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  • The Azure Longsword 22

    Chapter 22: The Lonely Island in the Black Sea

    “Choose a mission.” Asker looked away, forcing himself not to think about the unexplainable question of “why there are only beautiful NPCs in my team.”

    “Can we choose any mission?” Nuo also stared at the screen and began to copy the scrolling mission content above.

    “Yes.” Asker said, “The missions above can be freely accepted, the only problem is the cost-effectiveness.”

    “Cost-effectiveness?” Eleanor was a little puzzled.

    “First of all, everyone needs to understand that the content, difficulty, and reward of the mission are all given by the mission publisher themselves.” Asker pointed to the screen and said, “The Mercenary Guild is just a third-party platform for information exchange, and generally does not and cannot audit or restrict the authenticity of the mission, so there will inevitably be problems of false reporting of mission information.”

    “For example, when the enemy is actually a goblin tribe with ogres, the mission publisher is afraid that no mercenary will accept it, so they lie and say that there are only two or three goblins. This kind of deliberate lowering of the mission difficulty is the most common.” Asker continued, “For example, the mission reward is 100 pounds, but the mission publisher is a farmer from a nearby village. How can a farmer possibly be rich enough to spend 100 pounds to release a mission? There is no doubt that the other party is offering a false price, and from the beginning, they have planned to pay less or even default on payment afterwards.”

    “If we waste a lot of time on this kind of mission with cost-effectiveness problems, it will undoubtedly be very detrimental to the development of the team.” Asker finally concluded, “A senior who used to be a mercenary once said that the best mercenaries are not those who can fight the most, but those who are best at getting the mission reward into their pockets.”

    Nuo nodded constantly beside him, writing down a sentence in her notebook: How to actually get the mission reward (circled in emphasis).

    “Then how can we distinguish from the vast list of missions those that are truly cost-effective and worth doing?” Eleanor asked.

    “This can only be seen from experience, practice makes perfect.” Asker stared at the screen and said, “Eh, Paradise Mountain?”

    “Paradise Mountain?” Nuo looked at the screen, but did not see any words related to “paradise.” She saw that Asker had already communicated with the lady at the counter, it seemed that he wanted to take on a certain mission, and the latter replied fluently:

    “Azure Longsword Mercenary Group, number MS-995017-247, requests to undertake the ‘Black Sea Fishing Boat Missing’ mission, number 1000000012763212. The mission publisher has a message, do you want to listen to it?”

    “Yes.” Asker said.

    So the lady at the counter took out a microphone from under the desk and clicked on the corresponding audio file on the computer:

    “I am the village head of Burgas Village in the Thrace Province of the Empire. Last month, several fishermen from our village went fishing in the Black Sea and disappeared on the same day, never to return. The latitude and longitude coordinates of the last fishing boat signal were 43 degrees 32 minutes 11 seconds north latitude, 32 degrees 2 minutes 26 seconds east longitude.”

    “The families of the missing and other villagers in the village have raised about 3 pounds as a reward. If you can find and rescue them, we are willing to pay 3 pounds to thank you; if you only find their remains, we are also willing to pay 30 denarius silver coins to thank you.”

    “Let’s take this one.” Asker made the decision.

    “Then please scan the QR code under the counter and download our ‘Constantinople Mercenary Guild’ APP.” The lady at the counter said, “Your default account is the full spelling of the mercenary group name, the default password is eight 8s. After logging in, you can publish mission logs online and listen to relevant mission audio. After completing the mission, you only need to bring the people or remains to the guild, and the reward will be credited to your APP account, please remember to bind your bank card.”

    “A month has passed, the probability of the victims surviving should be very low, right?” Medea analyzed, “If we only find the remains, I’m afraid it won’t even be enough to cover our round-trip boat fare.”

    “Anyway, we are just practicing, it doesn’t matter what mission we take on.” Asker said with a smile, “Maybe there will be unexpected gains.”

    Unexpected gains? Medea frowned, hearing the implication in Asker’s words. The others were taking on a mercenary mission for the first time and were still in a state of ignorance, so they did not raise any objections.

    The Black Sea was located north of Constantinople, and to its north was the Principality of Kiev. The two countries mainly traded in fur and timber, and there were fleets running corresponding routes. Asker and the others searched around the Golden Horn pier and finally found a merchant ship willing to carry them.

    “43 degrees 32 minutes 11 seconds north latitude, 32 degrees 2 minutes 26 seconds east longitude?” The shipowner looked at the string of coordinates and said, “I did see a newly emerged island in the waters near there recently when I was running the route to Ochakiv.”

    “A newly emerged island?” Nuo was immediately interested when she heard this. “Have you gone ashore to see it?”

    “Little girl, being too curious is not a good thing at sea.” The shipowner shook his head and said with a smile, “Anyway, it must be either crustal movement or some kind of supernatural event that caused this new island to appear. There may be some dangerous extraordinary creatures on it. For example, there is a large venomous snake island near that sea area, full of snakes with spirituality. If you are bitten, you will die immediately. The venom is so strong that it is said to even annihilate the soul.”

    “Snake Island?” Nuo immediately felt goosebumps all over her body.

    “That’s right, so this newly emerged island may not be safe either.” The shipowner said, “The missing fishermen you are looking for do have the possibility of being stranded and forced to go ashore there, but I can’t let my sailors risk their lives for this. At most, I can only send you to the shallow waters near the island, and then give you a small boat to go ashore on your own.”

    “One day later, my freighter will return from Kievan Rus’, and will wait for you near that island for a maximum of two hours. If you don’t show up, we will leave on our own. And, you need to pay 5 pounds for a one-way ticket. Pay 1 pound in advance, and pay the remaining 4 pounds after getting on the boat. If you can come back alive from the island, you will need to pay another 5 pounds.”

    In other words, even if they could find the missing fishermen, this mission was destined to lose 7 pounds. Medea did not speak, squinting at Asker, only to hear him readily agree:

    “Okay, here is the 1 pound banknote in advance.”

    Sure enough, Asker was not aiming for the mission reward at all. Was there something wrong with the identities of the missing fishermen? Or was it the island itself? Medea secretly wondered.

    “Okay.” The shipowner took the banknote and said, “My cargo should be loaded, come with me.”

    The freighter docked at the pier was called the “White Iliana,” a coastal freighter that had been running in the Black Sea for many years. The center of the ship’s deck was a recess for containers, and the sailors ran back and forth on the passageway next to the recess and close to the bulwarks, responsible for maintaining the normal navigation of the freighter.

    Asker and the others boarded the ship, immediately attracting curious eyes from the surroundings. These sailors were all ordinary people, with neither extraordinary power nor any firearms or weapons, no wonder the shipowner said it was impossible to let these sailors go on an “adventure.”

    After reporting to the port office in Constantinople, the White Iliana officially set sail. The departure time was 6 p.m., which was dinner time. The members of the mercenary group were therefore fortunate enough to enjoy a “sea dinner” in the cabin with the sailors: hard-boiled salt water spaghetti, a small bag of ketchup, beans and pork stew cans, and sardine cans.

    Peggy picked at the beans in the pork can boredly, her face expressionless. Eleanor had a good appetite and ate all the spaghetti dipped in ketchup, then started to work on the sardines. Nuo opened two cans, but lost her appetite after just smelling them, and slowly ate the spaghetti with a fork.

    “Here.” Medea handed Nuo a sausage. “I just bought it from a sailor.”

    “Thank you.” Nuo thanked her politely.

    “You didn’t use your Mind I ability to ‘buy’ it, did you?” Asker said teasingly.

    “Mind your own business.” Medea rolled her eyes.

    Asker ate a little of each dish and filled his stomach. Looking out of the porthole, night had gradually fallen, and the sailors had returned to their cabins to rest, leaving only a few people on watch. The shipowner asked the first mate to bring a few sleeping bags, which did not look like the sailors’ bedding, probably the captain’s own collection.

    So everyone lay down in their clothes in the cabin. At about 3 a.m., Asker was awakened by a knock on the door and opened his eyes.

    “You have arrived at your destination.” A sailor opened the cabin door and said.

    Peggy climbed out of her sleeping bag and pushed Eleanor next to her awake. Medea sat up, covering her mouth and yawning non-stop, her beautiful wine-red hair also messed up. Only Nuo seemed to be a little grumpy when she got up. Eleanor called her for a long time before she woke up, and she was a little depressed.

    Everyone walked out of the cabin and saw the outline of the island faintly emerging from the night on the left side of the ship. The first mate directed the sailors to put a day’s worth of dry food for five people, ropes, oil lamps, two oars, and a few signal flares on the small boat hanging by the side of the ship, and then shouted for the members of the mercenary group to get on the boat.

    After paying the remaining four pounds, the small boat carrying everyone was gradually lowered into the cold sea water. Now even Nuo, who had not woken up yet, was fully awake, looking at the undulating sea around her and asking:

    “Are we rowing over now?”

    “Of course.” Asker said. He and Eleanor each picked up a pair of oars, paddling the water and pushing the boat towards the island.

    Although the island looked not far away, it took everyone half an hour to reach the shore. Fortunately, there was a beach next to the island, so the small boat was smoothly washed ashore by the sea water.

    “We must tie the rope to the tree on the shore, otherwise the small boat will be washed away by the rising tide.” Asker said. Everyone worked together to tie one end of the rope to the iron nail at the bow of the small boat, and the other end to the tree trunk on the shore.

    Asker looked at the beach and felt relieved. This island… was indeed the same as the game in his previous life. The only difference was that in his previous life, countless player guilds landed on this island, and there was almost a group PK incident on the shoal, while in this world, only his five-person team came to the island.

    That shipowner was right. A new island that suddenly appeared for no reason was most likely caused by a supernatural event. It was definitely dangerous, and the benefits were not necessarily there, so NPC mercenaries who felt it was not worthwhile would basically not come.

    However, for players who were immortal, any danger was simply a joke. Players only cared about whether the benefits were big enough. Since this island was brought by a supernatural event, there was a high probability that there would be high-value things on the island that matched the corresponding difficulty.

    And it turned out to be true in the end.

  • The Azure Longsword 21

    Chapter 21: Azure Longsword

    “It arrived so quickly?” Nuo was astonished.

    She had only submitted the application at noon, and in the afternoon she was notified that she had successfully joined the Life School and was pulled into the internal group chat. Along with the notification came a same-city package from the Landscape Architecture Association, which contained the special brandy blended with 10 kinds of fruits, three Flowers of the Eden Tree, and the topaz ring symbolizing the membership certificate.

    So what are we waiting for? Let’s start brewing the potion!

    Taking out the newly bought crucible, Asker poured the brandy into it, and immediately the rich aroma filled the entire study.

    Asker scooped out the Corfu olive oil and poured a spoonful into the brandy. The liquid in the crucible immediately showed a clear stratification. He took out a Fruit of Eden again, skillfully cut it in half with a plastic fruit knife, took out two seeds and crushed them, and threw them into the crucible.

    The fragments of the Fruit of Eden seeds passed through the oil and fell into the brandy, quickly dissolving. At the same time, the oil layer changed, its height was constantly decreasing, while the height of the brandy was constantly increasing, as if a mysterious force was constantly transforming the oil into brandy.

    “Who wants to eat the rest of the Fruit of Eden flesh?” Asker asked the onlookers, holding the Fruit of Eden that had been cut in half and had its seeds removed.

    “Can’t we save it for next time?” Nuo raised her hand and asked.

    “It’s already cut open, and the spirituality will dissipate before tonight.” Asker said, “It’s better to eat it.”

    Everyone looked at each other. The Fruit of Eden was a spiritual material! Could it be eaten? Wouldn’t there be some kind of mutation after eating it?

