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  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 42

    Chapter 42: Going on a Date with Her

    —”My sister’s kinks are wild!”*

    If you were to ask Adele what was going through her mind at that moment, that sentence would sum it up perfectly!

    Yes, she had never truly been hypnotized. From the very beginning, she had been aware that she was dreaming. She should have woken up then and there, but the hypnotic force had been too strong, the pain too intense.

    It was a level of mental manipulation that should have been beyond her ability to resist. But then… the pain vanished, replaced by a clarity, a heightened awareness, that she had never experienced before.

    She understood. She saw the trap, the manipulation, the carefully constructed illusion… and she decided to play along.

    It was one of her few strengths: acting!

    It was her only weapon in this dream realm, Sharon’s domain.

    Life was a stage, and she was… well, she was going to give it her all.

    She had to maintain the facade, to pretend to be under Sharon’s control. If she revealed her awareness, who knew what horrors awaited her? She would be trapped, at Sharon’s mercy, with no escape.

    The worst-case scenario… she might be trapped in this dream forever.

    Adele wasn’t willing to risk it. She had to be cautious, to play her cards right, to find a way to… escape.

    Besides, by pretending to be hypnotized, she could gather information, uncover Sharon’s true intentions, her motivations…

    She already had a suspicion, but she preferred to be thorough, to gather evidence before jumping to conclusions. “No investigation, no right to speak,” as the saying went.

    She had to enter the tiger’s den… to catch the tiger cub.

    Wait… That doesn’t sound right.

    She banished those thoughts, pushing them aside, and followed the dream’s script, walking towards her… date.

    As she suspected, it was Sharon, the Dream Eater.

    Unlike Dorothy and Hermione, Sharon wasn’t imposing, her presence not commanding immediate attention. But she possessed a unique charm, a delicate beauty that was… captivating.

    Her silver-gray hair, usually dull and lifeless, shimmered in the dreamlight, its strands like spun silver. Her posture was elegant, her movements graceful, her eyes, a pale gold flecked with shimmering flecks of light, fixed on Adele, their gaze soft, warm, inviting.

    She was petite, about the same height as Adele, but the white evening gown she wore, its low neckline and cinched waist accentuating her curves, its long train trailing behind her like a cloud of lace and silk, gave her an aura of… regality.

    If she had been holding a bouquet of flowers, Adele would have sworn she was… a bride.

    Adele swallowed nervously, her gaze lingering on Sharon’s… cleavage.

    Because she realized… that this Sharon, the Sharon standing before her now… was nothing like the Sharon she knew from the real world.

    ………………

    But she was still Sharon. Just… an idealized version, a fantasy conjured up by Sharon’s own desires, her longing for… perfection.

    Sharon, in reality, wasn’t this beautiful. She was pretty, yes, but her beauty was hidden beneath layers of self-doubt, of insecurity. She didn’t dress to impress, didn’t bother with makeup or hairstyles. She lacked the confidence, the self-assurance, that came so naturally to the other Sequence Ones.

    They were comfortable in their own skin, confident in their power, their beauty, their… everything.

    Sharon, despite her status as a Sequence One, had never been able to escape the shadow of her past, the whispers, the judging eyes, the constant reminders of her… inferiority.

    Others struggled to break free from their comfort zones. Sharon, on the other hand, clung to hers, to the familiar role of the follower, the sidekick, the… invisible one.

    Even though she could have easily been a leader, a dominant force, in any other circle… she chose to remain in the shadows.

    Her real body was thin, almost frail, her posture hinting at malnutrition, her chest… well, let’s just say that the cleavage on display in this dream was… a fabrication.

    Her silver-gray hair, usually dull and lifeless, resembling more a tangled mess of cobwebs than spun silver, was hidden beneath a long, unkempt fringe that obscured her eyes.

    And her demeanor… well, she was withdrawn, timid, her movements hesitant, her gaze flitting nervously around the room, as if she were afraid of… being seen.

    She was a shut-in, a recluse who preferred the company of anime, manga, and video games to the complexities of human interaction.

    She wasn’t good at socializing, didn’t know how to dress, her usual attire more boyish than feminine: shirts and shorts, overalls, hoodies and sweatpants.

    Dresses… well, she wouldn’t be caught dead in a dress. Except… in her dreams.

    She rarely left her house, her social interactions limited to the occasional outing with Dorothy, her only real friend.

    And she had many houses. The one next door to Adele’s dorm room… it was her current favorite. It was small, cramped, even a little… dirty. But it felt… safe. More so than her spacious, luxurious villas.

    And every night… she could drift off to sleep, her dreams filled with… Adele.

    Sharon, the Dream Eater, the master of the dream realm… she didn’t dream. It was one of the many sources of her… pain.

    But then… she had a dream. The most beautiful, the most precious dream of her life.

    And it was called… “Adele.”

    ………………

    Adele, her mind racing, understood now. Sharon had lured her into this dream, had woven this elaborate illusion, this… date, as a way to… well, to spend time with her, to experience a connection that was… impossible in the real world.

    She had manipulated Adele’s subconscious, implanted a false memory, a desire for… intimacy.

    And Adele… well, she had no choice but to play along.

    She took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest, her mind searching for a way to… escape.

    But then… she realized… that she didn’t need to panic.

    If Sharon was truly as insecure and withdrawn as the novel had portrayed her… then perhaps… this wouldn’t be so difficult.

    She wasn’t cold and aloof like Hermione, nor was she as powerful and unpredictable as Dorothy. And she wasn’t… well, she wasn’t Celeste.

    Celeste… she had been surprisingly easy to… tame.

    Adele had planned to spend weeks, maybe even months, subtly manipulating her, showering her with a calculated mix of kindness and cruelty, breaking her spirit, making her… dependent.

    But Celeste had revealed her trump card, her knowledge of the forbidden art of spiritual contracts. She had willingly surrendered, had offered herself up on a silver platter.

    She really is… a good puppy. So eager to please…

    The thought of Celeste, her loyalty, her devotion… it calmed Adele’s nerves, eased the tension that had been coiling within her.

    She decided to approach this… situation… with the same mindset she had used with Celeste.

    She would treat Sharon… like a puppy. A slightly more challenging puppy.

    She took a step forward, her gaze meeting Sharon’s, her heart pounding with a mixture of anticipation and… something else. Something that made her want to… smile.

    She would walk towards Sharon, stand beside her, and…

    …go on a date with her.

  • The Delicate Female Lead Only Wants to be Loved by the Villainous Young Ladies 41

    Chapter 41: A Dream Date

    Adele wasn’t usually one for naps. She cherished every waking moment, every opportunity to savor the joys and pleasures of life. To her, sleep was a waste of precious time.

    But this body… it had other ideas. Its need for midday slumber was deeply ingrained, a habit that Adele couldn’t seem to shake off.

    She had barely been scrolling through her phone for two minutes when a wave of exhaustion washed over her, her eyelids drooping, her yawns becoming increasingly frequent and uncontrollable.

    Perhaps… it was the original Adele’s way of coping with the harsh realities of this world, of escaping the pain, the loneliness, the constant reminders of her… inferiority.

    To her, dreams were preferable to reality.

    But… I wanted to watch more funny videos… And my favorite author just updated her story…

    Ugh… I can’t fight it anymore…

    Adele, with a final burst of willpower, set an alarm for 2:15 PM, then let her arms fall to her sides, her phone slipping from her grasp, landing on the bedsheets beside her.

    It was a surprisingly… alluring pose.

    And then… she was asleep, her mind drifting into the comforting embrace of slumber.

    The curtains, half-drawn, cast the room in a soft, dappled light, dividing it into pools of sunshine and shadow. Adele’s upper body lay in shadow, her sleeping face peaceful, innocent, her beauty… breathtaking. Her legs, clad in white cotton socks, stretched out towards the sunlight, her skin glowing with an almost ethereal radiance.

    She slept soundly, oblivious to the world around her, the gentle rustle of the curtains, the soft footsteps outside her door… the click of the doorknob turning.

    A small figure slipped through the partially open door, her breath quick and shallow, her movements hesitant despite the confidence she usually exuded.

    The air shimmered with a subtle, almost imperceptible magic, its presence more felt than seen, a dreamlike haze that enveloped the room.

    Adele, inhaling the magic-infused air, her body naturally susceptible to its influence, felt a wave of drowsiness wash over her, her eyelids fluttering, her mind drifting further into the comforting embrace of sleep.

    It wasn’t, as she had assumed, simply a matter of habit, the original Adele’s way of escaping reality. It was… something else. Something more… sinister.

    It was the work of her roommate, the one who had slipped into her room while she slept, the one who held the power to manipulate dreams, to shape reality… within the realm of slumber.

    The Dream Eater: Sharon.

    She, too, was a Sequence One, a vampire of immense power and privilege. But she was also… an enigma. A shadow. Her presence in the academy was… unremarkable. She was known primarily as… Dorothy’s lackey.

    Her power was subtle, her demeanor unassuming. She was quiet, deferential, almost… invisible. Especially in Dorothy’s presence.

    The other Sequence Ones looked down on her, dismissed her as a weakling, a sycophant. They barely acknowledged her existence, their indifference a constant reminder of her… inferiority.

    Only Sharon knew… the truth.

    Most high-ranking vampires had silver hair, a symbol of their pure bloodline, their noble heritage. But Sharon’s hair was a strange mix of silver and gray, its dullness a constant reminder of her… tainted blood.

    Rumors swirled about her mother, whispers of a lowborn succubus, a creature of darkness and seduction.

    But regardless of the truth, one fact remained: Sharon, like Adele, was a half-blood. And… an illegitimate child.

    She had never known her father’s love, had always been an outsider in her own family, ostracized, ridiculed, her existence a source of… shame.

    She had grown up surrounded by whispers, by judging eyes, her spirit slowly eroding, her confidence shattered.

    Adele was brave, strong. She had never sought refuge in dreams, had never allowed the harsh realities of this world to break her.

    The one who truly craved escape, the one who sought solace in the realm of slumber… it was Sharon.

    ………………

    Sharon, her heart pounding in her chest, her breathing ragged, pressed her back against the door, her movements careful, silent. She closed the door, sealing them within, creating a space… just for them.

