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  • After I Abandoned the Protagonist [Quick Transmigration] 228

    Chapter 228: So I’m the Protagonist After All (24)

    Sui Yihuan, the Nine Continents native who wouldn’t even say she liked someone and used to get nervous holding hands, even as the Demon Lord now, hadn’t heard many sweet nothings. Su Mingxiu’s simple and sincere “I love you” left her flustered, unable to utter a single word of refusal. She silently led Su Mingxiu back to Black Stone Dock, which stood above the blood lake.

    Su Mingxiu didn’t want to miss this opportunity to press her advantage. As soon as they returned to the room, she eagerly embraced her again, “If you don’t say anything, I’ll take it as you agreeing?”

    Sui Yihuan’s eyes flickered, her pale lips parted, trying to find a rebuttal. But before she could speak, her gaze suddenly sharpened, and she looked towards the door coldly, “Who is it?”

    “Reporting to Your Lordship—the two cultivators you ordered us to watch in the demon stone mine have caused some trouble.”

    Of all times.

    Hearing the location and the reporter’s identity, Su Mingxiu also remembered those two lingering presences. She could only let go, looking at Sui Yihuan with displeasure as she summoned someone in.

    “Speak.”

    The Demon Lord commanded curtly.

    The demon sent to monitor Xiao Xingwei and Xuan Chan reported that the two cultivators had suddenly stopped working in the mine today, claiming to be unwell. When the people in the mine went to check their tent, they found that they had disappeared.

    Just after this demon finished reporting, another demoness came outside the room and reported that the female cultivator with wood spiritual power near the blood lake cliff had also disappeared.

    “By order of this Lord, from today onwards, the four major cities of the Demon Abyss will search for these three cultivators with all their might. Whoever captures these three alive will be handsomely rewarded by this Lord.”

    “Yes.”

    By the time the demons outside the room retreated, the previous ambiguous atmosphere had long since dissipated.

    Su Mingxiu saw Sui Yihuan reach out and grab at the void, but only grabbed a few broken black neck rings. Her expression changed slightly, as if she couldn’t understand who could have such ability, daring to act right under her nose.

    “It’s the Buddhist Sect’s doing,” Su Mingxiu said, conjuring a plate of green grapes, still fresh as if just picked from the vine.

    The cultivator plucked one and held it to the Demon Lord’s lips, who was unconsciously frowning, “Although they are nominally beneath the Sword Sect, on par with the Hundred Flower Sect, Joyful Union Sect, and Beast Taming Sect, they appeared earlier than the Sword Sect and have hidden a lot of their true strength. If it weren’t for the fact that the Nine Continents’ tribulation is too difficult, they usually wouldn’t appear, so their reputation in the mortal world is lower.”

    After two lifetimes, Su Mingxiu still hadn’t had the chance to figure out how many cards they held.

    Sui Yihuan pursed her lips, refusing to eat the grape. Su Mingxiu could only lean closer and bite it herself, then, while she wasn’t paying attention, pressed the back of her neck, pried open her lips, and fed her the grape in another way.

    “You say you don’t like this, but you force others to use this on you. The phrase ‘duplicitous’ must have been created for you.”

    Because there was something in her mouth, the Demon Lord’s reprimanding tone became sticky, losing its usual coldness, “Su Mingxiu!”

    “Mm-hmm, I know you love me too. No need to call my name over and over again, I’m here.” The playful voice seized the opportunity to stuff another grape into her mouth.

    Sui Yihuan was angered by her. In the end, she pressed the person against the table to stop her unreasonable feeding behavior. Their breaths mingled, and although they weren’t doing anything, the atmosphere between them became heated.

    Seeing the other person’s star-like eyes looking at her with a smile, Sui Yihuan looked at her for a while, and the anger in her chest inexplicably disappeared. Finally, she helplessly spoke, changing the subject, “They’re all gone, what about you?”

    How did these cultivators communicate with each other? Why didn’t Su Mingxiu leave? Was it because she didn’t want to, or because they abandoned her?

    Sui Yihuan had too many questions hidden in this helpless sentence.

    But Su Mingxiu understood. She originally wanted to tease her beloved, but seeing those deep red eyes and sensing the tension in Sui Yihuan’s actions, she changed her mind and comforted her, “From the moment I stepped into this Demon Abyss, no matter where my heart lies, they were destined not to let me leave this place.”

    So they didn’t tell her how to communicate with each other.

    Nor did they inform her of any plans.

    From the moment she took that gu, Su Mingxiu knew that she had become an abandoned child of the righteous path of the Nine Continents. But she didn’t feel abandoned, but rather that she had chosen another path. This time, she wanted to stand by Sui Yihuan’s side and see how the world would change.

    But her comfort didn’t work. Instead, it made Sui Yihuan frown even more. She pursed her lips and after a long time, said, “It was my negligence, I shouldn’t have…”

    She shouldn’t have brought Su Mingxiu to her side because she was too worried about her. If she could have restrained herself, Su Mingxiu wouldn’t have—

    Just then, she felt a sudden pain on her face.

    Su Mingxiu was pinching her face with both hands, like kneading dough, but with much less force, “You’re doing it again. You don’t even have children, how did you develop this patriarchal attitude? I knew what path I was going to take, and I knew the price of taking it. Sui Yihuan, I know my own Dao, so why do you put those irrelevant responsibilities on your shoulders? Isn’t it better to let me share them with you? You’re also human, aren’t you afraid of being tired?”

    “I…”

    Hearing the word “tired,” Sui Yihuan’s gaze drifted. Since leaving the Hundred Flower Sect, she had stopped treating herself as an ordinary person, getting used to always maintaining her strength.

    Otherwise, she would be pushed into the abyss by those lurking in the dark at any moment. It was impossible for her to feel tired. If she ever felt this way, she would be close to death.

    But she couldn’t deny that perhaps the grapes she ate earlier were too sweet, corrupting her hard heart and bewitching her tongue. Now she couldn’t say a single harsh word.

    And now, Su Mingxiu chose to be honest with her. She released her grip on her cheeks and offered her own palm, “There’s a gu inside me that they planted. I don’t know what it is yet, but I’ve tried and can’t remove it with my own cultivation. I guess it’s not something easy to deal with.”

    “Can you help me?”

    She was using herself as an example, trying to teach this person who had been alone in the darkness for too long, telling her, you’re not alone. Look, even someone as powerful as me can ask for help without shame when I need it.

    “I…”

    In her unresisting compliance, Sui Yihuan changed the color of her eyes, carefully probing her meridians with the spiritual power she had as a cultivator, speaking very cautiously, “I will try my best.”

    Su Mingxiu leaned in to kiss her, but was stopped by her. So she could only use her other hand to smooth the wrinkles between her eyebrows, “Don’t frown, even if you can’t solve it, I still have other ways. Don’t be nervous.”

    “And those three people, I can probably guess where they went—”

    “Don’t frown, it’s not the end of the road yet.”

    Hearing her gentle voice, Sui Yihuan’s mood strangely calmed down. She even had the illusion that “if Su Mingxiu was really with her, there was probably nothing she couldn’t do in these nine continents.”

    Seeing the loosening of the hard stone in her heart, the smile on Su Mingxiu’s lips widened. In this dim room, it was like a delicate red apricot blossom reaching in, bringing spring light to the entire room.

    “What about you?”

    “Is there anything you want to tell me?” She asked.

    About the Heavenly Demon, about her plans for the Demon Abyss, or about how to fight against the Nine Continents, was Sui Yihuan willing to trust her unconditionally and give her this chance to stand by her side?

    Facing the Heavenly Dao, the cunning Xiao Xingwei, and the difficulties she experienced in those small worlds before, Su Mingxiu didn’t think it was a big deal. She was like the sharpest sword in the world, and there could be no obstacle that could stop her.

    Even love, she would occasionally weigh it carefully, deciding how much and to what extent she should give.

    —But only when facing Sui Yihuan did she feel helpless and at her wit’s end.

    Those arrogant thoughts from their first meeting, of wanting to keep the phoenix in a golden cage, to keep her as a treasured beauty, had long since vanished. After being loved so completely, Su Mingxiu could no longer bear to hurt her in the slightest.

    No matter how annoyed she was by the other person’s willfulness, now she could only, like the first to fall in love in those romance stories, unable to hurt the other person, only hurt herself, dig open her chest, and present that worthless heart to the other person, whispering carefully and humbly:

    Look, it loves you so much. Without you, it will die.

  • Dear, it’s time for your medicine! 275

    Chapter 275: The Goddess’s Favor

    The unusual activity of the Goddess’s Hair and the sapling surprised Qin Chu.

    Since they had taken root within him, they had been relatively quiet, only lending their power during combat. Most of the time, they simply resided peacefully within him.

    The Goddess’s Hair was also Qin Chu’s link to the goddess trapped in the Void.

    This was the first time they had actively manifested like this.

    Qin Chu was taken aback.

    He didn’t rashly suppress their activity, but instead pondered the cause.

    Wadsworth interpreted Qin Chu’s contemplation and surprise as reluctance.

    He understood Qin Chu’s hesitation. Even with preparations, facing the insidious Witch Society was dangerous.

    The changes in the sapling and the Goddess’s Hair didn’t last long, perhaps only a few seconds, before returning to normal.

    The Goddess’s Hair remained wrapped around his wrist, the heat gone.

    The sapling also settled down within him, quiet once more.

    It seemed the matter was resolved.

    Although unsure of what had transpired, at least it hadn’t caused any trouble. Qin Chu felt slightly relieved.

    Noticing Wadsworth’s expectant gaze, Qin Chu coughed lightly: “Apologies, Your Majesty. I seem to have drifted off.”

    “But don’t worry. I won’t refuse anything that benefits the Heavenly Continent.”

    Wadsworth was overjoyed.

    This time, he would wipe out the Blissful Witch Society completely. Hopefully, none of his consorts were involved.

    …

    Meanwhile, Carol left the meeting room.

    She hadn’t organized a private gathering. As a member of the Hero Squad, she had attended the latter part of the meeting, but remained silent.

    She had witnessed the nobles’ unsightly behavior.

    When Qin Chu mentioned the possibility of capturing the Snow Woman, Blood Elf, and Succubus, the nobles’ reactions disgusted her.

    Didn’t they realize Qin Chu was just bluffing?

    In this world, verbal promises held no value.

    Besides, knowing Qin Chu’s personality, if he did capture them, why would he hand them over?

    They were dreaming.

    Of course, some of the shrewder nobles likely saw through Qin Chu’s bluff… but, for these old foxes, since stopping Qin Chu from claiming Heloise and Iyeta was impossible, and they lacked the courage to contradict him, it was better to feign ignorance and let the matter slide.

    Compared to those cunning old foxes, Carol, though intelligent, lacked their worldliness.

    She found the atmosphere, both at the banquet and in the meeting room, distasteful.

    Having grown up in the palace, Carol had led a sheltered and carefree life, envied by many.

    But this had also fostered a certain rebellious streak within her. She wasn’t content with the greenhouse. She craved something to stimulate her body and soul.

    Stepping out, Carol stretched her arms with a disregard for royal decorum, her well-proportioned figure forming seductive curves.

    Suddenly, her nose twitched.

    Her raised arms slowly lowered.

    Her brow furrowed, and she took a deep breath… the scent of blood lingered in the air.

    Innate Ability – Beast’s Intuition.

    Beast’s Intuition: High-Rank Ability. Grants the eyesight of an eagle, the hearing of a bat, and the sense of smell of a bear.