    Seeing that everyone didn’t dare to eat it, Asker took a bite. The flesh was not sweet, but surprisingly delicious, juicy, with a small amount of extraordinary power. He finished the whole Fruit of Eden in a few bites.

    Eating the Fruit of Eden alone was no problem, in addition to satisfying one’s cravings, it could also replenish extraordinary power. But before digestion, one could not eat other spiritual materials, otherwise, once the two were mixed in the stomach, it would become a flesh crucible refining potions, and it was destined to fail, and the consequences would not be much better.

    Finally, Asker carefully took out the Flower of the Eden Tree and gently placed it on the surface of the liquid. The flower was like a small boat with a hole in it, slowly sinking to the bottom of the liquid surface, and at the same time, the petals gradually changed from the original pink to a brilliant pale gold.

    Finally, the flower sank in the liquid, and the whole pot of liquid also turned pale gold. Asker poured the potion into a bottle and handed it to Nuo: “Excited?”

    “Excited!” Nuo said excitedly. She was finally going to become the extraordinary being she had dreamed of, how could she not be excited?

    “Then calm down first.” Asker took the potion back. “Being too excited will increase the risk of losing control.”

    “Then what should I do?” Nuo asked with a mournful face.

    “You meditate first.”

    So Nuo sat down on the floor and meditated for about five or six minutes before opening her eyes and saying calmly, “I’m ready.”

    She took the potion handed over by Asker and drank it all in one gulp, even chewing and swallowing the flower inside. Immediately, pale gold lines appeared on her face and neck, carrying a strange and mysterious aura. Her hair suddenly grew longer at a speed visible to the naked eye, so long that it almost dragged on the ground and coiled several times. The sound of her heartbeat in her chest began to amplify to the point where it was clearly audible, as if a heavy drum was being rhythmically beaten, making Eleanor next to her nervous, afraid that she would lose control and die in the next second.

    Finally, Nuo, who had returned to normal, stood up, and the bones all over her body suddenly crackled.

    “It worked.” She said.

    “How do you feel?” Eleanor asked with concern.

    “I feel…” Nuo said in a chanting tone, “Great.”

    She took out a pen and paper from the pocket on her chest and began to write quickly, then showed it to everyone:

    A Life I extraordinary can ignore obstacles and sense nearby living things; can freely control the growth of plants, the reproduction of microorganisms, and the cell differentiation of animal tissues; can help companions heal wounds through physical contact.

    The last one truly reflected her value as a “healer.”

    “That’s great.” Asker said, “So now we are all level 1. What we need to do next is to digest the extraordinary power corresponding to the extraordinary characteristics in our bodies as soon as possible, and prepare for the second potion formula.”

    “Eleanor, Crusader path, the next potion is Perfect Physique X, I have the formula.”

    “Nuo, Singer of Life path, the next potion is Spirit I, I also have the formula.”

    “Peggy, Lord of Impurity path, the next potion is Life Steal I, the formula and materials are all ready, waiting for digestion.”

    “Medea, Infernal Succubus path, the next potion is Desire I, I have the formula, and I am still missing materials.”

    He handed the formulas for Perfect Physique X and Spirit I to Eleanor and Nuo respectively. The latter was recording the potion progress of each member of the team, and suddenly asked:

    “Asker, what is your bloodline path? Do you have the next potion formula?”

    “I chose ‘Weapon Master’.” Asker replied, “The next potion is Sharp Weapon I, which can give me the ability to use any sharp weapon, such as knives, swords, spears, daggers, etc. I remember the formula, and I am currently only missing materials.”

    “Okay.” Nuo nodded. “So the top priority of the team is to digest the potions as soon as possible.”

    “That’s right.” Asker said, “But since we are all level 1, we basically have combat capabilities. We can register with the Mercenary Guild first, and then take on some combat missions to practice.”

    …

    The civilian NPC teams in the game are basically divided into two types. One is the mercenary group, and the other is the adventure group.

    The difference between the two is that the daily business of the mercenary group is to take on commissions from the guild and make money by completing tasks; while the daily business of the adventure group is to explore ruins (dungeons), fight extraordinary creatures, and collect some ancient objects to sell for money.

    If we include illegal organizations that are not officially recognized, then there are also thief groups, assassin groups, bandit groups, pirate groups, and so on, and the organizational forms are endless. But in essence, the ultimate goal of all teams is to make money.

    A team that cannot make money, even an idol group, cannot survive.

    In the mysterious world where extraordinary power exists, teams have another ultimate goal: to become stronger. These two are not actually in conflict, of course, having money can make you stronger, and RMB warriors are the best example. Although the cost of becoming stronger may be becoming poorer in the short term, it is still enough to make a fortune in the long run. Asker killed a level 2 from the Spirit School and earned about 700 pounds. How long would it take to earn the same amount of money just by relying on his two shops?

    If it is a player team, then the motivation is even purer – for fun. So basically everyone will register a mercenary group, and in fact, they will do everything, whether it is dungeons or missions.

    Coming to the Mercenary Guild in Constantinople, after going through a tedious application process, Asker finally got the mercenary group application form. The first option made everyone worry.

    Mercenary group name.

    “How about the Justice Knights?” Eleanor suggested.

    “No!” The others refused immediately, such an old-fashioned name would make people laugh to death.

    “It should be a fierce name, with a murderous aura.” Peggy said, “Avengers?”

    “Rejected. It will cause copyright disputes.” Asker said.

    Peggy: ???

    “How about a wild and unruly name?” Medea suggested, “Flaming Rose?”

    “No.” Asker said, “Too girly.”

    “What do you mean too girly?” Medea said discontentedly, “There are 4 women out of 5 people in our team, what’s wrong with having a beautiful name?”

    “I’m the leader.” Asker said. This was more convincing than whether the name was beautiful or not.

    “Are you all incapable of coming up with a name?” Asker expressed his despair.

    “Or.” Nuo finally spoke, “We can use an ordinary name. For example, Azure Longsword?”

    “Let’s go with that.” Asker made the decision.

    “Wait, is there any special meaning to Azure Longsword?” Medea protested. “Azure? Longsword? It doesn’t make any sense at all!”

    “Ahem.” Nuo said awkwardly, “The name Azure Longsword comes from a legend I read before.”

    “So it still has an origin, doesn’t it?” Asker replied, “You can take a look at the names of common mercenary groups, basically they are all called sword, shield, spear, etc. Because the name is the first impression a mercenary group gives people, for example, a weapon name will let people know that this mercenary group is mainly focused on combat.”

    “Eleanor’s ‘Justice Knights,’ no mercenary group would call themselves a knight order now. Knights are only loyal to their lords, which will make people think that we only serve nobles, and the prefix ‘justice’ implies that we are very picky, so it’s rejected; Peggy’s ‘Avengers,’ sounds like the name of an assassin group, because people who need revenge will only look for assassins, this name will definitely not pass the guild’s review, rejected; Medea’s ‘Flaming Rose,’ flame is a symbol of mages, do you know what rose is a symbol of? Drama, balls, and prostitutes! There will be a lot of messy customers coming to the door, so it’s also rejected.”

    “Then let’s just call it ‘Azure Longsword’.” Hearing his reasonable explanation, the three girls couldn’t refute and could only give up.

    So the Azure Longsword Mercenary Group was officially established. Asker looked at the member list of his team and suddenly had a thought.

    The occupational ratio of our mercenary group is very reasonable. MT, control, output, healer are all available, he himself is not only the commander, but also can act as any role except healer when necessary, but…

    Aren’t there a bit too many female members? How come I seem to be the only male? The gender ratio is a bit out of balance!

    Of course, as Asker, who grew up in a modern civilized society, naturally would not have any discrimination against women.

    Especially in the game, the gender of NPCs is just an attribute, and there is no evidence that female NPCs are weaker than male NPCs. Otherwise, the game “Iron and Fire” would not be able to pass the review in the politically correct Europe and the United States.

    Hmmm, this must be just a coincidence. I didn’t deliberately choose female members to join my team, it’s just that all the suitable people I met happened to be female NPCs, hahaha.

    Asker convinced himself in his heart, and when he looked up at the girls, they were indeed very promising combat talents.

    For example, this heroic beauty with long golden hair, Eleanor, with a steady personality and solid combat skills, was very suitable to be an MT(Main Tank).

    And for example, Nuo, the youthful and beautiful girl with short flaxen hair, who was a graduate of a medical major, was there anyone more suitable to be a healer than her? No.

    Then there was Peggy, the little beauty with short black hair and small braids hanging down on both sides. She was on the bloodline path of a vampire, and her combat power was second to none at low levels. Wouldn’t it be a waste not to be an agility output?

    And then there was Medea, the charming woman with wine-red hair, a Mind Psychic on the Succubus path. Could there be a second Mind Psychic in Constantinople? Maybe there is, but I don’t know them at all!

    So it’s not that I deliberately chose female NPCs, it’s because they are the best candidates for my team’s role positioning, everything is the choice of fate!

    Asker looked at these four beauties of different races, ages, occupations, and even hair colors, and suddenly felt a little guilty.

    How come they are all beautiful NPCs? Is this a coincidence too?

    Being looked at by Asker with inexplicable eyes, everyone showed puzzled expressions.

    The girls: ???

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 23

    Chapter 23: Rumors of the Cheng Mansion

    “Since you two have met, I’ll take my leave.”

    Meng Dai smiled, sensing the shift in atmosphere, and quietly excused himself.

    “Farewell, Shopkeeper Meng.”

    Lin Tianlu bowed farewell, then turned to Cheng Yishi, his expression neutral. “Miss Cheng, what brings you here?”

    “Have you heard the rumors circulating in town, Sir?”

    Cheng Yishi’s voice was soft and alluring. “About my family.”

    Lin Tianlu’s brow furrowed slightly. “I have heard some things, but I’m not sure if they’re true…”

    “They’re false, of course.”

    Cheng Yishi said firmly. “Someone is deliberately spreading these baseless rumors, trying to slander my family and claim that our house is haunted by ghosts and vengeful spirits.

    We used to ignore them, but after the fire at the fabric shop, which proved that there are indeed ghosts lurking in our town, these rumors have resurfaced and intensified. Our family’s businesses have suffered quite a bit because of them.”

    Fake news?

    Lin Tianlu was surprised.

    So people were already using rumors and smear campaigns in this era?

    And they were even using the fabric shop fire to fuel the flames. Quite clever.

    “So you came to me, Miss Cheng, to… clear your family’s name?”

    “You’re wise indeed, Sir, to understand so quickly.” Cheng Yishi smiled gracefully and nodded slightly. “My father is a proud man and didn’t want to trouble you.

    But I happened to hear that you were dining here, Mr. Lin, so I came to invite you to our house to investigate. We hope you can prove our innocence and silence those troublesome rumors.”

    Lin Tianlu smiled and nodded. “Of course, but… hmm?”

    His expression changed as he quickly reached out to steady the girl, who had suddenly swayed.

    “Miss Cheng?”

    “Forgive me, Sir. I’ve had a weak constitution since childhood. I’m prone to dizziness and fatigue. It’s nothing serious.” Cheng Yishi’s face seemed a bit pale as she gracefully stepped back and bowed again. “I’ll return to my father now. Please enjoy your meal, Mr. Lin, and Miss. I’ll be waiting for you downstairs.”

    “Thank you.” Lin Tianlu bowed. “Please get some rest, Miss Cheng.”

    Cheng Yishi paused, turning back to smile at him. “I’ll keep your advice in mind, Sir.”

    …

    After watching Cheng Yishi leave, Lin Tianlu sat back down, a thoughtful look on his face.

    “Senior.”

    Hua Shuya blinked her beautiful eyes and said softly, “Why are you frowning? Is it because of those rumors about the Cheng family…”

    “Something doesn’t feel right.”

