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  • Indescribable Bubbles 2

    Chapter 2: SJSHDFJ Calling for Backup

    “At first, it wasn’t so bad. She just clung to a doll her sister gave her and wouldn’t speak. We all thought she was just heartbroken, but…” The director sighed deeply. “Later, Bubbles started talking to herself, sometimes even sneaking out into the courtyard in the middle of the night.”

    “Oh? What does she say? And why does she sneak out at night? I thought you said Bubbles was a good kid, Director?” The man, now naturally leading the questioning, asked curiously.

    “Bubbles is a good kid.” The director affirmed, “She would never have done such things before.”

    He led the way, reminiscing, “When we asked her why, she just said she was going to play with her friend. When she talks to herself in her room, she’s talking to this ‘friend.’”

    “But officer, none of us have ever seen this ‘friend’ Bubbles speaks of.” As if to add credibility to his words, the director looked back at the others.

    Everyone nodded in agreement. “Never seen them.”

    “There’s no way. I know every child here. There can’t be a friend Bubbles’s talking about.”

    “They don’t exist.”

    “Impossible.”

    “If that was all, we wouldn’t have troubled you, officers. But… see for yourselves.” The director stepped aside, allowing the two officers a clear view of the courtyard.

    The man, no longer paying attention to the incorrect title, stared at the blooming flowers in the courtyard, a look of bewilderment on his face.

    Violets, tulips, black roses, jasmine, lilies, sunflowers… before him lay a sea of flowers, blooming out of season, defying nature’s laws.

    His initial shock gave way to a chilling realization.

    Some of these flowers were familiar, some unknown. It wasn’t just that this dilapidated orphanage lacked the resources to maintain such a vibrant garden, but the very existence of these flowers defied the natural order.

    Aya looked up at the sky, snowflakes falling gently. Her eyes scanned the sea of flowers once more, and her face turned pale.

    “Officers, look.” The director frowned. “We haven’t had the funds to hire a gardener for years. We just do what we can, pulling weeds when we have the time.”

    “But…”

    “When did this happen?”

    “About three days ago. This place was practically barren before, but overnight…”

    “Why wasn’t this detailed in the report?” Aya’s voice sharpened as she interrupted the director, her eyes fixed on him.

    “It… it was.” The elderly director looked confused. “It said that flowers suddenly bloomed in the courtyard a few days ago.”

    “…” The man tugged at the corner of his lips, silencing his partner with a look.

    “Director, this isn’t something you can just brush off as ‘flowers suddenly blooming.’ Depending on the circumstances, we… forget it.” Seeing the director’s bewildered expression, he sighed.

    The man took out his phone. “Headquarters, headquarters, this is SJSHDFJ requesting backup.”

    “Repeat, this is SJSHDFJ requesting backup. We suspect the presence of a Chaotic entity.”

    “Click”

    “Headquarters received. SJSHDFJ, please maintain communication. You are granted temporary Level 3 authority. You are authorized to terminate the Polluter and any Chaotic entities on sight, if necessary.”

    “Roger.”

    The man’s face was expressionless as he put away his phone. He knew they were in deep trouble now.

    ‘No retreat, maintain communication at all times?’

    ‘Temporary authority, terminate on sight?’

    ‘They’re sending me to my death!’

    A commotion broke out amongst the onlookers, many realizing that something was wrong with these ‘police officers.’

    “Officer, what’s going on? Backup? Why do you need backup?”

    “Chaotic entity? Oh god, this has to be a joke.”

    “Officer, say something!”

    The man pulled out his gun and fired a shot into the air.

    ‘Peace and quiet at last.’

    Ignoring the terrified faces around him, he licked his lips.

    “I’ll lead the way. Director, you’re with me. Aya, you’re in the rear.” He gestured with his gun. “Please cooperate, everyone. This is a serious matter.”

    “Now, let’s go meet the lovely Bubbles. I have a lot of questions for her.”

    ……………………………………………………..

    The air crackled with tension, the earlier lightheartedness completely gone. The man felt his heart pounding in his chest. They hadn’t walked far, but it felt like an eternity.

    Was this loyalty to his duty or simply resignation to his fate?

    He couldn’t tell what he was thinking anymore. One ‘veteran,’ one rookie, two handguns, and a group of old people and children. If a Chaotic entity did appear, they were all done for.

    Despite the pessimism, the despair, he knew he had to face it. There was no escape if the worst happened. In that case… he might as well face it head-on.

    As if a weight had been lifted from his shoulders, the man’s pace quickened.

    They stopped in front of a wooden door on the second floor. The man gestured for the director to stay back. After a moment of hesitation, he hid his gun-wielding hand behind his back.

    “Knock, knock.”

    “Who is it?” A small voice came from behind the door.

    Silence. The man took a deep breath and made up his mind. “It’s the police, open up.”

    “…The director said I can’t open the door to strangers. Not even the police.” The tiny voice responded.

    “Uh…” The man was taken aback. He looked at the director.

    “Bubbles, come open the door. This officer has some important questions for you.” The director understood and quickly said.

    “Okay.”

    The door creaked open slightly, and a small head peeked out.

    Seeing the group of people staring at her, the little girl jumped back in fright, slamming the door shut.

    “Director, please take everyone downstairs. Aya, stay here.”

    “Senior!” Meeting the man’s stern gaze, Aya reluctantly agreed. “Fine.”

    Once everyone else was gone, the man spoke softly, “Bubbles, I have some very important questions to ask you. Don’t be afraid, I’ve asked everyone else to leave. Can you open the door now?”

    After a moment, the door creaked open again, and the little head peeked out once more.

    Bubbles looked around, seeing only the unfamiliar man and the woman from before. A relieved expression appeared on her face.

    “There were too many people. Bubbles got scared.” The little girl giggled sheepishly, finally opening the door completely.

    The man quickly scanned the room. A small bed, a chair, the cramped space held neither terrifying monsters nor gruesome corpses.

    He turned his attention to the little girl before him. Six or seven years old, with bright blue eyes, chubby cheeks, and soft blonde hair tied into two cute pigtails… she didn’t look like a severely polluted individual at all.

    He heard a sigh of relief from beside him. Glancing over, he saw that Aya seemed to have shed a heavy burden.

    And wasn’t he the same?

  • Indescribable Bubbles 1

    Chapter 1: The Veteran and the Rookie

    Snow fell heavily, blanketing the road as pedestrians hurried along. Despite the biting cold, many wore faint smiles on their faces. The New Year’s bell was about to toll, and the citizens of the State Federation could hardly wait. A middle-aged man bundled in a thick coat rubbed his hands together, calculating how many new pieces of furniture he could buy for his family this year.

    A sudden, piercing car horn startled him. He whirled around to see a black sedan with no license plates speeding past. In that fleeting glance, he caught sight of a man and a woman inside. They wore black suits and sunglasses, their expressions grim, devoid of any New Year cheer.

    The man opened his mouth as if about to say something. “Polluter…” he muttered, the smile vanishing from his face. “Not on New Year’s Eve, please.”

    ………………………………………………….

    “Senior, are there any other precautions for this operation?” The woman in the passenger seat, her face previously an icy mask, finally spoke as they neared their destination.

    “Did you forget what I said before we left?” The man driving didn’t take his eyes off the road.

    “Call for backup if the situation turns bad.”

    “And?”

    “If the target’s condition is unstable, we are authorized to terminate with extreme prejudice.” She unconsciously clenched her fist.

    “And?”

    “Huh?” The woman hesitated. “If the situation gets out of control, prioritize personal safety. Stay away from the target and wait for professional support.”

    “There you go.”

    Satisfied, the man fell silent. The woman, however, still seemed uneasy.

    “Aya, it’s your first mission. It’s normal to be nervous.” The man finally broke the silence. “Honestly, no one knows how dangerous the target is until we’re on-site. But I’m here with you; I won’t let a rookie like you shoulder the burden alone.”

    “With this old dog around, just listen to my commands, and we’ll be fine.”

    His attempt at humor seemed to ease Aya’s anxiety slightly. She took a deep breath and managed a small smile. “Then, I’ll leave everything to you, Senior.”

    The man inwardly sighed. ‘She really is a complete newbie. What is headquarters thinking, sending me someone so green?’ He kept his thoughts to himself, maintaining a calm facade.

    “Don’t worry, I’ve studied the files thoroughly. Based on my years of experience, this mission is low risk.” He reassured her, “I mean, it’s just a six or seven-year-old girl. What’s the worst that could happen?”

    “But she’s a ‘Polluter’!” Aya’s voice took on an edge, and the man frowned.

    “Watch your tone. She’s not confirmed to be a Polluter yet!”

    Sensing his displeasure, Aya fell silent once more.

    The black sedan sped along, soon leaving the bustling city center for a desolate district. As they approached their destination, Aya spotted a group of people waiting in front of an orphanage. She breathed a sigh of relief.

    ‘At least there’s someone to receive us. It seems the situation isn’t too bad.’ Her biggest fear was arriving to find the orphanage a scene of carnage, forcing them into a life-or-death struggle.

    ‘Prioritize safety, wait for backup?’ Aya scoffed internally. She knew the risks of their line of work. Those were just empty words.

    With a slightly lighter heart, she was the first to exit the car once it came to a stop.

    “Hello,” Aya greeted, taking out her identification. “Officer.”

    “Oh, hello, officer.” The elderly orphanage director, his hair as white as snow, shook hands with the seemingly experienced woman.

    Ignoring the incorrect title, Aya continued, “We’ve been briefed on the situation, but written reports can be lacking. Could you please elaborate on the little girl’s condition?”

    The man, now out of the car, remained silent, playing the role of the supportive partner.

    The elderly director launched into a detailed explanation, his words occasionally supplemented by the murmurs of several middle-aged women standing nearby.

    “That poor child, abandoned at the orphanage gate with her sister years ago. Abandoned by their own parents, what a tragedy.”

    “The sisters always had each other. The fire a month ago, it was just awful, completely unexpected.”

    “So pitiful, so pitiful.”

    The man listened to the director’s rambling, comparing it to the information he had received.

    Seven years ago, two sisters were abandoned at the orphanage gate. Driven by compassion and aided by the orphanage’s stable financial situation at the time, the girls were fortunate enough to be taken in.

    The younger sister, Bubbles, was well-behaved and sensible, loved by everyone like their own daughter. The older sister, Sasha, was a mischievous child, always causing trouble.

    Their lives might have continued on this path, but the fire a month ago changed everything.

    The mischievous older sister, Sasha, had snuck into the kitchen with her younger sister late one night, looking for a snack. Perhaps she forgot the adults’ warnings or was too confident in her abilities, but Sasha decided to cook something herself.

    Discrepancy one: The diligent staff had locked the kitchen door during their rounds.

    Discrepancy two: Even if there was a mistake, could cooking something really cause such a massive fire?

    “Who was on duty that night?” The man suddenly asked.