    The scent of blood was faint, but Carol’s heightened senses detected it.

    With nothing better to do, she followed the scent, arriving at a garden.

    Seeing the uncleaned bloodstains on the ground, Carol’s frown deepened.

    She initially thought someone might have cut their hand, but the scene suggested something more serious. Footprints were clearly visible.

    Lingering mana fluctuations remained in the air.

    A conflict had taken place here?

    Carol’s sharp mind sensed something amiss. Wrinkling her nose, she followed the direction of the fading blood scent.

    After some time, almost reaching the edge of the palace grounds, she found the source.

    Two guards were carrying a motionless, seemingly lifeless maid.

    Had another consort flown into a rage and killed a servant? Such incidents weren’t uncommon in the palace. After all, these consorts, mostly daughters of dukes and marquises, had fiery tempers.

    They wouldn’t dare vent their anger in front of their father, but taking it out on their servants was commonplace.

    However, Carol felt this was different. The maid’s uniform looked familiar.

    A bad premonition arose.

    Suddenly, her eyes widened.

    Carol was tasked with improving relations between the Hero and the royal family. But she cleverly realized that directly flattering Qin Chu wouldn’t be effective. A better approach was to befriend the women around him. Thus, despite being a princess, she had made efforts to befriend Angelica at the front lines.

    That uniform… she had seen it on Angelica.

    Was this woman Angelica, Qin Chu’s personal maid and most favored companion?

    Carol shivered, her face draining of color.

    She felt faint.

    This was a disaster.

    The Hero’s most beloved woman, dead within the palace walls?

    Knowing Qin Chu’s temperament, he would tear the palace apart. Forget improving relations, this could ignite an unquenchable feud.

    Damn it, what had happened here?

    Carol didn’t have time to dwell on solutions. Like a gust of wind, she darted forward, intercepting the guards.

    “Stop! What’s going on here?” Carol’s voice, sharp with fear, betrayed her composure.

    Up close, she was certain this was Angelica. Goosebumps erupted on her skin.

    The two dazed guards, surprised by Carol’s sudden appearance, froze, unsure how to react.

    Their stunned silence fueled Carol’s anxiety.

    Suddenly, Angelica, who had been motionless, lifted her head and gasped.

    Her stilled heart began to beat faintly.

    Her dull eyes regained their light. Looking at Carol, she spoke in a hoarse voice: “…Kill them!”

    The sound sent chills down Carol’s spine. Was this Angelica’s usually clear and gentle voice?

    As Angelica revived, the guards’ eyes reddened, their expressions turning fierce.

    Although unclear about the situation, Carol reacted swiftly. Without hesitation, she lashed out with her whip.

    Crack!

    The whip exploded against one guard’s neck, shattering it into pieces.

    The whip snaked through the air like a viper’s fangs, coiling around the other guard’s throat. With a sickening tear, his throat was ripped open, blood spraying everywhere.

    Carol’s strength wasn’t exceptional within the Hero Squad, but it was more than enough to deal with ordinary guards.

    As Angelica, no longer supported by the guards, began to fall, Carol rushed forward, catching her in her arms.

    Carol couldn’t describe the turmoil within her.

    She had thought Angelica’s death would implicate the royal family, perhaps even the entire Heavenly Continent. A furious Qin Chu might even ally with the Demon Beasts.

    Even Carol’s sharp mind and resolute spirit had faltered in that moment of despair.

    But now, Angelica, who had been dead, was inexplicably alive again.

    And demanding the guards’ deaths.

    Carol felt like she had plummeted into hell, only to be yanked back into heaven.

    Her arms trembled as she held Angelica. Her lips, still pale, parted. A torrent of questions burned on her tongue, but she couldn’t speak.

    Finally, she managed to stammer: “Miss Angelica, what happened?”

    Angelica gasped for breath, a slightly hysterical smile on her face. She had won her gamble.

    The Goddess of Holy Light had truly favored her.

    Dead or Alive.

    The slim 10% chance of revival after death… she had grasped it.

    She had actually been revived for about a minute.

    But having just experienced death, she was extremely weak, her combat strength almost nonexistent. Angelica had suppressed her heartbeat and breathing, waiting for her chance. Carol’s arrival had provided it.

    Death was not a pleasant experience.

    But Angelica didn’t regret it.

    Her throat worked as she struggled to breathe.

    She didn’t have time to recover. After a few seconds, she gripped Carol’s hands: “Quickly, take me to my master, or… the Emperor!”

  • I’m Surrounded by My Own Pets! 203p1

    Replay is Recreate

    Chapter 203: Shining Rabbit, Monarch Evolution!!! p1

    Cold Moon Palace, the territory established by Cold Moon, the Fourth Guardian.

    Millions of years ago, Cold Moon, White Abode, and Snow Flower, three high-ranking Legends, had fought together in the same Beast Tamer’s lineup.

    That Legendary Beast Tamer had reached the pinnacle of the Pet Beast World, her magnificence rivaling even Star Goddess.

    Unfortunately, no matter how high one climbed, they couldn’t escape the short lifespan of a mortal body.

    Whether human or hybrid Beast Tamer, few lived past their first millennium.

    Their lifespans were even shorter than Royal-Tier Pet Beasts, let alone the immortal Emperor-Tier…

    Naturally, after millions of years, her name and deeds faded from memory.

    White Abode and Snow Flower reincarnated repeatedly after their deaths.

    Even Cold Moon, a Guardian who had lived to the present day, had only fragmented memories of her original master.

    But even so, at the Six-pointed Star Banquet, upon seeing Snow Flower, White Abode, despite having forgotten everything, felt a strong sense of familiarity.

    It wanted to fight alongside Snow Flower again.

    Unfortunately, with the terrifying arrival of the Myriad-Level Ancient Species, White Abode’s dream was shattered…

    “Such a pity…”

    “If only we had met Snow Flower sooner—”

    Outside Replay’s awakening zone, the white-haired beauty in an icy blue, translucent evening gown stared blankly into space, White Abode’s complaints echoing in her mind.

    In the three months since the Six-pointed Star Banquet, Heavenly Maiden had nearly been driven mad by White Abode’s constant whining, though she never outwardly expressed her frustration.

    Of course, despite its complaints, White Abode wouldn’t dare challenge the Ancient Species.

    Forget the Myriad-Level Ancient Species; they couldn’t even defeat Lian Xing’s Shining Species.

    They had witnessed that Shining Species, in her Royal-Tier state, unleash a suicidal burst of power, instantly killing the Fallen parasite within Storm, the Monarch-Tier Heartless Purgatory Life.

    Heartless Purgatory Life, who could rival Gem Concubine and had beaten Jade Crown Great King to a pulp… had been instantly killed by that terrifying, dazzling Shining throw…

    Rumor had it that Gem Concubine was still in shock, unable to recover.

    “Regardless, we missed Snow Flower, but we can’t miss Replay.”

    “Xueyi, you possess talent comparable to Star Goddess. Capture Replay, then wait for me and Xiao Bai to reach Emperor-Tier. We’ll retrieve Cold Moon, and then we’ll be invincible!!!”

    “Okay…” Heavenly Maiden replied indifferently.

    Though a Mechanical species, Replay’s abilities were a mix of Viral and Mechanical, perfectly complementing White Abode’s attack-ignoring ability.

    She had two contract slots remaining.

    One for Replay, one for Cold Moon. A perfect lineup.

    As Heavenly Maiden and White Abode conversed, the other Beast Tamers nearby observed the white-haired beauty with apprehension.

    Tian Xueyi, code name Heavenly Maiden.

    One of the Shining Six Stars, the strongest Beast Tamer in the Moon Soul World.

    99% of Cold Moon Palace’s inhabitants were her devoted fans, but this time was different.

    Most of those present were Beast Tamers from around the world, while few were from Cold Moon Palace itself.

    In their eyes, no one could possibly compete with Heavenly Maiden for Pet Beasts or resources. Coming here was pointless; they might as well watch the live broadcast at home.

    Soon, Jade Maiden arrived with Silver Dragon, Thunder Fly, and Tears Maiden.

    With a few hours remaining until Replay’s awakening, the inner circle was packed with at least a billion Beast Tamers, countless others observing from the outer perimeter.

    Seeing this massive crowd, the three girls were stunned.

    How… how many!?

    A billion Beast Tamers, all Royal-Tier and above…

    Such a massive gathering for a single Legend’s awakening was unimaginable in the Bubble Pet Beast World.

    Especially for Silver Dragon, who had experienced the Beast Tamer Alliance Tournament.

    Even all the Royal-Tier participants in the tournament combined wouldn’t make a ripple here, practically insignificant.

    Just how powerful did one have to be to stand out among a billion Beast Tamers!?

    “Will Boss Replay even recognize me after just reincarnating…?” Even Huang Li felt a flicker of apprehension, sensing the powerful auras around them.

    A newly reincarnated Legend’s memories were the most fragmented, remembering only basic information about power distribution and evolutionary principles.

    She worried Replay, after being captured by another Beast Tamer, would become a stranger.

    “Do you see those people?” Jade Maiden suddenly asked.

    Following her gaze, Silver Dragon and the others saw a strange sight.

    Though the inner circle was packed with a billion Beast Tamers, the area a few hundred meters ahead was almost empty.

    It was as if the other Beast Tamers had intentionally left a space, not crowding the area.

    Almost everyone was observing the white-haired beauty in the icy blue dress, her skin as smooth as cream, her beauty surpassing all others.

    “Heavenly Maiden of Cold Moon Palace. I don’t need to introduce her; even a dog knows who she is.”

    “And beside her is the descendant of First Quarter’s former master, Lover’s First in Line, the Grand Concubine. She’s one of the few who can rival Heavenly Maiden~~~”

    As Jade Maiden spoke, the incredibly beautiful purple-haired girl with twin tails, standing a few hundred meters from Heavenly Maiden, glanced at them.

    Her beauty rivaled even Heavenly Maiden’s, but her temperament was vastly different. To outsiders, she simply seemed… drained from Lover’s “attention.”

    At over seven hundred years old, she was practically an old lady compared to the youthful Heavenly Maiden.

    Jade Maiden refrained from voicing this last thought, not wanting to get beaten up. After all, the Grand Concubine was also in Lover’s channel.

    “And that one, the Ancient Species holder of the Inverse Time Society, Wu Qie. She has a Thousand-Level Ancient Species. She was once considered Heavenly Maiden’s equal, but after being defeated by Heavenly Maiden, her progress stagnated, her level even regressing.”

    Jade Maiden pointed towards a woman with a large, black peony hairstyle.

    None of these highly sought-after experts were unattractive.

    But someone was sweating nervously. We won’t say who.

    Tears Maiden’s pupils constricted sharply.

    A Thousand-Level Ancient Species!?

    Her own Ancient Species, Yellow Springs Beckon, was barely over level one hundred, yet it could already fight ordinary Ruler-Tier Emperors to a draw.

    What kind of monster was a Thousand-Level Ancient Species? Probably capable of slaughtering Myriad-Level Emperors like dogs.

    But even such a terrifying woman had been defeated by Heavenly Maiden…?

    Just how strong was Heavenly Maiden!?

    Indeed, Heavenly Maiden’s arrival had overshadowed this era. No Beast Tamer could match her, not even the renowned Ancient Species Beast Tamer, Wu Qie.

    Even if Lian Xing came…

    She probably wouldn’t be a match for Heavenly Maiden, would she?

    Silver Dragon, Thunder Fly, and Tear Heavenly Maiden all shared this thought.