    Her gaze, from the moment she had entered the room, had been fixed on Adele’s face, her eyes tracing the delicate contours of her features, her lips curving into a soft, wistful smile.

    Emotions, a torrent of longing and… something else, swirled within her, threatening to overwhelm her.

    She had done this before. Many times. But each time… it felt… different. More intense. More… real?

    Adele… My… Adele…

    She whispered the name, her heart aching with a tenderness that brought tears to her eyes.

    She crossed the room, her steps silent, her movements graceful, and knelt beside the bed, her gaze never leaving Adele’s face. She reached out, her fingers gently caressing Adele’s hand, her touch lingering, her cheek brushing against Adele’s palm.

    Her short, silver-gray hair fell across Adele’s arm, a stark contrast to the smooth, flawless skin beneath.

    She knew every line, every crease, of Adele’s palm, her touch a silent expression of… worship? Obsession?

    Her gaze softened, her eyelids drooping, her body swaying slightly as she succumbed to… the allure of Adele’s presence, the intoxicating scent of her blood, the hypnotic rhythm of her breathing…

    She rested her head against Adele’s hand, her breath mingling with Adele’s, her body relaxing, her mind… awakening.

    For Sharon, the Dream Eater… this was… reality.

    ………………

    April. Spring. Peach blossoms raining down, painting the world in shades of pink and white.

    Adele, strolling through the familiar yet… different scenery of the academy, her heart filled with a vague sense of unease, was on her way to meet a friend.

    It seemed… normal. Ordinary.

    But something was… off.

    I’m Adele… that much I know. But… where am I?

    What am I doing here?

    A fleeting thought, a whisper of “meeting a friend,” drifted through her mind, but it wasn’t enough to quell the growing sense of… wrongness.

    The scenery was familiar, but the peach blossoms… they were out of place. The academy, in reality, was shrouded in the colors of autumn, the leaves turning brown and gold, the air crisp and cool.

    Wait… reality?

    Could this be… a dream?

    There was a saying: “Once you realize you’re dreaming, you wake up.”

    Adele tried to wake up, to break free from the dream’s hold.

    But as she focused her mind, a sharp, piercing pain shot through her head, as if something was… resisting her, forcing her to… stay.

    And it worked. The power, the sheer force of the… suggestion, was overwhelming.

    Adele’s consciousness, her awareness of the dream, faded, her eyes losing their focus, becoming blank, her lips curving into a vacant smile.

    She was a puppet, her movements controlled by an unseen force, walking along a path strewn with peach blossoms, her destination… predetermined.

    She was going to meet a friend. A very important friend.

    More than just a friend, actually.

    A lover. A soulmate. A childhood sweetheart. A classmate. A first love. A… everything.

    Because… that was what Sharon had implanted in her mind, a suggestion so powerful, so deeply ingrained, that Adele’s subconscious had accepted it as… reality.

    And she would act accordingly, her actions, her emotions, guided by this… false memory.

    But it would feel… real. Because within a dream, actions were driven by the subconscious, by instinct, by… suggestion.

    Adele had become a puppet, her strings controlled by an unseen hand.

    The Dream Eater: Sharon.

    The master of this realm.

    Within a dream… she was all-powerful.

    Adele, her movements stiff and unnatural, reached her destination: a beautiful garden, a riot of colors and scents, a paradise… within a dream.

    And there, amidst the flowers, stood Sharon, dressed in a flowing white gown, her silver-gray hair adorned with delicate blossoms, her eyes sparkling with a joy so intense that it bordered on… pain.

    She turned, her gaze meeting Adele’s, a radiant smile illuminating her face.

    “Adele, you’re here,” she said, her voice soft and welcoming.

    “I’ve been waiting for you. You’re late, you know. This was supposed to be… a special occasion. But… it’s okay. I understand…”

    She trailed off, the unspoken words, the truth she couldn’t bring herself to voice, catching in her throat.

    She shook her head, her smile fading, her voice taking on a wistful tone.

    “I missed you,” she said. “Did you… miss me?”

    And Adele, her voice a dreamy whisper, her eyes glazed with a manufactured affection, gave her the answer she craved.

    “…Yes.”

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 37

    No. 37 Longing Fades with Every Footstep

    The following days, almost every teacher who entered the classroom would ask, “Is Yi Yao here? Which one of you is Yi Yao?”

    “Excellent, a perfect score. Keep up the good work.”

    “Impressive. I never realized we had such a talented student in this class. We even increased the difficulty of the physics exam this time, and you still managed to get a perfect score.”

    “I already noticed you during the last quiz, and you didn’t disappoint me this time either. Yi Yao, 148 points in English. You lost two points on the essay… Don’t look at me, I didn’t grade the essays.”

    My scores caused a stir in every class.

    The exams were indeed difficult, but not for me, someone who had already taken them once, attended review sessions, been reborn, and dedicated countless hours to studying. Solving those problems felt like a skilled bartender effortlessly mixing drinks. The answers just flowed out of me, barely requiring any conscious thought.

    Chinese, math, English, physics, chemistry, biology, politics, geography—I scored a total of 708 out of 750, with perfect scores in all subjects except for the English essay, where I lost two points, and history, which I had missed.

    The second-highest score in the grade, 630 points, belonged to a student in the top class, just as I remembered.

    During the class meeting, the homeroom teacher spent half the period praising me for bringing honor to the class, emphasizing how my scores had significantly raised the class average, and urging everyone to follow my example.

    Only I knew that my scores alone couldn’t have raised the average that much.

    Before this, “I” and Lan Zhuoyue had consistently been at the bottom of the grade.

    With the last-place student gone, and the second-to-last student now in first place, the average score naturally increased.

    In a way, it was a bittersweet victory.

    At the end of the meeting, the teacher expressed her regret over my refusal to retake the history exam.

    “I’m confident that if Yi Yao maintains this level of performance in the next monthly exams, without cheating or missing any exams, she has a good chance of becoming the top scorer in the city for the high school entrance exam.”

    She beamed at me, then, in an unprecedented move, dismissed the class early. “That’s all for today. Class dismissed.”

    The faint sound of the bell marked the end of another school day.

    I neatly stacked my exam papers, put them in my bag, and walked out of the classroom. I saw Tan Lijiang and Liang Tong rushing past me, their faces lit up with excitement.

    “Hey, Yi Yao, come on, let’s go rub it in Class 12’s faces.”

    “What?”

    “Weren’t those guys acting all high and mighty this morning?” Tan Lijiang grinned, slinging his arm around my shoulder. “Let’s see what they have to say now.”

    Just then, the teacher in the next classroom dismissed her class, and a horde of boys, carrying their lunch bowls, poured out of the room. Among them were the two boys who had confronted Tan Lijiang and Liang Tong earlier.

    “Hey! You two, don’t run away! Let’s talk about those exam results!”

    They ran even faster.

    “Haha, that’s what I’m talking about!”

    Tan Lijiang flipped them off, then turned to me. “Yi Yao, I, Tan, am truly impressed. You’re good at everything, fighting and studying. From now on, I’m your follower. Just tell me if you need anything.”

    Liang Tong chimed in. “Yeah, Yi Yao Jie, I’m at your service.”

    I chuckled. “If you don’t hurry to the cafeteria, you’ll miss out on the good food.”

    It was a common problem in every school: the best dishes were only available to those who were fast. Teachers often ran overtime during the last period, turning the quest for a decent dinner into a ruthless competition. You needed good timing, good luck, good stamina, and a shameless attitude.

    “Shit! I almost forgot! Let’s go!”

    Tan Lijiang and Liang Tong snapped out of their daze. “Yi Yao, you should go eat too.”

    “Okay.”

    I waved at them and headed towards the stairs.

    I had been waiting for this day for a long time.

    Both Yi Yao and I.

    The old Yi Yao had always been ashamed of her grades, avoiding her mother at the hospital, her answers evasive whenever asked about her studies.

    Now, having inherited her memories, I felt a surge of joy, knowing I had achieved the results she had always dreamed of.

    It was something I had taken for granted in my previous life.

    Something that should have been ordinary had become a source of unexpected happiness.

    It seemed that, as I grew accustomed to this body, I was also being assimilated by its memories.

    But I didn’t resist.

    These were the traces of Yi Yao’s existence in this world, and I was determined to preserve them.

    “Dad, are you at the hospital?”

    After dropping off Huang Yingdie at her complex, I called my father.

    “Yes. You’ll have to make your own dinner tonight.”

    His voice sounded less melancholic than in recent days. “By the way, are your exam results out?”

    “Yes. I’m heading over now. I want to show Mom my scores.”

    “Don’t… don’t…” He panicked, his voice dropping to a whisper. “Do you know what I told your mother? I said you were consistently in the top ten in your class. If you show up with your real scores, you’ll give her a heart attack!”

    “It’s fine. I got first place in the grade. Mom won’t be angry.”

    “First place? Wait, daughter…”

    “I’ll be there in ten minutes. Gotta go.”

    I hung up and pedaled towards the hospital.

    I hadn’t felt this lighthearted since graduating from university.

    In my previous life, even with my good grades, my father had discouraged me from visiting my mother at the hospital, claiming it would affect my studies.

    Many people in this world didn’t realize what truly mattered.

    Family, friendship, kindness—these fundamental human connections were often only cherished when they were lost.

    There was no conflict between getting bad grades and spending time with your loved ones.

    I arrived at the familiar hospital ward, my backpack slung over my shoulder. I almost burst into tears when I saw my mother, but my father’s words stopped me.

    “Yi Yao, you’ve lost so much weight.”

    “What?”

    Although being called “thin” was usually a compliment for a girl, I was still struggling to adjust to my new identity. “I’ve been eating properly.”

    “Silly child.”

    My mother, her left hand hooked up to an IV drip, was eating her dinner. She beckoned me with her other hand. “Come here and let me see you. You scared us with those news reports.”

    I pulled up a chair and sat beside her bed. “I’m fine now.”

    “You call this fine? You were stabbed!”

    She lifted my shirt and examined the wound, then sighed in relief. “Thankfully, there’s no scar. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to find a husband.”