    The crowd exchanged uneasy glances. Finally, a pale-faced middle-aged woman spoke up. “It was me. I was on duty the night of the fire. But officer, please let me explain!”

    She spoke nervously, “I patrolled that night, just like we’re supposed to. Once, just once! I wasn’t slacking off.”

    “I’m sure I locked the kitchen door. There’s no way they could have gotten in!”

    “Are you sure?” At that moment, another voice chimed in. “Was the door really locked?”

    The middle-aged woman’s face flushed red. “Why would I lie? Of course it was locked!”

    “Then how did they get in if it was locked? You must have been slacking off that night and didn’t check properly!”

    “You, you’re slandering me!”

    “Stop it, both of you! The fire was an accident. No one wanted it to happen.” The director intervened, trying to mediate.

    “Director, she’s always against me! Now she’s slandering me in front of the officers!”

    “Ha! Why are you so agitated? You must have something to hide!”

    “You…”

    “Enough!” The man slammed his hand down, cutting off the argument. “We’re here to solve a problem, not assign blame.”

    “Director, please continue. Everyone else, remain silent.”

    The elderly director adjusted his glasses and continued, “Ever since her sister’s passing, Bubbles has been acting strangely.”

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 44

    Chapter 44: Sharon’s Memories

    Sharon had many residences: apartments off-campus, a sprawling villa provided by the academy, even the dorm room next to Adele’s.

    But only one place could truly be called home: her father’s castle, the grand estate where she had spent her miserable childhood.

    Her mother, as the rumors claimed, had indeed been a lowborn succubus. Her noble father, tired of his usual delicacies, had indulged in a cheap, fleeting pleasure, and… Sharon had been the result.

    She had been brought to the castle when she was around three or four years old, just old enough to understand… that she didn’t belong.

    The scenery shifted seamlessly, transporting them from the idyllic garden to the opulent interior of the castle, its grandeur a stark contrast to the cramped dorm room Sharon now favored. It was a simple feat for Sharon, the Dream Eater, the master of this realm.

    The castle, despite its ancient origins, had been modernized, its interior a blend of old-world charm and modern conveniences. Vampires, after all, were creatures of comfort, their appreciation for luxury rivaling that of the wealthiest humans.

    Adele, her gaze sweeping over the opulent surroundings, followed Sharon across the plush red carpet that covered the floor, her movements subdued, her expression carefully neutral. She couldn’t reveal her awareness, her true thoughts, not in this dream, not in Sharon’s domain.

    Shadows, brighter and more distinct than the fleeting figures she had seen in the garden, flickered around them. They were memories, fragments of Sharon’s past, their clarity a testament to their… significance.

    Several figures, particularly bright and distinct, all shared the same features: a tall, elegant man with silver hair, his attire impeccably tailored, his face… obscured. Sharon, in these memories, was always positioned below him, her head bowed, her gaze averted.

    Within a single scene, multiple instances of the same figure could exist, representing different memories, different encounters.

    In the first memory, Sharon was a child, a delicate little girl with rosy cheeks and wide, innocent eyes. She was chasing after the silver-haired man, her tiny legs pumping furiously, her laughter echoing through the vast halls. But she couldn’t keep up. She stumbled, falling to her knees, her laughter turning into sobs.

    And the man… he didn’t even turn around.

    Adele understood. That was Sharon’s father. A vampire duke, though not a True Ancestor. True Ancestors were the progenitors of their bloodlines, the ancient, powerful beings who had ruled the vampire world for centuries.

    Sharon, a half-blood, could never be a True Ancestor’s child.

    But there were rumors that… Dorothy…

    In the second memory, Sharon was older, perhaps eight or nine years old, her silver-gray hair cut short, framing her delicate features. She was quieter now, more subdued, her eyes holding a flicker of hope, of anticipation, as she clutched a small, crystalline flower, a magical creation, a child’s attempt at… art.

    She approached the silver-haired man, eager to show him her creation, to earn his… approval? Affection?

    But he was surrounded by other children, his own children, their laughter echoing through the halls, their presence… overwhelming. They crowded around him, their voices vying for his attention, their bodies blocking Sharon’s path.

    She never got a chance to show him her flower. His gaze, as it briefly swept over her, was distant, uninterested.

    Sharon’s grip tightened on the crystalline flower, her knuckles turning white, her eyes stinging with unshed tears. She wasn’t crying, not outwardly, but Adele could almost hear the silent sobs, the heartbroken whimpers, echoing through the dream.

    And the flower… it crumbled in her hand, its delicate petals shattering into a thousand pieces.

    In the third memory, Sharon was a teenager, sixteen or seventeen years old, her features losing their childish softness, her body taking on the curves of a young woman. But even among vampires, whose beauty was often… superhuman, she was… ordinary.

    And her demeanor, her posture, her every movement… they radiated a sense of… dullness. A lack of… spark.

    She stood in a corner of the grand hall, her hands clasped tightly behind her back, her feet turned inwards, her gaze fixed on the floor. She had been summoned by her father, but she didn’t know why.

    She waited, her heart pounding with a mixture of anxiety and… a sliver of hope?

    The scene shifted, the memory unfolding, and Adele, her interest piqued, leaned closer, her gaze fixed on the unfolding drama.

    Sharon, sensing her interest, paused, her lips tightening, her body tensing. But she didn’t stop the dream. She couldn’t. Not in this realm.

    Adele’s gaze, her thoughts, her emotions… they were all… irrelevant.

    The silver-haired man entered the hall, his presence commanding, his aura radiating power and authority. And by his side… a girl. A girl Adele couldn’t mistake for anyone else.

    …Dorothy.

    What is she doing here? Adele wondered, her heart skipping a beat.

    The silver-haired man introduced Dorothy to his daughter, his voice respectful, his demeanor deferential. It was a clear indication of Dorothy’s status, her power, her… influence.

    Their conversation was a muffled murmur, their words indistinct. But then… the silver-haired man, Sharon’s father, smiled at Sharon. A genuine smile, a rare expression of… approval? Affection?

    He even patted her shoulder, a gesture of… encouragement? Comfort?

    And in that moment, Sharon’s eyes lit up, her face glowing with a joy she had never experienced before. For the first time in her life, she had felt… seen. Acknowledged.

    She would have done anything, given anything, to earn his… love.

    “From that day forward, I became Dorothy’s… follower,” Sharon said, her voice soft, almost wistful. “She met me at a banquet, and… she found me… interesting.”

    Sharon, however, had never considered herself to be… interesting. Especially not when she was hiding in a corner, her social anxiety a barrier that kept her isolated, alone.

    But who could understand the whims of a vampire princess?

    “So… you became Dorothy’s… playmate?” Adele asked, her voice carefully neutral, her question a reflection of the dream’s script, the implanted memories, the carefully constructed illusion.

    Sharon, unaware of Adele’s true thoughts, shook her head.

    “No,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “I wasn’t worthy of such a… privilege.”

    “Perhaps… in her eyes, I was just a… toy.”

    Adele’s heart ached for Sharon, for the pain, the loneliness, that resonated in her voice.

    To Sharon, being Dorothy’s “playmate,” her… friend, was a privilege, a status she could never hope to achieve.

    Dorothy had called Adele her playmate, even her friend. But Sharon… she was just a toy.

    And yet… Sharon, her voice filled with a genuine affection, said, “Dorothy is a good person, Adele.”

    “I wasn’t… interesting. She would have simply walked away, but… I didn’t want to disappoint my father. So… I followed her.”

    “I stayed by her side, even though I was… afraid.”

    “And she… she tolerated me. She didn’t abandon me. She even… allowed me into her circle.”

    “After that… my family stopped bullying me. Even my father… he started talking to me.”

    A faint blush colored her cheeks as she spoke, her voice softening, her gaze drifting towards the floor.

    “I’m… grateful to her,” she whispered. “I’ll never forget… her kindness.”

    “…”

    Adele’s throat tightened, her words catching in her throat. She couldn’t tell Sharon… that the Dorothy she admired, the Dorothy she was so grateful to… would one day be betrayed by her, nearly killed by her.

    And that the catalyst for that betrayal… would be… Adele.

    It’s… my fault.

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 43

    Chapter 43: I Want to Go to Your House

    Go on a date with her, make her blush!

    Wait… Wrong genre…

    But hey, it still works, right?

    Adele, her mind buzzing with a mix of amusement and apprehension, reached Sharon’s side. She had finally figured out why Sharon had betrayed Dorothy in the later chapters of the novel, why she had nearly killed her.

    The seeds of that betrayal, that act of desperate defiance, had been sown… in these dreams.

    Sharon wasn’t Adele’s original roommate, but she had taken her place, had become a constant presence in Adele’s life, a shadow lurking in the background.

    And every night, every naptime, she had immersed herself in these dreams, in these carefully constructed illusions, these… dates, where she could be with Adele, where she could experience a connection that was… impossible in the real world.

    While Adele had been navigating the main storyline during the day, interacting with the other antagonists, Sharon had been quietly rewriting the script in her dreams, creating a parallel narrative, a secret love story that only she… remembered.

    It was a hidden plotline, a clandestine romance that existed only within the realm of slumber.

    Adele, of course, had no recollection of these dreams. And even if she did, it was the dream version of Adele, the one whose subconscious had been manipulated by Sharon, who had fallen for her.

    The real Adele barely even acknowledged Sharon’s existence, her impression of her limited to… Dorothy’s lackey. And… someone who was surprisingly kind to her.

    She didn’t dislike Sharon, but she certainly didn’t… like her either.

    But Adele hadn’t entered the dream. Sharon, the Dream Eater, the master of this realm… she had entered Adele’s dream, and she had refused to leave.

    She had fallen in love with the dream version of Adele, had poured her heart and soul into this… illusion, this carefully constructed fantasy, where she could be with Adele, where she could be… loved.

    She had made Adele her everything.

    But her love… it was a double-edged sword. It had consumed her, blinded her to the truth, to the fragile nature of… dreams.

    She had clung to this illusion, had fought to protect it… even when it meant betraying Dorothy, her friend, her protector, the one who had given her a place in this world.

    She had nearly killed Dorothy, all for… a dream.

    And what had it gotten her?

    Nothing.

    Her love, her memories… they were all… fake.

    The real Adele had no idea, no understanding, of the sacrifices Sharon had made, the pain she had endured.

    She didn’t love her.

    Sharon had smiled, a sad, wistful smile, and retreated into her dreams, sealing herself away from the harsh realities of the world, seeking solace in a realm where… she could be with Adele.

    —”It was the gentlest dream she had ever experienced in her nightmare-filled life. She could finally… sleep peacefully.”

    That was Sharon’s ending. A bittersweet resolution to a tragic tale.

    ………………

    It was a beautiful, heartbreaking story. But all Adele could think about was…

    How could the author forget to include this in the novel?