    “And the strongest from Cloud Mist Sea, the only Beast Tamer among the Four Guardians, Cloud Princess. Rumor has it she’s the Third Guardian Moonwalker’s… favorite, constantly following her around like a lost puppy, or perhaps an illegitimate child~~~”

    Moonwalker…

    Tears Maiden and Thunder Fly immediately picked up on this information.

    They had also acted as Moonwalker’s agents, their knowledge of the new world coming entirely from her.

    But Moonwalker had been unusually quiet since their arrival.

    Under everyone’s gaze, the girl with large, white curls, known as Cloud Princess, frowned, a troubled expression on her face.

    She had originally been scheduled to lead the team in the Six-pointed Star Banquet three months ago, but she had been in seclusion and declined Moonwalker’s invitation.

    However, ever since then, perhaps having angered Moonwalker, she hadn’t received a single reply from her!

    Before departing for Cold Moon Palace, she had even visited Moonwalker’s residence, but hadn’t seen her.

    Had Moonwalker given up on her?

    Cloud Princess sighed, but quickly regained her composure.

    If she captured Replay from Heavenly Maiden, would that make Moonwalker happy?

    “…”

    “…”

    “Alright, those are the top contenders present.”

    “If possible, I’ll join the Grand Concubine’s faction. You all do as you please. Just consider this a learning experience. Don’t stress too much~~~”

    As Jade Maiden spoke casually, the three girls nodded in agreement.

    Their goal wasn’t necessarily to capture Replay. They had come here primarily to find Lian Xing.

    After all, the first thing one did upon arriving in a new place was to find their wife.

    If they could reunite with Lian Xing today, that would be perfect~~~

    “Whoosh—!!!!!”

    Under the nervous gazes of millions of Beast Tamers, a silver, particle-like light erupted, enveloping the surrounding area for millions of miles.

    Replay’s reincarnation awakening had begun!

    Similar to Star Sand’s reincarnation awakening, but on a much larger scale.

    A wave of silver particles, with a futuristic, mechanical texture, swept outwards, instantly overturning everything in its path.

    After all, like Rain Water, Replay was also initially Royal-Tier…!!!

    The next second, all Beast Tamers within Replay’s aura vanished.

    Seeing this, the observing Beast Tamers rushed forward, disappearing into the light one after another.

    The crowd thinned rapidly.

    Only a few internet celebrities with selfie sticks remained, casually filming. Some weren’t even Royal-Tier, clearly just there for the clout.

    However…

    High above, beyond everyone’s vision, a beautiful woman with long, blue hair and curvaceous legs floated in the air, her delicate toes, painted with the same icy blue nail polish as Heavenly Maiden, shimmering like pearls.

    A few icy white ribbons floated around her, intricately intertwined, strategically covering all the important bits, a sight that stirred the blood and awakened primal instincts.

    The Fourth Guardian, Cold Moon, master of Cold Moon Palace, ranked ninth among the seventy-two Legends.

    Though not highly ranked, her combat power was among the highest of the Guardians, having once repelled Volcano. She was also the idol of Ice Emperor, one of the Six Stars.

    Rumor had it that she was incredibly aloof, acknowledging no one besides Sharp Edge Seven King Mother.

    “Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap—”

    As Cold Moon observed Replay’s domain, footsteps echoed behind her.

    Without turning around, she said coldly, “Moonwalker already spoke to me.”

    “I won’t interfere, no matter what happens.”

    “But…”

    “If you face Heavenly Maiden, you mustn’t kill her. That’s my bottom line.”

    “…”

    “…”

    “Don’t worry, I’m a gentle soul~~~”

    A cheerful voice replied as a golden-haired girl with starry eyes and twin buns walked past Cold Moon.

    Then, with a carefree smile, she leaped from the sky, her delicate body falling rapidly towards the ground.

    Watching the girl’s descending figure, Cold Moon frowned.

    “Little Sister Snow Flower…”

    “What are you thinking?”

    “Why would you join a Beast Tamer with both an Ancient Species and a Shining Species…?”

    ***

    Inside Replay’s Legendary domain…

    The moment they were engulfed by the light, everything turned white.

    Seconds later, the light faded.

    A massive, silver, enclosed space appeared, resembling a giant laboratory, containing all the Beast Tamers.

    Heavenly Maiden, Wu Qie, Lover’s Grand Concubine, and Cloud Princess stood calmly at the center.

    Jade Maiden, Tears Maiden, Silver Dragon, and Thunder Fly hid in the corner, observing.

    Something felt amiss about Replay’s awakening…

    Trapping everyone here?

    All in the same space?

    It was as if they were being forced to fight each other…

    “Huang Li, what do you think?” Silver Dragon asked nervously.

    “What happened when Replay awakened last time?” Thunder Fly asked curiously.

    “I have a brilliant idea. I wasn’t even born when Boss Replay awakened last time!”

    “Infant…” Huang Quan Lai, the Ancient Species within Tears Maiden, teased.

    Huang Li rolled her eyes.

    Who was the infant here? Did she have no self-awareness?

    This little newborn, barely over level one hundred…

    Seconds later, lines of text, formed from garbled mechanical code, appeared above them.

    [I am Replay.]

    [Let me state upfront, this awakening test is very short. The first-place winner will become my master.]

    [Now, please register your Pet Beasts with my control center.]

    “…”

    “…”

    “Whoosh—!!”

    A translucent panel appeared before all the Beast Tamers.

    It resembled a card game interface, with six card slots, corresponding to five categories:

    [Attack]

    [Defense]

    [Mobility]

    [Support]

    [Duel]

    The first four had single card slots, while Duel had two.

    Tear Heavenly Maiden, having a hunch, silently placed Rain Water’s aura in the Defense slot.

    As expected, Rain Water appeared on the panel as a beautiful blue water elemental.

    Then, she removed Rain Water.

    She now understood why Replay said the test would be short…

    [As many of you have likely realized, this trial doesn’t require actual combat. Once you register your Pet Beasts with my control center, my system will analyze their highest stats and conduct automated card battles.]

    [Regardless of the number of Pet Beast cards, my system will instantly simulate the results and rank you all.]

    [Attack, Defense, Mobility, and Support—the first four tests have a 1:1 point and ranking ratio. The final Duel requires two cards, so its point and ranking ratio is 2:1, double points.]

    [The rankings for the first four categories will be determined instantly after card registration. You can choose to remain anonymous. But for the final free-for-all, the Duel, battle recordings will be provided for transparency.]

    As Replay announced the rules, many Beast Tamers sighed in disappointment.

    It seemed there was no room for tricks.

    Only those with the strongest overall lineup could win…

    Even Heavenly Maiden might lose first place in some categories.

    Cloud Princess, seeing the rules, her eyes lit up.

    She could win!

    If it was a competition of overall lineup strength, she had a good chance of beating Heavenly Maiden!

     

  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! 78

    Chapter 78: The Wrath Witch

    The white-haired girl casually brushed her hair aside, her blood-red eyes, now calmed, returning to their normal color. Even her silver hair slowly turned black.

    “Hey, I asked you a question, where is the Church— Hmm? What’s such a cute girl doing here…?”

    Doris crouched down, looking at the loli before her. Luo Yuxi was too scared to speak. She might forget character information or names, but she would never forget this witch, one of the Seven Deadly Sins.

    “Is she mute? That’s troublesome, I wanted to ask for directions. But she’s quite cute, maybe I should take her back to the Witch Kingdom and raise her…”

    Doris gently stroked Luo Yuxi’s hair. Luo Yuxi looked at her in terror. Doris, the Wrath Witch, a violent and sadistic individual, had caused Luo Yuxi much grief in the game. Even just passing by her in the forest could trigger a death CG from the sheer force of her aura.

    “Was she scared by that monster? But why is there a human child here?”

    Doris pinched Luo Yuxi’s cheeks. Luo Yuxi realized her nun’s habit had been dissolved, so Doris couldn’t recognize her.

    “Aba…”

    “So she can talk. Little girl, can you tell big sister where the Church city is~?”

    Doris softened her voice, even forcing a gentle smile, trying to appear less intimidating. Luo Yuxi stared at her in disbelief. Is this really the Wrath Witch I know?

    “Could it be someone who just looks like her…?”

    Luo Yuxi recalled her attempts to capture Doris in the game. Reasoning and persuasion only angered her, triggering a death CG. Even seduction resulted in being roughly handled, her feelings disregarded. And now, Doris was speaking to her so gently?

    “Really, why pretend to be mute? If you don’t tell big sister, I’ll get angry and spank your little bottom~”

    Doris pinched Luo Yuxi’s cheek playfully. Luo Yuxi remembered capturing Doris in the game by using a cute pet to start a conversation. Could it be that the seemingly violent and cruel Doris couldn’t resist cute things?

    “I… I know where the Church is! Don’t hurt me, I’ll tell you everything…”

    “Good, good, big sister won’t hurt you, I’ll even pamper you~”

    Doris nuzzled Luo Yuxi affectionately. Luo Yuxi, her cheek being rubbed, thought, She’s not as scary as in the game. Maybe being a loli wasn’t so bad after all.

    “Damn human! Ruining my fun! I’ll turn you into a mindless egg sac and make you bear my children!!”

    The Blood Spider Queen, who should have been dead, suddenly emerged from the ground, shedding its exoskeleton. It lunged at Doris with its sharp legs. Luo Yuxi saw the sneak attack.

    “Behind you! Behind you!”

    “I’ll cut off your legs first, damn human!!!”

    As the spider’s legs were about to pierce Doris, Luo Yuxi, although she knew Doris wouldn’t be harmed, still cried out in warning. Doris simply twitched.

    “Filthy creature…”

    The Blood Spider Queen never understood why a simple hunt for a beautiful girl had led her to such a powerful being. The world spun.

    “Why is this human suddenly so strong? What? My head’s been cut off…?”

    Luo Yuxi watched as the five-meter-tall monster collapsed, its grotesque face frozen in a grimace. Its head rolled to Luo Yuxi’s feet, and Doris kicked it disdainfully.

    “Just play dead quietly. Honestly…”

    Green blood splattered everywhere. Doris, covered in the monster’s blood, looked like a demon from hell. Luo Yuxi’s legs went weak, and she collapsed, feeling a warmth between her legs.

    “I… I think I peed myself…”

    Luo Yuxi sat on the ground, paralyzed. She had never seen such a gruesome scene, even after transmigrating. Although it was just a monster, she was still a newbie in this world. Seeing Doris approach, she tried to stand up, her legs trembling.

    “D-Don’t come closer… please, don’t come any closer…”

    Luo Yuxi’s voice trembled, warm liquid trickling down her legs. Doris stood over her, covered in the spider’s blood.

    “You saw everything…”

    “I didn’t see anything! Please spare me, don’t kill me! I’ll tell you anything, just let me live!”

    Luo Yuxi was terrified, tears streaming down her face. Doris reached out, and Luo Yuxi squeezed her eyes shut, trembling uncontrollably. Doris’s hand stopped in midair.

    “I’m sorry, did I scare you, Sister? I would hug you, but I’m covered in blood…”

    “Don’t kill— Huh? What?”

    Luo Yuxi opened her eyes in disbelief. Doris’s face held not bloodlust, but concern, as if the previous scene had been an illusion.

    “Don’t cry, I won’t hurt you. I just lose control when I fight…”

    Doris wanted to pat Luo Yuxi’s head, but seeing the blood on her hands, she stopped, regretting not learning any cleansing spells.

    “There’s a river over there, I’ll help you wash up, I’m dirty too!”