    Lin Tianlu said slowly. “It might not be just baseless rumors, as Miss Cheng claims.

    I briefly touched her wrist earlier, and it felt icy cold, as if surrounded by Yin energy.”

    Hua Shuya’s eyes widened in alarm. “Could it be that Miss Cheng has been possessed by a ghost?”

    “It’s hard to say. To find out the truth, we should go to the Cheng residence and investigate.”

    Lin Tianlu had carefully observed Cheng Yishi earlier.

    There was Yin energy lingering within her body, deeply rooted. But there was no bloodlust, suggesting she hadn’t harmed anyone.

    The problem must lie within the Cheng mansion.

    Hua Shuya lowered her eyes, her voice filled with concern. “Are you really going to the Cheng residence, Senior?”

    “Vanquishing evil is a good deed. Besides, there are elderly people and children in her household. It would be tragic if something happened to them.”

    Lin Tianlu took out the broken jade pendant from his pocket and chuckled. “And I also have a selfish motive.”

    Although the jade pendant was currently just a useless flashlight, it had absorbed the gray mist from the two ghosts he had destroyed. He wanted to see if it would gain any new abilities after absorbing more.

    Of course, even if it was useless, he considered this trip a good deed.

    Hua Shuya glanced at the jade pendant curiously. It didn’t seem special. But since Senior valued it, it must be precious.

    However, she quickly shifted her attention, her expression hesitant. “Senior, may I… accompany you?”

    Seeing the anxiety in the girl’s eyes, Lin Tianlu chuckled. “Of course we’ll go together. Without your protection, Miss Hua, I would be worried.”

    “Don’t worry, Senior!” Hua Shuya beamed.

    Lin Tianlu gestured towards the dishes. “Let’s eat. The food will get cold.”

    “Mm!” Hua Shuya picked up her chopsticks again. The fish tasted even more delicious now, and her eyes sparkled with happiness.

    …

    As night fell, the Tianhai Restaurant gradually quieted down.

    Lin Tianlu and Hua Shuya finished their meal and left the restaurant, seeing a familiar figure waiting for them by a carriage.

    “Miss Cheng.” Lin Tianlu bowed slightly, a wry smile on his face. “I apologize for making you wait in the cold night air.”

    “Don’t worry, Sir. I just finished saying goodbye to my friends.” Cheng Yishi’s gentle smile remained unchanged as she gestured towards the man standing beside her. “Mr. Lin, Miss Hua, this is my father, Cheng Yanghua.”

    Cheng Yanghua’s face was slightly aged, his expression stern and imposing, his demeanor somewhat cold.

    He bowed to them, a forced smile on his lips. “I’m grateful that you accepted my invitation, Master Lin and Miss Hua. If you can clear my family’s name, I’ll reward you handsomely!”

    “There’s no need for a reward, Sir. It’s our pleasure to be acquainted with you.” Lin Tianlu replied nonchalantly. Hua Shuya also bowed politely, remaining silent.

    Cheng Yanghua gestured towards the carriage. “Please, get in.”

    …

    The Tianhai Restaurant wasn’t far from the Cheng residence. They arrived within a quarter of an hour.

    As they stepped out of the carriage, a spacious courtyard came into view, two guards standing at the gate. It was a grand and impressive sight.

    Led by Cheng Yishi and her father, they entered the mansion. The courtyard was dimly lit, and they could see a few servants moving about.

    Lin Tianlu strolled through the corridor, asking, “How many people live in your household, Mr. Cheng?”

    “There are twenty-one servants and maids, my three concubines and their three daughters and one son.” Cheng Yanghua hesitated for a moment, then continued, “And my eldest daughter, Yishi.”

    Quite a large family.

    Lin Tianlu’s eye twitched.

    Three concubines, five children… he was quite fertile.

    But thinking about the customs of this era, it wasn’t that unusual. Hua Shuya, who was standing beside him, didn’t seem fazed at all.

    “Since you’re here, Master Lin, why don’t I have my family greet you…”

    “Father.”

    But before Cheng Yanghua could finish speaking, Cheng Yishi interrupted him softly, her head bowed. “It’s getting late. If we follow all the formalities, it will only tire Master Lin further.

    Why don’t we let everyone rest early and allow Master Lin to inspect the house thoroughly? Once he confirms there are no ghosts or evil spirits, we can send servants to spread the word tomorrow morning and clear our family’s name.”

    “Excellent, excellent!” Cheng Yanghua quickly agreed. “I was being inconsiderate. Someone! Tell everyone to go back to their rooms and rest. Don’t disturb Master Lin!”

    “Yishi, you’ll guide Master Lin around the house.”

    “As you wish, Father.” Cheng Yishi nodded slightly.

    Soon, the Cheng residence quieted down, the lights in many rooms dimming.

    But throughout this process, Cheng Yishi remained by Lin Tianlu’s side, a smile on her lips, her gaze lingering on him with a strange glint in her eyes.

    And this subtle gesture didn’t escape Hua Shuya’s notice.

    This woman… was acting strangely.

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 22

    Chapter 22: Tianhai Restaurant

    If you were to ask anyone in Changling County where the most glamorous and lively place was, they would undoubtedly answer, “Tianhai Restaurant.”

    The restaurant occupied the best location in the county, offering a panoramic view of the bustling canal and the lively main road. It was a popular spot for wealthy merchants and officials, known for its exquisite cuisine and luxurious ambiance. It was a landmark of Changling County.

    And now, Lin Tianlu understood why.

    —Inside the VIP private room.

    He looked at the array of delicacies being served, his lips twitching slightly.

    “This place is even more extravagant than I imagined.”

    He had thought it was just a clean and upscale restaurant, but he hadn’t expected such opulence.

    Jade carvings and intricate decorations adorned the room, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship. Each dish was served on porcelain plates with delicate gold trim, suggesting that even the tableware was valuable.

    This level of luxury rivaled that of high-end restaurants in his previous life.

    “This meal must have cost a fortune, Miss Hua…”

    “As long as you like it, Senior.” Hua Shuya smiled faintly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, her movements graceful and elegant.

    She was clearly dressed for the occasion, her delicate features enhanced by makeup, her hair styled in a sophisticated bun adorned with jade and pearls. Her earrings and hair ornaments jingled softly, sparkling with light.

    Her high-waisted ruqun accentuated her curves, a light shawl draped over her figure, revealing glimpses of her smooth, jade-like skin. She looked like a meticulously crafted work of art, drawing admiring glances.

    Perhaps feeling a bit self-conscious in the intimate atmosphere of the private room, she pursed her lips, a blush creeping onto her cheeks.

    Lin Tianlu took a sip of wine and chuckled. “Ever since I arrived in Changling County, I’ve been under your care, Miss Hua. If I continue to enjoy your hospitality without contributing anything, I’ll start to feel ashamed.”

    “Senior, there’s no need to…”

    “I think I need to find a job in this town, at least to earn some money for living expenses.”

    “Senior.”

    But Hua Shuya suddenly interrupted him, her face serious. “Would you… consider being my official swordsmanship instructor?”

    Lin Tianlu almost spat out his wine, his face filled with astonishment.

    “Me, a swordsmanship instructor?”

    “If you don’t like that, Senior, it doesn’t have to be swordsmanship. You could be a tutor, a gardening teacher, even an embroidery instructor!” Hua Shuya sat up straight, her voice earnest. “As long as you stay here, Senior, and allow me to learn from you, I’ll cover all the expenses!”

    Lin Tianlu stared at her for a moment, speechless.

    Looking into her bright eyes, he felt a warmth spreading through his heart.

    This girl…

    Was truly kind.

    He chuckled. “If you don’t mind, I can be a tutor. But I’ll have to decline the swordsmanship and gardening lessons. I’m afraid I’d only embarrass myself in front of you, Miss Hua. I might be able to offer some guidance on the Confucian classics… But as for embroidery, I’m completely clueless. Please don’t tease me.”

    “I-I apologize. I was just a bit excited and spoke without thinking.”

    Hua Shuya blushed, covering her lips shyly. She looked adorable.

    Her heart was filled with sweetness. Senior was so kind and gentle, even agreeing to her ridiculous requests.

    She was determined to make sure he was well-fed and comfortable.

    “There’s no need to be so formal. Let’s enjoy the food while it’s still hot.” Lin Tianlu smiled and picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork.

    “This restaurant’s food is truly delicious!”

    “Please have some more, Senior.”

    Hua Shuya smiled faintly, taking a small bite gracefully.

    But as she chewed, she sensed his gaze upon her and blushed slightly. “S-Senior, is there something strange about me?”

    “Nothing.” Lin Tianlu chuckled awkwardly. “It’s just… you seem to have gained some weight, Miss Hua.”

    Hua Shuya instinctively covered her chest, but she didn’t seem to mind. “I was just binding my chest before. You know I’ve been practicing swordsmanship for many years, Senior. It’s a habit I developed from a young age. It’s inconvenient to move without binding my chest.”

    Lin Tianlu nodded in understanding.

    He couldn’t help but find it amusing.

    It was rare to see a beautiful and skilled martial artist who dressed so alluringly.

    Thinking about it, those female characters in anime and novels, wielding swords and spears, flying through the air, performing acrobatic feats… It would be impossible for loose clothing to contain their figures. They would probably be in pain, clutching their chests and unable to fight.

    It wasn’t as if their breasts were made of steel.

    Faint laughter and the clinking of glasses echoed from downstairs.

    “This place is quite lively.” Lin Tianlu leaned against the railing.

    The restaurant’s spiral design allowed him to see the other guests on the lower floors. But thin silk screens separated the private rooms, providing privacy and preventing disturbances.

    Hua Shuya frowned slightly and said in a low voice, “Senior, would you like me to ask the restaurant to move us to a quieter room?”

    “There’s no need. It’s interesting to experience the hustle and bustle of life.”

    “As expected of the renowned Master Lin! Truly cultured and refined!”

    A hearty laugh made Lin Tianlu turn around. A middle-aged man in a silk robe entered the room with a smile and bowed. “Mr. Lin, I’m the owner of this Tianhai Restaurant, Meng Dai.”

    “Why have you come, Shopkeeper Meng?”

    Lin Tianlu stood up and bowed in return.

    Meng Dai chuckled. “I heard from my staff that you were here, Mr. Lin. As the owner, I naturally had to come and greet you. But I didn’t expect… to see you accompanied by such a beautiful lady. My apologies for being so crass.”

    He quickly bowed again, noticing the young girl sitting across from Lin Tianlu.

    “It’s alright, Shopkeeper.” Hua Shuya put down her chopsticks and said calmly.

    “Thank you for your understanding, Miss.”

    Meng Dai didn’t dare to look at her directly and quickly turned his attention back to Lin Tianlu.

    “Mr. Lin, if you need anything, just tell my staff. We’ll do our best to fulfill your every request.”

    “Shopkeeper Meng, I have a small request.”

    Meng Dai looked curious. “Please speak, Mr. Lin.”

    “I heard that a certain Mr. Cheng is having dinner with friends here. I wonder if you could introduce us?” Lin Tianlu smiled faintly. “I have something to discuss with him.”

    “Mr. Cheng?” Meng Dai was stunned for a moment, then chuckled. “What a coincidence. I didn’t expect you to have the same idea, Mr. Lin.”

    “The same idea?”

    Lin Tianlu was surprised.

    As soon as he finished speaking, the beaded curtain at the entrance was lifted, and a graceful figure entered the room.

    The woman was dressed in a light, elegant azure dress, her skin as fair as jade, her figure slender and alluring. Her eyes sparkled with a gentle light, and her features were delicate and refined.

    Meng Dai smiled and introduced her. “Mr. Lin, this is Miss Cheng Yishi, the daughter of the Cheng family. She’s here to see you.”

