychic power to influence the minds of others.

    Right in front of Tao Ning, Callista sank into the water, her platinum hair spreading like seaweed.

    Her tail fin stirred the water with a splash before she disappeared beneath the surface.

    Ignoring the Mermaid’s teasing and irresponsibility, the scene itself was quite pleasing to the eye.

    Tao Ning wiped the water from her face, chuckling softly. She knew this would be her reaction.

    The ocean-bound leader wasn’t ready to settle down for anyone yet, and anyone she encountered along the way could be used.

    She sat by the pool, lost in thought, before slowly standing up and walking out.

    After she left, a figure emerged from the water, glanced at the closed door, and then submerged again.

    Since everything was readily available, Tao Ning wouldn’t waste the Gu family’s kindness in providing the medicine kit.

    They were still on their way back to the First Star System. The students hadn’t yet graduated and were busy training, rarely lingering outside.

    Moreover, with two Major Generals and several officers on board, it wouldn’t look good to be lazing around in the dormitories instead of training diligently.

    Even the most socially inept students followed suit, the training grounds always full, everyone brimming with enthusiasm.

    If a high-ranking official happened to visit and observe the students’ training, taking a liking to someone and recruiting them, it would be a wonderful opportunity.

    Therefore, among the students participating in the exercise, Tao Ning was the only one strolling around freely.

    “Yuzhu?”

    Tao Ning, walking alone down the long corridor, heard a voice behind her and turned around.

    Gu Yuan’s expression relaxed as he strode towards her: “Yuzhu, I heard you were sick today, and I haven’t had time to visit you… Why are you walking around outside instead of resting in your room?”

    In the Federation, Gu Yuan lacked nothing in terms of status, prestige, and reputation. He was a Major General, and any harm that befell him would be thoroughly investigated by the Federation.

    Zang Yuzhu, on the other hand, was just a spoiled young lady with a mediocre reputation. They weren’t on the same level.

    There was no benefit in antagonizing Gu Yuan now. Reaching this conclusion, Tao Ning’s expression subtly changed, appearing to the newcomer as a young girl smiling upon seeing him.

    Tao Ning said, “It’s too stuffy inside, I came out for a walk.”

    Gu Yuan: “I’ve been busy with official duties these past few days and forgot to consider your feelings. It’s just the right time, how about I accompany you to the cafeteria for dinner?”

    It was unclear where Gu Yuan learned this behavior, using such a gentle tone even with his sister. How could Zang Yuzhu not misunderstand?

    She already considered herself his fiancée, and Gu Yuan always verbally rejected her, but never denied it in front of her.

    Thinking back, it was unclear who had instilled this fiancée identity in her.

    There was a significant age gap of more than ten years between them. When Zang Yuzhu arrived at the Gu family, she was only eight, while Gu Yuan was already nineteen, preparing for the First Academy entrance exam.

    A person’s character was often shaped by external influences during their formative years. Now, she was Zang Yuzhu, and she couldn’t judge the original host’s character.

    Stepping out of that identity, from Tao Ning’s perspective as an outsider, she only saw the influence of third parties everywhere.

    Tao Ning: “You should have said so earlier, I just finished eating. By the way, Cousin, when are we going home? I can’t wait to return to the First Star System. It’s so boring on the ship, I feel restricted no matter what I do.”

    520 agreed: [Yeah, you’d be stuck to the wall if you got punched twice, so why bother trying?]

    Gu Yuan said helplessly, “I knew you wouldn’t be able to stay put. We’ll reach the next jump point tomorrow, and after that, we’ll be closer to the First Star System. You must go to the hospital then, don’t avoid treatment. I’ll handle everything for you.”

    Tao Ning: “You’ll handle everything for me? That’s too much trouble.”

    Is that handling it like the “Zang Yuzhu failed to inform her teammates and left the team early, resulting in the team’s injuries” incident?

    Gu Yuan: “It’s not trouble if it’s for you.”

    520 cringed: [You better stop talking, you’ll face the consequences if you provoke the widow who just got rejected. ]

    Tao Ning finally couldn’t take it anymore and asked 520, “What’s that crunching sound you’re making?”

    [Oh, I got paid yesterday,] 520 took another bite, its electronic voice muffled, [so I bought some watermelon-flavored data segments. They’re delicious and crunchy.]

    Tao Ning’s patience plummeted.

    What further depleted her patience was Gu Yuan finally asking the question he had been holding back: “I heard from Major General Song that you can speak Mermaid language. You never told me about this.”

    Tao Ning: “Well, it’s quite strange. I injured the back of my head that time, remember? When I woke up, my mind felt clear, and learning became easy. Have you ever heard of such a thing?”

    Gu Yuan’s train of thought was derailed. He thought for a moment: “I have heard of such cases. The human brain is fascinating, and injuries can sometimes lead to unexpected changes.”

    Tao Ning said casually, “So it’s actually a real thing? I listened to her speak a few times, analyzed the pronunciation of common phrases, and just like that, I learned Mermaid language.”

    If that were the case, it would indeed be quite remarkable, considering Zang Yuzhu’s learning abilities.

    “That’s amazing. Are there any side effects? Let me take a look…” Gu Yuan raised his gloved hand.

    “Bang!” A loud crash echoed from nearby, as something heavy fell to the ground.

    A full water bottle rolled towards them. Before it reached Tao Ning’s feet, she bent down and picked it up.

    An He, under their gazes: “…”

    Looking at the water bottle in Tao Ning’s hand, then at the puzzled Gu Yuan, An He felt her vision darken. She quickly stuffed the bag attached to the bottle’s neck into her pocket.

    With unsteady steps, she approached them.

    “Good evening, Major General Gu, Zang.”

    Tao Ning smiled politely: “Good evening, An.”

    Gu Yuan couldn’t continue his questioning in front of an outsider, so he simply offered a few words of concern before turning to leave.

    Before leaving, he glanced at An He, who was looking at Zang Yuzhu.

    Tao Ning walked back with An He. Nearing their dormitories, An He took a deep breath, preparing to say what she had been hesitating to say all along.

    Tao Ning said, “Thank you for what happened just now.”

    An He replied instinctively, “You’re welcome… I didn’t do anything, what are you thanking me for?”

    Tao Ning’s smile widened: “How could you have done nothing? If it weren’t for your water bottle appearing out of nowhere, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have been able to hold back.”

    An He: “Ah?”

    Hold back? Hold back from doing what?

    Although she didn’t quite understand, since Zang Yuzhu had said so, An He replied, “You’re welcome?”

    Watching Zang Yuzhu turn the corner and disappear from sight, An He let out a long sigh, looking at the water bottle in her hand.

    Because of the clumsy way it had fallen, the water bottle, which had been with her for years, now had a dent in the bottom and more visible scratches.

    After a long while, a soft voice whispered, “Was that too obvious just now?”

    Back in her room, Tao Ning went straight to the medicine cabinet. These were common medications, and the one Zang Yuzhu used most frequently was…

    520: [Oh! With my years of sharp observation as a member of the Department of Fate, I’ve figured it out!]

    Tao Ning, rummaging through the medicine kit, was startled by the sudden exclamation. She continued searching and pulled out the remaining vitamins from the paper bag.

    Pouring the pills into her palm, she brought them close to her nose, smelling only a faint fruity scent, no different from ordinary vitamins.

    520, impatient from Tao Ning’s silence, couldn’t wait any longer and said, [Aren’t you going to ask what I’ve figured out?]