    “There’s no need—”

    Before Luo Yuxi could refuse, she was swept into Doris’s arms and teleported to a clear stream. Luo Yuxi, already embarrassed about her dissolved clothes, wanted to disappear.

    “I actually peed myself because of a witch! I’m so pathetic…”

    Luo Yuxi felt the cool water on her skin as Doris held her from behind, gently stroking her. She really likes me. She must be quite cute now to be loved by such a violent witch.

    “Oh my, we just met, and we’re already bathing together. How shy~”

    “???”

    Hearing Doris’s words, Luo Yuxi froze. Shy? The Wrath Witch, who would crush anyone who annoyed her, a one-woman army, was saying she was shy?

    “I have to find a chance to escape…“

  • Reincarnated as a Holy Nun, I Refuse to Lose! 77

    Chapter 77: The Beast Forest

    Oblivious to the events unfolding in the Witch Kingdom, Luo Yuxi strolled leisurely through the forest, her pink hair a striking contrast against the green foliage. She compared the plants she gathered to the descriptions on her panel.

    “Divine arts are so convenient, teleporting me directly to the nearest beast forest to Apal…”

    Luo Yuxi hadn’t expected Lola to take “close protection” so seriously, even following her back to the apartment. No way! If those three lolis saw Lola, it would be a disaster. She would be “ground to dust” that night.

    “Although I can’t make potions, at least I got rid of her with the excuse of gathering herbs. It’s better to face unexpected events in the forest than a Shura field at home…”

    Luo Yuxi walked through the forest, which was almost half the size of the Church’s territory, serving as a buffer zone between the Church and the Witch Kingdom.

    “I’ll use a teleportation scroll to go back after a while. It’ll be troublesome if a witch wanders by…”

    Luo Yuxi took out the teleportation scroll Yuehua Fengyun had given her, but as she looked up, she saw a familiar patch of turquoise grass.

    “Sage Grass? The ingredient that can instantly calm someone down from a state of arousal.”

    She had come here for some casual gathering, but she hadn’t expected to find a game item. Although its effect seemed trivial, in a game where high arousal triggered lewd CGs, this item was practically a resurrection potion.

    “This is good stuff! If I dilute this in water and have Ling Shuang and the others drink it, they’ll lose interest in me~”

    Luo Yuxi excitedly approached the Sage Grass, not noticing the warning sign nearby. Suddenly, a large shadow loomed over her. She froze, looking at the mountain-like creature behind her.

    “What is that?!”

    Luo Yuxi quickly backed away, but she was still splashed by the creature’s acidic spit, her nun’s habit dissolving, leaving her small, delicate body exposed.

    “It only dissolves clothes? A classic feature of adult games…”

    Looking at the creature, its upper body humanoid, its lower body that of a spider, Luo Yuxi felt a sense of dread. She had been so close to safety, and now this.

    She recognized the creature. When traveling between cities in the game, there was a 20% chance of encountering a monster in the forest. Winning the battle earned you gold, losing triggered a CG. And the most difficult monster was the Blood Spider.

    “I can teleport away, but I don’t want to give up on the Sage Grass. I guess I’ll just let it kill me and then resurrect…”

    [Blood Spider Queen]

    [Lord Level]

    [8th Order]

    [Apex predator of the Beast Forest. Captures beautiful outsiders and brings them back to its nest as incubators, turning them into breeding tools. The milk produced by the corrupted girls is the Blood Spider’s favorite snack.]

    [Hunting method: Detecting the scent of beautiful girls.]

    Luo Yuxi looked at the panel, her head spinning. So her high charm stat had attracted this monster. But she couldn’t just give up, or she would be turned into a breeding tool, a fate worse than death.

    “I encountered this thing in the game, but I can only try. What was its weakness again…?”

    Before she could think of a strategy, she was entangled in sticky webs. She tried to use divine arts, but her feet were bound, her stockings dissolving. She felt a chilling sensation on her feet.

    “You monster, let go of me!”

    “Such high quality, it’s a waste to use as a breeding ground. I’ll keep you for myself~”

    “Hmm??? Wait, you can talk?!”

    Luo Yuxi was shocked. In the game, the monster only roared. Before she could process this, she felt a wet sensation on her feet and saw the monster sucking on her toes, her stockings completely dissolved.

    “Damn it, I won’t be played by a monster like you! Let go of me!”

    [Divine Art: Hol—]

    A web covered her mouth, silencing her. Her legs were being pulled apart, forming an “M” shape. She struggled, but the more she struggled, the more excited the monster became. Her strength fading, her clothes dissolving, she thought, I’ll just give up.

    “I have resurrection magic, I’ll just revive after being played to death…”

    She remembered playing the game and letting the monster defeat her to get the hidden CG. She had even felt a little excited seeing the protagonist laying eggs in the CG. But now, the thought made her shudder.

    “Why did the developers create such a messed up scene?! Who would want to see that?!”

    [Unique Magic: Partial Enhancement]

    Just as Luo Yuxi was about to self-destruct, a red light descended from the sky, sending dust and debris flying. Luo Yuxi covered her mouth. When the dust settled, the monster was lying on the side, its legs severed.

    “What… happened?”

    “Where am I? Damn it, I should have brought a map…”

    A white-haired girl stood on the monster’s body, her blood-red eyes glowing, her shark-like teeth bared, her white hair fluttering wildly, a crazed look on her face.

    “Hey, do you know where Apal is…?”

    The girl stood up, cracking her knuckles. Luo Yuxi was about to thank her when she saw her face clearly and froze. If the Blood Spider was bad, this girl was even worse.

    [Ding]

    [Doris]

    Occupation: Witch
    Affiliation: Witch Kingdom
    Skills: ???
    Title: Wrath Witch, The Destroyer
    Affection: 5%
    Order Level: 2nd Order

  • My Girlfriend is a Cold and Aloof Sickly Beauty 44

    Chapter 44: You Want to Kill the Crown Prince?!

    While watching the preliminary auditions, Xiao Luohan had already decided to continue trusting Jiang Xue.

    But this matter wasn’t a good thing and might worry Jiang Xue, so she deliberately waited until they were in a dream to tell her.

    Even so, she still lowered her voice and said tactfully, “I’m afraid… I won’t be able to come over until the wedding day.”

    Jiang Xue was stunned. “What are you going to do then?”

    “If there really are clues about Elder Sister in the Eastern Palace, that’s the only time I can ‘bury’ her.” Xiao Luohan stood up and looked at the blank window. “Elder Sister didn’t want to be buried. She preferred cremation, so I want to give her a proper send-off.”

    A distant landscape gradually materialized in the blank space, with flowering trees and pavilions, a spring scene despite being in winter.

    If dreams represented emotional changes, Jiang Xue felt that this must be something Xiao Luohan desperately wanted to do, her obsession and her wish.

    “…How much have you guessed?” But she still felt a chill run down her spine.

    They might have guessed the same thing!

    “Elder Sister’s missing body might be hidden in the Eastern Palace by that dog of a Crown Prince,” Xiao Luohan said, feigning calmness. “He was interested in my elder sister…”

    “No! I’ve never heard you mention this!” The more Jiang Xue listened, the more she felt they were on the same page. She quickly interrupted, “Do you have any concrete clues? When and where did you learn about this?!”

    She had arrived at this guess because she had seen the Crown Prince of Daying transformed into a hyena in her dream—the most well-known characteristic of hyenas was their scavenging nature, which was why she connected the Broken Plum Blossom Princess’s body to the Crown Prince.

    Moreover, if the imagery in that dream was based on her own impression of the Crown Prince, it would have been some other animal. She wouldn’t have thought of a hyena!

    Xiao Luohan turned and repeated the Crown Prince’s words to her verbatim.

    Jiang Xue rubbed her chin, frowning, thinking hard, and finally told Xiao Luohan about seeing the hyena.

    “Hmm… the clues are quite suggestive, but sacrificing yourself for a burial isn’t what your elder sister would want, I think.”

    Jiang Xue paused for a few seconds, then emphasized seriously, “That’s the Eastern Palace! There will definitely be guards! And how are you going to set the fire? And how can you guarantee your own safety after setting the fire?”

    The thought of setting a fire made her uneasy. If Xiao Luohan couldn’t escape, she would really die there! Her voice unconsciously rose, and her tone became urgent:

    “Do you know what kind of accidents can happen in a fire? Do you know how long it takes to die from smoke inhalation without taking any precautions?!”

    Xiao Luohan wasn’t completely ignorant about this. Because her only daughter had died from carbon monoxide poisoning from a charcoal brazier, Shizhu had specifically explained to her under what circumstances charcoal could emit deadly fumes.

    Her knowledge in this area had been lacking, but now Shizhu had filled in the gaps.

    But now Jiang Xue was agitated, and she herself wasn’t entirely confident that she could escape a fire unscathed, so she shook her head. “I don’t know, so… I was just thinking about it, discussing it with you.”

    “If you think it’s not a good idea, I’ll give up on it.”

    Actually, what she had originally planned to tell Jiang Xue wasn’t about burying her elder sister’s body, but she felt that this might be easier than killing the Crown Prince, so she brought it up first.

    “Thank goodness!” she saw Jiang Xue breathe a long sigh of relief. “Thank goodness you told me!”

    Xiao Luohan quietly observed her relieved expression and suddenly didn’t dare mention the other thing she wanted to do.

    She currently had her back to the window and didn’t notice the spring scenery outside changing.

    Snowflakes began to fall from the sky, light as willow catkins at first, then quickly becoming as large as goose feathers, weighing down the flowering trees until all the flowers and leaves fell.

    Jiang Xue had sharp ears and eyes, and she noticed the change before the scenery outside returned to a blank white.

    This meant that the Third Princess’s mood had worsened, but why?

    Was it the sadness of not being able to personally bury her elder sister and give her a proper send-off?

    Or… besides setting fire to the Eastern Palace on the wedding night, did the Third Princess have something else she was hiding from her?

    It would be great if it was the former, but Jiang Xue couldn’t be sure!

    If Xiao Luohan insisted on hiding it, even if she asked, she would probably only get lies.

    Jiang Xue was anxious, her mind racing. She simply took a deep breath and grabbed Xiao Luohan’s hand.

    “What else do I have to do to make Your Highness tell me everything?”

    Being rude or presumptuous didn’t matter anymore!

    She only knew that if she hesitated now and missed the opportunity to uncover the truth, she would definitely regret it if something happened in the future!

    Jiang Xue was sitting on the table, slightly taller than Xiao Luohan, who was standing. Leaning forward slightly, her shadow enveloped the young woman.

    Despite her fierce facade, she was actually terrified.

    She was afraid that her actions would backfire, and Xiao Luohan wouldn’t dare to be friends with her anymore, which would make it even more difficult to learn the truth!

    They stared at each other, the seconds ticking by.

    In the end, it was Jiang Xue who averted her gaze first.

    No matter how anxious she was, she couldn’t… couldn’t be too aggressive…

    Just as she thought this, she smelled a faint plum blossom fragrance approaching, and then she was pulled into a tight embrace, her rapidly beating heart pressed against another.

    Xiao Luohan had actually hugged her!

    “I’m going to do something… illegal.”

    But her words made Jiang Xue tremble.

    She struggled to reboot her mind, which had almost short-circuited.

    The word “illegal” must have been something Xiao Luohan learned from the politics textbook, and the related incident could be big or small.

    But judging by Xiao Luohan’s reaction, and her previous idea of setting fire to the Eastern Palace, Jiang Xue felt that the thing she was still hiding might be related to the first half of the idiom “arson”!