    Cheng Yishi, the graceful young lady, pursed her lips and bowed slightly. “I’ve heard so much about you, Mr. Lin. Meeting you now, you’re truly as extraordinary as the rumors say.”

    She looked up at Lin Tianlu, who was about to bow in return, her eyes sparkling with a subtle smile.

    Crack!

    A faint snapping sound. Hua Shuya quickly hid the broken chopstick in her hand. Seeing that no one had noticed, she breathed a sigh of relief.

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 21

    Chapter 21: A Little Information

    The disheveled young boy paced nervously outside the gate, trying to brush the dirt and grime off his clothes.

    He peeked cautiously through the cracks in the door, catching glimpses of the familiar man and woman talking inside.

    He hesitated, unsure how to approach them.

    Rumors were swirling throughout Changling County, all praising the scholar living in this house for his great talent and virtue, predicting a bright future for him. Even the county magistrate seemed interested in befriending him.

    His reputation was spreading, and he was already quite well-known in the county.

    For a lowly beggar like him to approach so casually…

    Would he be looked down upon?

    But as he hesitated, the gate suddenly opened.

    “Young man, you look even more disheveled than the other day.” Lin Tianlu stepped out with a smile. “Are you here to beg for more money and food?”

    “Sir?! I-I… no…”

    The boy stumbled back, waving his hands frantically, trying to explain.

    Lin Tianlu softened his expression and said gently, “Don’t be nervous. I was just teasing you.

    But why have you come here? What is it you want to say?”

    Seeing the handsome scholar’s kind and approachable demeanor, the boy blinked, a wave of relief washing over him.

    This man was truly a good person.

    But he still clutched his ragged clothes nervously and said in a small voice,

    “I… I’m here to do business with you, Sir.”

    “Oh?” Lin Tianlu raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms with a chuckle. “What kind of business, young man?”

    “When we met at the restaurant, Sir, you asked me about ghosts and demons. I didn’t take you seriously then, thinking you were just teasing me.”

    The boy’s eyes flickered, and he took a deep breath. “But a few days ago, you displayed your incredible power, dispelling the evil aura from the fabric shop, saving lives, and vanquishing a demon. Everyone in Changling County is praising you. I thought… you might be interested in those supernatural beings.”

    Lin Tianlu was surprised.

    This young boy was quite perceptive.

    Seeing the boy’s nervousness as he mustered his courage, he couldn’t help but chuckle. “You seem to have read my mind, young man.”

    The boy’s eyes lit up with joy. “Are you serious, Sir?!”

    “Of course.”

    Lin Tianlu nodded. “Those supernatural beings are a mystery to me, a vast and unexplored world. And I’ve read many tales of the supernatural, so I’m naturally curious. As for the business you mentioned…”

    “I-I want to trade information about these supernatural beings with you, Sir!” The boy quickly replied.

    “Information?”

    “You can tell at a glance… I’m a beggar who relies on begging for a living. But I’m quick and have sharp ears. I hear all sorts of gossip in and around the county. I know what’s happening in every household. If there’s any sign of a supernatural occurrence, I can be the first to inform you, Sir.”

    The boy’s voice was filled with excitement, eager to prove his worth.

    Lin Tianlu silently observed his eager, dirt-stained face, then smiled after a moment of thought.

    “A hundred copper coins for each piece of information. What do you think?”

    The boy’s eyes widened. “A-a hundred copper coins, Sir?!”

    A hundred copper coins was a fortune to him! He wouldn’t be able to earn that much in a month of begging!

    “Of course. But the information must be accurate. If I find out you’re making things up to cheat me out of money, I’ll cancel our deal and report you to the authorities.”

    “I would never! Please trust me, Sir! I would never lie to you!”

    He swallowed hard and said in a small voice, “Sir, I have a piece of information right now…”

    “Oh? Something happened in the county?” Lin Tianlu asked curiously.

    “There seems to be something strange happening at the Cheng family’s house, five miles north of the county. People are saying that they hear eerie laughter coming from the house every night, and these past two days, they’ve even heard the sound of chopping meat. But when they search, they can’t find the source of the sound. It’s very strange.”

    “Such a strange occurrence. Hasn’t the Cheng family reported it to the authorities?”

    “Not yet. Perhaps they don’t want to make their family matters public and want to handle it privately.” The boy pondered for a moment, then added, “I heard that the head of the Cheng family, Cheng Yanghua, is a very proud man. He was known for his hot temper in his youth and hated being gossiped about. Although he’s calmed down a bit after starting a family, his wife died young, and his personality has become unpredictable.”

    “You seem to know a lot about him.” Lin Tianlu chuckled.

    “I-I just heard these rumors from people on the streets.” The boy shrugged shyly. “Maybe that Cheng Yanghua… isn’t as proud as people say.”

    “It’s alright. It’s commendable that you remember these things.” Lin Tianlu said gently. “Wait here for a moment. I’ll get you the money.”

    The boy beamed with joy, nodding repeatedly.

    While waiting, he carefully wiped his hands, trying to make them look cleaner.

    When Lin Tianlu returned and handed him the coins, the boy stared at them for a long time, then suddenly started to sob softly.

    “Why are you crying?”

    “You… you gave me a chance, Sir!” The boy quickly wiped away his tears, clutching the coins as if they were a precious treasure. “I’ll work hard!”

    Lin Tianlu smiled and patted his shoulder. “Use your ‘talents,’ and you’ll be rewarded. But…

    I have to warn you, you can gather information from others, but don’t go investigating those supernatural beings yourself. If you encounter them directly, you might lose your life!”

    “I’ll remember your words, Sir!”

    The boy’s expression turned serious, and he added, “I almost forgot something. It seems that Cheng Yanghua is having dinner at the Tianhai Restaurant tonight. If you’re not busy, Sir, you could go there and talk to him.”

    “Tianhai Restaurant?”

    Lin Tianlu shook his head with a smile. “What a coincidence.”

    “Sir?”

    “It’s nothing. I’ll take care of it. You go and have a good meal with that money. And wash your face and buy yourself some new clothes.”

    “O-okay!” The boy’s cheeks flushed slightly as he carefully put the coins away and ran off…

    His clumsy gait, bowing every few steps, was quite endearing.

    “Senior, who was that child?”

    Hua Shuya approached silently.

    Lin Tianlu waved his hand. “A poor child I met at the restaurant. He’s quite clever and told me about some strange things happening in the county.”

    “So you’re planning to…”

    “Have dinner at the Tianhai Restaurant tonight.”

    Hua Shuya’s eyes lit up, and she smiled sweetly. “I’ll tell the restaurant to prepare a feast!”

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 48

    No. 48 The Nightmare Absolved by Glory

    Under the quiet fluorescent lights, lines of data flickered across the black DOS interface.

    This cyber battle had been raging for an entire week.

    The difference was, I had to attend school during the day and could only participate in the evenings, while they were on defense 24/7.

    The Queen Bee Hacker Alliance, the most secretive and skilled hacker group in the country.

    I had joined them in my previous life, driven by professional necessity, and had gained access to a wealth of information about this city.

    Including historical events and the movements of influential figures.

    The alliance possessed a vast database of intelligence. If I wanted to investigate the people Pai Ge had mentioned, they were my best resource.

    It was a highly secretive organization, unaffiliated with any particular group or cause. They didn’t impose restrictions on their members or force them to complete tasks. They didn’t actively recruit. If your skills were exceptional, they would extend an invitation. Once you joined, you could seek help from other members whenever you encountered difficulties—although they had the right to refuse.

    Joining the Queen Bee Hacker Alliance was one of the few things I didn’t regret in my previous life.

    Now, I was a sixteen-year-old girl. Logically, I had no business being involved in the world of hacking. Even if I knew their website, their headquarters, even the contact information of their key members, I couldn’t join them with my current identity.

    How could I convince a group of elite hackers that I was their equal?

    Simple: by breaching their defenses.

    So, I had chosen one of their servers in Upper Capital City, a server they claimed was impenetrable.

    I possessed advanced hacking techniques and knowledge from ten years in the future. They had superior computing power. And so, the battle had raged for seven days and nights.

    During those seven days, Xiaodie’s father had been formally accused of corruption by an “anonymous citizen.” Due to the large sum of money involved and the public outcry, the court had scheduled a hearing in two weeks. For her safety, Xiaodie was now staying at a safe house arranged by Ouyang Dati on the outskirts of the city.

    It was worth noting that Ouyang Dati had suppressed the Huang Qinghao incident, officially labeling it as a “gang-related death.”

    Huang Qinghao’s father, pressured by the military, had reluctantly agreed to this arrangement, vowing to find the true culprit.

    “Beep! Beep! Beep!”

    At 8:20 PM, a triumphant chime echoed through my headphones. I had gained root access to the server.

    After seven days and nights, I had emerged victorious.

    “We surrender.”

    As I established a connection, those words appeared in the chat window.

    “We don’t know if your attack was malicious or benevolent, but we have to admit, it’s been a long time since we’ve encountered such a formidable opponent.”

    Like martial arts, the world of hacking followed the law of the jungle: survival of the fittest.

    This server was specifically designed for penetration testing. Breaching it wouldn’t cause any real damage. So, instead of immediately patching the vulnerabilities and transferring data, they chose to communicate with me, acknowledging their defeat.

    “We’ve never seen such sophisticated sniffing and encryption techniques. Even after analyzing your Trojan, we couldn’t decipher its syntax and structure. We’re truly impressed. Please allow us to address you as ‘Master.’”

    Three messages appeared in rapid succession. I considered my response carefully. “You flatter me. I’m just a humble computer enthusiast. I don’t deserve such a title.”

    “No, no, we’re the losers. You’ve earned that title, Master. Please tell us your demands.”

    In the world of hacking, there was no time for formalities or polite exchanges. These people were direct and to the point.

    No one wasted their time attacking servers for no reason.

    “I want to join your alliance.”

    I typed those words without hesitation. The chat window fell silent for a full minute.

    Yes, I needed their help.

    My own abilities were limited. I could access any information I wanted, but time was running out. Xiaodie was the only person whose future I couldn’t see. Who knew if those people, after framing the mayor, would turn their attention to her and me?

    “That’s all?”

    A message finally appeared.

    “Yes.”

    “Please forgive my bluntness, but you’re wasting your talent on the Queen Bee Alliance. With your skills, you could join a more prestigious organization, even the national cybersecurity department.”

    “No need. The Queen Bee Alliance has always been my dream. I’ve been working towards this goal for a long time.”

    Technically, I had learned the Queen Bee Algorithm, the very technique I had used to defeat them, from their future leader in Upper Capital City.

    “If that’s your wish, Master, we won’t turn you away. Are you free tonight?”

    They were clearly excited about my request.

    “Yes.”

    “This might be a redundant question, but please allow me to ask: are you a resident of Upper Capital City?”

    “Yes.”

    “Alright, one of our members will be waiting for you at the Rice Ball Coffee Shop in the city center with a black laptop. The password is: ‘Are you the little bee?’ The response is: ‘The little bee has been taken home by the Queen Bee.’”

    “Okay, I’ll be there in about half an hour. I’ll send you the patch for the vulnerability and the hacking tools I used in five minutes.”

    I completed the transfer, shut down my computer, which had been running nonstop for seven days, and sighed in relief.

    Unlike the Black Dragon Society and the Jiang Nan Gang, whose true nature was still unclear, the Queen Bee Hacker Alliance was an organization I could trust.

    Their members came from all walks of life, united by their passion for hacking.

    Their operations were transparent, including their finances and member activities.

    It was like a university club… or perhaps even more liberal. At least they didn’t have constant meetings, mandatory events, or fundraising drives.

    And most importantly, I knew all their members in Upper Capital City.