    Same ward, same bed, same mother, different conversation.

    “Here’s my checkup report.” My father handed me a document. “See? Everything’s normal. Your dad is healthy!”

    I took the report, pretending to understand the scribbled medical jargon, and chuckled awkwardly. “I was just worried…”

    Something wasn’t right. Why were his results normal?

    Was he lying, or had my presence somehow altered his fate?

    If his illness wasn’t triggered now, how could it possibly progress to a terminal stage in five years?

    “By the way, daughter, your monthly exam results should be out, right?”

    My mother asked, bringing up a sensitive topic.

    “Yes, they are.”

    I placed my backpack on the bed and opened it.

    She took out the test papers one by one, her voice weak. “What did you score?”

    “Perfect scores in all subjects except for English, where I got 148, and history, which I missed.”

    “Pfft…”

    My father, who was drinking water, spat it out. “Yi Yao… cough, cough, what did you say?”

    “I said…”

    I sighed inwardly and repeated myself. “Perfect scores in all subjects except for English and history. 708 points. First place in the grade.”

    “Wow, such high scores! Your daughter is amazing!”

    An elderly man in the next bed, also a leukemia patient, sat up and gave me a thumbs-up. “You’ve raised a good daughter.”

    “Don’t listen to her nonsense. This girl is full of tricks.”

    My father snatched the papers from my mother, put on his reading glasses, and scrutinized them. “Let me see… If these aren’t perfect scores, you’re in big trouble when we get home… Chinese… 90 points for the objective questions plus the essay… a perfect score on the essay? Wait, Yi Yao, is this really your paper?”

    His expression shifted from indifference to seriousness to shock. He stared at my name, clearly written on the paper, his hand trembling.

    “How many… perfect scores were there in your class for Chinese?”

    “Just mine.”

    “Was it an open-book exam?”

    “No.”

    “What was the total score?”

    “750.”

    “So, you scored over 700 even after missing an exam?”

    “Yes.”

    Our conversation drew the attention of everyone in the ward.

    I knew most of these patients. I remembered their illnesses and their death dates. But as before, I was powerless to save them.

    All I could do was prove to my parents, to everyone, that miracles were possible.

    “You didn’t cheat, did you?”

    He meticulously examined each paper, then calculated the total score three times, his disbelief evident.

    “Yi Yao.”

    “Yes?”

    “Tell me, how did you do it?”

    “I studied every night, paid attention in class, and diligently took notes and did my homework.”

    “That’s not enough to explain such a drastic improvement.”

    I pulled out my report card from my bag and handed it to him. “See? I fulfilled my promise.”

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 36

    No. 36 The Loneliness Behind Glory

    On Monday morning, after the morning exercises, I was summoned to the homeroom teacher’s office.

    “Yi Yao, after careful consideration, the school administration has decided to give you a chance to retake the history exam.”

    The homeroom teacher’s gaze was evasive, mirroring the expressions of the other teachers in the room. A strange chill settled over me.

    Their voices were gentle, their words comforting, as if they were walking on eggshells around me.

    They had never treated me like this before.

    It was as if they had discovered a hidden treasure, a gold mine beneath the feet of a lowly insect.

    I would rather they looked at me with fear and resentment than this sudden shift in attitude.

    It could only mean one thing: I had become valuable in their eyes.

    What was the measure of a student’s worth?

    Grades.

    Academic performance.

    It had been three days since the history exam. The diligent teachers had ample time to grade all the papers and compile the results.

    If my scores were still as abysmal as before, they would have simply tossed me a new history test paper and said, “Redo it,” pressured by public opinion. They wouldn’t have summoned me for a formal meeting.

    But… I’m sorry, I might be “Yi Yao”, but I’m also the other “Yi Yao”.

    I couldn’t compromise, not after all the pain and humiliation Yi Yao had endured because of them.

    “No, thank you.”

    I smiled faintly, shaking my head, as the cold air from the air conditioner blew against my face. “It’s against school rules. I missed the exam, and I accept the consequences. The school shouldn’t make exceptions for students like me.”

    And what about that 5,000-word essay you assigned me?

    “Don’t be like that…”

    The homeroom teacher chuckled nervously. “Yi Yao, perhaps I haven’t been the most attentive teacher, but people change, right? Just like you, hiding your true abilities all this time. How could I have known you were so talented?”

    She was essentially saying that they were only being nice to me because I possessed something they valued: “talent.”

    “This has nothing to do with your lack of attention, teacher.” I maintained my calm demeanor. “Thank you for your concern, but I’ll accept the failing grade for that subject. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going now.”

    “You…” Her face darkened, but it quickly brightened again, as if she had remembered something. “Fine, if you insist. But I hope you’ll continue to strive for excellence in your future exams, okay?”

    She finally understood. It wasn’t about the actual score, but the ranking.

    Whether I scored a perfect 750 or a 650, as long as I was first in the grade, it didn’t affect her bonus.

    “Okay.”

    I bowed politely and left the office.

    As I walked away, I could hear their excited chatter behind me, marveling at how “No. 3 Middle School finally has another genius” and how I could “still get first place even after missing an exam.”

    Yi Yao… can you see this? I’ve fulfilled your dream, using your own hands.

    This homeroom teacher had just transferred to No. 3 Middle School a few months ago. In just one month, Yi Yao had been subjected to countless criticisms and humiliations because of her grades. So, influenced by her memories, I had a strong dislike for this teacher.

    Perhaps out of weakness, Yi Yao had endured the teacher’s unfair treatment in silence.

    Like most students, she had fantasized about getting first place in the grade and showing this opportunistic woman what she was truly capable of.

    Now, I had fulfilled that fantasy, albeit unintentionally.

    As I returned to the classroom, I saw Tan Lijiang and Liang Tong arguing with two boys from Class 12 at the doorway. It looked like a fight was about to break out.

    “What’s going on?”

    I walked over to Tan Lijiang, my hands tucked in my pockets.

    “Nothing much. Just some arrogant jerks from Class 12.”

    Tan Lijiang looked agitated.

    “Arrogant jerks?”

    One of the Class 12 boys laughed. “Isn’t your class the worst in the grade? Both academically and athletically. Am I wrong? If you can’t handle the truth, don’t come to school.”

    Liang Tong sneered. “The exam results aren’t even out yet. Aren’t you being a bit too confident?”

    “You think everyone is as clueless as you? We have connections in the school. We already know the results. I’ll give you a hint: your class is at the bottom.”

    Tan Lijiang, enraged, took a step forward, but I held him back.

    “You’re still the same. Getting angry over the smallest things.”

    I walked past them, patting their shoulders. “Perhaps when you grow up, you’ll realize that the things you care about now are insignificant.”

    “But he…” Tan Lijiang pointed at the two boys. “They’re insulting our class! Can you tolerate that?”

    “Those who spread rumors are either malicious or bored. There’s no point in engaging with them.”

    “Oh? Who do we have here? It’s the mistress, Yi Yao, the girl who’s being kept by a boy from another school.”

    One of the Class 12 boys, unable to contain his anger, stepped forward. “I remember your grades consistently ranking in the bottom ten. And you even missed an exam this time. What gives you the right to talk down to us?”

    The bell rang, its sound faint against the wind.

    “Liang Jingru gave me the courage.”

    I gave them a cryptic look, then turned and entered the classroom. “Let’s go.”

    “Oh.”

    Tan Lijiang and Liang Tong snapped out of their daze and followed me.

    “Haha, scared now that you know your results?”

    The two boys continued their taunts, but I ignored them and sat down at my desk.

    “Yi Yao, how did you do on the exams?”

    “Around 630, I guess.”

    “Thud!”

    Tan Lijiang, who was walking towards his desk, stumbled and fell, his jaw dropping. He scrambled to his feet, his voice trembling. “Are you kidding me?”

    “No.”

    I took a sip of my salted water. “Let me rephrase that… I bombed the exams. Only 650 points. I’m so ashamed.”

    “Please, just stick to your original statement. My heart can’t take it.”

    Just then, the Chinese teacher entered the classroom, his arms laden with test papers. “What are you doing over there? Get back to your seats.”

    “It seems everyone struggled with this exam.”

    Our first class was Chinese, my favorite subject. Unlike other subjects, where memorizing the answers guaranteed a high score, the essay component in Chinese was a wild card.

    “I’ll give you a brief overview of the results.”

    Our Chinese teacher was a middle-aged man with a weary face and a soothing voice. Half the class usually dozed off during his lectures, but he was a kind teacher, rarely getting angry over trivial matters like missing homework. As a result, our class’s Chinese scores were actually decent.

    “This time, we used the mid-term exam papers from Nurturing Talent Middle School. Heh, I’m sure you all experienced the difficulty firsthand. The average score for our grade is 81. Our class average is 88.5. Which means we have the highest average score for Chinese in the entire grade.”

    His words were met with gasps of disbelief.

    “Teacher…”

    Tan Lijiang raised his hand, his voice trembling. “Are you sure it’s our class? Class 11?”

    “Yes, isn’t this Class 11?”

    The teacher adjusted his glasses. “Did I enter the wrong classroom? Tan Lijiang, you’re in Class 11, right? I remember you.”

    “But… that’s impossible.”

    “Yeah, if we can get the highest average score, what about the top two classes?”

    “Didn’t they say we were the worst class?”

    Seeing that the class was about to descend into chaos again, the teacher raised his hand for silence. “Are you questioning my memory? Class 1’s average score is 87.5, Class 2’s is 88. Your class has the highest average.”

    “Then…”

    “Can you please let me finish?”

    He cut off the student impatiently, picked up a test paper, and peered at the name through his reading glasses. “Yi… Yi Yao? Who’s Yi Yao? Is there a student named Yi Yao in our class?”

    Over fifty pairs of eyes turned towards me.

    I stood up. “It’s me.”

    “Oh… you’re Yi Yao. I don’t recall seeing you before. Do you know what you scored on this exam?”

    I shook my head.

    “Before I reveal your score, let me explain the difficulty of this exam. According to Nurturing Talent Middle School’s statistics, their average score is 93. The highest score is 139, achieved by a girl in their top class.”