    The only person in the Eastern Palace who had a grudge against the Third Princess and her elder sister was the dog of a Crown Prince.

    She took a deep breath. “You’re going to… kill the Crown Prince?!”

    Xiao Luohan froze, then nodded vigorously.

    Amidst the chaos, Jiang Xue was still thinking—she truly was “another her in the world.” With just one sentence, she had guessed the Third Princess’s hidden thoughts.

    “Are you going to use the stun gun my sister and I gave you?” she asked.

    “Yes,” Xiao Luohan’s muffled voice came from her embrace. “The wedding night is when he’ll be most unguarded. Not to mention my frail health, as long as I’m a woman, and dressed in elaborate wedding attire and heavy jewelry that day, he’ll be confident that he can subdue me.”

    “So, that’s also my only opportunity.”

    Jiang Xue’s heart was filled with mixed emotions.

    “This is indeed illegal,” she murmured. “But you… you’re doing this to avenge your elder sister who died in battle, and the target is the Crown Prince of the enemy nation…”

    Assassinating the Crown Prince of the enemy nation, if successful, would make Xiao Luohan a national hero in Beiliao!

    Moreover, the ancient world she lived in was a world of war, a world of life and death. Her wonderful elder sister had also died in battle. This matter couldn’t be viewed or judged from the perspective of a society ruled by law.

    But what if the assassination failed?

    “As you said, you only have one chance,” Jiang Xue lowered her head, making sure her voice reached Xiao Luohan clearly. “Although the stun gun can be fatal if aimed at a vital point, you can’t use it carelessly. Once the Crown Prince notices, he’ll be on guard. With your strength and speed, if you miss once, you’ll never get close to him again, and he might even take the stun gun from you!”

    Xiao Luohan had thought she would try to persuade her to give up, but hearing this, she looked up in disbelief.

    Was Jiang Xue… trying to teach her how to kill with one blow?

    Under her curious gaze, Jiang Xue coughed awkwardly. “Don’t underestimate me. My family is actually quite wealthy! Mom and Mom have been telling me these things as cautionary tales since I was young… so that if I ever encounter a kidnapper, I can buy myself some time.”

    But she didn’t continue, instead asking, “But if you really kill the Crown Prince, what about Shizhu?”

    If a servant was so loyal that she was willing to die to pave the way for her master, anyone would want to save her too, right?

    “I plan to find a way to send her away soon,” Xiao Luohan said, averting her gaze. “But I know that she either won’t leave, or… will tell me with her death that she won’t be a burden.”

    Not leaving was the most likely scenario she had considered, but since she was discussing this with Jiang Xue, she couldn’t help but imagine a worse outcome.

    “And, for this matter of killing the Crown Prince, the fewer people who know, the better the chances of success, right?” Jiang Xue said. “Since you can’t tell her the truth and can’t send her away…”

    At this point, she suddenly had an idea: “Daying doesn’t forbid you from sending letters back home, right? Tell Shizhu that the letter can only be delivered by someone trustworthy, and emphasize that this is something only she can do.”

    “If the assassination is successful, and the Crown Prince dies, there will definitely be a struggle for the throne, and Daying will be in chaos. They won’t have time to deal with Beiliao.” She couldn’t help but imagine a better future. “This way, Shizhu, who will be on her way to Beiliao, and your mother, who is still in Beiliao, should both be safe, right?”

    Xiao Luohan’s eyes lit up.

    “But you have to do this soon,” Jiang Xue said. “The dog of a Crown Prince has been too quiet recently. I’m a little worried that he might be plotting something…”

    “I did make some inquiries,” Xiao Luohan said. “He’s been busy with military affairs recently.”

    “Oh, after having a strand of hair cut off by your sister, he’s personally leading the troops now?” Jiang Xue said sarcastically. “There’s a saying that ‘a crown prince doesn’t command troops.’ It seems Daying doesn’t have that tradition!”

    But the Crown Prince not being in the palace was also good for them. At least there would be less resistance when they carried out their plan—the dog emperor wouldn’t care if a tribute from a defeated nation sent a letter home!

    After finalizing the preliminary plan, they immediately started drafting the letter and listing more detailed steps.

    “Although this place is a bit bare, whatever we say or write here won’t be leaked,” Jiang Xue said as she ground ink.

    Actually, she already had a guess about the origin of this space.

    It had appeared after Xiao Luohan opened her heart to her. It was more stable than a normal dream and resembled the “mindscape” often seen in fantasy works.

    However, if this was Xiao Luohan’s mindscape, why did it appear as Wangmei Pavilion?

    Unable to find an answer, Jiang Xue simply asked, “You don’t seem to dislike Wangmei Pavilion?”

    If she disliked it, why would a comforting inner world contain elements of Wangmei Pavilion?

    Xiao Luohan, who was writing the assassination plan, paused, thought for a moment, and simply replied with a soft “Mm,” a little embarrassed to explain further.

    To her, this place held extraordinary significance.

  • Transformed into a Female Villain, But Captured by My Beautiful Girl Disciples v2c6

    Chapter 6: Your Life Is Like a Candle in the Wind

    This was the first time Gong Yiling had strolled through the imperial palace.

    She suppressed her curiosity, trying to maintain the image of a reclusive expert.

    But… this was the imperial palace!

    As a 21st-century youth, her greatest interest was watching historical dramas, always harboring a fascination for ancient palaces.

    Now, walking through one, it felt like a dream come true.

    Fortunately, the guards treated her as an important figure and didn’t dare look directly at her, failing to notice her gawking at everything around her like a country bumpkin.

    Ah, the lights, the water, the gold and silver threaded cloud patterns, the Armstrong—no, there was no such thing.

    Anyway, despite knowing this place was fictional, the grandeur of the palace satisfied a small part of her.

    Finally, she arrived at the back garden and saw the current ruler of the Heartflame Empire, Shangguan Long.

    Well… she didn’t have high expectations for this emperor.

    According to the timeline, he was currently poisoned by a secret drug from the Myriad Demons Palace. Ordinary physicians couldn’t detect it, and if left untreated, he would become bedridden in three months.

    When he appeared in the novel, he was already a dying old man, and his death marked the beginning of the palace arc.

    But now, he seemed healthy and possessed the aura of an emperor.

    As she was observing him, a clueless eunuch suddenly scolded, “Who are you? Why aren’t you bowing before His Majesty?”

    Gong Yiling thought inwardly,

    Was the Emperor of the Heartflame Empire more important than the Sect Master of the Great One Engineering Sect?

    If she bowed rashly, wouldn’t it make her seem weak and insignificant?

    Her current inaction, however, intrigued Shangguan Long.

    If she were an imposter… she wouldn’t be so calm and silent.

    This person was the real deal.

    “There’s no need for such formalities, Immortal Master,” the Emperor rebuked his eunuch. “It is I, this sickly emperor, who should apologize for my appearance.”

    It seemed her act was perfect.

    Arrogance was the way to go.

    “Sickly?” Gong Yiling chuckled. “If Your Majesty still believes it’s just a cold or a deviation during cultivation, you’ll be bedridden in three months and preparing for your funeral in eight.”

    Her words shocked everyone present.

    Did she mean—it was poison…!?

    The eunuchs and guards immediately retorted, “Insolent! How dare you speak such nonsense about His Majesty! He is in perfect health! How dare you claim he only has eight months to live!”

    Gong Yiling raised her eyebrows. “You should ask yourself that, Head Eunuch Gao.”

    Her words shifted Shangguan Long and the Grand Elder’s attention to the eunuch. They remained silent, waiting to see what else this Immortal Master would reveal.

    “You’re slandering me!” Head Eunuch Gao denied vehemently. “I’ve served His Majesty for decades! How could I possibly harm him!?”

    “You did it unintentionally, or perhaps you were deceived.”

    Gong Yiling walked towards him and snatched the bowl of honey water from his hand.

    “This honey water contains a rare poison, Serpent’s Hundred Herbs Incense. It’s colorless, odorless, and non-toxic on its own, but combined with another undetectable poison, it forms the deadly Serpent Scorpion Three Hundred.”

    “Consuming small doses of either poison daily for two hundred and forty days will cause the internal organs of any cultivator below Immortal Mansion realm to rot, leading to death.”

    “His Majesty’s current condition suggests he has been poisoned. Only a highly skilled poisoner or a physician specializing in toxicology would be able to detect it.”

    Of course, besides this condition, she also had her knowledge of the plot. She could even pinpoint the culprit directly, but that would be too suspicious.

    “What!?”

    Head Eunuch Gao, terrified by her detailed explanation, immediately knelt down.

    “I truly didn’t know! Why would there be poison in the honey water? I prepared it myself…”

    “Serpent’s Hundred Herbs Incense can be disguised as a spice.” Gong Yiling said, “Think carefully, Head Eunuch Gao. Did you add any spices to the honey water? Where did you get them?”

    “Spices!?”

    Her words jogged his memory.

    “I remember now! Little Li gave me a bottle of spices from the Baiyao Dynasty a while ago, claiming it was extremely rare and expensive. It smelled wonderful, and we tested it, and there were no signs of poison, so I…”

    He looked at another eunuch standing nearby. “It was you! It was you all along!?”

    Little Li’s expression changed drastically.

    However…

    Before anyone could react, Little Li struck his own chest, coughed up a mouthful of blood, and collapsed.

    A guard checked his body and reported, “His heart has been pierced. He’s dead.”

    Hearing this, Head Eunuch Gao, now undeniably implicated, trembled and kowtowed repeatedly.

    “Your Majesty, spare me! Please!”

    “Although I was foolish, please consider my decades of loyal service and spare my life!”

    “Take him away and imprison him.” The Emperor’s voice was devoid of emotion. “We’ll decide his punishment after investigating this matter thoroughly.”

    “Yes!”

    The guards dragged the wailing eunuch away.

    The remaining two, the Emperor and the Grand Elder, were now deeply intrigued by Gong Yiling.

    “You saw through the poison at a glance. I knew no one would dare impersonate the Great One Engineering Sect. You truly are an Immortal Master.”

    The Grand Elder was even more direct.

    To confirm she wasn’t the poisoner herself, he suddenly attacked her with a palm strike infused with wind and thunder energy.

    But by the time Miss Gong realized what was happening, the elder’s palm had already stopped inches from her face.

    What the fuck! That was scary!

     

  • The Heroine Fell Deeply For Her [Quick Transmigration] 66

    Chapter 66: Disciple and Wife

    Forty mortal years passed like flowing water, enough time for a newborn to reach middle age, but not enough for a cultivator to emerge from seclusion.

    A rumor circulated through the Radiant Realm: the Wanhun Cauldron, sealed away by Demon Lord Qingji a thousand years ago, was stirring, its seal weakening.

    The various sects were concerned, puzzled by its presence in the Radiant Realm and fearing the chaos it might unleash.

    The rumor, initially confined to the sects, spread like wildfire, becoming common knowledge.

    Inns and teahouses frequented by cultivators buzzed with speculation.

    “Isn’t the Wanhun Cauldron a demonic artifact from the Demonic Realm?”

    “It was sealed away. How do you know about it?”

    “Did you overhear something?”

    “Everyone’s talking about it. Why would I lie? Haven’t you noticed the increased activity from the Heavenly Heart Sect? They’re investigating.”

    “I thought they were searching for missing disciples.”

    “Missing disciples? Where?”

    A chorus of surprised gasps.