    Such a crucial plot point, such a significant character arc… it had been completely omitted, leaving Adele to stumble upon the truth through this… unintentional dream encounter.

    She hadn’t even realized that her elusive roommate was… Sharon.

    Sharon’s gaze, as Adele approached, was fixed on her, her eyes tracing the delicate contours of Adele’s face, her lips curving into a soft, adoring smile. And as Adele reached her side, Sharon, without hesitation, reached out, her fingers intertwining with Adele’s, their touch lingering, their warmth a silent expression of… love?

    Adele’s heart skipped a beat, but her body, responding to the dream’s script, the implanted memories, the carefully constructed illusion, offered no resistance.

    She understood. In this dream, she was Sharon’s girlfriend. Or… whatever Sharon wanted her to be.

    If Sharon had a… unique kink, she could probably even convince Adele’s subconscious that she was… her mother. And Adele, believing it to be true, would call her… “Mommy.”

    Because dreams were ruled by the subconscious, by instinct, by… suggestion.

    Besides, when she woke up, she wouldn’t remember any of this. At least, the original Adele hadn’t.

    Whether this Adele would retain any memories… well, that remained to be seen.

    But Sharon… she was just a lonely, insecure girl, craving affection, connection, a love that… eluded her in the real world.

    She wanted to play house, to pretend to be in love, to dress up, to… be beautiful.

    She had applied makeup, had donned the most beautiful dress she had ever seen – a dress that actually belonged to Dorothy, a dress she had worn to a vampire gala – and had waited patiently in the garden, her heart filled with a shy anticipation, like a young girl waiting for her… prince charming.

    Adele, her gaze softening, her lips curving into a gentle smile, leaned in, her lips brushing against Sharon’s forehead, a chaste kiss that made Sharon’s eyes flutter closed, her breath catching in her throat.

    It was a gesture of affection, a reward for good behavior. And it was… allowed. Because they were… lovers.

    Sharon, her voice a dreamy whisper, her heart overflowing with a joy that was both exhilarating and… terrifying, murmured, “…Adele.”

    It was the first time Adele had kissed her, even if it was just a kiss on the forehead. It was a moment to be cherished, to be… hoarded.

    Adele, her lips lingering for a moment, then pulling away, looked at Sharon, her eyes shining with a manufactured affection, a carefully constructed illusion of… love.

    “I want to… go to your house, Sharon,” she said, her voice soft and persuasive. “We’ve known each other for so long, but… you’ve never invited me over.”

    Sharon’s eyes widened, a flicker of panic crossing her face.

    “To… to my house?”

    Adele nodded, her expression innocent, her intentions… hidden.

    She wanted to learn more about Sharon, about her past, her present, her… secrets.

    Shadows flickered at the edges of her vision, wispy figures that resembled… ghosts? Lost souls?

    They drifted past, their voices a jumbled murmur, their words indistinct, their forms… intangible.

    They were memories, fragments of Sharon’s past, of Adele’s past, woven into the fabric of the dream. The scenery wasn’t random, but a reflection of their experiences, their shared history.

    If Sharon were to take Adele to the rooftop, they might encounter Dorothy. If they went to the infirmary, they would surely run into Celeste.

    But Adele didn’t want to reveal her own memories, her own past. She wanted to see… Sharon’s world. Her memories. Her secrets.

    “Is that… not allowed?” Adele asked, her voice taking on a wistful tone, her expression a carefully crafted mask of disappointment.

    Sharon, flustered, waved her hands, her cheeks flushing.

    “N-No… It’s not that… If that’s what you want, Adele…”

    Her voice softened, her gaze meeting Adele’s, her heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and… something else. Something that made her want to… hide.

    “Alright,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ll take you there.”

    She understood. She couldn’t refuse Adele. Not when she had asked so sweetly, so… innocently.

    Besides… as lovers, they both knew what this meant.

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 16

    Chapter 16: Seeking Guidance

    Hua Shuya stumbled backward until her back hit a pillar, her arm tingling with numbness.

    She winced, discreetly flexing her sword hand.

    This old man… possessed profound strength.

    Despite his aged appearance, his internal energy cultivation was clearly above the Azure Spirit realm, far surpassing hers!

    If he hadn’t been holding back, and if she hadn’t used her newly grasped Sword Intent, he would have disarmed her within a few moves, rendering her helpless.

    “I never thought I’d be mistaken. You’re so young, yet your cultivation is so advanced. Truly impressive.” The old man sheathed his sword and said calmly, “Was it you who vanquished the Evil Spirit at the fabric shop last night?”

    “Evil Spirit?”

    Hua Shuya frowned. “What are you talking about?”

    “Hmm?”

    The old man was surprised by her reaction.

    This girl wasn’t the master who had defeated the Evil Spirit?

    Then who—

    “Eh? We have a guest?”

    A strange voice suddenly came from behind them.

    The old man’s expression changed drastically, and he turned around to see Lin Tianlu.

    “This… how is this possible?!”

    The man was slender, with a handsome face, the very image of a refined scholar.

    But his steps were silent, his aura deep and unfathomable. The old man hadn’t sensed his approach at all. If Lin Tianlu hadn’t spoken, he wouldn’t have even known he was there!

    The more he looked at him, the more he felt a sense of unfathomable depth, as if his own sword intent and spirit were being drawn in, trapped in a dark and inescapable cage.

    Who was this man?

    The old man’s pupils constricted, sweat beading on his forehead, his heart filled with apprehension.

    He had roamed the martial world for decades, encountering countless experts, but he had never met anyone so strange and unpredictable!

    He tightened his grip on his sword hilt, a faint sword light flickering in his aged eyes as he channeled his full strength.

    “Senior, you’re back?”

    Hua Shuya’s delighted voice startled the old man.

    Senior?

    “Why are you both holding swords?”

    Lin Tianlu walked into the courtyard, his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping back and forth between them.

    Had they been fighting?

    He discreetly focused his gaze, his hand hidden within his sleeve.

    Before either of them could speak, he swiftly snatched the sword from the old man’s hand.

    “Sir, you’re quite old. It’s dangerous to be carrying such a sharp weapon. If you accidentally injure someone, the medical expenses wouldn’t be cheap.”

    The old man: “…”

    Lin Tianlu sighed inwardly with relief.

    Thankfully, the old man’s reflexes were slow. Otherwise, he would have been worried about getting cut.

    “Miss Hua, you should put your sword away too. It’s not appropriate to fight with an elderly man. Besides, wielding weapons is dangerous. If the authorities see this, you might end up in jail.”

    “I-I…”

    “Senior, this man seems to be looking for you.” Hua Shuya, seeing that the situation was under control, sheathed her sword.

    “Looking for me?”

    Lin Tianlu was stunned.

    His mind raced, and he bowed slightly to the old man, a smile on his face. “May I ask why you’ve come, Sir?”

    “You, you…”

    The old man instinctively clenched his right hand, speechless.

    He was utterly shocked.

    He considered himself a master swordsman. Few martial artists in the world could disarm him.

    But this white-clad scholar…

    Had effortlessly taken his sword.

    He hadn’t even resisted… No, he hadn’t even reacted in time!

    Realization dawned on him, and cold sweat trickled down his back. He bowed deeply, his voice trembling. “I apologize for my transgression, Master. I was merely trying to test your skills, but I never imagined that the rumors about an expert in Changling County were true. My knowledge is truly limited.”

    “Uh?”

    Lin Tianlu was confused.

    What was this old man up to?

    He was puzzled, but he said politely, “There’s no need for such formality, Sir. Please, relax.”

    “You are truly benevolent, Master.”

    The old man breathed a sigh of relief and bowed to Hua Shuya. “And to you, young lady, I apologize for my offense. I was merely impressed by your skills.”

    “It’s alright, Sir. Don’t worry about it.” Hua Shuya returned the gesture, her voice calm and composed.

    Seeing the old man’s respectful attitude towards Lin Tianlu, her tense expression softened.

    “Let’s not stand here. Why don’t we sit down and have a chat?” Lin Tianlu suggested.

    The old man’s face lit up, and he quickly agreed. “Excellent, excellent!”

    …

    After they were seated, the old man introduced himself and explained his purpose.

    Only then did Lin Tianlu realize that this seemingly scruffy old man wasn’t a troublesome neighbor, but a wandering martial arts master named Mo Hong.

    He wasn’t sure if it was true…

    Lin Tianlu discreetly observed the old man.

    He didn’t look like a martial arts master at all. He looked more like an ordinary grandfather who needed help walking.

    He glanced at Hua Shuya, who was sitting beside him.

    The girl nodded slightly, confirming the old man’s words.

    “But what is your purpose here, Sir?” Lin Tianlu asked curiously.

    “To be honest, Master, I’ve been wandering the world for many years, seeking to improve my swordsmanship and break through my current limitations.”

    Mo Hong sighed. “But after years of traveling, I haven’t found any opportunities. Instead, I’ve encountered countless demons and ghosts, making me feel even more trapped in my current realm.

    I just arrived in Changling County, intending to rest for a few days before continuing my journey. But I heard about the strange fire at the fabric shop last night. The shop was burned to ashes, yet the shopkeeper was unharmed. I asked around and learned about your heroic deed, Master.”

    Mo Hong bowed respectfully. “It’s a blessing for the people of Changling County to have a master like you residing here.”

    “It was just a coincidence.” Lin Tianlu chuckled awkwardly, waving his hand dismissively.

    “But you came here specifically to find me, Sir, because…”

    “I’m here seeking guidance to break through my current limitations.” Mo Hong said in a deep voice. “I had a brief spar with this young lady earlier. To possess such skill at such a young age, she must have received your guidance, Master. I wonder… could you also offer me some pointers?”

    Looking at the eagerness in the old man’s eyes, Lin Tianlu was speechless.

    Guidance?

    Guidance for a martial arts master?

    He was already nervous about sparring with Hua Shuya. Discussing martial arts with an elderly man would be ridiculous.

    If he accidentally injured the old man, he wouldn’t be able to bear the responsibility.

    “I’m sorry, Sir.”

    Lin Tianlu shook his head helplessly. “I was fortunate enough to gain some abilities to deal with demons and ghosts through a stroke of luck. But I’m not skilled in martial arts. Miss Hua’s achievements are all due to her own talent. It has nothing to do with me.”

    Mo Hong’s expression changed slightly, and he quickly said, “But your aura is so natural and unfathomable, Master. You must have reached a transcendent realm. Just being able to talk to you for a while would be an honor!”

    “You’re exaggerating, Sir.”

    Lin Tianlu pondered for a moment, then chuckled softly. “Alright, since you insist on staying, I won’t stop you. If it’s just a casual conversation, I have some free time.”

    Mo Hong’s eyes lit up, and he stood up abruptly. “Excellent! I’ll go prepare some food and wine. I’ll come back later to seek your guidance!”

    “Ah… Take care, Sir.”