    “As you all know, “Nurturing Talent” is a prestigious school. Getting in there practically guarantees you a spot in a top high school. And even their best student only scored 139. But!”

    He paused for dramatic effect. “But in our school, in our class, Yi Yao scored a perfect 150!”

    The entire class, including me, was stunned.

    Wait… this wasn’t what I expected… How could there be a perfect score in Chinese?

    I was still in shock when he held up my test paper, covered in red check marks.

    “Perfect score on multiple choice and fill-in-the-blanks. Perfect score on reading comprehension. Perfect score on the essay. A total of 150 points! Yi Yao, come up and collect your paper. You’re the pride of Class 11.”

  • Come, Let Me Take You Home 35

    No, 035 Where is your destination?

    The Huang Qinghao incident caused a huge stir in the City.

    As with the previous kidnapping case, editors of major newspapers, eager to stir up trouble, used words like “mayor’s daughter” and “young girl” and exaggerated how I rescued Xiaodie from the clutches of the vicious gangsters and calmly walked back to the neighborhood from the hotel.

    Coincidentally, the hotel’s surveillance cameras clearly captured me carrying Xiaodie as we walked through the lobby. Pictures of us were highlighted on the front pages of various news websites. Because both Xiaodie and I are considered attractive, the news article reached 300,000 views that day.

    “They look so good together!”

    “What should I do? I also want a best friend like that…”

    “Why bother with men? If you meet such a good girl, just marry her.”

    “See, I, a man, am no match for a woman. I can’t even beat her in a fight. Should I just go home and farm?”

    Attracted by the gimmick of “mayor’s daughter,” the public was quickly moved by my “heroic deeds” in the news. Countless words of praise flooded the comment section, leaving Huang Yingdie, the initial victim of the incident, neglected.

    Our house was harassed countless times by neighbors and enthusiastic people in the short eight hours after the news broadcast. Our home, already filled with unsold fruits from our fruit shop, was directly flooded with fruits and flowers from well-wishers.

    On Sunday, instead of fading away as expected, the matter continued to ferment. Some enthusiastic netizens even dug up records of my absence from the exam that day and linked it to the recent kidnapping incident. They began to call for the school to exempt me from punishment for missing the exam and cheating.

    …

    “Is there something?”

    In the evening, Huang Yingdie came downstairs to my neighborhood and called me down.

    “Can’t I call you if there’s nothing?”

    Today, Huang Yingdie wore a simple suspender dress and a short-sleeved T-shirt. Her temperament was completely different from the gorgeous short skirt and high heels she wore when we first met. Under the bright streetlights of the neighborhood, she looked like a fairy.

    “Here, this is a reward for you.”

    Stuffing a cup of herbal jelly into my hand, the girl smiled and said, “Are your injuries better?”

    I cut open the film on the cup with the barb on the back of the spoon and nodded: “Almost.”

    It wasn’t a serious injury. Huang Qinghao didn’t have much strength left in that state, and there was a layer of clothing blocking it. An ordinary knife couldn’t really hurt me. It should be fine after three or four days of rest.

    “That’s good.”

    “…”

    We walked to the gate of the neighborhood in silence, eating the herbal jelly in our hands.

    Finally, when we reached the side of the road, Huang Yingdie couldn’t help but say, “Yi Yao, aren’t you going to say something?”

    “Say what?”

    “Just…” The girl scratched her white cheek in distress. “For example… for example, your monthly exam, does it matter if you missed one subject?”

    “It doesn’t matter.”

    I said indifferently: “Anyway, if there are no accidents, the goal has been achieved. It doesn’t matter if I don’t take that subject.”

    I remember that the monthly exam was the most difficult one in my junior high school career, and the average score of the grade was also the lowest. At that time, I scored 631 out of 9 subjects with a perfect score of 750, and this score was still more than 30 points ahead of the second place. Among them, the history score was only 40 points. Even if I was deducted about 10 points for each of the remaining subjects, and then subtracted 40 points for history, my total score would still be 630 points, still the first in the grade.

    But this has to be based on the premise that history does not change.

    Who knows if Tan Lijiang will be stimulated by Lan Zhuoyue’s departure and get a few dozen more points?

    “No way? I’ve never heard of you having such good grades, Yi Yao?”

    After opening the conversation box, Huang Yingdie seemed to be a different person. “Didn’t you often skip class and surf the Internet with those people from the Black Dragon Society?”

    “Skipping class and surfing the Internet doesn’t conflict with grades, right?”

    Throwing the finished herbal jelly cup into the trash can, I took a deep breath: “Okay, what’s the matter with you looking for me? If it’s just to treat me to a drink, then I’ve already received your kindness.”

    I don’t believe this arrogant young lady would come to my neighborhood for no reason.

    If nothing else, it’s probably because of Huang Qinghao.

    “Uh… actually…” Under the mottled tree shadows, Huang Yingdie hesitated for a moment. “Yi Yao, can you pretend to be my girlfriend?”

    “Pretend?”

    “Well… I want Huang Qinghao to give up. This should be the best way.”

    “He still has the face to come to you?”

    A man, without the consent of his girlfriend, attempted to drug and rape her, and afterwards, he could still contact the victim as if nothing had happened. What derogatory term should I use to describe such a person?

    Besides, didn’t the newspaper say that Huang Qinghao was criminally detained?

    “His father spent money to find some connections, and now he is at home.”

    Huang Yingdie sighed: “I have blocked him on QQ and my phone, but his brothers keep coming to me to say good things about him. I don’t know what to do…”

    “So you’re going to lie and say you’re gay?”

    “Don’t say it so harshly. Well… we girls have a beautiful word…”

    “Lily?”

    “Pretend! Just pretend!”

    Huang Yingdie’s face flushed red and white: “I may… need some time.”

    Need some time to accept being a lesbian, or need some time to heal the wound cut by a boy?

    “Yi Yao, I remember you had a boyfriend before, right?”

    “Oh, we broke up.”

    “Why can you be so calm about everything…”

    Huang Yingdie lowered her head: “When I was kidnapped, and now, is there nothing in your heart that you really care about?”

    “No reason.”

    I lowered the brim of my hat a little: “If you don’t want to bear so much pain, don’t give so much love in the first place.”

    Yi Yao’s wish has been fulfilled. What I need to do is to inherit her belief, that’s all.

    As for pursuing happiness and the like, let nature take its course.

    After all, both Yi Yao and I are lost.

    “But you like this…”

    Seeing that the atmosphere was a bit wrong, I took the initiative to take Huang Yingdie’s hand. This action directly made the girl jump back a few steps after a jolt: “What are you doing?”

    “Didn’t you say you wanted me to be your girlfriend?” I said inexplicably: “If not, I’ll go back first.”

    “Ah… no.” Huang Yingdie reacted instantly: “I thought you…”

    “Thought what?”

    “Nothing!”

    Blushing, she ran to my side and took my hand, resting her small head on my shoulder, Huang Yingdie said to me in the tone of a little girl acting coquettishly to her boyfriend: “Hey, Yi Yao, what do couples usually do?”

    “Aren’t you more experienced in this?”

    “What do you mean I’m more experienced? I was just deceived before.”

    “So you’re awake now?”

    “Hmm.”

    “Actually… I’ve been thinking about a question since just now.”

    “What question?”

    “I remember when we first met, you didn’t say a word and just kicked me. It was the same when you were drunk. I thought you were a silent girl, then I thought you were tsundere, but now… I can’t figure out your personality anymore.”

    Knowing that she has some understanding of anime, I directly used some two-dimensional vocabulary.

    “I’m just not good at talking to strangers.”

    “What about now?”

    “You’re not a stranger, Yi Yao.”

    “I remember someone said that they would be incompatible with me.”

    “Well, it’s rare for me to be kind enough to see you!”

    Huang Yingdie ran in front of me, holding her forehead in distress: “Ah… forget it, forget it. Being with you doesn’t feel like a couple at all. Forget it, I don’t want you as my girlfriend anymore.”

    I smiled and said, “We are both girls anyway.”

    And you won’t really fall in love with a girl now.

    I didn’t say the last sentence.

    —Actually, I understand that we are both slowly starting to be afraid of losing.

    When one hope after another is gradually dashed, people tend to go back and look for those paths they haven’t taken.

    As far as I am concerned, I will never choose to fall in love or even marry a man. From this point alone, my future has been shrouded in haze.

    Dark and lonely.

    But Huang Yingdie is different. She has a beautiful appearance and a good family that others envy. I have no right to disturb her happiness.

    I can see the future of most people in this city, but I can’t see my own, so I can only try my best to help my friends stay away from the worst outcome.

    “My father’s matter has been exposed.”

    After the two of us walked for a while on the tree-lined road, Huang Yingdie in front suddenly said such a sentence.

    I asked strangely: “What’s the matter?”

    “Well… It’s about officialdom. I don’t know the details, but my dad has been helping me with the real estate certificate these days, and he has also transferred a lot of money to my personal account. I’m so scared… Yi Yao, do you think my dad will be arrested?”

    Several cars returning late at night whizzed past the road beside me and Xiaodie, and the airflow lifted the girl’s skirt and hair.

    Under the stars, there is a faint fragrance of wildflowers.

    Under Huang Yingdie’s expectant gaze, I remembered the ending of the mayor in another parallel world. Instead of answering Xiaodie’s question, I walked to the girl’s side, gently stretched out my hand and scratched her face: “Do you like your current life?”

    Xiaodie was about to answer, but I stopped her with a silent gesture.

    “Don’t tell me, just tell yourself.”

  • Dear, it’s time for your medicine! 47

    Chapter 47: A Cage in the Void 

    Seven hundred million Mana!

    He didn’t love money.

    Really.

    As the Hero, he received a monthly salary of one hundred thousand Mana, a considerable sum in the Heavenly Continent, though not as extravagant as the income of the great nobles.

    In his previous life, he had never worried about money.

    But this amount still shocked him. He hadn’t realized Loseweisse was so wealthy. He had only received an annual salary of one hundred million Mana after saving the entire continent.