    Putting the pills back, Tao Ning decided to take one of each item from the medicine kit and put them into her storage space button.

    This space button was originally intended for Zang Yuzhu’s mecha, but her mecha had been destroyed in the attack, leaving the space empty, which was convenient for Tao Ning.

    After finishing, Tao Ning sat at the desk, opened the Starnet, and then slowly asked, “What did you figure out?”

    520, finally having the chance to show off, said triumphantly, [That An He likes you! You definitely didn’t notice!]

    Tao Ning replied calmly, “Oh? Really?”

    Her eyes remained glued to the screen, quickly scanning the pages. She was searching for information about the attack from over a decade ago, hoping to find some clues, but the results were disappointing.

    It made sense. The attack that killed the original host’s parents wasn’t small, and for the sake of public opinion, the Federation wouldn’t disclose too many details.

    She could only approach it from other angles.

    Tao Ning’s fingers moved, switching to searching for the White Raven organization.

    This was a space pirate organization that had existed for decades. Their base of operations was unknown, their movements unpredictable, and they were extremely secretive. They specialized in opposing the Federation, surviving by robbing Federation supplies and plundering nearby star systems.

    At their peak, they almost occupied the entire Ninth Star System, establishing their own nation and confronting the Federation.

    Due to the sudden appearance of Zang Xin, they ultimately failed. The Ninth Star System, which had been within their grasp, was liberated, and the White Raven leader fled in defeat.

    However, the previous leader had died three years ago due to a psychic sea outburst, and the current leader was his son, also a ruthless character.

    An organization that the Federation had struggled to eradicate for years must have hidden strengths beyond what was known publicly.

    Tao Ning’s hand paused on a certain page. It was a news report from two years ago about the successful rescue of an entire ship of hostages, with Gu Yuan being praised as the hero.

    For successfully rescuing dozens of hostages from the White Raven organization, Gu Yuan was awarded the rank of Major General, becoming the most promising young officer in the Federation.

    Clicking to the next page, it was also about Gu Yuan.

    It described his successful infiltration of a remote star system for several months, severely crippling the Black Sea organization, destroying their long-hidden black market, and seizing a batch of illegal drugs banned by the Federation for many years.

    These two incidents occurred within half a month of each other. Gu Yuan, who had achieved two consecutive feats, filled the only vacancy in the election due to public demand, despite not being due for promotion so soon.

    Putting aside the timing of these two achievements, which conveniently occurred right before the election, giving him the necessary merits, even his competitors had to admire his good luck.

    Staring at the report about crippling the Black Sea organization, Tao Ning suddenly thought of something.

    The Black Sea and White Raven organizations were originally founded by two brothers, who later split due to disagreements, each becoming a king in their own right, and both becoming the Federation’s top enemies.

    After several generations of leadership changes, the blood ties had long faded, and the two organizations became mortal enemies, fighting for territory.

    In recent years, the decline of the Black Sea had emboldened the White Ravens. From a logical standpoint, this rise and fall seemed normal.

    But Tao Ning wasn’t someone who believed in coincidences.

    Every world had its own rules, and in this world, she had to play by its rules. If she went too far, like directly killing Gu Yuan, Tao Ning could easily be logged out.

    In a world where the strong preyed on the weak, different methods were required.

    Besides, letting him die quickly would be too easy. Zang Yuzhu’s reputation was tarnished, and her body injured, so Gu Yuan should also be disgraced and lose everything he was proud of.

    The excitement of finally having some juicy gossip about the host gradually subsided, and 520 realized: [You knew all along? When did you find out?]

    Tao Ning said, “She likes Zang Yuzhu.”

    520 was confused: [Aren’t you Zang Yuzhu?]

    Tao Ning closed her smart device and stood up: “Wrong, I’m Tao Ning.”

    It was time to rest. She needed to wash up and sleep.

    The next day, Callista woke up earlier than usual. Tao Ning had just opened the door when she saw the bored figure by the pool.

    She had gathered a pile of pearls, imbuing each with her psychic power, making them stick together to form a small pyramid.

    Callista had never seen images of the ancient Earth pyramids; she simply found this shape amusing.

    It showed how bored the leader was while waiting, bored enough to play with pearls.

    Hearing the noise, the newly built pearl pyramid scattered with a clatter. Callista reached out and gathered them all back.

    Seeing her slightly evasive gaze, Tao Ning greeted her proactively: “Good morning, Lita.”

    Hearing this tone, Callista assumed the matter was over, and her tone also lightened: “Good morning.”

    Then Tao Ning fell silent, turning to her preparations, no longer chatting like she usually did.

    Watching the busy figure moving around, Callista felt a strange discomfort for the first time.

    Unconsciously, Callista’s eyes were glued to Tao Ning’s back.

    There wasn’t anything particularly interesting to see, not as captivating as the scenery of the ocean floor. In the end, this was just an upright-walking human.

    Thinking of this, Callista wondered if this human possessed some special ability, like how Mermaids could attract others with their singing.

    Suddenly, a faint, familiar blue flashed before her eyes.

    Callista suddenly exclaimed, “Why are you wearing my scale around your neck?”

    Tao Ning glanced down at her collarbone, where an ice-blue scale hung, shimmering and beautiful.

    Callista said proudly, “Do you like the scale that much? Why? Is it because I gave it to you?”

  • Transformed into a Female Villain, But Captured by My Beautiful Girl Disciples v2c42

    42. The Curtain Rises

     

    Shangguan Lingyue, being a straightforward person, wouldn’t challenge the master after being defeated by the disciples.

    However, the arena, severely damaged by her own attacks, required professional repairs, temporarily halting the matches on her side.

    Everyone’s attention turned to Shangguan Yaochang.

    Unlike his sister, he was a cunning strategist.

    He wouldn’t engage in direct combat, but used long-range techniques to suppress his opponents, gradually cornering them.

    Due to his fighting style, the average scores in his group weren’t low. A pair of twin sisters even reached a score of 150 each, rivaling the First Prince and Xuli.

    After Shangguan Yaochang finished his matches, the rankings remained largely unchanged.

    But when he glanced at the scoreboard, he almost couldn’t believe his eyes.

    “A thousand points!?”

    To achieve a thousand points using the original method, one would have to last at least half an hour, and that was the total team score, not an individual score.

    With an individual score of a thousand, and a total team score of two thousand two hundred and fifty, Shangguan Yaochang couldn’t comprehend how his sister had calculated the scores.

    Until someone told him that Shangguan Lingyue had actually lost!?

    “Your disciples are truly exceptional, Immortal Master, intelligent and talented.”

    The flattery arrived.

    “You’re too kind, Prince Changning.” Gong Yiling, stroking Lu Xinyao’s tail with a satisfied expression, asked casually, “Have you figured it out?”

    “Figured out what?”

    “I cured Emperor Shangguan Long’s poison. I’m also aware of the demonic cultivators infiltrating Yanlie City.”

    Gong Yiling didn’t hide anything. There was no point.

    He would eventually target her anyway.

    “We are eternally grateful for your kindness towards the Shangguan family.”

    “I was paid for it. No need for gratitude. Instead of wasting your time on me, you should focus on finding those demonic infiltrators.”

    Gong Yiling casually replied, then scanned the crowd, her gaze finally landing on the twin sisters.

    They seemed normal at first glance, but she couldn’t sense any vitality from them.