    Lin Tianlu stood up and bowed, watching the old man leave.

    He left quite decisively.

    But his steps… were almost like a child skipping, full of energy.

    This didn’t seem like a martial arts master at all.

    Hua Shuya, who was standing beside him, pursed her lips and whispered, “Senior, he’s truly powerful. But… not as powerful as you.”

    “Then it’s fine.”

    Lin Tianlu sighed softly.

    If he couldn’t even compare to a scholar, how strong could he be?

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 40

    No. 40 Praying in Vain

    “Hold it right there!”

    A crescent moon rose in the sky.

    Dim streetlights flickered around the plaza.

    The children and elderly who had been playing here earlier had vanished.

    “Our boss gave us strict orders. You’re not leaving until you sign this contract.”

    The tall man in black grabbed Huang Yingdie’s arm as she turned to leave.

    “Here’s 200,000 yuan. Please don’t make us…”

    She reacted instantly, spinning around and delivering a roundhouse kick to his face.

    Caught off guard, he stumbled backward, clutching his cheek in pain. He only recovered after his companions steadied him.

    “Don’t fight! Don’t fight!”

    The man who had initially spoken to Xiaodie rushed between them, trying to prevent a brawl.

    “Gao Lao Da(Gao Boss), let’s talk this over. Don’t hurt her. She’s the mayor’s…”

    “Get out of my way!”

    The tall man, enraged, kneed the man in the stomach, sending him sprawling to the ground. He then approached Huang Yingdie, his face contorted with anger. “You’re a feisty one, aren’t you? Heh, I’ll teach you a lesson.”

    “Yi Yao…”

    The man on the ground, clutching his stomach, gasped for air and gestured towards me. “Run… run away…”

    “Bang!”

    A muffled gunshot echoed through the plaza, silencing him. He collapsed, motionless.

    We were alone now.

    “Hold your fire. I’ll teach these bitches how to please a man.”

    He waved at his three remaining companions, then stretched and cracked his knuckles, approaching us with a menacing grin. “You two can come at me together. I don’t mind.”

    Xiaodie, what kind of people do you associate with?

    My mind raced, searching for an escape route, my eyes scanning for any potential weapons.

    Excluding the unconscious man on the ground, there were four of them, all presumably armed. The odds were stacked against us.

    Perhaps the only good news was that they probably wouldn’t kill us, at least not immediately.

    “Who do you think you are?!”

    Huang Yingdie launched another kick, but this time, he caught her leg mid-air, his grip firm.

    “Taekwondo? Ah, yes, that fancy dance routine they perform on stage.”

    He scoffed, then tossed her aside like a rag doll. He turned to me, his eyes narrowed. “You’re Yi Yao, right? I know about you. As expected of a martial artist, you’re still calm even in this situation.”

    Do you want me to cry for you?

    I glanced at Huang Yingdie, who was lying on the ground. “Are you okay?”

    “I’m fine…”

    She clenched her fists, her eyes burning with defiance.

    “Ooh, tough girl, huh? Still in the mood for chit-chat? Looks like I need to teach you a lesson.”

    I reacted instantly, raising my leg and assuming a defensive stance. A powerful blow landed on my knee.

    “Women are just playthings for men. Understand?”

    I wasn’t going to stand there and wait for another attack. I retreated, dodging two punches, then faced him, ready to fight.

    He was too tall. At least 1.8 meters. I couldn’t reach his head.

    My gaze shifted to his chest.

    His heart was on the left side. If I could land a kick there…

    “Don’t think we’ll go easy on you like that pathetic Huang Qinghao. He’s useless, except for the drugging part. I’ll give him credit for that.”

    “What did you say?”

    Huang Yingdie, who had just gotten up, trembled with rage. “Is that how you men view us? As objects?”

    “Isn’t it the truth? All’s fair in love and war. I don’t see anything wrong with what he did. It’s like training a dog. If it doesn’t obey, you punish it. If punishment doesn’t work, you drug it.”

    “Don’t flatter yourself. We keep you around, we pamper you, only because you can bear our children. A beautiful wife produces beautiful offspring. Don’t play hard to get. Just be Qinghao’s woman, and we wouldn’t have to go through all this trouble. Stop acting like you’re so special.”

    This is bad.

    I knew Huang Yingdie was about to snap.

    She had already been hurt by one man. Hearing this, her opinion of men would probably plummet to rock bottom.

    “I’m saying this to your faces. What are you going to do about it? Huh?”

    He chuckled, enjoying our anger. “Come on, I have plenty of time. I don’t mind playing with you two.”

    “You!”

    Huang Yingdie lunged at him, but I stopped her.

    “I’ll handle this.”

    I pulled out the playing cards I had prepared, closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and assumed the Pai family’s offensive stance.

    “What’s that? Some new magic trick?”

    “If you’re so confident in your masculinity, why don’t you put away your weapon?”

    I glanced at the silenced pistol concealed beneath his jacket.

    “Haha, fine.”

    He tossed the gun to one of his men and cracked his knuckles, assuming a typical kickboxing stance. “Let’s see how the genius Taekwondo instructor fights without Taekwondo.”

    The moonlight was bright.

    The faint sound of a car approaching reached our ears.

    As the engine noise faded, I charged towards him.

    The playing cards in my hand blurred into motion, aimed at his neck.

    Pai Ge was right. What I lacked was confidence.

    And I couldn’t back down, not in front of my junior.

    “You’re trying to slit my throat with playing cards?”

    He finally lost his smirk, sensing the shift in my demeanor. He dodged my attack, then threw a punch at my chest.

    He fell for it.

    I ducked, slid behind him, and delivered a powerful kick to his knee. I drew the knives from my pants, moved in front of him as he stumbled, and kicked him in the stomach. He collapsed to the ground. The entire sequence took less than ten seconds.

    “Don’t move!”

    I pressed the knives against his throat.

    “Heh… hahaha… I underestimated you.”

    He chuckled, raising his hands in surrender. “But you’re either naive or foolish. You think this will stop my men from shooting? You think your knives are faster than bullets?”

    I smiled faintly. “What do you think is faster? Their pistols or a sniper rifle?”

    As I spoke, countless red dots appeared on the foreheads of the four men, including the one beneath my knives.

    “What?!”

    He looked around, confused. “You called the police?”

    “Do you think the police are that efficient?”

    Pai Ge emerged from the shadows, dressed in his suit and top hat, twirling a playing card between his fingers. He looked at me with approval. “Well done, Yi Yao. You sensed our presence and mastered the techniques I taught you. You’ve exceeded my expectations.”

    “You said the same thing last time.”

    I sheathed my knives, helped Huang Yingdie up, and said, “Xiaodie, this is Luo Wei. We call him Pai Ge.”

    “Pai… Ge?”

    “Haha, just a nickname. Call me whatever you like.”

    He waved his hand dismissively, then crouched down beside the man on the ground. “You’re from Da Shan, right?”

    The man glared at him defiantly. “So what? You think you can scare me with your guns? I’m not afraid to die.”

    “Hey, hey, hey, I never threatened you. You’re free to leave anytime.”

    Pai Ge looked innocent. “I’ll give you some face, considering you’re from Da Shan. But let me make this clear: we’re taking Huang Yingdie and Yi Yao with us tonight. Your mission is a bust.”

    The man scrambled to his feet, his eyes narrowed. “And what if I refuse?”

    “Risking your life for a job? Suit yourself.” Pai Ge pulled out a small notebook and a lighter, then started reading. “Fang Wenhao, resident of Upper Capital City, address: Unit 6, Building 18, Changning Street. Owns another property on Chongyuan Street. Married with one daughter. Parents work in Dingyuan Town… Do you want me to read your friends’ information too?”

    The men’s faces turned pale.

    He had done his research. They were surrounded.

    No one would risk their family’s lives for a pointless standoff.

    “Let’s go!”

    Under the unwavering gaze of the sniper rifles, they fled the plaza.

    “Drugging their own people. These guys are full of tricks.”

    Pai Ge stood up after his men carried away the unconscious man.

    He didn’t address me immediately. Instead, he turned to Huang Yingdie, his expression serious.

    “You’re Huang Yingdie, right? Hmm… this might sound harsh, but if you don’t leave Upper Capital City soon…”

    He hesitated, then said, “You’ll die.”

    [Volume Title] Volume 1: Cherry Blossoms Flutter in the Sky (End)

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 39

    No. 39 Shadows Dance with Memories

    School life is fleeting, especially for those of us who lived off-campus, like Xiaodie and me.

    According to school regulations, all students, whether boarding or commuting, were required to attend evening self-study from 7 PM to 10:30 PM. However, Yi Yao had previously requested exemption from evening self-study due to her Taekwondo commitments. The homeroom teacher, probably assuming Yi Yao was a lost cause academically, had approved her request.

    “You should try to fit in.”

    I said to Huang Yingdie as we rode through the bustling streets, remembering my own past.

    Back then, I had been just like her, struggling to connect with others, my focus solely on academics.

    Even in university, with a less demanding schedule, I hadn’t made many close friends.

    After graduating, I had been forced to adapt, to conform, to please those around me, just to survive.

    There was no obstacle you couldn’t overcome in this world, as long as you were willing to throw your pride and your wallet at it. Even the highest walls could be scaled eventually.

    “Why should I fit in? They’re all immature children.”

    She grumbled from behind me.

    “Do you plan to rely on me to accompany you to the restroom every time?”

    I sighed. “I’m not your boyfriend. I can’t be with you forever.”

    “I don’t want a boyfriend anymore.”

    Her voice was tinged with sadness.

    “What did you say?”

    “Nothing… sorry. I’ll try to talk to them.”

    Although I couldn’t see her face, I could imagine her expression: a mixture of annoyance and defiance.

    “Don’t tell me you were like this at Nurturing Talent too? No friends at all?”

    “Does Huang Qinghao count?”

    That explained it.

    “Only when you’re strong enough can you break free from others’ control.”

    I knew that, for Huang Yingdie, the Huang Qinghao incident was far from over.

    “Until then, if you consider me a friend, you can always ask for my help.”

    Evil wasn’t scary. What was scary was evil with intelligence and power.

    I didn’t know why I was helping this girl, someone I barely knew.

    Perhaps it was simply a connection between two lost souls.

    “Then…”

    She hesitated as she got off my bike at her complex gate. “Are you free tonight?”

    I raised an eyebrow. “More milk tea?”

    “No… Huang Qinghao’s old friends want to meet me to discuss something. I’m worried…”

    “Just don’t go.”

    “We’ve known each other for years. I feel bad about refusing…”

    She looked at me with pleading eyes, her voice trembling. “Please, just this once. I promise I won’t have anything to do with them after this.”

    “Do you think acting cute will work on me?”

    “Hmm…”

    “You already owe me two favors.”

    “Then make it three, including this one.”

    “Deal.”