    Loseweisse was just the Holy Maiden of the Holy See. Though her position was prestigious, her salary wasn’t exorbitant. Even if she lived to be two hundred years old, she wouldn’t be able to accumulate such wealth through her salary alone.

    It was clear that she had been exploiting her position, embezzling funds, and accepting bribes. How corrupt!

    And to think that she had constantly pestered him to buy her clothes and had always expected him to pay for their meals.

    She had been playing the poor, helpless maiden all along.

    But then again, resurrecting Jie Luo required rare and expensive ingredients. And she had been cultivating her own private force. These things couldn’t be achieved without considerable funds.

    He wasn’t motivated by greed, he told himself. He was simply disgusted by her hypocrisy, her blatant corruption. He pocketed the storage ring, his heart filled with righteous indignation.

    His eyes crinkled with amusement.

    He had almost forgotten his original purpose. Now, he was on a treasure hunt. He snapped his fingers, his gaze turning towards Shaye.

    “Shaye, next!”

    Shaye was just as eager. She wasn’t lacking in wealth either.

    As the most powerful Witch, she was richer than most nations.

    But…

    She had a fondness for shiny objects: crystals, gems, gold coins, banknotes… They brought her a strange sense of joy, making her wonder if she had some dragon blood in her lineage.

    After her return through time, her physical body had been destroyed.

    She was now a parasite, inhabiting Qin Chu’s body. Her previous wealth was gone. This unexpected windfall delighted her.

    She didn’t even wait for his command. She floated towards another wall, another intricate magical ward, its presence undetectable even to Qin Chu.

    But Loseweisse’s wards were no match for Shaye’s skill. She disabled it with ease, revealing another storage ring.

    He channeled his magic into the ring, its contents spilling out before them.

    This time, it wasn’t banknotes. It was… Saint Quartz, filling the entire space, its multicolored brilliance so intense that it made his eyes ache.

    Saint Quartz was a precious ore in the Heavenly Continent, a combination of diamond and gold, possessing both beauty and practicality.

    It was used to create exquisite jewelry for royalty and nobility.

    Mages embedded it into their staffs, enhancing their magical conductivity.

    Warriors incorporated it into their armor, increasing its durability through special enchantments.

    And it contained a vast reserve of pure elemental energy, making it a valuable tool for any practitioner, aiding in their training and replenishing their depleted magic or Battle Qi.

    Its uses were numerous.

    But it was rare and expensive, its value exceeding even gold.

    This ring, filled with Saint Quartz, was worth far more than the previous ring filled with banknotes.

    Qin Chu and Shaye, now full-fledged robbers, swept through the first floor, their original goal forgotten.

    Each ward concealed a storage ring.

    “We’ve struck it rich!” Shaye exclaimed, rubbing her hands together gleefully.

    Qin Chu stared at her, surprised. He hadn’t realized the most powerful Witch was a money-grubber.

    His image of the fearsome Dark Witch was crumbling.

    Her eyes sparkled with greed. “These three rings probably contain more money. We’ll split it seventy-thirty.”

    “Why do I only get thirty percent?” he protested.

    “Seventy percent is mine,” she stated flatly.

    “What do you need so much money for? You can’t even spend it right now.”

    “I’ll… keep it safe for you. Six percent interest…”

    He had heard of loan sharks, not… deposit witches.

    Was she truly the Dark Witch? Or was she the Money Witch?

    He ignored her, picking up another ring. He felt a pang of disappointment as he saw its contents. Unlike the previous rings, this one wasn’t filled with treasure. It contained nine notebooks.

    He picked one up, flipping through its pages. His initial dismissiveness vanished, replaced by a strange smile.

    “What is it? Why are you smiling like that?”

    “Nothing. These notebooks are… interesting,” he said, tucking them away.

    In his opinion, these notebooks were more valuable than the Saint Quartz and Mana.

    They were Loseweisse’s personal journals, detailing her observations of the other Hero Squad members and their interactions with Jie Luo, the First Hero.

    Perhaps she had intended to preserve these memories as a memento?

    But as he picked up the next ring, he discarded that theory. This ring contained a single, thick diary. Its pages revealed Loseweisse’s dark side, her obsessive possessiveness, her jealousy.

    She had harbored intense animosity towards anyone who got close to Jie Luo, even men.

    This diary was a collection of her darkest thoughts, her hidden desires, her venomous rage.

    She had been consumed by jealousy when Athena, Ekaterina, Sylph, or any other woman interacted with Jie Luo. The pages were filled with insults, calling them “whores” and “sluts.”

    She had even envisioned elaborate and gruesome deaths for each of her comrades.

    No wonder she had sealed this diary with magical wards. Beneath her facade of grace and purity, she had been a cauldron of negativity, releasing her pent-up emotions through her writing. This diary, if exposed, would shatter her image as the Holy Maiden.

    He pocketed the ring and opened the last one.

    It contained seven scrolls.

    These scrolls, unlike ordinary parchment scrolls, were made of an unknown material, their color a dark, unsettling gray.

    Intricate patterns, resembling chains, covered their surfaces, inscribed with countless ancient runes. Even a glance at these runes made his eyes ache, tears stinging his eyes.

    A dark mist clung to the chains, their links taut, as if something was struggling to break free.

    He felt a shiver run down his spine. He imagined countless grotesque figures writhing beneath the chains, their presence a palpable threat.

    Danger!

    Cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He had been the Hero, the slayer of Demon Kings, the strongest being in the Heavenly Continent.

    Though he was weak now, his courage and willpower remained.

    But these scrolls… they filled him with a primal dread. His instincts screamed at him to stay away.

    “Open it…”

    A soft, seductive voice echoed in his mind.

    His trembling fingers reached for one of the scrolls.

    He didn’t want to touch it…

    Why…

    His fingers brushed against the scroll’s surface.

    A wave of energy, powerful and chaotic, surged through his mind, overwhelming his senses.

    He saw endless darkness, a vast, empty void. A giant sphere, its surface covered in countless vertical eyes, pulsed within the void.

    Black tendrils, resembling monstrous serpents, snaked across the sphere’s surface, their movements erratic and sinister.

    The serpents writhed and intertwined, merging into a massive chain that stretched into the depths of the void.

    At the end of the chain… a giant cage.

    …

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 15

    Chapter 15: A False Alarm, A Blend of Strength and Grace

    Seeing the beautiful woman remain silent, Lin Tianlu’s brow furrowed in concern.

    “Madam?”

    “Ahem! That child…” Mao Ruoyu quickly composed herself, gritting her teeth. “After what happened last night, I sent her to live with relatives outside Changling County.”

    “You sent your child away?”

    Lin Tianlu was surprised. “The fire was fierce, but it didn’t spread this far. Wasn’t it a bit hasty to send her away, Madam?”

    “You don’t understand, Mr. Lin.”

    Mao Ruoyu shook her head. “My eyes are… different. I can see supernatural beings. Last night, a demonic aura gathered above the fabric shop, swirling like a dark cloud. It was terrifying. For my child’s safety, I had to send her away as quickly as possible.”

    Lin Tianlu was intrigued.

    This neighbor of his possessed such a unique ability?

    Looking closer, he noticed a faint green tint in her eyes, unlike any he had seen before.

    “No wonder you insisted I stay away from the fabric shop last night, Madam Mao.”

    “I hope you understand, Sir.” Mao Ruoyu lowered her gaze. “If I told others about this, they might see me as a cursed woman. But you, Sir…”

    “Don’t worry, Madam. I won’t tell anyone.”

    Lin Tianlu smiled sincerely and bowed respectfully. “I’m grateful for your kindness, Madam. I wouldn’t doubt or question you.

    Since you’ve recovered now, I’ll take my leave. If you need any help in the future, Madam, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

    “Thank you for your concern, Sir.” Mao Ruoyu forced a weak smile.

    After exchanging a few more farewells, Lin Tianlu quickly left the house.

    “…”

    Once he was gone, Mao Ruoyu collapsed into a chair, her smile vanishing. She clutched her chest, her heart pounding as she gasped for breath.

    “I-I managed to fool him!”

    That brief conversation had felt like an eternity.

    Because she wasn’t a wife, and she didn’t have a child.

    She had made up that identity on the spot, never imagining that her lies would almost be exposed.

    “Why didn’t I realize before… He’s not some weak scholar, but a hidden master!”

    Mao Ruoyu’s face paled, filled with regret.

    She had cautiously probed his aura again, but she still couldn’t sense anything.

    It was as if this man didn’t exist. If not for her own eyes, she wouldn’t even be sure if he was truly standing before her.

    Ethereal and unfathomable, he was like a legendary immortal!

    “No wonder my Bewitching Pastries and Soul-Snatching Candle had no effect on him. My attempts to frighten him with Yin energy must have seemed like child’s play. I actually targeted such a powerful master. I was practically asking for death!”

    She covered her face with her hands, sighing in despair.

    “—Wait.”

    But Mao Ruoyu suddenly lowered her hands, her eyes widening in realization.

    “Lin Tianlu effortlessly vanquished that Evil Spirit. His powers must be extraordinary, his cultivation realm rarely seen in this world. But such a master is treating me… with such kindness and gentleness, repeatedly reassuring me. He doesn’t even seem to notice my attempts to harm him. Could it be…

    He’s testing me?”

    Mao Ruoyu bit her lip, her expression flickering.

    “My cultivation relies on absorbing a bit of ‘life essence’ from sleeping people, refining it into Yin energy. But I haven’t taken a life in years. At most, I just give people nightmares and make them feel tired in the morning. I’ve never committed murder. Perhaps Master Lin… spared me because we’re neighbors?”

    “But if I continue my deceitful ways, I’m afraid—”

    Mao Ruoyu clenched her fists, her heart filled with anxiety.

    He could easily kill an Evil Spirit. She, a low-level ghost practitioner, was probably as insignificant as an ant to him.

    “What… what should I do?”

    …

    Meanwhile, at Lin Tianlu’s house…

    Hua Shuya finished washing up and yawned softly.

    “I actually fell asleep yesterday. Was I really that tired?”

    She vaguely remembered falling asleep shortly after sitting down, barely having touched the delicious pastries.

    And…

    “To fall asleep in front of Senior, how embarrassing.”