    Others might think they were just expressionless, but Gong Yiling knew it was a special demonic technique.

    By using a specific method to nurture twin siblings, they could utilize righteous cultivation techniques with the demonic cultivator’s power.

    Of course, this method was incredibly cruel. Those nurtured this way lost their emotions, becoming puppets.

    Some high-ranking members of each demonic sect knew this technique, and the information was highly classified. Even now, the righteous cultivators were unaware of it, which would cause great trouble for the Heartflame Empire in the future.

    However…

    She wasn’t familiar with these twins.

    She remembered the two pairs of twins who acted as spies during the Heartflame Empire’s final battle. They were in their twenties.

    Not these seemingly harmless teenagers munching on apples.

    “I already have some suspects in mind, Immortal Master.”

    Seeing that Gong Yiling wasn’t looking at anyone he knew, Shangguan Yaochang wasn’t worried.

    “Whether you do or not is none of my concern.” Gong Yiling sneered. “But I know my two disciples were wronged in the forest. Is Prince Changning aware of this?”

    Shangguan Yaochang immediately cupped his fists. “I’ve received the report and have launched an investigation.”

    “However… the assassins’ bodies were apparently torn apart by demonic beasts in the central area. There’s no way to identify them. I only have their heads. The investigation is slow, please forgive me.”

    Sending assassins and then investigating them himself… what a convenient way to cover things up.

    Even if she took over the investigation, it would be fruitless.

    These assassins were clearly expendable. With Shangguan Yaochang’s methods, he wouldn’t leave any traces.

    Although Miss Gong practically had an omniscient cheat, she needed sufficient evidence to accuse him.

    Otherwise, even if Shangguan Long suspected his brother and son of plotting something, he could easily talk his way out of it.

    What she truly needed to prepare for…

    Was the upcoming confrontation with the Myriad Demons Palace.

    —

    —

    The third round, unsurprisingly, was a one-on-one duel in the main hall of the imperial palace.

    The twenty finalists from the second round would engage in a final tournament.

    Qiu Shui’s team, the First Prince, Young Master Xuli, the strange twins, some renowned young geniuses, and a few unknown dark horses were among the twenty.

    As for the demonic infiltrators, they were among the unknown contestants, confirmed by Shangguan Lingyue and Shangguan Yaochang.

    So, Emperor Shangguan Long had his imperial guards and Prince Changning’s troops hidden among the officials watching the competition.

    And the Grand Elder, supposedly recuperating from his injuries, had actually recovered most of his strength and was also hidden among the crowd.

    Everything was in place, waiting for the demonic cultivators to act.

    Of course, before the official competition began, there was a rousing speech.

    After days of recuperation, Shangguan Long looked perfectly healthy.

    Wearing his crown and robes, he spoke of the Heartflame Empire’s future and his expectations for the participants.

    After his long-winded speech, a carriage slowly entered the inner city.

    Gong Yiling, disembarking, glanced at the familiar palace and said to the two girls behind her, “Let’s go.”

    She looked at Lu Xinyao and asked, “Are you ready?”

    “Yes, I’m ready.”

    “Then…” Gong Yiling looked at the main hall, her eyes narrowing slightly.

     

     

     

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 335

    Chapter 335: Give a Girl a Chance

    The Demon Queen had forgotten how long it had been since she last set foot in the human world. Since a long, long, long…ah, anyway, it was back then. After being punished and cast into hell, the Demon Queen had never returned, let alone ascended to heaven, to the side of her beloved. But the one who punished her…was precisely her beloved, that supreme God, the only God.

    Sigh, why am I thinking about such sad things again! The queen from hell, let’s just call her the Hell Queen, shook her head vigorously. Pain and relief flickered across her face, as if two split personalities were fighting for control of her body. Soon, the carefree expression prevailed. She returned to her calm and natural demeanor, a smile playing on her lips, murmuring, “Sneaking into the human world…I can’t let my God find out~”.

    If anyone saw the Hell Queen at this moment, they would definitely find her state strange, as if she had lost her mind, becoming carefree and foolish, her mentality completely inconsistent with her mature and elegant appearance, more like a playful young girl. This state was like a protective measure after the body suffered a great shock—amnesia, losing those sad and painful memories, leaving only pleasant and comfortable ones. Then she could live on with a smile—in this world without God.

    No, no, what am I thinking, haha, how could there be no God? God is eternal and immortal. The whole world was created by her, all laws are controlled by her. God will always exist. I just have to stay in hell obediently…until she calms down. Then I can return to her side and accompany her. Then I won’t be so lonely that I want to die. I want to kiss God’s fingertips, kiss everything about her. I want to return to those happiest times, to be with God… The Hell Queen licked her lips, a charming and seductive expression appearing on her face. Happy memories filled her mind. Yes, she survived on this, barely surviving in the barren hell.

    As for why she broke through the barrier and secretly came to the human world today, it was because some time ago, a Great Demon with broken horns reported to her subordinates that it had been summoned to the human world, only to step into God’s battlefield. It was unclear whether it was a continuation of the ancient divine war. According to its description, countless kings of the night, vampires exuding a strong bloody aura, had gathered on the battlefield. And a six-winged angel, one of the highest combat forces on God’s side, descended. A black-winged fallen angel (Chacoco) sang a song of destruction on a brightly lit altar (stage) that flickered with an unknown light and emitted a strange demonic sound. It was clearly a war between angels and fallen angels. Even a large number of humans participated, each holding a bottle of fire (glow stick) that could burn down forests and land when thrown.

    In short, the Great Demon was almost scared to death. It didn’t dare to stay for a moment and hurriedly fled from this battlefield, which was even more terrifying than hell, but still paid the price of having its horns cut off by the six-winged archangel.

    The Hell Queen didn’t believe there was any continuation of the divine war. It was all over. But unexpectedly, after that, this matter took root in the Hell Queen’s heart like a seed, popping up from time to time, making her restless. Finally, she decided to secretly come to the human world. As long as God didn’t find out, it would be fine. She naively and stubbornly clung to the belief that God still existed, as if she were still living in the distant past.

    ………………

    “Is this the human world now?”

    “It doesn’t look any different from back then.” The Hell Queen didn’t know that she had teleported to an escape room experience center inside a shopping mall after breaking through the barrier between hell and the human world. She found herself in a Western fantasy-style castle hall. It was a bit small, but decorated luxuriously. This was the hall of the vampire hunter family. Adele, playing the vampire hunter, would be whipped here as punishment for letting the vampire escape.

    At this moment, the NPC hiding behind the secret door was still unaware of the Hell Queen’s arrival. As for the Hell Queen, she noticed him, but didn’t care, just like a human wouldn’t care about an ant crawling on the ground. The queen had no intention of looking down and crushing him. But she was interested in the door that suddenly opened before her.

    Behind the door, under the light of the wooden corridor, a girl appeared, wearing an academy-style uniform, white warm stockings, and elegant small leather shoes. She had black hair and pink eyes, delicate and cute. She was holding a mithril Desert Eagle pistol in both hands, posing in a cool shooting stance at the door, as if ready to defend against any enemies emerging from inside. She believed that when a prop gun appeared in the game, there would definitely be a time to use it. Just like when beautiful girls appeared in yuri stories, there had to be some yuri action!

    But Adele didn’t expect a real NPC to appear the moment she opened the door. At least, not so soon. She hadn’t even finished exploring the plot yet. But she had to admit, this NPC big sister…was making her drool! A voice in Adele’s heart was screaming, “Give a girl a chance! Beautiful sister!”