    I returned home and, remembering that my father was still at the hospital with my mother, retrieved the two knives and playing cards Pai Ge had given me from my desk drawer.

    I had been practicing the Pai family’s techniques every day for the past two weeks, honing my skills.

    From the fighting stance to the way I held and wielded the knives, I trained until I was drenched in sweat, refusing to shower or sleep until I was satisfied.

    Now, the knives felt like extensions of my own body, no longer unfamiliar.

    As for the playing cards, I had progressed from scattering them all over the room to manipulating them with ease. I felt like I could become a professional card magician if I learned a few more tricks.

    After dinner, I changed into jeans and a T-shirt, concealed the knives in the seams of my pants, checked my appearance in the mirror, and headed to Xiaodie’s apartment.

    “There’s food on the coffee table. I’m going to change.”

    She pointed at a cake on the table, then grabbed some clothes from her closet and changed in front of me.

    Seriously? You’re that comfortable around me now?

    I cut a small slice of cake, forcing myself to look away. “Where’s your dad?”

    “He’s lucky if he comes home once a week.”

    She shrugged, pulling on a pair of denim overalls. “There, that should do.”

    “No dress today?”

    I had always seen her in dresses, usually short ones that barely covered her thighs. I had assumed her wardrobe consisted solely of dresses.

    “I need a change of pace sometimes.”

    She spent another ten minutes primping in front of the mirror, then turned to me, satisfied. “Alright, let’s go.”

    I put away my phone, which I had been using to chat with Zhai Fangning. “You look like you’re going on a date.”

    “If I’m going on a date, it’s with you.”

    “…”

    We found the group of men who had contacted Xiaodie at a secluded plaza.

    Unlike what I had imagined, they weren’t dressed like stereotypical delinquents, with dyed hair and baggy clothes. They looked more like successful businessmen, or perhaps gangsters: black gloves, black sunglasses, plaid shirts, dress pants, and leather shoes.

    This wasn’t good.

    I discreetly scanned the plaza and noticed that the few pedestrians present weren’t paying attention to their surroundings. They would glance at us nervously, then quickly look away and continue their “stroll.”

    I whispered to Xiaodie, “You’ve known these people for years?”

    “I only know the one in the black suit.”

    They were all wearing black suits.

    “Aren’t you afraid of all these strangers?”

    “Why should I be afraid? If they try anything, I’ll just beat them up.”

    She exuded an aura of confidence and authority, a stark contrast to her shy demeanor at school.

    She was like the girl I had first met, the one who had attacked me without hesitation.

    “Alright, what do you want?”

    She glared at the man standing before her, his age similar to ours.

    A wave of danger washed over me.

    My instincts screamed that these men were not on the same level as Huang Qinghao’s gang. They might not be as powerful as Pai Ge, but they were definitely not pushovers.

    If a conflict arose, and no one intervened, Xiaodie and I would be in trouble.

    “A-Pian Jie, you have to believe… Qinghao Ge didn’t mean it…”

    The man stammered under her intense gaze. “You know how men are. You’re so beautiful, it’s hard to resist.”

    “So, he drugged me and stabbed my friend?”

    She was clearly not falling for his excuses. Even his compliment didn’t faze her. “I’ll say it again. I have nothing to do with Huang Qinghao anymore. I don’t care what happens to him. I don’t want to see any of you again. Understand?”

    “Come on… A-Pian Jie, for old times’ sake, just give him an alibi at the police station.”

    He looked distressed. “We can’t hold them off much longer. Qinghao Ge is sixteen. If they investigate further, he’ll be convicted. You know what that means. A criminal record will ruin his life.”

    “His life will be ruined? What about mine?”

    She was getting agitated. “If Yi Yao hadn’t come, my life would have been ruined!”

    I watched silently, my heart heavy.

    A girl’s prime was fleeting, just a few precious years.

    During their school years, girls faced far greater risks from the opposite sex than boys. That was why there was such a vast difference in their perspectives on life.

    “Go ask him what he promised me! He said he would respect my choices, my feelings. And now? What do you take me for? You’re willing to do anything to get me, and you call that respect? And after everything that happened, you’re still not remorseful. You haven’t even apologized. And you want me to give you an alibi?”

    “Just tell us how much you want.”

    One of the men, a tall, imposing figure, interrupted, tired of the charade. He opened his backpack, revealing stacks of cash. “Let’s not beat around the bush. It’s all about money, right? We can give you whatever you want.”

    This is bad.

    I glanced at Xiaodie, whose expression was darkening by the second, and silently offered a prayer for those men.

    Did the mayor’s daughter need money?

    She had lost her mother at a young age, and her father was always busy with work. I could imagine how she had been raised.

    Her father probably showered her with gifts to compensate for his absence, or made empty promises, like “Daddy will buy you the most expensive doll,” to appease her. She had probably grown up surrounded by material wealth, but starved for love and attention.

    Which meant that she probably hated money more than anything.

    “Yi Yao…”

    As I had predicted, the mention of money extinguished the last flicker of hope in her eyes. “Let’s go.”

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 38

    No. 38 Even When the Future is Uncertain

    The sky was overcast.

    Dark clouds loomed overhead, blocking the sun, but there was no hint of rain. A sense of unease settled over me.

    As usual, I arrived at Huang Yingdie’s residential complex early, riding my bike.

    “Good morning, Yi Yao!”

    To my surprise, she was wearing the new Upper Capital City school uniform: a white shirt, a red scarf, a plaid skirt, knee-high socks, and her long hair tied neatly in a ponytail. If it weren’t for her signature smile, I would have thought I had the wrong person.

    “What’s with…”

    I parked my bike and stared at her. “Did you hit your head last night?”

    The new uniform had just been released as part of the recent education reforms. Few students had purchased it yet, and those who did were mostly boys. Girls in Upper Capital City had never worn skirts as part of their school uniform before, and it was taking some time for them to adjust to the change.

    “You’re the one who hit their head!”

    As expected, she was easily provoked. She pouted and got on the back of my bike, then dropped a bombshell. “I’m transferring to your school today. You don’t have to take me to Nurturing Talent anymore.”

    “What?”

    I frowned. “Isn’t Nurturing Talent the best school in the city? Why would you transfer to our school?”

    She turned her head away. “My dad saw your exam results and said I should transfer so you can tutor me.”

    “Is your dad stupid?”

    “I think so too.”

    “Is it final?”

    “Yes. I got my transfer documents yesterday.”

    She pulled out a student ID card from our school. “Look, you know how adults are. Their logic is beyond our understanding. Besides, I don’t have any friends at Nurturing Talent. It doesn’t matter where I go.”

    “But… this is too sudden.”

    I was still confused. “We’ve only known each other for less than a month.”

    “It’s not like we’re getting married. What does knowing each other for a few months have to do with transferring schools?” She poked me in the waist impatiently. “If you can pull some strings and get me transferred back, go ahead. If not, start pedaling. I need to fill out some forms with your homeroom teacher.”

    This was getting ridiculous…

    I got on my bike and asked, “So, you’re going to be in my class?”

    “Most likely.”

    “You’re going to take the high school entrance exam at our school?”

    “Yes. Is there a problem with that?”

    “No.”

    “…”

    Another event that could potentially alter my fate, the fate of Class 11, and the fate of certain individuals.

    I wasn’t sure about Huang Yingdie’s future. She was already gone in the other world at this point. But her father’s connections would definitely be affected by this decision, which could indirectly impact his future.

    In Upper Capital City, transferring schools required connections, the infamous “backdoor” method. And at this crucial time, so close to the high school entrance exam, it was even more difficult, unless you had powerful allies.

    But using those connections meant incurring debts, either monetary or social.

    The recent news stories had already thrust Huang Yingdie and her father into the spotlight. Abusing his power to transfer his daughter at this sensitive time was a foolish move.

    “We have a new student joining our class today.”

    The homeroom teacher entered the classroom, Huang Yingdie trailing behind her.

    The usually noisy classroom fell silent.

    “Our new student was previously attending Nurturing Talent Middle School. She’s transferring due to family reasons. She’s a bit shy, so please be kind to her.”

    Xiaodie, dressed in her short skirt, black knee-high socks, and with her hair tied in a ponytail, became the center of attention.

    Her figure was flawless. Thanks to her training, her legs were toned and slender, her white skin creating a perfect “absolute territory” beneath her skirt. Perhaps due to her small appetite, she looked delicate and fragile, her face flushed with shyness.

    Wait, she’s shy?

    “Introduce yourself.”

    The homeroom teacher smiled at her, a smile she had never bestowed upon any of us before.

    “I… my name is Huang Yingdie… Ying as in shadow, Die as in butterfly…”

    She kept her head down as she spoke.

    “Please… please take care of me.”

    She was a completely different person from the stoic and aloof girl at the Taekwondo gym.

    “Alright, everyone, you’ve met our new student. Huang Yingdie’s grades might not be ideal, so… you can sit next to Yi Yao. Her deskmate recently dropped out. You’re both girls, so you can help each other.”

    Only the students knew about Lan Zhuoyue’s passing. The teachers, including the homeroom teacher, thought he had simply dropped out. His books and belongings had been cleared away by the cleaning staff.

    Relieved, Huang Yingdie scurried over to my desk and sat down.

    “That’s all for now. Take out your books. It’s time for morning reading.”

    I snapped out of my daze as the teacher left the classroom.

    “Seriously?” I whispered to Xiaodie. “Are you putting on an act?”

    She blushed. “No…”

    “Don’t tell me…” I glanced around the classroom. “You have social anxiety?”

    Now that I thought about it, I had never seen her interact with anyone else.

    We were usually alone, and during Taekwondo training, I was her only instructor. She had barely spoken to me during our first few encounters.

    So, her shyness wasn’t an act?

    I vaguely remembered a roommate in my previous life who was like that. He was incredibly quiet and reserved around strangers, avoiding conversations whenever possible. Public speaking was his worst nightmare. But once you got to know him, he was the most talkative and outgoing person in the dorm.

    “Mind your own business!”

    She turned her head away, her cheeks still flushed.

    “Hey, you two know each other?”

    The boy in front of us turned around, his eyes gleaming with opportunity. “You actually know the school beauty? I need to get in on this.”

    “We…”

    I was about to say “yes,” but she pinched my thigh hard.

    “Ow… no, we don’t know each other.”

    “Oh… never mind. If you have any questions, just ask me or Da Liao. I’d be happy to help.”

    He turned back, his gaze lingering on Xiaodie with a predatory gleam.

    “What was that for?”

    I hissed at her.

    “Hmph.”

    She blushed even deeper. “Mind your own business. I don’t need your help.”

    With that attitude, no boy will ever want you!

    “Fine, fine, I won’t bother you.”

    I was used to her tsundere personality. I pulled out my English textbook.

    After morning reading, a few boys tried to approach her, but her shy demeanor deterred them.

    Chinese, Chinese, math, English—the morning classes passed quickly.