    I changed into a pair of shorts, concealed the knives Pai Ge had given me in the seams of my pants, and put on the baseball cap Lan Zhuoyue had brought back from France, which had become my signature accessory.

    I remembered the location of their headquarters in my previous life, but I wasn’t sure if it was the same now.

    The city center was quite far from my home. It took me over an hour to reach the Rice Ball Coffee Shop by bus.

    Coffee shops were usually frequented by wealthy people. It wasn’t that the prices were exorbitant, but most people weren’t accustomed to going to a special place just for coffee. Only those with leisure time and disposable income would spend their afternoons in coffee shops, sipping lattes and working on their laptops.

    The Rice Ball Coffee Shop wasn’t crowded. I quickly spotted the guy with the black laptop.

    Wang Cai, a gentle-looking boy with glasses, a tech geek, a local, and a mechanic. Yes, the kind who toiled under cars and trucks all day. Despite his unassuming appearance, he transformed into a “mad scientist” whenever he encountered a mechanical problem, oblivious to the world around him.

    Every member of the alliance had a unique nickname. You could ask for their real names if you were close, but in formal settings, you addressed each other by your nicknames. I had been good friends with Wang Cai in my previous life. Of course, he wouldn’t recognize me now. I had to reintroduce myself.

    I adjusted my cap and sat down across from him.

    “Little sister, this seat is taken.”

    He glanced at me, his tone apologetic.

    You were thirty in my previous life. You must be around twenty now, still in university. And you’re calling me “little sister”? Do I look that young?

    “Aren’t you going to ask if I’m the little bee?”

    I sighed inwardly and gave him what I hoped was a charming smile.

    He stared at me for ten seconds, then his eyes widened in recognition. “You’re…”

    “The little bee has been taken home by the Queen Bee.” I maintained my smile. “Hello, I’m the little bee. Pleased to meet you.”

    “No way!”

    He jumped to his feet, his face full of disbelief. “You’re the one who…”

    I held up a finger, silencing him.

    “Oh, sorry…”

    He glanced around, making sure no one was paying attention to us, then sat back down. “Is this for real? How old are you?”

    “It’s rude to ask a girl her age, you know.” I placed my hands on the table. “My birthday is January 9, 2000.”

    “You just turned sixteen? My god… you…”

    He was about to lose it again, so I interrupted him. “Maybe we should talk somewhere else?”

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 47

    No. 47 Kissing the Petal

    The full moon quietly climbed the night sky.

    On the messy balcony, Huang Yingdie, wearing cute bunny slippers, leaned against the smooth wooden railing, her face pale and drawn as she gazed at the bustling city below.

    “Dad told me they had a son before me, but he died during childbirth. It was the same when I was born, but this time, Mom didn’t make it. I miraculously survived.”

    “I guess you could say I was a miracle baby. When I was little, Dad wouldn’t let me play with other kids. He enrolled me in countless extracurricular classes, including Taekwondo. The more strangers I met, the more withdrawn I became. I spent most of my elementary school holidays in cram schools.”

    “But now that I think about it, most parents in this complex are the same. They don’t let their kids play outside.”

    “My grandmother passed away shortly after I started middle school. I already hated talking to strangers, and it only got worse. I started skipping class, going to internet cafes, getting into fights. That’s how I met Huang Qinghao and his gang. They tried to rob me of my internet cafe fees, but I beat them all up. They became my followers, and Huang Qinghao called me ‘sister.’”

    “I grew to enjoy that lifestyle. But somehow, the more ‘friends’ I had, the emptier I felt. I was so naive back then. I believed everything they said. I thought he could truly make me happy.”

    Aren’t you still naive now?

    “Yi Yao, don’t you have anything to say after hearing all this?”

    “Say what?”

    I smiled faintly. “I’m curious. Why do you believe I can protect you?”

    “I… I don’t know…”

    She turned her head away, her gaze fixed on the moonlit city. “But I just feel like you can. You always seem so indifferent, so unfazed by everything. You’re only a few months older than me. How can you be so strong? I envy you.”

    “You envy me?”

    I walked over to her, my tone unchanged. “My family isn’t as peaceful as you imagine.”

    “My clan is deeply patriarchal. Your father encourages you to study and improve yourself. My father wants me to drop out of school and get a job to support the family because I’m a girl. Since middle school, my allowance hasn’t been enough to cover my expenses. I’ve had to work at the Taekwondo gym every night to make ends meet. Did you know any of this?”

    She turned to me, her eyes wide with disbelief. “Patriarchal? People still think like that?”

    I nodded. “It’s more common than you think. At least in Upper Capital City.”

    It wasn’t just patriarchy. These outdated customs and superstitions were prevalent throughout the country.

    Like forcing a daughter-in-law to delay childbirth to choose an auspicious date, resulting in the death of both mother and child.

    Like trusting a quack doctor instead of seeking proper medical treatment, performing “exorcisms” on a sick person, and causing permanent disability.

    “I always thought…”

    “You always thought the mayor’s daughter was a kind, cheerful, and beautiful girl.” I finished her sentence. “Like a princess from a fairy tale.”

    “Don’t be mean.”

    She pouted and walked back into the apartment. Seeing that I wasn’t following her, she stopped by the sofa. “Yi Yao, are you sure this is okay? Don’t you have things to do at night?”

    “It’s fine.”

    I followed her into the living room and hugged her from behind, enjoying the softness of her body. “My family doesn’t care where I go. Besides, I’m happy to spend time with such a beautiful and adorable girl.”

    I meant it. Humans were visual creatures, and Xiaodie wasn’t a bad person, despite her flaws.

    “You…” Perhaps my warm breath against her ear was a bit too intimate. She shivered. “Do other girls do this?”

    “Hmm? Do what?”

    “Hold hands, hug… I read online that it’s normal in our country. In other places, girls holding hands is considered lesbianism.”

    “What do you think it is?”

    “I don’t know, that’s why I’m asking you. The other girls in my class hate me. They say I’m arrogant and stuck-up. No one wants to talk to me. You’re my first female friend, Yi Yao.”

    You’ve asked the wrong person. I have no idea about girl stuff.

    Yi Yao was a girl, but I wasn’t. How could I possibly know?

    “Really…” I leaned closer to her face. “You can imagine our relationship however you like. I don’t mind.”

    They said most girls were bisexual, especially those who had been hurt by men.

    I didn’t know where that saying came from, but I could sense that Xiaodie had those tendencies.

    “Hmph, fine, keep your secrets.” She pushed me away, pretending to be angry, and walked towards the stairs. “I’m going to take a shower. You can read some manga in my room if you’re bored. The password for my computer is 20160502.”

    Wasn’t 0502 Misaka Mikoto’s birthday?

    I followed her upstairs. Despite the mess downstairs, her room was still as clean and tidy as I remembered. She grabbed a nightgown, a shower cap, and a towel, then entered the bathroom, closing the door behind her. I could hear the shower running. The frosted glass door offered a blurry glimpse of her silhouette.

    She really had no sense of modesty around me, just because I was a girl.

    “A Certain Scientific Railgun,” “Is the Order a Rabbit?,” “Puella Magi Madoka Magica,” “Riddle Story of Devil”…

    Her bookshelf was filled with manga. To my surprise, there were even a few yuri manga, mostly ones without any male characters.

    During my previous visit, I had been too preoccupied with my injury to pay attention to her room. I only knew she was a bit of a shut-in and an anime fan.

    Now, it seemed she was more than just a casual fan.

    I turned on her computer, browsed the Heavenly Fire Forum, answered a few unanswered questions, then shut it down. Just then, Xiaodie emerged from the bathroom, wrapped in a pale yellow towel.

    Her skin was as white as snow, her long hair cascading down her back, her face flushed from the hot shower. The towel barely covered her, revealing her budding breasts and her long, slender legs. She didn’t seem to be wearing anything underneath.

    Despite being a girl now, I couldn’t help but feel a stir of arousal.

    “This nightgown is new. I washed it, but I haven’t worn it yet.”

    She pulled out a cute light blue nightgown from her closet and handed it to me, along with the towel. “You can use anything in the bathroom. Make yourself at home. We’ll be moving out soon anyway.”

    So, you were expecting me to stay over?

    “Thank you.”

    I took the clothes and entered the steamy bathroom.

    The en suite bathroom was practically a separate room, unlike the shared bathroom in my apartment. I noticed a lot of feminine products.

    “What will my future be like?”

    I stripped down and stared at my reflection in the mirror. My face was handsome, but my body was undeniably feminine. I was both familiar and a stranger to myself.

    That girl had entrusted everything to me, a stranger.

    Her life, her memories, her future.

    I touched my chest, the soft sensation beneath my fingertips and the tingling sensitivity reminding me that this was my body now.

    Yi Yao’s memories were simple: a carefree childhood, a rebellious adolescence, a school that failed her, a family that berated her. In the end, she had chosen to give up, unable to bear the weight of her own despair.

    She was so innocent, she didn’t even have any sexual memories.

    …Well, neither did I.

    “Let’s focus on the present.”

    I finished showering, my heart heavy with emotions. As I was getting dressed, I realized I didn’t have any spare underwear. The ones I had taken off were soaked. I had no choice but to leave the bathroom in just my nightgown.

    Xiaodie was lying on her bed, reading manga, her feet swinging back and forth.

    “Um… do you have any spare underwear…”

    I walked over to her, my face burning, acutely aware of my bareness beneath the thin nightgown.

    “I don’t have any new ones. But we’re going to sleep anyway. Does it matter? Do you usually wear underwear to bed, Yi Yao?”

    She turned to me, her eyes wide with surprise, and pulled her nightgown up slightly. “I read that it’s better for breast development to sleep without a bra. So, I’ve always done that.”

    What kind of books are you reading?

    Well, if the owner of the house didn’t mind, neither did I.

    “Do you always sleep alone?”

    I asked as I picked up the hairdryer from her vanity table.

    “Yes.”

    Her voice was barely audible.

    Moonlight streamed through the window, casting silvery patterns on the floor.

    …

    I had a feeling I wouldn’t be getting much sleep tonight.

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 52

    Chapter 52: Adele’s Empty Room Strategy

    Night had fallen, and Adele, curled up on the plush sofa, her gaze fixed on the television screen, its flickering images a welcome distraction from her thoughts, her anxieties, her… plans, was enjoying a lighthearted variety show.

    Celeste, lying on the floor beside her, her gaze fixed on Adele, her body relaxed, her mind… content, didn’t care about the show. Her attention was solely focused on her Master, her every movement, her every breath, her every… sound.

    She was like… a loyal golden retriever, her devotion… unwavering.

    And it wasn’t something Adele had demanded, had ordered. It was… Celeste’s choice.

    Is this… who she truly is? Adele wondered, a shiver running down her spine.

    The variety show was surprisingly entertaining, its humor lighthearted and relatable. The celebrities, unlike their counterparts in Adele’s previous world, seemed… down-to-earth, their interactions with the audience genuine, their willingness to participate in silly games and pranks… refreshing.

    The idol on screen, a beautiful young woman with a bubbly personality and a voice that could melt hearts, was gamely participating in a… rather embarrassing challenge, her laughter echoing through the apartment, its melody a counterpoint to the quiet hum of the air conditioner.

    And according to Celeste, this idol… she was a vampire.

    Adele had been shocked.

    “Why would a vampire… choose to be an idol?” she had asked, her voice laced with disbelief. “Shouldn’t they be… enjoying their immortality? Their wealth? Their power?”

    “Why would they… work so hard? Perform for humans? Cater to their fans?”

    Celeste, her gaze fixed on Adele, her smile enigmatic, had simply shrugged.

    “Maybe it’s… a hobby? A passion? A way to… find meaning?” she had said, her voice thoughtful. “Most vampires… they want to… integrate into human society.”