    She was a beauty that even Adele, who had been among countless flowers, found stunning and unparalleled. She had jet-black goat horns, long, pure white hair, and captivating scarlet amber eyes. Her features were sharp and deep, her figure well-proportioned and slender. She had a mature and elegant, sexy and noble aura, like a resurrected goddess from ancient Greek sculptures, or a seductive succubus from hell. A beauty of this level should be walking the runway at Victoria’s Secret. No, she should be crowned Miss Universe! But she was working in such a small escape room experience center. It was a waste of talent.

    Even Adele felt a pang of sympathy, blushing slightly and shyly hiding the Desert Eagle behind her back. How could she bear to shoot this big sister!? Could this be the difficulty of this level? As they said, even heroes couldn’t resist the allure of beauty. But thinking that Tang Linlang might be waiting for her behind this room, Adele gritted her teeth, entered the room, and said to the big sister cosplaying as a demon queen, who was staring at her intently with trembling pupils, “Um, big sister~,” Adele used her cuteness as an attack.

    “Can you go easy on me? I’m in a hurry to clear this level and find my girlfriend.” But it didn’t seem very effective. Because the big sister before her didn’t react to her words at all. Or rather, from the moment she saw Adele, she seemed to have turned into a statue, only the intense trembling of her pupils proving that she was conscious.

    Seeing no response, and feeling a chill down her spine from being stared at by the beautiful NPC, Adele grinned slightly and awkwardly brushed past her. Anyway, although she didn’t know what was going on with this NPC, she should just look for clues and piece together the plot. That was her purpose here.

    And the following plot was far beyond Adele’s expectations, and it had nothing to do with the demon big sister before her. Adele even suspected that the big sister cosplaying as a demon had entered the wrong room. Perhaps another escape room customer was wondering, Where’s the demon big sister I booked!? Could Adele say that she had “poached” his demon big sister? It was quite amusing to think about.

    Let’s first introduce the plot Adele pieced together by searching for clues in this room. The general content was that the vampire hunter who let the vampire go, namely Adele, returned to the vampire hunter family. And here, Adele never expected that she would face the judgment of the entire family.

    The man who was the head of the family and also her father appeared, holding an earring in his hand. He glared at his daughter with a disappointed expression. And that gleaming, bloodstained earring was a gift she had given to Tang Linlang. It once swayed on Tang Linlang’s earlobe, shining brighter than the moonlight.

    Adele’s heart sank when she found the clue item. Because the appearance of this earring could only mean one thing. Tang Linlang had been captured by the family members, and the fact that she had let her go had been discovered. This was why this escape room was designed as a castle hall.

    The price for violating family rules was that Adele would be judged and whipped by the entire family here. A black whip hung on the wall. Looking at the bloodstains on it, Adele imagined herself kneeling on the ground, facing the accusations of everyone, the disappointment of her family, enduring the painful lashes one after another, but still refusing to yield for Linlang, a tragic beauty. Anyway, she was also the unwanted daughter of a monster. When she was still in her mother’s womb, her mother was bitten by a vampire and drank its blood. This caused her mother to develop a thirst for blood, becoming a bloodkin of the vampire.

    No one knew whether Adele had been contaminated by her mother’s blood. But ever since she had memories, her only impression of her mother was a black and white sketch. The mother in the painting was gentle and beautiful. No one knew what she did, giving her all just to let her daughter live. As for her own ending, it was already doomed.

    Growing up in the vampire hunter family, Adele was always treated as the daughter of a monster, bullied and humiliated… She only endured all this in silence. Perhaps this was one of the main reasons why she was confused about her own identity and wasn’t so cruel to vampires.

    The reason she let Tang Linlang go and refused to expose her vampire identity along the way was because before receiving the mission to hunt Tang Linlang, Adele had met her once. It was when Adele was little. She was hiding in the garden, crying, when she met Tang Linlang, who was disguised as a human. Adele, with tears in her eyes, asked Tang Linlang, “Big sister, is life always so painful? Or is it just like this when you’re little?”

    Tang Linlang didn’t say anything, but she gave Adele a lily. It was the first and only flower Adele had ever received in her life.

    The head of the family asked her to admit her mistake, and he would forgive her, probably because Adele had shown her talent. She could become the strongest vampire hunter in history, a useful tool. But no matter how much she was punished, her back covered in blood, she refused to yield. So they threatened Adele, saying they would execute Tang Linlang in front of her.

    Now, Adele had only two choices, but she only saw one—to save her. As Adele pulled the rope representing “choose to save her,” a mechanism was triggered, and a door leading to the dungeon opened. At the same time, several NPCs jumped out from hidden locations. They were the “family members” who were stopping Adele from rescuing Tang Linlang. And Adele’s Desert Eagle finally had a use.

    But after they jumped out, before they could chase after Adele, they froze on the spot, because they were equally shocked and confused by the Hell Queen’s presence in the escape room, besides Adele. W-What…is she a customer from another escape room!? How did she get here!? An escape room couldn’t be opened without customers. Did she appear out of thin air!? They didn’t know that the surveillance cameras in this room had already been destroyed by the Hell Queen. So naturally, they didn’t receive any warnings from the staff in the monitoring room.

    And Adele was immersed in her role. No one could stop her from saving Tang Linlang. Today, Adele was taking Linlang away, and she would see who dared to stop her. So the girl picked up her Desert Eagle, loaded it, and fired, all in one smooth motion. The current Adele was no longer the inaccurate shooter from before. The training at the academy had allowed her to adapt to tense combat environments.

    Bang! A paintball was fired. A red powder cloud appeared on the chest of a staff member dressed as a vampire hunter. This meant the NPC was hit and couldn’t continue the chase.

    At this time, the NPCs also reacted. Compared to the presence of the Hell Queen, their primary task was to catch the customer before them. Of course, they needed to go easy on her. But Adele’s skill was so outstanding that they suspected she might be a professional shooter!

    Bang! Bang! This time, two shots were fired in quick succession, hitting the remaining two NPCs. The paintballs exploded on their chests, forming powder clouds. They hadn’t even started chasing, and they were all wiped out… How embarrassing. But according to the rules, they could only freeze on the spot, watching as Adele escaped from this room to find her vampire lover, Tang Linlang.

    But then something unexpected happened. Adele, still feeling hot, loaded another paintball. However, this time, her target…was the Hell Queen.

  • Dear, it’s time for your medicine! 300

    Chapter 300: Eliminate Athena?

    Airi and Eileen.

    They were sisters, inseparable since childhood, sharing everything. They were so close that they could anticipate each other’s thoughts and movements in battle without a single word.

    Eileen believed they would remain together forever, even into old age. Despite the countless lives they had taken, they were completely open and honest with each other and with Jie Luo.

    But Airi felt differently.

    She was willing to share everything with her sister, except Jie Luo. She wanted him all to herself, his affection solely hers.

    She wouldn’t share him with anyone, not Sylph, Athena, Ekaterina, Loseweisse, or even her own sister.

    She hadn’t realized the intensity of her possessiveness until now.

    She even hoped that when Jie Luo was resurrected, she would be the only one he saw, the two of them together forever. That would be true bliss.

    The thought made her tremble.

    Her clear eyes focused on her sister’s back, her teeth biting her lip… Should she eliminate her sister too…?

    The thought startled her.

    Gods, how could she think such a thing?