    For four entire periods, Huang Yingdie didn’t say a word to me or leave her seat.

    The fourth period ended with eye exercises, giving us a fifteen-minute break. I grabbed a bottle of water from my bag, my head spinning from all the studying.

    “Yi… Yi Yao…”

    Huang Yingdie tugged at my sleeve.

    “Hmm?”

    “Can you…”

    She sat with her legs tightly crossed, her posture awkward, her black knee-high socks slipping down slightly. But somehow, it only made her look even more adorable.

    “Can I what?”

    “Take me to the restroom…”

    Her voice was barely a whisper.

    I chuckled. “Can’t you go by yourself?”

    “I…”

    “Didn’t you say you didn’t need my help?”

    She curled up in her seat, her legs pressed even tighter together, her voice trembling. “Please…”

    Her tone made me drop my playful facade. “Have you been holding it in all morning?”

    “Yes…”

    “What am I going to do with you?”

    Pride before a fall.

    I took her hand and helped her up. As we walked towards the door, I felt her grip tighten.

    “Slow… slow down…”

    She was practically crouching, her face contorted in pain or discomfort.

    “If it weren’t for all these students watching, I’d carry you again.”

    I walked beside her, supporting her with my arm. “Let’s go. People will get the wrong idea if they see you like this.”

    “Wrong idea? About what?”

    I glanced around, making sure no one was paying attention to us, then whispered in her ear, “They’ll think your friend has arrived.”

    “Oh…”

    My words jolted her back to reality. She straightened up immediately.

    “Alright, let’s go. I’ll show you around the building.”

    Yi Yao’s period had just ended, so I was acutely aware of this “privilege” that only girls experienced.

    For an entire week, I had endured random cramps and inexplicable mood swings.

    They said Yi Yao’s symptoms were relatively mild because of her training. I couldn’t imagine how other girls, with weaker constitutions, coped with this monthly visitor.

    “Yi Yao…”

    As we returned from the restroom, she took my hand.

    “What?” I asked casually.

    “Thank you…”

  • Mistaken Era 72

    Chapter 72 

    It seemed that the demon bead had not been absorbed by these new disciples after all!

    Could it be that the damaged divination talisman showed an error and failed?

    However, seeing Qin Lingxiao’s pale and sickly appearance from vomiting, Cui Xiaoxiao felt sorry for him. While deep in thought, she casually handed Qin Lingxiao a cup of tea.

    Qin Lingxiao took the fragrant tea from Cui Xiaoxiao and drank a few sips, finally managing to suppress his nausea.

    He looked at the little girl lost in thought, her head slightly lowered, long eyelashes flickering, appearing much calmer than the mischievous little girl he knew.

    Qin Lingxiao stared at her and finally said in a low voice, “Now that you’ve played a trick on me, we’re even. You won’t hold my previous revealing of you being a witch against me, will you?”

    Xiaoxiao came back to her senses, blinking, only then understanding that Qin Lingxiao was referring to him exposing her as a witch in front of others before.

    It seemed Qin Lingxiao knew she was deliberately troubling him just now, yet he still accepted it.

    But Xiaoxiao didn’t consider herself and Qin Lingxiao to be on the same path, so what was there to forgive or not forgive?

    Thinking of this, Xiaoxiao changed the subject, “Since using chilling objects didn’t detect the person possessed by the demon bead, could the divination talisman have made a mistake? Maybe the demon bead isn’t with these people at all?”

    Qin Lingxiao had also considered this possibility and immediately said, “Impossible, this divination talisman is an ancient sacred object, the most accurate for probing demonic auras. If it wasn’t because you and another demon bead were too close, interacting with each other, it wouldn’t have shattered on its own! Moreover…not everyone present at that time was tested!”

    Hearing Qin Lingxiao’s meaningful words, Cui Xiaoxiao slowly raised her head and stared at him wide-eyed.

    Because he was right, on that day among the people at the foot of the mountain, apart from the new disciples taking oaths, there were also a few others.

    It was Wei Jie, Tang Youshu and the others who went down the mountain to purchase supplies!

    Counting the fox tribe man accompanying them, there were four people in total.

    And at tonight’s yin banquet, apart from Tang Youshu accidentally eating a few bites after angering Yu Ling’er, the other three didn’t eat anything either.

    Thinking of this, Cui Xiaoxiao’s heart sank like a rock.

    The other two fox tribe men could be easily tested.

    But Wei Jie, being a descendant of the Wei Family, was originally not afraid of chilling foods, so using the fish and shrimp from the Oblivion River couldn’t detect if he was possessed by the demon bead!

    Moreover, she had already told him that another demon bead was hidden among the people on the mountain. If Wei Jie had taken precautions, how could she do anything about it?

    Cui Xiaoxiao clearly knew that compared to others, Wei Jie’s constitution was actually more suitable for demonic possession.

    Especially since that wrathful demon bead, like the greed bead, was refined from Wei Jie’s body, so if that demon bead possessed Wei Jie’s body, it would be returning to its original form, the consequences of which were unimaginable!

    Cui Xiaoxiao didn’t know if the other demon bead would be as talkative as the greed bead, revealing to Wei Jie the fate that should not be divulged in the original timeline.

    If Wei Jie knew his original destiny, no matter what he did, the change in events would lead to consequences that even the Heavenly Dao might not be able to control.

    Thinking of this, Cui Xiaoxiao couldn’t help but pace around, and the more she thought about Wei Jie’s recent cold and strange behavior, the more uneasy she became!

    If Wei Jie really became possessed, with his temperament, his demonic nature would develop rapidly, wouldn’t all her previous efforts be in vain?

    Cui Xiaoxiao became anxious and had no heart to talk more with Qin Lingxiao.

    Afterwards, she also tested the two fox tribe men with fish and meat, and after finding that they also reacted, her heart sank further!

    This meant that among those present that day, there was only one person who did not pass the trial… Cui Xiaoxiao dared not think further.

    Because after this Reveling Feast, all the new disciples of the Talisman Sect had fallen and could not get up.

    This way, the mountain had regained some of its former tranquility.

    After the banquet ended, Cui Xiaoxiao thought about it and decided to question Wei Jie to find out the truth.

    She had never suspected him before, and if he was really possessed by the demon bead, he would definitely show signs of the snake and qilin.

    At worst, she could make an excuse to change his clothes or something, and take a good look at his front, back, top and bottom…

    But Wei Jie seemed to have disappeared. Cui Xiaoxiao couldn’t find him in the residences, so she could only search along the corridors.

    When she reached the small path behind the residences, she happened to meet Tang Youshu emerging from the bushes, holding his stomach.

    The outhouses on Lingshan were too crowded tonight, and Tang Youshu hadn’t been able to secure a spot several times in a row, so he had to violate the Patriarch’s new sect rules and sneak into the woods.

    Unexpectedly, he ran into Cui Xiaoxiao, so he quickly apologized to the Patriarch and begged for her forgiveness.

    Cui Xiaoxiao’s new sect rules were not meant to punish Lord Tang, and she was in a hurry to find Wei Jie, so she quickly interrupted Tang Youshu’s nervous apologies and asked, “Did you see your master just now?”

    Tang Youshu pointed towards the small path leading to the back mountain, “Master seemed to have gone towards the back mountain.”

    Hearing this, Cui Xiaoxiao hurried towards the back mountain. Tang Youshu saw that it was too dark, so he quickly took a lantern from a lamp post by the road and followed the Patriarch.

    When Cui Xiaoxiao reached the cave in the back mountain where she and Master Tang Youshu used to practice, she immediately saw Wei Jie lying on the ground with his eyes closed.

    Cui Xiaoxiao recognized Wei Jie at a glance and hurriedly ran over, calling out anxiously, “Wei Jie! What’s wrong with you?”

    There were obvious signs of impact on the back of Wei Jie’s head, indicating that someone had taken advantage of his current inability to use true qi and lowered alertness to launch a sneak attack on him.

    No matter how loudly Cui Xiaoxiao called out to him, he didn’t open his eyes, but fortunately his breathing was steady, so he seemed to have just passed out.

    On the damp and cool ground at night, the back of Wei Jie’s clothes was completely soaked. At this moment, Tang Youshu arrived panting with the lantern.

    Cui Xiaoxiao asked Tang Youshu to help carry Wei Jie onto a nearby large rock, then used her own robe as a pillow to prop up his head.

    Whoever was capable of ambushing Wei Jie was not to be underestimated. They didn’t kill Wei Jie, only knocked him unconscious, but what was their intention?

    After confirming that his master was not seriously injured, Tang Youshu took the lantern and searched around for the culprit.

    At this moment, by the light of the lantern, Cui Xiaoxiao saw a clear trail of footprints leading from where Wei Jie had been lying towards the dark cave.

    Could the one who attacked Wei Jie be hiding in the cave?

    After making sure Wei Jie’s breathing was steady and he wasn’t in serious danger, Cui Xiaoxiao took the lantern from Tang Youshu’s hand and cautiously approached the cave.

    However, before reaching the cave entrance, Cui Xiaoxiao clearly felt a faint resistance, as if there was some kind of spell formation at the entrance.

    This was the cave where Tang Youshu would go into seclusion two hundred years later, and Cui Xiaoxiao had also entered the cave with him to cultivate in seclusion, but there was no such formation at the entrance back then!

    With a thought, she chanted a spell with one hand, directing the nearby water towards the cave entrance. Under the water’s effect, an orderly invisible net-like formation appeared.

    Although bats and insects could still enter and exit the cave, larger beings would be blocked by this net formation.

    The last time they stayed outside this back mountain cave, Yu Ling’er was afraid of bats, so they never went inside and didn’t discover this hidden formation at the entrance.

    The footprints lingered around here, so could the person who ambushed Wei Jie be hiding inside?

    Thinking of this, Cui Xiaoxiao became cautious. She let Tang Youshu watch over Wei Jie while she tried to use her true qi to break through the formation.

    However, after two strikes, the five phoenix seals on her neck suddenly grew hot, and at the same time, colorful needle-like rays of light shot out. The formation sealing the cave entrance reacted as if recognizing its master and immediately dispersed.

    Cui Xiaoxiao frowned slightly, then ignited the flame in her palm to light the way as she slowly entered the cave.

    Unlike the orderly state after renovations two hundred years later, this cave was full of stalactites and stalagmites everywhere.

    In the center was a three-zhang-tall stone pillar, carved with a phoenix at the top, and a mysterious colorful gemstone embedded in the phoenix’s forehead.

    Illuminated by the flame in Cui Xiaoxiao’s palm, the gemstone reflected a mysterious glow, lighting up the entire cave.

    The phoenix had its wings spread as if about to take flight, but its talons were grasping a giant python also seemingly poised to soar. Its cold, sidelong gaze made one hesitant to approach.

    Cui Xiaoxiao didn’t dare look too closely, only wanting to first confirm if there were any suspicious persons in the cave.