    “We’re not… that different from humans, you know.”

    Her words, delivered with a sincerity that surprised Adele, had lingered in her mind, a seed of… understanding?

    Celeste was right. Vampires… they were the closest to humans, in terms of their desires, their emotions, their… weaknesses.

    Except for a few stubborn traditionalists, most vampires had chosen to embrace… modernity. They had infiltrated human society, had adopted human customs, had become… indistinguishable from their prey.

    Initially, they had thrived, enjoying the conveniences of modern life, the technological advancements, the… abundance of fresh blood.

    But then… the truce had been signed, a pact between the vampire elders and the human leaders, a fragile agreement that had… changed everything.

    Vampires were no longer allowed to feed on humans. They were provided with blood bags, their quality and quantity strictly controlled. And they were given a choice: join the government, become soldiers, their loyalty rewarded with… privileges, their descendants guaranteed a place in this new world… or… live among humans, their every move monitored, their freedom curtailed, their lives… constricted.

    It was a form of… domestication.

    Like the idol on screen. If an emergency arose, if a threat emerged within her city, she would be conscripted, her duty to protect… non-negotiable.

    One moment she could be dancing on stage, the next… she could be fighting for her life against… who knew what horrors lurked in the shadows?

    Adele understood now why the human leaders had been so… upset by the vampire hunters’ actions. Rights and responsibilities… they were two sides of the same coin. And vampires, over the years, had shed their blood for humanity, had fought alongside their former prey, had… earned their place in this world.

    The vampire hunters, clinging to their outdated traditions, their thirst for vengeance… they had become… an obstacle to progress.

    Adele sighed, her thoughts drifting to… Linlang. That sweet, naive girl, her determination, her unwavering loyalty, her… blind faith in a cause she barely understood…

    She had been burdened with so much… too much…

    Adele’s eyes narrowed, her attention drifting away from the television screen, her thoughts traveling to a distant place, to an ancient estate, to a young girl kneeling before the ancestral tablets, her heart filled with a longing… a desperation…

    Is she… okay?

    ………………

    Meanwhile, at the Tang estate…

    Linlang and her father knelt before the ancestral tablets, their heads bowed, their hands clasped in prayer, incense sticks burning before them, their smoke curling upwards, carrying their… pleas.

    They were about to make a decision, a choice that… defied their ancestors, their legacy.

    The world was filled with spirits, with unseen forces, with… magic. It was an undeniable truth, a reality that even the most skeptical of minds could no longer deny.

    And if their ancestors disapproved… well, the doors to the ancestral hall were open, the wind howling outside, threatening to extinguish the flames of the incense sticks, their smoke scattering, their prayers… unanswered.

    If even a single flame flickered, if even a single stick was extinguished… Linlang’s father, Tang Wuying, would withdraw his offer, would refuse his daughter’s… request.

    The flames danced, their light flickering, their smoke swirling, as gusts of wind, carrying the chill of the approaching winter, swept through the hall, threatening to… snuff them out.

    Linlang’s heart ached with every flicker, her body tensing, her fingers digging into her palms.

    But the flames endured, their light rekindled, their smoke rising, their prayers… heard?

    Time seemed to stand still, each passing second an eternity, as Linlang and her father waited, their hearts pounding, their breaths shallow, their hopes… fragile.

    Tang Wuying, his heart torn, his loyalty to his family, his ancestors, battling with his love for his daughter, her determination, her unwavering resolve, both admired her courage… and dreaded the path she had chosen.

    It was a path of… suffering. Of sacrifice. Of… loss.

    Linlang pressed her forehead against the cold stone floor, her prayer a silent plea for… guidance, for… strength. Her small body, fragile yet resolute, trembled with a suppressed emotion, her tears threatening to spill over.

    The wind outside subsided, its howling replaced by a mournful sigh, a whisper of… acceptance?

    Tang Wuying, his body aching, his gait unsteady, rose to his feet, turning to leave.

    Linlang’s tears spilled over, tracing a path down her cheeks, her heart sinking with… disappointment.

    But then… her father turned, a sad smile curving his lips, his eyes, usually so filled with pain, now… bright.

    “Get up, Linlang,” he said, his voice gruff yet gentle. “They have… granted your request.”

    Linlang, her eyes widening in disbelief, her tears blurring her vision, looked up at the ancestral tablets, their names, their faces, a blur.

    And before her… the three incense sticks had burned down to their ends, their ashes piled in the incense burner, a testament to their… sacrifice.

    Fire might consume, might destroy… but from its ashes… something new could be born.

    ………………

    Adele had planned to spend the night at Celeste’s… no, at her own… apartment. The ownership hadn’t been legally transferred yet, but Celeste had said it was hers, so… it was hers.

    Adele trusted Celeste. Just as Celeste trusted her.

    She crouched down, her fingers gently stroking Celeste’s hair, her touch lingering, her gaze soft, her thoughts… hidden.

    Celeste, her eyes closing, her body relaxing under Adele’s touch, didn’t understand. But she didn’t need to understand. She simply… accepted.

    Adele had chosen to spend the night here, in this luxurious apartment, instead of accepting Hermione’s invitation, or returning to her dorm room to… torment Sharon in her dreams.

    Well, she’s not actually a succubus, but… “little succubus” has a nice ring to it, doesn’t it?

    She was playing the long game, manipulating Hermione’s desires, her possessive nature. If she gave in too easily, too often… Hermione would lose interest. The thrill of the chase, the challenge of… conquest… that was what fueled Hermione’s desire.

    And she couldn’t risk… spoiling her appetite.

    As for why she hadn’t returned to her dorm… well, that was a more… strategic decision.

    She had almost kissed Sharon in her dream. Not because she was afraid, or… guilty.

    She was, after all, very bold.

    Her decision to stay away from the dorm was a calculated move, a way to exploit Sharon’s insecurities, her tendency to overthink, to… worry.

    She wanted Sharon to… wonder. To doubt. To… panic.

    To spend a sleepless night, tossing and turning, her mind racing with… what ifs.

    What if Adele found out?

    What if… she leaves me?

    It was a classic tactic: the empty fort strategy. Create an illusion of vulnerability, of absence, and your opponent, their mind clouded by doubt, would make mistakes, would reveal their… weaknesses.

    And then, when Adele returned to the dorm, she would resume her role as Sharon’s dream girlfriend, her affection, her attention, a balm for Sharon’s anxieties, a reward for her… loyalty.

    And Sharon, relieved, her fears allayed, would become even more… pliable. More… controllable.

    Adele would turn the tables, transforming the dream realm, Sharon’s domain, into… her playground.

    Sharon had hypnotized her in the real world.

    But Adele… well, she could hypnotize Sharon… in her dreams.

    It was a brilliant plan, a two-birds-one-stone strategy that would require patience, careful manipulation, and… a flawless performance.

    It was a risky gambit, a tightrope walk over an abyss, but… the potential rewards were… enticing.

    Even ordinary humans struggled to resist the allure of… power.

    And Adele… well, she was a greedy girl.

    And there was another reason, a reason that… involved Celeste.

    ………………

    And as Adele had predicted, Hermione, alone in her luxurious bedroom, her heart aching with a longing she couldn’t quite name, her body restless, her mind… tormented, was… not having a good night.

    She touched the spot on her bed where Adele had slept, her fingers tracing the outline of her body, her warmth… still lingering. She picked up Adele’s pillow, pressing it to her chest, its softness, its scent… a poor substitute for the real thing.

    Her breath hitched, her chest heaving as she struggled to… control herself.

    And then… an idea, a dangerous, forbidden idea, crossed her mind, her cheeks flushing with a warmth that spread through her limbs, a tingling sensation that made her… weak.

    She glanced around, her gaze sweeping over the empty room, her paranoia, her need for… secrecy, overriding her usual… aloofness.

    She was alone. Her servants wouldn’t dare disturb her, not at this hour.

    Her icy blue eyes flickered with a mixture of hesitation and… desire.

    Just once… just this once…

    And then… she did something… unthinkable.

    The Ice Queen, the embodiment of elegance and power, the untouchable Sequence One… she buried her face in Adele’s pillow, inhaling deeply, her breath ragged, her body trembling, her voice… a broken whisper.

    “Ha… Adele… My Adele…”

    “But it’s… not enough… It’s not enough…”

    “It’s never enough…!”

    A wave of icy magic, fueled by her frustration, her longing, her… despair, swept through the room, coating the walls in a layer of frost, dimming the lights, their warm glow replaced by a chilling blue.

    She tossed the pillow aside, her gaze hardening, her body turning cold, her heart… a frozen wasteland.

    She strode out of the bedroom, her destination… the training room. There, she could simulate battles against Dorothy, against the other Sequence Ones, against… her own demons.

    Perhaps… exhaustion… was the only way to… silence them.

    Meanwhile, in Adele’s dorm room…

    Sharon, her head buried beneath her pillow, her silver-gray hair a tangled mess, her body slick with sweat, her mind racing with anxieties, with fears, with… what ifs, whimpered softly, her voice a broken whisper, her pain… palpable.

    She couldn’t sleep. She couldn’t dream.

    She didn’t know how to survive this night, this… emptiness.

    Her spirit withered, her heart aching with a loneliness that threatened to consume her.

    Alone in the darkness, her thoughts spiraled, her fears taking root, growing, twisting into… nightmares.

    Why isn’t Adele back?

    Did she… find out?

    Why did I run away? Why?

    What if… what if she leaves me?

    No… Please… Don’t leave me, Adele… Don’t leave me alone…

    She squeezed her eyes shut, tears spilling over, soaking her pillow, leaving behind damp patches that mirrored the… emptiness within her.

    She curled up into a ball, her arms wrapped around her knees, her body trembling with a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature.

    She couldn’t bear this loneliness, this… silence.

    She had tasted… happiness. Connection. And now… it was gone.

    If she could have those dreams again, those dates with Adele, those stolen moments of… intimacy… she wouldn’t refuse. Not anymore.

    She wouldn’t reject Adele’s touch, her kisses…

    She would give her… everything.

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 51

    Chapter 51: Adele’s Concern

    “Hmm~”

    “Ah!”

    “…”

    “Not bad, keep going.”

    Adele, sprawled across the plush sofa, her eyes closed, her legs swinging playfully, enjoyed the sensation of Celeste’s hands kneading the muscles of her calves, her toes wiggling with a delight that was… almost childlike.

    Celeste, her gaze fixed on Adele’s feet, her breath catching in her throat as she chased after those soft, delicate toes, her fingers tracing the smooth curves beneath the sheer stockings, felt a warmth spread through her limbs, a tingling sensation that made her… weak.

    Adele’s laughter, a soft, melodic sound, filled the room, its warmth echoing the gentle pressure of Celeste’s hands against her skin.

    “What do you want for dinner?” Adele asked, her voice breaking the silence, her question catching Celeste off guard.

    Celeste’s mind, still fixated on Adele’s feet, her fingers tracing the delicate bones beneath the soft flesh, her thoughts drifting to… dangerous, forbidden places, murmured, “I want to…”

    “No! Bad girl!” Adele scolded, her voice laced with a playful amusement.

    Celeste, her cheeks burning with shame, her heart pounding with a mixture of fear and… something else, apologized instantly, her voice barely a whisper.

    “I-I’m sorry, Master!”

    Perhaps she hadn’t truly meant… that. But if Adele perceived it, if she believed it to be true… then it was true.

    Or perhaps… deep down, she had indeed… wanted it.

    “You’re such a naughty puppy,” Adele said, her voice softening, her smile betraying her amusement. She enjoyed teasing Celeste, watching her squirm, her cheeks flushing, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and… something else.