    That was her sister. She could kill anyone, but not her sister.

    No, never.

    She reaffirmed her resolve.

    Seemingly sensing her sister’s gaze, Eileen turned around: “Airi, what’s wrong?”

    Airi shook her head, her voice clear and innocent: “Nothing, sister…”

    She paused, then asked: “Sister, what do you think of Athena?”

    “Athena?” Eileen tapped her cheek thoughtfully, her small figure making the gesture endearing. The image of Athena’s voluptuous figure flashed through her mind, and her face fell: “I hate her.”

    In fact, she hated all women with better figures than her own.

    Athena, Ekaterina, Sylph, Loseweisse… they were all targets of her resentment.

    Whenever she saw a woman with a more impressive figure, she would curse them inwardly.

    Once, a noble lady had looked at her flat chest with pity. That night, Eileen had snuck into her home and… ruined her figure. She had heard the woman went mad afterwards. Serves her right.

    The only woman she had ever liked was a noble lady named Louisa, whose figure was even flatter than her own.

    It was the first time Eileen had felt confident about her body.

    She shook her head, dismissing the thought, and looked at her sister questioningly: “Why are you asking about Athena?”

    “I don’t think she’s a good person,” Airi said, frowning. “I heard that shameless woman has given herself to Qin Chu, the Second Hero.”

    Eileen gasped: “Really?”

    Athena, so devoted to Jie Luo, had given herself to Qin Chu?

    Airi nodded vigorously: “Yes, it’s true. Apparently, it was to help Qin Chu win the duel against the First Prince, to increase his mana.”

    “That mana was Jie Luo’s! That shameless woman gave it to Qin Chu! How disgusting!”

    “Do you think someone like that would truly be dedicated to resurrecting Jie Luo? Do you think she’s truly on our side?”

    “And she’s been spending a lot of time with Qin Chu lately. They seem very close.”

    “I suspect she’s Qin Chu’s spy within the former Hero Squad…” Airi said, emphasizing her words to incite her sister.

    She was telling the truth, but she conveniently omitted certain details.

    It worked. Eileen began to suspect Athena as well.

    Airi continued: “I’m worried Muse might have been killed by her. Even if she obtained Jie Luo’s soul fragment, she wouldn’t give it to us.”

    “Sister, should we… eliminate her?” A sinister glint appeared in Airi’s eyes.

    …

    Meanwhile, Athena, unaware of the Twin Thieves’ plot against her, remembered Qin Chu’s warning.

    She had parted ways with him, feeling a pang of reluctance… but also a sense of relief.

    There were things she didn’t want to do in front of him.

    He was intelligent and perceptive… Like when she had gone to assist Muse, a voice had warned her to stay away, but she had ignored it.

    Why had she fallen for Jie Luo?

    And why had she fallen for Qin Chu?

    These questions plagued her.

    A voice in her head whispered, Why bother? Isn’t this good enough?, but she couldn’t ignore the questions.

    And was the information from Jie Luo’s soul fragment, revealed by the mysterious woman, true, or fabricated?

    She knew it was wrong to doubt her master… but… her stubbornness wouldn’t let her rest until she knew the truth.

    Now, alone and away from Qin Chu, she could investigate.

    She had seen Ireta probing the soul fragment. Although she had never tried it before, she felt she could do it too.

    She glanced around, making sure she was alone, then stopped, placing the larger soul fragment in her hand.

    She took a deep breath, her gaze fixed on the fragment.

    She remained in this position for a long time.

    She wasn’t Ireta. She couldn’t manipulate souls as easily, neither her own nor others’. This was a significant challenge.

    One minute, ten minutes, an hour…

    Night fell.

    Athena stood motionless, her body trembling slightly. Suddenly, a thin, black thread emerged from her forehead.

    Her eyes widened slightly. It was a strand of her own soul. She carefully guided it, moving it slowly through the air, wrapping it around the soul fragment.

    Then, she slowly probed its depths.

    “Tsk, she actually did it,” Qin Chu muttered, watching from a distance.

    Despite having parted ways, he had been following her secretly, curious to see what she would do.

    As expected of the smartest member of the Hero Squad. Even with her altered memories, she had sensed something was amiss and was seeking the truth.

    He didn’t intervene. This was perfect.

    He wanted to see her reaction when she saw the information within the soul fragment.

    “This woman’s talent is remarkable,” Ireta commented, also observing from a distance.

    While Athena’s methods were crude compared to hers, they were still impressive.

    This was a long and arduous process for Athena. Ireta could extract information instantly with her numerous soul threads.

    But Athena only had this single, fragile strand.

    Like a tentacle, it explored the soul fragment, like trying to decipher raised text with closed eyes, relying only on touch.

    Despite her intelligence and willpower, it was a difficult task.

    Athena meticulously analyzed the information, her face growing paler with each passing hour.

    Finally, as dawn broke, she opened her eyes.

    Her face was drained of color. She stumbled back, collapsing to the ground, gasping for breath.

    Maintaining such intense focus for so long had taken a toll on her mental strength. A sharp pain pierced her head.

    And what pained her even more was the realization that Qin Chu had been telling the truth.

    The soul fragment contained a clear record of the First Hero, Jie Luo, being summoned, intercepted, his soul destroyed, and his body taken over by an entity created by an Evil God…

    The Jie Luo she admired… a creation of an Evil God? His purpose to eliminate the other summoned heroes?

    A hollow ache filled her chest… but it wasn’t enough to break her. Perhaps because another figure now occupied her heart?

    She didn’t suspect that Qin Chu had planted the information within the fragment. It aligned too perfectly with Jie Luo’s actions.

    On one hand, there was Jie Luo, the man who had saved her, the man she had loved for years.

    On the other hand, there was the truth of his identity.

    The conflict tore at her, a tormenting dissonance… Ireta had sealed a portion of her feelings for Jie Luo, but not all of them.

    She still loved him.

    Tears streamed down her cheeks. Who were they trying to resurrect? Jie Luo, or a creation of an Evil God?

    No… even if he was a creation of an Evil God, he had killed countless Demon Beasts.

    And he had saved her. That couldn’t be denied.

    But why had he saved her? Considering his other recruits – Benson, Muse, Karsus, Ronald, Airi, and Eileen – she didn’t fit his usual criteria.

    Had he simply been attracted to her powerful magical potential?

    She hugged herself tightly.

    The desire to uncover the truth intensified.

    Just then…

    Two figures emerged from the forest.

    Airi and Eileen. They had finally caught up.

    Seeing Athena sitting on the ground, seemingly distraught, a murderous glint appeared in Airi’s eyes.

    This… was the perfect opportunity to kill her.

  • Miss Luo Yan’s Feet Are Buried With Corpses v3c28

    Witch’s Night: Chapter 28 The Starry Sky Within Reach

    Contrary to Luo Yan’s expectations, Hamid didn’t experience any discomfort after entering the Void.

    Or rather, this discomfort was within his acceptable range.

    Hamid extended his wrinkled, broad hand, gently patted his clothes, and carefully smoothed out the wrinkles.

    Then he turned around and made a prayer gesture towards Luo Yan with a pious expression.

    “I am not your God of Hope.”

    Luo Yan frowned slightly, while also sizing up Hamid.

    From his appearance, this Bishop named “Hamid” wasn’t conspicuous, just like any ordinary commoner.

    Whether it was his temperament or aura, he was quite unremarkable, an ordinary existence that Luo Yan wouldn’t even glance at twice if she encountered him on the street.