    Hua Shuya sighed softly, touching her delicate robe, and murmured, “Did Senior carry me to my room?”

    She had woken up in bed this morning. In this vast mansion, only Lin Tianlu would have been so kind and considerate.

    But the thought of Senior touching her, carrying her in his arms while she was asleep…

    The girl’s face flushed crimson, her eyes sparkling with shyness.

    “No, no! I can’t think about such things! It’s disrespectful to Senior!”

    She shook her head, banishing those thoughts, slapping her cheeks to wake herself up.

    After the warmth faded from her face, she tied her hair up, grabbed her sword, and left the house.

    She walked familiarly to Lin Tianlu’s house and looked around, but she couldn’t find him.

    Perhaps he had gone out?

    “I’ve been busy with matters at the county government these past two days and haven’t spent much time with Senior. I should help him adjust to life in the mortal world.” Hua Shuya nodded to herself, her thoughts kind and considerate.

    But she quickly frowned, looking at her sword with a thoughtful expression.

    For some reason, she felt that the sword… was much lighter than before.

    It wasn’t that her strength had increased, but a deeper, more profound change.

    Hua Shuya slowly drew her sword.

    Clang—

    A soft, clear ringing sound.

    Her eyes glazed over, and she felt a wave of dizziness.

    It was as if she were sinking to the bottom of a cold river.

    But as she opened her eyes, she saw a vision of their spar yesterday, like a waking dream.

    Lin Tianlu’s seemingly casual and lazy movements, his thrusts and parries, contained a strange and profound rhythm, a hidden depth. Ripples of energy spread out, his sword intent flowing like a river, endless and powerful.

    “This is…”

    The familiar figure suddenly dissolved into countless specks of light, swirling and converging, flowing into her body.

    Her arm trembled, and she instinctively swung her sword.

    Crack!

    A deep gash appeared on a nearby stone table, sending dust flying.

    Hua Shuya snapped back to reality and stared at the gash, speechless.

    Sword Qi, powerful enough to cleave stone… This was an ability only possessed by Azure Spirit realm martial artists or even Grandmasters!

    She had just been recalling Senior’s movements from yesterday, imitating them clumsily, and yet she had unleashed such a powerful technique?!

    “Senior clearly gave me guidance yesterday. I’m so foolish and lazy, only realizing the essence of his teachings today.”

    Hua Shuya slapped her forehead in frustration. “Senior must be disappointed to see my indifference… No! When he returns, I must show him my sincerity!”

    Thud—

    “Who’s there!!”

    Hua Shuya’s expression turned sharp as she shouted.

    In an instant, her gentle and delicate demeanor vanished, replaced by a fierce aura. Her eyes radiated a sword-like sharpness as she focused on the courtyard gate.

    “Young lady, I was just passing by. Why are you so jumpy?”

    The gate, which had been slightly ajar, was pushed open. An elderly man with a white beard stepped into the courtyard, a faint smile on his face.

    At the same time, his footsteps echoed with power as the ancient sword on his back unsheathed itself, flying into his hand.

    Sword in hand, the old man’s aura surged, a chilling and ethereal sword intent swirling around him, like a sword immortal.

    “—This place is not open to outsiders. Leave immediately!”

    Hua Shuya stood her ground, her face resolute, raising her sword.

    The old man’s lips curved into a smile. “I must meet that extraordinary master.”

    As soon as he finished speaking, Hua Shuya’s eyes flashed with a cold light. She charged forward, her sword thrusting out with lightning speed.

    “Hmm? The Thirteen Forms of the Breaking Army Sword… a descendant of the Hua family?”

    The old man was slightly surprised, then a playful smile appeared on his face as he turned his blade. “Very well, let this old man play with you for a bit.”

    —Clang!

    Their swords clashed, a deep, resonant sound echoing through the air.

    The old man let out a soft exclamation.

    Her internal energy was pure and potent, her swordsmanship swift and decisive. Such profound skill!

    So young, yet possessing such incredible cultivation?

    In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged dozens of blows, the sound of clashing metal and sparks filling the air. But the more they fought, the more astonished the old man became. The girl’s swordsmanship was truly extraordinary!

    “Ha—!”

    Suddenly, the girl shouted, her sword flashing as she unleashed a powerful attack, all her techniques merging into one.

    “Sword Intent?!”

    She had grasped Sword Intent at such a young age?!

    The old man’s heart trembled, and he hurriedly summoned a flurry of sword shadows, blocking her attack.

    Clang—!

    Their swords clashed, creating a shockwave of energy that sent them both stumbling back.

    The old man planted his left foot firmly on the ground, leaving a deep imprint, and exhaled slowly.

    He looked at Hua Shuya with a newfound respect, his previous casualness gone.

    “Her Sword Intent is ethereal and unfathomable, yet it embodies a perfect balance of strength and grace. Truly remarkable!

    Could it be… she’s the master who vanquished the Evil Spirit last night?”

    But that master was a white-clad scholar, how could she be a young girl?

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 14

    Chapter 14: A Lingering Fragrance

    Daybreak arrived, the sun shining brightly.

    Although the threat of the evil spirit had been eliminated from Changling County, the incident caused quite a stir, rumors spreading like wildfire.

    Whispers and speculations filled the streets and teahouses. People gathered outside the charred remains of the fabric shop, curious to see the aftermath of the ghostly fire.

    Among the bustling crowd, an elderly man in simple clothes, carrying a long sword on his back, took off his straw hat and crouched down in front of the shop, carefully picking up a pinch of ash from the ground.

    “Illusory flames, harmless to flesh and bone. Yin energy lingers, accompanied by a haunting scream.”

    He stroked his white beard, his aged face etched with concern. “These are the ashes of a vanquished Evil Spirit. To think that a master capable of subduing such a fearsome creature resides in this humble Changling County.”

    The old man looked up at the charred building, a glint of excitement in his eyes. “Judging by the power of those illusory flames, this was no ordinary feat. Though the outer flames wouldn’t harm mortals, being caught within them would lead to a fiery death. Even a Pure Yang realm martial artist would struggle against this dual-natured Yin fire.

    Yet, this person walked through the flames unharmed and even vanquished the Evil Spirit within. Truly extraordinary!

    Unfortunately, such a master must be elusive. I wonder how I could meet them and learn from their wisdom.”

    He sighed, stood up, and dusted off his hat, preparing to leave.

    But then, he overheard a conversation nearby.

    “That scholar really rushed into the burning shop alone… and saved Shopkeeper Zhang?”

    “We all saw it with our own eyes. There’s no doubt about it.”

    Two young men in simple clothes were sitting at a breakfast stall, chatting quietly.

    One of them, a tall and muscular man, leaned in and whispered, “The ghostly flames were terrifying. No one dared to approach the shop. But that scholar charged in without hesitation, risking his life to save those trapped inside. And he emerged without a single burn.

    Many elders are saying that the fire was caused by a demon or ghost, and that the scholar must possess immense righteous energy and abundant Yang energy to be immune to those sinister flames.”

    His companion took a bite of his steamed bun and said in awe, “I didn’t expect such a virtuous and talented master to appear in our remote town. To be able to ward off evil and extinguish flames with pure righteousness… it’s truly admirable. I wonder which academy he teaches at, or if he’s a newly appointed scholar?”

    “I’m not sure. But I heard from others that he seems to be from another town…”

    “Gentlemen.”

    A deep, resonant voice came from behind them. The two turned around in confusion and saw an elderly man with a white beard approaching them quickly, his face lit up with excitement.

    Looking closer, they noticed that although the old man’s clothes were dusty from travel, his every movement exuded an air of grace and wisdom.

    A sense of respect welled up within the muscular man, and he quickly stood up and bowed. “Sir, you are…”

    “I’m just a humble villager from the mountains. I’m passing through Changling County. I overheard you talking about the fire at the fabric shop last night. Could you tell me where I can find the person who saved those people?” The old man’s voice was filled with urgency and hope.

    Seeing his eagerness, the muscular man scratched his head and hesitantly pointed in a direction.

    “I don’t know that gentleman personally, Sir. I only heard from the neighbors that he seems to be living on Stone Workshop Street, on the north side of town. But I’m not sure about the exact location…”

    He was about to shake his head apologetically when both he and his companion froze.

    The old man had vanished into thin air, right before their eyes!

    “T-this— A ghost?!”

    Their faces turned pale with terror as they stumbled back, screaming and fleeing in panic.

    But the old man was already gone, lost in the bustling crowd.

    His steps were strange and ethereal, his movements swift and unpredictable, his figure like a phantom, impossible to track.

    …

    Inside a fragrant boudoir…

    A soft moan escaped Mao Ruoyu’s lips as her eyelashes fluttered, and she slowly woke up.

    She rubbed her forehead, her expression dazed, as she sat up in bed. Her long black hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her loose robe revealed a glimpse of her ample bosom, rising and falling with her breath, a tempting sight.

    “H-how did I get home?”

    After a moment of confusion, the memories of last night flooded back.

    Her face turned pale, her throat dry.

    “That scholar—”

    She swallowed hard.

    Although she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes…

    That evil spirit… had undoubtedly been vanquished by that scholar with a single gesture!

    “Madam Mao, you’re awake?”

    A cheerful voice suddenly came from outside, making Mao Ruoyu jump, her face pale with fear.

    The door opened quietly, and Lin Tianlu entered the room, carrying a tray of breakfast.

    “Y-you, you, you, why are you in my house?!” Mao Ruoyu quickly pulled the blanket over herself.

    Lin Tianlu set the tray down, quickly averting his gaze, and smiled apologetically. “You fainted last night near the fire, Madam Mao. I asked some kind-hearted women to help you home.

    Don’t worry, Madam, I didn’t do anything inappropriate. Those women helped you change your clothes. But… it was indeed improper of me to enter your room without permission.”

    He bowed slightly, his face flushed with embarrassment. “I brought you some warm porridge and pastries. You seem to be lacking in energy, Madam. Please eat something to nourish yourself. I’ll also bring you some tonic medicine later.”