    “I ordered sushi for you, and… crawfish and barbecue for me,” she said, her voice taking on a casual tone. “I’m out of money, so… you’ll have to transfer some to me, okay? Sasa*~”

    Adele was telling the truth. She was currently living off her meager Sequence Five allowance: 1,500 yuan per month. In a city like this, it was barely enough to cover her basic living expenses, let alone her… newly acquired taste for luxury.

    Her shopping spree that afternoon had been a way to fulfill the original Adele’s desire for… material possessions. And… to indulge her own cravings.

    This takeout order… it would probably cost at least two or three hundred yuan. One-fifth of her monthly allowance, gone in a single meal.

    If Celeste didn’t… reimburse her… she would be eating instant noodles for the rest of the month!

    Thankfully, Celeste was a good puppy. A very generous puppy.

    Celeste, her body trembling with excitement at Adele’s use of the nickname “Sasa,” her heart melting with a warmth that spread through her limbs, quickly responded, “Of course, Master. Everything I have… belongs to you.”

    “Then… set up a… ‘close contact payment’ for me, okay?” Adele said, her voice taking on a playful lilt.

    “Close contact payment” was a feature that allowed Celeste to link her payment account to Adele’s, giving her a monthly spending limit. Any purchases Adele made within that limit would be automatically deducted from Celeste’s account.

    Celeste, unfamiliar with such mundane matters, handed her phone to Adele, her movements hesitant, her gaze averted. She rattled off her lock screen password and payment password, her trust in Adele… absolute.

    Adele could have easily ordered her to reveal those passwords, but… there was a difference between forced obedience and… willing surrender.

    Adele, her fingers flying across the screen, linked their accounts, setting a monthly limit of 5,200 yuan. The maximum limit was 20,000 yuan, but Adele didn’t think she could spend that much… yet.

    Besides, a limit of 5,200 yuan was essentially the same as a limit of 20,000 yuan. What mattered was… the gesture, the willingness to provide, to… care.

    The “close contact payment” feature… it was more symbolic than practical. If Adele needed a large sum of money, for a magic wand or rare ingredients for potions… 20,000 yuan wouldn’t even scratch the surface. She would have to ask Celeste directly.

    That was why she had chosen a limit of 5,200 yuan. It was a message, a secret code that only Celeste… understood.

    She handed the phone back to Celeste, then she picked up her own phone, her attention shifting to a recently released open-world RPG, its graphics stunning, its gameplay… addictive.

    Whoa… gacha…

    Thankfully, Adele was a “free-to-play” gamer. Otherwise, her newly acquired spending limit would be gone in a flash, devoured by a never-ending stream of microtransactions.

    She intended to use it for… necessities. For someone who was accustomed to a frugal lifestyle, 5,200 yuan per month was… more than enough.

    Celeste, receiving her phone, her gaze falling on the “close contact payment” limit, her heart melting with a warmth that spread through her limbs, a tingling sensation that made her… tremble, clapped a hand over her mouth, her eyes welling up with tears.

    She was so happy, so… overwhelmed.

    To be Adele’s… pet… It’s the greatest honor of my life…

    “Hey, don’t stop,” Adele said, her voice breaking the silence, her legs swinging playfully, her toes wiggling invitingly.

    “Y-Yes, Master!” Celeste said, her voice a breathless gasp as she resumed her massage, her fingers kneading Adele’s calves, her gaze lingering, her thoughts drifting to… dangerous, forbidden places.

    Adele sighed, her body relaxing under Celeste’s touch, her mind drifting to… strategies.

    “My back is sore too,” she said, her voice a soft command. “And my shoulders.”

    Celeste’s heart pounded in her chest, her body responding to Adele’s words with a warmth that spread through her limbs, a tingling sensation that made her… weak. She bit her lip, her gaze averted, her hands moving to Adele’s back, her fingers tracing the delicate bones beneath her shirt, her touch… reverent.

    But then… a slip, a miscalculation, a touch that lingered… in the wrong place.

    “Eek! Why are you touching my butt!?” Adele shrieked, her body twisting, her foot shooting out to stomp on Celeste’s head. “Bad puppy!”

    But… why was Celeste smiling? Did she… enjoy being stepped on?

    Celeste, her breath ragged, her cheeks flushed, her eyes glazed with a mixture of pain and… something else, her tongue darting out to lick her lips, gasped, “I-I’m sorry, Master! Please… forgive me!”

    ………………

    One of the perks of living in the city center was… fast delivery.

    The doorbell rang, and Celeste, scrambling to her feet, ignoring the ache in her knees, rushed to answer it, her movements a flurry of eagerness and… something else.

    She took the bags from the delivery driver, her dress slightly askew, her knees still red from kneeling, her cheeks flushed, her breath ragged, her collar, its black leather a stark contrast to her pale skin, a constant reminder of her… status.

    The delivery driver, her gaze lingering on Celeste, her lips curving into a knowing smile, thought, Rich people… they sure know how to have fun.

    She hurried away, her thoughts drifting to… more interesting matters.

    Celeste closed the door, returning to the living room, her gaze fixed on Adele, who was now sitting up on the sofa, the aroma of barbecue and crawfish filling the air, her expression a mixture of anticipation and… impatience.

    Celeste, instead of sitting on the sofa, remained kneeling on the floor, her posture submissive, her gaze averted, as if she had grown accustomed to her… lowered status.

    She placed the takeout bags on the coffee table, then she offered Adele the leash, her movements hesitant, her gaze pleading.

    Adele, her appetite piqued, took the leash, her fingers gently stroking Celeste’s hair, its softness, its warmth, a comforting contrast to the cool leather of the collar.

    “Good girl~” she murmured, her voice a soft purr.

    And then, she turned her attention to the food, her hands reaching for the takeout bags, her excitement… uncontainable.

    First, Celeste’s sushi. A beautifully arranged assortment of colorful rolls, nestled in a sleek black container. Even Adele couldn’t help but salivate.

    But… it was Celeste’s dinner.

    She resisted the urge to steal a piece, placing the container on the floor, in front of Celeste.

    “Here you go, good puppy,” she said, her voice taking on a playful lilt. “But… no hands. Only… mouth, okay?~”

    Her words, delivered with a mischievous smile, sent a shiver down Celeste’s spine, a thrill that mingled with the shame and adoration that now consumed her.

    She couldn’t tell if it was the magic crest, subtly influencing her desires, or… if this was… who she truly was.

    She craved this.

    And Adele… she had given it to her.

    “Yes… Master,” Celeste whispered, her voice barely audible.

    She knelt at Adele’s feet, her posture submissive, her body curving invitingly, her gaze fixed on Adele, her heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and… something else. Something that made Adele’s throat tighten, her fangs aching with a sudden, unexpected thirst.

    This was her familiar, her… pet. Her… first woman.

    And Adele, her gaze softening, her expression transforming, her heart… betraying her, found herself… captivated.

    She forgot her own food, her gaze fixed on Celeste, watching as she carefully picked up a piece of sushi with her mouth, her lips brushing against the delicate rice, her teeth sinking into the soft flesh of the tuna.

    She chewed, then swallowed, her movements awkward, her efforts… endearing.

    Adele picked up a bottle of juice, twisting off the cap, then she said, her voice a soft command, “Tilt your head back. Open your mouth.”

    Celeste, swallowing the last of the tuna roll, obeyed, her gaze fixed on Adele, her trust… absolute.

    Adele poured the juice into Celeste’s open mouth, her movements careful, her gaze lingering on Celeste’s throat, the delicate curve of her jawline, the way her lips glistened with… juice.

    She had poured a little too much, and some of it spilled, trickling down Celeste’s chin, her neck, disappearing beneath the collar of her blouse, leaving behind a damp trail that… made Adele’s heart race.

    Celeste, her thirst quenched, looked at Adele, her eyes pleading for… more.

    Adele, her throat suddenly dry, brought the bottle to her own lips, taking a long, slow sip, her gaze never leaving Celeste’s face, her thoughts drifting to… dangerous, forbidden places.

    Does she even realize… how alluring she is?

    Is she… teasing me? Intentionally?

    Adele’s pink eyes sparkled with a dangerous light, her lips curving into a predatory smile.

    It doesn’t matter. I can’t resist.

    She finally turned her attention to her own food, the aroma of barbecue and crawfish filling her senses, her appetite returning with a vengeance.

    It’s so good…

    Her first takeout meal in this world… It was a revelation.

    She was grateful to the author, for setting the story in a modern world, a world with conveniences like… takeout. And crawfish. And barbecue.

    She pulled on a pair of gloves, her movements practiced, efficient, as she began peeling the crawfish, her fingers working quickly, expertly.

    She could have ordered something more… extravagant, something more… befitting her newfound status. Lobster, perhaps? Or king crab?

    But she preferred… simplicity. Authenticity. She didn’t need to pretend, to put on airs.

    She wanted to enjoy… what she liked.

    Expensive seafood… it didn’t appeal to her.

    “Open your mouth~” she said, her voice a playful command.

    Celeste, startled, looked up, her gaze meeting Adele’s, her heart skipping a beat at the sight of Adele’s smile, its warmth, its genuineness… disarming.

    Adele was holding a piece of crawfish meat, perfectly peeled, the vein removed, its delicate flesh glistening in the soft light.

    She placed it in Celeste’s mouth, her fingers brushing against her lips, her touch lingering.

    “How is it?” she asked, her voice soft, her gaze never leaving Celeste’s face.

    “…”

    Celeste, savoring the flavor, the spice, the… tenderness, couldn’t speak. She swallowed, then she said, her cheeks flushed, her voice barely a whisper, “…Spicy.”

    She stuck out her tongue, panting like a… dog, her eyes sparkling with a delight that belied her words.

    It was a gift, a token of affection, from her Master. And even if it was spicy… she would savor it.

    “Ha… Ha…”

    “You don’t like spicy food?” Adele asked, her voice laced with surprise. She made a mental note to remember that, to consider Celeste’s preferences in the future.

    The novel hadn’t provided many details about Celeste’s likes and dislikes. Her role in the story had been too… brief.

    Her ending had come swiftly, tragically. She had burned herself out, had consumed her life force in a desperate attempt to defeat Hermione, leaving her… broken.

    And Hermione… well, she hadn’t emerged unscathed. Injured, perhaps even mortally wounded, she had faded from the story, her fate uncertain.

    Adele would prevent that from happening. She wouldn’t allow Celeste to… destroy herself.

    In a way, by becoming Celeste’s master, by claiming her, by… taming her, she had… saved her life.

    Of course, she wouldn’t think of herself as a… savior. She knew, better than anyone, that she was a manipulator, a master of deception, her every action, her every word, a calculated move in a game she was determined to win.

    But sometimes… a lie, repeated often enough, could become… truth. And a heart, touched by genuine affection, could… learn to love in return.

    Like now… Adele had unconsciously memorized Celeste’s aversion to spicy food.

    And she hadn’t even realized… that it wasn’t just a matter of… strategy.

    For the first time since her arrival in this world, she had genuinely… cared about someone.

    About… her Celeste.

  • It turns out, they are the protagonists 140

    Chapter 140: Classic Two-Timing… I Can’t Handle This!

    On the Peak of Celestial Secrets, three peak lords stood, watching a paper crane soar towards the Forbidden Zone.

    The incident caused by the Forbidden Zone’s envoys had been significant, and the Two Polarities Sect had to address it.

    They weren’t accusing the Forbidden Zone. They were simply informing the master about Shen Lao and Zhou Cang’s actions, their disturbance of Ling Long. And the elders and leaders of the Forbidden Zone, upon reading the letter, would know how to handle the situation.