    But… his composure in the Void wasn’t something an ordinary commoner could achieve.

    Luo Yan suddenly felt that she had miscalculated. Besides her, could there be other humans immune to the Void?

    Or rather… was this a talent?

    Hamid didn’t know about Luo Yan’s random thoughts; he just smiled faintly and said in a low voice,

    “Of course I know, you are not the God of Hope.”

    “…Then you?”

    Luo Yan became slightly wary. Although the old man in front of her had been respectful, she didn’t know what he was actually thinking.

    “You have seen the God of Hope with your own eyes, haven’t you?”

    Hamid looked up, his steady gaze filled with unconcealable fervor. “I sense the purest aura of the God of Hope on you… Ah, it’s the power She left behind.”

    He seemed to half-close his eyes, sniffing intoxicatedly, a subtle smile playing on his lips.

    “…I have.”

    Luo Yan couldn’t help but take a few steps back. Hamid’s current appearance was a bit creepy…

    Why hadn’t Cecilia mentioned this before?

    However, Luo Yan had indeed seen the Witch of Envy, but at the same time, she had also defeated the Witch of Envy… Whatever this old man was planning, now that the Witch of Envy was gone, it couldn’t be realized.

    “Oh, I apologize for my rudeness. It’s been a long time since I’ve spoken with a young lady, I’ve overstepped.”

    Hamid realized his behavior and quickly apologized.

    He looked at the scenery of the Void around him, recalled the truth beyond the starry sky, and murmured,

    “However, Miss Luo Yan, if you intend to let me witness the truth again, you didn’t have to bring me into the Void in this way. I am willing to see it again, even if it’s filled with pain.”

    “What truth?”

    Luo Yan blinked, confused.

    “…Ah?” Hamid was stunned. “You brought me to the Void, not to let me witness the truth again and bestow upon us the oracle from the God of Hope?”

    “What, what oracle?”

    Luo Yan was completely bewildered. Had the Witch of Envy left an oracle?

    If it was just words She had spoken… Luo Yan remembered, the Witch of Envy had said quite a bit.

    If that could be considered an oracle, Luo Yan would have to organize it and write a short essay.

    Hamid was momentarily speechless. He hadn’t thought that Luo Yan intended to harm him or anything.

    Because humans who had seen the Gods and witnessed the truth would become fellow travelers of the Church of the End Gods, striving to destroy civilization.

    “I brought you in here just to talk to you about Cecilia.” Luo Yan said, spreading her hands. “Unfortunately, I can’t beat you outside, and I didn’t expect that I can’t beat you in the Void either, so we can only have a normal chat like this.”

    Luo Yan wasn’t stupid. The other party clearly wasn’t affected by the Void, so how could she be foolish enough to directly attack?

    It was better to be cautious when caution was warranted…

    “…Unexpectedly, compared to the oracle concerning the survival of the world, you are more concerned about an insignificant God’s Chosen.”

    Hamid’s expression gradually calmed down. “Can I interpret this as your unique benevolence?”

    “How absurd… If the God of Hope you’re referring to is the Witch of Envy, then yes, I’ve seen Her, but She’s dead.”

    Luo Yan said indifferently, but at the same time, she was wary of a possible counterattack from Hamid.

    Stating directly to a Bishop that his God was dead did carry such a risk.

    However, this was the Void, her home turf.

    Even if Hamid could stay in the Void, he definitely couldn’t move around as freely as Luo Yan.

    Only here did Luo Yan have the confidence to speak frankly with Hamid.

    “Miss Luo Yan, even if you are a messenger returning from the Gods, you absolutely cannot make this kind of joke.”

    Sure enough, Hamid’s expression instantly darkened, but he didn’t attack. Instead, he continued in a low voice,

    “The Gods will not perish, they exist eternally in the world.”

    “Think what you want, anyway, my feeling tells me She’s dead.”

    Luo Yan spread her hands. She didn’t intend to continue arguing with Hamid on this issue.

    “…I only ask for an oracle, Miss Luo Yan.”

    Hamid’s tone was no longer friendly, but he was still restraining himself.

    “The Gods told you the truth, didn’t it move you even a little? Don’t you think humanity is straying further and further down the wrong path?

    “If this continues, the enemy of the Gods will descend, and the entire world might cease to exist…”

    Luo Yan crossed her arms and said, “I don’t think so.”

    “…?”

    Hamid finally showed a bewildered expression. He was certain that Luo Yan had seen the truth, but why… did she refuse?

    Even a natural-born villain, after witnessing that truth beyond human comprehension, would become the most loyal follower of the Church of the End Gods.

    “As for the oracle, She did ramble on quite a bit, but I didn’t remember much.” Luo Yan shrugged. “If you really want an oracle, I can’t help you.”

    Hearing this, Hamid’s expression instantly turned ugly. He couldn’t see through Luo Yan, didn’t know how much of what she said was true and how much was false.

    The Lord’s language was obscure and difficult to understand. Even though the Church of the End Gods had spent a thousand years trying, they could only discern a few usable words from those strange syllables, which, after some modification, became the Church’s unique “divine language.”

    This counterfeit divine language was naturally nothing compared to the Lord’s true language, but it had already surpassed all languages humanity possessed so far.

    Even some of the words derived from the true divine language carried the power of word spirits, and uttering them would trigger phenomena.

    Under these circumstances… rambling? Even if the Gods possessed human emotions, how could their complex and fragmented divine language be easily understood by humans?

    Even attempting to understand it was dangerous.

    But Luo Yan’s expression and actions told Hamid that she wasn’t lying.

    What was her identity?

    “I can tell you everything about Cecilia, but we only want the oracle, Miss Luo Yan.”

    Hamid took a deep breath. He knew that at this time, he could only follow her lead.

    “Even just a few words from the Gods are a valuable treasure to us, and I am willing to pay any price for it.”

    “Just for… a few words?”

    The corners of Luo Yan’s mouth curled up slightly, then she smoothed her expression and said softly, “If this is a transaction, I have no objections.”

    “You can consider it a transaction, but for us, putting an oracle from the Gods on the scales of a transaction is an insult in itself.”

    Hamid said in a deep voice, “But since things have come to this, I believe the Gods will forgive our crude and offensive behavior.”

    “She… heh, probably doesn’t care at all.”

    Luo Yan shrugged. As the only “living being” who had truly faced the Witch of Envy, she was indeed qualified to say this.

    “Even if the Gods don’t care, it’s not a reason for us to insult Them.” Hamid said in a deep voice, then paused, his tone becoming slightly awkward. “If possible, Miss Luo Yan, let’s… change the location and talk somewhere else.”

    “Hmm?”

    Luo Yan looked at Hamid again, and only then did she notice that faint beads of blood were seeping from his orifices.

    This was the Void, the absolute forbidden zone for living beings. Even if Hamid had experience visiting the Void, he couldn’t sustain activity within it.

    At most, relying on his “Destruction” level and experience with the Void, he could last longer than others; that was Hamid’s limit.

    Someone like Luo Yan, who could move around freely in the Void as easily as eating and drinking, apart from the Gods, there was probably no other existence in the world who could do the same.

    “That puts my mind at ease. I thought you weren’t afraid of the Void environment at all.”

    Luo Yan breathed a sigh of relief and patted her chest.