    “Shadow City? There’s no Shadow City around here.” A man kneading dough at a street stall wiped the sweat from his brow, turning to his wife. “Have you ever heard of a Shadow City?”

    His wife, pausing her work, frowned in thought, then shook her head. “No. Never.”

    The man, frustrated, insisted, “But it’s…”

    Before his wife could dismiss him, a woman in a pink dress intervened, her voice gentle. “If you haven’t heard of it, we won’t bother you any further. We’ll ask elsewhere.”

    Smiling politely, Er Lan pulled Xiao Haoran away. This was Heavenly Heart Sect territory. Best not to offend the locals.

    “Another dead end? Another wrong turn?” Xiao Haoran grumbled, his frustration growing with each failed inquiry.

    His extended stay in Four Borders City, while beneficial for his cultivation, had atrophied his social skills.

    Er Lan was accustomed to such behavior. In the Demonic Realm, cultivators often secluded themselves for centuries, their minds focused solely on cultivation.

    Despite her growing impatience, she couldn’t deny his exceptional luck. Rare treasures seemed to appear wherever he went. His impulsive nature was a small price to pay for such fortune.

    “If the map says it’s nearby, it must be here. Perhaps Shadow City requires a… trigger. It might not be a physical city.”

    Xiao Haoran, his hand resting on the divine blade at his waist, consulted the Heavenly Book within his mind. “Impossible. Shadow City is a city, not a secret realm.”

    Er Lan, reminding herself of his valuable contribution to her cultivation, forced a smile. “Perhaps I’m mistaken. Let’s keep searching.”

    They continued their journey, Er Lan doing most of the talking, Xiao Haoran mostly disagreeing.

    An elderly woman, basking in the sun by the roadside, spoke, her voice raspy. “Shadow City… That name sounds familiar. Not a good place. Why are you looking for it?”

    They stopped, turning towards her.

    Outside a ruined city, a figure stood before an earthen mound covered in vines, her gaze fixed on the reeds swaying gently in the breeze.

    The reeds, tall and dense, surrounded the mound like a natural curtain, their movements creating an unsettling atmosphere.

    Tao Ning, after a moment of contemplation, drew Poheng, slicing through the vines, revealing a weathered stone.

    The Shadow City boundary marker, eroded by time and the elements, was barely recognizable, its inscription partially obscured, its shape distorted.

    She stepped past the marker, walking down a narrow path.

    As she disappeared into the city, the newly revealed marker was enveloped in a swirling mist, its surface turning a sickly grey.

    520 shivered. 【Why are we here?】

    Tao Ning’s voice was firm. “To slay demons and exorcise ghosts.”

    520: 【I don’t understand.】

    Tao Ning reached the city gates. Her journey had been surprisingly uneventful, no demonic beasts or vengeful spirits blocking her path.

    She pushed against the decaying gates, the wood groaning in protest. The protective formation shattered under the force of her lightning spiritual energy, the sound like snapping wood echoing through the silent city.

    The gates swung open, revealing the desolate landscape within, its silence amplifying the eerie creaking of the ancient hinges.

    There was no latch, no barrier. Just… emptiness.

    A gust of wind whipped through the city, stirring Tao Ning’s hair, the white feathers on her headband fluttering in the breeze.

    “To slay demons and exorcise ghosts. And if the opportunity arises, kill someone and take their stuff.”

    She walked down the main street, her hand never leaving her sword, her eyes scanning her surroundings.

    Shadow City had once been a small, isolated settlement nestled at the foot of a mountain, neither prosperous nor impoverished, its inhabitants self-sufficient and wary of outsiders.

    Their isolation stemmed from their geography: the impassable mountains behind them and the wide, treacherous river before their gates.

    Shadow City, or perhaps, Ghost City.

    Centuries ago, a rogue cultivator had arrived, seeking to harvest resentment and malice to fuel his spirit weapon. He had turned the city’s inhabitants into mindless puppets, forcing them to slaughter each other.

    Deemed insufficient, he had sent his changgui – familiars created from the souls of his victims – to lure outsiders into the city. The disappearances of several cultivators had eventually led to the discovery of the source: Shadow City.

    The city’s inhabitants, isolated and self-sufficient, had no contact with the outside world, their lives revolving around the cultivation of gu – venomous insects and other creatures used for both healing and harm.

    The cultivators who came seeking answers had assumed it was a minor issue, only to discover a city infested with gu and their puppet-like victims.

    One had barely escaped, his warning reaching the nearby sects, who had sent their forces to eradicate the threat.

    Shadow City became a ghost city.

    After walking for a while, Tao Ning felt a chill, turning sharply.

    A loud bang echoed through the city as the gates slammed shut, like a monster’s jaws snapping closed.

    She was alone, trapped within the city’s walls.

    A rustling sound came from the buildings lining the street, like the skittering of countless insects, the sound amplified by the unnatural silence, making her skin crawl.

    She looked towards the source of the sound, then scanned her surroundings, sensing… eyes… watching her from the shadows, their gazes unwavering.

    Even 520 shivered. 【What was that?】

    Tao Ning: “Scan the area?”

    520: 【Did you check with your spiritual sense?】

    Tao Ning, continuing her walk, replied, “…Yes. Quite a sight.”

    520, morbidly curious, asked, 【Can you… elaborate?】

    Tao Ning shook her head, using Poheng’s faint glow to illuminate her path. “Difficult to describe. Best seen in person.”

    520, sensing danger, quickly suppressed its curiosity. 【I’ll pass.】

    Tao Ning chuckled. “Just a swarm of black bugs. Crawling everywhere. Nothing interesting.”

    As she walked deeper into the city, a grey mist began to coalesce, unable to approach her directly, swirling around her like a shroud.

    While the rogue cultivator had been eliminated, the lingering resentment of the city’s victims remained, making it uninhabitable. The city gates had been sealed by a powerful formation.

    But recently, the seal had been broken, the resentment intensifying.

    Tao Ning raised her sleeve to cover her nose and mouth, not from the suffocating mist, but from the realization that it wasn’t mist, but a swarm of tiny, hair-thin, white insects.

    A single insect was barely visible, but their combined mass created the illusion of a grey fog.

    The jade token at her waist, bearing the character “Frost,” repelled them, a surprising but welcome discovery.

    Then she realized – birds were natural predators of insects. The token, imbued with Cen Dianshuang’s aura, was a natural deterrent.

    Where is that bird when I need it?

    520, unable to bear the sight, shrieked, 【What are those?!】

    Tao Ning: “Thousand-Thread Gu. Hair-thin insects that enter through the respiratory system, devouring the host’s brain within fifteen minutes, turning them into puppets controlled by the mother Gu.”

    520 fell silent, either stunned into speechlessness or simply resigned to the horrors it was witnessing.

    A dark shape emerged from the mist, running towards them, waving something frantically.

    520, its voice strained, asked, 【And what is that?】

    As a system, it avoided horror movies. Its previous hosts had all been matchmakers, never facing such… unpleasantness.

    The figure threw something, and with a whoosh, a burst of flames erupted, incinerating a large section of the mist.

    The brief flash of light illuminated the main street.

    Tao Ning stopped, watching.

    The figure had used a high-grade Fire Talisman. He had no other weapons. Probably a Talisman Cultivator.

    And it revealed another weakness of the Gu insects: they were vulnerable to fire.

    The figure, seizing the opportunity, turned to flee, then stopped, seeing another person standing nearby.

    A living person. “Another victim of that cursed map? You should leave… Wait! Please, help me! I’m a Talisman Cultivator from the Heavenly Heart Sect!”

    The incinerated Thousand-Thread Gu were reforming, drawn by the scent of living flesh, their mass coalescing into a suffocating grey cloud.

    Seeing Tao Ning standing alone, seemingly unharmed, he assumed she was a powerful cultivator, pleading for her assistance.

    Tao Ning: “A Heavenly Heart Sect Talisman Cultivator?”

    The cultivator, pulling at his robes, confirmed, “Yes! I’m the last disciple of True Person Chang Xiang. If you save me, my master will reward you handsomely!”

    The sharp clang of metal against metal, and Poheng, glowing faintly, sliced through the air, its lightning spiritual energy, a bane of evil creatures, decimating the swarm.

    The cultivator, relieved, assuming his plea had been answered, rushed towards Tao Ning, hiding behind her. “Are you a rogue cultivator?”

    Tao Ning: “No.”

    Seeing the token at her waist, he gasped. “You’re from the Hanshan Sect? What are you doing in Shadow City?”

    Tao Ning, focused on controlling her sword, replied casually, “Training mission. Slaying demons and exorcising ghosts.”

    The cultivator: “I see.”

    He slowly straightened up behind Tao Ning. The city’s perpetual twilight, shrouded in mist, obscured his face. If Tao Ning had turned, she would have seen its unnatural pallor.

    “Are you… here to rescue someone?” His cheek twitched as he reached out towards Tao Ning.

    His seemingly normal hand suddenly withered, the skin turning grey, a small lump bulging beneath the surface, about to burst and fly towards Tao Ning.

    Then, he felt himself flying backwards, landing heavily on the ground.

    He had been hit by something heavy, something… rectangular. Like the zither Tao Ning carried.

    Coughing up blood, he clutched his chest, his voice filled with confusion. “Why did you hit me with a zither?”

    Tao Ning, cradling Jianshu, looked down at him. “You stole my sword. You didn’t expect me to have a zither, did you?”

    “…”

    Realizing he had been discovered, he didn’t bother asking how. He lunged at Tao Ning.

    “Poheng.” A flash of light, and the flying sword pierced his dantian, pinning him to the wall.

    After consuming their host’s brain, Thousand-Thread Gu would seek out the most nutrient-rich part of the body: the cultivator’s dantian.

    They treated it like a breeding ground, the strongest Gu becoming the mother, producing countless offspring.

    This cultivator was already a puppet, controlled by the mother Gu.

    He died without a struggle, his last breath releasing a swarm of immature Gu eggs.

    【My eyes! My electronic eyes!】 520 shrieked, its voice filled with horror.

    Sometimes, 520 truly wanted to quit. It had never experienced such… unpleasantness… in its long career.

    Tao Ning, recalling Poheng, walked towards a nearby house, the sounds of a struggle echoing from within.

    She had heard the commotion earlier, but had been delayed by the Gu-controlled cultivator.

    A massive black spider clung to the roof, its legs tapping impatiently as it toyed with a group of young cultivators trapped in the courtyard below.

    It wasn’t ready to kill them yet. Draining their spiritual energy before wrapping them in silk and consuming them alive was far more entertaining.

    A young man, deflecting an attack with his sword, swallowed a handful of replenishing pills, his voice filled with despair. “Gu insects, walking corpses, and now a giant spider! Do they want us to live?!”

    A young woman, equally distraught, cried, “Who said it was safe because there were no small bugs? A giant spider is obviously safe!”

    “I didn’t say that!”

    “It doesn’t matter who said it! What matters is whether we survive this!”

    The spider raised its massive, hairy pincer, its shadow falling over the young woman, whose spiritual energy was completely depleted.

    She couldn’t defend herself. This was the end.

    A strong hand pulled her back, and a powerful Explosive Talisman flew from her hand, striking the spider’s pincer, severing it with a sickening crack. The spider shrieked, retreating.

    The ruined courtyard, already in disrepair, suffered further damage from the spider’s thrashing limbs, making it even more difficult for the other cultivators to defend themselves.

    The young woman, her heart pounding, thanked her rescuer. “Thank you, Senior Sister Pang! Be careful!”

    Senior Sister Pang turned sharply, her eyes widening as she saw the spider’s remaining pincer descending towards her.