    Yu Xuanji, the peak lord of the Peak of Celestial Secrets, stood beside Yu Ziyan, the peak lord of Dao Peak. And near them stood Yi Hao, his expression troubled. He was wondering if he should visit Mu Zhi’an again. His Eight Treasures Cranes couldn’t withstand Ling Long’s appetite.

    Before them stood Shen Lao and Zhou Cang. The other six peak lords had returned to their respective peaks. After all, seeing so many peak lords gathered together would surely spark rumors among the disciples.

    Shen Lao’s expression was bitter, his voice laced with a resigned helplessness. “I apologize for my rudeness tonight, Peak Lords. I caused you trouble.”

    “But I was simply here to retrieve Miss. The conflict with Young Friend Mu was an accident.”

    “If I had known Senior Ling Long was there, I wouldn’t have disturbed her,” he said, sighing inwardly. They hadn’t expected their simple request to escalate into such a disaster. Normally, visiting a disciple’s pavilion wouldn’t be a problem, as long as they didn’t cause any trouble. But who could have known that Ling Long was living there? She was the Two Polarities Sect’s guardian beast. She usually resided beneath the sect’s cliffs, rarely leaving. He wouldn’t have believed it, even if someone had told him. Ling Long was known for her aloofness. She rarely interacted with even the peak lords and elders. Why would she be living in a disciple’s pavilion? It was bizarre. But the truth was undeniable.

    Yu Ziyan scoffed. “Even without Ling Long, Mu Zhi’an is still a disciple of our sect. Is it acceptable for you to disturb his cultivation at night?”

    Zhou Cang hesitated, then spoke, his voice firm. “It was wrong of us to disturb him, but I discovered that Miss seems to have fallen for him.”

    “If our clan finds out, considering her status, it could cause trouble for Young Master Mu.”

    Yi Hao glanced at him, his voice cold. “Are you saying our disciple is unworthy of your Miss?”

    Zhou Cang bowed his head. “I wouldn’t dare, but…”

    “But what? Love is a natural occurrence. There’s no need for social status in matters of the heart,” Yu Ziyan said, chuckling. “And besides, there are plenty of people pursuing Mu Zhi’an.”

    Yu Xuanji’s eyes lit up with interest. “He has many female admirers?” She spent most of her time in seclusion on the Peak of Celestial Secrets. She wasn’t aware of such gossip.

    “Something like that,” Yu Ziyan replied, smiling, then she fell silent, realizing she had said too much. With his handsome face and his status as an inner disciple, he surely had many admirers. He was the master of the library’s disciple, after all. And once word of that spread throughout the sect, he would probably attract even more attention, even from the senior disciples.

    And it wasn’t just the female disciples who were interested. If his secret as a Vessel was exposed, it would be a different story. For female elders who had been cultivating for centuries, advancing a level was more important than anything. And he was the type of handsome young man that many elders favored.

    Of course, she wouldn’t say that. After all, she had to protect her own interests. He was her junior sister’s disciple, and in a way, he was also a disciple of Dao Peak. She hadn’t even benefited from him yet. How could she allow his secret to be exposed? If anyone was going to take advantage of him, it should be Dao Peak.

    Of course, it was just a hypothetical. She hadn’t made any bold decisions yet.

    The three peak lords escorted the two servants out of the Two Polarities Sect, and as they flew through the air, Zhou Cang’s expression darkened, his voice filled with frustration as he spoke to Shen Lao. “Are we truly giving up, Shen Lao?”

    Shen Lao sighed, his gaze fixed on the three Nascent Soul cultivators flying ahead of them. “The elders instructed us to bring Miss back if she wanted to return. If not, we could wait for half a year.” They hadn’t come here expecting certain success.

    He glanced at Zhou Cang, then added, “But our trip wasn’t entirely fruitless.” They had suffered a significant loss, and they would surely be punished upon returning. But at least Miss had seen Mu Zhi’an’s true nature. He had discreetly informed her to visit the Garden of Heavenly Harmony. She should be there by now. And once she had seen the two women living there, with her intelligence, she would surely realize what kind of man he was. While having multiple partners wasn’t uncommon in the cultivation world, Ye Lingxuan was different. She was destined to inherit the Forbidden Zone, to become the next Empress. She couldn’t possibly share a husband. Once she saw his true colors, with her pride, she would surely leave him. They had suffered a loss tonight, and they would face punishment upon returning, but they had successfully prevented her from forming a relationship with another man. It was a costly victory. He consoled himself.

    After fifteen minutes, they passed the Pilgrimage Palace, and Yu Ziyan slowed down, glancing down, her brow furrowing slightly. “Strange. Why is the Pilgrimage Palace so beautiful? Is someone having a date here?” Normally, no disciple would visit the Pilgrimage Palace at night. They were usually either sparring, meditating, or studying techniques. The Pilgrimage Palace was usually deserted, especially at night. But now, it was bathed in a soft, pink glow, the peach blossoms shimmering, their beauty enhanced by the dreamlike atmosphere.

    “It must be some disciple using a technique to impress a girl.”

    Yu Xuanji glanced around, her brow furrowing. “A technique with such a wide range. It must have consumed a lot of spiritual energy.”

    “But I don’t sense any spiritual energy from that pink light. Is it truly a technique…?” Yi Hao said, his voice laced with doubt.

    Yu Ziyan’s gaze swept over the surroundings, landing on the black stone tablets. The three peak lords exchanged glances, their eyes widening with surprise.

    “Destiny…?” The tablets were clearly the ones used to test a cultivator’s destiny. And now they were emitting a pink light. Could it be that the pink light was someone’s destiny…?

    Zhou Cang and Shen Lao were also surprised. Pink destiny…? They had never heard of such a thing.

    The peak lords hesitated, then they decided to approach the Pilgrimage Palace and see who was responsible for this spectacle. As they drew closer, they saw two figures sitting on a stone bench. The woman wore a thin purple dress, her slender waist accentuated by a ribbon, her budding bosom straining against the fabric, her long hair flowing freely, her head lowered slightly, her shoulder pressed against the young man beside her, who was whispering something in her ear.

    “Miss?!” Zhou Cang exclaimed. His gaze landed on Mu Zhi’an, his eyes narrowing.

    Shen Lao stared at Ye Lingxuan, her delicate features flushed, his expression filled with shock. She should have already visited the Garden of Heavenly Harmony. Why was she with Mu Zhi’an…?

    So it’s them. Yu Ziyan glanced at them, then looked away, her voice calm. “Let’s go, you two. My time is limited.”

    They hesitated, their expressions filled with a reluctant frustration, but they followed the peak lords. They wouldn’t dare to disobey them now. But as Shen Lao departed, he sent a mental message to Ye Lingxuan. “Miss—”

    “I know what I’m doing. Go back,” she replied coldly, cutting him off. She had clearly sensed their presence, but she had chosen to ignore them. He glanced at her, her face flushed, her shoulder pressed against Mu Zhi’an’s, and he sighed inwardly. She didn’t seem to know what she was doing. But if Mu Zhi’an truly had Ling Long’s backing, he was worthy of her. But his womanizing, it was still a problem.

    Mu Zhi’an, sensing a hostile gaze, looked up to see Zhou Cang, who was being escorted away. He glared at them, and when he saw Mu Zhi’an’s shoulder pressed against the young woman’s, his eyes burned with rage.

    The three peak lords noticed Mu Zhi’an’s gaze and nodded politely, leading the two men away. Mu Zhi’an looked away, glancing at Ye Lingxuan, who had frowned at the interruption, and he sighed dramatically. “Are your servants always so terrifying…?”

    “If I go to the Forbidden Zone with you to meet your father, will they beat me up along the way?”

    She chuckled. “If they knew about our relationship, they probably would.”

    “Will you protect me then?” he asked, his voice filled with mock fear.

    She glared at him, knowing he was teasing her. “You’re a womanizer. You deserve to be beaten up.”

    He looked at her beautiful profile, her long eyelashes fluttering, his voice soft. “If I had met you first, I wouldn’t be a womanizer.” His words were like a gentle rain, soothing her heart, her pulse quickening.

    He was saying that if he had met her first, he would have been so captivated by her charm that he wouldn’t have been interested in other women. It was an indirect compliment, a testament to her irresistible beauty. She had heard countless compliments throughout her life, but his words, spoken in this enchanting atmosphere, they touched her heart.

    “Do you like the peach blossoms?” he asked softly.

    She felt a flutter in her chest, sensing his gaze upon her. She had never felt this way before. Her upbringing had taught her to be calm and composed. But when it came to love, she was still inexperienced. His words, his presence, they had an intoxicating effect on her. She felt her cheeks burning.

    She suddenly felt his hand on her waist, her heart skipping a beat as she looked up at him. His nose was straight, his handsome face framed by soft, dark hair, his eyes filled with warmth and affection as he gazed at her. He leaned closer, his face drawing near, his gaze meeting hers, his breath warm against her skin.

    She seemed to understand his intentions, her eyes flickering, her hands clenching, her heart filled with a mixture of anticipation and anxiety. If she accepted his advances, how would she face Qian’er…? But as she hesitated, he captured her lips, his kiss soft and sweet.

    “Mmm…” Her eyes widened, and she instinctively placed her hands on his shoulders, pushing him away. But her resistance slowly faded as his kiss deepened, her hands losing their strength, her eyes fluttering closed, her arms wrapping around his neck.

    They were surrounded by glowing peach blossoms, their beauty enhanced by the pink light, her purple dress a splash of color against the soft hues, her usual aloofness gone.

    Her lipstick tastes different from the others. He savored her kiss, enjoying her warmth and softness. Her beautiful eyes, filled with a misty sheen, sparkled in the moonlight, her gaze a mixture of shyness, anxiety, and a hint of joy.

    After a while, he released her lips, gently biting them, then he looked at her, her delicate features flushed, her eyes alluring. She was a classic beauty, her attire elegant and refined, but he imagined her in modern clothes. She would be a sheltered young mistress, wearing a white T-shirt and shorts, white sneakers with short socks, her long, slender legs captivating.

    The light from the tablets began to fade, and he spoke softly, his voice a gentle murmur. “Let’s go back.” This time, she didn’t resist, nodding softly. He channeled his spiritual energy, retrieving the tablets, and they strolled through the moonlit sect, her hand in his.

    “If you come back to the Forbidden Zone with me, I’ll keep you by my side forever,” she said suddenly.

    “Your father would probably kick me out,” he replied, chuckling. If her father found out he had seduced his daughter, who knew what he might do?

    She smiled, her gaze meeting his. “I’ll wait until I inherit the Forbidden Zone, then I’ll bring you back.” She would keep him by her side, with Qian’er. She kept that thought hidden in her heart, and they returned to the Jade Glass Palace.

    Bai Ruoxi stood on the steps, her white dress clinging to her curves, her smile gentle, her gaze briefly lingering on Ye Lingxuan before returning to Mu Zhi’an. “You’re back,” she said softly.

    Something’s wrong. Why is she waiting for me at the entrance so late…? He smiled. “I was worried about Lingxuan, so I went to get her.”

    She nodded, studying Ye Lingxuan, her voice laced with a subtle warning. “It’s dangerous to wander around the sect alone at night.”

    “Take Sister Lingxuan back, my dear. But remember to come back and rest. We’re going to see the peach blossoms the day after tomorrow. You’ll need your energy.” Her words were less about concern for him and more about intimidating Ye Lingxuan.

    Ye Lingxuan, her pride stung by Bai Ruoxi’s words, smiled, her gaze meeting Mu Zhi’an’s, then she looked at Bai Ruoxi, who was about to turn and leave.

    “What a coincidence.”

    “Brother Mu also said he would take me to see the peach blossoms tomorrow.”

    Bai Ruoxi paused, turning to look at her, and Ye Lingxuan continued, her smile widening.

    “But we already went to the Pilgrimage Palace tonight.”