    Mao Ruoyu was stunned. After Lin Tianlu retreated from the room, she quickly said, “Mr. Lin… I-I’m sorry. I was a bit disoriented just now. Please forgive me.”

    “It’s alright, Madam. Just rest and have something to eat. I’ll be waiting in the main hall.”

    After the door closed softly, Mao Ruoyu blinked her beautiful eyes in confusion.

    He hadn’t killed her with a flick of his finger?

    …

    Lin Tianlu sat in the main hall, reading an ancient book to pass the time.

    Although the regular script had initially made his head spin, thanks to the memories of his predecessor, he was gradually getting used to it.

    Reading these ancient texts had a certain charm.

    But the illustrations… he couldn’t appreciate them. They were all too abstract.

    “Ahem…”

    Half an hour later, a soft cough broke the silence.

    A voluptuous figure emerged from the corner, her graceful silhouette accentuated by a thin silk robe, her hair braided and draped over her chest. Mao Ruoyu smiled apologetically, bowing slightly, her voice soft and melodious. “Mr. Lin, I apologize for my behavior earlier.”

    “There’s no need to apologize, Madam.”

    Lin Tianlu closed his book and bowed in return. “I was touched by your concern, Madam Mao, for following me to the fire last night despite the danger. This is just a small token of my gratitude.

    But your house seems a bit deserted. Many rooms are empty, covered in cobwebs and dust. I had some free time, so I cleaned up the house for you.”

    Mao Ruoyu’s expression changed slightly, and she quickly said, “Please don’t blame me, Sir. It’s just that I… like you, just moved back to Changling County recently. And as a weak woman, I don’t have the strength to do much housework. That’s why the house is so dusty.”

    Lin Tianlu nodded thoughtfully. “You have a delicate constitution, Madam. It’s indeed not suitable for you to do strenuous work. If you need any help, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

    “I’m ashamed to have troubled you with such trivial matters, Sir.”

    Mao Ruoyu bowed deeply in gratitude.

    Lin Tianlu smiled. “There’s no need to be so formal, Madam. It’s normal for neighbors to help each other. But there’s something I’m curious about, if you don’t mind me asking.”

    “Please ask, Mr. Lin.”

    “I searched the entire house last night, but I didn’t see your daughter anywhere.”

    Lin Tianlu asked, his voice filled with concern,

    “Madam, where is your child?”

    Mao Ruoyu’s face paled, and her hands clenched tightly beneath her sleeves.

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 13

    Chapter 13: Yin Fire Burns, Crumbling Before a Touch

    The flames engulfing the fabric shop, both inside and out, were made of Yin energy. Though they didn’t harm flesh and blood, they burned the soul. No ordinary person could withstand their touch.

    Yet, this scholar stood before him, unscathed…

    The blue-faced man frowned.

    Could it be that this scholar possessed such righteous energy that he was immune to Yin and evil?

    He scrutinized Lin Tianlu. Indeed, his posture was upright, his appearance refined, a hint of talent in his features.

    The scholar smiled gently, bowing slightly.

    “You started this fire?”

    “…”

    The blue-faced man remained silent, but his eyes were filled with killing intent.

    “Even with your talents, daring to intrude here means your fate is sealed!”

    He flicked his sleeve, and the surrounding flames, under his control, surged towards Lin Tianlu, engulfing him completely.

    These flames were no longer a mere threat but a deadly weapon. Even weapons would melt before them, let alone a mortal’s flesh. He would be burned to ashes in an instant.

    “The obstacle is removed. Now… it’s your turn, you ignorant thief.” The blue-faced man shifted his gaze towards the interior of the fabric shop, engulfed in flames.

    But as he focused, he saw that the other figure within the inferno had vanished, leaving only a faint trace of Yin energy.

    The man was stunned, then roared in fury. “Damn it! You dare to steal my ‘food’ and slip away under my nose?

    You can’t escape! I will scour this Changling County, dig three feet into the ground if I have to, and drag you out to be consumed by my flames, to experience the tortures of hell!”

    He cursed angrily, turning to leave.

    “Hey—”

    A cold voice suddenly rang out, stopping the blue-faced man in his tracks. He turned around abruptly.

    The white-clad scholar, who should have been burned to ashes, emerged from the flames, unharmed.

    “You burn down this shop and think you can just walk away?”

    Lin Tianlu brushed off a few sparks from his clothes, his gaze cold.

    “You—”

    The blue-faced man stared in disbelief. “You’re not dead?!”

    How could this weak scholar, with no martial arts skills, survive being engulfed in flames?

    “It was just a pathetic illusion. Did you really think it could kill anyone?”

    Lin Tianlu’s dismissive words shocked the blue-faced man.

    His Evil Spirit Flames, reduced to a mere illusion, unable to even scorch the skin of a mere scholar?

    No…

    It wasn’t his flames that were weak, it was this scholar… there was something strange about him!

    “Interesting!”

    A predatory smile spread across the man’s face, and he dashed towards Lin Tianlu with blinding speed.

    If Yin fire was ineffective, then he would crush him with brute force!

    But as he took a step forward, his body froze mid-motion, his hand outstretched in a striking posture.

    “Hmm?”

    He frowned, his eyes darting around, his gaze sharp as a blade, searching the crowd beyond the flames. “A mere ghost practitioner, daring to interfere?!”

    …

    Within the crowd outside the inferno…

    Mao Ruoyu, her hand seals changing rapidly as she struggled to restrain the blue-faced man, suddenly paled. A thunderous roar echoed in her mind, and she stumbled back, her heart pounding with fear.

    This… this was an Evil Spirit!

    How could such a terrifying creature exist in a small town like Changling?!

    Terror gripped her as a chilling aura filled the air, swirling around them like a cold wind.

    Despite the raging flames, the surrounding people shivered, hearing the wails and screams of vengeful spirits. They abandoned their efforts to extinguish the fire and rescue those trapped inside, scattering in fear, not wanting to be tainted by this sinister presence.

    “Foolish scholar… this Evil Spirit can’t be contained by mere righteousness. Run away, quickly!”

    Mao Ruoyu gritted her teeth, her forehead covered in sweat.

    But another roar echoed in her mind, and she finally collapsed, her technique broken, falling to the ground with a gasp.

    “—Scholar!”

    …

    He thought he heard a familiar voice from outside the flames.

    Lin Tianlu was puzzled but didn’t pay much attention to it. He was staring at the malevolent ghost with a strange expression.

    The ghost had been charging towards him, intent on taking his life, but had suddenly frozen in a rather comical pose.

    It looked like the starting position for a hundred-meter sprint.

    And…

    “Why are his legs crossed?”

    Lin Tianlu rubbed his chin, his expression amused.

    “Ha!!”

    But at that moment, the blue-faced man roared, his body radiating energy, his hair flying wildly, as if breaking free from some invisible restraint. He spread his arms wide, unleashing a wave of Yin wind and fire.

    Lin Tianlu frowned.

    What kind of performance art was this?

    Chest stretches?

    The man’s bones cracked as he snarled, “Prepare to die!”

    Then, his figure vanished.

    Lin Tianlu let out a soft exclamation. A black shadow flickered before his eyes, and a fist struck his chest with terrifying force.

    —Boom!!

    A dull thud, loud as thunder.

    The man laughed coldly.

    This scholar could resist the Evil Flames. He must be carrying some kind of protective talisman.

    But with his immense power, this punch was enough to shatter his bones and internal organs, leaving him a mangled corpse!

    “Let me see what you’re carrying that can withstand the Evil Spirit Flames.”

    He retracted his fist—

    Huh?

    The blue-faced man froze, looking down at his empty shoulder.

    Where was his hand?

    “Just so you know, I’m not responsible for any injury compensation.”

    Lin Tianlu’s nonchalant voice startled him back to reality. “You attacked me first. I haven’t even retaliated.”

    “You, you—”

    The blue-faced man’s eyes widened in horror, and he stumbled back, clutching his severed shoulder.

    This… this wasn’t a scholar!

    What kind of scholar had a chest as hard as steel?!

    Lin Tianlu brushed off the charred mark on his robe, left by the ghost’s fist, and muttered to himself.

    “Unexpectedly weak?”

    Seeing the fear in the ghost’s eyes, his own nervousness eased.

    He had thought this ghost was even stronger than the one on the mountain, judging by the intensity of the flames.

    But it seemed that this ghost had shattered its own arm with a single punch…

    Lin Tianlu was dumbfounded.

    It was like watching a terrible actor trying to fake an injury.

    “But you harbor malice, attacking and killing without hesitation. You can’t be allowed to live.”

    Lin Tianlu took a deep breath, his gaze hardening. His vision shifted, the world around him transforming into an ethereal painting, countless points of light swirling and dancing, outlining the blue-faced man’s figure.

    Hundreds of streaks of blood-red light pulsed within the ghost’s body, the wails of tortured souls echoing in his ears, as if women and children were begging for release.

    “W-wait—”

    This ghost deserved to die.

    Lin Tianlu flicked his finger.

    Pop—

    A crisp sound. Before the blue-faced man could beg for mercy, his eyes widened in horror as he collapsed backward.

    “Im… poss… ible—”

    A hole appeared in the center of his forehead.

    Wisps of gray smoke drifted out from the wound, his form fading rapidly.

    “I… Li Dong… how could…”

    Before he could finish speaking, his body completely dissolved into smoke, and the surrounding flames died down along with him.

    Seeing the gray smoke swirling in the air, Lin Tianlu instinctively took out the jade pendant from his pocket.

    The smoke was drawn towards the pendant, quickly absorbed and vanishing without a trace.

    Lin Tianlu weighed the pendant in his hand and chuckled.

    “Is this like changing batteries for a flashlight?”

    His expression turned serious as he looked at the spot where the ghost had disappeared.

    “How could a ferocious ghost appear in a town filled with Yang energy? I was being naive.”

    He couldn’t understand how such a weak ghost had the audacity to cause trouble in a town. Even someone with a basic understanding of exorcism could have easily eliminated it.

    “But…

    There seem to be more ghosts and demons in this world than I initially thought.”

    Lin Tianlu sighed softly and bowed towards the spot where the ghost had vanished.

    “May you find peace, those who have suffered and perished.”