    However, after searching the entire cave, there were no other footprints, so the mysterious person must not have been able to get past the previous formation.

    At this moment, Cui Xiaoxiao finally looked at the walls of the cave…

    Cui Xiaoxiao clearly remembered that in the cave two hundred years later, the walls were covered in many colorful murals, depicting not only scenes of her teacher Wei Jie’s conquests and expansions, as well as Tang Youshu’s solitary adventures, but also legends of many ancient deities.

    Those murals had varying depths of color and different styles. Many were painted by her teacher when he was bored during seclusion, but some were said to date back to ancient times.

    Illuminating the damp cave walls with the lantern light, there were still many faded and mottled murals in this cave.

    However, these murals lacked the later additions by Tang Youshu praising the glorious deeds of the Demon Lord Wei Jie. Only the legends of the ancient deities remained.

    Without Tang Youshu’s later additions glorifying her teacher, these original less prominent ancient legends stood out.

    However, what caught Cui Xiaoxiao’s attention the most was a mural depicting a Phoenix Tree and phoenixes. Because that Phoenix Tree… was exactly the same as the one she saw in the Phoenix Secret Realm!

    Cui Xiaoxiao studied it intently, and on the branches of the tree were also five colorful phoenixes, but above the treetop, there was an even larger phoenix circling.

    That phoenix was completely black, and she didn’t know what pigment was used to color it, but under the lantern light, it seemed to be flickering with flecks of gold.

    After watching for a while, Cui Xiaoxiao moved to another mural, which also depicted a black phoenix, but this time circling in the sky, as if spreading its wings and calling out.

    Facing the black phoenix was a majestic-looking man.

    The man wore a black robe, with a strange flame pattern on his forehead, standing in the clouds, holding a sword in one hand, his back radiating brilliant light – clearly the appearance of a celestial deity.

    However, this deity was pointing his sword at the black phoenix, as if about to strike it down!

    Tang Youshu, seeing that Cui Xiaoxiao had not come out for a while, also entered the cave. Walking up to her, he glanced at the murals and suddenly exclaimed in surprise, “This…isn’t this the legend of the ancient Flame Emperor battling the Evil Phoenix?”

    Cui Xiaoxiao turned her head in astonishment, “The Flame Emperor?”

    She had also heard of this great name from antiquity. The Flame Emperor governed the ghosts and demons of the world and was the lord of the Qiongshan Underworld, ruling over the reincarnation of souls in the six realms and maintaining the balance of the three realms.

    Why would such an ancient deity draw his sword against the phoenix? Could it be that he also considered the black phoenix ominous?

    Tang Youshu had devoted his life to studying medical books and pharmacology, spending the rest of his time on legends of deities, spirits, feng shui and other esoteric studies.

    Hearing Cui Xiaoxiao’s question, he recounted the legends he had read.

    Apparently, the Flame Emperor had once fought with another deity in order to save the collapsing underworld.

    The two deities disagreed and ended up battling fiercely, with an intensity rivaling the clash between Gongong and Zhurong that shook heaven and earth.

    The Flame Emperor and the other deity were both severely injured and lost their divine statuses. To evade his enemy, the Flame Emperor had to transform into a giant black python and hide beneath a lotus pond.

    Unexpectedly, his enemy devised a cunning plan and released an evil phoenix to search, which immediately found the Flame Emperor’s hiding place and used its talons to drag him out from under the lotus leaves.

    However, when battling the black phoenix, the Flame Emperor revealed his human form, and his handsome and innocent appearance actually deterred the evil phoenix, allowing him to escape unscathed.

    The evil phoenix was then punished by the deity and had its soul sealed in the Valley of Eternity.

    Such a earth-shattering battle naturally disrupted the order of heaven and earth. While losing his divine status, the Flame Emperor was also punished by being stripped of his memories and cast into the cycle of reincarnation until he expiated his karmic sins and could restore his divinity and return to rule the underworld.

    It was precisely due to the absence of the lord of the underworld that the Wei Family, as demon subjugators, had to guard the entrance to the underworld at Qilao Mountain to prevent chaos while the true lord was gone.

    Cui Xiaoxiao’s mind stirred as she recalled the old matriarch of the Wei Family mentioning that a deity with damaged divinity had deceived the Xia imperial family for two hundred years with the promised blessing.

    Could that deceptive deity be the one who battled the Flame Emperor? The Flame Emperor was demoted and punished, while that deity seemed unscathed. Could it be that he used deception to quickly restore his divinity and avoid the suffering of reincarnation?

    Viewed this way, the Heavenly Dao was truly biased, as both deities were fighting but only one was punished!

    But when Cui Xiaoxiao asked which deity it was that the Flame Emperor fought, Tang Youshu could only shake his head, saying the legends were unclear on that detail.

    Cui Xiaoxiao had dreamed of a tiny black phoenix hatchling before. Could that be… the very evil phoenix that was bewitched by the Flame Emperor’s beauty and ended up sealed?

    From this, it could be seen that neither humans nor birds should be too lustful, or else one misstep could lead to interminable disaster… though it was hard to imagine what sort of devilish looks the Flame Emperor had to bewitch even a phoenix.

    There were many more murals about deities, but Cui Xiaoxiao had no interest in looking further, as Wei Jie was still lying outside.

    When Cui Xiaoxiao and Tang Youshu came out, Qin Lingxiao, Yu Ling’er, and a few fox tribe people had also arrived. They had apparently helped Cui Xiaoxiao search for Wei Jie earlier.

    Qin Lingxiao had likely seen Tang Youshu running towards the back mountain with a lantern and followed him here.

    Perhaps due to the surrounding voices, Wei Jie finally opened his eyes slowly. However, the eyes that opened were bloodshot, clearly indicating demonic possession.

    Qin Lingxiao, who had long suspected that the wrathful demon bead had possessed Wei Jie, immediately called out in alarm, “Be careful!”

    At the same time, he quickly pulled Cui Xiaoxiao to his side, grabbing her hand as if to stop her from getting close to Wei Jie.

    However, the moment the red-eyed Wei Jie saw Qin Lingxiao’s large hand reach for Cui Xiaoxiao, he flew into a rage!

    In the next instant, the bulging veins on Wei Jie’s head protruded as he suddenly pounced towards Qin Lingxiao, stretching out his long fingers to claw at him.

    Qin Lingxiao hastily summoned a qi sword to block, but Wei Jie’s palm smashed it apart, his hand thrusting straight for Qin Lingxiao’s throat.

    The White Family matriarch from the Xican Silkworm Village was just an ordinary woman, yet she became formidable after demonic possession. If it was Wei Jie who was possessed, it would be like adding ferocious claws to a fierce tiger!

    Fending off the attacks with difficulty, Qin Lingxiao turned his head and shouted urgently at Cui Xiaoxiao, “He’s been demonically possessed and will start indiscriminate killing! At that point, everyone on the mountain will be in danger! You have the Heaven-Smiting Sword, which can subdue demons. You must strike his Spiritual Platform and extract the demon bead!”

    Hearing this, Tang Youshu cried out in alarm, “Ancestor! You absolutely cannot! That would kill Master!”

    Qin Lingxiao gritted his teeth in frustration when he heard this.

    Among those present, only he had truly experienced the terror of Wei Jie’s demonic nature erupting in his previous life.

    If Wei Jie’s demonic side was fully unleashed, even trying to kill him would be impossible! Was he supposed to let such womanly kindness lead to the slaughter of everyone on the mountain?

    Thinking of this, Qin Lingxiao suddenly turned to try and seize Cui Xiaoxiao’s Heaven-Smiting Sword.

    This sword carried the power of heavenly punishment, which no demon could withstand. Only by striking Wei Jie’s Spiritual Platform like he did in his past life could he truly slay this murderous demon!

    But Cui Xiaoxiao had anticipated he would try to take the sword. In desperation, she activated a fire talisman, igniting the lantern Tang Youshu was holding and transforming it into a ring of flames that shot towards Qin Lingxiao.

    Left with no choice, Qin Lingxiao could only retreat repeatedly. This left Cui Xiaoxiao fully exposed before Wei Jie.

    The red-eyed Wei Jie, seemingly not recognizing anyone, suddenly pounced towards Cui Xiaoxiao.

    Cui Xiaoxiao didn’t dare dodge, fearing he would attack Tang Youshu and the others instead, so she could only steel herself to battle her own disciple!

    Although Cui Xiaoxiao took Wei Jie as her disciple, she never truly understood his level of cultivation. She only knew he was a rare genius talent in immortal cultivation, but such gifted geniuses often didn’t reveal the depths of their abilities until the utmost crisis.

    He himself probably didn’t know how far he had progressed either.

    And now, Wei Jie had completely lost his sanity, his expression murderous, muscles taut, clearly in a frenzy of life-and-death struggle.

    So his every move utilized his full power without holding back.

    Since meeting him, Cui Xiaoxiao had never even sparred with her own disciple. Yet their very first exchange was this fight to the death, leaving her flustered and struggling to respond.

    Of course, Qin Lingxiao wouldn’t allow Cui Xiaoxiao to face Wei Jie alone, so he formed another qi sword to fight alongside her against the frenzied Wei Jie.

    For a moment, the three battled fiercely, attacking and defending, their spiritual qi violently clashing and forcing the others to retreat from the gale-force winds.

    Cui Xiaoxiao noticed that when Qin Lingxiao joined her side, Wei Jie’s killing intent intensified even further, his qi shield crashing down like a tidal wave, the spikes on it multiplying several times over…

    So Cui Xiaoxiao made a snap decision and shouted at Qin Lingxiao, “Quickly withdraw and find somewhere to hide! Don’t let Wei Jie see your face!”

    Qin Lingxiao was dumbfounded. In his over two hundred years of demon subjugation, he had never heard of such a tactic of hiding one’s face when battling demons!

    But Cui Xiaoxiao was not joking. Seeing no response from him, she shouted again, even summoning a few sparks in an attempt to singe his butt.

    Left with no choice, Qin Lingxiao temporarily retreated and concealed himself in a nearby bush.

    Sure enough, with Qin Lingxiao out of his sight, Wei Jie’s attacks slowed somewhat, though he remained restless in his assault on Cui Xiaoxiao.

    Cui Xiaoxiao had once been influenced by the demon bead when battling Wan Liansi, losing consciousness and briefly turning demonic, so she understood the feeling.

    However, facing this red-eyed Wei Jie, Cui Xiaoxiao felt something was amiss…

    Why did she keep feeling that her demonically possessed disciple seemed more interested in her clothes, sash, and the like, as if frantically trying to tear her garments open?

    The more exchanges they had, the more certain Cui Xiaoxiao became that Wei Jie was using moves from the lecherous “Flower Picking” style!

    He really did seem intent on ripping off her clothes!

    What sort of demonic possession was this, the lust demon?