    The relentless beast had targeted her, its attacks focused solely on her, forcing her back against a wall.

    She tried to stand, but her injured meridians flared, and she coughed up blood.

    “Senior Sister Pang!” The young woman cried, trying to reach her, but the spider’s massive legs blocked her path. Her sword strikes barely scratched its thick armor.

    The scent of blood drew the Thousand-Thread Gu, their swarm thickening, making it even more difficult for the cultivators to defend themselves.

    Trapped between a mid-Golden Core spider demon and a swarm of venomous insects, their situation seemed hopeless.

    Senior Sister Pang, her back against the wall, closed her eyes, bracing for the inevitable.

    But the expected pain didn’t come. A gust of wind, a high-pitched shriek, then a heavy thud.

    Something had died, but not her.

    The sound of collapsing debris, the ruined house crumbling under the weight of something heavy, dust filling the air.

    She opened her eyes to see a slender figure standing before her, two white feathers dangling from her headband.

    “Senior Sister! Are you alright?” The young woman rushed over, helping her up.

    Tao Ning, glancing at them, recalled Poheng, then looked at the small group of young cultivators. “Are you all from the Heavenly Heart Sect?”

    Senior Sister Pang, staring at Tao Ning’s profile, gasped. “My savior?”

  • Friend(GL) 101

    Chapter 101: Happiness

    Wu Xiulian had been to Jindu a few times, always for business trips. You Ruxu had never been free before. This time, with the New Year approaching, and You Ruxu on leave, she decided to visit, also urged by Wu Xiulian’s mother to check on You Ruxu’s living situation in Jindu. She took leave after her business trip and flew over. You Ruxu didn’t pick her up, it was Zhou Tianzui who met her at the airport. Wu Xiulian chuckled, “Is Xu Xu that busy? I’ll have to lecture her later.”

    You Ruxu, afraid of worrying her family, hadn’t told them about her injuries. The police had suppressed the news, so Wu Xiulian didn’t know either.

    Zhou Tianzui said, “She’s not that busy recently, just a little…inconvenienced.”

    “Inconvenienced?” Wu Xiulian frowned, “Did something happen to her?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “She’s in the hospital.”

    You Ruxu sat on the hospital bed, listening to Wu Xiulian say, “What happened? Why didn’t you tell us about such a big incident? If I hadn’t come, were you just planning to keep it from us?”

    “I’m sorry.” You Ruxu said, “I didn’t want you to worry.”

    “Worry? What worry?” Wu Xiulian said, “Xu Xu, we’re family, family should share everything, you…” She sighed, “Forget it, with your personality, it’s pointless arguing with you.”

    You Ruxu looked at her and asked, “Aunt, how’s Mom’s health?”

    “Definitely better than yours.” Wu Xiulian said, “Where does it hurt?”

    You Ruxu said, “I’m not in pain anymore.”

    “Don’t lie.” Wu Xiulian said, “I know a guy who broke his hand, and he was crying like a baby. You have injuries on both your hand and leg, how can you not be in pain?”

    You Ruxu was silent.

    Wu Xiulian said, “Alright, your aunt is here now, I’ll take care of everything, you just focus on recovering, don’t worry about anything else.”

    You Ruxu glanced at Zhou Tianzui, a gentle smile in her eyes, and nodded, “Thank you, Aunt.”

    “If you’re so polite again, I’ll hit you!” She pinched You Ruxu’s cheek, “You’ve lost weight, your face is so thin.”

    You Ruxu said, “I haven’t lost any weight.”

    “Whether you have or not, you have to eat everything I give you these next few days.” Wu Xiulian said, “Are there any hotels nearby?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Our apartment is nearby.”

    “That’s not convenient.” Wu Xiulian said, “I’ll stay at a hotel, are there any nearby?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Yes, I’ll arrange it.”

    “I’ll go with you.” Wu Xiulian picked up her suitcase. “Xu Xu, rest for a bit, I’ll come back later.”

    Wu Xiulian’s arrival and departure were a whirlwind. You Ruxu sat on the bed, looking out the window at the sunny sky, a sense of warmth spreading through her. Zhou Tianzui took Wu Xiulian to a nearby hotel. It was less crowded during the New Year holidays. This hotel was mostly used by family members of patients, with a small kitchen and basic amenities, more like a studio apartment. Zhou Tianzui was worried Wu Xiulian wouldn’t be comfortable there and offered her apartment instead. Wu Xiulian said, “This is fine, it has everything, and I saw a supermarket downstairs. Dr. Zhou, are you busy? Do you have to go?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “I was on duty last night, I’m not busy today.”

    “Then you should probably rest, go home and sleep?” Wu Xiulian said, “You look like you’ve lost weight too, were you scared by what happened to Xu Xu?”

    Zhou Tianzui stood beside Wu Xiulian, “A little, Aunt, I’ll go to the supermarket with you.”

    “Oh, alright.” They chatted as they walked, “Xu Xu, that child, can be incredibly stubborn sometimes. When she was in junior high, she told me, ‘Aunt, I want to be a lawyer.’”

    “I asked her why, and she said she thought lawyers were cool.” Wu Xiulian chuckled. “Later, she went back to her hometown, and when she came back, she was different, always getting sick, fevers, not even colds, just fevers. We took her to several hospitals, my sister was so worried, working during the day, and I would stay with Xu Xu, but she’s stubborn, refused to tell us what happened.”

    But she eventually did talk.

    In her dreams.

    She talked about many things from the past, her mother, her father, a reporter, and a notebook.

    Wu Xiulian admitted she was selfish. Wu Xiulian’s sister’s condition had finally stabilized after several years, and You Ruxu, after coming to live with them, had finally started acting like a normal child, learning to be affectionate, to express herself. She couldn’t forget the fear and trepidation in You Ruxu’s eyes when she first met her, how she pretended to be another child, an obedient and sensible child, for Wu Xiulian’s mother, hiding her true self, just to be able to stay with them.

    It had been many years, and she didn’t want to destroy the fragile happiness they had built.

    So, she hid the notebook.

    Zhou Tianzui asked, “She still hasn’t talked about it?”

    “Whether she does or not, we already know.” Wu Xiulian said, “She originally wanted to go to university in Jindu after high school, but my sister couldn’t bear to be apart from her, so Xu Xu stayed here. My sister, she doesn’t expect Xu Xu to come back anymore, she just wants her to be safe and happy, she wants you two to be happy together.”

    Zhou Tianzui was silent.

    Wu Xiulian said, “I heard your mother also lives in Jindu and takes good care of Xu Xu. Maybe one day…”

    “My mother’s not doing very well recently.” Zhou Tianzui said, “Maybe next time.”

    Wu Xiulian looked at Zhou Tianzui, “What’s wrong?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “She knows about us.”

    “Ah…” A soft gasp of understanding. Wu Xiulian said, “Then your mother, she must be very angry.”

    Zhou Tianzui pushed the shopping cart, “Yes, she’s very angry.”

    The angriest she had been in years.

    Wu Xiulian said, “It’s normal for her to be angry, she probably just needs time to accept it, you can’t force her.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “I know.”

    “Dr. Zhou,” Wu Xiulian said, “I know you and Xu Xu have been through a lot, Xu Xu might not say anything, but she keeps everything bottled up, her feelings for you, for your mother…”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Aunt, let’s forget about the past.”

    Wu Xiulian looked at her.

    Zhou Tianzui’s gaze was calm and peaceful. She said, “I don’t want to dwell on the past anymore. I told her, let’s let it go, we still have a future together.”

    Wu Xiulian looked at her, and after a few seconds, said, “I’m sorry.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Aunt, you don’t have to…”

    “Dr. Zhou, I’m sorry.” She said, “And I’m sorry to your mother, it’s our family’s fault, we’ve wronged you.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “It’s not your fault.”

    You Ruxu was adopted later, they weren’t responsible for what happened, “Aunt, let’s not talk about this anymore, let’s go back.”

    Wu Xiulian nodded, and carrying the bags, followed Zhou Tianzui. They returned to the hotel with three bags of groceries. Wu Xiulian told Zhou Tianzui to rest, but Zhou Tianzui said, “I have to go home, my mom’s alone.”

    “Alright, then you go ahead.” Wu Xiulian said, “Don’t tire yourself out, don’t worry about Xu Xu, I’ll take care of her.”

    Zhou Tianzui was relieved, Wu Xiulian’s arrival was timely, she could spend more time with Yu Qiao, without worrying too much about You Ruxu. Back at her apartment, Yu Qiao was making lunch. Hearing her enter, she didn’t turn around. Zhou Tianzui called out, “Mom.”

    “Weren’t you on the night shift? You worked until now?” Yu Qiao’s tone was sharp. Zhou Tianzui said, “I had to pick someone up this morning.”

    Yu Qiao didn’t ask who it was. Zhou Tianzui went to the kitchen, “Mom, let me help you.”

    “I don’t need your help.” Yu Qiao said, “I can manage.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, I’m sorry about last night.”

    Yu Qiao’s hands paused mid-wash, her head lowered. Last night’s shock had been too much, she had even dreamt about it, You Ruxu coming to her apartment, looking for Zhou Tianzui, crying, begging to see her.

    She had still been dazed when she woke up this morning.

    Zhou Tianzui, seeing this, said, “It’s about the Fengyuan case, it’s almost over, don’t worry too much.”

    “Worry about what?” Yu Qiao said, “Worry about you two sneaking around behind my back?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Mom, we weren’t sneaking around.”

    “You’re not now.” Yu Qiao said, “But what about before?”

    “I was afraid you wouldn’t accept it before.” Zhou Tianzui looked down, her long eyelashes hiding her expression. Yu Qiao said, “Couldn’t accept it before, so you think I can accept it now? Xiao Tian, it would have been better if you hadn’t told me at all, waited until I was dead, then you could be with whoever you want.”

    “I didn’t want that.” Zhou Tianzui took the knife from Yu Qiao and started chopping vegetables skillfully, “You’re my mom, I want you to know about every decision I make.”

    “You still remember I’m your mother!” Yu Qiao scoffed.

    Zhou Tianzui continued chopping vegetables, “I do, that’s why you’re the one whose blessing I want the most.”

    She turned to look at Yu Qiao, her tone sincere, “Mom, I don’t care what others think, what they say about me, even if they point fingers at me, I can handle it. But you’re different, you’re not like them, you’re my mom, the most important person in my life. If you don’t accept it, I won’t be happy.”

    Yu Qiao was startled by her words, her heart heavy with complex emotions. They had only each other all these years, their bond stronger than anything. She didn’t doubt Zhou Tianzui’s sincerity, but it was precisely because of this sincerity that she felt even more heartbroken.

    “Then—then you just—” Then just be unhappy.

    Yu Qiao swallowed the words, looking at Zhou Tianzui, remembering her as a child, crying in her arms, remembering Zhou Tianzui in junior high, coming home every day excitedly saying, “Mom, I did well this week, the teacher praised me,” even when she was ridiculed and ostracized by her classmates at school, she would still come home with a smile, telling her mother she was fine.

    Yu Qiao’s greatest wish in life was for Zhou Tianzui to be happy.

    No one wanted her happiness more than she did.

    But why a woman?

    Yu Qiao couldn’t say the words, her face grim as she continued cooking. Zhou Tianzui, looking at her profile, sensing a slight softening in her demeanor, felt a warmth spread through her heart. She called out, “Mom.”

    Yu Qiao didn’t respond.