    …

    Some time later, the fire in the fabric shop had been mostly extinguished.

    The residents who had fled in fear slowly returned, staring at the scene in bewilderment.

    But before they could understand what had happened, a white-clad scholar emerged from the burning building, carrying two unconscious men.

    “Is there a doctor! These two are still breathing!”

    “There is… there is!”

    “Someone, help them!”

    The night was filled with commotion as people rushed forward to take the unconscious shopkeeper and his assistant, carrying them to a safe place to administer aid. An elderly man looked at Lin Tianlu with astonishment, bowing repeatedly. “Sir, what did you…”

    “The fire in the shop was strange. Although the flames were fierce, they didn’t burn. I managed to rush in and rescue these two.” Lin Tianlu smiled and bowed. “Now that I look back, the fire has mostly died down. Everything is fine.”

    “How strange… how strange!”

    The surrounding people murmured in surprise.

    Seeing them chattering among themselves, Lin Tianlu quietly slipped away from the crowd.

    He wasn’t seeking fame or recognition. He had successfully eliminated the ghost and saved two lives. That was enough.

    “Hmm?”

    But out of the corner of his eye, he saw a familiar figure struggling to stand up, looking dazed and disoriented.

    “Madam?” Lin Tianlu’s eyes widened in surprise.

    “Hmm?”

    Mao Ruoyu, lost in her own thoughts, turned her head and saw Lin Tianlu. She stared blankly for a moment.

    Then, the color drained from her face, as if she had seen a terrifying monster. Her eyes widened in horror, and she clutched her chest, gasping for breath.

    Before she could catch her breath, she let out a soft whimper and collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

    Lin Tianlu: “???”

  • After Failing to Find Immortality 12

    Chapter 12: Unguarded, Flames Rise

    Late night descended, and a peaceful silence settled over the neighborhood.

    The autumn equinox had passed, and a slight chill lingered in the night air.

    Lin Tianlu closed his book, stretched, and glanced at the girl beside him.

    “She’s sleeping so soundly.”

    Hua Shuya’s eyes remained closed, her sleep undisturbed.

    “If no one wakes her up, she might sleep against that pillar all night?” Lin Tianlu murmured to himself, then carefully scooped her up in his arms.

    Her body was surprisingly light, her limbs soft and slender.

    His actions didn’t wake her up. Instead, she smiled unconsciously in her sleep, shifting slightly in his arms to find a more comfortable position, snuggling closer like a cuddly fox.

    “Hmm?”

    Lin Tianlu took a closer look and noticed a small tear in the girl’s robe, revealing a glimpse of her delicate, fair skin.

    His expression turned strange.

    Who designed this outfit?

    It was so revealing and suggestive, truly scandalous!

    —He would have to ask her where she bought it when she woke up.

    The tailor must have been a rare pervert in ancient times, a master of subtle seduction.

    …

    Lin Tianlu gently carried the girl into her room and laid her down on the soft bed, covering her with a thin blanket. Seeing her still sleeping soundly, he wiped the sweat from his brow.

    Thankfully, the courtyard walls were high, so there was no need to worry about passersby seeing them. He wouldn’t want to ruin the girl’s reputation.

    He returned to the main hall and blew out the candle.

    “Eh?”

    To his surprise, the candle instantly turned to ash, scattering across the table.

    “What kind of quality is this candle?”

    Lin Tianlu touched the ashes, dumbfounded.

    He went back to his own room and took out two new candles he had bought from the market earlier that day, replacing the extinguished one in Hua Shuya’s room.

    After making sure she was safe and sound, he quietly left her room.

    Back in the corridor, he stretched, preparing to continue reading. But suddenly, a door beside him swung open, slamming against the wall with a bang.

    “?”

    Lin Tianlu was startled.

    He looked inside the room, then closed the door with a sigh.

    “The wind is quite strong tonight.”

    Bang!

    He turned his head and saw another door swinging open.

    “Wow, this is getting ridiculous.”

    Lin Tianlu clicked his tongue, walking over to close the door.

    Bang!

    Looking at another open door, Lin Tianlu paused.

    Then, he went to the flowerbed in the courtyard, grabbed a few stones, and wedged them against all the doors, both inside and out. Satisfied, he clapped his hands together. “There!”

    Boom!

    A sudden, loud crash startled Lin Tianlu, who was about to sit down and read. He jumped to his feet.

    A fire blazed in the distance, casting an orange glow against the dark night sky. It seemed something was burning in the county.

    “Did something happen in a restaurant’s kitchen?”

    Lin Tianlu was surprised.

    But if it was just an ordinary fire, the local authorities should be able to handle it quickly. There was no need for him to get involved…

    “Hmm?”

    Suddenly, a chilling, eerie aura brushed past his face, carried by the night wind.

    This feeling… was familiar.

    Lin Tianlu’s eyes flickered, realization dawning upon him.

    This fire… was most likely not caused by humans, but by a ghost or demon?

    This Yin energy was far stronger than that of the female ghost he had encountered at the foot of Mount Taiyi. This was potentially more dangerous.

    If ordinary people encountered such a sinister being, they would be completely helpless. Even Hua Shuya, with her martial arts skills, had lost her fighting spirit in the face of that ghost. What chance did ordinary townsfolk have?

    Should he intervene?

    Lin Tianlu clenched his fists, hesitating.

    He wasn’t sure if his spiritual energy would be effective. If this ghost was stronger than him, he might be in trouble.

    But…

    “Cultivation is about following one’s heart. If I cower in fear at the first sign of danger, if I turn a blind eye to innocent people in need, then what’s the point of cultivating immortality? What’s the point of seeking the Dao?!”

    Lin Tianlu’s expression hardened, and he leaped out the window, rushing out of the mansion.

    But as he pushed open the courtyard gate, he saw a familiar figure standing not far away.

    Mao Ruoyu stood alone outside her house, wrapped in a thin shawl, her face filled with fear as she looked at the fire in the distance.

    “How could this fire…”

    “Madam, go back inside, don’t wander around outside!”

    Lin Tianlu shouted.

    Mao Ruoyu flinched, but seeing him, she quickly said, “W-wait! You damn scho— Mr. Lin, what are you doing?”

    “Going to help put out the fire.”

    “Don’t be reckless!”

    But as Lin Tianlu was about to leave, Mao Ruoyu rushed forward and grabbed his sleeve.

    “That fire is too big and fierce. It’s too dangerous!”

    “It’s alright. I’ll just help from the outside.”

    “N-no, don’t go!”

    Mao Ruoyu’s face was filled with anxiety as she pleaded with him to stay. “That place… is very dangerous! Truly dangerous! If you go there, you’ll be in grave danger, Sir!”

    Lin Tianlu smiled gently and bowed. “Thank you for your concern, Madam. But as a neighbor, I should help if I can. If it’s truly dangerous, I’ll come back immediately.

    And you should go back inside, Madam. The night wind is strong, and it wouldn’t be good if the fire frightened your child.”

    “You—”

    Before she could finish speaking, Lin Tianlu gently pushed her hand away and left.

    Mao Ruoyu’s eyes widened, and she stomped her foot, her voice filled with frustration. “That stubborn scholar! He thinks he can save people with his weak body? He’s going to get himself killed!”

    More and more people emerged from their houses, staring at the fire in the distance with shock.

    Whispers and rumors spread, and some people, unable to contain their curiosity, ran towards the fire.

    Mao Ruoyu stood alone on the street, silent for a moment, then clutched her thin shawl and followed the shadows, her voice filled with a mixture of complaint and self-encouragement.

    “My Bewitching Pastries weren’t meant to be eaten in vain! If you die, I’ll make you spit them all out!”

    …

    “How… how could this be?”

    “The fire is so fierce. I’m afraid all the goods in the fabric shop are gone!”

    “Shopkeeper Zhang is usually so careful, how could he be so careless today?”

    As Lin Tianlu approached the fire, he saw a crowd gathered around the perimeter, whispering among themselves. Several strong young men had already gathered, working together to extinguish the flames with buckets of water.

    He saw that the fire had originated from the fabric shop where he had bought his clothes two days ago. The flames were so intense that they threatened to spread to the surrounding buildings.

    “Something’s wrong!”

    But at that moment, the young men shouted in alarm.

    “What happened?!”

    “The fire won’t go out!” A shirtless man, drenched in sweat, cried out in fear. “We’ve poured dozens of buckets of well water on it, but the fire isn’t dying down. We can’t even extinguish the embers at the edge!”

    An elderly man at the front stared at the fire with shock, his voice trembling. “Could it be… something supernatural?”

    “You’re right, Old Li! The houses on either side of the fabric shop are untouched by the flames. It’s very strange!”

    “Everyone, step back! There’s something wrong with this fire!”

    The chilling Yin energy in the air intensified. Even though they were standing a distance away from the fire, the coldness was palpable.

    More people rushed over. “We’ve searched the surrounding area, but there’s no one in those houses. Shopkeeper Zhang and his assistants are still inside the fabric shop!”

    The crowd erupted in commotion, panic spreading. They were helpless against the strange, inextinguishable fire.

    “As I suspected, it’s a ghost.”

    But in a secluded corner, Lin Tianlu was stealthily approaching the fire.

    He glanced around, quickly circled the crowd, and entered the burning fabric shop from the back.

    “The fire is cold on the outside, hot on the inside. The surrounding buildings are untouched, yet the fabric shop is completely engulfed in flames. This is strange.” Lin Tianlu waved away the heat, taking a few deep breaths.

    Although he couldn’t fully control the spiritual energy within him, it offered him some protection. The strange fire didn’t burn him.

    It was just a bit warm.

    He was about to enter the shop to rescue the people trapped inside, but his footsteps suddenly stopped.

    At that moment, a figure engulfed in flames emerged from the burning wreckage.

    Its robes were as black as ink, its aura sinister and eerie.

    The blue-faced man, his hair wild and unkempt, exhaled a blast of fiery breath, his eyes scanning the inferno…

    And then he saw Lin Tianlu, standing calmly in the midst of the flames, fanning himself.

    The man froze, his expression dumbfounded.

    “…???”

    How did this guy get in here?!