    Seeing his flushed red eyes, Cui Xiaoxiao’s cheeks reddened as she felt flustered and angry. Even knowing he didn’t mean to take her life, she still didn’t dare let her guard down!

    After all, they were being watched by everyone here. If she slowed down and let Wei Jie undo her sash, wouldn’t she be exposed in full view, losing face as the Sect Patriarch?

    Cui Xiaoxiao also noticed that although Wei Jie’s eyes were red, his fingernails had not turned black like demonic claws, completely different from when she was possessed before.

    His frantic, undressing behavior was actually more akin to when he sniffed that aphrodisiac powder in the secret passages of Prince Can Manor, just far more intense.

    At this moment, the observing Yu Ling’er also realized what was going on. Covering her eyes with one hand while peering through her fingers, she called out loudly, “This… Has Wei Jie been secretly practicing the Joyous Unity Sect’s techniques and gone into demonic frenzy from dual cultivation?! Xiaoxiao, be careful, don’t let him undo your clothes!”

    If the situation permitted, Cui Xiaoxiao really wanted to roll her eyes. Barely fending off Wei Jie’s relentless attacks and unable to use her water spells, the flustered Cui Xiaoxiao hurriedly shouted to Tang Youshu and Yu Ling’er, “Quick, go get some water and douse Wei Jie with it!”

  • The Azure Longsword 15

    Chapter 15: The Sunken Palace

    The group split up and began their tasks. Asker took the subway to the northern district of Constantinople, arriving at the foot of Fifth Hill. He stopped before a partially submerged house called the Cistern of Aspar.

    He knocked on the door.

    “Beneath the eagle’s wings,” a voice whispered from behind the door.

    “Lies the shadow,” Asker replied.

    The door creaked open, and a burly, bald man with an eyepatch peered out. His remaining eye scanned Asker with suspicion. “I don’t know you, kid.”

    “But I know you, Maestro,” Asker said with a smile, unfazed by the man’s gruff demeanor. “They say Constantinople is the Queen of Cities, the crossroads of East and West. Half the world’s goods can be found here. And the other half, the forbidden goods, can be acquired through the Thieves’ Guild’s black market.”

    “How did you find this place?” Maestro asked, unimpressed by the flattery.

    “A mutual acquaintance,” Asker replied vaguely.

    “Right. And next, you’ll invent a name I’ve never heard before and swear they’re blood brothers with someone in our guild.” Maestro’s gaze lingered on the silver pistol at Asker’s hip. “A Desert Eagle… only fools or experts use those hand cannons.”

    “Which one do you think I am?” Asker asked, his smile widening.

    “If you were a fool, you wouldn’t have found this place.” Maestro spat on the ground. “But I doubt you’re a Church informant or a royal spy. They wouldn’t be stupid enough to stroll around with a Desert Eagle.”

    “Indeed. I also know your guild uses Constantinople’s Sunken Palace as a base,” Asker said, his voice laced with amusement. “If I were with the Church or the royals, you’d be finished by now.”

    “Come in.” Maestro stepped aside, his suspicion seemingly abated. “Don’t blame me if you get killed.”

    “I’m confident in my ability to protect myself,” Asker replied, stepping inside.

    Every city’s Thieves’ Guild had a hidden base, often in unexpected locations. In Constantinople, it was the Sunken Palace, a network of ancient cisterns beneath the city.

    In modern siege warfare, city walls were no longer the final line of defense. The urban environment, with its towering buildings and intricate subway networks, could turn any siege into a nightmare of urban warfare. Therefore, besieging forces often resorted to tactics that undermined the defenders’ morale, such as cutting off power, water, and food supplies.

    For water, Constantinople relied on a system similar to that of ancient Solomon: vast underground cisterns, fed by aqueducts that tapped into the Black Sea. These cisterns, built by the Eastern Solomonic people, mimicked the style of ancient Solomonic aqueducts, featuring towering Corinthian and Doric columns, vaulted ceilings, and intricate decorations.

    Unlike typical palaces, however, these underground structures were partially submerged, with over twenty kilometers of navigable waterways connecting them. The waterways were designed to accommodate boats, allowing for easy transportation.

    The Constantinople Thieves’ Guild had established its base deep within this network of Sunken Palaces. Maestro steered a small boat, while Asker sat comfortably in the stern, his gaze sweeping across the dark water and the forest of columns that stretched into the distance. Some areas were illuminated by flickering lamps, but most were shrouded in impenetrable darkness. Maestro had mounted a powerful battery-powered spotlight on the bow, illuminating their path.

    Asker peered into the water, spotting schools of fish darting beneath the surface. The Thieves’ Guild had clearly stocked the cisterns with fish, ensuring a sustainable food source. There’s no way they achieved this without some sort of arrangement with the Constantinople Water Authority, Asker thought, amused.

    After half an hour, they approached a larger, dimly lit cistern. Here, the Thieves’ Guild had constructed a miniature city atop the water, mimicking the design of Venice. Wooden piles had been driven deep into the cistern floor, supporting a network of stone walkways coated with waterproof sealant. They even had their own blacksmith, market, clinic, and security force, all illuminated by colorful lights powered by the guild’s own generators.

    The flickering lights, reflected in the rippling water, created a surreal and dreamlike atmosphere.

    “Fresh meat!” Maestro steered the boat towards a makeshift dock and leaped onto the walkway. “Old Sol! Issue him a pass!”

    A hunched old man scurried over, eagerly pinning a rat-shaped badge onto Asker’s gambeson. He even wiped the greasy surface with his sleeve.

    “Behold!” Maestro gestured grandly, his voice filled with pride. “The Thieves’ Guild’s Sunken Palace! The Eighth Wonder of the World! You’re one of the lucky few to witness its splendor.”

    “Truly impressive,” Asker replied dryly. “Especially the fish farming.”

    “Hahaha!” Maestro roared with laughter. “We even have a ‘waste recycling system.’ Otherwise, all the nobles in Constantinople would be drinking our piss!”

    Their so-called “waste recycling system” was essentially a compost heap. A large opening in the cistern ceiling allowed sunlight to filter through. According to Maestro, this opening connected to Second Hill, providing ventilation and illumination for the entire underground complex. The Thieves’ Guild had piled soil beneath the opening, creating a compost heap for their waste. The fermented compost served as fertilizer for hops, allowing them to brew their own beer.

    I have to hand it to the game designers… Asker thought, his expression carefully neutral. Maestro, eager to showcase more of their hidden city, launched into a detailed tour. Asker, however, cut him short.

    “I’m here to purchase some goods.”

    “Ah, you’ve come to the right place, kid.” Maestro grinned, revealing a set of yellowed teeth. “We have all sorts of forbidden goods, as long as you can afford them.”

    Asker produced a list of items. Maestro scanned it, his brow furrowing.

    “Riverwater from the Garr Valley in Western Francia… Fruit of Eden from Syris… those shouldn’t be a problem. We have contacts in the West. A tablespoon of Olive Oil of Corfu? We sell it by the barrel, but fine, I’ll throw in a tablespoon for free… Panopea Abrupta from the Bathnia Gulf? Hehehe, you’ve got some… needs, kid.”

    “No,” Asker corrected. “These are all ethereal materials.”

    “I know they’re ethereal materials.” Maestro scoffed. “Why else would you specify their origins? But these ingredients aren’t used in the same elixir formula. You’re only interested in the Panopea Abrupta, aren’t you? Trying to hide it among other ingredients… Master Achilles, that’s not how you build trust.”

    “You know who I am?” Asker asked, surprised.

    “We know all the nobles in the city,” Maestro replied. “Especially the wealthy ones. In fact, we took note of your name the day you sold your shops to the Church. We were planning to pay you a visit, see if we could… relieve you of some of that cash…”

    “Well, I’ve brought the cash to you,” Asker joked.

    “Indeed, indeed.” Maestro chuckled. “Selling you forbidden goods is preferable to robbing you and getting killed. We don’t want to end up like that vampire.”

    “So, you can provide all the materials on this list?” Asker asked, seeking confirmation.

    “Two are impossible,” Maestro replied, his expression turning serious. “Golden Leech and Valar Eagle feathers. We have no leads on those.”

    “I have a lead,” Asker said. “Valar Eagles prefer to nest in high places. I’ve heard they nest atop the Hagia Sophia and the Palace of the Golden Throne. They also incorporate their own feathers into their nests, allowing their hatchlings to imprint on their scent.”

    “The Hagia Sophia and the Palace of the Golden Throne… those aren’t easy places to reach,” Maestro chuckled.

    “Indeed. The Hagia Sophia is right under the Church’s nose. I doubt you’d dare go there. But the Palace of the Golden Throne shouldn’t be a problem.” Asker smiled. “Your guild has Shadow sequence Transcendents, correct? I’ve heard they enjoy climbing tall structures and taking ‘leaps of faith.’”

    “We occasionally climb tall structures, but we avoid ‘leaps of faith,’” a voice said from behind Asker. “If our Shadow magic fails, we’d end up as a splattered mess.”

    Asker turned and saw a young woman leaning against a wall, casually flipping a dagger in her hand.

    “And this is…?” Asker looked at Maestro.

    “Mia Cinque Mani,” Maestro introduced. “Our newest recruit, a Shadow I Transcendental.”

    “Can you climb to the top of the Palace of the Golden Throne and retrieve some Valar Eagle feathers?” Asker asked the girl. “One hundred pounds.”

    “No problem,” Mia replied.

    Her voice sounds familiar… Asker thought, a memory stirring within him. “Justice X?” he asked tentatively.

    “It’s you?” Mia chuckled, recognition dawning on her. “So, you were the one who bought my formula this afternoon. It makes sense now. I should have realized when you mentioned Valar Eagles. The Justice sequence… hehe… if it wasn’t so incompatible with my profession, I would have kept it for myself.”

    “Aren’t the Shadow and Justice sequences incompatible?” Asker asked, surprised. “There’s no bloodline path that incorporates both, is there?”

    “Incompatible? Bloodline?” Mia frowned, clearly unfamiliar with those terms.

    “Incompatible means consuming a new elixir sequence that clashes with your existing traits. A bloodline is a combination of compatible elixir sequences,” Maestro explained, his voice stern. “Mia, why didn’t you tell me about the Justice sequence formula?”

    “Well, I… acquired it from the palace last week,” Mia mumbled, her cheeks flushing.

    “You must report all supernatural items before taking action. How many times have I told you?” Maestro’s voice boomed. “With your limited knowledge, you could have triggered a mutation if you had consumed that Justice elixir!”

    “Yes, yes, I understand.” Mia, knowing she was in the wrong, relented.

    “She’s at that age,” Asker said, adopting a knowing tone. “Tell her not to do something, and she’ll do it just to spite you. Like a stubborn mule. Give her a challenging task, and she’ll forget all about her rebellious streak.”

    “Hey! Who are you calling a mule?” Mia shouted, her face reddening.