    Zhou Tianzui stood behind her, her voice slightly choked, “Mom.”

    She just called out to her, not saying anything else.

    Yu Qiao lowered her head, tears silently tracing her cheeks. Her back to Zhou Tianzui, she was unusually quiet.

    After lunch, Zhou Tianzui went to her room to rest. She messaged You Ruxu: [Have you eaten?]

    You Ruxu was having soup, her eyes lighting up slightly at the message. Wu Xiulian said, “Oh, a message from Dr. Zhou?”

    “Yes.” You Ruxu said, “She just finished eating.”

    Wu Xiulian said, “I heard, her mother knows about you two.”

    You Ruxu’s typing paused, and she looked at Wu Xiulian.

    Wu Xiulian continued, “It’s normal for her mother to be angry, even if she scolds us, it’s understandable. After you’re discharged, I’ll go see her with you.”

    You Ruxu nodded, “Thank you, Aunt.”

    Wu Xiulian said, “Finish your soup, I’ll go to the bathroom, you can talk to Dr. Zhou.”

    You Ruxu, seeing her deliberately excuse herself, didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She called Zhou Tianzui, her voice low, “Are you going to sleep?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Yes, are you going to sleep too? Didn’t sleep well last night, did you?”

    They had chatted on and off all night. You Ruxu said, “Yes, I’ll sleep after I finish eating.”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “I’ll come over later tonight.”

    You Ruxu said, “Okay.”

    Zhou Tianzui turned over and took out the press pass from her pocket. Before You Ruxu could hang up, she asked, “If—”

    You Ruxu gripped her phone tightly.

    Zhou Tianzui asked, “If you weren’t a reporter, what would you do?”

    You Ruxu paused.

    She hadn’t thought about any other career. After reading that notebook, she had once thought that if she died in an accident while working as a reporter, it would be a kind of redemption.

    So, she didn’t know how to answer Zhou Tianzui’s question.

    Zhou Tianzui waited patiently, knowing this was a difficult question for You Ruxu, “Become a lawyer?”

    You Ruxu: “A lawyer?”

    Zhou Tianzui said, “Lawyers are cool, but they’re also very busy.” Her voice held a smile, “Be a clerk, nine-to-five, weekends off, we can go home together during holidays, take my mom on trips nearby…”

    You Ruxu, holding her phone, listened to Zhou Tianzui’s words, imagining their future, a happiness she had never dared to dream of before.

  • As a villain, I just want them to behave 236

    Chapter 236: New Arrangements

    The magic letter detailed the information and speculations Carol and the others had gathered.

    Although many of their guesses were just theories, he couldn’t afford to be careless.

    Combining this information with his own, Kailun formulated a new plan, his future schemes becoming more refined.

    But what pleased him the most was Carol and the others’ attitude.

    “Focus on the present. The feelings we experience are real. We will always trust you.”

    These were Carol’s words, with Fox and Illusion’s signatures at the end of the magic letter.

    Besides their handwriting, there were also a few crooked words that spelled “Ottovia.” Judging from the handwriting, the poor Ottovia must have been bullied.

    Kailun’s only thought was: intensify the efforts.

    After reading the letter, Kailun felt even more cheerful. He patted Meggie Liran’s head, put the letter away, and then called for Charles. “Charles, tell me, do you think the Temple can still be saved?”

    “Huh?”

    Charles, who hadn’t gone far, stopped and asked, “What do you want to know, Your Holiness?”

    “The current state of the Temple’s high-ranking officials, the current situation of the Temple, and… your opinion of me.” Kailun picked up another book and continued reading.

    Charles hesitated. “Is this something I can talk about?”

    Kailun: “Are you planning to keep secrets from me? Don’t worry, I won’t mind even if you speak ill of the Pope.”

    Meggie Liran: “…”

    Charles walked to the opposite side of the long table and bowed slightly. “Your Holiness, in the decades I’ve served, the Temple’s high-ranking officials haven’t changed much. There have always been complex issues within the Temple, both before and after your ascension. But these are the result of thousands of years of accumulation, and they have nothing to do with you personally. As for the recent problems among the high-ranking officials, it’s probably because some of them have… different ideas.”

    He glanced at the white light across from him and, seeing no reaction, continued, “Some believe that the division within the Temple is your fault, Your Holiness. They plan to use your union with the Empress to cultivate the next successor in advance.”

    “Hmph, a bunch of fools. They just want to seize more power. With the Empress’s cunning, the Temple will be the one who suffers in the end.”

    Meggie Liran spat out Kailun’s finger and snorted.

    “You’re right, Your Holiness. They are all short-sighted fools.” Charles quickly agreed.

    He found it strange that the Pope’s voice was filled with anger, a stark contrast to her previous calmness.

    Could it be andropause?

    No, that wasn’t right. The Pope was so young. “He” shouldn’t have reached andropause yet.

    “So, what’s your opinion of me?” Kailun’s voice held a hint of amusement.

    Charles, marveling at the Pope’s sudden change in mood, replied, “Your Holiness, in my opinion, you are the guiding light of the Temple. Only under your leadership can the Temple’s glory illuminate the world.”

    “But I can’t even find Kailun, who’s hiding in Alaye, let alone illuminate the world with the Temple’s glory. Just a joke, but maybe Kailun would be a better Pope than me.”

    Kailun covered Meggie Liran’s mouth with his hand, preventing her from speaking. He smiled as he said the words.

    Meggie Liran: “Mmm!”

    “You’re so funny, haha…”

    Charles forced a laugh. For some reason, he felt that the Pope’s words weren’t entirely a joke.

    “Alright, enough jokes. For the next few days, please introduce Paul to those people. As for the Empress’s invitation, I agree.”

    Kailun lowered his head and glanced at Meggie Liran with disdain. He felt some warm saliva on his palm.

    He wondered if it could be considered Holy Water. It would be a waste otherwise.

    Charles, unable to keep up with Kailun’s pace, scratched his face. “I will diligently complete your task, Your Holiness. Please also be careful.”

    After saying that, Charles returned to the bookshelves to continue searching for relevant books.

    After confirming that Charles was far enough away to not detect any magic fluctuations, Kailun cast a silencing spell and released Meggie Liran’s mouth.

    She immediately questioned him, “Why did you agree to that woman’s invitation? You should know she’s up to no good.”

    She could ignore his previous teasing, but she couldn’t compromise on a matter that concerned the future of the Temple.

    Meggie Liran grabbed Kailun’s wrist, interrupting his page-flipping. “The contract we signed clearly states that you can’t harm the Temple’s interests. Are you planning to violate the contract and suffer the consequences?”

    Kailun put down the book in his hand. “Don’t worry, I won’t harm the Temple’s interests. So you don’t have to worry about me suffering the consequences of the contract. If you want to care for me, give me a massage, instead of making a fuss.”

    What constituted “harming the Temple’s interests”? This was a question worth pondering.

    Meggie Liran could use the loopholes in the contract to set traps for Kailun, and he could also bypass the contract to achieve his goals.

    In other words, “solving problems inevitably brings pain. Short-term weakening is for long-term prosperity.”

    As the one who drafted the contract, Kailun had a certain degree of interpretive power. In the long run, his actions wouldn’t be considered harmful to the Temple’s interests.

    The only difference was that by then, the Temple might no longer be Meggie Liran’s Temple.

    “You… Forget it, why am I even arguing with you? I’m just a prisoner…”

    Thinking of her current predicament, Meggie Liran lost her will to argue. She sat on the ground and wiped the saliva from the corner of her mouth with her sleeve. It was there from when Kailun had covered her mouth.

    Kailun suddenly thought of something amusing. “Wise and clear self-awareness. Your expression is quite good. As a reward, I’m thinking of calling Chrissy over. What do you think?”

    “You’re a devil!”

    Meggie Liran shivered.

    If Chrissy saw her pathetic state, would she, as a “mother,” have the face to live?

    What if Chrissy saw her being played with by Kailun…

    She would die! She would definitely die!

    If that day ever came, the proud image she had built in front of Chrissy would crumble.

    Kailun: “Devils aren’t as kind as me. If Your Holiness doesn’t want Chrissy to see your predicament, then give me a foot massage.”

    Despite his words, Kailun had already decided to teleport Chrissy to Alaye.

    Chrissy wasn’t that strong. Using the super teleportation magic circle wouldn’t consume too many magic crystals.

    Bringing Chrissy over would not only add more “fun” but also relieve Afra at night. She had been looking forward to reinforcements for a long time.

    [Meggie Liran’s resentment increases. Goodwill -1, Total Goodwill -97]

    Sometimes, being too tolerant wasn’t a good thing. A flexible bottom line would only encourage the abuser.

    Kailun lifted Meggie Liran’s chin. He could see the anger in her eyes, but unfortunately, her anger couldn’t erupt for the time being.

    “Are you waiting for me to call Chrissy? Proud Pope?” Kailun raised her chin even higher.

    “I understand. But please don’t call Chrissy.”

    Meggie Liran slapped away his hand and lowered her head, forcefully massaging his thigh.

    Kailun: “Friendly reminder, there are still ten hours until bedtime.”

    Meggie Liran: “Why don’t you just die!”

    To finish reading the books as soon as possible, Kailun even had Meggie Liran feed him lunch.

    Seeing her disgusted expression, he found the food particularly delicious.

    It wasn’t until six in the evening that Kailun finished reading all the books. He had found quite a bit of useful information from the mountain of books.

    Seeing that it was getting late, he left Charles to clean up the messy table and left the library, his arm around Meggie Liran, concealed by the white light.

    After sending the Pope back to Afra’s care, Kailun summoned Helena to prepare for Chrissy’s teleportation.

    Since everyone in the Temple knew that Chrissy had betrayed them, the teleportation process had to be discreet. He had to find a way to distract the guards.

    So he planned to hold a morning meeting tomorrow. Besides making arrangements, it would also help Paul integrate into the Temple’s high-ranking circles.

    “Crack!”

    Kailun clenched his fist. This explosive power was his confidence in sweeping away all obstacles.

    ……

    “Harry, we can go back in a week. I’ll take you away from the Temple of the Celestial God, and we’ll never return.”

    After declining the dinner invitation from the two old men, Paul took Harry to the best restaurant in Alaye.

    Harry, looking at the table full of food, asked worriedly, “But didn’t you sign a contract with the Pope?”

    Paul poured half a glass of red wine for himself and Harry. “The contract does restrict me, but not much. I can bear the consequences of violating it. Besides taking you away, I also plan to take revenge on Kailun. This time, I have a chance of defeating him.”

    Harry looked at Paul with a strange expression. “How are you going to do that?”

    “To capture Kailun, the Pope has sealed off Alaye. He can’t escape.”

    Paul clinked glasses with Harry, his eyes filled with ambition. “Kailun is strong, but is he stronger than everyone in the Temple combined? Is he stronger than the Pope? I’ve gained the Pope’s trust. Next, I’ll try to integrate into the Temple’s high-ranking circles and utilize the entire Temple’s power to eliminate Kailun. Once we kill him, I’ll take you away from this place. If we’re lucky, it might only take a few days.”

    After saying this, Paul touched his forehead, still shaken. Every time he closed his eyes, he would dream of Kailun’s blade slicing through his neck. The feeling of near-death made it difficult for him to rest.

    For Paul, this might be his last chance to strike at Kailun.

    “Sigh, I’ll listen to you…”

    Harry shook his head, the red wine in his mouth tasting bitter.

    He wanted to advise Paul to let go of his hatred, but the words wouldn’t come out.

    Perhaps it was time to end everything.