    Hamid: “…”

    Normal living beings were afraid, right… But you…

    Hamid also couldn’t understand why Luo Yan could stay in the Void for so long. Although he could sense the aura of the “God of the Future” (i.e., the Witch of End) on her, she was… still a living being.

    However, this question wasn’t important right now. There were many mysterious phenomena in this world that even he, at several hundred years old, hadn’t seen before, so it wasn’t surprising.

    After this exchange, which couldn’t really be considered friendly, Luo Yan and Hamid temporarily reached a consensus.

    Knowing that Hamid couldn’t stay in the Void for long, Luo Yan felt more confident. And since the other party did have an incomprehensible yearning for the oracle, she didn’t have to worry about Hamid causing any more trouble.

    Anyway, if you cause trouble, I’ll just escape into the Void, what can you do to me?

    Hamid buried his doubts deep in his heart and followed Luo Yan’s steps, enduring the discomfort until Luo Yan found the corresponding node and tore space to return to the present world.

    But after taking a step out, he froze, and then an unconcealable fear washed over him.

    This… where was this?

    Hamid looked around, a sense of emptiness enveloping him. This was a familiar feeling etched deep within his heart, yet he didn’t dare to touch it.

    Looking up, twinkling lights seemed to be right in front of him, the starry sky within reach.

    This was the starry sky! The starry sky just one step away from the truth!

    Why did Luo Yan bring him here? Was there some deeper meaning?

    Hamid suddenly remembered what he had just said. He had only asked to change the location to talk, and Luo Yan hadn’t objected. Was this the reason?

    Did she intend to tell him the oracle of the Gods in front of the easily broken truth?

    Hamid tremblingly turned to look at Luo Yan, but saw a bewildered expression on the beautiful girl’s indifferent face, then she touched her chin and said,

    “The corresponding location is correct, but the altitude is wrong… Sorry, Hamid, I got lost.”

    “…”

    Hamid still couldn’t be sure whether Luo Yan was telling the truth or not.

    However, he didn’t have time to worry about this. The momentary stupor from leaving the Void passed, and the two began to fall from the sky.

    ……

    Meanwhile, in Lannister.

    Without Hamid’s leadership, the Calamities caused by the followers of the Church of the End Gods were also being extinguished one by one, and the seemingly endless stream of Calamities finally came to an end.

    In just half a day, Lannister had suffered no less than ten “Ruin” level Calamities, countless “Calamity” level Calamities, and a “Peril” level Calamity in Restricted Zone Seven (both Hamid and Zoya were deliberately controlling themselves), the losses immeasurable.

    Any other mega-city, even Noah, would struggle to withstand such a heavy blow.

    But the disaster wasn’t over yet. The greatest threat, Bishop Hamid of the Church of the End Gods, was still missing, and Granny Zoya, Lannister’s only “Destruction” level ability user, was seriously injured and still undergoing treatment.

    Tina, the Shadow Guard lurking in Lannister, who was also Chris’s mother, had been secretly assisting the various ability user squads in eliminating the Calamities. While the Lannister command was worried about the situation, she was actually quite relieved.

    “Little Tina~ I’ll be there soon, remember to wash up and wait for me~”

    Shadow’s playful voice suddenly sounded in Tina’s ear, carrying her usual teasing and banter.

    “Saint Shadow, please show some respect to a married woman, and besides, I have a daughter.”

    Although hearing this voice put Tina’s mind at ease, she still said with a straight face.

    She had just called her Auntie Tina, and now it was Little Tina… Saint Shadow really was… childlike?

    “However, Saint Shadow, your shadow avatar only has thirty percent of your strength, isn’t it too much of a stretch to deal with Hamid?”

    Tina frowned slightly. “I’ve seen Granny Zoya’s condition. Even with all her strength, she’s no match for Hamid, he didn’t even take her seriously.”

    “That’s what stragglers are like, I don’t take her seriously either.” Shadow agreed.

    “…Isn’t it a bit inappropriate to talk about a pillar of humanity like this behind her back?”

    Tina had heard a lot of gossip about important figures from Saint Shadow, making it difficult for her to look at these once revered pillars with the same respect.

    “I say the same thing to old woman Zoya’s face. Who told her to always mock me for getting in through the back door back then?” Shadow said indifferently.

    “Anyway, she can’t beat me—neither can Hamid. Don’t worry, he lost to me back then, and he’ll still lose to me now. Once my defeated opponent, always my defeated opponent.”

  • My Girlfriend is a Cold and Aloof Sickly Beauty 67

    Chapter 67: Does Xiao Luo Want to Try Too?

    After listening attentively to Jiang Xue’s patient explanation, Xiao Luohan finally relaxed.

    It seemed she had taken things too quickly, worrying those who cared about her.

    She thought for a moment, looked into Jiang Xue’s eyes, and said, “I understand your kindness. Perhaps I’ve rested for too long during the past seventeen years, so when I finally started moving again, I couldn’t help but want to take more steps, walk faster.”

    Jiang Xue patted her back. “I understand.”

    “But I rarely change my mind about things I’ve decided on,” Xiao Luohan continued. “For example, I believe that going to bed early is good for my health. Unless I change my mind, I won’t agree to stay up late no matter who asks.”

    Hearing this, Jiang Xue was also relieved. She could sense that this was something Xiao Luo deliberately said for her and Elder Sister Red Fox to hear.

    “Rest assured, I lived with my mother in the cold palace for so many years, and survived until now with such a frail body, so I definitely know how to rest and relax.” Xiao Luohan also patted her shoulder. “You… no, you all don’t have to treat me like a delicate flower.”

    She knew her elder sister was also listening.

    Just as Jiang Xue had taught her today, if she felt that someone close to her wasn’t being entirely truthful, she should express her own feelings clearly, so that the other person would remember.

    Jiang Xue repeatedly agreed, thinking that if Xiao Luo were a flower, she would definitely be a plum blossom, capable of “blooming alone in the cold.”

    Just as she thought this, she saw something falling from above. She instinctively looked up and saw a red plum blossom.

    Before she could react, Xiao Luohan reached out and caught it.

    “Elder Sister understands,” she said, smiling and holding the petal, even though the red fox hadn’t appeared.

    After this small interlude, they stayed in the mindscape for a while longer, until the wake-up bell rang, and they both woke up from the dream.

    The wake-up bell for lunch break at Si Ling rotated through several instrumental music pieces. Today, it wasn’t A Wish Across Time, but a more upbeat melody.

    Seeing Xiao Luohan lying there, listening curiously with her eyes open, Jiang Xue softly explained, “This is Croatian Rhapsody. The theme is anti-war.”

    Xiao Luohan thought of her home country.

    According to the definition in this world, she had been living in the “Warring States period” before crossing over. The world wasn’t unified, with stronger countries annexing weaker ones, only to be conquered by even stronger countries. No one knew when it would end, and there had never been a true “era of peace.”

    However, after seeing Beiliao’s victory in the mindscape, she started hoping that Beiliao could become a powerful nation capable of “ending all wars.”

    After the afternoon English class, Xiao Luohan planned to borrow Jiang Xue’s books and test papers and try attending a biology class.

    According to Jiang Xue, biology was “the liberal arts of science,” with more memorization and comprehension than calculation.

    The reason she had initially found it difficult to understand was mainly because she had rarely encountered related knowledge points before, and even if she had, many of the terms used in biology in ancient times were different from those used in modern times.

    So Xiao Luohan decided to give it a try.

    But as soon as class started, she noticed the teacher’s gaze. Looking over, she found that the biology teacher, nicknamed “Homozygote,” was looking at Jiang Xue.

    …Why was she looking at Jiang Xue?

    The only reason Xiao Luohan could think of was that Jiang Xue was distracted, but the class had just started, and biology was a subject Jiang Xue liked and excelled at. She shouldn’t be distracted, right?

    But she was still worried and couldn’t help but glance at Jiang Xue.

    Jiang Xue, suddenly the focus of two gazes: ?

    She was confused for a moment, then, noticing the fluffy cat keychain on Xiao Luohan’s backpack, she suddenly realized.

    It could only be this. That night, after evening self-study, she had been “claimed” by Xiao Luo, who had transformed into a Ragdoll cat. She had carried the cat and searched the entire senior year office area with Xie Xitong, looking for the cat’s owner, and had asked “Homozygote.”

    Since she had a good relationship with “Homozygote,” she had held up the cat for her to see.

    Putting herself in the biology teacher’s shoes, Jiang Xue cringed, feeling that it must have been terrifying.

    She was a biology teacher, and late at night, after everyone had left, a student suddenly entered the office, holding nothing in her arms, and asked her which teacher owned the cat.

    Either it was really haunted, or the student had delusions, or the pressure of studying had caused hallucinations—none of the conclusions sounded normal.

    And she couldn’t explain it!

    Jiang Xue covered half her face and sighed deeply. For the rest of the class, she listened attentively, afraid that “Homozygote” would worry about her again.

    But as soon as class ended, the biology teacher called her over.

    “Jiang Xue, your biology grades have been good since your sophomore year. As long as you continue to listen attentively in class, do your homework, and correct your mistakes, I believe you can maintain them. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself!”

    Jiang Xue: …

    Now there was no way to explain.

    Seeing her dejectedly return, Xiao Luohan asked with concern, “What’s wrong?”

    Jiang Xue opened her mouth, thinking about how to explain the situation, when Xie Xitong walked over with a smile. “Xiao Luo, do you want to join us for PE too?”

    Staring at the “culprit” for three seconds, Jiang Xue sighed and stood up. “Of course! I also want to introduce Xiao Luo to the school store!”

    As they walked down the stairs, she said casually, “Can I play table tennis with you today?”

    “Sure,” Xie Xitong, oblivious to her ulterior motives, readily agreed.

    Although playing table tennis also required moving around quickly, it was much less strenuous than badminton for Jiang Xue.

    Most importantly, Xie Xitong was terrible at table tennis, and she loved playing despite being terrible. In the entire class, only Jiang Xue was willing to play with her.

    Jiang Xue decided to take a little revenge during this PE class.

    Not telling her was too much! If Xie Xitong had just given her a heads-up, she wouldn’t have run around the office area at night, holding what others saw as “air cat”!

    Xiao Luohan followed behind them, feeling that Jiang Xue’s gaze towards Xie Xitong carried a hint of… resentment?

    She suspected she was mistaken, but after arriving at the gymnasium and watching Xie Xitong go get the table tennis balls and paddles, Jiang Xue explained, “Do you remember when you came to me as a cat?”

    Xiao Luohan: …

    She seemed to understand where the resentment came from.

    “A-Xi knew something was unusual about the cat, but didn’t tell you?” she asked tentatively, then received a helpless sigh in response.

    “It’s not a big deal, it’s just that I made the biology teacher worry, and I feel a little bad, but I can’t explain it, so I’m taking it out on the ‘culprit’.” Jiang Xue whispered, “Besides our homeroom teacher, ‘Homozygote’ cares about us the most.”

    After all, this was high school. Students had their own independence, and unless there were obvious abnormalities, or if a student actively sought help from a trusted teacher, generally, other teachers wouldn’t notice such details—they had too many students to deal with, and teachers also had limited energy.

    After Xie Xitong returned with the balls and paddles, Xiao Luohan followed them to a table tennis table and sat nearby, watching their intense “battle of the noobs.”

    She quickly realized that Xie Xitong was completely unskilled and just hitting the ball randomly, while Jiang Xue, who could actually play, was now even serving with spin, making Xie Xitong chase after the ball repeatedly.

    She felt a little guilty. Regardless of the original intention, the incident that night had led to today’s situation, and she was also partly responsible—she could have spoken, but she had pretended to be a cat the entire time.

    But seeing the two happily playing, with Xie Xitong even trying to imitate Jiang Xue’s “spin serve,” Jiang Xue’s initial resentment had also dissipated. She thought for a moment, deciding to wait a little longer before mentioning it.

    She watched for half the class, and in the end, it was Xie Xitong who invited her: “Xiao Luo, do you want to try too? A-Xue can’t exercise for too long, she needs to rest.”

    “Xiao Luo doesn’t know how to play yet, don’t bully her!” Although Jiang Xue said this, she handed her paddle to Xiao Luohan.

    But before resting, she explained to Xiao Luo in as much detail as possible how to serve, receive, and the rules of the game.

    Xiao Luohan nodded obediently, listened attentively, took the paddle, and carefully wiped her palms and the handle with a tissue to prevent slipping.

    Then she adopted the exact same stance as Jiang Xue.

    Five minutes later, Xie Xitong pulled Jiang Xue, who was resting, from her seat. “Did you two practice last night?”

    Jiang Xue: …

    “Of course not! I was so tired last night that I went to bed early! Who has the energy and stamina to play table tennis after a long flight?!” she defended herself loudly. “Xiao Luo is just naturally talented and observant, right? She’s never seen table tennis before today!”

    “Then she’s too amazing!” Xie Xitong exclaimed sincerely. “It feels like I’m still playing against the same person!”

    This piqued Jiang Xue’s curiosity. She waited for another five minutes, then couldn’t help but replace Xie Xitong and play against Xiao Luohan.

    …It was exactly the same, their habits and movements almost identical.

    It was Jiang Xue’s first “mirror image” experience. As they played, she became engrossed, even experiencing the joy of “playing chess with both hands.”

    But she remembered that Xiao Luohan’s health wasn’t good, and Xiao Luohan also remembered that she couldn’t exercise for too long, so after just five minutes, they both put down their paddles.

    After putting away the paddles and washing their hands, they went to the small store inside the gymnasium together.

    “That day, I just wanted you to choose a drink, but I didn’t expect you to not only choose ‘Scream,’ but also the red one, which is widely considered the worst,” Jiang Xue said as they walked along the shelves, taking a can of mulberry yogurt drink and handing it to Xiao Luohan. “I actually wanted to recommend dairy products, especially yogurt, which is said to be good for the stomach, and it’s probably not common in your world, right?”

    Xiao Luohan carefully thought about it and nodded. “Indeed, I’ve only seen ‘cheese’ in travelogues.”

    Jiang Xue thought for a moment. “After the college entrance exam, if your health improves, why don’t we go on a trip to the grasslands, where there are many dairy products?”

    Xiao Luohan instinctively wanted to agree, but then remembered that she had just made a promise to Uncle Seuss to help him pick grapes and make wine during the summer vacation.

    No wonder Jiang Xue had said “it’s not a binding agreement.” Seeing something interesting, she would always have new ideas, and making promises too early would restrict her actions. It was best to make arrangements closer to the actual time.

    “If I’m free, I’d like to,” she replied to Jiang Xue, opening the mulberry yogurt drink and taking a sip.

    …Delicious! Sweet and sour! She wanted to visit the grasslands even more now.